Warm up With Some Fireplace Finery
Friday, 11/16/2007 By Michele Chan Santos
There may be the barest nip in your air, or perhaps your sidewalk is already covered with a foot of snow - most everyone except those in the sunniest reaches of the South have gathered all the gear needed to rev up a roaring fireplace. But don’t settle for a few pieces of wood, some crumpled newspaper and an old screen to light that warm heart of your home. You have plenty of online options to make your fireplace more beautiful, versatile and fun. You can start by burning fragrant woods with different aromas than run-of-the-mill logs. Order apple, birch, cherry, maple or mesquite sold by Paul’s Fireplace Wood in Little Falls, Minn., on Firewood.com. They charge $52 for a 35-lb box of wood. At Fire Pie Trail Store you’ll find a host of goodies to help the family cook at the fireplace. Their fireplace (and campfire) popcorn popper is $29.99 and it makes 2 quarts at a time - or you can roast chestnuts in it. Want more food fun in front of the fire? Splurge with the ‘Deluxe Fireplace Fun Pack,’ which, at $39.95, includes a s’more maker grill basket, a hot dog T-roaster and a marshmallow tree. If you want to dress things up, there are all kinds of accessories like firepots, andirons, firescreens or guards (the one pictured), tool sets and stylish log holders at sites like Woodland Direct, FireplaceMall.com, Fireplace Screens Etc. and Plow & Hearth.