fire

One of the things we missed most while living in the UAE was the need or ability to have a fire in the evening.  At 120* F in the summer and about 65 or 70 in the cooler days, a fire was the last thing on our minds. Air conditioning, ice cream, cold things. Those were the things on our minds. Never a fire.

But we love having a fire, and have had many since returning to Kenya. Friends have laughed at us for how much firewood we consume.  We were excited when we knew that our house would have a fire place, but a little concerned because it seemed small and shallow.  Would it really heat the room?  (Heating the house was never a question).  Last night, we gave our freshly painted fireplace a whirl!

And it did well. In fact, I think it heats the room better than some other fire places we've had.  It is getting warmer in Kijabe now, so our need will lessen, but it is nice to know that come the cold, rainy season next year we'll do just fine.  Houses in Kenya have no central heating and are very drafty, so this is the best we have.