Just lately I've been thinking a lot about more environmentally friendly ways to keep warm. We try to use the central heating as little as possible. It occurs to me that I could get the chimney swept and have a wood fire, although the chimney hasn't been lined so I probably shouldn't.
I was visiting a farm the other day where they are lucky enough to grow their own wood. And of course it warms you twice then, once when you chop it and once when you burn it. Sometimes by the sea I see people collecting driftwood. I imagine that burns beautifully.
When I think about warmth, I tend towards extra jumpers, wool blankets, knitting, sheepskin, hot water bottles, hot drinks and the occasional candle. A cooler home is no bad thing in the winter, being in tune with the season, eating warming comfort foods and staying in bed a little longer.
And there's something aesthetically pleasing about the things that provide natural heat. The warm tones of wood, ranging from pale honey to rich tan, the creamy oatmeal of an old sheepskin and the mesmerising hot orange of flames.
I have plans to knit another blanket soon. One that I can keep over the end of the sofa for those chilly winter evenings. As time goes by I'm trying to use conventional energy less and less. Warmth is delicious, but I appreciate it even more when it's natural and green.
Do let me know if you have any tips or suggestions for eco warmth.
To visit the other Colour Collaborative blogs for more of this
month's posts, just click on the links below:
What is The Colour Collaborative?
All creative bloggers make stuff, gather stuff, shape stuff, and
share stuff. Mostly they work on their own, but what happens when a group of
them work together? Is a creative collaboration greater than the sum of its
parts? We think so and we hope you will too. We'll each be offering our own
monthly take on a colour related theme, and hoping that in combination our
ideas will encourage us, and perhaps you, to think about colour in new ways.
Lovely. I cannot wait to light our stove for the first time and this weekend might be the time. I adore laying fires, inside or out. I brought home my apple tree prunings to dry for kindling, far too valuable to put on the allotment bonfire heap. We had the kitchen chimney relined at the cottage and it wasn't a big job so maybe you could find out about doing yours. My brother installed his own wood burning stove and he and his father-in-law lined the chimney themselves so if you have a handy other half ....
ReplyDeleteOoh, fire pictures! There's something very photogenic about flames isn't there?
ReplyDeleteI agree with the central heating thing and although it's been on a lot recently I do make sure I only use radiators in the rooms we're in *huddles closer to it as she types this in a chilly north-facing bedroom)*. I do think central heating isn't that healthy either. It dries my skin out terribly and I'm sure bugs and germs thrive on it.
One tip: I had leftover polenta yesterday with a homemade tomato sauce. I'd been a bit cavalier with the cayenne and trust me, that lunch made me far warmer than any radiator could!
S x
I must admit to feeling quite sad when I see trees chopped down though.
ReplyDeleteHi CJ, I'm catching up as have been missing for a while. I do love our woodburner as it warms our main room up much better than our oil heating. Our bungalow is quite cold and I don't think we'd cope, especially hubby with his arthritis, if we solely relied on the oil heating. xx
ReplyDeleteA lovely warm post. A log fire would be nice but since I don't have a fireplace...
ReplyDeleteFlighty xx
We try to be very frugal with our home heating. We have natural gas, which is generally very low-cost, but it's important to save money and use fewer natural resources. We wear lots of blankets (someone around here just keeps churning them out), extra sweaters, slippers and the like. We have a wood-burning fireplace, which we use about once per week in the winter. It doesn't really heat much, and in fact may be making the house colder with the flue open, but it's nice to sit around it. If you get really close, you do feel a bit warmer. :)
ReplyDeleteKnitting a blanket is a fab idea. I must admit I have been thinking more about it since seeing the last one you made, absolutely gorgeous. And I like the idea that it keeps you warm as it grows!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, as usual, CJ. I've seen some little warmers on Pinterest--basically the heat from a tea light warms the surrounding pot which radiates a bit of heat into the room. They say it can heat a small room but I'm not sure if that's just hype. And one would want to make sure they are environmentally friendly candles, of course. It gets confusing trying to do the right thing. We keep our natural gas furnace turned low and have a wood stove in the basement. The heat warms the floor of our main living area and if it isn't too cold outside it really keeps the top floor comfortable as well. We are getting better at layering clothing and using blankets to stay cozy. Our gas bills are very low, and there's nothing quite like wood heat in the winter.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous wood fire photo. A fire is so welcoming at this time of year - sadly no fireplace here. We do have blankets and throws though.
ReplyDeleteSlippers! Get yourself some really good slippers. I like the boot style ones which are furry inside, and get through at least one pair a winter so much do I wear them. You are very good to use the heating as little as you do, it sounds like you already have loads of ideas of ways to keep warm and save energy. It helps to be active of course, which is hard if you need to be sitting at the computer, say. Bake a cake. I always bake when I want to warm myself up, both physically and mentally. xx
ReplyDeleteI love all the sentiments in this post. You know, I've never tried a hot water bottle. Of course we have a pretty mild climate here in San Diego, but it still drops into the 40s, sometimes 30s (f) at night. I hope you've managed to stay warm this week CJ!
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteI am currently battling a perpetually cold teen, who keeps sneaking the heating on. I keep think I'm having a hot flush. I'm writing this snuggled under a crocheted blanket with Olly. He is wearing shorty pjs. He doesn't feel the cold at all. Is it a hormone thing do you think? I suggest getting the chimney lined, lovely. You'll have three hormonal boys soon enough, and they may well be on cold mortals too..
Leanne xx
I love a good fire. We have a gas fire that makes a hissing sound but looks lovely, warm and cosy but I really want to have a proper fire soon. Love the colours of wood, I quite fancy a blanket made of wood colours. Hmmm there's a thought. I am always cold even if it is warm. Except my face that is, this gets hot. Have a lovely Friday. x
ReplyDeleteNo tips, but we do the same thing ... we can go days together without switching on the heating, instead we wrap up in layers of wool, and make good use of hot water bottles in the evenings (hot water bottles which we only fill when we're boiling the kettle anyway for some other purpose). And we cuddle up to the whippets ... having six dogs has it's plus side ;)
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this post Claire, you've got me thinking of all the little things that make a place feel warmer.
I agree with Gillian - boot style slippers are the way to go. They feel just like my pair of fake Ugg boots though and I have had the embarrassment of getting out of the car in town and being half way up the High Street before glancing down and noticing my bright purple slippers! xx
ReplyDeleteThe colors of flames are so pretty, aren't they...I love an open wood fire, but have rarely lived in a place where I could have one without wasting energy, although we have had wood stoves from time to time which really helped to keep us warm, both preparing and burning the wood. We burned drift wood for awhile when we lived two blocks from the ocean, but the locals explained to us that the salt from the drift wood ruins the inside of a wood stove so we stopped burning it. In this house we heat with gas, but I end up using blankets, wool socks and sweaters to stay warm while sitting for long rather than turning the heat up. We need to have our fireplace worked on as well. I have a little electric stove in it that I run for atmosphere more than heat. I think that surrounding myself with prints that include dull reds greens and blues helps me feel warm and cozy, too...and using flannel sheets really helps me keep warm as well. xx
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't get as cold here so we aren't quick to use the heater in our apartment. My father has a wood burning stove, but they have had many spare the air days during the drought to watch the pollution levels. It's layers here. I think warmth, I think socks. I have been known to perhaps do dishes for too long because the water is hot and my feet are cold, ha!
ReplyDeleteThe natural warmths of colours and so on are what I think of. Hope that someday you can get your chimney working perhaps! xx
ReplyDeleteLoved all of the rich wood in your photos! It made me think of being a child and sitting by our wood burning fire place. The thought of having a space where you could grow your own and have fires like this sounds so wonderful doesn't it?!?! Wishing you a lovely weekend!! Nicole xo
ReplyDeleteI have a woodburner with a flat top on which I can heat water and cook, especially warming casseroles - fabulous! Like you I like to keep in touch with the seasons and have the heating on as little as possible. Just keep adding the layers of clothes to keep snuggly.
ReplyDeleteWe're the same re heating here. Much prefer the fire, although carbon release is a consideration. Blankets and hot water bottles rule here too although the older I get the less well I cope with being cold. Xx
ReplyDeleteOo, love your first photo!! And I know several people in our house who would agree with me! We had a multifuel stove fitted about 18 months ago and LOVE it! The fact that it has a warm flickering light makes you feel warmer without even the heat. And yes we snuggle under throws too to keep warm in the evenings and also good use of clothes - cowls, buffs, bodywarmers etc. I also try to go out for a walk in the evening, good for my health but also that bit of activity really warms me up. My husband and I tussle over the thermostat, I turn it down, he turns it up, but I think I'm more active in the house so keep warmer. Love my hot water bottle too!
ReplyDeleteI haven't really got any tips to offer, but hot water bottles and crocheting blankets keep me warm, and of course there's nothing like an Irish Setter sitting on your lap - the only downside with that is that you feel as though you're suffering some terrible crush injury. Have a great weekend xx
ReplyDeleteLovely to read everyone's different take on this theme. Your post definitely feels warm.
ReplyDeleteWhen my elder daughter was a wee girl she used 'warm' to describe situations which were 'safe', 'comfortable' and welcoming, which I quite liked.
ReplyDeleteActually, the saying goes that putting up your own firewood warms you three ways - once when you cut it, once when you stack it, then when you burn it. My husband gets two of the three - he stacks, but doesn't cut all of our wood. Good for you for mentioning that it is okay to actually feel the temp changes in the seasons - so many people think that their house has to be 70 degrees all yearr long, no matter the weather outside.
ReplyDeleteI love wood fire. We have a wood pellet stove that works so well. They make little pellets of sawdust and leftover wood products. You pour the pellets in the top of the stove and an auger delivers a set amount to the firebox. A 40 lb. bag of pellets warms us for a few days. It's a very radiant and lovely heat. I like all your green ideas. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteI'll second Gillian - slippers! I was given the most toastie pair for Christmas (sheepskin ones from Celtic Co; they can be washed in washing machine!) and I've hardly taken them off. Obvs don't go for dog walks in them... �� We try not to use the central heating too much and have 2 wood burners in the front rooms which we love. The stacking of wood is one of my favourite activities and I love to see it all lined up and ready. There is something very elemental about burning wood that goes deep to our roots (ha) I think. Lovely photos as always CJ. Have a lovely weekend. Sam x
ReplyDeleteI would love a wood burner but I think it would just cook us! Candle light in winter is very pleasing, I've nearly always got a candle on the go :) xxx
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely warm images - I'm sure that just looking at pictures of fire warms me up. We have an old house which no longer has a chimney or working fireplaces. I do light plenty of candles, though, and I like the idea of a knitted blanket. The colour of your yarn is scrumptious.
ReplyDeleteCathy x
We have a wood burner, our house is an odd L shape and difficult to keep warm, so we tend to live in just a couple of rooms when it's really cold.
ReplyDeleteMy top tips are, firstly, to wear a wooly hat indoors if it's really cold, and secondly, if you don't want to light a fire, instead light a candle or two, you'll be surprised how much heat they produce. You can even buy a Candle heater these days but I haven't seen one myself. Just be careful with children and pets about, as you don't want to set light to anything.
Lovely images this week on your blog post - thank you for sharing.
I bought myself lambswool slippers last winter. so expensive. so cosy xxx and yes blankets on the sofa is a must. we have a basket full of them x it's cold up north.....
ReplyDeleteAn open fire is so cosy, we now burn Eco logs which throw out so much heat in the sitting room, I haven't had to huddle under a blanket since using them. I'm going to google lambswool slippers, they sound lovely. xx
ReplyDelete