10 May 2015

Another stove, and an anniversary

Today is our third wedding anniversary. We were married in Albany, New York, on May 10, 2012. As Walt says, it's been three years but it seems like 30! Explanation: on June 1, we will celebrate the 32nd anniversary of our vie commune. We spent the first three of those years in Washington DC, then 17 years in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, and now 12 years (and counting) in Saint-Aignan in France. We first met each other and became friends in Paris in 1981.

Walt went out shopping yesterday and stopped in at the Saint-Aignan Bricorama store. There he saw a stove that we're interested in. It's made by Supra, which the mom-and-pop outfit in town could install. We're not convinced that they are the right installers for us, but maybe we'll find somebody else. There's a plumber I need to call.

Here's what the stove looks like. It's not that different from the one we already have, but it is significantly larger and slightly hotter. Stoves are measured in kilowatts. The old one is 8 kW and the new one would be 9 kW. So it would throw off slightly more heat, but not too much for the size of the space we have to heat.

Because the stove is wider and taller, it might look better in our fireplace. Below is a mockup I did, using my photo of the old stove in the fireplace but enlarging the size of the stove in Photoshop, to give us a better idea of how it would look. I like it. One part of getting the new stove will be a good cleaning of the bricks inside the fireplace to remove old soot and freshen everything up.


Now we need to see if it can be installed without ripping out our existing insulation (in the top of the fireplace) and the stainless steel chimney liner (which isn't inexpensive in itself). Meanwhile, we are signing a devis (accepting a bid) today, and sending in a check for part of the total cost, to have the room behind the fireplace redone. It's where Walt has his office and computer, and it's going to look good. Expect photos in June.

42 comments:

  1. Happy Anniversary. The new stove lokks impressive

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    1. We think we might have found a solution...

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  2. Happy Anniversary! I think both you and Walt know the secrets of having a very good life!

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    1. Thanks Kristi. Hope you are having a pleasant spring.

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  3. I think you're right, that stove would look right in your fireplace.
    Happy anniversary!

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    1. Merci, Jean. We'll see if it works out. And thanks for the good wishes.

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  4. Happy Anniversary.
    The larger stove looks good. We have the opposite problem. Our stove is too big and almost completely fills the opening, so most of the heat goes up the chimney!

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    1. I hope that's not what happens here. Warming up the fireplace warms up the room in turn, doesn't it? Thanks for the good wishes.

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  5. Happy Aniversary...
    just think about it... you've been together for longer than many married heterosexual couples...
    and there are people who just can't understand that same sex couples can have the same staying power in a relationship...
    you are rapidly coming up on your Ruby "non-married-iversay"... yay!!

    I think you are right about the proportions of the new stove...
    it does show the old one to be looking a little "lost"...
    and the lines of the new are crisp and clean...
    but nicely softened....
    especially like the wooden handle for the door...
    but what is that flap at the side for?

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    1. If the stove is out in the open, you can feed logs in either from the side or from the front. In our case, the side opening will be useless, mais tant pis.

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    2. Oh, and more than half of all marriages end in divorce nowadays, and I'm sure that's the same for same- or opposite-sex couples.

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  6. Jan Duifhuizen10 May, 2015 13:08

    Happy anniversary and greetings from Perth WA.

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  7. Here's to many happy years ahead for you and Walt.
    Couldn't the talented fellow who fixed the roof and is going
    to work on the study install the stove? I like the look of this
    new candidate.

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    1. The man who fixed the roof will be doing the revovation work in the study where Walt has his office and computer. That man is a roofer and plumber, but for insurance reasons he is not a heating specialist, so he can't put in wood stoves or radiators, etc. It's a shame because he's so good at what he does.

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  8. Happy Anniversary ... from me .. living about 20 minutes from Albany NY :)

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    1. Thanks, I don't get to Albany often but always enjoy that area when I do. Walt grew up there.

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  9. Cheers & champagne to u.....love the new stove.......looks great

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  10. Happy Anniversary Ken and Walt! I'll always remember your wedding day.
    This stove looks just right.

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    1. I think the stove will be good whenever we get it. Yes, your presence at our marriage ceremony is such a good memory. We had fun.

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  11. Happy 3rd official, legal anniversary!! I sure remember the excitement and happiness I felt when I got up in the morning, sat down with my coffee, clicked on your blog, and saw the big news!
    I like the look of that stove in your fireplace :)

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    1. Judy, thanks for the wishes and the memory. We were coy about the plan to get married because we weren't sure we had all the paperwork required, but it worked out. We didn't want to announce anything and then have to take it back. The good news is that our U.S. marriage is official in France too, making things like medical insurance and inheritance more straightforward. Good news all around.

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  12. Happy Anniversary! Like others, I like this stove also.

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    1. Thanks Christine. I still owe you an e-mail.

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  13. Has it been 3 years already? Time flies when you're reading blogs. We wish continued happiness to you both.

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    1. Yes, le temps passe à une vitesse incroyable. By the way, I'll be going to the Perche in a couple of weeks with CHM. Nogent-le-Rotrou, Bellême, Mortagne, Alençon. Looking forward to it. We might get rooms at the Hôtel du Tribunal in Mortagne. Don't know if you and E. have ever stayed there.

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  14. Happy Anniversary to both of you.
    Hopefully you are having nice weather ( as nice as it was three yrs ago ) as compared to what we are experiencing this week-end. It is mother's day in NA.

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    1. We are having great weather, exactly like the weather we enjoyed in Montréal in 2012. Thanks for the good wishes.

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  15. My how time flies! Three years already -- seems like just yesterday when you popped the news on your blogs!!! Congratulations from me, two, three or ??? however many send their good wishes!

    This stove might be the one! Looks good in your mock-up!

    Mary in Oregon

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    1. I do think the larger stove will occupy the space more attractively. I hope it will give us as much or more heat than the old stove. Thanks, Mary, for the good wishes.

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  16. And Happy Anniversary from me too!
    I loved the pictures of you and Walt standing under the big tree in the park on your wedding day.

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    1. Hi BettyAnn, that was a great day back in 2012. We couldn't believe we could actually get married, and finding that place in the big park in Albany for the ceremony was great. Hope you are well and happy.

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  17. The new wider and taller fits the oepning better and is more aesthetically pleasing, imo.

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    1. I agree with that. The old stove does look kind of lonesome in the fireplace. Let's hope esthetics don't come as a trade-off with a loss of heating efficiency. Probably not.

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  18. Happy anniversary, Ken and Walt!

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  19. Happy Anniversary -- belatedly. I didn't go on line over the weekend. I can't believe it's been three years since your trip to NY and Canada, with the wedding slipped in.

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  20. Oh boy, photos of the Perche for us to look forward to.

    We've never stayed at the Tribunal. We have two favorite B&Bs in the area where we like to start and end our trip.

    Do you want me to shower you with suggestions? Probably not, so I'll just recommend lunch at La croix d'or in Le Pin la Garenne and also at Pieds dans l'eau at Langis-les-Mortagne.

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  21. Slight correction: Saint Langis-les Mortagne.

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  22. Joyeux anniversaire, Ken ....certainly sounds like time and life have been good and kind to you both......All the best!

    DR (UI French Dept. alumnus)

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  23. Just read the post about your anniversary. Happy Anniversary a couple days late! Hope you and Walt had a wonderful day!

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