Banner Graphic, Volume 10, Number 68, Greencastle, Putnam County, 21 November 1979 — Page 27

Accessories add efficiency to fireplaces, stoves

With over half of all American households equipped with fireplaces today, the warmth and cheer of an old-fashioned Christmas can be achieved by anyone who wants it, with a little planning and • ingenuity. Whether you » have the traditional mantel tront fireplace or a prebuilt, • zero clearance type, decorative and functional acccs- - sories abound, f ireplaces > reminiscent of yesteryear and today’s sleek modern • versions still possess the _• same characteristic in common—the ability to ; become the center of attention, no matter where they are located in a room. No mantel for hanging the Christmas stockings? Try taping them on zero clearance units, as well as peppermint candy canes, wreaths and holly. Strings of popcorn, cranberries and pine cones can lace fac-tory-engineered fireplaces just as they gracefully sweep existing mantels, with tape strategically placed. Just be careful that materials are not placed too near the fire. In addition, many fireplace accessory shops sell special mixes to add color to the fire for extra dramatic effect—be it orange, yellow, green or blue. To bring a bit of country fresh air into your home, try burning a few dried pine f cones with your wood logs. And, for dramatic lighting effects to further heighten the holiday season, put your lights on dimmer switches so bulb intensity can be reduced. Or, choose flickering candle-effect light bulbs for lamps located near the fireplaces or wood stove. Still dreaming up Christmas gift ideas for the person who has everything? Does he or she have a fire-

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place or wood stove? Sixtyfive percent of the time the answer will be, “yes,” since that is the estimate industry sources put on the percentage of American households owning fireplaces or wood stoves today. Visit your local fireplace accessory shop and see what’s on the market. You’ll be amazed at the number of items available, and the range of styles and decorative finishes in which they arc being offered. Fireplace Accessories • fool sets (poker, brush and shovel, and some include a scissor tong) arc available in gold and black, antique brass and wrought iron, and come in a wide range of styles. • Andirons—whether they are used purely for ornamentation or as metal supports for firewood, come in a variety of styles and decorator colors. • l ire backs—an old, but functional instrument, the fire back is made of metal and placed in back of the fire box to radiate more heat into a room. • Fireplace cooking utensils. These include grill attachments for broiling meats; iron kettles for soups and stews; pop corn poppers; steel cider pots; brass chestnut warmers; and grills and bean pots for cooking in wood stoves. • Still other fireplace accessories for the more traditional fireplaces are hearth brooms, indoor and outdoor log storage racks, and wood and coal scuttles. Ashes are a bonus product from auxiliary fireplaces. Wood ashes are a valuable source of potash in soluble form, rated at about 6 percent. They are an added boon to gardeners for use as a base for setting out

potted plants in summer. Today’s energy-con-scious homeowners are seeking both esthetics and energy savings in their fireplace and stove accessories and they aren’t about to sacrifice one for the other. Some of these functional accessories include: "•.Gas logs—which are very popular this year. In fact, some people prefer having gas logs in their fireplaces rather than spending the extra time and money necessary to prepare or buy firewood. • Glass doors—other very popular items which arc decorative as well as functional. For the last three years, glass doors have dominated the market in fireplace equipment. Tempered glass increases safety, keeps the hearth clean, closes off fuelrobbing drafts in the room, but not the chimney, and lets you go to bed with the fire still going. • Inserts or slide-ins. These are metal boxes with either glass or metal doors that arc easily slid into an existing fireplace. As with grates, the Fireplace Institute advises that you go to a reputable dealer in selecting the best accessory heating device for your particular wood-burning appliance. In choosing these items as gifts, be sure you specify the type of fireplace or wood stove for which the accessory item is intended. And, last but not least, a word of caution: always remember, safety first. Never burn anything in a fireplace where there are gas or electric logs. Because some gift wrapping papers, ribbons and boxes chemically treated, it is not advisable to burn these materials in the fireplace. And, a good fire screen is essential.

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Caroling is fun time

On Christmas Eve, after caroling, invite the group to your house for hot cider, wassail and home-baked cakes. Especially traditional are dishes of spice cookies, gingerbread, Dundee cake and shortbread. Remember when 35 a child someone took you by

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the hand /on Christmas morning and hustled you off to church? You would much rather have stayed on. the floor hugging that new doll or running that new train, but back in those days, Certain Things Were Important, and They Were Done.

Regain the simple joys of Christmas season

For friends far away, a newsy letter of the year’s activities may be the best gift of all. It’s personal, it shows thoughtfulness, and is uniquely from your home to theirs. We are all too familiar

/ Be Sure and Send Santa To BRACKNEY'S WESTERN STORE for something for each member of \v l the family including: /.} JL,2rf / * BOOIS \frA i lifS * DOWN FILLED OUTERWEAR J l JJ iUfc v) * WRANGLER - LEE & LEVI JEANS 'X/ * LEATHER OUTERWEAR & LEATHER GOODS j ; * WESTERN & CASUAL CLOTHING s * V * MUCH, MUCH MORE Remember, we offer layaway, free gift wrap and \ 7 A I lots of free parking! \ * Don't miss our OPEN HOUSE M TUB Fri., Sat., Sun., Nov. 23, 24, 25 v Free refreshments, many 3-day-only specials. IAA Register for 100 sof dollars worth of door prizes. BRACKNEY'S WESTERN STORE

November 21, 1979, The Putnam County Banner Graphic

with the songs of Christmas heard on the radio, sung on TV in musicals; sometimes these are repeated to the point that even the bestloved music becomes a cliche. As an antidote, check special musical pro-

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grams offered by churches. The music is usually inspiring and heartwarming for example, Bach’s Christmas “Oratorio,” or Handel's “Messiah.”