We heated with wood for a long time, but I began to have problems with the wood smoke and we took care of a little girl who had serious respiratory problems. When she came to live with us, we put in a central heating system.
The little Jotul wood cook stove is for use when we have no power and also for an occassional cozy evening when we feel like playing at pioneer. Our adult daughter, whose contractor husband has built his family the most wonderful rustic mountain cabin type home, has a full sized wood cook stove right beside her electric range and she uses it regularly, including in the prep for holiday dinners. Her mother-in-law has had periods in her life when she never used anything except the wood burning range. It seems always to be in use when I've been there. They're the family domestic divas. I'm actually rather fond of the microwave. Nancy
