Well, yesterday we finally set about the task that falls next on our self reliance checklist. We woke up and organized the materials we had compiled to install the woodstove that has set in our living room as a cat perch for about three months (we bought early in the season, figuring there would be a demand this fall). The initial plan was to go up and out at a 45 degree angle, so we bought elbows that could be adjusted for that purpose.

Our local handyman was initially unavailable, so it looked like I would have to go it with the help of my next door neighbor, who has a woodstove himself and knows about these things. Before summoning him, however, I decided to assemble the indoor sections of pipe...two 2 foot pieces and the first elbow. I assembled them and placed them on the stove, and they soon toppled over, giving the children and the cats a good scare and breaking one of the elbows at the joint. Not to worry, it was still intact enough for what we had in mind, or so it seemed.

Fortunately, before we took the saw to the wall, our handyman was available. His plans had changed for the day, giving us his services.

After much discussion, we decided we had to 90 out and up because the angle of the stovepipe would put us above the ceiling level (we had gone from two 2 foot sections inside to one, putting the additional two foot section on the outside piece), which would require two, rather than one, holes be cut and would also require a brave soul venturing into the attic which has been entirely devoid of human habitation for several years. Remembering our war with the spiders and scorpions that had wrested control of this house during its vacancy, we decided to acknowledge their sovereignty in the upper quarters, lest they reassert themselves in OUR living quarters. We had the added benefit of greater accuracy with the section of pipe going through the wall.

After cutting through the drywall (nice insulation job, by the way, lostintexas), we found a 2x4 that was going at a 45 degree angle BETWEEN the studs. We had a good sawzall available, and cut the hole through quickly. Going outside to install the outer piece, we discovered that my tendency for overkill had come through once again and the wood screws we were using to secure the chimney through the eaves would hold through just about anything.

And so now, the chimney is up, one more item has been crossed off our "self reliance checklist", and we woke up this morning to the pleasant scent of a wood fire in the stove (actually, THEY woke up to it...I'm the one what woke up freezing my tuchus off and fired up the stove).

Now, to find some more wood.