Tues., 1/20/26, Guys came at 8:30 to put fireplace insert in, Bill had long dentist appt. at the VA, picked up pizzas for us and the 2 workers, talked to Vikki, the guys finished and had the township inspector come inspect it,

This guy had a huge drill.  Couldn’t go down through the fireplace to run the line to the crawlspace because there wasn’t a space box like usual, so he went through the side and down through the bottom of that cupboard and it worked fine.  He explained it and asked me if it was ok.  

This picture was take through the screen upstairs.  They put a new tube in the fireplace and then put this cover on.  Shouldn’t be any more bats getting in.  We usually have one or two in the pellet burner each year.  They were dead at least.

With lights on

With lights off

My friend Sue, from Kalamazoo made each of us ladies at our table in Iowa a paper calendar like the one in this picture.  It was so thoughtful of her and is so pretty.  

We got up at 7 and got ready.  The guys putting the fireplace insert in were supposed to be here between 8 and 9.  It was around 8:30 when they came.  I didn’t hear them at the door because the ring didn’t go in.  They called Bill and he called me and told me they were here.  Guess our doorbell doesn’t work either.  I was right in the kitchen so it was weird I didn’t hear them.  I had worship music playing softly, but should have still heard them.  

I moved my car out of the garage because they wanted to come through that way so they did’t have to track through by the front door.  They covered all the floors from the inside garage door to the fireplace.  They asked me what my name was and called me in and would show me things and asked me some questions.  They were so nice.  The one asked me if I had the close the door sign on the basement door to keep the cat out of the basement so it wouldn’t get my fish down there.  I told him no, it was for the grandkids to keep the door closed so our 2 year old great grandson wouldn’t fall down the steps.  I told him one of the grandkids wrote keep the devil out and the other guy said he noticed that.  They worked together so good, I commented to them about it and they said they’ve known each other since they were 10 and have worked a long time together.  They sure are a good team. One had to crawl in our crawl space that is by the ceiling next to the refrigerator.  Not easy to get into, but he said it wasn’t bad.  He just had to move lots of cobwebs out of the way.  He fastened the line up good as he went.  It looked great in the basement.   The other guy had a huge drill and was drilling the hole for the gas line to come upstairs and through to the fireplace.  They put a new pipe down the chimney and a cover on it.  They told me they went up on the roof, then had to have another ladder to get up to the top of the fireplace.  They said it was so cold their faces hurt.  It was 2 degrees out and very windy.  Bill got back from his appointment and running a couple of errands.  When it was 12:30, I asked them if they wanted pizza if I picked some up.  They said they had been snacking so were ok.  I went and got two large pizza’s for usand a small with no cheese or Bill from Hungry Howie’s.  They were thanked me and were very happy because they were hungrier than they thought.   There were 4 pieces left of each pizza, so I put 2 pieces of each kind in both boxes and put it out in the garage on the shelf for them to take home with them.  

They had said they would take another piece with them when Bill told them to eat more.

They were happy about that too.  They finished at about 2:30 and gave us instructions on how to use the remote.  The furnace had been off and the fireplace warmed it up in there pretty quick.  I FaceTimed Vikki and showed her when she was out of work.  Then I FaceTimed Kimmy.  I had tried Melissa but she didn’t answer, so I showed her later.

I walked on the walking pad for 1/2 mile,  I am glad to be able to do that and will be working up to a mile.  I wanted to see how I felt tomorrow and then will decide when to move my distance.  Kimmy and Vikki are walking too and it will be good to join them.  My hip started hurting right after I got the walking pad, so I haven’t been able to use it til now.  Yay for my hip feeling so good.  

I got ready and went to prayer at church.  It was a cold walk into the church.  Burr!  Pastor was just coming to start his truck and got the door for me.  There was a good group at prayer especially for it being so cold out.  Prayer was good and so was worship.  

Vikki FaceTimed me and wanted me to show Rody and the kids the fireplace.  They liked it too.  Our life is going to be much easier with not hauling and stacking pellets, Bill hauling them in the house, and me not having to clean the kernel burner.  It was good for 8 years, but  now it will be good not to have to do it anymore.