Like anything else, building a fire is easier once you understand how it works.
The fire’s fuel – what you will burn – can be divided into three categories: tinder, kindling and logs. Tinder is highly flammable. It’s the first thing you light, and it lights the kindling, which lights the logs. Black-and-white newsprint, brown bags, wood chips and dead pine-branch tips all make fine tinder. Newspaper knots, which burn a little more slowly than balled-up pieces, are easy to make: Roll a sheet of newspaper into a tight tube or pleat it; tie a knot in the center. Take a moment to make lots of the knots. If you keep them in a basket by the hearth, you’ll save time before building each fire.
Use sticks and branches for kindling. They can be as thin as your finger or as thick as your wrist.
The best logs are hardwoods such as oak, maple, ash, beech and birch. Fruit and nut trees – such as cherry, pear and pecan – burn well and are fragrant. Hardwoods weigh almost three times as much as softwoods, such as pines and spruces, and burn more slowly and give off more heat.
Softwoods are easier to light because they contain a lot of flammable resin. They also make good tinder and kindling but should not be used as logs. As the resin in a softwood log burns, it accumulates on chimney walls, forming creosote. If the chimney isn’t cleaned, the creosote can catch on fire, destroying the chimney, fireplace and perhaps the rest of the house.
The logs should be dry and aged for six months to a year to be in the best condition. If they’re freshly cut, or green, they will burn unevenly and produce a lot of smoke. They also won’t smell very good. Tiny radial cracks along cross sections indicate that wood has aged.
In addition to fuel, a fire needs oxygen. Many fires go out due to lack of oxygen. This happens when a big log is tossed directly onto a few little pieces of burning kindling. The key to building a fire is to allow some air to circulate through the burning pieces, which must still be close enough together so that one lights the next.
Here’s the best way to build a fire: Create a pyramid, starting with a layer of newspaper. On top of and around the paper, add pieces of wooden tinder, then kindling, crisscrossing the pieces to allow air to circulate.
Light the paper. (A long-handled wooden match works best for this.) Once the kindling catches, place a couple of small, split logs on or next to the flames – but not directly on top. Once blazing, add a few more logs, leaving at least an inch between them, and your fire should soon be going strong.
Much of the charm of secondhand clothing lies in its well-worn appearance. Suede jackets are a great example: They don’t need to be pristine to be enjoyed. The more broken-in they are, the better. However, they should be properly maintained if you want them to last. This means having them professionally cleaned at least once a year.
The quality of suede varies considerably – from velvety soft to an almost coarse texture. One universal characteristic of the fabric is its unforgiving nature. You may be able to remove small dry stains yourself by gently rubbing them with a suede brush or rubber eraser, but anything you do to the napped surface will have a visible effect.
It’s best to leave cleaning to professionals who specialize in suede and leather. They’ll not only clean the skins but will also replenish its natural oils, keeping the jacket supple and adding to its longevity.
For maintenance, the benefits of using protective sprays and treatments on suede don’t always outweigh the risks. Sprays and treatments are only mildly successful in repelling dirt and moisture, and they can change the texture of the suede. Always test any product first on the inside of the garment, where the results, if undesirable, will be the least noticeable.
It’s important to try to keep a suede jacket dry – even if it has been treated. Should your jacket accidentally get wet, simply pull it back gently to its original shape, and let it dry naturally.
Questions should be addressed to Ask Martha, care of Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 11 W. 42nd St., New York, NY 10036. E-mail mslletters@ marthastewart.com.
2006 Martha Stewart Living
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