Tending a fire

Almost a year ago I posted about starting a fire using the old-fashioned tools of flint and steel. Today, I want to share a few semi-related tidbits that don't fit in a whole post of their own. 

First: Way back when I was in elementary school, I went on a field trip to Sutter's Fort (Wikipedia page). We had the chance to reenact history through a variety of activities and learn quite a bit in the process. One of the things we did was to learn how to tend a cooking fire in the kitchen. When you're wearing a long, full dress, the proper way to ensure your safety is to pull the back and sides of your skirt around to the front as far as you can, then tuck the whole bundle between your legs. This helps prevent the edges of your skirt dragging in the coals and catching fire. It would never have occurred to me that this would be a big concern for ladies in the 1800s. (You learn something new every day!)

Second: To read a fascinating "Little House" story, turn to chapter 16 of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie, the second book in the series. This chapter, titled "Fire in the Chimney", tells the story of young Laura's quick thinking in an emergency. I especially like the way this story shows the characters of the Ingalls ladies in it - Ma, who puts her family before herself; Mary, trustworthy but sometimes afraid; and Laura, always ready for action. 

Third: Do you have a fireplace or maybe a wood stove? I found an article that has practical advice for tending a wood fire in your hearth. 

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Elizabeth
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