Pine needles in your shoes. There is soot on your nose. Who hasn’t struggled with a piece of multi fuel stoves while staring at a log burner like it was an obstinate old mule that wouldn’t start? Log burners are the heart-thumping friend on cold nights and the pride of any comfortable cottage. Let’s burn down myths, hopes, and, well, real logs.

First thing to do: pick a log. Softwood burns too quickly, hardwood too slowly, and green wood just fills the living room with smoke. Choose anything that has been around for at least a year. You won’t have to deal with that nasty fog getting on your furniture and testing your smoke alarm. People love to argue over ash, oak, and beech, but half the time it’s just their grandpa’s advice that they hear through a pint glass. Give some a try. Find your fave.

No one likes cleaning these things. If you don’t clean up the ash, though, the whole house will smell like a bonfire gone wrong. Take a small brush and clean up every week or two. Keep the ash for your blooms. If you don’t garden, you can also have your neighbor take it away. They’ll be grateful in the spring.

When it comes to being thankful, there’s something magical about putting a neat stack of logs next to your burner. Even the laziest dog likes to snuggle up next to you. Your end-of-day routine changes: you open a book, stare at the flames, and lose sight of time. I planned to read a chapter, but when I woke up two hours later, half of a log pile was evaporated, leaving behind burning embers.

Most people don’t realize how important kindling is. If it’s too little, you’ll be fretting forever. If it’s too big, there won’t be any fire. Dry twigs or slivers cut right through anger. Put a crumpled newspaper under it. No glossy, scent-dripping junk mail, unless you like the smell of chemicals in the air.

Don’t forget to be safe. Clean that flue. Give the burner some room, especially if youngsters or pets are around. Brass kettles that are shiny seem nice, but they don’t help with humidity unless they’re full. Don’t allow an oven mitt come too close. Fires demand respect, not showboating.

If you’re trying to save money, efficiency is key. A door that seals tightly and new fire rope keep heat from escaping. Change the movement of air. Watch the flames. Are they dancing and popping like a jazz band, or are they suffocating on their own smoke? Like any other member of the family, you’ll get to know how they feel.

There are things that are different about each season. In the winter, you have to use it more often, carry heavier logs, and go outdoors more often to get wood, even while it’s sleeting. Summer? Some people still turn on the stove for the show and maybe open a window to keep things in balance. If you like fires in July, there’s no rule that says you can’t have one.

So here’s to the log burner, the first way to have fun without a screen. Your car might just run like it should. You might have your best stories and peaceful nights right next to it. It beats shivering under a mound of blankets, and it definitely beats looking at a thermostat and hoping for magic to happen.