The idea of burning wood for a primary heating source was once completely foreign to me. I can recall many years ago when my husband and I first moved to Wisconsin, we planned to live off the grid. We built a bermed home; with the intentions of heating it with wood we would cut ourselves. Freeing us from energy costs by installing many passive solar systems into our home was the goal of that time. As it turned out the house was extremely efficient, but heating with wood was not a real joy. It was a lot of physical work to "Make Wood". The task of using a chain saw to cut the trees down, the work of tossing chucks of logs into a wagon and hauling it down the hill to the shed was brutal. It was backbreaking labor, splitting the whole pile was more than I could endure. It was then, that I first learned as an X-city girl, that old country saying... "If you heat with wood you'll heat yourself twice". That was very true... a few years later we installed a gas furnace thus ending my "Wood Making" career.
Today I do still have some wood-burning going on in my home but it is a much cleaner. I have a pellet stove in our family room. It is very eco-friendly and enormously back-friendly too. Basically you buy bags of pre-made pellets at the local Tractor Supply Store or similar store. No muss No fuss, just tear open a bag and dump it into the stove, push the on button and let the little auger do its job. Instead of throwing another log on the fire, the stove automatically deposits a steady stream of pellets into the little fire chamber. The pellets look a little like rabbit food; burn clean because they are low moisture and basically there is very little ash, after-wards to clean up. With the deep freeze of sub zero temperatures already here, we are staying toasty warm and saving lots of energy, as well as, our backs. So let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, as long as the pellets don't run out.
Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin
call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599
At this time of the season, I am hearing a lot of "Thanks goodness my Christmas shopping is done!" Yesterday we had more snow along with sub-zero weather and Main Street was deserted. I feel really sorry for anyone who still has the job of hunting down a few last minute gifts. 
A Home Especially for you at Christmastime... here is a Viroqua listing which is homey and comfortable and has seller's that are all set to move! I have been as busy as Santa's Elf's working hard to find a buyer for this home. You might just be the perfect one! So, if you are seeking lots of living space, a big fenced backyard for privacy, and also would like a home that is located on a tree-lined street, call my Christmas Home Hot-line at: 800-851-8711. This Maple Street home is pleasantly offered at a very affordable price, it has so many of the extra features that many of you buyers have told me you want; such as a formal dining room, a home office, hardwood floors, plus 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths. Make plans to view it soon, I am sure the comfortable living offered here in this home will bring you many years of joy and happiness. I am wishing you the special things that this season brings... the opportunity to own this home! Currently asking only $116,000
"Tis the Season to be Merry"... As Christmas Day draws nearer and the year begins to wind down, it is time once again to reflect upon the past years business of 2008. I would have to say 2008 has been a more challenging and demanding year than any other year I can actually recall. For most of the year we in the housing industry have had to listening to the entire news media, filled daily with bad news about failed banks, home foreclosures and now the Auto industry woes; we can only hope that 2009 will be better. We have watched home prices drop and worked longer hours, daily to find buyers for our listings and service our buyer clients. Perhaps a little silver lining in all these dark clouds will be many families will be drawn closer together over the holidays with less emphasis on material things and more emphasis on caring and being there for each other. 
Don't you just love it when everything is just right?
New Listings for the Month of December totaled 13 all across Vernon County.
VERY NICE FOUR BEDROOM HOME AT THE END OF A SECLUDED VALLEY. LARGE STONE FIREPLACE, FORMAL DINING ROOM, EAT IN KITCHEN, MAIN FLOOR LAUNDRY. MANY RECENT UPGRADES. CUSTOM CABINETS AND BUILT IN BOOK CASES. USER FRIENDLY FLOOR PLAN. PROPERTY ALSO FEATURES A CLASS A TROUT STREAM, A POND AND SMALL CREEK FLOWING THROUGH THE YARD. GUEST COTTAGE, HORSE BARN, GARAGE, AND MORE. 
First thing every morning I always stop at the post office to pick up my mail. What a nice surprise... today inside by mailbox was a little package. Upon closer look I notice it was from my AR Friend, 
Along with cold weather, there is no surer sign that the holidays are here... than holiday parties. We have already had the neighborhood party, which was a progressive party going from house to house. This week there will be several others to attend. 
