Vintage Wood Cook Stove for Dummies

As you may know, I bought an old mining cabin 

in the Colorado Rocky Mountains a couple of weeks ago.
(You can read about it HERE.)

We've been busy cleaning it out and doing a few repairs like putting good locks on the doors, removing a toilet tank from the kitchen wall (what were they thinking?) 

and trimming some of the uneven boards on the decks.  

We're making slow progress but it's been fun to see the shape of things to come. 

One of the things that drew me to this cabin was the old wood cook stove. 

The black and silver finishes are so beautiful. I can't wait to use it.
If only I knew how.

It's an oldie but goodie -- an Acorn made by Rathbone, Sard and Co. in Albany, New York. 

The company made wood stoves from 1833 to 1925.

OK. So my first draft of this post was to ask all you smart readers out there how to use this stove.
BUT, my sister and nephew have been visiting me and we spent a couple of days at the cabin.
Turns out, they knew all about these wood-burners and were a huge help.
Here are my sister and I in our "front yard."

After a couple of trial runs, I think I now know how to start the fire.
I even took detailed notes to remind me after they leave.

My main concern was how to regulate the heat. 

It's not like you can just turn a dial to lower the flame.
I have to admit I was a little afraid I might burn the cabin down!

So, I learned all about dampers and vents and the firebox and "ash tray."
Apparently, it's all about oxygen (providing it for more heat
and closing it off when it gets too hot).

We had so much fun lighting this stove, pulling our chairs up close for warmth,
and even heating water in my tea kettle and making chamomile tea.
The stove stayed warm for hours and
I can already imagine using it when the weather turns cold.
(We spent the night and the temp dropped to 34 degrees!)

Even though I'm not a complete wood-stove newbie anymore,
I'd still love to hear from you with any tips you might have.

Thanks so much!

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