The Erdmans have three fireplaces in their Mahwah home: One in the dining room, one in the library and one in the great room.
“The only one we’ve ever used is in the great room,” said Diane Erdman.
But that one gets a lot of use once the cooler weather rolls around.
“My husband, Andy, makes a wood fire every Saturday and Sunday,” said Erdman. “He gets it started once we’re in for the day. On Sunday, he likes to hang out and watch his football by the crackling fire. It’s so cozy. He likes to get it really roaring.”
Some might say there’s something primordial about the urge to build a roaring fire. Nowadays, fireplaces serve largely a decorative function in our homes. But we still have a soft spot in our hearts for the hearth, and its connotations of psychological warmth and togetherness.
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