Domestic thermal enhancement accomplished

Or, in other words, yesterday was housewarming day, and it went off well (although we had quite a few less people show up than we were expecting).  We had the Delories and novel_tharkun, a couple of cymrullewes' co-workers, and brief visits from a couple of the neighbors.  I was a little disappointed in this batch of ribs, which came out rather lacking in flavor, but cymrullewes' venison chili came out well, and the sushi -- if I say so myself -- was among the best we've ever made.  I definitely think I've finally got the art of cooking good sushi rice, but next time I want to buy plain rice vinegar and season it myself; I find the brownish tint that the seasoned rice vinegar imparts to the rice aesthetically displeasing.  The fireworks went off well; having now seen what the medium-size mortars from the fireworks store in Londonderry are like, I'm rather more curious than previously about the big ones.

Subsequently, today, we discovered that the damper on the downstairs fireplace only opens half-way unless "helped" with the fireplace poker, and that when only half-way open, it puffs smoke out into the room.  Especially if there's cold air falling down the chimney and you don't get a good hot start to your fire.  Oops.

Courtesy of vernard ...

... who found this.