I have a small wood burning fireplace in my home and I couldn't live without it. The smell of the woodsmoke, the feel of the natural heat on my face, the color and light of it in the evening--you can't top real, live flames! It's nice to know that even if the power goes out, I'm going to be comfortable in the wintertime; I always keep two days worth of wood stacked up in storage for just that and it's all cedar (Oh, baby!) I admit that I cheat and use a circular saw to section off pieces but it's an old saw, weighs a ton in my hand, and I do it hunched over on the floor of my garage, so I'll give myself a half-point for that.

I've actually always wanted to learn to wield a full-sized ax with precision. It truly is a composite workout.
"Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice." --Henry Ford
Baby Herc