Thanks! I've learned that these split-level homes are a nightmare to heat. I really wish we knew that before buying this place. Our furnace was thirty years old so it needed to be replaced anyway but it sure was a kick in the pants when it didn't solve the problem.
The ambiance of a wood-burning stove or fireplace beats a pellet stove any day in my book! There's something so comforting about them! It seems to warm you from the inside out. A pallet of 40lb wood pellet bags run around $300 and I think we should be able to manage most of the year with one pallet. The only issue is where to store them. No matter what I'll be getting a decent workout in the wintertime. : )
I think I feel happier when I am in wood-generated heat. I love the way it smells, too. My animals congregate around the stove when it's hot. Unfortunately, my neighbor does not feel the same way about the smell, and I can only light it when he is away. Luckily, that is most of the winter.
And yes, I do get a bit of a workout, mostly having to get down on the floor and back up again.
It's one of my favorite scents in the world! How could someone not like it? That's one thing I loved about our old neighborhood, all of those Victorian homes had fireplaces.