The Middle East Conflicts have created a lot of concern over the prices of heating oil and gas. The price per barrel of home heating oil jumped 4% today. And depending on what happens there this week, oil prices could go higher. Although investor concerns about the unrest in the Mideast and North Africa are legitimate, considering they account for 35 percent of the world's oil supply and reserves, so far oil production and exports have not been affected.

Even those who are traditionally unconcerned with their heating bill have given thought to the price of heating their homes for the remainder of this winter. Combined with the fact that oil and gas prices only go higher in the summer, we cannot avoid the conversation about oil prices. With the tightening of our financial belts these last few years, we have seen ourselves cut back on going out to dinner, entertainment, the family get away, and much more. But in the cold weather, who wants to cut back on home heat.

No one wants to turn the heat down when it just seems to keep on snowing.Wood heat is the answer. With a wood burning stove or insert, you can avoid the oil and gas bill or at least supplement it. With wood burning inserts that can heat a 2000 sq ft home and burn for 10 hours, heating your home is not just inexpensive, it is easy.

If you are looking for a way to bring Valentine’s Day to your home every day, add fire. A gas fireplace or insert can be added to any bedroom. Change the look and feel of your bedroom with easy installation and instant ambience. There is nothing more romantic or relaxing than a roaring fire. And, let’s face it, cluttered with exercise bikes, kid’s toys and laptops, these days the master bedroom needs a little help. With warmth and firelight, a gas fireplace or insert can change all of that.

A direct vent gas fireplace or insert is easy to install and simple to use. Many people like the look of a traditional fireplace to make their living space feel cozy and that is what makes gas so desirable. There are numerous benefits to being able to have that roaring fire without the added hassle and mess.

At the touch of a button, your master bedroom goes from fizzle to sizzle. With either a traditional style or modern look, West Sport has a gas insert or fireplace for your tastes.

Making your way home on those freezing winter nights can be so much more enjoyable knowing that what welcomes you home is a warm master bedroom with a whole new look and feel. And waking up on those cold winter mornings is so much easier when, with a remote control, you can turn on the fire without even touching your blankets. You can enjoy the romantic setting in front of the fire with warmth and firelight as your new decor.

Wood burning fireplaces, inserts and stoves are all great ways to supplement - or even replace - the usual gas- and oil-fired furnaces we use to heat our homes. With our record breaking snow and cold that we have been having many of you have burned a few cords of wood this winter. Burning wood is very environmentally sound, but then the question arises, after cleaning your stove and removing the ashes with your ash bucket, what to do with the ashes? At West Sport in Sudbury, we have a couple of suggestions. Of course, you need a metal receptacle to store the ashes in first.

Has your dog been skunked? Well, rub a couple handfuls into his or her coat, this neutralizes the lingering odor. Their coat color may be a bit different, but it is worth it to get the smell to go away.

If you have been painting near the driveway or walkways, and you’ve got paint spatters, drop a handful of ash into the wet paint and rub it around with your boot or shoe.

This blends the color into the concrete. Keep a can of ashes handy when you’re painting near the driveway or walks.

Before the organic mix is applied to soil, Ashes enhance soils potassium content; sprinkle some ashes into your organic mix before you add it to the soil. But don’t over-do it. Ashes raise the soil’s alkalinity, so avoid using them around acid-loving rhododendrons, azaleas and junipers.

This spring spread some ashes evenly around garden beds, ash repels slugs and snails. Dusted over growing plants, it keeps beetles and caterpillars at bay. But keep in mind that you need to re-apply; ashes will wash off in the rain.

Wood ashes add traction, and the dark color absorbs solar heat to melt ice without hurting the soil, pavement or concrete underneath.