DEAR SUN SPOTS: How do you measure for a cord of 16-inch firewood, cut and split, to figure out if you got a cord? — No Name via e-mail

ANSWER: A cord of stacked firewood measures four by four by eight feet. Of course, if you want it stacked, you most likely are doing it yourself, as it costs extra to have it stacked after the truck dumps it in your yard.

Fortunately, the math is easy on 16-inch logs. You would stack three rows, each eight-feet long, and those rows should reach four feet high.

Sun Spots has generally felt like the deliveries she gets are fair. She buys from a contractor whose trucks are designed to hold two cords, and that’s what she’s gotten.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: During the winter my husband enjoys doing woodwork projects, such as carving birds. Recently he expressed a keen interest in making miniature furniture, which pleases me since I have saved some dollhouse furniture from my 1950s’ childhood. Some pieces are lost or broken, and he could replace them.

He found a workbook that includes basic patterns. However, all furniture this small requires balsa wood. In “our day” balsa wood was available, but a search for this material at the local craft store and at the two large hardware stores reveals were not successful. It appears that fewer people do craft projects “from scratch.”

Do you or your readers know of a shop or hardware store that does sell balsa wood? Perhaps there is a crafter who could help us find this wood and other items useful in making furniture miniatures. Many thanks! — Susan and Edvill Howland, Turner, 225-3639

ANSWER: Sun Spots knows that many of her readers are sick of being told to go to the Internet, but for many specialty projects, that is the only place to find them. And often the cheapest.

Online, Sun Spots turned up www.balsawoodinc.com, www.thewoodbox.com, www.balsasupply.com and www.nationalbalsa.com, among others. Balsa sheets are even available at amazon.com, but their selection is limited.

It appears that the most common craft use is for model airplanes, and there are places that specialize in the wood for that purpose.

Perhaps one of the column’s many “crafty” readers will know of a local source. If not, Sun Spots suggests that you toddle on over to your public library and check out the sites above. Once you’ve found one you like, you should be able to locate a phone number and address and order that way.

Most libraries have someone on hand to help novice users navigate the Web, or will even look things up for you. You will have better luck getting help if you go on a weekday morning when they are not too busy.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am looking for a recipe for pumpkin pie made with molasses, but no sugar (white or brown). I have searched through numerous cookbooks and on the Internet, but every recipe so far has some sugar or brown sugar.

Someone must have a recipe that has no sugar in it. After all, the Pilgrims didn’t have refined white sugar! I would like to have this in time for Thanksgiving. Thanks for any help you can give me. — C.M., Greene

ANSWER: Did you try looking in a historical cookbook? Sun Spots’ mother once had a dinner party based on recipes from a Colonial Williamsburg cookbook.

At Amazon.com, Sun Spots found “The Plimoth Colony Cook Book.” The Maine library system has “The Plimoth Plantation New England cookery book.” It is currently in the stacks at the Rumford library. Maybe their reference librarian would look in it for you.

Sun Spots is sorry she did not get your letter in sooner. It has been a very busy pre-holiday season, and the letters are backed up.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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