On the real cold days, that's what I do. If I don't abuse the snooze button in the morning, that is. I wake up, go to the stove, open the air, rake the coals, throw in a couple of splits, and take a shower. After my shower I throw in a couple more in and leave the door cracked. After I get dressed I close the door, and start moving the air back. Usually after all my morning stuff is done, and the dog taken care of I have the air all the way back down, and head off to work. 8 hours later I still have a nice fat coal bed to get it going again.
For the record, if I don't load in the morning, the coals that are left in the stove are VERY small, and I have to throw some kindling into the firebox, work it, then splits to get it going again. If I load in the morning, the coals when I get home are enough to get nice dry splits going again.
Also, my house is one level, fairly open floor plan, and only 950 sq ft, insulated fairly well, with mostly all new windows.
For the record, if I don't load in the morning, the coals that are left in the stove are VERY small, and I have to throw some kindling into the firebox, work it, then splits to get it going again. If I load in the morning, the coals when I get home are enough to get nice dry splits going again.
Also, my house is one level, fairly open floor plan, and only 950 sq ft, insulated fairly well, with mostly all new windows.