We've only broke 40° once, maybe twice, in the last 10 days... and had two overnights in single digits.
First fire was a month ago, and except for a couple times during the day it's been burnin' steady... mostly low 'n' slow, but steady.
I don't look forward to the first fire... really, I don't. It just means 25-35 weeks of checkin' the box, loadin' the box, dumpin' the ashes, and whatnot. Heating 100% with wood means ya' can't say... "well screw it, I ain't gonna' mess with it today", 'cause there ain't any other choice. It helps to have a system and routine... but even the "routine" starts gettin' a bit old 'round February.
Routine...
Roll-out, pee, start coffee, walk down the steps and fill box, open ash drawer to get it goin', have morning smoke, walk up steps and pour coffee... top-off firebox before headin' to work.
Get home from work, open evening beer, walk down the steps and fill box, empty ash drawer, have evening smoke, walk up steps and grab second beer... top-off firebox before headin' to bed.