The Fireplace Balloon is a cylindrical balloon you insert in a fireplace above the damper that blocks drafts. You have to measure the fireplace. The fireplace pillow is a flat inflatable cushion that you insert in the fireplace below the damper. You supposedly don't have to measure. The Fireplace Blanket is a fireproof blanket with magnets on the edge you attach to the fireplace to cut off drafts. They aren't *needed*, exactly, but I'm told a house loses a lot of heat from fireplaces. I was looking for low-effort solutions to stop heat loss that can easily be removed if we want a fire. Here is a link that might be useful: Chimney Balloon

You know, this is terrible to admit but I joined Flylady 3 months ago and have never opened an email!!!! I know that sounds terrible, but I look around my house and I think "There is soo much stuff in here that I dont know where to start" so I then watch a crafting or cooking show or I get on the pc. I just cant seem to get started!!I too belong to Freecycle. Have never given anything away on there. Have recieved a few items though. We did purge clothes at the begining of summer. Need to do it again though. Did have a yard sale and got rid of alot of stuff but not really enough. Seems as though I need more personal help to get me off my behind. And my husband doesnt help either. As I sit here I look over at the lamp by his chair. There are hats hanging from it even though he has a rather nice hat rack. Pray for me ladies, I really want to get this started!!

Two ides for you: Pick up some One Pass at Home Depot. It's an engineered cement. You could add some of your colorant to it if you like. Mix a small quantity with a little water and fill the voids. After it dries you could wipe it down with a damp rag or sand it smooth. Second, get a quart of deep base water based paint. Don't have any colorant added. Mix a small amount of the untinted paint with your pigment until it has enough opacity to cover your patches. Use a small amount of paint on a dry brush to feather colors together.

Hope finding the brick above gives you a little peace of mind. Years ago, (dating myself) we had an oval shaped cast iron wood burning heater downstairs and a metal shelf hung between rafters in the ceiling to hold brick above the ceiling and thru the roof. The triple walled pipe attached to the back of the heater took the smoke from the heater to the brick. Covering that heater and pipe with the least possible brick or stone -- least possible expense -- would likely have resulted in a triangle shaped chimney. That is why I suspected you may find a wood burning stove or fireplace insert and some triple walled metal pipe beneath the stone -- but you may not be able to know for sure unless/until the stone is removed. Even if you eventually discover you don't like the look of the brick behind the stone downstairs much or any better than the current uneven stone, it would be easier to clad "straight/smooth" brick with something you do like than to try to alter the current stone. Also, without the stone adding to the size of the fireplace, it is likely there would be less of the floor to redo to match your new flooring. Looking forward to the "after" pics when you make your home/fireplace what you want it to be.