Fires in the Fall

The gypsy fire burns out-of-doors

In places wild and free;

I’d rather be a Gypsy fire

Than any fire, says she!

~Elizabeth Fleming    Fires

Last spring my husband ordered a 36” diameter

metal fire ring from the Sportsman's Guide. We placed it in the backyard and enjoyed a few months of fire ambiance when he casually started to mention building an official fire pit with pavers around the metal fire ring.  This was the result.

We ADORE the family time spent around this dominating feature of our backyard.  There is just something about leaning back in your chair, staring at the fire, watching the smoke curl upwards, talking…or just being silent.  It’s relaxing, cozy and mesmerizing.

Of course, we build lots of fires in the summer, but a bonfire in the summer just doesn’t have the same ambiance as a chilly, evening, Autumn Fire.  Just last night we had our first Autumn Fire with another couple. After children had all gone to bed, the four of us huddled around the fire, bundled in jackets, with a bit of food and a drink.  Tikki lights glowed, and silence was unknown. It was the night before the Harvest Moon. Looking up I saw the silhouette of the Cedar trees in the bright sky. 

Tonight, we had dinner around the fire, while waiting for the Harvest Moon to appear. If it is a Friday or Saturday night, it’s not raining (a common occurrence in the Pacific Northwest) and I’m not pregnant (another common occurrence) we’ll try to dine amongst the Cedars!  Especially in the Fall and Winter months.

Growing up our main source of heat was a wood burning stove. I have fond childhood memories of the first load of wood brought into the house as the colder temperatures approached.  It required furniture to be rearranged to make room for the 15-20 boxes of wood that sat under the staircase and a trip to the grocery store for those extremely sturdy lettuce boxes that housed the wood.  We would put on our gloves and “help” my Dad load the boxes and bring the boxes in on the dolly. My dad wore his wool pants with suspenders and always a hat….he just smelled like OUTSIDE! 

Pete has visions of our girls growing up with “bonfire camaraderie” as we call it.  Instead of television or malls or talking on the phone, hopefully they will enjoy hours around a brightly lit fire enjoying nature, their family, their friends and a chance to just sit, to just “be” and…..be grateful.  That’s what I felt last night and tonight.  Grateful for my hard-working husband, my sweet children, the cool autumn air and those precious moments of joy and peace.

                                                            

Sing a song of seasons

Something bright in all

Flowers in the summer

Fires in the fall

    ~from Autumn Fires, R.L. Stevenson

                                                                                                                                   

I love to see the cottage smoke

Curl upwards through the trees;

The pigeons nestled round the cote

On November days like these

~from Autumn by John Clare

                                                          

Crack your first nut and light your first fire,

Roast your first chestnut crisp on the bar;

Make the logs sparkle, stir the blaze higher,

Logs are as cheery as sun or as star,

Logs we can find wherever we are

~from October by Christina Rossetti

Comments

[Cheryl]

I have to show this to my dh. He would love it. He is always involved in some sort of project. I always say, what's worth doing is worth doing well. Your fire pit came out great and it looks like a wonderful place to relax.

[Jenn Miller]

What a wonderful opportunity for family gatherings and memories! Your husband had great foresight, and you were wonderful in working through the hard time. It just looks and sounds so lovely!

[Leonie]

The fire pit looks like a lot of fun - a good place to gather.

[Kevin]

Pete, excellent work! Here's to “bonfire camaraderie”... now I've got to get planning on how to upgrade our family's fire ring!

Pax et Bonum,
-Kevin