It's windy and chilly outside tonight, and when I got home the house was kinda cold, so I built a fire. Okay, for those of you who've known me for a while, yes, now I can do it. Finally. Without lighter fluid. I still need that for the barbecue, but I can start a fire in our fireplace.
The fireplace is one of the reasons we bought this house. We've purchased a bunch of firewood, which has been an experience. We're learning, bit by bit. One thing we've learned is that I really can't split wood, just lug it around. And I'm finally learning about stacking it.
But there's really something satisfying about a fire when it's cold. And there's something really viscerally comforting about a campfire in the woods at night. The smells, the sight of it, it's no wonder people have believed all these years that fire is magic. When you add good food, good friends and good beverages, well, life doesn't get much better.
In the SCA, camp sites that allow fire are wonderful. When you've got a group of people who've had a long, dusty day in the sun or a damp day in the trees, fighting and shopping and visiting, then to sit around a fire wrapped in a warm cloak passing a tankard of something home-brewed and telling "No shit, there I was" stories with drums beating in the background, well, I dare any insomniac to have trouble sleeping. I think some of the best sleep I've ever gotten was at an event.
But it's nice to have a fire here in the house. Aside from the help on the heating bill, it's just satisfying to watch the flames leap and dance, to smell the burning wood, to do that slow spin you do when you're warming up. So we're cuddled up, nice and toasty warm while the wind tickles around outside, and I hope you are too.
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