Fire

holding onto winter

My son Jordan creating fire as a camp counselor

As I move into February, I am doing my best to hold onto what’s left of winter. I know many are counting the days until spring. But for me, the fire lover I am, it’s one of my favorite seasons as we spend long afternoons at the fire pit. I’m not sure where my love of fire came from. I didn’t grow up camping. And I don’t remember my parents ever building a fire in our fireplace. Instead, I remember one of those lights with the spinning color wheel sitting in the fireplace housing. 

Somewhere along the way, I fell madly in love with fire. Hopefully, it goes without saying that I’m not talking about wildfires or forest fires, arson, etc.

The scent of a burning fire and its heat warm something deep within. I feel safe, calm, and content; there’s no place else I’d rather be. 

When Rick and I first began dating, he lit a fire in my fireplace. I vividly remember watching him crouched in front of my fireplace, sporting a flannel shirt and jeans. Apparently, I’ve always been a country girl at heart because he looked better than had he been in a tux. Little did he understand that he was finding his way to my heart. No diamonds necessary; build me a fire!

He’s been building me fires ever since. That first year, he showed me how easy it was to start a fire with a few branches off the drying Christmas tree. Oh my gosh, the crackle and the whoosh are much easier than using fire starters. My across-the-street neighbor put her Christmas tree out to the curb for pickup. But since the pickup was days away, I would venture over with my cutters each afternoon and whack off a few branches to start my evening fire. By the time garbage day came around, the tree was merely a trunk. I had some lovely fires that winter.

When we moved to the foothills, I didn’t realize I was moving to a locale that allows burn piles. That was something new for this city girl. And boy, was I excited. Our friend Peter helped us build one of our first burns. And although it was fun, I was much more frightened than anticipated. It’s one thing to have a fire in your fireplace, yet another to light up a 4x6 pile of branches/leaves/etc. when you live on a lot covered in trees. 

We did fine, but not long after, our buddy and partner in crime, Lalo, arrived for a visit with a cement water pipe he had found discarded on an old almond farm in the valley. He had a plan. We would build a fire pit. I wrote about this a few years ago, but it’s always fun to revisit.

Janet, Lalo, Rick and I building the pit

Once Rick and Lalo got the pipe off the truck (it took five men to get it on the truck), they rolled it over to the intended site. They leveled the ground, and we began what would be a labor of love. Janet and I collected rocks from the property, and we all cemented them to the outside. Rick later added firebricks to the inside. The pit area was lovingly named Sanchez Grove in honor of Lalo and Janet.

The kindness and generosity of others can change your life. We completed the pit in September of 2017. I can’t tell you how many happy hours we’ve spent with loved ones sitting around that pit. 

This Christmas, we splurged and added a few items to Sanchez Grove, a few blankets and a cast iron dutch oven to cook at the pit. Because we were down with the flu, we’ve yet to enjoy our new goodies, but we will soon, and throughout the remainder of this winter. I’m hoping to make a stick-to-your-ribs stew soon.

One of our first times cooking on the pit

And these days, if I’m lucky enough to have a neighbor put out a Christmas tree for disposal, I don’t bother with the cutters. I drag the whole tree over to our pit. 

I said in my last post it’s the little things that make life worth living. A small arsenal of favorite things is essential to staying happy and strong. For me, it’s a fire in the pit, loved ones close, and food that quiets everyone eating because it’s just that good. 

And Lalo, I’ll thank you forever for your vision of the pit and helping us turn it into a reality, and Janet, for being the doggone best wing-woman on the planet. Here’s to hopefully many days and nights by the fire in 2023.