Fire Pit

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Monday, September 5. 2016

I want one. I used to think they were silly, but now I realize that they are nothing but a permanent campfire. People love to assemble around them, the smoke keeps bugs away, and they are great for burning marshmallows.

And if you go pagan, you can put burnt offerings on it too. It won't hold an ox, but perhaps a goat or unblemished lamb.

I am planning to double the size of our cramped bluestone patio and already know where I want the fire.

This excellent specialty lumber place on Cape Cod, Stonewood, will deliver the cut stone on a pallet with the insert, ready for simple assembly. No mortar.

Posted by Bird Dog in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 14:57 | Comments (6) | Trackbacks (0)

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We've got something like that, probably a little smaller. Living on the edge of the woods we can gather an armful of fallen branches and the occasional larger piece and have an adequate supply of firewood. We don't use it all that often so it's no big deal to wait a day or two to scoop out the ash into a metal pail and wait until the next time you use it before dumping it in the woods. (The neighbor one time had an incident dumping some "cold" ashes in the woods - you never want to be too hasty in trying to guess when exactly the cold ashes are really cold.)

But there's just nothing like a fire to gather around and sip a drink or two, chat with friends or just stare quietly into the flames and be alone with your thoughts. Even if your only thoughts are how fascinating the patterns of flickering flames are.

#1 Jerryskids on 2016-09-05 15:15 (Reply)

I'm a stone mason and I turn out a surprising number of these in Britain of all shapes and sizes.

#2 Thud (Link) on 2016-09-05 15:30 (Reply)

If your fire pit won't handle an ox, well, you need a bigger fire pit.

#3 Animal (Link) on 2016-09-05 17:09 (Reply)

Funny I just got done putting one in. In the Berkshires it was easy to have one because stones were everywhere. In Houston we had a chiminea we never used once. The joke was that to have a fire in the fire place on Christmas eve you had to turn up the air conditioning. You might consider a neolithic addition for that ox. Instructions can be found in the classic: https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Fire-Rediscovered-Techniques-Wood-Fired/dp/1612121586

#4 Karen on 2016-09-05 18:38 (Reply)

I grew up in Houston, where we sometimes could get away with opening the doors so we could have a fire. My father, a chemist, would amuse us by throwing various chemicals on the flames to make pretty colors.

Outdoor firepits are great, especially if there's a good place to put your feet up without quite melting your soles. I've never known one to fail to gather a happy crowd. It's a campfire you can't easily stumble into, surrounded by a paved fireproof seating area. What's not to like? Give your guests marshmallows and oysters to roast.

#4.1 Texan99 on 2016-09-06 09:29 (Reply)

They're great, as long as they're yours. The neighbours', not so much. When the wind is in the wrong direction, your whole house fills with smoke, and you haven't had the joy of toasting marshmallows. Have a neighbour - great guy - who heats his garage with a wood stove. Stopped hanging the laundry outside after one too many loads came back in reeking of campfire. Still have to watch when open windows, particularly spring and fall, as can find house totally smoked out.

#5 Frances on 2016-09-06 21:24 (Reply)

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Monday, September 5. 2016

Fire Pit