Keep the homefires burning!

Summer is in full swing at the Urban Homestead.

Homestead? Really?

Well perhaps that is stretching it a bit.

Yet we try to connect with nature in our tiny urban grove.

A friend and as was decided later this night after 8 beers, one of the Fam, dropped by to help me run some plumbing. While over at Rona's for twine and a heavy bolt to keep the twine taunt for a plumb of sorts, gave me a chance to ask about backyard firepits. The store had only had gas ones available on my last visit, yet they had been restocked and a lovely wood burning model was available.

There had been literally years of willow branches which had fallen through their natural growth style in our urban grove. The pile was beginning to concern me as a fire hazard.

So as they say fight fire with fire.

When my Plumber's Helper arrived they were convinced that poking around in the basement may best be left for a rainy day and instead agreed to help me carry the disassemblef fitepit back from Rona's. What a flexible helper!

And then he launched into assembly!

Was it mentioned that the Helper, himself, had a helper or can a servant be your Master?

What could be done but bicycle off with two empty saddle bags for 12 Indian Pale Ales (or IPAs as Propeller Beer millenially markets them) as a ceremony of sorts seemed about to go down, the likes of which had not been seen since my, then, adolesent daughter's interest in Wicca and my Pagan friend who encouraged it.

(Met some nice folks at an annual weekend PaganFest up near Digby, Nova Scotia during that phase.)

The only Goddess present was requested to bring the first fire to the prepared pit as sunset bore down.

As darkness decended we were transported to a magical forest....

... without ever leaving home.