I do love fall.  In addition to the dropping evening temperatures, which allow me to open my windows wide and take in the cool breezes as I slumber, the long and dark evenings allow me to partake in another favorite pastime that highlights the season.

A bonfire.

There’s plenty of ways to have one, from fancy store-bought fire rings, outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, or just a simple circle made out of rocks.  Pile in the wood, light it up, pull up your favorite lawn chair, and enjoy the blaze.

Large or small, there is something comforting and soothing about sitting around a glowing fire in the evening, clutching a cup of your favorite beverage (like a coffee spiked with Bailey’s Irish Cream, or even a small dram of whiskey).  The heat of the flames cuts the briskness of the night just enough (but you can always wrap yourself in a blanket on chillier nights), and it’s easy to lose yourself in the hypnotic and ever-changing colors of red, orange, and yellow as they dance across the burning wood and embers.

I have a small chiminea on my back patio, and loading it up with a few pieces of wood and setting it aflame is a calming influence after a stressful work week or busy day.  It also seems to invariably draw my family out of their respective corners of the house and allows us all to gather together to partake in the comfort and serenity of our outdoor living space.  No Netflix, Facebook, or Instagram.  We talk.  We laugh.  We connect.

Try one out for yourself.  It might be just what the doctor ordered in the midst of this pandemic.