Evening By The Fire

As evening began to fall, I headed outside to start a fire in the fire pit. Big logs that took two hands to lift were thrown it to make a good size fire. It was a hot day and the coolness of the night air felt good. I was glad to be outside. A long bank of dark gray clouds approaching from the west looked as though a great huge wool blanket was being pulled up over the earth. We watched it slowly creep our way, but never arrived. Standing off it reminded me of a freshly made bed with the covers turned down just a bit.
The fire started easily and soon filled the land with the smell of mesquite . Brennon our cat, came and found his place on one of the great stumps that sits between each of the 5 oak trees that encircles this area.
We always have music outside with us when we spend the evening by the fire. Tonight ancient sounding Gaelic songs filled the air as we sat counting stars and roasting marshmallows. Aine Minogue is one of my favorite musicians. She sings so well and plays the Irish harp. I love hearing Gaelic sung, it sounds so old and transports you to another time and place.
Fireflies mingled with the sparks, looking magical in the blackness that had crept in as time had passed. Watching the tiny bits of light flickering all over the yard made me want to believe they were tiny fairies.
Crickets joined in the music. It could not have been a more perfect night. Emery and I counting stars, first we saw 100 and then 200 as the sky grew darker. Later we gave up and just decided there were thousands. We were laughing and enjoying the moment but still comfortable in the times of silence when we each found ourselves transfixed by the flickering orange and yellow reflections from the flames dancing on the broad burr oak leaves. Far better than any laser show.
It was hard to pull ourselves away from this evening by the fireside and head towards the house. The night was so black we could not even see the house from where we were. But the old familiar trail so often traveled didn't need to be lit, we know each step by heart and each hole to avoid.
Looking out the back door you can see a slight glow as the fire dies down. Its time for bed and dreams of ancient times when Bards sang about the histories of the people. Another simple night for our simple life.