As the weather cools down, it becomes a bit more difficult to justify spending time outside – especially at night when it gets the chilliest. Still, it is one of my favorite times of the year. Unfortunately, my family really does not agree with me there.
Of course, this does not mean that I do not want to hang out with them still! I tend to prefer getting in a comfortable sweater and sitting out on the patio, but it is hard to convince them to join me. I took to the internet to brainstorm some solutions to this problem.
While there are resources out there like this one, https://www.newhorizonacademy.net/five-ways-spend-time-outside-family/, for other parents such as myself, sometimes they can feel inaccessible. In terms of enrichment for everyone to enjoy, there are a few possibilities that we can entertain. If you are curious about one of them in specific, that being a fire pit, be sure to stick around today!
What is a Fire Pit?
The answer to this one is pretty simple, seeing as fire pits can take many different forms. Traditionally, though, they are some sort of metal grate or cage, be it on the ground or elevated, where we can light a fire. The grate is there to protect anyone sitting there from accidentally burning themselves, of course. Considering the variety that exists, though, do not feel constrained to only this model.
Rather, feel free to explore the different options. The one that I have is vertical rather than horizontal and is topped by a pyramid shape. Mine is black, but you can get iron, copper, or other painted selections as well. It will be up to you and what you think looks aesthetically pleasing for your setup.
What Makes them Useful?
It is more than fair to wonder about the answer to this question. That being said, there are a ton of different ways that we can make use of them, both for ourselves and to spend time with family. The first is rather obvious, but you can click here to find out more about how it works.
So, what is that obvious point? Well, it is huddling by the flames for some warmth. Depending on the design that you select and the wind on a given day, you might have to contend with some ashes and embers being blown in your direction. However, it is really not that big of an issue, and the comforting crackle often outweighs that.
Now, this is only one thing. Cooking on it is an activity that my family absolutely loves to do together no matter what time of the year that it is. What all can we cook on one, though?
Marshmallows are probably the first thing that comes to most of our minds. A perfectly toasted marshmallow is an amazing way to warm up after a cold day. The roasting of them is quite fun too, considering how silly it can get with kids. I know hearing the delighted giggles or the “oh no” when one catches on fire is quite heartwarming.
Hot dogs or other forms of sausage are also a classic. To make it more fun, you can get a few different varieties. Cheddar and jalapeno cheddar dogs are fan favorites in my house. Either way, you are sure to appeal to somebody.
The final thing I would like to mention here might bring back some memories of camping with the boy scouts and/or the girl scouts, if you were ever a part of either group. They are called mountain pies, and trust me when I tell you that they are utterly delicious. What are they, then? The beauty of them is that you can add whatever filling that you would like.
The core ingredients are simple. Get some bread (usually plain white works best, depending on the mountain pie maker that you use) and some butter. Generously coat each side of the bread in the butter and then place the pieces on either side of the maker. Add your preferred fillings – personally, I like to make pizza ones with tomato sauce, cheese, and pepperoni, but the dessert ones are lovely too!
As you can see, there are so many possibilities when it comes to fire pits and the fun that they can bring into a home. While it might not be everyone’s cup of tea necessarily, you can usually coax even the grumpiest of teenagers to at least make themselves dinner by the fire. More often than not, they will end up staying and hanging out for a while, too!
Just remember that the choices are endless, so you do not have to settle for a model that you do not like. Experimenting with different materials can be quite fun!
