Usually the bonfires are a lot bigger than the one we lit up this year. We've had several smaller bonfires throughout the year that burned up some of the wood. As much fun as gigantic bonfires are, huge piles of wood have their downside as well. Chickens like to roost in them and hide out and lay their eggs deep within the pile where you can't get to their eggs. Then rats like to hide out in the large woodpiles, making their home and raising their rodent families. One year we lit the pile up and rats began scurrying from their hot habitat. In true redneck revelry, bonfire watchers began chasing rats and stomping them or hitting them with sticks. That's fun for the whole family, I tell you.
The annual bonfires are held in our pasture and as the fire begins blazing, the cows come around and watch alongside us. Just like us they are mesmerized by the flames.
Daisy and Russ staring into the fire |
Daisy wishing Russ Happy Birthday |
We waited patiently for the fire to burn down to where it was only coals. At this point you place the foil meals directly on the coals and allow to cook for 15 minutes. Then flip the foil meal over and allow to cook for an additional 15 minutes. Then it is ready to eat. Pull them off of the coals and open up the foil. You can eat with a fork directly from the foil and roll up your foil when finished eating for quick cleanup.
Eat Mor Chikn |
The foil meals were delicious. I must admit I felt a little guilty smelling the aroma of beef cooking and then eating beef while accompanied by our milk cows. I thought they would come out with signs that said, "Eat Mor Chikn" or something! Later on Russ and Benjamin went to the local Fireworks tent and purchased a variety pack of fireworks for $20. We popped fireworks in the backyard literally watching $20 bucks go up in smoke, but we had a good time.
The next day we continued with our fiery ways and started a fire in the fireplace. We got out photo albums and began looking at things we've done in the past as a family, looking back a little bit of time we shared together and good family times we've had over the past years. I think it shows the importance of family and togetherness and sets the table for that basis of family times to be carried over into 2016 and years forward.
Looking in the past with eyes on the future |
Hopefully, if the Good Lord's willing, we'll make more memories in 2016...
No comments:
Post a Comment