A fireplace on my patio.

This old friend has long ago crumbled to clay, and is scattered into the woods behind the property. And, a nicely decorative, metal chiminaea has taken its place.

When friends are over, we often light her up, and solve the world's problems. We conjure interesting images. We discuss our concerns, the weather, and the nature of God.

Near the fireplace, we keep warm on cold, autumn or winter evenings, and enjoy the outside air, the black, star-filled sky seen through the branches of my 75 foot white pine trees, and the scent of burning maple.

Joe