"Don't wish me happiness I don't expect to be happy all the time....It's gotten beyond that somehow. Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor. I will need them all." Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Tuesday 15 March 2016

Campfire blessings

We had a campfire the other day. It wasn't raining and I wanted to do some yard clean-up and keep the burn pile down to a manageable size. I got the fire going and I toasted some vege weiner dogs and we had some fruit salad. We heard a pileated woodpecker off in the forest and seals barking in the low tide. Unknown to me a very large ember landed on my long skirt. I had been looking at my daughter who was talking to me but something made me turn away. When I looked down at my rubber boots I saw smoke swirling around my legs. I ruffled my skirt and that's when I saw the large burning ember. I jumped up and shook it off but the skirt continued to burn. I was on fire! Most clothing I have learned is extremely flammable. The exceptions to this are nylon, polyester and wool but this skirt was not any of those. I grabbed my daughter's cup of cold water and carefully extinguished it. Just before this happened we had been to the cabin and brought the full cup back with us. There was just enough water in it to put the fire out. After we had lunch the fire got hot and I got motivated to do some yard work. I moved a pile of split cedar rails. They were wet and heavy from the winter rains. Than I stacked firewood that I had split last fall where the rails had been. The little angel helped along as much as she could. There were robins in the yard, shadows from sunlight, and high up in the maple trees above us catkins. The firewood almost got stacked but it was time to go inside. I've got a 2" hole to mend reminding me of this campfire and my blessings.

Sent from my iPhone

6 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, bless your heart! I'm so thankful that the Lord allowed you to bring out a cup of water with just enough water in it to put out the fire... He works just like that!

    Thank you Lord for keeping Ronda safe and providing just what she needed to put the fire out and stay safe!

    It sounds like you have a lot of the same work we do. The brush piles get bigger and bigger it seems, so many limbs and brush to take care of, an almost endless task. You made it fun with the hot dog cook out, but your sparky event will help you always remember it, lol! Take care Ronda, blessings and hugs to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was definitely a blessing. I have so much on my plate. It's amazing how much these second growth rainforest trees shed over the course of a winter. It's been wonderful to return again and again to work in the same forests each spring. As for my yard I do what I can but for the most part it isn't much. I hope your burning is going well and that you and your family are able to get it all done - even with the early spring. I also hope you have recovered from the'bug'. Sweet blessings to you! Hugs, Ronda

      Delete
  2. I'm so glad you weren't burnt. Must have been scary. xo Laura

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Laura! It's very nice to hear from you. Your right it was scary. This is the closest I have ever come to getting burned by an ember or a spark and I am very thankful that I didn't. Thank you for your visit.

      Delete
  3. Oh how scary. This was definitely a time when the phrase cooler heads prevail seemed true. I think I would've panicked!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kim I remember thinking that if It didn't extinguish with the water I would quickly remove the skirt and toss it into the fire. Thankfully there was no one else around. Thanks for your visit. Ronda

      Delete