We've got this outdoor fireplace thing that UnkaJay and Stacy gave us last year. It is sort of faux adobe in appearance, meaning that it is pleasantly round and rustic looking, with a bulbous base and a pleasant, cylindrical chimney. It's been sitting in our backyard, quietly adding a touch of class to an otherwise trashy looking yard. The grass is only just starting to show signs of life after some vigorous watering, and the toys tend to migrate outwards, away from the house, as if they secretly entertain thoughts of leaping the fence. Sometimes the actually do leap the fence, usually with a little help from one of the boys. Sometimes they leap back into our yard too, with a little help from the neighbors. But I digress...
Today I decided to finally have a fire in our fireplace thing. It was pretty cool. I mean hot. You know what mean. I does, however, tend to spit sparks towards the overhanging branches of our resident trees. It's a good thing it started to rain as I was lighting the fire. The storm clouds had been hanging over the city all afternoon, and were looking impressively ominous. I absolutely love watching the clouds build up in preparation for some good, solid drenching. Unfortunately, this wasn't really a drenching. More like a bit of spittle. It did end up providing a good contrast to the orange glow of the fire. I sat outside in the gathering darkness and enjoyed the smell of smoke, only slightly marred by the smell of barbeque from over the fence. The kids sat inside and watched Snow White.

Oh yeah, We keep forgetting to mention that Willow now has a couple of teeth, and knows how to use them.

cds I listened to while wishing it would rain some more: Tom Waits "Blood Money" and "Alice", Tyr "Eric the Red", Yma Sumac "Sampler Exotica" and "Legend of the Jivaro", V/A "These Wings Without Feathers", V/A "Mask of the People", and John Arch "A Twist of Fate"