I love watching a cozy fire in the evening.
In the summer, in spring, or autumn, a cozy campfire in the evening with camping friends gathered around is exquisite. And at home, in the winter, a fire in the fireplace or the woodstove is so warm and welcoming and peaceful.
But, some resources today say we shouldn’t be burning wood. For one thing, we shouldn’t be cutting down, destroying our forests. Commercial businesses that sell firewood sometimes get their wood from forests that are endangered, or from forests that may soon be endangered. There have been so MANY forest fires here in western USA/Canada, most of them started by humans. Let’s stop adding to the destruction.
But also we shouldn’t be burning wood because of the pollution from those types of fires, whether outdoor campfires or indoor fireplaces or wood stoves. The smoke pollution causes damage to trees and to wildlife, to birds and squirrels, to bugs and lichen and the ozone, and to ourselves. Years ago, we didn’t know this mattered. But today there are so many people who are burning wood, not because they need a fire but simply for enjoyment, and that takes a toll. More and more states in the USA are banning outdoor fires including campfires, year round. And some are banning indoor fires during parts of the year depending on weather and other things.
But … I still want the ambiance of a fire. So here’s what I do … I play the video below on my computerized television in my living room when I have company. And I can run the video on my laptop inside my trailer when I’m camping. I have a little glass of wine or other beverage of choice, and just sit and relax and dream. 🙂 It’s lovely. Please play this video any time you feel like it and join me. (Click that lower right hand square thingy to enlarge it to full screen.) Cheers!