All I Want for Christmas is a Fire Pit.

I’ve been back from Girl’s Camp for a few days now, and a big thanks for Brendan for his guest post and everything else he did while I was gone. I’m not even exaggerating when I say the house was cleaner then how I had left it. Bookshelves were up. Spare room organized. I should go away more often!

If he hadn’t gotten sick, I know Brendan would have blogged a little bit more. I know this, because I saw some food photos he took while I was gone. Man, I missed out on some good meals. (And how is my husband so productive?)

Besides missing my family like mad, it was so good to tuck myself away in the mountains for a week. Me, no make up. No cooking. No children (of my own. I still had 12 teenage girls to look after). Trees. Hiking. Deer. Moose. Roasting Starburst over a campfire.

Which by the way, is the first time I’ve ever tried this strange, but surprisingly good way to eat Starburst. It’s gooey, melty, fruity candy on a roasting stick with a caramelized crunchy outer layer. Have you ever done this? Maybe it’s a Utah thing?

Anyway, I came back home with a healthy respect for the outdoors and a new appreciate for my pillow-top bed. Oh, and a burning desire for a fire pit.

Today, I have been looking up fire pits online. I have felt the urge like no other to burn wood, and cook food over it’s bright orange flames. I’ve thought of all the things I could make over an open fire. S’mores of course. And hot dogs. Tin foil dinners (oh man, I love tin foil dinners). Cake cooked inside oranges. I have been imagining the endless possibilities all morning.

When Brendan called during his usual lunch break call, the first thing I say is, “Hi hon. Can we get a fire pit?”

“A fire pit?”

“Yeah. A fire pit.”

I then explain my campfire food cravings and despite my enthusiasm, I hear the hesitation in his silence. To him, this could very well be another one of my passing obsessions.

Like the time I thought I would sew and started hoarding away yards and yards of pretty fabric. I was going to make napkins and tablecloths and cute clothes for my kids. I have made pillow cases but most of the material is just stilling on a shelf (looking oh so pretty).

Maybe Brendan is remembering that moment when I thought It would be a great idea to make cupcake pops for our neighborhood Christmas treats. It was messy, far too sweet and insanely ugly. The eight or so I made resembled no cupcake, more like globs of something you fish out of a toilet. The neighbors got something store-bought that year.

So, I can see where my husband is coming from. I just got back from camp. Right now, I’m still living the outdoorsy life. I still like flowers and sun and singing songs about bears going up mountains and sippin’ cider through straws. But where will I be next week? Will I still want a fire pit then?

“Why don’t we wait till Christmas,” Brendan finally replies. “We can make it our family present.”

Christmas? Who wants a fire pit at Christmas?

There the snow, and the cold, and really. I just want it now. But, I am working on being a more patient person (a week in the mountains will make you a better person) so I agree.

I may miss out on the family fire pit this summer. But I can look forward to roasting marshmallows in December. Along with chestnuts in a open fire and hot cocoa all around. By then, I’ll have thought of something else besides Starburst to roast.

Maybe Christmas Peeps. Gummy bears. Tootsie Rolls?

What are your favorite things to make over a fire? Please feel free to add to my campfire list. Favorite meals too, not just candy. I need to start taking notes.