First Backyard Fire of the Season
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121715)
Gainesville, Florida
October 29, 2021 9:56pm CST
I've been waiting for a night like this for more than 6 months. Cool, but not cold. Crystal clear evening under the stars, huddled up around a good backyard camp fire. A perfect way to end a workweek. Roasting hot dogs and making a mess eating S'mores. The only thing that would have made this more perfect is if I was out in the woods camping instead of in my backyard. But beggars can't be choosers. There will be plenty of camping trips in my near future. But for now, just going to enjoy the fire surrounded by good company. I invite all of you, my wonderful myLot friends, to pull up a chair and enjoy the fire with me. I have plenty of marshmallows for all of you.
28 people like this
26 responses
@LadyDuck (472114)
• Switzerland
30 Oct 21
@moffittjc I told my husband to move his stuff from the fireplace mantle, tomorrow for Halloween I will light it, if his papers are there I am not responsible of what is going to happen.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Oct 21
@LadyDuck Oh my, he better get a move on it, or he could lose all those papers!
I don't have any plans for Halloween tomorrow, but I did go to a Halloween party last night.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Oct 21
The previous house I lived in had a fireplace, and I loved to have a nice little fire going in the evenings, especially during the cool weather months. But the house I live in now doesn't have a fireplace, so backyard campfires will have to do, which is fine with me. I love being outdoors anyway.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Oct 21
I love spending time around a campfire. It's one of my favorite things to do at this time of year when the weather cools down. The only thing that would have made it better is if I was out in the woods camping.
2 people like this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
30 Oct 21
@moffittjc Now That would be the thing. Maybe you can go camping before the cold sets in.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Oct 21
@RubyHawk My son and I are already planning a trip soon.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
4 Nov 21
@moffittjc Rain and camping usually aren't a good combination but I love the rain.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Nov 21
@simone10 Me too! I have always loved the rain! That’s why living here in Florida with hurricanes doesn’t bother me.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Nov 21
Now that would be great napping weather! I’ve been lucky in my camping adventures that I haven’t run into a lot of rain.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108144)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Oct 21
That was nice. Hard to have one here with the rain
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (108144)
• Marion, Ohio
31 Oct 21
@moffittjc Depends a lot on the weather. Rain or wind puts a stop to it a lot of evenings.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Nov 21
@wolfgirl569 That makes sense. During the winter here in Florida we don't get a lot of wind and rain. Mother Nature saves all that for our spring season.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Oct 21
Do you ever have campfires/bonfires on your property in the fall and winter months? I would think it would be a regular thing for you since you like being outdoors so much.
Hope the rain moves out soon.
2 people like this
@Courtlynn (67081)
• United States
30 Oct 21
No thank you. I don't do the wilderness lol. Even if just a fire outside.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Oct 21
Given where you live in the northeast, do you have a fireplace inside your home? My previous house had a fireplace, but my new house I currently live in doesn't have a fireplace.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Nov 21
@Courtlynn I've always loved houses with fireplaces in them, but they aren't very common in Florida. I almost didn't buy the house I'm currently in because of its lack of a fireplace, but so many other positive benefits outweighed the negative that I went ahead and bought it. I do have an area in my living room where I could easily add a fireplace in the future if I wanted to.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67081)
• United States
30 Oct 21
@moffittjc nope. My mom always wanted one though
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (181681)
• United States
30 Oct 21
Sounds great. I wish we could all get together!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Oct 21
Wouldn't that be nice if we could have a myLot get-together every couple of years?
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (181681)
• United States
31 Oct 21
@moffittjc We could have a MyLot cruise -- I don't care for cruises; but I think that one would be fun.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Nov 21
@LindaOHio That would be totally fun! I love cruises, so I would definitely go!
1 person likes this
@kareng (61749)
• United States
28 Nov 21
@moffittjc That is my thoughts exactly. My body doesn't tolerate it all. I've had arthritis and Fibro for over ten years and have been dealing with it. My hubby was just diagnosed with arthritis last year and the cold this year is taking a big toll on him already.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 21
I'm finding that with each passing year, I'm starting to like the cold less and less. Actually, I still love the cold as much as I ever did, but I'm finding that my body can't tolerate it like it used to.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 21
@kareng See, I even have all that to look forward to! Arthritis runs in my family. I've also noticed that my blood must be getting thinner as I age, because I get cold way too easily now.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182193)
• United States
31 Oct 21
I would love to be sitting around a fire in the evening. It would have to be just after dark though..it will be pretty chilly this evening.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182193)
• United States
3 Nov 21
@moffittjc Outdoor I don't have an indoor fireplace.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Nov 21
@snowy22315 At my last home I owned, I had both an indoor and outdoor fireplace. My new home has neither, and it’s one of the things I really miss. But at least I have a huge backyard and I can build bonfires here anytime I want.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Nov 21
Do you have an indoor fireplace, or are you talking about a camp fire in the backyard?
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30452)
• Corsham, England
28 Nov 21
That fire looks so welcoming. It is icy cold here in the UK at the moment and we have experienced really high winds with lots of damage to buildings and fences plus rain and sleet. Not sure we could keep a fire going!
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30452)
• Corsham, England
30 Nov 21
@moffittjc You can acclimatise to temperatures unless it gets too cold of course. When my heating broke down I got used to it being cooler and then found it too warm once it was fixed.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Nov 21
@sprite1950 I’ve lived in Florida my entire life and have never acclimated to the summer heat, and I don’t think I ever will.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Nov 21
It's cold here at the moment as well, and yet I have no fire going to keep me warm. What is wrong with me? haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Oct 21
I have a seat saved for you! Nothing beats a nice campfire on a cool evening than hanging out with friends.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41750)
• United States
30 Oct 21
That looks so cozy! We love sitting in our "Love Shack" lol, watching the fire in our fire pit. I'm not much for camping out, so that is as close to it as we get!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Oct 21
I used to have a “love shack” at my first house I bought after I graduated college!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Nov 21
Florida needs you Dianne! And I think it would be really nice if you were able to make it down to Florida.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Nov 21
@DianneN Awesome! My son will be moving to Wellington sometime around that time, so there may be a good chance that I'll be in your neighborhood for a weekend or two while you're here! If so, we're definitely going to get together and meet in person!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
13 Nov 21
@moffittjc Definitely will be there from January 10th to the 24th. Flights booked. If it’s not bad there, hubs wants to return in February for a couple of months. We’ll see. lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Oct 21
It's one of my favorite things to do. I live sitting around a good campfire.
Are you allowed to make fires on the beaches there in Jersey? There's not many beaches here in Florida that allow that, but fortunately there are a few. I love a campfire right on the beach!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Oct 21
@NJChicaa That's nice that you have at least one place you can go to for a nice beach fire.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (120122)
• United States
30 Oct 21
@moffittjc We go to Island Beach State Park over on the barrier island and they allow it. The beach towns don't.
2 people like this
@porwest (92589)
• United States
20 Jan 23
I am looking forward to reading a repeat of this post very, very soon. We had our fire pit going quite a lot during the fall. Don't use it a lot during summer, but I think we will have more fires when we camp with the RV. Just seems like a natural thing to do.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 23
It's been a while since I've built a fire in our fire pit, but I've been getting the itch lately to sit around a campfire again. Maybe it's because my son and I have been planning our annual weeklong backpacking trip, and the thought of sitting around a campfire has got me feeling nostalgic. My son and I have been through so many adventures together, but nothing beats the two of us sitting around a campfire just talking and enjoying each other's company.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92589)
• United States
24 Jan 23
@moffittjc There is something about a campfire that does that. The flicker of the flames and the gentle warmth always mesmerizes me. Of course, I may be drunk around the campfire too. lol
1 person likes this
@porwest (92589)
• United States
28 Jan 23
@moffittjc Ouch. That had to have hurt. I don't think I have ever fallen into a fire, and I know for sure I never want to.
I did walk into a bed of hot coals when I was a kid that was buried in the sand and that was quite an experience. One of these days I will have to write about it.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
4 Nov 21
@moffittjc he has some good days done bad. He hardly ever gets up
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Nov 21
@BelleStarr I continue to pray for both you and Al.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Nov 21
I saved a special seat for you right next to me!
How’s things been going?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Nov 21
Part of the reason it’s my favorite time of the year!
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
14 Nov 21
A great way to spend an evening!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Nov 21
I agree! I would love to sit by a fire every night!
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Nov 21
Tonight would be another perfect night for a warm fire. The only bad part is it is Monday here. Too bad it's not Friday!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Nov 21
@JudyEv Rub it in, why don't you? haha
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342100)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Nov 21
@moffittjc Well, that's okay. I don't have to work tomorrow! 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Oct 21
I will have a chair waiting for you! Feel free to join at any time!
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
31 Oct 21
@moffittjc Alrighty then. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
15 Nov 21
i got my area all cleaned up ready for a fire, but then the temp dropped and its too cold!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121715)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Nov 21
Wait, am I understanding you correctly…too cold for a fire?
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
15 Nov 21
@moffittjc when the polar winds are blowing, yes, you have half freezing and half roasting.
1 person likes this
