Lmst

-- October 2018 --

Obligatory spooky october mood shot. Nothing nefarious, just a gathering circle for making s'mores after a nice hayride at Mt Cuba.

#mtCuba #mtCubaCenter #hayBales #hayBale #firePits #firePit #oldHouses #oldHouses #stoneHouses #stoneHouses #fall #autumn #smores #nature

Upon bright green grass sits a collection of square hay bales in a circular pattern around a raised black fire pit (the bales are singular in height, perfect for sitting). The pit has a lit fire inside. In the distance is an old, dilapidated stone house with a good portion of its exterior walls still standing, while the indoor walls and roof are mostly missing. The wall stones are dark while the mortar is white, providing clear outlines of the stone shapes. In the far distance are a smattering of trees with about half their leaves left and a very gloomy, gray sky.

Crisp air, cozy layers, and firepit nights! 🍂
Sharing my fall favorites that keep the season just the right amount of cozy—oversized sweaters, fleece blankets, and more!

Check it out below!

#FallFavorites #CozySeason #NevadaCounty #AmazonFinds #ittybitty4life #sweaterweather #cozyclothes #firepits #bonfires

http://ittybitty4life.com/2025/09/25/fall-favorites-cozy-must-haves-for-the-season/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

From Pits to Patios: My Look Back at the American Backyard & Summertime…

🇺🇸 From Pits to Patios: My Look Back at the American Backyard

By DrWeb | DrWeb’s Domain

There’s something about stepping out the back door on a warm evening, hearing the clink of a spatula against a grill, and catching the scent of something smoky drifting across the yard. For many of us, the backyard has been more than just a stretch of grass — it’s been a stage for summer rituals, neighborhood gatherings, firelit evenings, and quiet moments. It’s where we celebrated life’s small things.

I’ve been thinking about how that space came to mean so much, not just for me, but across the country. So here’s a look — part memory, part history — at the evolution of the American backyard from the 1950s to now.

🏘️ After the War: The Backyard Takes Shape

The story starts after World War II, when America was building homes faster than ever. With the GI Bill making homeownership possible for returning servicemen, suburbs sprang up almost overnight — rows of single-family houses, each with its own lawn and, crucially, its own backyard.

That backyard wasn’t just leftover space. It was intended. Architects and developers saw it as an extension of the home — a place where families could enjoy the outdoors without leaving the property. For many families, it was their first real taste of outdoor privacy.

I can still picture those early yards: modest, green, dotted with folding lawn chairs, charcoal grills, maybe a swing set. It wasn’t fancy — but it was ours.

🔥 Grills, Dads, and the Golden Age of BBQ

No story about American backyards would be complete without the barbecue. Cooking over fire wasn’t new, of course — it goes back to Indigenous traditions, Southern pitmasters, and frontier campfires — but in the 1950s, it got a shiny new identity.

In 1952, a guy named George Stephen turned a marine buoy into the first Weber kettle grill, and suddenly, backyard grilling became accessible to everyone. That round, vented grill became a fixture. And with it came the grill master: usually dad, spatula in one hand, drink in the other, flipping burgers with pride.

I remember those scenes well — the smoky air, the sound of kids running barefoot on the lawn, the folding table stacked with buns and condiments. It was ritual. You didn’t need a holiday — the smell of charcoal was enough reason to gather.

It wasn’t just the food — it was the feeling. And it lasted long after the grill cooled.

🪵 Fire Pits: The Glow That Brings Us Back

At some point, it wasn’t just about the meal. We started lingering longer outside, gathering after dark, often around fire. Early backyard fire features were built-in — stone or brick hearths that looked like mini fireplaces. But by the ’90s, portable fire pits started popping up in yards across the country.

Relaxing Evening by the Fire

I’ve always thought there’s something deeply human about sitting around a fire. We talk more freely, we stare into the flames, we roast marshmallows whether we’re 8 or 80. Even today, when I see that flicker in someone’s backyard, I know they’re doing something right.

That firelight brings people together. It warms up chilly evenings and keeps conversations glowing well into the night.

🏡 More Than Grass: Life Happened Out Back

The backyard wasn’t just a place for grilling. It was a place to play, to experiment, to rest. We had swing sets, kiddie pools, badminton nets, croquet hoops, and for a dangerous moment — lawn darts. Some folks had gardens. Others built treehouses or set up screens for backyard movie nights. Or, open the garage door, pop open some folding lawn chairs, and enjoy the night air, and neighbors strolling by outdoors, waving “Hi” as they passed.

In the 1960s and 70s, the backyard got more exotic. Tiki culture brought Polynesian flair to the suburbs — think bamboo furniture, torches, fruity cocktails in coconuts. The “luau” party craze took hold, and we leaned into it with gusto.

It was playful, a bit cheesy — but fun. And it reflected how the backyard had become something more than utilitarian. It was now a place of style, escape, even fantasy.

📅 Today’s Yards, Yesterday’s Spirit

Today, backyards look different. We’ve got smart lights, propane fire tables, Bluetooth speakers, pizza ovens, and string lights that rival city sidewalks. But even with the upgrades, I think the spirit is the same.

We still gather there. We still grill. We still wave to neighbors and sit outside after dinner just because. During the pandemic, when being indoors felt suffocating, the backyard saved us. It became a safe zone — a little patch of freedom. And, perhaps more important now, too.

Sometimes it’s the front yard now, or even the garage with the door open and chairs in the driveway. But the impulse is the same: come outside, sit awhile, let life happen.

🧭 Looking Back, Looking Around

What’s so beautiful about all of this is how ordinary it is. We don’t usually think of backyards as cultural symbols. But they are. They tell stories — about postwar dreams, domestic life, food and fire, and what it means to slow down.

Whether it’s the clatter of ice in a glass, the flick of a lighter, or the smell of charcoal, these details stay with us. They’re part of what shaped generations — mine included.

So here’s to the backyard. May the grass stay green, the coals stay hot, and the chairs never be empty for long. –DrWeb

📚 Further Reading & Sources

Have a backyard memory of your own? Drop it in the comments or tag @DrWebsDomain. I’d love to see how others remember their space.

#2025 #America #Americana #Backyards #Barbeque #California #FirePits #Health #History #LasVegas #Libraries #Outdoors #Outside #Retirement #SanDiego #UnitedStates

Think I will build a campfire tonight. Wish you were here.
campingemporium.com

#campfirelove #campfire #fire #campfirestories #campfires #campfiresessions #friendsandfire #firepitnights #campfirelife #firepits

💯 You are just a phone call away for our company to help you.

📲 609-827-2326
📧 lopezlawncare1988@gmail.com
🌐 http://lopezpaverlawncare.com

#fyp #business #mulching #paverinstallation #retainingwalls #firepits

💯 You are just a phone call away for our company to help you.

📲 609-827-2326
📧 lopezlawncare1988@gmail.com
🌐 http://lopezpaverlawncare.com

#fyp #business #mulching #paverinstallation #retainingwalls #firepits

💯 You are just a phone call away for our company to help you.

📲 609-827-2326
📧 lopezlawncare1988@gmail.com
🌐 http://lopezpaverlawncare.com

#fyp #business #mulching #paverinstallation #retainingwalls #firepits

💯 You are just a phone call away for our company to help you.

📲 609-827-2326
📧 lopezlawncare1988@gmail.com
🌐 http://lopezpaverlawncare.com

#fyp #business #mulching #paverinstallation #retainingwalls #firepits

💯 You are just a phone call away for our company to help you.

📲 609-827-2326
📧 lopezlawncare1988@gmail.com
🌐 http://lopezpaverlawncare.com

#fyp #business #mulching #paverinstallation #retainingwalls #firepits

💯 You are just a phone call away for our company to help you.

📲 609-827-2326
📧 lopezlawncare1988@gmail.com
🌐 http://lopezpaverlawncare.com

#fyp #business #mulching #paverinstallation #retainingwalls #firepits

💯 You are just a phone call away for our company to help you.

📲 609-827-2326
📧 lopezlawncare1988@gmail.com
🌐 http://lopezpaverlawncare.com

#fyp #business #mulching #paverinstallation #retainingwalls #firepits

💯 You are just a phone call away for our company to help you.

📲 609-827-2326
📧 lopezlawncare1988@gmail.com
🌐 http://lopezpaverlawncare.com

#fyp #business #mulching #paverinstallation #retainingwalls #firepits

Oooh, that is no fun. Pour alcohol into your stove to refuel it (while it is on) and it flame throws your buddy watching. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dW1y0UF_zLg #safety #recall #firepits

Killer alcohol powered fire pits... killed two people already. Recalled.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/2025/Consumer-Alert-Stop-Using-Alcohol-or-Other-Liquid-Burning-Fire-Pits-That-Violate-Voluntary-Standards-and-Present-Flame-Jetting-and-Fire-Hazards-Two-Deaths-and-Dozens-of-Serious-Burn-Injuries-Reported

#recall #firepits

Colsen-branded indoor/outdoor tabletop fire pits burn liquid alcohol. Alcohol flames are invisible: refilling the fire pit while ignited can lead to devastating flame flashback to the alcohol container. #colsen #firepits #alcohol #flashbacks #burns #recall
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBg8ZEcRUFX/

minifusion fire pits

#Poolside #Dusk #Householdfusion #FirePits #Futuristic #Calmness #Evening #Reflection #PristineWaters #Comfort #Img2Img #AiArt #AiArtists #StableDiffusion

A futuristic poolside scene at dusk, featuring elegant household scale fusion fire pits, reflecting the calmness of the evening on pristine waters.

Current status (in Camden, ME)

#MaineTrip2023 #Maine #FirePits

A fire put surrounded by chairs. A building with lighting and windows in the background. The photographer’s legs extend from the frame to rest on the fire pit ledge.

I had just opened more windows, and now so POd! A neighbor thought that after a summer of heavy wildfire smoke, and the last couple days of 90+ weather that they’d start their backyard fire pit. WT? #firepits #wildfiresmoke #inconsiderateneighbors

Even with a few clouds returning to the skies, the #Northland continues to enjoy a #warm and pleasant #holiday #weekend of #weather.

However, there is a higher #fire danger north of Highway 2, so be careful with any #campfires or #firepits.

Also, #ozone levels in spots will make breathing a bit difficult for some through Monday.

Stay safe out there!

#wxtooter #MNwx

A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 28, 2023, or Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and northern and central St. Louis counties. While winds are not strong, the dry conditions could allow fires to spread quickly is not well monitored.

An Air Quality Alert is in effect for Aitkin and Pine counties until 8 p.m. on Monday, May 29, 2023. Ozone levels near the surface may be high enough, especially during afternoon hours, to make breathing difficult for select groups of people.

It is #summer-like in the #Northland today with temperatures more like July than May.

There is a breeze in spots, but they are not strong enough to have a #RedFlagWarning in place. Still, fire dangers are very high and burning has been greatly restricted.

#Firepits and #campfires are still allowed, but keep a very close eye on them.

#wxtooter #MNwx #WIwx #UPwx

#firepits

Client Info