I am blessed to have a fireplace (don’t worry - some of my windows won’t close. Life is about balance) and I used to use starter logs, but lately I have been into collecting kindling and even branches on walks and building fires with them. Literally love being the kindling girl in my neighborhood. I still get wood at the store (Baller Hardware has the best smelling wood) but it’s so satisfying to start with a little bit of fire and grow it into a big ole thing. I also highly recommend tending your fire as an evening past time - get up and move yourself as you take a break from reading or listening or scrolling. Here’s my most recent work, a useful pastime during a power outage:
