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Rainy days are the perfect excuse to stay in your jammies all day. Build a fire, snuggle up with a warm blanket, catch up on some zzz’s and get to that book that’s been on your list. Hey, you were going to read it from that lounge chair in the sun, remember? (See Part 1)
 
But wait a minute? Building a fire is one of those things that you might sort of know how to do, but don’t really have to do it that often kind of thing. Don’t worry, it’s actually quite simple, whether it’s a campfire to roast s’mores or a cozy one at a vacation rental.
 
You’ll need:

• Fire Starter – the spark
• Tinder – newspaper works just fine
• Kindling – wood less than an inch in diameter (this will get your fire going)
• Logs – you know what these look like

 
Before you do anything, open the flue. You’ll usually be able to feel the cold air coming from outside if it’s open. Grab your newspaper and crumble a few pieces up, throwing them into the back of the fireplace. These are going to act as the tinder, starting the fire with an easy to light surface.
 
Stack some of your kindling on top of the newspaper. Make sure you leave enough room in there for oxygen to circulate, as your fire will need it to burn. I like to build a tepee with the kindling.
 
Light your fire. Again, you’ll want to light the tinder (newspaper) in a few different spots to get it burning quickly. Your kindling should catch fire pretty easily. You can add a bit more kindling once it starts to create a nice bed going.
 
Once you’ve got a small fire going, you can start adding your bigger logs. You can usually just lay these across lengthwise, then stack one or two on top diagonally. Remember: you want to leave enough room for oxygen to flow so everything catches fire easily.
 
That’s it! You should have a warm, crackling fire going in no time. You can always add more logs if you want to keep it going longer, too. 
 
*The Cottage has the fire prepared ahead of time. All you need to do is light it!
 
Play In The Kitchen

Turn on the music, open a bottle of wine and play in the kitchen. Your creative cooking skills are bound to improve considerably as you learn enjoyable ways to cook with local, flavorful and healthy ingredients. And, maybe with something you’ve never tried before!
 
Get the rest of the gang to join in with you for some team effort. Meals prepared and eaten at home (or a vacation rental) are usually more nutritious, healthy and made with love. So many of us eat on the go or alone and we miss out on meaningful times with those that matter most. This is why you wanted to come on vacation, right? Instead of eating out, eat in. Preparing and sharing a meal together is an easy excuse to catch up, laugh and eat the rainy afternoon away. 
 
*The Cottage is fully loaded for all your cooking and baking needs.

Listen.

Make a warm mug of tea or hot chocolate – something you don’t normally make for yourself. Turn off the TV, computer or music you have on and open the doors. Just listen to the sound of the raindrops hitting the leaves on the trees, the roof, the ground and all the surroundings. If there is a covered spot outside to sit, go out with your mug and feel the warmth of it in your hand. Take a smell of the aroma from your beverage. Breathe in fresh dewy air. Observe the power of Mother Nature and allow her to nurture you. Maybe a rainy day turned out to be exactly what you needed after all… 
 
Published by Amy on: Jan 14, 2016
 
References:
Life Hacker http://lifehacker.com/5812728/how-to-build-a-fire-both-outdoors-and-in
Grey Wolf Survival http://graywolfsurvival.com/2810/build-fire-basics/
Marbles http://www.marblesthebrainstore.com/