Saturday, May 11, 2013

Summer Pittings


Summer has come to Edmonton!!!
You see a fire pit. We see a . . . target.
We have a fire pit.
The gathering place for our family for every day of the summer.
When the weather allows.
It is the scene of wiener and marshmallow roasts and long, long talks into the evening, watching the flames and embers glow.Where parking toes within comfortable toasting distance and children running dangerously close (to the dismay of their parents) are the norm.
Oh, and because it’s the Tolleys, the fire pit is also the scene of . . . pittings.
Let me explain . . .
Our favorite summer food is cherries.
Cherries have pits.
That are fun to spit.
Pit spitting.
Or pitting.
See it now?
Over the years, my Husby has been able to hit that fire pit with better and better accuracy. He taught his children.
It was fun.
Until they grew up, got married and discovered manners. Or rather, discovered that their spouses had  manners.
Thus, the pittings ended.
For a while.
But in recent years, he has discovered a whole, new group of neophytes. Small people who are ready and willing to embark on any adventure he introduces.
Imagine this: A line of children, of various sizes, cherry juice dripping down their chins, spitting enthusiastically towards the fire.
Sound like fun?
Their parents don’t think so, either.
But Grampa and Gramma do.
And it’s our pit.

8 comments:

  1. Don't forget watermelons....they have great seeds for spitting.

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    1. Except that we keep getting the 'seedless' kind. Where's the fun in that?!

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  2. Yes you can certainly call the shots when it's your pit. No pun intended.

    That reminds of a time a few years ago when I was visiting with our youngest sibling. I was out on the deck with Daniel (who was only 4 at the time). We were having a cup to tea. He accidently slurped, then cast an uncertain glance at me. I smiled and slurped mine. That opened the door and we were like a couple of pigs. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves although I think Daniel's mother wasn't impressed.

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    Replies
    1. Heehee! That's what we live for - to corrupt the next generations!

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  3. I especially loved the battles that would erupt with the watermelon seeds...

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    Replies
    1. Too bad they're all seedless now.
      I guess we could throw the rinds . . .

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  4. Now, I wonder if it's the spitting or if it's the cherry juice stains that the parents really objected to!

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