Lock-down gave us the first opportunity since we bought The Old Quarry at the back end of 2018 to start to put our own stamp on the place, since we had an extended period with no guests!
We were very busy in the garden. As well as redoing the driveway and levelling the lawn area (see previous posts), trimming hedges and attending to the garden furniture, we created a whole new fire pit area amongst the ferns.
We began by clearing the area and then asking a local, friendly tree surgeon to supply us with some stumps and log benches. A happy hour ensued with a chain saw to make sure it all went together well. Knowing that guests come in different shapes and sizes, we added a range of seats. And knowing that smoke can blow in different directions, we made sure there were more seats than we have as guests, so they can all find somewhere to sit that’s not downwind. We’re really pleased with the result. It’s a rustic area that feels wholly in keeping with its surroundings.
A month later our new fire pit arrived. I then took on the challenge of using some of our local uncut stone (it is an old quarry after all!), with all its irregular shapes, to make a platform for it. Simply held together by mud (it’s rustic after all), it’s not the most robust, but it looks the part and does the job.
It’s all set now for guests to enjoy and, indeed, it already has been. We hope it becomes a well-used amenity and a place where many family memories are born. As the nights draw in and the colder weather begins to set in, we hope it’s really going to come into its own.
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