Pam Webb

a writer's journey as a reader

Archive for the tag “BBQ”

09 Aug 2025
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BBQ Feng Shui: Part Two


Recap: Part One addressed the situation of setting up a really boss BBQ area in the backyard only to have proximity issues with a new neighbor.

As Paul Harvey used to say:
“Now for the rest of the story…”

Got the table-

Ready—-

Got the BBQ kettle-

Set

Got a lovely setting-

No go-

Yes-it was a No Go for the BBQ area because of the neighbors.

They had moved in right after we had arranged everything and set up their living space so close to ours it was going to be awkward to hang out in our backyard.

Plus, wanting to be good neighbors we accommodated their needs to raise a family so we moved the BBQ grill around to the other side of the yard and forwent using the cozy cafe corner so diligently decorated. The magnificent fern in the background (an annual volunteer) clinched the Feng Shui vibe and we were sad to forego the Feng Shui. We abandoned all of it for the sake of the neighbors.

Granted, we still used our backyard, and unfortunately we got into the habit of peeking over towards the neighbors before we utilized our yard. Just trying to be considerate but maybe our intentions were misunderstood.

I thought we were coexisting pretty well until we noticed it was pretty quiet on our neighbors side.

Then we realized overnight the neighbors had disappeared. Just like that. Barely a month in residence and vanished.

We wondered if it was something we did or said and then we realized that it really comes down to location, location, location.

And our new neighbors must have decided to raise their family in a more private area.

I have to say though they did overstep their sense of boundaries as I did catch them sometimes cutting through our yard.

“Don’t mind me-just passing through.”

Yes, our new neighbors were a pair of Pee Wees—no relationship to Herman. Delightfully cute little birds who decided to build their nest on top of a utility ledge just above our outdoor dining area.

Gone. No forwarding address.

Mama bird diligently stayed nest bound for a couple of weeks and though we tried to be courteous and reduce our backyard use our birdie neighbors abandoned their efforts to set up their family.

Now that they are gone we miss their presence. Isn’t that how it goes? Something that was once inconvenient becomes favorably reflected upon once absent? I haven’t seen them around in the neighborhood. I do hope their new place worked out for them.

Have you ever had to readjust your lifestyle to accommodate a bird nest?

Posted in Reflections and tagged , , , ,
14 Jul 2025
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BBQ Feng Shui


‘Tis backyard embrace time. Sunlight, flowers, birding, and BBQ. Summer is a favorable outdoorsy season.

Alas-lack of planning (and building funds) circumvented creating a deck or a patio and instead a large swath of pea gravel represents our lounging about area. Not ideal, but sufficient.

Over the years additions such as a fire pit, accompanying Adirondack chairs, flower pots, and hammocks (one for shade, one for the sun) have created a welcoming fair weather space (I stubbornly to acknowledge the coming of the long winter by not putting up the summer furniture until frost arrives and warm coat is necessary to sit outside with the fire pit becoming an essential instead of being decorative).

However, granted though all added comfortable touches created a welcome respite, what was lacking was a BBQ area.

Oh, we tried various methods. The ubiquitous red kettle tripod, even the standard propane range, but it came down to this tried and true:

my little dependable

Please no judging here with this observed statement: I thought men are born with a BBQ gene. I grew up with my Dad grilling steaks as often as he could get away with it, and my friends’ fathers also were grill kings, and in my college days the guys I knew worked the briquettes with aplomb even if they were lost in the kitchen otherwise. So I learned how to BBQ by osmosis simply because BBQ skills fell to me if my family wanted BBQ.

I will leave it at that.

So if I was to be the designated BBQer in my marriage it would be on my terms. Hence, I chose to BBQ with my trusty camping kettle. And it works well. Well, it works better now. In its previous life I would haul it to the beach and set it up on a picnic table and after a day of the kiddos playing all day we would wait for their dad to join us after work and we would enjoy a picnic. Fond memories are attached to that little BBQer. My reluctance to part with it even when tempted with other means of grilling should be understandable.

Just recently my little camping kettle got upgraded to having its own stand instead of being plonked on the ground. Empty nester funds do have a purpose. And now that there is a designated BBQ area there should be an actual dining area. Right?

That took a little more effort, yet it happened with panache. A cafe table with chairs and umbrella. No more schlepping over to the fire pit Adirondack chairs eating with plates on our laps.

Perfect.

And then trouble in BBQ bliss when the neighbors moved in.

Stay tuned for PART TWO.

Posted in Reflections and tagged , , , ,

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