Wood-Fired Oven

The grill currently in our back yard is the fourth or fifth generation of grills which I have constructed. Building them is enjoyable to me because I get an idea for something better and then I have to struggle to think through the concept while pushing myself to overcome procrastination. Once I get a good idea I know I will eventually follow through and build it. Anticipation is a feeling that motivates. Somehow there is this thing that truly exists in my mind that others may scorn. Anticipation is that feeling that keeps the vague concept alive and being alive the concept must develop and grow. Then, anon, with a little labor and sweat, a new baby is brought forth into the world with joy. If the project is well-crafted, the skeptics are turned to advocates, especially when supper is served. It is not just the structure, but also the fire and the reactions taking place in the cooking process that invite communion. Then, most important, the hospitality, the fellowship around the table which make the experience rich and rewarding.
The very first time I fired up my new grill I sat in front of the hearth nursing the coals and heating the grill into perfection. The hearth is now about chin level when you sit in a chair. All of a sudden - KAZAAM! Everything I had ever thought, studied and considered about wood-fired cooking flashed through my mind in an instant and, DING! The idea for a new and improved outdoor cooking and hospitality station popped into my mind. I had never yet gotten the grate hot in my new grill and I had an idea for a new one. I'm thinking a  grill with a griddle, a shelf underneath and best of all, a wood fired oven.
Days later I got online and looked up wood fired ovens. Much to my surprise and delight I found that they are closely associated with the Rumford fireplace. Then I saw the hand of Providence, my destiny. Here is a picture I found of a wood fired oven with a Rumford fireplace built next to it.

This is another photo I found of an oven under construction. I envision something like this as part of a cooking and hospitality area. There would be a fire table for a grill and a flat top griddle, a bin for the charcoal, a preparation station, an oven and an outdoor fireplace within a gathering area. There would be a high roof covering everything, and it will be easy to go from inside the house to the outside, no matter the weather. Underfoot it will be clean and smooth for bare feet. In the middle of it all, a big table.

FINISHED CONSTRUCTION - AT LEAST FOR NOW

The brick stack is smaller and there is the finished flower bed. Now we need to get some soil and do the planting.

Here is the new and improved grill and the retaining wall.

So, here is the present state of the garden.

I LOVE BUILDING STUFF

Here is my start on the projects I had envisioned. I did not spend a penny.

Change Is Brewing

I stacked this brick here last spring after putting in the fence. Now that the growing season is on, I saw the time had come for change. We wanted some flowers, so I thought I would construct a flower box.








We went to New Orleans a couple of weeks ago and I got some landscape construction ideas after our tour of the Garden District. I was thinking of a border between the gravel and the grass. I also wanted to update the grill. It's useless to just having the brick unemployed, so this work could bring the brick into usefulness, even though the applications are not permanent.

So I done me some thinking...

Yesterday, I got out my pruning pole and lopping shears to do some much needed pruning around the place. While I was at it I cut back the low branches that impeded the sidewalk on either side of us. It is just aggravating to have to duck under overgrowth on the sidewalks. Finally, I did something about it. I think I trimmed up every tree on our property.
I put all the stuff out at the curb and this big, white truck came down from heaven and carried the problems away. End of the pruning.

This is what I started with.

Latest Back Yard

I put in the retaining wall around the terrace boundary. I also constructed a flower bed in back. I am working towards getting all the brick cleared out of the yard.

Becky's talking about grilling out tomorrow evening, if it doesn't rain

Next Project

I have been working up plans for a system of first rate walks and car park for the house. I am about ready to set the plan in motion. In this area I want a walk from the brick apron under yon gate to come around the front and meet up with the front side walk. The walk will also connect with the car park. The car park strips will also be excavated and filled, leaving the grass in the middle. I plan to widen the areas by the car doors so that there is plenty of room to get in and out of the car. I aim to have the whole excavation and fill engineered as smoothly graded surfaces in a unified whole with good drainage for rain runoff.

My long term plan is to have 4" of the compacted gravel screenings base topped with brick or some other kind of paver the same thickness as brick. So the fill will be 6" thick to begin with. The fill will have a year to settle and then when I get ready to lay the pavers, I will shave off the top of the gravel and re-grade to accommodate the pavers. I will have the excess gravel for some other area and the base will have excellent compaction.