And there is quite a different sort of conversation around a fire

than there is in the shadow of a beech tree….

Four dry logs have in them all the circumstance necessary to a conversation of four or five hours,

with chestnuts on the plate and a jug of wine between the legs.

Yes, let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.

                                                                                     ~Pietro Aretino, translated from Italian

                                                                             photo below – courtesy of Jolie Gordon