In spite of the early evening chill, nobody was ready to end the party. Our small gathering bubbled with excitement as we celebrated our emergence from lockdown with after-work drinks in the backyard.

Fire has fascinated people since ancient times. The warmth and crackling of burning wood in the glowing flames are inviting.

Chris Wedel is a fan of all things tech and gadgets. Living in rural Kansas with his wife and two young boys makes finding ways to stay online tricky — not to mention making my homestead smarter.