You know that hoarding mindset….the one that insist on holding onto things, thinking it will be useful in the near/ far future? Well that’s what was happening to this old grill. It was sitting under my patio stairs for over a year. Like Eureka, I got up with the thought of adding this piece to our mud kitchen. We had a mud kitchen built earlier this summer. Which, has been the best play station for these nature-loving children.
Being Jamaican, I truly love using charcoal grills, give me some coal and let me light it up but, don’t give me liquid smoke. These days each barbecue evokes memories of my childhood when my clothes would reek of firewood smoke. If you’ve been to Jamaica, you probably know our jerk meats, and how much we love the fire and wood cooking.
For this grill, I took the legs off, got rid of the bolts, screws, and wheels. I think Heru will gladly use those wheels for some other project. Placed some wood inside and created an invitation to play.
I bought these copper pots from Goodwill, they are the perfect compliment to the children outdoor play and they stand up to the outdoor elements. 
It is very important for children to have imaginative play, as they use this opportunity to make connections with real-life situations. My children have been cooking many meals for the family on this grill. They have taken adventures back to my childhood and how I cooked as a child. They love listening to my stories of rural life in Jamaica. I love these moments of time travel and storytelling. Their little minds form an appreciation for their current life albeit, wondering what life would be like for them back then. 
Now, this old grill is part of our daily life and play:)
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