When it gets really cod, we light the wood stove.
First Snow of Winter
December 23, 2025
animals, dogs, farm, fire, nature dogs, snow Leave a comment
The dogs have the right idea
Move that wood
November 10, 2025
farm, fire farm, fire, red shed, wood Leave a comment
The reason we don’t burn fires in the kitchen unless it is under 40 is because it takes so much work to move the wood around. First you saw it up. Then you move the bog logs. Then you season it. Then you split it. Then you stack it. Then it moves from the res she to the porch. Finally it ends up in the kitchen on fire.
There are several cords in the red shed in a double stack up to the ceiling. Time for winter.
Fall prep for winter (swingset down)
November 10, 2025
farm, fire, garden garden, solstice fire, tree frog, treehouse, treehouse removal Leave a comment
The beautiful Fall weather had us prepping for winter on the little pretend farm.
Garden weeding and tilling
Solstice fire re-core (we cancelled the summer solstice fire this year and are going to light up in the winter…but a winter core needed to be inserted so the fire burns hotter and longer).
Finally, the ancient and somewhat dangerous swing set was deleted.
This tree frog was supervising.
Winter Solstice 2024: Let the Community Convene
December 20, 2024
fire, party bonfire, party, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, solstice party 2024, winter 9 Comments
It was a good one this year. Cold and crisp with a full moon. More than 100 people stuck their noses in. It seems we all need some community time. And somebody has to turn the sun.
As we age, the end time of the winter solstice party seems to be approaching the start time (4:15pm to see the lighting). We were inside by 11pm. Thanks to all who came!
Turn sun turn!
Of course there is just a smidge of prep for a fire like this. We had some help from Romey’s yard in Berkeley Spings this year.
But eventually the day of the party arrives and it is time to make the eggnog and light the burn barrels.
We always light the fire shortly after dark. This year there were LOTS of people on hand for the lighting.
The only problem with a big iteration of the solstice party is not enough time to catch up with everybody.
We had some fun with the full moon.
And the we settled in to enjoy eachothers’ company. But not before a close call! Oh my…
The Cigital alums were out in force…
Once again, the dogs did it best.
And the party at the bar? Well, that ended by 4am.
Cute Dogs Update
March 19, 2024
cute, dogs, farm, fire, river dogs, maybe, maybeline, moonshine, river, singing Leave a comment
Maybeline sings to her chicken.
Summer Solstice 2023
July 14, 2023
dogs, fire, party, photography solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, solstice party 2023, summer solstice, video 1 Comment
What you gonna do? It rained. It was July 4th weekend. People are bone tired.
Have a party! It was a good one.
Thank goodness for Alec and Eli and Markus and Aubrey. Many hands makes slightly less work. Romey and I can use all the help we can get.
Don’t let his easy smile fool you, this man is serious about his parties!
The list.
Aubrey brought the Messerhead Memorial Salmon Dinner.
And then the time arrived.
Where’s Maybe?
Last minute instrument shells added to the bonfire. Makes art. This has become a really fun tradition.
Even Maybeline got into the act, chewing up her own personal frog.
The culprit.
We knew what to expect from the weather this year so we set up the tables near the barn. That was very helpful when the deluge came.
We retired to the barn for about an hour before the second and third waves of people showed up.
Old men make muscles.
Richie gets wild.
After the rain delay it was back to the tables.
And then the lighting (around 8:15).
It was just a smidge humid.
There was music in the barn.
This year we wound things up around 2am. Getting old I guess. LOL.
We will do it again. Thanks to all who came to the 2023 summer solstice.
Moving wood in circles
January 9, 2023
animals, fire fire, moonshine, moving wood, wood Leave a comment
The thing about having a fire is that you work on wood a bunch well before ever having the fire itself. The kitchen fire is going all winter when it is below 40. Why that cutoff? Because first you have to cut the wood, spilt the wood, move the wood, stack the wood, move the wood again, store some on the porch, move some inside and then finally burn it. See?
Fortunately, I have help most of the time.
In the truck again. Moonshine supervising.
The woodshed stack.
The porch stack with a photo bomb by my finger. Once again, moonshine is supervising.
Winter Solstice 2022: Warm Friends on a Cold Night
December 18, 2022
dogs, farm, fire, party, photography dogs, photography, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, video, winter solstice, winter solstice 2022 3 Comments
It all started at 3pm for me (with the perfunctory “lighting of the barrel”). Just making sure there was a heat source for people who arrived before the big bonfire lighting.
The sky was gorgeous.
And soon there were solstice attendees and tiki torches.
We lit the fire shortly after 5pm when it finally got dark enough. There were LOTS of people here for the lighting. It was a good one.
The fire had a huge core (that is still burning late the next day).
Meanwhile up at the barn there was terrible Christmas music, lots of food, and a great sense of camaraderie.
The homemade eggnog (recipe here) made things a little blurry. Delicious.
The space between the barn and the bonfire is always magical. This year, the lasers were particularly remarkable.
And the highlight of the evening for me. Music with Clark and Gina. Yes please. This is how we turn the sun.
We wrapped things up around midnight with the last of the hearty attendees, leaving a large pack of 20 somethings to deal with the skunk!
Moonshine loved it.
And he says, now that everything is cleaned up, lets do it again!
Thanks to all who came. Magical.
