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Winter Solstice 2024: Let the Community Convene

December 20, 2024

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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.

Hot Town, Solstice in the Summer: 2024

June 26, 2024

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OK. It was hot. For a week. And the solstice party was slated for the hottest day of ten in a row. The grass was scorched. The fields were hot. But the show must go on. And go in it did!

We moved the party nexus closer to the house this year (and we liked that, so it is likely to happen again). The patio that Allen designed is beautiful.

These are all “before” pictures. Sadly, nobody took any during pictures that we’ve seen. Too hot to think.

There was some river action this year. JC, Romey, and I spent an hour or two in the river and so did a bunch of others.

The bar (where all of the 20 somethings ended up until 3am) was by the apothecary shed. Namesake alert!

The lighting in 4 easy pieces (taken by Dez).

.

.

.

 

Who is Dez? Why, this guy…

And Dez (who was once a mentee) wrote a book you should read all about being falsely accused of hacking while Black. Get your copy here.

The heat definitely did impact the party. Only about 60% of the people who said they were coming actually showed up. I would hate to think that we’re all getting too old to party. Lets just blame it on the weather.

Thanks to all who came (especially Eli who flew in for the occasion)! We seem to have turned the sun. Maybe we should have done a rain dance.

Winter Solstice 2023

December 18, 2023

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It was a perfect evening for a solstice bonfire. Sundown at 4:50. The fire lit incredibly quickly.  Yes please.

The Air Force flew in for setup with some paper planes.

Or was that the Marine Corps?

We polished up the disco ball expecting a crowd.

Moonshine was celebrating his third birthday.

The party barn was set, now all we need is some people!

We sat by a burn barrel as people arrived. And arrive they did, this winter iteration included about 90 people.

Early lighting.

Sparks to the sky.

Burning curlicues.

Lots of great fun and food in the barn and “a whole nother” scene down by the fire. Eventually there was music with Gina, Clark, Juliana, and Alec. Much joy enhanced by the huge fire just feet away.

Apparently parties that start early end early these days. We were inside by 11:15pm. Must be getting old.

BUT WE TURNED THE SUN! Thanks to all who came.

Summer Solstice 2022

June 21, 2022

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We’ll start in the middle, with a video of the lighting of the summer solstice bonfire of 2022.  The weather was absolutely perfect and the crowd friendly and warm.  Every year the size of the fire seems to come as a surprise.

This year the weather was so cool that a dip in the river was not in the cards.

Rewinding a day, Aubrey provided another great iteration of the smoked salmon Messerhead feast helping to set the FOOD stage.  Speaking of FOOD, Chef Michael was down from Chicago with Astro.  That means we were spoiled rotten on the food front for days on end.

Salmon feast table

Any solstice that starts with caviar is destined for greatness.

Before.

Prepping for late night tacos

It seems that Chef Michael can’t cook for less than 700.  But that’s OK.  We just need to make the solstice party seven times bigger.  Pork shoulder in the firepit by the shrine.

We had a mid-day break to tour Eli’s fantastic art show at the Barns of Rose Hill.  The show continues through July 2nd.

Then it was time for the pre-game Negroni.

And we were officially underway.  Esther and Cora presided over the opening.

The sufferin bastard made an appearance

After an outstanding potluck feast, replete with fresh flowers, it was time for one quick song (thanks guitar week fellers) and FIRE.

By far the cutest thing at this solstice iteration was the jumping of the gun by Brantley the marshmallow boy.  The fire was still a bit young.  But that did not deter Brantley.


The fire burned for two days.  In fact, it is still smoking as I write this.

Thank goodness for Alec, David, and Gina.  We had a few hours of music by the bonfire.

Rumor has it that absinthe hour stretched from 3am-6am.

The next day happened fast.

Morning after breakfast

The chef outdid himself three times.

Party cleanup was a breeze with Aubrey in charge.  The weather cooperated the entire weekend.

What is left of this fire?

 

Are there coals down there?

 

Fresh veggies from the Berryville farmer’s market (thanks to Chilly Hollow Farm)

While the

veggies roast, we hang by the fire.

Donkey Hodie says “sup homey?”

Astro has the best home

 

The garden

 

Roast veggies

 

OMG more food

Even moonshine is in a food coma.

What do you do with recd currants?

You make a fresh tart.  Then mezcal straight from Mexico City?!  Yup.

Morning never arrived for some of the mezcal participants.

And then a visit from Iulie.

Fin.

 

Winter Solstice Solo 2019

December 22, 2019

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The solstice tradition continues in force. Thanks to all who came for the love, laughter, music, and joy.

Tiki lighting

Tiki lighting

 

Deck the bridge

 

Sophie prefers parties indoors, thanks..

Sophie prefers indoor parties, thanks.

 

The barn in party mode

 

Before

 

More before

 

Sundown on the solstice

The lighting was as spectacular as ever.

 

Turn sun turn!

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile in the barn…Sophie takes a party nap.

 

Do not party like Sophie.

 

Boilo

 

Solstice potluck disco center

 

Burn hot

Alec and the fiddle player

 

The solution to cold butts

 

2am coals

I know, lets do it again. See you at the summer solstice!

Summer Solstice 2019: Bodacious Bonfire

July 1, 2019

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First a story of the lighting through the photography of Amy Barley.

Prepare to Burn

Burn

Light it Up

Fire Maiden

And that is how you turn the sun.

Things looked pretty much like this before we started

Then there were several undocumented hours in the river with the special beer float courtesy of Aubrey. We’re still not sure where he is.

The most popular guest of all was baby Cora. (Yes, that is the three McGraw brothers in kilts.)

Panorama by jackie

Idyllic

A video of the lighting.

 

This shot by my brother walt (at his first solstice) is one of my favorites.

From the bridge

Spectacular

When the fire burned down enough to get within 100 feet, we started the music.

Burning pile

Joel Winstead created some great sketches in real time.

Music by firelight

The fire

Gary and Gina

The the thunderstorm moved in around 11pm and we shifted the music to the barn. We played until 4am. What a joy.

Gary and Gina in the barn

Allen behind his hat

There are a few more pictures on the evite page. Thanks to all who came to the 2019 summer solstice fire!

Thanks for coming to the summer solstice!

Winter Solstice Fire 2015

December 21, 2015

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Winter Solstice Fire 2015

Winter Solstice Fire 2015

It all started out with champagne, celebrating Team Tartan’s 2015 Leukemia Cup accomplishment with a crop of Timex watches. (About which this.)

bubbles

bubbles

Burn barrel before the lighting

Burn barrel before the lighting

Then it got dark, the keg was tapped, the cheesy xmas music was put on infinite repeat in the barn, burn barrels were lit, and off we went! Early birds got to see the bonfire lighting. Middle birds got to see music and sparkling guitars. Late birds shut down the bar inside with Berryville Passages at 6am. Are we too old for this? No we are not.

Fire

Fire

Who let the banjo player in?

Who let the banjo player in?

Fire too

Fire too

Thanks to one and all for coming! We turned the sun around again!

Summer Solstice 2014: Big Fun

July 7, 2014

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The bonfire as captured by Joel Winstead

The bonfire as captured by Joel Winstead

What a blast the 2014 iteration of the solstice party was. Thanks for coming! And thanks to “electric triangle” for the new wrinkle…electric music at nightfall.

Electric Triangle as captured by Joel Winstead.

Electric Triangle as captured by Joel Winstead.

We kicked the keg (not bad for old people) and played acoustic music well past the wee hours into the pre-school hours.

Thanks for making the summer solstice 2014 party magical.

Gina and Gary play music by the bonfire (joel winstead)

Gina and Gary play music by the bonfire (joel winstead)