Look at that smile on Moonshine’s face.
Tree elf.
Chopsticks
Little creatures are exhausting.
Big Dog, Little Girl
January 10, 2023
dogs, farm, hiking, nature, trees iulie, moonshine Leave a comment
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.
Ginko Yellow
December 7, 2022
dogs, nature, plants, trees blandy farm, fall foliage, ginko, moonshine, trees Leave a comment
This is apparently the largest Ginko stand in North America, found at Blandy Experimenal Farm in Virginia. We went during peak color change with Moonshine.
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Moonshine the Puppy (2-10 months)
October 30, 2021
dogs dog, golden retriever, moonshine, puppy Leave a comment
Moonshine the puppy is now 90+ pounds and is not even a year old yet. He is growing up fast.
Here he is on his first day home.
And on the beach in mid-October. Still a gangly adolescent, but a big one!
Now we’ll go back in time…
The Stick (Fall 2021)
October 29, 2021
animals, dogs, ocean beach, home improvement, mr skaggs, ocean isle beach, OIB, photography, romey, the stick Leave a comment
Sunset and Moonshine (by Romey)
Who knew that installing a new washer/dryer combo thing could be so fun? That’s the nature of the Stick, I suppose. Now that I properly own it again, the time has come to spruce it up (a constant battle in the elements provided by the nearby Atlantic). We also fixed the ridiculously installed electricity, added some lights in the kitchen and over the bar, and installed a beautiful shelf in the bathroom.
Special thanks to Mr Skaggs for the help, as always above and beyond the call of duty. Anyway, here’s how all that unfolded over two visits
Moonshine and Rosie demonstrate how it feels to arrive at the Stick.
Mike learned about pickapeppa on cream cheese. A serious YUM.
The ocean is great when you are under one
Look at that professional grade piping!
The new shelf
Kitchen lighting. Now there is no excuse for not properly cleaning the kitchen.
The bar lights
Claudio and his family are going to do some major work next year. But first they need to see what they are getting into.
A second trip down with the Shepardsons and Romey was required to install the W/D (on order for several weeks).
Installing this thing required taking the entire closet apart, cleaning out 25 year worth of dryer lint, and putting it all back together (without improving the design one tad…LOL). Gotta say that drying sheets and towels is a thing.
How you feel after several days of partying at the Stick
Moonshine demonstrates what it feels like to leave the Stick.
Post Covid Summer Solstice 2021
July 2, 2021
cooking, dogs, fire, party, river 3 Comments
Well, some things happened. My life situation was utterly rebooted. There was a pandemic. Two solstice parties went by in miniature. There was no blogging. That kind of thing.
But we remember how to get back on the horse! Yes we do. So get up there and ride.
Solstice Fire Summer 2021
One of the secret traditions of the summer solstice has always been the Lisa Messerhead inspired salmon feast (implemented by Aubrey). Of course that happened.
The salmon spread
Yum
But that was soon a memory, and the party began into the green and cicadas.
Soon the tables were full of great food, the keg was tapped, people played in the Shenandoah, and the party found itself in full swing.
Just like old times. Except everyone in attendance was vaccinated against Covid-19. The few friends who were not vaccinated were not allowed to come (though we still love them). At this point in the global pandemic if you’re in the United States and you’re not vaccinated you are a pox on the public. Don’t be an asshole. We’ll hold off on the usual herd of kids until they are no longer vectors, etc.
Anyway, the food was super delicious. And there was lots of it.
Home made by Ale and Eli
People gonna eat up
The imposter dog!
Yes, we’re having fun
Just before the lighting, Jackie, Eli, and Ale read some poetry focused on black identity in honor of Juneteenth.
Jackie reads a poem or two
And then it was time! The bonfire was lit!
2021 Summer Solstice Fire
Mr prepared guy serves as a fire mirror
Romey attends her first actual size solstice
The people
Of course there was music. It went on all night and even when the rain started in slow around 11:30. But then a DELUGE.
The progeny carried one of the tents over the music pod as we shifted inside. The last embers of the party extinguished around 4:30.
Thanks to all who came.
Remember the before times, but carry on!
Today, the light
January 2, 2020
dogs, farm, hiking, mountain, photography blue ridge, dogs, gem, hiking, nature, photography, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river Leave a comment
Three views from the corner.
Trio one
Trio two
Trio three
The walk.
Mogli blends
Shenandoah
Light
Tree fire
Team Tartan Takes the Cup: Leukemia Cup Regatta 2019 is YOURS
October 10, 2019
dogs, sailing blood cancer, fundraising, gem, leukemia, leukemia cup, leukemia cup 2019, phil venables, photography, potomac river, sailing, team tartan Leave a comment
Ten years of sailing the Leukemia Cup was crowned by another fundraising win thanks to you. We’re super pleased to announce that our final fundraising total (in our first “post baby” race) is $74,829 (a mere $171 from $75,000). That means the Leukemia Cup is Yours! A huge thanks to all of our 90+ donors.
Team Tartan Takes the Leukemia Cup 2019
Extra special red hat thanks goes to our stalwart supporter Phil Venables who donated an incredible $50,000 this year.
The Team Dog Joins in Celebration
Burgees
Team Tartan before the day
The morning started early as it always does in a regatta. On the water, our rusty sailing took over and we were clobbered in every race. Remind us that when your co-captains have a baby, they spend much more time changing diapers than sailing!
Sailing the Leukemia Cup
Team Tartan on the Water
But boy did we have fun.
Morning prep to sail in kilts
Secret weapon Stretch
Thanks from Team Tartan
Team Tartan has raised $366,066.61 since 2012! Thank you for your support and for helping us fight blood cancer.
Ancient Mariner in a Kilt
Art in the Corner
April 27, 2019
art, dogs, who knows art, art in the corner, blue ridge, dogs, farm implement, gem, stone slab, video 2 Comments
Art in the Corner
Ever since we moved to this property in 2002, I have wanted to use one of the old rusted farm implements as an art piece. 17 years later, here is the piece pretty much exactly how I imagined it. The rock slab is a 2500 pound bluestone slab from Pennsylvania. Getting that properly staged was a thing, but it all went surprisingly smoothly.
Mogli is suspicious of this art idea
Busting Ice and Bothering Geese!
January 11, 2018
animals, cute, dogs, humor, nature, photography, river, who knows animals, dogs, environment, golden retreiver, humor, ice, paddling, photography, shenandoah river, video Leave a comment
With age does not always wisdom come. But, fun it was! We had a crazy-cold week that froze the river, and now a crazy-warm day to test out the water. Nice.
Mogli leads the way.
The mic on my phone was broken, but just imaging the sound of crunching ice.
Time for a break.
Here, imagine geese honking their displeasure! and ice popping as it melts. Hit ‘play’ and it is not upside down.
Sweet Mogli has captured a hunk of ice to take home! (Video is correct when plays)
Dirty hand is happy hand.
Exactly how i feel! :)
