fire | Apothecary Shed

Fall prep for winter (swingset down)

November 10, 2025

gem 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

gem 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.

Dogs by the Fire

December 20, 2024

gem dogs, fire dogs, fire, maybelline, moonshine Leave a comment

Cute Dogs Update

March 19, 2024

gem 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

gem 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

gem 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

gem 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.

“Post-pandemic” Solstice Fire 2021

December 27, 2021

gem fire, party, photography burning instruments, fire, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, video 2 Comments

The weather was iffy with heavy rain to come. But the night started out beautifully enough as the tiki torches were lit. And we were off on the experimental solstice fire on xmas edition.

The afternoon was balmy at 65 degrees

Who ordered this crazy weather? This has to be the warmest winter solstice on record.

The scene

Tikis wink on

The highlight of this year’s fire was a set of busted up instruments that Josh brought out. We used a 3/4 size bass (well, what used to be one anyway) to light the fire.

The logs this year were immense as the ash tree that once held the treehouse came down over the summer. One or two of the giant logs still remain.

The lighting.

Turn the sun!

Meanwhile back in the barn, the super dangerous Boilo was out and the keg was tapped. The food was plentiful and included both shrimp and carrot cake.

All’s well in the party barn

We started into a wobbly rendition of “let it snow” and the torrential rain pushed us first under the tarp and then up into the barn. Where we proceeded to play even more xmas music in sing-along mode and drink way too much boilo.

Things get a little hazy after that. But the sun has turned, so we got our main job accomplished.

Two days later, the fire is still smoking. Thanks to all who came.

Post Covid Summer Solstice 2021

July 2, 2021

gem 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.