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.
“Post-pandemic” Solstice Fire 2021
December 27, 2021
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
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!
Winter Solstice Solo 2019
December 22, 2019
farm, fire, party, photography bonfire, dogs, gem, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, sophie, winter solstice, winter solstice 2019 Leave a comment
The solstice tradition continues in force. Thanks to all who came for the love, laughter, music, and joy.
Tiki lighting
Deck the bridge
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
fire, party, photography bitter liberals, bonfire, BORH, concert, fire, gem, jackie, photography, solstice, solstice fire, summer solstice, summer solstice 2019, video 2 Comments
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!
Marco. BOILO!
December 13, 2018
cooking, fire, party, who knows boilo, cocktail recipe, extremely local product, solstice, solstice fire 4 Comments
This is how a tradition is born. First a seemingly innocuous cocktail article. Then edition one. Then fun. And here we go down the slippery slope to BOILO.
Step 0. Gather ingredients.
The makings of BOILO
What is that fancy ass ginger beer doing in there? And mace from Grenada?! Yeesh.
Step 1. Combine and boil down for 30 minutes or so.
Boil the BOILO
Step 2. What are we missing?
No really, what are we missing??!
Step 3. Eureka.
Step 4. Let the BOILO steep overnight (or 5 hours, whichever is longer)
Final product steeps
Now we are ready for the solstice! Yes we are.
Burn, baby, burn. Solstice fire 2017.
