Still eagerly awaiting the tomato tsunami.
Summer Solstice 2026: A Musical Treat
August 4, 2026
farm, fire, garden, music, party, who knows bonfire, garden, music, shenandoah river, solstice party, summer solstice, summer solstice 2026 Leave a comment
2026 presented us with a particularly fun iteration. The weather was balmy with only one slight rain delay. There was lots of music. The porch fest rocked on until 3:30am. Just really fun.
As we get older, the winter solstice has generally overtake the summer solstice in terms of audience participation. This summer was a welcome exception to the trend. I guess people were chomping at the bit since we skipped a year due to a death in the family in 2025. Thanks for joining us!
We’ve moved the party nexus close to the house, and it makes things swankier with Kitselman’s excellent patio in full swing.
Food is under Josie’s oak.
The garden is just ramping into production.
And off we go! The Charlottesville/NY contingent arrived early to get the party started. Early music!
And Leiden was the featured guest! Gonna keep him up…all night long!
Bubble?
John and Betty came as the ghost of wedding past.
Baby on the porch! Who knew that the dog gate doubled as a baby gate too?!
More early music on the patio.
It rained for a few minutes and we all temporarily raided the kitchen… but soon we were back outside where we belong.
At dusk, we lit the fire to turn the sun.
Woo hoo!!
This is my favorite picture of the party. Romey cooks a marshmellow.
Sure is a nice ritual.
Iulie obliterates a marshmellow.
Tunes around the fire followed. And after that, back to the porch for even more music into the wee hours. Special thanks to Gina, Allan James, the two Mikes, Emory, Chip, Linus, and all of the other musicians for a hella time.
Using a hay bale to block the heat…now that’s how to do it.
More fire pictures (thanks Dan).
Thanks to all who came.
St Vincent at Wolftrap
August 4, 2026
concert, music digital wellness, eli, jen and harold, josh, new york (song), st vincent, wolf trap Leave a comment
After a picnic dinner of delicious sushi on the patio (how civilized can you get?), we headed in for an opening act so memorable that we have no idea who it was.
St. Vincent, on the other hand, was excellent. Always trying to push the tempo regardless of the national symphony conductor.
We had a posse.
digital wellness
new york (fragment 1)
new york (fragment 2)
An excellent wolf trap iteration.
Garden update June 20
July 31, 2026
food, garden garden, green pepper, summer squash Leave a comment
Oh lookee there! Summer squash and a green pepper. It’s early days in garden land. This year’s garden is beautiful.
Wren on the Porch
July 31, 2026
birds, dogs, farm baby birds, dogs, maybelline, moonshine, nest, porch, wren Leave a comment
Happens every year.
The dogs don’t care.
Babies!
Antti on the Shenandoah
July 31, 2026
animals, dogs, nature, river antti, kayak, maybelline, moonshine, river, romey, shenandoah river Leave a comment
It’s fun to pay a friend back. Several years ago (in 2011), Antti took me sea kayaking outside of Helsinki. Now that he is visiting Virginia again, it is time for a Shenandoah payback run.
It was a stunning day and a very nice run.
Later, the dogs had to assess Antti.
Maybe asked Romey if that was fine.
That was fine.
Now I think Antti owes me a cocktail.
Belgian Waffles: Test Run Before Belgium Run
July 31, 2026
Who makes Belgian waffles better? Us or the Belgians. We aim to get to the bottom of this!
The Stick: Sandy Grandkids for the Win
June 4, 2026
cooking, dogs, mixology, ocean bubbie, gem, ice cream, iulie, leiden, maybeline, micheal cow, moonshine, nonno, ocean isle beach, odessa, OIB, romey, the stick Leave a comment
Ah the Stick, where we ditch our cares about everybody else in the world.
The Stick always provides a much needed respite from the real world. Though we started our visit during memorial day weekend (a big no no), the week was awesome. By Tuesday the beach was empty again.
The grandkids were a great joy to have around, especially Iulie who is a complete waterbug. Iulie spent more time in the ocean than in the house.
Our time was a great family-oriented mix. From reading on the porch, through baby care, to a cocktail or seven.
The view is calming.
Baby Leiden presided on his picnic table throne during meals. He was a hoot.
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Many mornings, Iulie walked the dogs with Nonno and Bubby. Nights too. This is a study in how to stay dry while in your PJs.
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A reminder of our post wedding Euro visit of 2025.
Iulie in her own world.
Wine on the porch
Rainbow (sent to the neighbor Pam).
Morning with the dogs.
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Can you spot the waterbug in this picture? Nothing like an entire ocean to yourself.
Cactus flower.
One of the highlights of the trip (and a cause of all the grandparents gaining five pounds) was our visits to mootown on Sunset.
Leiden had his very first ice cream.
Somebody had too much sugar!
Moonshine and Leiden became fast friends.
About that waterbug (very brave for 7). Romey’s smile when she was bodyboarding with Iulie was so very bright.
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Leiden a ham? We will never forget his “how” greeting.
The jenga towers got smaller as the dogs destroyed various pieces.
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A girl and her dog (with the puppy zoomies).
The whole little family introduces Leiden to the great big ocean.
I believe we have a second waterbug on our hands.
Spaghetti monster.
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Moonshine in the morning inspecting the completely empty beach.
No more ice cream?
Gin and tonic (jacques style).
Out for dinner.
Man o’war.
In for dinner (Micheal beef).
Leiden’s first cow.
This is the start of a new tradition.
Are You My Mother?
June 4, 2026
who knows berkeley springs, jackie, romey Leave a comment
Some time with mom
