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Vigeland Park Oslo

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Ghost Kitty

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Iulie on the Farm

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Down to the river

Checking on the new tree (planted earlier this year).

 

Bubbie

Dragonfly

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Yo Turns 65

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Nothing quite like staying with dear friends in Leuven.  Yo and Caroline are excellent hosts.  This visit was made even more fun by including a 65th birthday party for Yo.

Here are some pictures from my visit.

I even managed to sneak into the circus on Friday evening.  An incredible show focused on lighting matches, making pizzas, and spinning plates.

The cast of two and the poor “volunteers” who were pulled from the audience.

Leuven.

There was dancing in the kitchen.

And there were homemade cakes.

We even got to try out some mixology for the party.

Rosemary grappa lemonade…let’s call it the “yo-yo 65.”

The birthday king presides.

The actual power behind the throne is slightly capricious.

The site of the party is the back garden with lots of veggie plants.  Delicious food was about as “locally sourced” as you can get.  There were fresh snap peas and strawberries.  So healthy and so delicious.

This gorgeous cake was my favorite.  Banana cheesecake.  Yum.

There was some dancing in wooden clogs yo some truly bad fiddle sawing.

We walked several miles together all using the house as a base of operations.

And we visited the English books at FNAC to compare notes.

All in all about as much fun as you can have in Leuven!

May Day The National at the Anthem DC

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The National is excellent in concert.  Fun show with Romey, Emily, and Lisa.  One of these years we’ll figure out how to get seats.

Soccer Mommy opened in a muddy opener.

But then…

Once Upon a Poolside

 

The band played the entirety of the new album which has lots more energy live.

 

New Order Tee Shirt

 

Your Mind is Not Your Friend

And there were some excellent deep cuts from the past.

Bloodbuzz Ohio

This song was a new one on me played for the Resners’ mom.

 

Light Years

Fake Empire for the win.  Pretend I wasn’t singing.  Video in video.

Yes please more.

Andrew Bird in RVA

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The Andrew Bird show in Richmond was excellent.  Go see the Inside Problems tour if you get the chance.

 

Bluebells Peak April 2, 2023

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It’s early for the peak.  But the peak it is along the banks of the Shenandoah.

Romey looks like a bluebell too.

Moonshine does not look like a bluebell.  Nor does he smell like one.

There are also other flowers available.

Furnace Mountain at Home: Berryville, Virginia

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One of the great bands from this area, Furnace Mountain counts the Barns of Rose Hill as its home venue.  They consistently sell out their shows at the barns, and for good reason.  Here are some pictures and videos from the Dave’s Birthday Bash show.

 

A superb song like Suzanne showcases the band’s high level of talent.

 

Of course there is classic old timey music to play as well.

 

 

There were some non-standard parts of this show, it being a birthday bash and all.

 

Doritos were served, but only to select teenagers.

 

As the show happened on the Lunar New Year’s Day (welcome to the year of the rabbit), a Chinese folk song or two were offered from the stage.  Normally, the band sticks to Americana.

 

 

Danny plays a mean mando.  Of course he plays everything else too.

 

The medley.

 

A crowd favorite and one of the band’s best songs, Bluebell.

 

So next time Furnace Mountain plays, get your tickets early.

 

 

Winter Solstice 2022: Warm Friends on a Cold Night

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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.

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