Yo Turns 65
June 17, 2023
food, party, photography, travel belgium, bookstore, caroline, garden, gem, grappa, leuven, mixology, party, photography, travel, video, violin, yo 2 Comments
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
May 25, 2023
concert, film, photography blood buzz ohio, concert, dc, fake empire, light years, once upon a poolside, photography, the anthem, the national, video, your mind is not your friend Leave a comment
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
April 4, 2023
concert, photography andrew bird, concert, live music, music, photography, richmond, RVA, video Leave a comment
The Andrew Bird show in Richmond was excellent. Go see the Inside Problems tour if you get the chance.
Bluebells Peak April 2, 2023
April 2, 2023
hiking, nature, plants bluebell, bluebells, flower, photography, river, romey, shenadoah river, shenandoah, Spring, video 1 Comment
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
January 30, 2023
music aimee curl, barns of rose hill, berryville, BORH, danny knicely, fiddlin' dave, furnace mountain, Furnace Mountain Band, live music, morgan morisson, music, photography, video Leave a comment
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
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.
Solstice Card Photo Shoot: Cliveden House, Maidenhead, England
December 7, 2022
photography, travel cliveden house, england, maidenhead, photo shoot, photography, solstice card, uk Leave a comment
Cliveden House is a very nice place for a walk outside. We were on a quest to make some photos for our solstice card. We did it!
Romey walks the grounds.
Noel plays the part
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Location one
The one below is the one we chose for the front.
Noel and Romey way up there.
Location two.
Here is the shot we chose for the back of our card.
Lets Almost Go See a Waterfall in Norway: Vettisfossen
November 11, 2022
hiking, mountain, nature, photography, travel hiking, mountains, nature, Norway, photography, travel, vettisfossen, video, waterfall 2 Comments
The day could not have been prettier. Light rain, but gorgeous light. And peak Fall leaves. And waterfalls everywhere you look. The funny thing is, though we hiked about 13km, we never made it to the big waterfall! Ran out of light.
I guess we’ll just have to go back
THIS is not the one! But look. Spectacular does not even begin to describe this walk.
We had some very late lunch very near the top at an old farmstead and village.
The turn around point.
The Backyard (well, mountain) in Tyinkrysset
November 11, 2022
hiking, travel dogs, gøran, hiking, mountains, nature, Norway, nova, photography, romey, travel, video 2 Comments
Sometimes walking out the door and around back is the best way to hike. We bushwhacked up through juniper and blueberry towards a small lake where fish are rumored to live. Tyinkrysset, Norway is beautiful.
This little stream is just up the road a few hundred meters.
Here are some pictures of our walk in the mountains.
A view of the valley.
Chilly Romey.
Panorama
Our intrepid hosts at the top. Our fearless leader Nova was dressed for the weather.
We love being in Norway.
Coffee and brown cheese? Nova says yes.
