Home

Summer Solstice Sketches by Joel Winstead

July 13, 2015

gem art, fire, party, river , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

What a beautiful day Saturday turned out to be. The river was crystalline (and flowing fast), the beer was delicious, and the night was filled with fire and music. Joel Winstead captured the 2015 solstice party zeitgeist in some sketches.

The Shenandoah on the Solstice by Joel Winstead

The Shenandoah on the Solstice by Joel Winstead

Mr Pea on his usual perch (by Joel Winstead)

Mr Pea on his usual perch (by Joel Winstead)

Music by the solstice fire (by Joel Winstead)

Music by the solstice fire (by Joel Winstead)

Firelit at the solstice (by Joel Winstead)

Firelit at the solstice (by Joel Winstead)

Thanks for coming to the solstice party! Support local music; come hear Where’s Aubrey’s CD release concert this Friday at the Brightbox in Winchester.

bbox-WA-small

Solstice Fire 2014

December 21, 2014

gem farm, film, party , , , , , 2 Comments

The longest night is over. We turned the sun again. Great solstice party, as ever, thanks to all of you. Of note this year, superior food in the random food pile and really tasty tunes by the fire.

I know, lets do it again!!

2014 winter solstice fire

2014 winter solstice fire

The night was still and cold, and the fire took a couple of minutes to get going. Jack took some video that was transformed into this time lapse.

lighting (starts small)

lighting (starts small)

Sadly, the keg was dead by 7:30?! It’s impossible to get the beer amount dialed in even after 11 years of practice. Oh well, there’s always bourbon.

Dogs Declare Solstice Fire Ready

December 17, 2014

gem animals, farm, fire , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Puck sez "Fire ready to light"

Puck sez “Fire ready to light”

The solstice fire is ready. The weather report is improving (sorry cynthia). Time to turn the sun around!!

Spring-like day on the Shenandoah

Spring-like day on the Shenandoah

Sunlight begets fire light

Sunlight begets fire light

Before.

2014 fire

2014 fire

After (2013).

Electric Triangle

July 17, 2014

gem music, party , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

In a new summer solstice twist, we put together an impromptu electric band. Gina Faber suggested we call ourselves “Electric Triangle,” which we did. We came up with set lists at 3:30pm the day of the party! Woo hoo.

Here is our rendition of Donnovan’s “Season of the Witch”

Electric Triangle ingredients include:
100% Where’s Aubrey
75% The Bitter Liberals
100% All Natural Fibers
100% Joehammed and the Acoustic Martyrs
Red dye number 5
Rum

We prevailed upon Allen Kitselman to play the Ghengis Angus song Rooster against his will.

The world famous staff of Electric Triangle:
Rhine Singleton, guitar/vocals
Clark Hansbarger, guitar/vocals
Allen Kitselman, guitar/vocals
Gary McGraw, violin/mandolin/vocals
Gina Faber, guitar/harmony/ELECTRIC TRIANGLE
Joe Faber, keys
Nick Schrenk, drums
Mike Aaron, bass

Here we are covering Radiohead’s “High and Dry”

Thanks to Jacob West for the video!

Where do solstice fires come from?

July 16, 2014

gem farm, fire , , , Leave a comment

Rocket launch? No, solstice bonfire!

Rocket launch? No, solstice bonfire!

Solstice fires take several months to build. After a big fire like the one we had July 5th, we start piling up wood for the next solstice six months out.

Here is what the “core” of the winter fire looks like so far. At the very bottom of the pile is a stack of huge locust logs that will cook all night.

1/4 of a winter solstice fire started in July. locust core.

1/4 of a winter solstice fire started in July. locust core.

And here is the garden. Because, well, just because.

The garden in mid-July.

The garden in mid-July.

Summer Solstice 2014: Big Fun

July 7, 2014

gem fire, party , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

The bonfire as captured by Joel Winstead

The bonfire as captured by Joel Winstead

What a blast the 2014 iteration of the solstice party was. Thanks for coming! And thanks to “electric triangle” for the new wrinkle…electric music at nightfall.

Electric Triangle as captured by Joel Winstead.

Electric Triangle as captured by Joel Winstead.

We kicked the keg (not bad for old people) and played acoustic music well past the wee hours into the pre-school hours.

Thanks for making the summer solstice 2014 party magical.

Gina and Gary play music by the bonfire (joel winstead)

Gina and Gary play music by the bonfire (joel winstead)

Newer Entries