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Hot Town, Solstice in the Summer: 2024

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OK. It was hot. For a week. And the solstice party was slated for the hottest day of ten in a row. The grass was scorched. The fields were hot. But the show must go on. And go in it did!

We moved the party nexus closer to the house this year (and we liked that, so it is likely to happen again). The patio that Allen designed is beautiful.

These are all “before” pictures. Sadly, nobody took any during pictures that we’ve seen. Too hot to think.

There was some river action this year. JC, Romey, and I spent an hour or two in the river and so did a bunch of others.

The bar (where all of the 20 somethings ended up until 3am) was by the apothecary shed. Namesake alert!

The lighting in 4 easy pieces (taken by Dez).

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Who is Dez? Why, this guy…

And Dez (who was once a mentee) wrote a book you should read all about being falsely accused of hacking while Black. Get your copy here.

The heat definitely did impact the party. Only about 60% of the people who said they were coming actually showed up. I would hate to think that we’re all getting too old to party. Lets just blame it on the weather.

Thanks to all who came (especially Eli who flew in for the occasion)! We seem to have turned the sun. Maybe we should have done a rain dance.

Summer Solstice 2023

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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.

Summer Solstice 2019: Bodacious Bonfire

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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!

Two Modes of Summer Solstice Celebration

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The summer solstice river pod

The summer solstice river pod

2015 Summer Solstice Fire

2015 Summer Solstice Fire

Summer Solstice 2014: Big Fun

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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)

Summer Solstice Fire 2013

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Photo by marcus ranum.

Photo by marcus ranum.

As always the solstice party was a complete blast! Thanks for coming.

Kilts!

kilts

What do you do in Spring?

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Prepare for winter of course. No rest for the pattern bound on this planet.

Firewood in the red shed.

Firewood in the red shed.

Remember that tree? Well it has been almost completely consolidated.

Spring light on the winter woodpile.

Spring light on the winter woodpile.

It’s not just winter we get ready for in Spring. We have to get ready for summer too.

Freshly weedeaten and tilled.  Way too early to plant though.

Freshly weedeaten and tilled. Way too early to plant though.

Dirt.

CIMG0392

And the summer solstice fire is growing. (Thanks to the tree.) Architecture by Allen.

Solstice fire at 2/3rds ready.

Solstice fire at 2/3rds ready.