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.
Bluebells Peak April 2, 2023
April 2, 2023
hiking, nature, plants bluebell, bluebells, flower, photography, river, romey, shenadoah river, shenandoah, Spring, video 1 Comment
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.
Storied Strings (or rather Guitars) at VMFA
January 12, 2023
museum, music, photography art, art museum, charles arthur, gem, guitars, richmond, RVA, stephen mccarthy, video, VMFA Leave a comment
The Strings exhibit at VMFA is devoted to the guitar. If you like guitars, guitar history, and historical curation you need to see this. We’ll ignore the fact that the most important strings are usually on a violin for now (LOL).
Romey and I learned about this exhibit by watching a video shot to promote and expand on the show with some live music featuring my friend Charles. Both Stephen and Charles are way better guitar players than I will ever be! Check out their session here.
Here are some pictures and commentary about the exhibit.
Charles as guitar.
In one of the rooms, there were a couple of guitars. So we just had to play them. They were squishy and hard to play.
The master goofs off.
Proof that I should stick to the violin.
Bill got into the act too.
Guitar versus violin. What turns you into a geezer faster? Guitar of course!
The dog is named Fay Ray. We knew another one of those once.
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Fond memories of a session? Charles in front of the recording studio.
The world’s smallest guitar.
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.
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.
A Hike to the Backwards Waterfall
November 8, 2022
hiking, mountain, nature, photography backwards waterfall, gøran, nature, Norway, photography, reindeer, romey, video, waterfall, waterfalls 1 Comment
It’s pretty far to get to the waterfall, and the directions are tricky.
Maybe it’s that way?
Should we follow the reindeer?
And you have to stop by the visitors center snack place where they have really nothing. No coffee today, no waffles, nope, no water, sorry only candy made from juniper berries.
But there it is! Upness in a waterfall.
OK. Not the best waterfall in Norway, or really even the most interesting. But there were reindeer!
Peekaboo romey.
On the way home we dreamed of bubbles.
First (and last?!) time on the river 2022
September 5, 2022
nature, river, who knows gem, kayak, nature, photography, river, romey, shenandoah, shenandoah river, skaggs, video Leave a comment
We are way too busy. During COVID the river was a key respite for us. Time to get back to our roots.
A run in September is just what the doctor ordered.
Honestly, they did answer…
Boyle’s boat looking grand.
A run of the class 0 rapids (with one hand).
Here’s to more Fall runs during 2022.
Yayoi Kusama at the Hirshhorn with Romey, Bill, Em, John, and Joan
September 5, 2022
art art, art museum, hirshhorn, joan, photography, romey, video, washington dc, yayoi kusama 2 Comments
There were circles. Which is my favorite part.
Romey and Joan arrive
We waited for our timed entry.
And finally it was time.
Then more waiting.
And it was time again.
And then, you guessed it, more waiting!
And it was the last time.
Well worth the wait. Wow.
Our reality is not quite as…
On the Arts, Queens, and Democracy: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
July 23, 2022
art, politics art, art museum, dali, film, light, madrid, modern art, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, photography, picasso, politics, queens, romey, sculpture, spain, video Leave a comment
There is lots of politics pervading the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía which if you think about it is somewhat ironic. I mean, the place itself is named after a queen. And lots of anti-imperial politics pervades (including some well-deserved anti-Americanism). But a queen? What kind of democracy has a monarch? Or still reveres a monarch? Seriously. Those days need to be behind us as a species.
Anyway, the ill-begotten gains of monarchy are at least being spent on art and not on oppression. Or is art just an opiate slightly stronger than religion? These are difficult issues to plumb.
And are they old fashioned or what? No pictures of some of the pictures? Trapped in the past they are. The guernica room is a shrine that should be full of life, not a mausoleum. Spain still seems to have a Franco hangover.
But still, go. The sound and the fury be damned.
The light is excellent.
Shadowplay.
Take a green break.
Watch mute.
And then coffee.
