December 22, 2019
gem
farm, fire, party, Photography
bonfire, dogs, gem, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, sophie, winter solstice, winter solstice 2019
The solstice tradition continues in force. Thanks to all who came for the love, laughter, music, and joy.

Tiki lighting

Deck the bridge

Sophie prefers indoor parties, thanks.

The barn in party mode

Before

More before

Sundown on the solstice
The lighting was as spectacular as ever.

Turn sun turn!



Meanwhile in the barn…Sophie takes a party nap.

Do not party like Sophie.

Boilo

Solstice potluck disco center




Burn hot


Alec and the fiddle player

The solution to cold butts

2am coals
I know, lets do it again. See you at the summer solstice!
December 24, 2017
gem
dogs, fire, party
cerbe, dogs, jacob, mogli, photography, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, video, winter solstice, winter solstice 2017

Cerbe meets mogli before dark
Music. Great food. Huge fire. Friends. Boilo. What more could you want?

Early birds get to see the lighting

Mmmmmm. Beer.

The lighting

Put it in perspective: 100 feet of flame.
This year the fairy ring of osage oranges turned into a warning line for fire spread. We had to get water buckets and a hose out for the first time ever.

The fire spreads

View from the field
The two (or three) pods making up the solstice party are always a good mix. Food and cheesy Christmas music in the barn. Fire and live music in the field. This year some of the real music moved into the barn during a brief rain.

Lights

Boilo causes time warps
Marco
Boilo

Turn sun turn


Thanks to all who came. An excellent iteration.
December 21, 2015
gem
dance, fire, mixology, party
berryville passage, bonfire, mixology, solstice fire, solstice party, team tartan, turn the sun, video, winter solstice

Winter Solstice Fire 2015
It all started out with champagne, celebrating Team Tartan’s 2015 Leukemia Cup accomplishment with a crop of Timex watches. (About which this.)

bubbles

Burn barrel before the lighting
Then it got dark, the keg was tapped, the cheesy xmas music was put on infinite repeat in the barn, burn barrels were lit, and off we went! Early birds got to see the bonfire lighting. Middle birds got to see music and sparkling guitars. Late birds shut down the bar inside with Berryville Passages at 6am. Are we too old for this? No we are not.

Fire

Who let the banjo player in?

Fire too
Thanks to one and all for coming! We turned the sun around again!
December 21, 2014
gem
farm, film, party
solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, time lapse, video, winter solstice
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
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)
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.
December 17, 2014
gem
animals, farm, fire
dogs, nature, photography, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, winter solstice, wood

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

Sunlight begets fire light
Before.

2014 fire
After (2013).
December 23, 2013
gem
farm, fire
solstice, solstice fire, winter solstice
What started idyllic.

Sunset on the solstice (comes early).
Turned to the apocalyptic.

Apocalypse now.

90 feet of flame
And ended with the ridiculous.

Who took my winter??
Salubrious solstice to all, and may your recovery be complete.