June 20th, 2008 - Simple summer solstice
Happy Solstice!
I spent the day trying (off and on) to figure out something to do to celebrate. I looked a bit online and found that bonfires are quite common. (Seems like they are for all turnings of the seasons.) So I decided to pull out the little fire bowl I bought two years ago. We enjoyed it last year, but didn’t use it very much and haven’t had it out this year.
When I got home, I switched to work clothes and Maggie and I headed outside. I finished bundling the branches, including cutting a few more from unwanted trees and a half-dead shrub. Then I realized I should just quit and do more work tomorrow and Sunday. Inside to change to less grubby clothes. Maggie headed back outside and I fixed a light dinner for us to eat outside.
I started up the fire–all on my own. I set it up and Eric checked on it before going out the movies. He made one little change in it. And I got it going all by myself. I believe this is the first time I’ve ever prepared and maintained a fire. Every 30 minutes or so, as it died down, I added a chunk of wood or some smaller pieces. I was worried that we wouldn’t have enough wood for more fires this summer without buying it (and was tempted to keep back some of those bundles…). Around 7 I discovered another entire box of wood pieces I’d cut up last summer. I think we’ll be fine this year.
We ate a light meal, including peas and onions from the garden with a fresh dip I made yesterday (also including garlic from the garden and items from the farmer’s market. And homemade yogurt), pretzel pieces, and local cheese. Later, we had some teddy bear cookies (from Gram and PopPop) and a piece of chocolate. I sat by the fire; Maggie sat at her table.
Maggie and I had a small Solstice dance, but neither of us really knew what exactly to do then she decided she was done after 15 seconds anyway.
I brought out a book, and moved it from my lap to the chair to Maggie’s chair to the table for most of the evening without every opening it up. I decided that I would simply enjoy the fire and chatting with Maggie. And so I did for about 3 hours. I never just sit and essentially do nothing for 3 hours. What a LOVELY evening it was. Quiet, relaxed, no stress, peaceful.
Around 7:30, I pulled out sparklers. Maggie was initially hesitant as she was afraid they would burn her. (We warned her a lot about the fire bowl and she was exceptionally careful about it.) When she quickly discovered they didn’t hurt, she had great fun. The only accident of the night: I burned myself. With a sparkler. On my toe. I don’t know what fell off, but I figured it was a little spark. Until my toe kept hurting! I burned a hole through the shoe and the sock and have a small blister.
The fire had died way down, and around 7:50 I put a bunch of twigs and bark on top to have a small quick blaze for the Solstice (at 7:59 CDT). I think I had it blazing a few minutes earlier, but who’s counting?
I loved the fire. I intend to have one at each Solstice and Equinox as long as the weather is appropriate (IE, not raining or snowing).