An Evening With Friends

How it starts ...

How it ends ...

Thanks Lori!

Fire!

The New Jersey Pinelands Commission has been running a series of weekly webinars, Thursdays at 10 AM. And one of the benefits of working form home is that I can schedule my day so that I can watch them.

Last Thursday's presentation was entitled, "Pine Barrens Weather and Its Effect on NJ's Microclimate" (that's a link which will take you to a recording of the presentation). And as part of the presentation there was this table (emphasis added):

We live in the 7th most dangerous county, based on previous natural disasters, in the US. Fires and hurricanes being the main culprits. 

So it was with some trepidation while driving back from a quick errand last Sunday that I saw smoke in the direction of our place. Fire in the Pines I thought to myself. I'd seen such before. Surely this was well in the distance.

But as I neared home it became apparent that this fire was close. Very close. 

I knew that when I got the Beagle Club I'd have a nice view to the east, with a low horizon. And I'd be able to tell just how close. 

Less than a quarter mile as it turned out.

As when I got to the Beagle Club I saw this:

Fortunately a controlled burn.

But for a while there ...

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Fire! Food! Friends! Beer!

And Music! What more could one want?

Yule log? ✔️

Spirit Animals? ✔️

And Beer! Did I mention there was Beer? There was.

🍺 ✔️

We had our third annual Winter Solstice Bonfire Music Jam Yule Log Ceremony, this year with Spirit Animals (mine was the Wolverine, I'm tougher than I think) on the actual Solstice Day this year (how cool is that!).

Russell, on banjo, and Tom, on guitar, were joined this year by Scott on bass (the fellow in blue in the second image from the top). Some mighty fine pickin'.

🔥  🪕  🍲  🍺  🍜  🎸  🔥

A big thanks to everyone who came and made it another fantabulous event. A wonderful time was had by all.

Fire!

Sure looks ominous ...

Looks to me like an evil imp running along leaving fire in it's wake.

🌲  🔥  🌲  🔥  🌲

The fire was in the Greenwood Forest WMA, and I took this shot on February 19, 2017 from Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, approximately twenty miles away (and coincidently the fire was about the same distance form my home). Fire is a natural part of the ecology of the NJ Pine Barrens, yet it conjures dread, with good reason, in those who live nearby. Fortunately, in large part due to good management practices which include prescribed burns, we've not experienced the type of disaster where fires have ravaged large areas in California and Oregon.

🔥  🍺  🔥  🍺  🔥

Speaking of fires in California, Sierra Nevada Brewing company has introduced Resilience Butte County Proud IPA all the proceeds of which go to the relief efforts for the Camp Fire of 2018.

From the Sierra Nevada site linked above:

"We sent out the "bat signal" calling our friends in the industry, asking our suppliers to donate ingredients, asking other breweries (our competitors) to donate their time and labor costs, and asking our wholesalers and retailers to carry the beer for free. It was a big ask, and we never could have anticipated the response.

More that 1.400 breweries signed up to brew Resilience. Our suppliers donated ingredients to every brewery nationwide. Wholesalers and retailers agreed to carry the beer and donate every dollar they received. All of them agreed to do this for free to benefit people they had never met."

So if you like beer, or know someone who likes beer, pick up a six pack or two. You'll be happy you did.

I am.

Second Annual Winter Solstice Yule Log Bonfire Music Jam, with Shinrin-Yoku

We had our second annual Winter Solstice Yule Log Bonfire and Music Jam this past Saturday, the day after the Winter Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere. This year it was even bigger and better, not the least because of the addition of a Shinrin-Yoku, (aka "Forest Bathing"), walk to the festivities.

Some images of the evening.

The obligatory fire.

Music makers.

Perhaps raccoon hats help to become one with nature.

More fire.

And fun! Lots of fun!

Still burning.

That raccoon hat gets around.

Basking in the glow.

Sparkly.

Raccoon hat switched again.

A bit of magic Christmas color ...

... courtesy of Becky (who curiously was drinking from a fish all night; another way to become one with nature?).

Hey, don't you have a Full Moon Night Hike to lead?

The Yule Log is in there somewhere.

There were gifts, such as Bernie's new beard.

I'm not sure what that weird glowing thing over Tom's head was. Spooky.

Eventually the fire burned down to a nice warm bed of coals.

🔥  🎸  🎄  🥂  🍺

It takes a lot of people to throw a good Winter Solstice Yule Log Bonfire Music Jam with Shinrin-Yoku.

So many thanks to:

Russell ...

... and Tom for the music.

Roni and Paul for the Shinrin-Yoku walk.

Bernie ...

... and Mark for fire tending.

Adam, for prompting me to get out my camera (I didn't get it until well after the festivities had commenced).

You can see Adam's excellent images at his gallery: click here.

The Goddess for starting this whole Yule Log Solstice Bonfire thing (really, it was her idea). Thanks Lisa!

Image stolen from her facebook gallery and used without permission.

And all our other friends who came, brought food and drink, and made the evening a good time for all.

Of course, one of the best parts of hosting is you get to keep the leftovers!

Until next year ...