random thoughts – Day 2,105 (Sunday) – fire and solstice

Solstice fire.

Winter and the solstice were greeted with more walking. Today was the Lantern Lit Solstice Hike at Sibley Farm in Spencer, MA. The event featured a lantern-lit path uphill towards a campfire where hot cocoa and snacks awaited. A table held hot cocoa plus skewers, marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate for s’mores.

There were thirty or forty of us (unscientific guess) gathered around three portable fire pits burning atop the hill. People chatting at the fire we were at mentioned having gotten up early to watch the sunrise solstice event at Stonehenge. People visited the woods bordering the field to collect fallen branches and break them up to add to the fires. 

The temperature in the 30s and forecast to drop a bit meant dressing in layers, but I just did that yesterday, so it was easy. Even with a base layer, quarter zip turtleneck, fleece zip front, and outer shell, it was a bit chilly on the hill due to the wind that sometimes sent the flames blowing sideways. Every time I removed my left glove to take a picture with my phone my hand froze. Holding it over the fire before putting my glove back on helped.

Sunset before the longest night.

The sun shone between a bank of clouds moving in, and we saw the pink, purple, and orange tones deepen against the gray clouds as sunset approached. Someone with a small notepad and pencil moved through the crowd and invited people to write down something we want to let go of or something we want to embrace with the change of seasons and then set it into the fire. Done!

After the solstice event, the drive down country roads in the newly settled darkness had it feeling like midnight instead of not much past 5:00. We landed at The Barn in Princeton for supper. My friends had been there several times before, but it was my first time there. My selection was a “Grown-up Grilled Cheese” with smoked gouda, cheddar, apple sage slaw, and sourdough with onion rings. Definitely delicious.

And now we move into the season of growing light each day. In approximately 182 days, we can celebrate the summer solstice.