3/21/08

Friday, 8:30 AM. 20 degrees, wind E, moderate and at times brisk. The barometer is down, predicting partly cloudy skies, which are currently mostly cloudy with very high, wispy white clouds.
If the sun shines brightly and temperatures rise into the mid-thirties it will be a good afternoon sap run. If not, not much. I will go out to the sugar bush after lunch to see.
Last night’s spring equinox celebration was a great success, if a bit chilly, as dinner was eaten around a very large camp fire, in the middle of a snow drift, with log benches and lawn chairs surrounding it and a reflective tarp to trap and radiate the heat. There were a dozen people, and as always here, the potluck dishes, pies and breads were wonderfully good.
It used to be rumored in these parts that these events ended with everyone dancing naked around the fire, like ancient Druids. I can attest to the fact that is not likely to happen now, as most (but not all) of the current partiers are too old to do such dancing, and probably not very interested in seeing each other naked. These rumors may be derived from the fact that there is still considerable use of the sauna, which requires at least semi-nudity and much coming and going. However, having left early, Joan and I do not really know what may have transpired in the wee hours in the moonlight.
Driving home the moon was spectacular, a frosty wraith rising through the bare trees on the tops of the hills. We saw no other spring equinox fires, nor any unclothed celebrants.