China plate in a shooting gallery

Oh, the devil within you

on a day such as this.

alyssapacheco22.tumblr.com

With those wild sparks in your eye,

and the fireworks in your heart.

soul-frosts.tumblr.com

There's a sharp smell of a blaze of change,

and a burning hunger for the sweet embers of opportunity.

www.tumblr.com

There is indeed a bit of flame and smoke about these parts,

and I watch as the fire's kindle slowly turns to glow.

www.flickr.com

Setting the frostbound heart ablaze

wall.alphacoders.com

to feel the heat in hearth,

and rise in the wake of a searing sea of flames.

weheartit.com

To reign in a time of candied possibility,

clintcatalyst.tumblr.com

and to feel the warmth

of all that is well in the world again.

-3oh.tumblr.com

If the world is cold, make it your business to build fires.

-Horace Traubel

x

         

The doings and whatnots of yesternight

A beautiful eve of cheese, chocolate and wine for dinner?

Why, yes!

As fate would have it, the 5th Annual San Diego Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Festival benefitting the Women's Museum of California transpired (and inspired) as expected.

Hundreds took to the vibrant tiled courtyard of the Spanish Village Art Center, for an evening of frolic and fun in the quaint village atmosphere.

The Nothing Bundt Cakes folks showed up to share their delicate little red velvet minis.

While local winemakers came out from all corners of the region to unveil their delicious goods.

Owners of Pure Cupcakes, Mary Sarain and Lori Schneider were present and kindly sharing their fine chocolatey wares.

Chocolate...

Chocolate...

Chocolate...

...and then, there was chocolate wine.

Taste Cheese staff members kindly bestowed us with a taste of "Ewephoria", a butterscotch sweet and caramelly sheep's milk cheese, a gouda style little delicacy.

No shortage of mini cupcakes here!

Crepes stuffed with the good stuff. 

The chocolate-hazelnutty, Nutella goodstuff, that is. 

The eve was followed by a smashing game of fireplay. Here's a silly bit of my evening fire fan show recorded by my dear and fiercely talented friend, Thee Barron Von Richter.

I'm especially fond of my underclothing adjustment at 1:47, and the silly ballerina bit at 1:58.

Methinks I'll commission a "fan" club for such "fan"tastic fun from here on out.

Ah, an evening of artisanal cheese, specialty wines, chocolates so fine,

...and fire.

Oftentimes, I am just swept from right under my feet with the tons of awesome I get out of these completely incongruent interests and fancies of mine.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy weekend whatnots my kith and kin.

x
       

Spinning in Paradise

It's a floaty little sort of Friday, and I must congratulate all you end of week seekers for making it through yet another workweek.

The weekend now lies upon us, and I'm set to take to the skies, San Francisco bound for a weekend of music, mirth and merriment. An annual event otherwise known as the Rock and Rose Festival thrown by my darling friendmates Ethan and Luciana.
 
It's a beautiful day long event filled with gorgeous music, beautiful food and folks. The event concludes with a spectacularly choreographed fire performance. I'm set to light up my fire hula hoop tomorrow eve, to close out the day with these enchanting and radiant beings.

The Solstice Fire Dancers

I am very much looking forward to the festivities.
It's going to be really, rather brilliant.

I'll have so much to share with allofyous upon my return, but for now, please enjoy this lovely video filmed and produced by local San Diegan, Eric Long, creative experimental film student.

He did a fantastical job capturing us in our very element. Spinning fire beside the water on the shores of Fiesta Island, while the sun slowly bid us a fond farewell from behind us.

It really captures the beautiful spirit of us Southern Californian, beach-loving, firestarters.

Have a beautiful weekend, whatever you do.

x
       

IgNight Fire Festival

So long folks!

I'm outta here, yes ladies and gents I'm skipping town, skeedaddling my booty, blowing the hell out of dodge, and schlepping off far and away to the desert parts of the world. 

Photo credit: fineartphotoblog

Well, it's not too terribly far away from home, 

it is away nonetheless, and a much needed break from the rushiness of daily routine.

Today, we set sail to Joshua Tree National Park for a spanking, fire festival of epic proportions.

Photo credit: ignightfestival.com

 That's right boys and girls, IgNight is a bona fide fire festival for us fire freaks here in the Southern California part of the world, it's completely sold out, and my head is about to explode into bits of excitement smithereens from the anticipation of it all.

Just me, and 499 of my closest, fire-twirling, spintastic, friends, are set to gather in the desert for the three day spectacular event.

Photo credit: ignightfestival.com

Fire spinning instructors stretching from across the pond as far as Sweden and Ireland, will be present to demonstrate their flow and technique throughout the days, while we take to the cool evenings with newly learned skills to light up the desert.

Photo credit: ignightfestival.com

Looking forward to the razzle dazzle flow show.

Have a fantasticus, spectacularis, magniferificent of a weekend you beautiful creatures.

And if perchance you should find yourself playing with fire of any sort, please do so with great caution. 

Photo credit: weheartit.com

Don't forget what Robert Herrick said, that as in life, 

"a spark neglected can make a mighty fire".

Tend to those smoking embers and stay safe my friends.

x

        

Tonight... We Dance on the Fire Playground

This eve, my birthday celebration...

The new playthings will make their debut into the fire realm as some insanely beautiful friends and I  dance beneath the bridge, beside the water, and just above the earth.

I've to break in a new set of fire fans...

...and a hot date with a spanky, new fire orb

Not sure if I've entered the leagues of pyromaniacs, but I'm quite certain I'm well on my way.

A lovely way to follow up on an evening seated at the swanky cheese bar.

Here's to another circumsolar journey around the great firey star in the sky above.

x

         

Fire Fridays

images by Erik Christiansen

Fire up the weekend my friendfolks

Happy Friday 

x

         

Fire celebrations in the ordered universe

The passing of the longest day of the year brings many festivities as we celebrate the arrival of the summer solstice.

The weather has turned, and there is much lemonade'ing, water-splashing, beaching, surfing, traveling, sailing, seaside strolling, sand dancing, and heaps of summer other'ings to do.

With the change of seasons come many worldwide firey celebrations. If you're vying to leave the backyard for a bout of travel, any of the following will have you checking your sun sign for a searing adventure.

Marking the height of summer, the residents of Wakayama, Japan commemorate Nachi-no-Hi-Matsuri, one of Japan's largest fire festivals held in honor of their ancestors. The celebration takes place by a Shinto shrine near the sacred waterfall sheltered in the mountains.

Here, twelve colossal torches each representing a god, are lit for purification by bearers clothed in white.

Adults and children from the northern Kakunodate region of Japan gather to participate in the century old practice at the Hiburi Fire Swinging Festival to bring good health and harvests to the coming year.

The Scottish include a fire procession led by a thousand torch carriers, known as the Up Helly Aa to earmark the close of winter. It is said that the celebration arose from early Scandinavian Viking raids, so festivalgoers will dress as their ancestor counterparts to pay homage.

 For the closing ceremony, a festival galley Viking ship is ignited for the fête.

Travel to Southwestern Europe to Spain's La Patum de Berga fire fest and you'll be certain to take delight in fireworks and flames of awe and wonder.

burning tar barrel running - The British Isles

Iranian Fire Festival

Florida Renaissance Festival

Marsden Imbolc Festival

 

Liestal, Switzerland

Edinburgh Hogmany

So, with the warm weather at your front doorstep, and the sparkly fireworks high in the sky above this season, don't forget to marvel in your own life celebration amidst the long, hot and fiery midsummer days and warm nights.

 

x