Garden Of Memory Summer Solstice 2023

June 21, 2023. Sunset 8:34 PM. Oakland, CA. Congratulations to the 2nd year of reopening for the annual Solstice celebration at the Garden of Memory in the Chapel of the Chimes. Many thanks to the Cardew Choir for incorporating the dailybell sunset bell observance into their own 4 hour performance of Pauline Oliveros’ “Heart Chant” and “Rock Piece”.
Here’s what Tom Bickley had to report about the moment---“The Sunset Bell ringing was quite a draw. People asked if it would be upstairs as usual. We explained that we were the main location. Later an audience member reported that on the upper-level people rang keys, bells, etc. at sunset, too.”
Also thanks to friends Jenny Holland, Betsy Willson, Emily Klion and Sharon Plumeria from previous years for gathering forces and carrying on the tradition together.
Hopefully some of the participants from this year’s sunset bell-ringing crossing of the East River in New York will send in some documentation—which I look forward to sharing (I failed to take any photos or video)…

perfect solstice sunset celebration for dogs

June 21, 2023. Sunset 8:44 PM. Shelter Island, NY.

Fern and her daughter, Willow on vacation having a sunset sniff on the Solstice.
Thanks Connie!

This just in –

June 21, 2023. Sunset 8:30 PM. East River between DUMBO and Wall Street.

These photos were taken by Emily Whitfield who came to the event with her friend Joyce Burstein (a friend of Léonie) Such an unexpected trail of connections and pleasant surprise. That last photo in the series (5) is one of the guys who worked on the Ferry with his little bell. On my return trip, I couldn't find my ticket and his co-worker, who also had a bell- waved me on- This whole event was unexpectedly over the top delightful!
Emily's pictures captured everything that evening (except for the sound)-- For that-- grab some bells and ring along as you scroll through the pictures- or check out one of the earlier postings from that evening.
—post from Emily Whitfield-
“Had a great time ringing in the Summer Solstice with friends and random strangers on the ferry from Dumbo to Wall Street. As the dailybell event creator/artist Brenda Hutchinson puts it: Sunrise and Sunset, 2 things everyone can agree on, every day!”

East River Ferry Crossing-- from the Solstice team!

June 21, 2023. Sunset 8:30 PM. Solstice Sunset Bell Ringing.

Here is the first batch of photos to arrive from the terrific dailybell team who invited people waiting in line or the Ferry at the DUMBO landing to celebrate in the longest day of the year together as we made the very short (4 minute) crossing of the East River to Wall St.

These are the photos that Joe took- they include our signs, cards we distributed to everyone along with bells to ring and keep. Many thanks to everyone who showed up to help-- Joe Pokrifka, Mary Buchen, Hannah Hutchinson (and her friend- Sara??), Charlie Charles, Joyce Burstein and Emily Whitfield.
PS (If any of you have photos or videos, please send them- I failed miserably to document anything) It would be nice to hear all those little bells.

East River Ferry Crossing WITH SOUND!!

June 21, 2023.Sunset 8:30PM. East River Crossing, NY. June 21, 2023. Sunset 8:30 PM. This just in from Charlie Star Charles who is an intern at Harvestworks this summer- The only documentation with sound from our crossing! (The boat is much louder than I remembered) Thank you Charlie, Carol Parkinson and Harvestworks for your support!

Coming Soon!! The Summer Solstice--

If you are around the East River in Brooklyn on Wed- please join us for a short, bell-ringing ride across the river at sunset --
We are joining Make Music New York this year as part of the mutli-site day long festival. Rain or shine
Location/Map:
East River Ferry Landing -- DUMBO TO Wall St./Pier 11
Old Fulton St and Furman St. Brooklyn, NY 11201
East River Ferry Schedule
Ferry Departs at 8:17 PM. Sunset at 8:30 PM

another Montana sunrise-- letting sleeping dogs (and cats) lie

June 17, 2023. Sunrise 5:34 AM. Emigrant, MT.

"this morning at 5:15 AM" from my sister, Lisa

bad air ... earliest sunrise ... a peek at the Moxi

June 11, 2023. Sunrise 5:24 AM. Brooklyn, NY.

Good morning from Brooklyn. Arriving here last night, the air was sweet and clear. I optimistically opened a window only to find the air this morning to be that lovely, but deadly smoky orange- well into the Unhealthy for Sensitive People range.

On a completely different note- We are sitting in the earliest sunrises of the year here at 5:24-- for another week and then the slow creep forward....

color blind-- busy noses

June 10, 2023. Sunrise 5:35 Emigrant, MT.

View from my sister, Lisa's house.

"Tucker, Riley and Huck ignoring the sunrise"—Lisa

cast iron magnet

June 8, 2023. Sunset 8:30 PM. San Francisco, CA.

This was a bell magnet night. We were just catching up with Kiki (the dog), Matt and his brother and mother who were visiting from the Midwest when Riley (the person) who used to live 2 doors down came by with his friend and their 2 very LOUD motorcycles. If you look closely, you will notice the woman wearing 2 different shoes. She had to make a mad dash out the door and grabbed the nearest shoes that fit from top of pile of childrens’ shoes but the door. Last, but not least, our friend Elisabeth just returned from Sardinia, and she came by with a lovely new bell for us.

(This is the bell—it’s a #5, which is my lucky number—thank you Elisabeth)

Thank you everyone! It was a wonderful surprise to be together this evening.

Happy Birthday Bill

June 2, 2023. Sunset 8:26 PM. San Francisco, CA.

Today would have been my brother’s 61st birthday. It’s hard to imagine him as a grey-haired man. Here we are in the summer of 2009 a few months before he passed away. He'd recently celebrated his 47th birthday, and he and my 2 youngest nieces had come out to stay with us to help renovate our bathroom. Bill had a particularly annoying time (using a toothpick) with clearing the mastic between some tiny tiles I'd chosen. I can still hear him muttering under his breath every time I go into the bathroom, and it still makes me laugh.

One moment of repose-

June 1, 2023. Sunset 8:46 PM. Sardinia, Italy.

"Sunset in Castelsardo, Sardinia just now"-Elisabeth Beaird and Richard Marriott
(I looked up the weather, and it's as lovely as it looks-- 70's)- BH

sweet and sour

May 27, 2023. Sunset 8:22 PM. San Francisco, CA.
Our only post this month, (though we've been ringing away into the fog everyday)-

This was an unexpected eruption of joy at seeing each other this evening! At the same time we are saying goodbye to Tony who returns to China in 2 days for the summer. We'll miss him-- 路平安，旅途愉快!

What’s in the bag? Some lemons for the road- redistributing them from another neighbor's spring harvest-- In New Jersey, everyone tried to give their tomatoes away at the same time each year.

Here-- it's the lemons.

Happy sunset Rae!

April 26, 2023. Sunset 8:15 PM. Olympia, WA.

“happy sunset to you, Brenda! thinking of you”.
- Rae Diamond
(this is sooooo silvery)- BH

Joe's friends and family weighing in at all hours

April 22, 2023. Sunset 7:56 PM. Saint Helena Island, SC

Yesterday’s sunset from my cousin Roseanne in Saint Helena Island SC

April 25, 2023. Sunrise 6:29 AM. Raleigh, NC

Dawn in Raleigh, NC yesterday c/o Nancy Moore posted to FB
- Joe P

Thank you guys! -BH

tiny but many!

April 21, 2023. Sunset 7:29 PM. Manhattan Beach, CA.
"Manhattan beach sunset. With a few pelicans transiting across the horizon"

- Elisabeth Beaird and Richard Marriott

Happy Easter!

April 9, 2023. Sunset 7:39 PM. San Francisco, CA. Two little doves watching the sun go down with us this evening. (They could actually see it from up there).

Goodnight Mom

March 30, 2023.
Today would have been my mother’s 90th birthday. She’s been gone for almost 30 years and I still say goodnight to her every evening. Here she is in good company here with my brother and grandmother

Happy Birthday Mom

FIVE!!!

March 30, 2023. Sunset 7:30 PM. San Francisco, CA.

Our friend Jesse Budel visiting from Australia sets a new record of 5 strikes of the dailybell with a single push.
Tintintintintinnabulating---
Nicely done Jesse!

rare planetary alignment

March 30, 2023
Check this out!!
If you have a Night Sky viewing app on your phone-- you can virtually see ALL of the planets aligned at the same time since the app will show you what's "below the horizon" i.e. the position of the planets in relation to the other side of Earth--

It's a wonderful perspective--

waking up in the clouds

March 27, 2023. Sunrise 7:15 AM. In the sky…

From my friend Van flying over SC a few days ago… ,br/> Joe-P

Happy Equinox-- Spring has sprung!

Balancing raw eggs at 2:24 PM PDT

Eating them a bit later...

March 20, 2023. Sunset 7:21 PM. San Francisco, CA.

Norman working off the eggs.

Baja? Heaven?

March 18, 2023. Sunset 6:31 PM.

From my friend Glenn today from Comondú Baja California
-Joe P

Top of the Equilux to you

March 17, 2023. Sunrise and Sunset 7:17 AM and 7:18 PM (by only a few seconds). San Francisco, CA. At this latitude today.
Equilux - Sunrise and Sunset dividing the day into equal parts of light and darkness--

The Equinox and first day of Spring is on Monday 3/20/23-- However, by then we here at this latitude will already have crossed the line into (incrementally) more light.
To find out when the Equilux will slice your day in half-- check out timeanddate.com and enter your location. Look for the day when the sun rises and sets 12 hours apart.

where's the leprechaun???

March 17, 2023. Sunrise 7:23 AM. South Carolina

“From my cousin Roseanne” –
Joe P
(What happened to the leprechaun?) - BH

Pi and the Sky

March 14, 2023. Sunset 7:29 PM. In the sky …Houston, TX
“Almost to IAH. Bound for Austin (SXSW)”

Joe P
Thanks Joe!- BH

(also Pi Day)-

FYI-- Originated by Larry Shaw during a staff retreat at Asilomar in Monterey CA in 1985! The staff retreat was held shortly after the death of Frank Oppenheimer, the founder of the Exploratorium. (I was there in the room where it happened!)

"inch by inch... slowly I turn..."

March 6, 2023. Sunrise 6:46 AM. West Homestead, PA.
More this week from cousin Barb! “Sunrise from my Home Office. Happy Monday”

-Joe P
Hi Joe-- Beautiful view of sunrise-- but so early to work?!! 3 minutes earlier than 3 days before—YIKES—zipping along.- BH
(quote from the Earth and the 3 Stooges)

memories of pouring time

March 4, 2023. Sunrise 6:49 AM. Pittsburgh, PA
From my cousin https://www.facebook.com/barb.kostovny yesterday in Pittsburgh atop the US Steel Building.

- Joe P
Whoa-- looks like the old steel pouring fiery sky-- Much better to know that it’s the sunrise-- thanks Joe!- BH

racing the sun down-- there and here

Feb. 26, 2023. Sunset 6:00 PM. San Francisco, CA.

From Elisabeth turning the corner a few minutes before arriving in front of our house.

THEN---
One by one - arrivals --
Some walking around that golden corner.
Tony just running out in his slippers.
A rare break in the clouds--

We've missed everyone!!

Feb 18, 2023. Sunrise 7:13 AM. Páfos, Cyprus.

…from my friend https://www.facebook.com/matthias.hausman taken in Páfos, Cyprus
-- Joe P