Solstice, The Fall of Gondolin, and the MN State Fair

Good Solstice to All! 

I've always enjoyed this image of the Celtic/Pagan Calendar. The
dates are spread when needed and firm when assigned, and I
love the colors (of course). I use a variant of this as one of
my avatars for my Live Journal account. 

Here, in the Frozen Northlands, it's time to celebrate the beginning of Summer. Litha, as it is sometimes called, sparks the new season, with Lammas coming at Midsummer. I always associate the Summer Solstice with the fall of Gondolin. (OK, I admit it - I'm a Tolkien addict. Of course, to most of my friends, that comes as no surprise at all.) 

The stand-alone book "The Fall of Gondolin" was actually published
in August last year. I'm surprised I haven't added it to my Tolkien
collection, but ascribe that to our desire to eliminate almost all
print books - too many of them. I might break down and put
this one on my holiday list, though.
Here, Tuor stands awestruck as he gets ready to enter the hidden
valley where Gondolin stands. 

Various people over the years have called the Festival that preceded the fall of Gondolin, Midsummer. However, Midsummer actually is Lammas, the halfway point between summer and autumn (thus the name, Midsummer). Tolkien says, in "The Silmarillion" ...

The host of Morgoth came over the northern hills where the height was greatest and the watch least vigilant, and it came at night upon a time of festival, when all the people of Gondolin were upon the walls to await the rising sun, and sing their songs at its uplifting; for the morrow was the great feast that they names the Gates of Summer. 

To my eyes and interpretation, gates are the beginning or end of something, not the middle, thus, this great festival was on Litha, the start of summer. Geeky? Yes, but also something I've envisioned through reading and writing in that universe for years and years. I'm hoping that as we welcome the sun today, that our worlds are safe, our loved ones are close at hand, and our day and the upcoming season will bring joy. 

I'm already being tempted by the Breakfast Baked Potato at the
Blue Barn. Featuring a deep friend potato skin stuffed with
scrambled eggs and peppers, topped with blackened beef
chislic (a South Dakota bar staple), it's drizzled with
bearnaise sauce. The Blue Barn has fabulous food, so I'm
looking forward to trying this on one of my Fair mornings. 

Of course the other part of summer is the State Fair and the list of new foods has now been published. There are some interesting ones on it, and I want to take a closer look on-line (one of the many links to the foods is HERE). My BFF Sharon has already been in touch regarding her airplane arrangements for her annual visit, and the clock is ticking louder and louder. The summer season is just beginning and I'm already focused on how much needs to be accomplished before its end. 

So enjoy your Summer Solstice, celebrate in whatever way is appropriate for you, and look forward to your three months of cookouts, camping, vacation trips and get-togethers. Summer is here! ... For my friends in the Southern Hemisphere, winter is a very nice season too ... really! Have a wonderful Friday and I'll return tomorrow.