by Hope Horton
Our June 21 Third Thursday event fell on the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. About 2 dozen people arrived at Hart’s Nest to celebrate the abundance of summer with food, juggling, music, and playmaking. Though the rain held off, the air was thick 
with steamy heat. Victuals sizzled on the grill. Two jugglers—Felipe and Tain—joined forces with a spellbinding performance, culminating in a fire-y finale 
with flying torches.
We gathered inside around a table laden with fresh and tasty potluck fare, some of it grown on the Hart’s Mill land. As dusk began to approach, it was time for the enchantments to begin! Anthony and Amy have a 
long-standing tradition of offering a reading Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream on this day. On this occasion, Anthony found a shorter version for us to enact so that the evening might end at a reasonable hour.
With a flourish on his trombone kazoo, Anthony introduced the play and revealed the characters—nobles, fairies, lovers, and “rude mechanicals”—and each found a willing impersonator in the assembly. 
Costumes were hastily concocted out of colorful shawls, fascinators, and baubles brought along by Amy, Marilyn, and Victoria. With a pinch of fairy dust supplied by Puck, we were ready to entertain
each other with bewichments. The best laid plans of kings and queens quickly went awry and the mischief commenced.
It was hilarious! Can’t wait to do it again next year…
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