Tuesday, June 22, 2021

T Stands for Summer Solstice at Stonehenge

 Like last year, the English Heritage Site, the group that looks after historical properties in England, was going to broadcast a live feed of the Solstice Eve sunset and the Solstice Sunrise from Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England.


Sunset was at 8:27 PM (4:27 PM EDT, my tine zone). I settled in to watch the live feed with my afternoon cup of tea. Just like last year, it was cloudy and overcast. There was meditative music playing as the soundtrack of the live feed. People were commenting in the chat box sending solstice blessings from all over the world. Still cool to see the monument and to know that even though it was cloudy the sun still set. This year there were no birds flying around and perching on the stones. I thought that was odd.


Sunset from my front yard.


A picture of the waxing gibbous moon before I returned to the computer for the Solstice Sunrise live feed.


There were technical difficulties. The host did an interview with an archeologist/historian who gave some interesting facts about Stonehenge. At the Solstice, the sun rises to the left of the heel stone. She said, when the monument was first built there were two heel stones and the sun rose between them. 


When they got the feed up and running, it was raining and the camera was positioned so you couldn't see anything except the tops of the trilithons instead of looking between the columns out across the plain to the heel stone.  Sunrise would have been at 11:31 PM EDT.  The live feed program would run for 90 minutes, but I was too tired to wait up to see if the skies would clear.


This is what the Solstice sunrise would look like from Stonehenge. This was a screen capture from a YouTube video from 2015


I didn't get up at sunrise to take a picture, but this was sunrise from my front yard around 6:30 AM when I went to put the trash out for trash day.


Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

40 comments:

  1. Good morning CJ beautiful post-sorry about the tech. difficulties, I need to remember to check this out next time, really beautiful and I liked that they shared the history as well Happy T wishes

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    1. I'm hoping they broadcast live for the Winter Solstice. If you're on Facebook go like the English Heritage page so you can see the notice. They only broadcast the live feed through Facebook.

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  2. I didn't know you could watch this on the internet. It looks very interesting. I had a friend who actually went a few years back (her daughter lives in London), and she was totally unimpressed. You make it look interesting. Have a great T day. We're clouded in here; which is kind of nice as a lazy day sounds perfect for me. I think you might be cloudy too. Hugs-Erika

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    1. I can't imagine not being impressed with Stonehenge. Just the sheer size of the stones is impressive and picking up the energy from the place. The sun is out for now, but we're supposed to get some thunderstorms later on. Sounds like a perfect day in your enclosed porch. Stay safe.

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  3. Stonehenge is fascinating but NOT at 6:30 AM! :-/ (I guess I'm more of a sunset person.....lol.)

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    1. It would be different if one was actually at Stonehenge to witness the sunrise

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  4. My husband went there when he was stationed near there with the army in the early seventies, I think they’ve stopped people walking around the stones now! They are quite something aren’t they!
    Happy T Day
    Jan

    now,

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    1. Yes, back then people could picnic and climb on the stones. Now, people aren't allowed in the inner circle, but they do set up a perimeter outside. Hundreds of people gathered for the event even though they were told not to come because of Covid restrictions.

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  5. It was great you were able to try to see the sunset with Ink. Loving memories of him and a great way to try to see it at Stonehenge. My friend Julia of WOYWW fame lives near Stonehenge and she has gone several times, but never during the solstice that I know of. I thoroughly enjoyed the view from your yard, too. You have far more yard than you usually show.

    Thanks for sharing your screen captures and your Ink mug with us for T this Tuesday, dear CJ.

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    1. The entire property is slightly over 1 acre. You see selective parts that aren't covered in weeds 😺

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  6. I remember you posting this last year. Sounds like a lovely thing to see in person.
    Happy Tea Day,
    Kate

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  7. These days the internet offers so many wonderful virtual opportunities. It was overcast here, so no sunset visible, but that didn't stop us from observing the day. Happy T Tuesday!

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    1. Even though it was overcast, it was still a wonderful opportunity to meditate. Imagine how many sunrises and sunsets the stones have witness during their 5000 years

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  8. What A Moon - Thanx For All The Shots And Information - Way Cool

    Cheers

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    1. It looked a lot better in person. The iPhone just didn't capture it. Well, the photographer didn't 😉

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  9. Stonehenge is wonderful, I went there every solstice when I was living in England! Balconies flowers are on my blog today! Valerie

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  10. There is so much on the internet.Thanks for the info and have a nice day.

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    1. The Internet puts the world at our fingertips

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  11. Too bad the site wasn't working in your favor. And it must be oh so magical to be there and experience it in person! Happy summer, and happy T day!

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    1. At least with the live stream gives a glimpse of the excitment

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  12. What an awesome sight and so cool that you took the time to participate.

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    1. It’s what happens when you have too much time on our hands. 😺

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  13. I visited Stonehenge many, many years ago.

    Happy Summer Solstice.

    All the best Jan

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  14. Great screen capture from 2015. And lovely sunset from your place. I have never been to Stonehenge, but sounds fun to watch the live feed. Thanks for sharing. Happy T Day.

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    1. Though it would have been awesome to see the sun setting at Stonehenge, the sunset in my own yard was just as pretty

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  15. Honestly... I am so looking forward to real summer, but the days getting shorter makes me sad already.

    I had to laugh a bit over the technical tragedy.
    Never knew about the event, I truly live behind a rock.

    You have a trash day?!

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  16. Very cool to watch this on-line even with the technical difficulties. The history is very interesting. Love your kitty mug! Happy late Tuesday and thanks for sharing this cool opportunity and your great pictures!

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    1. Even with the technical difficulties, seeing the stones was still pretty exciting

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  17. I thought of you with the summer solstice and it's lovely to see you following Stonehenge again 😁. Happy Summer Solstice and T Day wishes! Hugs, Jo x

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    1. I hope they broadcast the Winter Solstice again and the third time will be a charm. 😺

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  18. I remember you writing about that last year (when it was also cloudy). Remember, it is nearly always cloudy in England!
    Happy belated T-Day,
    Hugs,
    Lisca

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  19. Rather typically the next day was a lovely sunset(well here in the North West of England) and was still light at 10.30 in the evening - I judge this by still seeing colours outside, and was light at 4.10 (when I just happened to be awake!) and turned into a lovely sunny day!! Stonehenge at any time of year is a magical place - haven't been for a while! Very belated T Day wishes! Hugs, Chrisx

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    1. It figures the sun would come out tomorrow. 😺

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  20. This is such a beautiful post CJ! Thank you! Big Hugs!

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