Summertime and the Living is Smokey

I have never been a fan of summer. I think it started when I was a kid on the farm in southeastern South Dakota. Summers meant working outside in the heat and humidity. We would get up early to do the chores. I did the chickens, feed and water them, and gather the eggs. Then my brothers and I would head for the soybean fields to cut the weeds, usually cockleburrs and stray cornstalks. We would stay in the fields until mid-morning when it got too hot. There was no air-conditioning, but we did spend some time at the river. School meant we didn't have to do the fields, so I loved school.

When I moved to Colorado, I was thrilled with the cooler and drier summers. It was rare to get temperatures in the 90's and the 100's were almost unheard of. However, in the past several years, 90-degree days are commonplace, and we even get a handful of days in the 100's. With the heat, we now have more fires.

The Black Forest Fire is about 20 miles southeast of our home. It has already destroyed 360 homes and killed two people. We get the smoke when the wind blows in our direction. We are also eyeing the side of the mountain to the west of our home covered with scrub oak and pines. It is truly beautiful, but this time of years, it is also frightening. We live in one of those subdivisions that could easily be wiped out by fire. Ken has removed most of the scrub oaks and underbrush bordering our home but it might not be enough. We have our pictures and home videos packed up from previous evacuations along with our cat carrier for Neko. We have good insurance and we would be okay. But every summer, we watch the ridge along the west for whiffs of smoke after lightning storms and cringe when we hear fireworks in our area (yes, they are illegal here). We get nervous when we see our deer herd getting nervous and when the birds stop singing. We hope it is because of a mountain lion or black bear in the area instead of a fire.

I am ready for the snows of winters that Colorado is famous for.

My Beautiful State is Crying

Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs

Not all of Colorado is on fire, but it does feel that way. Colorado is my home state by choice. I moved here after college because I wanted to be in the mountains. I have lived here my entire adult life and I am crying for it. Although none of the fires are close enough to be us in danger personally, it is very smokey and very, very hot. It has been over 100 degrees for five days. It used to be rare to get one day in the 100's, and only a handful of days in the 90's. Now 90's seems to be the norm. 

Apparently, there are about 12 fires currently burning in Colorado right now. 32,000 people were evacuated from Colorado Springs because the fire is coming into the city itself. It is no longer just the mountain homes in danger. Colorado Springs is about 60 miles south of us and Boulder is 40 miles north of us. Both have fires, and the fire in Ft. Collins has been burning for over two weeks now.

We live in an area similar to this. In fact, in previous years, we have been evacuated twice, so we are very nervous. One lightning strike and this could be us too. We have a 'go bag' ready because of the fire that was close to us in the spring.

... and thankfully ... Snow

After a week of bone-dry humidity, temperatures in the 80's, and smoke in the air, Colorado returned to early spring with a dusting of snow. The fire in the foothills west of our home was almost completed contained, so this snow is welcomed and beautiful to complete dousing it. The deer herd came by early this morning to dig at the tender grass just under the snow and enjoy the last cool breath of winter.

We have bird feeders for Neko's enjoyment for the winter and we were close to taking them down. For the past couple of weeks, the birds have been enjoying the early spring bugs instead of the dried seeds, but today the bugs are holed up somewhere and the birds are back. So is Neko's birdwatching activities. As you can see, the birds have no fear of the black furry face behind the glass.  He wants to be an outside cat so bad.

I will miss winter. I figured someone has to.

Back to the needles.

Preparing for Possible Evacuation

Yes, we are fine. We are not in an evacuation  or pre-evacuation area yet. We are not directly in the path of the Lower North Fork Fire yet, but we are making some basic preparations for evacuation. Right now, the fire is about five miles directly west of us, but the winds are blowing to the north and away from us. We love living in the Colorado foothills and next to a forest. In fact, Pike National Forest ends at our back door, but this is one of the dangers. This is a semi-desert climate, so it can get very dry and in danger of fire. We have lived in Roxborough since 1986 and we have been evacuated twice in the past (with no damage). Hopefully, we won't have to again.

The fire has destroyed about 25 homes so far, and 2 people have died, so this is a dangerous one. Yesterday, the wind was terrible with gusts up to 50 mph. Today is calmer so the firefighters are making some headway. However, the winds are supposed to be back tomorrow, and if the wind direction changes to the east, we need to be prepared.

I'm ready.

 I pulled out the cat carrier and packed a little bag for Neko. I will put his blanket in the box in later. He looks happy and content now, but if we really have to go, he will not be as content -- in fact, he will be down-right nasty. 

By the way, that is a Kitty Tube behind him. It is Neko's favorite toy. He runs through it at lightning speed or hids from the world around him. His favorite game is to lay in wait for someone to walk by and pounce at ankles. Then he laughs at you and crawls back in, really for the next victim. I suppose I will have to take the Tube with us too.

Next to my cat, I am most worried about my yarn stash. It will be hard to take it with me and even harder to replace.

Back to the needles ... for now.