Blue Skies

We got a good night's sleep last night, once we got there, in spite of the angry red clouds and flame on the hills above us. Today all is quiet on our ridge (except for the helicopters); last night's inferno could have been a dream. The fire is definitely burning away on the western front (we can see smoke), but not on this end. I don't know whether it hit the Tea fire burn area last night and had no fuel, or what; officials say it is 0% contained. It looks like another normal day at our house, though (except with 100-degree temperatures, about 30 degrees above normal!).

Thanks for checking in.

Tiny update

Authorities have evacuated the next road over (with loudspeakers!!), but we are not ordered out yet. We are up loading the van, just in case.

Jesusita, Day 2: Or, "It got windy again."

Around 2:30 this afternoon, the fire kicked up from being barely-there to sending up tons of billowing smoke, like yesterday...only perhaps a bit closer (not much). By 4:00 or so, the flames had crested the ridge such that we could see them from our yard, which is surreal. I know people could do that with our fire in November, but we had about 15 minutes before we headed out, and saw very little flame until most of the damage was done. It's very odd to have so much time this time around, to see what's happening "live."


Official firefighting authorities are not worried about us, in spite of the dramatic photos we have (dramatic for me anyway, but maybe I'm alarmist when it comes to fire?). We're still about 300 yards east of the evacuation warning area. This time around we've time to make a list of things we want to bring, and to pack our "go" bags (everyone should have one!). We had friends over for dinner, a last minute band-together time with dear friends from up the street (who probably saved their home in November by turning on their sprinklers before they left). They have their bags packed, too, although no one really thinks we'll need them. Still, yesterday I told Bud (who really really wanted to see flames) that I didn't think we'd see any flames. So we'll see.



Houses a few canyons over have started burning, though. I see that we've made CNN. We continue to pray with Charlie that "God will push the fire away, like he did last time, so that our house won't burn down". I pray he will do that over in San Roque, and Mission Canyon, and Palomino Road...

We are in the flight path of the aircraft, so Wombles has been yelling "copter" all day. Bud like the airplanes. In general I think the children have been doing really well. They are understandably occasionally fearful, but they can also be amusingly matter-of-fact. Tonight the strain seemed to be telling a bit, and I'm glad everyone's in bed now.

Did you notice our neighbors' house? There's a roof! And almost one on the garage! :)

Springtime

My roses are blooming again. Again? These are new since the you-know-what. Are they not lovely? Mr. Lincoln (the red) has a powerful scent, and I love Rio Samba--have always loved the yellows with rosy edges. Pixie thinks the Rio Samba smells like apple juice (that must be what is meant by "fruity scent"), but that Mr. Lincoln and my other flowering one smell like the roses she wore in Auntie M.'s wedding. :)

I took to Pixie to her first ballet class today--it was to be the first lesson (free) to decide whether we're going to do it. The instructor met us, but said there would be no class--she had been evacuated with no warning last night, and had nothing with her. We look forward to trying again next week.

The Jesusita Fire (Spanish pronunciation, start with an "H" sound) continues to burn, half a mile from some houses. The winds did not pick up as expected, and in these things the weather decides what happens. Or so the Santa Barbara Independent tells us...but we know that "the winds and waves obey his will." Charlie woke up praying for God to protect our house and to push back the fire. We are not currently threatened, but we are in the direct path of the helicopters and fixed-wing firefighting aircraft. The terrain in which the fire is burning is so dangerous and inhospitable that all of the work has thus far been done by aircraft. Fire crews are camped outin the areas where there are houses to protect...and roads to use. Plants are still moist. It looks good. We are a couple hundred yards outside of the evacuation warning area.

And, the house smells LOVELY from these two little roses! I hear birds singing along with the hum of the airplanes. I am happy.

Jesusita Fire

So, this afternoon I went with a friend down to Ventura to take Pixie to a doctor's appointment and...that's right...hit Target (it's the closest one). We had a great afternoon, but while I was shopping (in another store, actually) the phone rang and it was J. His news? Another fire in Santa Barbara. It is several miles from us, but he wanted me to be aware (and not freaked out) when I drove back up the coast and saw the billowing clouds of smoke. And, they are pretty ominous!

I love this shot that he took, though: smoke from the new fire in the background, while the roof trusses are going up on our neighbors' house, which burned down in the last fire:



We got home and I wanted to blog and get the word out. I asked him where the camera was, and he sheepishly said: "In the gray suitcase next to the front door." And there it was, complete with all the things we would need in the event of an evacuation. Next to it is the bag with all of our love letter from our courtship-across-the-sea. He has weed whacked all around the hill next to our home, and is currently sawing limbs off of a "fire ladder" tree next to our bedroom. He is an amazing man!

I'll try to let you know if there's an update. I expect we'll be fine--the authorities have time to respond to this one, unlike last time. We appreciate your prayers, particularly for the folks over in the San Roque/Mission canyon area.

We are forecast for "sundowner" winds tonight. It may be hard to sleep.

Blessings!

Three Cheers for Kinetics!

OK, I definitely will come back to D & M's wedding...we had a beautiful weekend last weekend, witnessing their vows and celebrating in a lovely garden wedding (and party!). That will take some thinking and some creative choosing from the 300 or so photos from the weekend.

Today I'm just jotting a quick note about our morning. A friend of one of our dear neighbors (whose return we are eagerly awaiting!) had a swing set looking for a new home, and it turns out that home is in our backyard. We've waited a couple of weekends until we could be here and enlist help from some of J.'s strong-backed students. Today was the day!


They are not nearly as close to the temporary power lines as they look. The yellow poles and above-ground wiring is rigged so that the construction sites have power. When ours was being redone, the crews used an extension cord duct-taped across the driveway from another neighbor's house. :) I think this works better!


We may be putting a matching wood roof on the top of the platform...There is a picnic table under the slide, and will be a sandbox behind the climbing wall (after we get sand...and a cover. Yech.)


This shot of Bud reminds us of J.'s uncle, who is an outdoor enthusiast and adventurer who has done quite a few climbs. People who remember Uncle from this age do say Bud reminds them of him.

In other news, Pixie and Bud had their Spring music recital last night. It was even more hilarious than I expected. Considering that Bud had spent better than 10 hours strapped in a car or airplane seat the previous day, I should have been prepared for the explosion of energy. And he got over any sort of stage fright at D & M's wedding...he sat dead center and had quite a stage presence, including being the peanut gallery and contributing to the director's explanations when he felt that was warranted. Oh well, I guess everyone needs a chance to be the parent of "That Kid." Lucky me, I have lots of opportunities! :) Pixie did a great job, too, also sitting dead center (they both chose their seats) and having a drum solo. I guess no child of mine will ever shun the spotlight.

We are so incredibly grateful for the gift of this set! Besides being fun for the kids (who are over the moon), it will be a huge gift for ME this summer, too...

Wedding pictures soon!

Progress!

Now that construction has officially begun, our neighbor's house is scooting along. This is the "first" one going in the neighborhood...the crews are working around the circle, and so the house on the other side of us will be "last" (although the final finishing should all be done at once). Lots of activity! Yesterday the crew started framing out the floorplan on the slab. Looks what's here today, before 10 am! We walked twice around the "loop" this morning and were so pleased to be able to see progress from one lap to the next. Yippee!!


Also, yesterday we realized that Pixie had never had her hair in curlers! We had fun playing beauty parlour. :)