The good and the bad

 Bad news first so we can end on a high note:  Byron's dad has passed away, news we heard about at the Water Users meeting last Saturday.  No matter how old, how expected, it always hurts so much.   

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim fire is now 45% contained, which is good, but 85% of the south rim has burned.  The pictures I've seen are devastating.  We heard on NPR last night that the Visitors Center is completely covered in flame retardant, to the point one worker said it might have been easier to rebuild than it will be to get rid of that red goo.  The park is still closed.

Some good news is that the smoke is cleared.  Mike and I were up on the Sutton Mine trail Wednesday, and there was a haze, but it was humidity - lovely, much-needed humidity.  The trail was not dusty, even muddy in spots, and there wasn't the sound of crunching while walking on vegetation.  We're in the middle of the monsoons, and while we've not gotten as much rain as I would hope for - like an hour of soaking rain - we have gotten rain.  

Water Users meeting/barbecue - 11 of 15 households were in attendance with Robby on Zoom.  It was lovely finally meeting our new neighbors, Tim and Jessica Blank and their two gorgeous daughters.  Zoey and Brett are unbelievable hosts, supplying us all with so much food, all so yummy.  I parked myself by the chips and onion dip, a treat I only allow myself on very special occasions.  I thought this one counted.

a wildflower I planted coming up
in our font yard

Ridgway view at last night's concert.  The smoke might be
gone, but the particulates left make for spectacular sunsets



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

All quiet

Image
 It's looking like the bomb cyclone and atmospheric river that's hitting the northwest will be coming through Colorado next week.  We have chances of snow Sunday through Wednesday, with the best chances on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We only have 18 inches so far. Yesterday was a better day for Dempsey, who has been struggling, because Alex and Dustin let Frankie out to play with our boy, and watching those two dogs romp and play bow and race around did wonderful things for my mood, as I'm sure it did for him.  Then Sequoia and Mango raced across the frozen pond and joined in for a bit.  Dempsey has never been without Mirabella, and so he is as sad as Mike and I are. Walking along the pond this morning, we saw these itty-bitty tracks, a mouse or a chipmunk. Dude is like, "Oh, hell no!"
Read more

Ice!

Image
 The rain that came before the snow froze, and under every inch of snow at our house, there is ice, nasty, treacherous ice.  Mike and I have been working since Saturday to get rid of it, but it's thick and stubborn.  Fortunately, the temps will be in the 40s all week to help melt it.  Unfortunately, the temps will be in the 40s all week with no chances for precipitation of any kind for the foreseeable future.   All three of us, Mike, Dempsey, and me, are missing Mirabella terribly, so it was good to get away for a few days.  Dempsey loves Iron will Dog Lodge in Montrose, and he had such a great time, if the pictures they sent are any indication.  And any time I can get together with my sisters, it's going to be healing. Just a few pictures from a completely different environment: Me and sisters Claudia and Jan Ethel M's cactus garden decorated for Christmas. It is huge!
Read more

What a difference a week makes

Image
 Last week, I was fretting - as I do - about our lack of snow in October.  Now a week later, we have 15 inches of snow.  Yay us!  Here's how it played out: October 30 - 2.5; November 3, 4, 6 - 13 inches.  Nine of those latter inches fell Tuesday night into Wednesday. I am beyond thrllled to report that Marchelle and Aaron now have an operating septic system!!!  The landscaping will have to wait until spring. For those of you not here: Cattails on the lower pond Nifty freeze pattern on the upper pond.
Read more