Category: Photos

Thank You, Fire Fighters

Thank you signs to the firefighters working on the Black Forest Fire are a current feature throughout our area.  There are still signs in place that appeared after the Waldo Canyon Fire.  In addition to the professionally made signs like this one from our grocery store:

Thank You

there are a variety of home made signs hung on fences bordering roads, like this one my friend made:

Thank you

She is pretty sure the fire-fighters saw her sign:  her place is on a main route into the Black Forest just a few blocks away from where the fire-fighters had their camp at Pine Creek High School. Every day, at shift change times, people would line the road near the school to cheer them home.

Two Weeks Ago

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Day two of the Black Forest Fire I went to my friend’s to help evacuate chickens and also pick up some hay for her horses we were keeping at our place.  This was the view from her back yard. Her place was about a mile due south of the start of the fire, and we were obviously concerned what might happen if the wind shifted to the north.

Seen Any Flying Pigs?

People who know me well know that I really don’t care much for television. Jack likes video, and has a big screen television in his office / media room.  For years, I didn’t even know how to turn it on but had to learn how when my mother stayed with us for a few weeks a month ago.

During her stay, he upgraded his Dish receiver and had it set up so it could drive two separate TVs.  We moved the TV in my mother’s apartment here to take advantage of the second feed, but that TV left when she did.

With the non-stop Black Canyon Fire coverage, I wanted Jack to leave KKTV on full-time.  He was a good sport about it, but non-stop becomes fatiguing even with the mute button on.  Yesterday, he picked up this Vizio Smart TV for me.  It is setting on the dresser, and I can leave it on mute and glance in occasionally.

I figure as long as KKTV is playing its normal schedule, we are safe.  For now.

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This is Rich Harvey’s farewell at the final Black Forest media briefing.  Rich Harvey was the Incident Commander for both the Waldo Canyon Fire in 2012 and  Black Forest Fire that started last week. Gosh, I hope he never comes back.

Refuge Chickens

 

We couldn’t figure out where we could safely put the chickens, until I remembered the old stock trailer parked by our driveway.  This made an adequate summer chicken coop, since it provided both shade and ventilation, as well as protection from predators.  After their initial bewilderment, the three chickens relaxed enough to lay three eggs while they were here.  They certainly had  a lot more room than if we had kept them in the crate in the garage, which was our backup plan.

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Rain, Sweet Rain

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Quite a difference from the photo I took from the same spot six days ago.  The Black Forest Fire is 75% contained as I post this.  Our house guests have returned home.

Unfortunately, the area is still considered under severe drought, and it will take more than a couple of days of occasional showers to fix.  We are supposed to be getting hotter and drier weather again in a day or so.

Black Forest Fire

Black Forest Fire

We are approximately due west of the fire, which is moving in a northeasterly direction. Three times I’ve evacuated horses to my friend’s place in South Black Forest.  This afternoon we moved two of her horses here.  Three went to another friend.  We are also playing host to three refugee cats.

This is the fire we have dreaded for years in this area.