Fire!

June 24, 2012

The year of the fires -

I left home at 6:00 a.m on Thursday, June 14th and could see a plume of smoke off to the southwest. Hmmm.... Upon arrival at my conference, I am informed that there is a fire in Lake George! A stressful few days and then it seems the risk is reduced. I'm heading home on Sunday, June 17th (in a tow truck...another story) to arrive in Lake George to a new fire - the Springer Fire. A MUCH bigger threat, much closer and raging. Sunday night I didn't sleep well, kept getting up to check on the fire as the picture below is what it looked like off the back deck at 4:00 pm. It started at noon on Sunday - and burned 1,200 acres before they could get it contained. The house smelled of the acrid smoke Sunday night and by Monday evacuation was looking emanate. 

I had to go back to work on Monday morning, and Jim stayed home to keep a watchful eye.It wasn't until Thursday that we clearly felt that we were not at risk.

It's a week later now...Sunday, June 24th and a fire broke out today in Waldo  Canyon, causing the evacuation of Manitou Springs and 11,000 people and already burned 2,000 acres with 0% containment. The house once again smells like a campfire as the skies are thick with smoke.

The fire High Park fire continues to burn west of Fort Collins, and a fire is 75% contained in Estes Park that burned over 20 homes this weekend.

This is nuts! It is SOOO dry and it is suspect that there is an arsonist involved in the Teller County fires. Jim is keeping vigil and making a round of the neighborhood on his 4-wheeler looking for an suspicious behaviors or visitors!

It's been a stressful few weeks. My heart breaks for those who have lost their homes in fires. It felt surreal when having to face the moment of what to pack and what to leave behind. While our momentos of precious times and people are important, the realization that we could lose our property was just heart breaking.

I feel such gratitude and am so thankful that we were spared that reality.

Springer Fire
Lake George, Colorado
June 2012
Photo taken from our deck

Garden Progress

'Hadley's Patch'
Happy and thriving in spite of the harshest dry conditions.

Delphinium 

Iris

Bleeding Heart from bottom bed looking towards rock wall

Delphinium gearing up to bloom big time!

A Sunday visitor

Snow-on-the-mountain blooms

Butterflies are everywhere in the garden

Everything is hovering...just about to bloom...

The Peony bud just opening today!
My Peony is actually going to bloom after 3 years!!!

Add caption

Birthday Treat

My mother and father-in-law sent me some money for my birthday and I wanted to get something really special for myself...so here's what I got!

A chaise lounge (Walmart on-line and less than $100 and included the cushions! It's so comfy!)

And I also ordered a porch swing!!! See photos below. Just LOVE it! The sign, my dear friend Diana made for me. She is so talented!! I think it is perfect!

Chaise-lounge before the high-altitude sun
bleaches the cushions...

'Porch Rules' sign made by Diana

Log swing...had to wait weeks for it to arrive, but it did!
Thank you, husband of mine, for hanging it for me ASAP.
(Okay, so patience isn't a strength...)

Day on the Dream Stream

Jim and I spent a good part of today over on the Dream Stream by Spinney Reservoir. We were SO surprised when we arrived to only one (yes, you read that right) car was in the parking area. 

Jim caught two fish, which isn't easy in this stream and I caught a lot of moss. 

By the time we left, the skies were flooded with smoke.

My wonderful husband, and angler.

Birthday Boy turns Two

This last week we also celebrated Koby's 2nd birthday! 

Koby loved the frosting! He was a bit timid about the rest.

Check out Koby's expression as his parents try to
coach him to blow out his candle.
(What a beautiful couple!)

Hadley...almost 2 months old.

The perfect picture to go with 
'Hadley's Patch'....




Fingers crossed that rains will come...
and lots of them.