HOLY SMOKE, and then some!

Well, we have just been through our first 'education' in California wildfires.  Joyce says the season is just beginning.  But this one was enough for me! 

We were actually at a branch member's home in Greeley Hill for an ice cream social the night we saw the first plume of smoke rise up.  But hey, it was clear on the other side of Lake McClure, so it would have to jump the lake to cause any real trouble, and that wasn't going to happen. 

Only it did.  By the next morning, it had turned into the Detwiler Fire and would eventually consume 82,000 acres before 5,000 fire fighters could bring it to its knees.  Our branch members in Greeley Hill and Coulterville were evacuated. 

The sky went from clear blue to an ashen grey, oppressive 'dome' above us.  I was glad my kids with asthma weren't here! 

Fred and I packed overnight cases with pills, a change of clothes, important papers...and waited for evacuation news.   I asked some friends up here what they grab when this happens.  They said, "Less every time". 

I'm not sure you can see how the ash covered this patio table, but our cars, clothes and hair all got a grim coating. 

I will tell you I gained enormous respect for firefighters.  There were big homemade board signs on some of the roads declaring "We Love You" and "Thank You!" from local residents. 

It's hard to describe the frightening nature of these fires.  This shot is above our house, and there's not a cloud in the sky.  it's all smoke.  Jim Burdick, our local retired firefighter, says you can never predict how these will go.  A fire can decide to change direction at any time.  He said this one was especially bad because it didn't 'lie down' at night like most do. 

Now I'll show you a picture of why these can cause so much havoc.

This is what pretty much all the surrounding hills look like this summer.  That's why the fire fighters said every ember that fell had a 100 percent chance of sparking a new flame. 

We all kept close tabs on Cal Fire, the Tuolumne Sheriff's alerts, and TheMotherLode.com. 

This was our 'brain trust' that directed the branch through this.  Jim is our Second Counselor (President Whitmer was in Alaska!!).  His wife, Joyce, is a ranger in Yosemite.  And his sister, JoAnn, handles Park information at the office in Groveland.  She and Joyce also make up 2/3 of the Relief Society Presidency!  They've all been through this 'many times'! 

And so when the first blessed day of blue sky returned, I found how grateful I should be every morning when we step out the door to go walking in this paradise.  I could easily have awakened to charred cinders of this 'mountain home so dear'.   But after all was said and done, all homes of our members were spared and everyone is thankfully 'back home'. 63 other families weren't so lucky as their houses were destroyed during the last 15 days.  Thankfully the fire is 90% contained and on it's way out. 

So in happier news from the mission, here are a couple of gems: 

Look what we passed this week on our morning walk!  You almost never get a shot of the whole family like this, with their two adorable fawns in tow! 

And here's a great new friendship we've made because of Elder Meese's baking skills!  He found that a woman through the block is a professional bread maker.  Through a branch member doing repair work for her, we got in contact with her, and she agreed to let him come talk 'bread' with her!  (Interesting side bar - her husband said 'as long as they don't talk religion!')  When we got there, she was knee deep in baking for an upcoming festival, so she let him watch.  It turned out to be the best visit! 

They are delightful people!  They invited Fred to bring them a loaf of his bread; they were entranced that he grinds his own wheat and does whole wheat 'round' bread in V8 cans.   

He took them a loaf, to their wonderful little geodesic home.  And they loved it!  They have invited us to come around any time just to visit. 









Here's a picture that's hard to believe.  Not because Cyndi made this sweet baby quilt for Will and Kirsten's baby coming in the Fall.  But because she doesn't own a sewing machine.  She did this all (piecing, border, all of it) by hand. 

 She brought it to church to give Kirsten today, so I snapped a shot of it.  Wonderful. 

Oh, and I thought I'd show you my 'alternate sister':  this is my Groveland "Jolene".  She has the same name as my only sibling, which is probably why I feel warmly toward her.  She was speaking in church today, a while after I took this picture.   So she was petrified with anxiety.  Which is humorous, because she's spent a lifetime serving in almost every calling in the church.  Her husband is one of our former branch presidents, and Jolene is a totally talented and capable pillar of the branch.  Go figure that she still gets nervous...

Last week we also said good-bye to a great Elder in our District.  He's the first one we've worked closely with that has completed his mission and is heading home.  I'm really going to miss him.  He always seemed to have a humble and inspired answer to help me with questions I had.  God's speed, Elder Bowler.

I think I'd better close.  And thank you to the friend who pointed out I was way overdue for this post.  Time can get away from me.   And so, to end, I'll give you one of our friends we 'caught in the act' after the Fourth of July celebrations!  Tsk Tsk!!
And here's to a happy beginning to August to you all.  We love you.