Wildfires Hit Close to Home

Royal Gorge Fire

I'm sure many of you out there have read about or heard of the horrendous wildfires which have occurred here in Colorado. Fortunately the fires are being contained and the weather has turned a bit cooler with a few scattered showers. But the devastation remains. Over 20,000 acres burned, more than 500 homes or structures damaged or destroyed, and two people have died.

Black Forest Fire

Last Thursday, the Black Forest fire was being fanned by winds from the South. This fire is located to the northeast of Colorado Springs and the southeast of Denver. The wind was bringing the smoke into the Denver metro area. It was terrible. The thick haze lowered visibility and was a health hazard. We're all still getting over our irritated throats and watery eyes. But the worst part was seeing the ash in the air. I couldn't help but wonder if the ash that I was seeing was someone's memories or was it someone's dream.

Black Forest Fire

The same day that we were getting the smoke, I received a text notification that there was a wildland fire in the area of our new property. But thanks to the quick response by the local fire crews, it was extinguished in a timely manner. (I had signed up for emergency text alerts for that area through a website named Nixle. Great thing and I recommend that you check out the website!)

Black Forest Fire

Over the weekend, Hubby and I drove to the homestead. We had stopped in Colorado Springs to get a bite to eat when I received a text message about another fire, but this time it was in the subdivision where our place is located. We decided to head that way anyway and see how far we could get before we were turned back. We made it all the way to our place without incident. We later found out that the fire was at the opposite edge of the subdivision from us. Oddly, over the course of four days, four separate fires had started and all were within 25 miles of each other.

Something is telling me that these fires had help. I cannot fathom why a person would do such a thing! If there is someone behind these fires, I do hope they are caught. But the universe has a way of making things right.

image source for all photos

'Round the Campfire

Hubby and I went camping over the recent long Holiday weekend. Hard to believe, but it was the first time we had gone camping in our time together. 

The nights were a bit cool but the days were gorgeous! It was still quite brown and the leaves were just beginning to decorate the trees. Summer's warm embrace was still being held at bay.

I planted the Hostas I had brought from Arkansas two years ago. I really don't expect them to look this good when we come back, the deer may decide to have them for breakfast. I'm hoping the tomato cages I placed around them will deter the deer. 

We didn't see any deer close by while we were there but then we had brought our 'puppies'. Just their presence kept many critters at bay but the chipmunks were everywhere. Their antics kept us entertained for the better part of the afternoon.

We sat 'round the campfire at night and drank in the beauty of the stillness and the joy of the moment.

ADO Art Doll Challenge

I signed up for the ADO Art Doll Challenge. This was a challenge open to all artists to create an Art Doll after one of the four elements ~ Air, Earth, Fire, Water.


My choice was easy. The idea came to me right away. I wanted to do the Fire Element. After all my birth sign is also a Fire sign.




My Art Doll is a 'make-do' ~ using a cast-off candlestick for the base. Her face and upper body are sculpted from paperclay. She is holding a flame in her hand.


Her skirt is paper-mache covered with tissue paper to resemble a flame.


Take a moment to visit the ADO Blog. There you will find a list of all the participating Artists and links to their Blogs where pictures of their Art Dolls can be found. This is definitely a feast for the eyes!