Wandering Weavers: California Wildfires

In October, 2007, we had a real Southern California experience----those infamous wildfires! When it was in full force, we had fires to our North, East, and South!! We never had to evacuate, but were one mile from the mandatory evacuation line for the fires east of us. Rodney and I had started already to talk about and plan what we would take if we got that call. We knew where'd we go--his office on Coronado! We could take our air mattress and belongings and live there for a few days. The bases on Coronado were already being used as evacuation sites. They were housing evacuees in the Navy Lodges and in tent cities. The were even housing some dogs, cats, horses, and other animals!
At our house, it actually looked like snow coming down, but it was ash. Rodney picked us up some masks for when we had to take Truman out. We hated to have him out in it, but a dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do!! When we'd walk down the sidewalk, we'd leave trails behind us in the dusting of ash. Truman didn't like it, but he'd get his feet washed everytime we'd get back to the house.
The thing about wildfires that can make you the most crazy is that you having to evacuate can be so on-again, off-again..... "The fire's headed your way, get ready to move out!...... Oh, well, the wind changed, you're safe now!..... Oh, wait! The wind changed again and now its headed your way again, get things ready!.... Never mind, you're ok!..... Oh, well, maybe not!......" That went on for a few days! That rollercoaster of do we leave or do we stay?? That can get unnerving! But, we made it through and lived to tell the tale :)
Here a few pics I took in our back yard, just to show you what it looked like outside. These were taken a few minutes apart about mid-day.And, yes, that's smoke.....

Yes, the sun is still back there!!

Since we weren't able to spend time outside, we took off for the beach for some fresh air!! Most of what you see in the sky is the typical marine layer that rolls in off the ocean each evening. Truman got to make a new friend!