The Pokeberry Quilt

The Pokeberry Quilt

Friday, August 17, 2012

Picture a Picture and Feeling Safe

Well, I seem to have exceeded my picture storage on Google, as I wait for the upgrade you can picture a primitive table runner I made from the last of the fabric labels from Brannock & Patek.  Upgrade complete, here's the photo, told you it was a prim runner, forgot I included a little mat in the picture.

I will tell you about not feeling safe.  We all have that need to feel safe in our home and I have so much empathy for those that have lost homes to fires and live with the threat of wildfires as we speak. 
The smell of smoke was very close on Tuesday.  I received a phone call right after lunch from a neighbor, "get out", there's a fire behind your house.  She tends be the nervous sort.  Okay, I'll go take a look.  Another call, you know there's a fire behind your house.  Can you tell how far, not far, between you and so and so.  Okay, at least there's a big mountain between us.  I have time to sort things out.  Decide what to start packing, as I hear helicopters now and a bomber that drops retardant.  Keep making my trips back and forth to the car, a neighbor wants to send a horse trailer, I can't do that now.  I have to feel confident that the fire fighters would not let our homes burn, it's been a quick response.  And then, a sheriff with emergency lights coming up the long drive. Won't tell you what I said out loud.  He handed me my evacuation notice and wrote down my personal information.  Prayers that haven't filled my head do so even more. You can stay, but we can't promise your safety and you should be ready to leave in a moment's notice.  I can do that.  I'm staying for now.  I continue to pack the car taking a break to sit on the steps and watch the bomber swoop over a low part of the mountain to the side of me and swing back for another drop.  Sidney's eyes went big like saucers each time the plane came over.  Bailey, of course, was under a bed. It's been hours now, only smoke, no better, no worse.   And then, less noise, the bomber wasn't coming as close, less smoke.  I am getting updates from a neighbor that lives higher up and can see the whole area, flames are not as high, the fire isn't climbing the crest of the mountain.  Thank you, thank you as I feel some relief.  More hours, less smoke, less noise, the fire fighting sounds further away.  And then I see the sheriff coming up the drive, no lights, a huge grin.  He jumps out of his car, "good news", they have a handle on it and have saved two house and it's looking very good.  We only have to worry about a cool front that comes in tonight with gusty winds, but with cooler temps and rain, our confidence level is high.  We will come thru with sirens during the night if the situation worsens.  I sure wanted to hug him.

I woke up Wednesday to silence, very little smoke.  I could finally let myself be emotional.  Thinking about the fire fighters, all volunteer in this rural area and the forest service that did such an outstanding job to keep us safe, saving this land, the mountains, the trees, a place the wildlife also call home.

21 comments:

  1. I can imagine how nerve wracking that must be and not knowing. One year we sat in our house and watched a tree get pulled out of the ground and headed towards our bedroom area, kept rocking that way and then the wind reversed and it went crashing down on empty ground.

    Debbie

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  2. So glad you and you kitties and your home are safe....so glad there are people who volunteer to keep us safe.

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  3. I ran out of Goggle picture storage recently too. I guess that is a reason that some people start a new blog as a part two.

    I am so happy for you that your home and possessions are safe. I would not know just what to pack for a quick get-away.

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  4. Thank Goodness for firefighters!Living in Crest we always have worries about wildfires when it gets hot. The last fire that came thru destroyed over 200 homes in Crest and came 14 feet from our home.
    The one thing we got after the fires is to always have carriers for your cat. they're usually freaked out. That was a close call and I am so glad your O.K Hugs Cheri

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  5. I've been watching the fires on the Weather Channel and thinking about, worrying about, praying for all of my blog friends that are in those paths. I'm so glad you are safe.

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  6. so glad all are safe and sound....have had to evacuate a couple times almost scarrier being away and not knowing till you can go back.....it's an emotional tole on everyone....take care and maybe even redecorate a little with all the belongings you now have to haul back in.....cheri

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  7. Your post makes me think of how much I take daily life for granted. Wishing you continued safety.

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  8. It is such a violation to feel threatened in our home. As you said, home is meant to be a safe haven. A place of nurturing. And to feel at risk in your home AND have your home itself be at risk is a double whammy.

    Sending prayers...

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  9. Held my breath reading your post. Thank God you and the kitties are safe. Your blog always brings a smile to my face like a breath of fresh air I take in the beauty of your countryside, the wild animals , and your beautiful quilts. Take care....... Hugs

    Terry

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  10. Held my breath reading your post. Thank God you and the kitties are safe. Your blog always brings a smile to my face like a breath of fresh air I take in the beauty of your countryside, the wild animals , and your beautiful quilts. Take care....... Hugs

    Terry

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  11. Over here in the UK we fortunately don't seem to suffer the extremes of weather you get that side of the pond - I feel for you Nancy - a feeling of terror was rising up inside me as I read your post - I can't even start to think what I would take or leave if I had to evacuate my home apart from Nigel and the kids of course - maybe we should use this as a lesson to focus our minds on having an ordered evacuation procedure in place to cover any eventualities even here in usually uneventful little old England - I was so relieved when I got to the end of your post that you were ok and spared - but probably not a fraction of how relieved you must have been (((hugs)))

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  12. I also held my breath reading your story, so glad all is well! We have had to evacuate for flooding in the past, we were flodded in 1990, I have always said I would rather deal with a flood than a fire...neither is best.
    christine

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  13. Hello Nancy,
    I was so worried when I read your post. I've been away teaching and only had limited access to an internet connection.
    I can't even begin to imagine how you felt at the possibility of losing your precious home. Please keep safe and give Sydney and Bailey a hug.
    My thoughts are with you,
    Hugs, Angela.x

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  14. soo glad that things settled down! so scarey, our home are our place we feel safe. cant even emagine losing that too.. thoughts, prayers and hope you can enjoy your weekend! oh of course love your latest project. great fabrics!

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  15. I couldn't read fast enough, I just kept thinking grab your cats & quilts and get out! Good to read you are safe. Yes, the volunteers, fire fighters, the police certainly do amazing work.

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  16. Glad to hear that all is well, for now. I've been driving all through the west (WY, MT, WA, OR, UT) and the smoke is incredible! What was brilliantly clear last time I came through is almost invisible due to the smoke, with new fires daily. Scary and I'm only driving through.

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    Replies
    1. Gail, I live in UT and it has been a horrendous summer! Feels like the entire state is burning up! And it still continues....... more fires broke out yesterday. Rain! We need rain! The entire country does............

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  17. I'm soooo glad you are safe. I can't imagine the emotions you must have been feeling. The only time I was told to evacuate my home was because there was a guy next door with a gun. That really didn't threaten my home or my life so it was totally different than your evacuation notice.

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  18. Oh this brings back memories....... memories of a summer as we watched in the night, the mountain behind our home all lit up casting an eerie glow on the night's sky. The packing, what do we take, the waiting....... every truck that drove by, wondering if it would be the evacuation notice, the camp down the road about a mile full of these brave men and women who were all volunteers.

    I'm so glad you are safe and that the storm has passed. Laws this has been a summer!!!!!

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  19. So thankful you are safe.

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  20. Oh my darling little friend. I watch your blog silently and go thru your turmoil with you. I WILL keepy you in my prayers today and always. so very glad you're safe. Nancy , budd lake NJ

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