We live in the forest and with that always comes the risk of fire. This year has been more tense than other years with the severe draught. The King Fire blew this direction and because we are a one way in and out road we were asked to evacuate.
My worst case senerios were laid to rest in that we had time. We spent Tuesday evening moving animals and had all of Wednesday to pack valuables and get out. That means 23 alpacas, 40+ chickens and ducks, 5 geese, 3 guinea hens, 12 rabbits, 2 LGD's, 7 puppies, and one hatchling duck and really good friends with trailers to help you move it all. Really, really, really good friends.
We bugged out for ten days and were guests at one my really good friends. It was, as we had no choice, a lovely vacation. My friend put us up in style and was a generous hostess. I got to be away from home with the comfort of my animals near by. We count ourselves extremely lucky.
The firefighters, dozen workers, and police/sheriffs all worked diligently. They not only kept the fire at bay but protected our homes from those that would have taken advantage of our absence.
It's been a few weeks now of being home. Still putting things back where they belong. Even once we were allowed back they were still working on containment leaving a still nervous energy just under the surface. Only a week later we had some Yahoo arsonist lighting fires up the freeway by Applegate. Seeing the smoke clouded rise from the other side of the canyon will make your stomach clench.
It takes time for your mind to wrap around the woulda-shoulda-coulda's and for all that I held it together for the animals and the family my body let me know on its own that it was stressed and it only now feels like things are settling down. Life is rocking back to normal. The season is changing and that helps too.
With the seasons change comes all the lovely fall hustle and bustle. Fire wood, canned fruit, and warm stew.
Sasha had puppies in late August. This time around things are much smoother than last year. Seven healthy pups! We will be keeping two as replacement guard dogs as Alexi and Sasha are seven this year! It doesn't seem that long ago that I was bringing them home as pups.
I count my many blessings as I write this. This year has brought me closer to my friends and brought new friends in my life. Sometimes I think this is as good as I could ask for but then something or someone comes along and makes it even better. One of these things is my children. Everyday they bring me joys that I didn't know yesterday. They were real troopers through the whole evacuation. They worked just as hard as everyone else even through the uncertainty of wondering if there would be home to come back to. Proud just doesn't seem to do justice to describe how I feel about them.
As the temperatures change cooler, imagine me with my steamy coffee and my feet treadling my spinning wheel. This is the season I revel in. There's no place like home!
