I'm sure it hasn't escaped your notice that the West Coast is on fire. We have been blessedly free of wildfires in our immediate area and until today, we have also been free of smoke. It's the "wind event" blowing from east to west coupled with low humidity and dry conditions that have caused these fires to blow up. Downed trees pulling down power lines have contributed to the explosive situation. Fully 10% of our citizens are under evacuation orders, and as I type this, Estacada, a suburb of Portland, is being evacuated. Many towns have been erased and the death toll is mounting.
Because personnel have been occupied with public safety and marshalling effective evacuations, most of the fires are at zero containment. According to the state fire marshall, they would be able to finally fight fires today. Ashland, home of the Shakespeare Festival, has 2,000 residents without homes tonight and the nearby towns of Talent and Phoenix are gone. Parts of Lincoln City on the coast have burned. It's sickening. Our leaders didn't take global warming seriously and it's serious business.
I took this photo from our back door this morning. The winds have shifted to the normal west to east pattern, sending us choking smoke and bringing in some marine air and increased humidity which should help fire crews. Our AQI this afternoon is 515 and we're not going outside unless we have to. Fire storm? You better believe it.
I don't get a lot of anything done on the days we have the baby but now that she can occupy herself better, I am able to knit enough to finish some projects, like this one, another cotton sweater from a Heidi Kerrmaier pattern called Purl Strings.
This cotton sweater from a Churchmouse pattern was a project last spring and it finally fits.
Grandpa and Delaney are watching the Muppet Show as a step in winding down before a nap. She's at one nap a day and it's usually around 2:00. I had planned to take her to the park today but we didn't even go outside to the patio. Visibility is still very low this evening and I am very sad.
2 comments:
I don't know if you visit my blog anymore but trust me, you haven't gotten ALL our smoke yet! I saw an orange sun for a couple minutes today; otherwise it has been totally obscured by smoke for the last three days, with two days of hide-and-seek before that. I hate being stuck inside so much, but needs must.
Sharon, I'm so sorry for all the devastation out there. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
2020...the year that just keeps on taking away. sigh
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