A Skydazzler's Life Unwrapped...

We're Back at the BBR!

We came back up to BBR Wednesday morning. The fire is 60% contained and still burning in the center. The rain gave firefighters the help that they needed to get this fire under control.  It burned out 7500 acres of timber wilderness, but thankfully only came within a 1/4 mile of homes in the Ranch.  Thank you to everyone who worked so vigorously to get this fire under control and save the 1200 homes here.  It seems to be business as usual with the exception of the riding stable.  They haven't brought any horses back in at all.  Maybe by the weekend. I am so sorry we didn't get Kaelyn on a horse as soon as we got here last Saturday. I promised her two years ago that as soon as she was old enough she could ride.  Hopefully they can come back and she can ride next year.  Bryant & I continue to have our planned fun and went to the Cowboy Dinner Tree Restaurant in Silver Lake, OR.  The food is fabulous and portions are huge. We came prepared with containers this time for the leftovers.  Look out kids, I'm going to try and make their Beef/Bean Soup for one of our family dinners. Yum, yum.

BBR Evacuated- Hi Lo, Time to Go!

Yep, it happened.  The kids and grandkids all went swimming after lunch.  Bryant and I decided to go over to the Lodge and check on the fire updates.  We got a call from our kids when they got to the pool, they were told that the pools, shops and restaurants were all closing at 2:00pm and they were sending all the staff home.  We knew something was up.  As soon as we got back to the house we decided to organize and started packing. Again telling ourselves that it was just precaution, and hoping we could stay.  Not meant to be this time.  About 2:30pm we heard the sirens start.  High Low, time to go, is what they had been playing on the BBR TV station for the past 3 days.  Once they went to Phase 3, they'd start driving the streets of the Ranch playing their sirens on High Low.  We grabbed our stuff, packed the kids, cars and the truck.  We also packed up our friends pictures and quilts and took them with us, just in case.  I can't tell you how sad I feel.  I keep praying that all will be okay. More stories: NuggetNews 

GW-BBR Fire Update

The latest this morning:  Good news...the fire crews held the upper northeast part of the fire yesterday and overnight.  It hadn't come any closer to the Ranch as of this morning.  The bad news...the fire has grown to over 5000 acres, more out of control on the southern east side moving toward the ranch.  Winds expected this afternoon out of the west to 13 mph.  It is still only 1.5 miles away, no evacuation yet.  Check these links for more info. SoSForest & Bree

 

BBR- GW Fire

I haven't posted pictures of the fair. Sorry...Promise I still will.  Got busy this past week, finishing work and we headed over with the family to Black Butte Ranch for a little vacation.  Swim, bike rides, hikes.  Watching lots of deer and squirrels...haha, yes squirrels! (My work squirrels could take lessons from their big bushy tailed brothers over here of what REAL squirrels are suppose to look like) More about them later.  LOL.  Anyway...got here Friday afternoon to find that a lightning fire had started near Mt Washington about 8 miles from BBR.  By today, it's only a mile or so out to the west and the Forest Service and elite fire fighting teams are doing their best to keep it away from us.  The fire has gone from 300 acres Friday, to 3200 acres this morning, Sunday.  We currently are the 4th more important forest fire in the US right now.  Sad, I know.  I hate to see so much devastation here in the Cascades.  This is what makes Oregon so beautiful  But we pay a price sometimes for our green state.  It takes rain and with the summer rain comes lightning.  Trying to stay positive that they will be able to get this fire under control and we won't have to evacuate. We have still been playing some, swimming and a bike ride or two. Got lots to share of the family and playing.  This morning was makeup and nails with the granddaughters.  I put the DelSol polish on them. It changes color in the sunlight.  They think it is great.  So..having lots of fun.  Praying that it stays that way. 

Towel Animals

You've seen the commercials.  The cruising vacationing family comes back to their room and they find a little created towel creature on their bed?  Well it's true.  It really happens on Royal Caribbean cruises.  Probably the little kid in me, but I totally loved it.  Each evening we'd come back to the room to find our covers turned down and a little towel animal waiting with the itinerary for the next days happenings.  Our cabin steward was creative by using Bryant's sunglasses a couple times.  The dog and elephant were the favorites.  The hanging monkey kind of looked like a rubber chicken, lol. But still cute.  Thought I'd share...