Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Fire!

Hello my friends! I hope you all had a wonderful and SAFE weekend wherever you were.  The news around the U.S. is not good for a lot of people, so I'm hoping that all of you are doing well.

I'll begin with this picture of my handsome husband, (near body,) and Larry, (Far body), under our trailer.  This is how he spent our 39th wedding anniversary on Friday.  Saturday too.  We have squirrels trying to take up residence for the coming winter in the insulation under our trailer.  There was a HUGE stockpile of nuts and pinecones in the underbelly of the trailer when they opened it up.  We have tried everything, from natural predator scents sprinkled around, to moth balls and duct tape and a plastic owl to scare them away. Nothing worked.  Dennis bought some sheets of metal at work and this is him and Larry putting it underneath the front and back end of the trailer where the entry points seemed to be.  We're hoping this does the trick as they could completely destroy the trailer over the winter months.
Now for some smoke photos. You know how beautiful our view at the lake USUALLY is.  Here it was yesterday.  It just kept getting worse throughout the day...
and worse....
and worse.  I didn't even take any pictures after you couldn't see the lake anymore!  It's so bad that we lost complete internet and phone service there for the last 29 hours.  We came home this morning so we could check messages.  Somehow the smoke is interfering with the satellite transmissions to the cell towers.  Since Dennis is on vacation this week, we had planned to stay at the lake until today and then come home and get our little trailer and go to a state park outside of town for a few days.  That's not going to happen.  Spokane and Sandpoint, ID were tied yesterday for the worst air quality in the world.  You cannot breathe outside.  Dennis is on vacation and we have no where to go.  We thought of driving to Portland, OR, but their fires are horrible too.  We may just go back to the lake and sit inside the trailer and watch movies and knit. Or we may stay home all week.  We're still trying to decide.  I'm doing laundry and we went grocery shopping and then we have to decide where to go.  Lots of the smoke is coming from the Glacier Park fire but they are all around us.  Spokane is literally in the middle of a circle of fires this year.  Between floods and fires our country is having some major issues aren't we?  I'm praying for each and everyone affected by all of this.
Meanwhile, a little bit of knitting is happening.  I started this little shawl on Saturday.  It's the "Pimpelliese" Shawl and is free on Ravelry.  I have made many of these and I just love the pattern.  Lots of fun to make and they make great gifts.  I'm using Knit Picks "Mountain Pass" tonal stroll fingering yarn.  I sure hope some of our mountain passes still have some green in them like this yarn when this fire season is over. 
I am also trying the magic loop method of knitting socks for the first time.  I ordered a set of ChiaoGoo 40" circular needles from Amazon because they are known for their flexible cord.  So far so good.  I knit the cuff of the first sock yesterday and it worked very well.  This pair will be made with the "Petty Harbour" free pattern on Ravelry.  The yarn is Knit Picks "Mocha Tonal" Stroll fingering.  Apparently you can do two at a time socks using the magic loop method, but I need to see if I can do one first!  I want to knit socks on the flight to Mandy's house this month and I always drop my dpn's.  This way I'm thinking it will be much harder to lose my needle!
Another dishcloth for mindless knitting.  I'm using Knit Picks "Dishie" yarn in the "Orbit Multi" colorway.
I have had these socks on the needles for a couple of months and work on them at odd moments here and there.  They are the "Monkey Socks", also free on Ravelry and I'm using Knit Picks "Berry Smoothie Speckle", in Hawthorne fingering. 
Goodness!  I sound like a Knit Picks commercial don't I?  It sounds like that's all I knit with and I guess right now I am!

I also started a blanket for the Veteran's home and will work on it when I'm at home.  This is one evening's worth of work and I've been at the lake ever since!  Plain and simple granny squares in worsted weight acrylic yarn for ease of care.
Well, Dennis is waiting for me to take a trip to Lowes with him while the washer is going so I better get moving.  We still like to do errands together even after all of these years.  I hope you all stay safe and that fall is transitioning smoothly wherever you are.

I hope this verse gives some help to those fighting the fires and the floods.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Blessings,
Betsy










18 comments:

  1. Wow, that is thick smoke. I have family in CA, and have seen horrible fire photos. I just saw on the news that there is another hurricane building behind Irma, named Jose. It's been a very strange weather year. I love all your projects.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Betsy, I sure do hope your husband's squirrel deterrent solution works for you. We had a big old RAT in our trailer.. ARGH. I really love all your knitted projects. I can so relate on the smoke problem. Our fire here is wreaking havoc with the air quality.. and it's advancing our way. We've packed up a fraction of our valuables and it makes me sick to think our house and everything in it could burn to a pile of ashes. Please say a prayer for us. We're waiting for the word that we have to evacuate. Wish us luck.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love all your knitting projects, and plan to check out some of he patterns on Ravelry.

    It's smoky here, too. Montana's fires and those from Oregon & Idaho are making it hard to be outside for very long. I'm thankful to those battling the blazes on the ground and in the air. They have got to be exhausted. Some crews from this area have gone to Montana to help.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bless you and keep you safe. Im so sorry about the fires. We had smoke from the fires in WISCONSIN but they claimed they were Canadian in origin. It just made a light haze NOTHING like yours. Oh my. Keep knitting. And I thought the shirtless man who photo bombed the first picture was funny. Gotta laugh

    ReplyDelete
  5. OMGoodness.....that smoke is unbelievable. How awful. Better smoke than fire I guess but still....
    I love your Pimpelliesse. I just pulled out my pattern and was thinking of making another one with my TdF handspun. It's a great pattern and a very practical little scarf. I have two and I wear them all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UGH ... as bad as the smoke looks, I'll bet it smells awful too. Hope that they can get the fires knocked down soon.

    We went through wildfires in our area in 2008! I was so sick of smelling smoke after a few weeks. I'm sure YOU are too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That smoke is bad. Stay safe, wherever you travel.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The smoke has been really bad here today, too, with ash falling no less! I am so sad about all of these fires, especially the one at Multnomah Falls which was started by kids with fire crackers! Love your projects. Isn't KP tonal yarn nice? Nice shawl! You are one productive knitter!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hope all the hard work pays off and the squirrel finds a new home. I have been watching the news about the fires and the storm my heart goes out to all those affected. You certainly have been busy, such a lot of projects on the go. I love the shawl, such a beautiful colour.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm so sorry to see the smoke-it is hard to breathe but I never gave it any thought about interfering with satellite and cell towers, too. I love KP yarns and love looking at the ones you have on the needles!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Betsy, So many projects going I don't think I would remember how to do them all! You have introduced me to yet another yarn for dish cloths to look for, Knit Picks Dishie yarn. I will have to take a look. It is so sad to see the devastation from the fires and floods. I am sorry your air quality must be awful right now. I hope it clears up soon. That is a great verse to remember! Be safe. Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, that smoke looks awful. Would you believe that we have smoke down here in New Mexico from the fires in the northwest? It's been several days now of it, and the air quality is pretty poor. I'm hoping that your fires are out very soon. Stay safe and healthy up there.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Unbelievable about the Squirrel Problem.... Good Luck. We have trouble with them getting into our bird feeders --so we have a couple of traps to catch them and take them to a new home (about 5 miles south of us in the woods)... We catch about 40 or more Squirrels each year.... ha

    So sorry about the smoke and all of the problems caused by it.... Too bad that you can't find somewhere to go and enjoy, for your vacation.... That's sad.

    Yes, Mother Nature is wrecking havoc on so many now... My son (after losing his wife) lost a cat in the hurricane/flood.... Our family has had a rough time.... Now---Hurricane Irma is threatening FL where G's son and family live.... God Help us ALL.

    Hugs and Prayers for you and your area,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thinking of you and your area, Betsy! Stay safe, ok? And I love your projects, as usual--you are so creative! Blessings, Debra

    ReplyDelete
  15. The scripture verse sums it all up! So thankful for God in times like the devastation in our beautiful Columbia Gorge and other fires here in OR and the hurricanes hitting ground east coast....florida,...etc.! Oh goodness me. Scary times. I was afraid that when the fire was moving so fast on Sunday night that it would hit further west that it did in gorge area! Be prepared. Never know what will happen. I'm without a car til hopefully Friday. Can't get it in til Thursday to fix the starter and have a few other things done at the same time. I'm hoping the squirrels stay away from your trailers! Good idea that Dennis had to cover holes with aluminum sheeting! Take care, my friend and hope air quality gets better there as it's bad here through at least Friday. Yep, we have the good dust masks to wear outdoors. :[

    ReplyDelete
  16. Aww...that is SO sweet that you still love to run errands together. We are the same way. Ordinary days and errands are just the sweetest, especially when you have been through way too many not-so-ordinary days that literally drained the life and joy out of you. I am SO sorry you are having to deal with these awful fires, and how sad that Dennis is off work, and you all are unable to go where you had planned to! Oh, I do hope you both find some way to enjoy this time off together...I have a hunch that just being together is the main joy for you anyway. :) May God have mercy and send healing to our hurting land. Oh, there are so many who are in such distress! We all need Jesus more than ever. God bless you, sweet friend. Praying for you.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hello Betsy! Yes, we surely do need some rain, oh so desperately! Oh the smoke has been so horrible here too! I've stayed inside as much as possible the last few days, because it is just so bad outside. I hope you are doing okay down there, as I know how the smoke likes to sit and hover in Spokane. Your knitting projects are full of delight! I can't respond to your email because you are a no-reply blogger, but if you will email me through my blog, perhaps we can indeed meet up someday, how fun that would be! I would really love meeting you :) Big hugs to you today :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hullo dear sweet friend, and sister, ... sorry read this ages back now and no time to comment. Love the wee sculpture you've next to all your nitpick pieces... trust smoke is sl earring an dthtabyour health I pray is improving in spite of everything.
    Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts!
    Shaz in Oz.x

    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

    ReplyDelete