Monday, September 14, 2020

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Oh my goodness it’s smoky out! This is our third day of not being able to be outside at all. This first picture is one that I copied from one of the Spokane news media posts on Facebook. It’s not my picture but it shows basically the same view with and without the smoke looking out from Spokane’s South Hill neighborhood.
I took the next two as I was driving to Jeremy and Alicia‘s house for dinner Saturday afternoon. It’s gotten much worse than this since then.  Our Air Quality is 498 on the AQI (Air Quality Index) chart which peaks at 500.  We’re in the Hazardous zone. No surprise there.
I don’t stay outside long enough to take photos now.

This was yesterday while I was waiting for Chloe to finish going to the bathroom. That is the sun.

I have begun wearing two cloth masks together when I have to go outside for anything. With one I was still choking and gagging on the smoke. With two masks it is much better.  Four layers of cloth. People look at me funny, but that’s okay.  If I can breathe it’s worth a few funny looks. 😍

This is the second time I’ve had this blanket this size. I realized I was knitting it with size 8 needles when I usually use size 10. I figured I didn’t have anything else to do so I just frogged it all and started over yesterday.

My phone completely conked out on me about a week and a half ago. I didn’t realize how old it was. It was an iPhone 6! It wouldn’t let me do any more updates and it was freezing a lot. I have a new phone now with a picture of this handsome guy you see as my wallpaper on it. It’s an iPhone 11 and I love how fast it is.

I had to pick up my grocery order this morning and on a whim I stopped and “gasp” went into Hobby lobby. It’s been ages since I was there. I picked up three packages of these mini LED lights. I think they are going to really brighten up the trailer this winter. They make me happy and really help with the darkness from the smoke. I have three strands of lights and each of them use four AA batteries. They are supposed to last 10,000 hours, so we shall see!  I had a gift card with $17.00 left on it and these were $16.84 with tax. I didn’t even have to feel guilty for buying them!



I am praying for everyone who is affected by the fires in the west and the hurricanes and tropical storms down in the southeast.  Our country is really going through quite a troublesome time in our history right now. All of the weather issues, political issues and even individual attitudes. I pray for peace and for an end to all of the violent rioting and protesting. I pray that people would remember that this country is a melting pot and that each and every person the world over matters to our Lord and Savior. We should matter to each other too. Hate will get us nowhere. It never has and it never will.

I love you all.
Blessings,
Betsy

21 comments:

  1. I hope the smoke clears from your area and ours. Do you have an air purifier in your trailer? You might want to get one, I'm researching one for our house. That is such a pretty blanket. I like the addition of twinkle lights in your trailer. I have a strand of edison style lights in the dining room year-round to add cheer. When will Dennis return? How nice of your friends to have you for dinner. Stay safe and enjoy this week. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. You are in my thoughts Betsy during this stressful time. I am praying for you and this world, that people will help each other, to move us forward as a united county and not vote for someone who has told over 20,000 lies and endangers the lives of so many. Stay safe.

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  3. What no new yarn?? So sorry you have so much smoke...there are troubles all over it seems. Lots of unrest. Your lights are very cheerful! Be careful out there...wear three masks if you need to:)

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  4. Your photos say it all Betsy! God is with you. IN smoke and in clear skies too. Hope your family is all safe. Teresa's air purifier idea is brilliant. And I cant believe you ripped out that gorgeous blanket. BUt you are the boss of your knitting!

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  5. We've been keeping you all in prayer with those wildfires out there. I took photos last night and tonight of the smoke going over Kansas -- my! how it makes the sunset soooooo orange! Jerry and I are allergic to cigarrette smoke, always cough and gag because of the people at our apartment building smoking so close to the doors -- I can't imagine how that wildfire smoke is making it so hard on you out there! I love the blanket with those pretty colors! And those twinkle lights really add ambiance to your trailer! The phone I had before son John/DIL Elissa my new one back in December was an iPhone 6S that gave me all sorts of problems for the last two years I had it and the carrier wouldn't cover it anymore (which was one of the reasons other DIL Amanda was dropping me off her family plan). My new phone John/Elissa got for me is an iPhone 8 and it's pretty zippity fast, I was amazed! Keeping you in prayer for safety and health! Love ya much, dear friend!

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  6. So enjoyed our conversation the other night! We may live a few miles apart, but we have much in common...including too much smoke in the atmosphere around us!! Our newscasters are still telling us we have the worst air quality in the world these days. Your current stitching is lovely, as are your twinkle lights and your parting verse. So good to see your handsome hubby smiling from your neat new phone, and I pray you are soon safely together again. I love you, dear Betsy🤗🙏🧶

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  7. You have been in my prayers dear lady as you go through this awful ordeal. Love the twinkly lights such a good idea to brighten up your home. Stay safe.

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  8. Oh, good golly! That smoke is just awful. I have asthma and smoke is a trigger. I don't know what I would do in that situation.
    The lights are perfect. It's been so dark and gloomy here that the little bit of sun we had yesterday seemed weird.
    Stay safe!!!

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  9. I'm glad you were able to get to your friend's house for dinner. Two masks is a great idea Betsy. Do stay safe!! Love your LED lights for the trailer. They will make it so cozy. I can't believe your pictures!!!

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  10. Oh, I am so concerned for your health with the air quality so poor! Be careful! Smart to wear two masks! The new blanket is so pretty-nice work. We will keep praying for our nation-the tolerance for crime has to stop!

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  11. Wow! Stay safe, an wear as many masks as you need to.
    They say the smoke has reached us now, but I can't really tell. We're in an industrial city, so it's always a little bit hazy here. Apparently you can really see it at sunrise, but I'm never up that early.

    Love your little LED lights. That's such a great idea!

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  12. All of those fires and the smoke you are getting just make me cry... I know that God tells us that we never get more than we can handle. BUT--I truly don't know just how much more our country can handle. I pray to God every chance I get to help our country... Prayers for the USA...

    I love my iPhone11 --and I'm sure you will love yours also. The camera in the 11 is SO SO SO good--compared with many smartphones.

    Love your little lights... A great way to brighten up your little temporary home...

    Take care and don't do out anymore than you have to...

    God Bless.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  13. The weather service has a map that predicts the movement of the huge smoke plume hour by hour. The plume has made it over the Rockies, and it arrived here on Sunday. thankfully the worst of it went a different direction. Stay safe

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  14. I think our air quality is a tiny bit better today but not good enough that we dared to go on our walk.
    I love twinkly little lights and have various strands in the sunroom and also on the porch. Mine are the plug-in kind and I leave them on 24/7.

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  15. Oh, my goodness. That smoke is just awful looking. Bless your heart. I hope Dennis will be back home safe with you soon, dear friend. Praying for you both.

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  16. Your area looks thick smoke almost as bad as ours here. Unhealthy air quality most days...hazardous weekend...so thick that Phil had a hard time seeing going to church.I stayed home as air was so thick on the weekend. Thankfully our smoke isn't quite as bad but hopefully rain will come without the lightning, like it has on the weather that comes up on my phone. It is raining on the coast. The outlet mall has been closed for a few days. Hope Dennis is back home soon. I like the little lights you got at the Hobby Lobby store! I want to go to the one close to me but not been down that way. Maybe next week or so when air gets better? Take care my friend and hugs and prayers! x------x :'} PS hopefully you have diffusing your YL essential oils lately. I have and it helps me breathe better and make the house smell less smoky!!! - - Becky

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  17. Praying that the fires stop and your air quality returns to normal. Please stay safe sweet friend. Love your new phone, that is a great shot of Mr. Dennis, too. Sending prayers your way. ((hugs)).

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  18. You really did have bad smoke issues. We had one day of bad air quality but it was high for us who usually have great air quality....79 I think. I hope it is gone for you now! I love your little lights. I love lights and candles and anything that makes a home...homier! LOL!
    You are so right about the hate! Take care!

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  19. I do hope that by the time you read this the smoke filled skies will have cleared away and you are breathing fresh air again!! Love those sparkly lights and such a good idea to push away the outdoor gloom. Handsome lad you've got there Betsy :-) Take care Amanda x

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  20. I'm so glad that the smoke is gone. Being able to walk in the fresh air improves my state of mind immeasurably. Small things like lights can be very cheerful. Life is full of small treasures if we look for them. I need to do a better job of that.

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