Kizzie – I too have to click twice to get the cursor to show up. Frustrating when I type a sentence then look up from the keyboard and see nothing there.
Re: high rents – I can see those charging over $10k for rent in California. We in the Midwest don’t see really high rents except for in the large cities. Although I was surprised to see some houses in this small city going for $500K. The lots sell for $40K. This cannot go on for long or we’ll collapse economically.
I just heard from one brother that a different brother was hit by a car while riding his bike yesterday. He was in a bike accident several years ago that knocked out several teeth and that he believes was indirectly responsible for a stroke he suffered some time later . . . not good news. This time apparently he has broken toes and broken ribs and I don’t know what else, and is in the hospital headed into surgery.
Happy Birthday, Kizzie! Such a sweet puppy to spend some time with today. I really like the angle on the photo, BTW
Happy Birthday to Peter’s son, too! It’s a nice time to have a birthday to give something to celebrate after most Christmas decor has been put away.
Art headed out early for his PT appointment at 7 a.m. The roads were clear of ice except for the hill we are on still has ice. It will melt today as temps rise to the mid 40s.
I keep thinking of all those in CA with winds picking back up. It’s all just so horrid.
Oh Cheryl, I’m so sorry to hear that! We’re putting in bike lanes here which I think will help protect cyclists, but it’s so dangerous out there and I notice way too many people just “driving on through” stop signs now.
Not sure what’s with that, never saw that kind of behavior before that I’m aware of. I never step off a curb anymore when there’s any car coming from any direction, even if they have a stop sign.
Prayer for surgery and that the recovery will be easier than it sounds.
Just back in from re-washing the hood of the Jeep, I’d taken it through the minimal automatic car wash late yesterday to deal with all the ash but noticed it was less than fully effective. Needs to get in for a hand wash but with work schedules not sure when that can happen. I can’t easily reach the roof of the car and I’m sure that’s also in need of more attention. But I think I got all of it off the hood and the rest of the car looks OK (but can’t see the roof).
And it’s windy here this morning, I’m sure more so up in the mountains/foothills and canyons where the fires are still raging. 😦
And while I realize it’s tempting to throw all the blame on these fires at the politicians, especially if we don’t normally like or agree with them anyway, it’s much more complicated than that.
Sure, some questions are legitimate and answers will be needed. There’s much frustration over all of it and some things will need to be addressed.
But California has long battled these destructive fires due to weather and wind patterns, topography and a host of other factors. This isn’t new for us – although this event is much more devastating than we’ve seen in LA in recent memory.
Unprecedented winds, overgrown brush due to drought conditions this year (following heavy rains over the past 2 years), the added ‘accelerant’ of hillside/mountain passes and canyons. It all created something of a perfect storm of conditions.
Generally, it might be best to hold our (political) fire (addressing some comments on the political thread here) until we get through this and can have a more sober look at what happened, what factors may have been a result of human error, and what fixes and preventative measures may be more within our human control going forward.
We can’t do much about the winds and the weather.
But perhaps more focus on brush clearance and forest floor maintenance and controlled burns are things we should look at more carefully. And how do we fix the insurance issue?
To be discussed (widely) and determined — once we’re past this crisis.
My husband remembers, when he was in the military stationed in California over 50 yrs. ago, that the battle on whether to cut or not cut the undergrowth was raging then. It is so sad for so many. The anger will only grow as the shock wears off, no doubt.
I just saw from a friend on Facebook that the National Archives is looking for volunteers who can read cursive. I remember when one of my daughters got a good job at her college because she could type. Skills matter. Reading cursive matters. School policy matters.
I suppose this should all be on the news/political thread.
That is an Idaho issue as well. A lot of our land belongs to federal or state. Federal pretty much bans logging so does prescribed burning. With logging, the mature trees are taken out and roads are built to allow fire and other emergency vehicles as well as opens up recreation to a lot more people. That, of course, impacts the wildlife which is a main reason people like wilderness. But then a massive fire comes through and the wildlife also suffers. Lots to consider.
Currently, Idaho is allowing the opening of a series of open pit mines at the headwaters of a river, which the native Tribes have used millions of federal dollars to restore for the salmon after the gold rush decimated it. Ostensibly for some rare earth metal but really (about ninety percent) for gold. The damage will be impactful. Again. It is on the reservation so the Tribe is hoping the next agency will remember the treaty and say no. All very complicated though each side considers it very straight forward. So do I.
We still have patches of snow on the ground although the temp got up to 56°. I look forward to the messy residue leaving. The puddle in our driveway will turn to ice overnight as we go down in the 20s again. Flexible, that’s what we must be around here, ready to change clothes several times a day. This seems like it’s lame conversation considering the awful continuing fires in CA. I am so sad about it all.
Saw the trees out back waving gently in the wind this morning; normally I would have thought how pleasant. But I knew in some places — and as this day goes on — that wind potentially would be stronger … 😦
It’s a nice time to have a birthday to give something to celebrate after most Christmas decor has been put away.
When he was turning 7 I went to a K-Mart to buy my son his present on January 12th. The shelves were nearly empty. I found few toys he would like, but bought the last baseball game they had. It was off-brand, but it turned out to be one he played often for several years.
After that year we bought his birthday present when we bought Christmas presents.
Janice – Nightingale has been too busy to bake a cake, but she brought home pizza and some cookies from Costco.
Chickadee will be coming over on Friday for our family celebration. Nightingale will probably buy a nice cake, and it will probably be from Costco, which has good cakes and pies. I have no complaints! 🙂
Good morning! We have one lone patch of snow/ice on our driveway. It will soon vanish.
I hope everyone has a good Tuesday! I expect to be on the phone with my Bible study ladies around 10:30-12:00 for a time of prayer. We have several weeks before we meet in person again. It is so nice to take all our burdens to the Lord as a chorus of united prayers.
Wandering Views 
Happy birthday, Kizzie! (I remember because you said that you and my son have the same day.)
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Happy birthday to Kizzie and Peter’s son. This is my dad’s birthday, too, although he no longer lives in time constraints.
Sweet dog.
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Kizzie – I too have to click twice to get the cursor to show up. Frustrating when I type a sentence then look up from the keyboard and see nothing there.
Re: high rents – I can see those charging over $10k for rent in California. We in the Midwest don’t see really high rents except for in the large cities. Although I was surprised to see some houses in this small city going for $500K. The lots sell for $40K. This cannot go on for long or we’ll collapse economically.
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Aww, sweet Heidi, all snug and warm.
Happy Birthday Kizzie (and Peter’s son).
Another day in paradise here, winds set to return, fires still burning. More stories to write.
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Good morning, all, from beautiful Idaho. Everything is marching along.
mumsee
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Happy birthday, Kizzie!
I just heard from one brother that a different brother was hit by a car while riding his bike yesterday. He was in a bike accident several years ago that knocked out several teeth and that he believes was indirectly responsible for a stroke he suffered some time later . . . not good news. This time apparently he has broken toes and broken ribs and I don’t know what else, and is in the hospital headed into surgery.
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Happy Birthday to your son, Peter!
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Happy Birthday, Kizzie! Such a sweet puppy to spend some time with today. I really like the angle on the photo, BTW
Happy Birthday to Peter’s son, too! It’s a nice time to have a birthday to give something to celebrate after most Christmas decor has been put away.
Art headed out early for his PT appointment at 7 a.m. The roads were clear of ice except for the hill we are on still has ice. It will melt today as temps rise to the mid 40s.
I keep thinking of all those in CA with winds picking back up. It’s all just so horrid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Prayers for your injured brother, Cheryl. It sounds painful!
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Oh Cheryl, I’m so sorry to hear that! We’re putting in bike lanes here which I think will help protect cyclists, but it’s so dangerous out there and I notice way too many people just “driving on through” stop signs now.
Not sure what’s with that, never saw that kind of behavior before that I’m aware of. I never step off a curb anymore when there’s any car coming from any direction, even if they have a stop sign.
Prayer for surgery and that the recovery will be easier than it sounds.
Just back in from re-washing the hood of the Jeep, I’d taken it through the minimal automatic car wash late yesterday to deal with all the ash but noticed it was less than fully effective. Needs to get in for a hand wash but with work schedules not sure when that can happen. I can’t easily reach the roof of the car and I’m sure that’s also in need of more attention. But I think I got all of it off the hood and the rest of the car looks OK (but can’t see the roof).
And it’s windy here this morning, I’m sure more so up in the mountains/foothills and canyons where the fires are still raging. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
And while I realize it’s tempting to throw all the blame on these fires at the politicians, especially if we don’t normally like or agree with them anyway, it’s much more complicated than that.
Sure, some questions are legitimate and answers will be needed. There’s much frustration over all of it and some things will need to be addressed.
But California has long battled these destructive fires due to weather and wind patterns, topography and a host of other factors. This isn’t new for us – although this event is much more devastating than we’ve seen in LA in recent memory.
Unprecedented winds, overgrown brush due to drought conditions this year (following heavy rains over the past 2 years), the added ‘accelerant’ of hillside/mountain passes and canyons. It all created something of a perfect storm of conditions.
And there’s also the question of possible arson.
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Generally, it might be best to hold our (political) fire (addressing some comments on the political thread here) until we get through this and can have a more sober look at what happened, what factors may have been a result of human error, and what fixes and preventative measures may be more within our human control going forward.
We can’t do much about the winds and the weather.
But perhaps more focus on brush clearance and forest floor maintenance and controlled burns are things we should look at more carefully. And how do we fix the insurance issue?
To be discussed (widely) and determined — once we’re past this crisis.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy birthday, Kizzie!
And happy birthday, son of Peter!
Happy Monday, everyone.
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My husband remembers, when he was in the military stationed in California over 50 yrs. ago, that the battle on whether to cut or not cut the undergrowth was raging then. It is so sad for so many. The anger will only grow as the shock wears off, no doubt.
I just saw from a friend on Facebook that the National Archives is looking for volunteers who can read cursive. I remember when one of my daughters got a good job at her college because she could type. Skills matter. Reading cursive matters. School policy matters.
I suppose this should all be on the news/political thread.
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Yikes Cheryl, that sounds scary.
The rest of you pipe down, the puppy is sleeping.
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Kathaleena,
That is an Idaho issue as well. A lot of our land belongs to federal or state. Federal pretty much bans logging so does prescribed burning. With logging, the mature trees are taken out and roads are built to allow fire and other emergency vehicles as well as opens up recreation to a lot more people. That, of course, impacts the wildlife which is a main reason people like wilderness. But then a massive fire comes through and the wildlife also suffers. Lots to consider.
Currently, Idaho is allowing the opening of a series of open pit mines at the headwaters of a river, which the native Tribes have used millions of federal dollars to restore for the salmon after the gold rush decimated it. Ostensibly for some rare earth metal but really (about ninety percent) for gold. The damage will be impactful. Again. It is on the reservation so the Tribe is hoping the next agency will remember the treaty and say no. All very complicated though each side considers it very straight forward. So do I.
mumsee
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We still have patches of snow on the ground although the temp got up to 56°. I look forward to the messy residue leaving. The puddle in our driveway will turn to ice overnight as we go down in the 20s again. Flexible, that’s what we must be around here, ready to change clothes several times a day. This seems like it’s lame conversation considering the awful continuing fires in CA. I am so sad about it all.
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With the wind anticipated as growing again tomorrow, the fires are expecting to blow up again.
I have to say, even here when the wind–which I used to love–starts blowing strong, we get nervous. 😦
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Saw the trees out back waving gently in the wind this morning; normally I would have thought how pleasant. But I knew in some places — and as this day goes on — that wind potentially would be stronger … 😦
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It’s a nice time to have a birthday to give something to celebrate after most Christmas decor has been put away.
When he was turning 7 I went to a K-Mart to buy my son his present on January 12th. The shelves were nearly empty. I found few toys he would like, but bought the last baseball game they had. It was off-brand, but it turned out to be one he played often for several years.
After that year we bought his birthday present when we bought Christmas presents.
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Kizzie, I hope you had a good birthday today. I think perhaps Nightingale made one of her special cakes or deserts for you and the fam.
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Third son is December 26 so we have always bought ahead of Christmas.
mumsee
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Janice – Nightingale has been too busy to bake a cake, but she brought home pizza and some cookies from Costco.
Chickadee will be coming over on Friday for our family celebration. Nightingale will probably buy a nice cake, and it will probably be from Costco, which has good cakes and pies. I have no complaints! 🙂
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As for Christmas decorations, most of mine are still usually up through my birthday. 🙂
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Happy Birthday Kizzie. The photo of your precious puppy is adorable!❣️
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I’ve been in and out and don’t remember if I said happy birthday to Kizzie. I hope it was a nice one!
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Trust that you have enjoyed your day, Kizzie. What a sweet picture of your dog. Glad that you have a companion.
Learned today that son got a job. So glad.
Jo
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Good morning! We have one lone patch of snow/ice on our driveway. It will soon vanish.
I hope everyone has a good Tuesday! I expect to be on the phone with my Bible study ladies around 10:30-12:00 for a time of prayer. We have several weeks before we meet in person again. It is so nice to take all our burdens to the Lord as a chorus of united prayers.
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