I've gotten sidetracked this week. As is the case in all the Western States, July and August seem to have become synonymous with wildfires. Sunday, a wildfire in mountainous pines and brush was started by some people shooting exploding targets. What the ??? Have you ever seen a video of exploding targets? It's like shooting off fireworks, with sparks flying in every direction!
Within 48 hours, the ensuing fire has engulfed more than 35,000 acres of timber and grazing lands for both cattle, sheep and wildlife, caused evacuations, threatened homes, destroyed wildlife habitat and will tarnish the watershed. It started just three miles from our home.
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| The Sharps Fire, 3 hours after it began on July 29, 2018 |
Wildfires started by lightening are one thing. Fires started from stupidity are quite another. We watch with immense sadness as the people of Redding, CA., are dealing with the severe aftermath of their fire storms, and I can't even imagine the anguish of finding everything you've owned in ashes.
This photo above was taken the morning after The Sharps Fire began. The photo doesn't do it justice, but it had an extremely eerie beauty about it.
A National Incident One Command Team has finally arrived to take control of this fire as it skirts the hills close to the four communities in our valley. We, personally, are safe now as the winds have taken the fire in other directions. Last year at this same time, in this same draw, another big fire was started by people shooting steel jacketed bullets (which cause sparks). I just shake my head.
Anyway, I'm off my soapbox now. I didn't get much sewing/quilting done as we watched the progress of the fire. But I did get a start on the blocks for the king-sized wedding quilt for our son and our soon-to-be daughter-in-law. By the time I get finished with this quilt, I am going to be an expert at curved piecing, that's for darn certain! Getting this quilt top completely pieced by the end of August is my One Monthly Goal!
Let me finish this post with the best news of all! As a grand finale to my participation in the Christmas In July Blog Hop, sponsored by Carol, from Just Let Me Quilt, I have used the random number generator to select my winner. Drum roll, please. Congratulations to Janarama! I have emailed her and will be sending her an assortment of Christmas fabrics to play with for the coming season. Fun, fun!
Quilting with a smile,
Barb
Linking up with:
OMG
WIPs on Wednesday
We have a fire in Colorado started in a similar, irresponsible way! The people who caused it are being charged with a crime, too. Your pictures are amazing, although the reason for them is sad. That quilt block looks amazing - it will be fun to see the quilt progress!
ReplyDeleteWas so sad to read about the cause of the fire Barb, and even sadder to think of the destruction that it will have caused, that fire was to close for comfort for you? On the bright side your block is fabulouse, it’s not one I recognise? Don’t like the look of all those bias pieces but it’s going to be a stunn8ng quilt. Cheers Glenda
ReplyDeleteWe feel nearly surrounded by fire here in Northern Utah. So far, so good, but we do have an evacuation plan in place. Just in case. In the meantime, I, like you, will keep quilting. It is hard to watch, though.
ReplyDeleteFire season always has me holding my breath until the first snowfall. I LOVE your son's wedding quilt! It's so modern. Can't wait to see what it ends up like. xxoo
ReplyDeleteThat's going to be such a fantastic quilt! Hoping the fires are contained and put out soon, soon, soon.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about mother nature and stupid people. i am assuming you and yours are ok because you are writing this post. sooo glad. the fires in CA, my daughter lived in the middle of the four big fires. she was always sending me photos from her porch. oh, i prayed so hard for her safety.
ReplyDeletequilting dash lady at comcast dot net
Oh, that always makes me upset - the worst wildfire Arizona ever had was started by someone stupid ON PURPOSE, because he wanted to show how helpful he could be in putting it out - tens of thousands of acres later, not so helpful! I think there should be some consequence for people who do these stupid things. Two years ago, northern California friends lost everything in one of these fires. Several years before that, I was at my friend's house in Chatsworth, hoping the fire didn't come over the mountain. It's amazing how fast the smoke rises and streams across everything.
ReplyDeleteLove your curvy block! That's making an awesome quilt.
Those are really fun blocks. Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and good luck with your project.
ReplyDeleteThose are really fun blocks. Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and good luck with your project.
ReplyDeleteThe Redding fires are a few hours from me - it is horribly sad. Lost homes and lost lives - It is scary that this has become an 'annual event' over the last five years or so. The only question is where the big fire of the year will hit? Just awful.
ReplyDeleteI am impressed with your curves Barb (well that sounded weird but I think you know I am referring to the quilt blocks! hahaha). Good luck with getting the top pieced this month1