Our weather today was lovely, though the sun was very hot. Blue sky covered over good quality air.
Last week we had several days of "bad air" with the smoke and ash from the Eagle Creek forest fire blowing in from the east.
I have an account I wrote last Tuesday.
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As I work in my kitchen there is an eerie yellow-grey light coming in through the window. It reminds me of the ominous glow of a nearby tornado back in the mid west. Outside ash is raining on everything and the air quality is deemed hazardous.
A niece from Indianapolis and her husband had arrived late Saturday, planning to spend a few days exploring the Pacific Northwest. Sunday I enjoyed catching up on family news with them, then sharing a BBQ rib dinner. They drove to the Pacific coast, visited Astoria and Seaside on Monday. They had planned to view Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge today, Tuesday. Instead they packed up early morning from their campsite in Troutdale, OR and followed the only open highway through Mt. Hood to eastern Oregon and on to Idaho. (from Susan's FB post Tuesday AM)
I counted 8 firetrucks just outside our campground this morning....they closed the interstate and it was very smokey and raining ash! We bugged out early and were routed via a state road to get to the southeast. We drove in smoke for over an hour....then, the most beautiful drive we have had through mountains and forrests....glad to be in Idaho this evening!
What do I do for the day as I stay in my air conditioned home, listening to the news reports of the massive fire in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge? A fire started by a teen boy throwing smoke bombs over a cliff in the Gorge.
I fall back on my default comfort activity....cooking. I had bought extra food in anticipation of a family Labor Day cookout which didn't come to be.
Potato salad from the already cooked potatoes and eggs
chicken soup with the extra celery, and left over carrots from a carrot cake. 
Frosted half of a carrot cake for daughter Deb.
With the cooking, cleaning up the kitchen, a few sporadic Star Trek episodes, checking the news reports, sending up prayers, walking a short time on the treadmill and doing PT exercises this "not right" day passed calmly.
(Ashes on my deck and car)
(Ashes on my deck and car)
The late evening news stated the winds had slowed and were coming from the west. That will turn the fire back onto itself for now. The ash should subside and the air quality improve through the day on Wed. Temperatures will be lowering and possibly some rain setting in. Hopefully this destruction to our natural world will start to heal out.
Wednesday brought continued smoke and ash into Vancouver and Portland. I spent another day sheltered in my air conditioned home, though at times there was heavy smoke smell even inside.
Thursday I ventured out to water aerobics. Three days of "home alone" was too much. Then back into the clean inside air for me the rest of the day and to chat with my sisters from Indianapolis about maybe rescheduling their trip to come visit me.
Super heroes of the PNW. The brave men and women who saved the Mulnomah Falls historic lodge from destruction and fighting back advancing flames.
Reports say the area of the falls is still looking scenic but several trees have been damaged and need to be taken down before the public is allowed back in.
Even now, 10 days later, 46 miles of HWY 84 remain closed and over 100 people are still in Red Cross shelters, not knowing when they can return home. As of tonight over 34,000 acres have been burned. The fire is 7% contained.
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By Friday I could be outside with minimal air pollution. After giving the windshield a good dose of cleaning I headed off to physical therapy, met a friend for lunch and headed up to Freddy's to buy an important item....a gift for my first great grand child's first Birthday.
Happy grandpa Keys and granddaughter, Rosie
Happy party family...
By the weekend the ash rain stopped so it was time to get the extra long hose and clean off the front, side and back decks, the rose bushes and the sidewalk. As I sprayed the heavy smell of charred wood swirled in the air.
Even as all this was happening here, folks in Florida were bracing for Hurricane Irma. I haven't kept up with the news since my TV went out Friday afternoon and still is not repaired. Hoping a new "access card" arriving tomorrow will restore my window to the world.
My sisters from Indianapolis are arriving tomorrow for a 10 day visit. We are anticipating a fun 5 year reunion from the Great Cross Country 3 Sister Road Trip that moved me out here!
Kate
Gram G
Betty
August 2012
This day we also remember the tragic and heroic day of 9/11/01 when the worst was ambushed on America and America's best responded even until now.
This has been a good, though, trying, 7 "not right" days in the life of Grandma G.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want....even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me: your rod and your staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23: 1 & 4)
Wednesday brought continued smoke and ash into Vancouver and Portland. I spent another day sheltered in my air conditioned home, though at times there was heavy smoke smell even inside.
Thursday I ventured out to water aerobics. Three days of "home alone" was too much. Then back into the clean inside air for me the rest of the day and to chat with my sisters from Indianapolis about maybe rescheduling their trip to come visit me.
Super heroes of the PNW. The brave men and women who saved the Mulnomah Falls historic lodge from destruction and fighting back advancing flames.
Reports say the area of the falls is still looking scenic but several trees have been damaged and need to be taken down before the public is allowed back in.
Even now, 10 days later, 46 miles of HWY 84 remain closed and over 100 people are still in Red Cross shelters, not knowing when they can return home. As of tonight over 34,000 acres have been burned. The fire is 7% contained.
____________________________
By Friday I could be outside with minimal air pollution. After giving the windshield a good dose of cleaning I headed off to physical therapy, met a friend for lunch and headed up to Freddy's to buy an important item....a gift for my first great grand child's first Birthday.
Happy party family...
Even as all this was happening here, folks in Florida were bracing for Hurricane Irma. I haven't kept up with the news since my TV went out Friday afternoon and still is not repaired. Hoping a new "access card" arriving tomorrow will restore my window to the world.
My sisters from Indianapolis are arriving tomorrow for a 10 day visit. We are anticipating a fun 5 year reunion from the Great Cross Country 3 Sister Road Trip that moved me out here!
Kate Gram G
Betty
August 2012
This day we also remember the tragic and heroic day of 9/11/01 when the worst was ambushed on America and America's best responded even until now.
This has been a good, though, trying, 7 "not right" days in the life of Grandma G.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want....even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me: your rod and your staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23: 1 & 4)
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