This and That

Fall is in the air, -4° C, at 7:15am Tatlako and Puntzi were the two coldest spots in BC, pretty much a hard freeze. New snow on most of surrounding mountains yesterday morning. AND the cooler damper weather has slowed down a bit on local wild fires. All areas out my way have had the evacuation orders and alerts rescinded.

Finished the second pair of ankle high shorties last night and this morning I kitchenered the toe, then worked in all ends. Have enuff of the bits to easily make another pair. Plans right now are to use them for bed socks when weather is really cold, I will be using the rice bag for my feet but every once in a while I get it to hot so that's when bed socks will come in handy.

Len and Denise are coming out this weekend to finally set screen door and framing in place. Right after the inside door was hung with half inch gaps to outdoors, the big washout took place then as soon as that was repaired the fires took off and they were evacuated for almost a month. Its getting cold enuff now at night that the repairs are going to really be needed.

Home again

Arrived in Tatlako just after 3 pm today to practically clear mountains. Was out this time for 10 days, won't go again unless it's a mandatory evacuation..... Lucked out again with the place I stayed, Denise is a spinner-knitter so we had lots in common. But be it ever so humble there is no place like home. Did bring 10 lbs tomatoes and a couple cartons of cottage cheese, so will have this for lunch likely every day.

No fires that I could see on drive west, just the smoke in the distance. KK fire still active, its about the closest to my valley. Almost 2 million acres has so far burned.

I finished a pair of shorty monster socks for Denise can't find the pix on my iPad when I do will add to the blog. White Opal with patterns in leftover Lorna laces.

In Williams Lake

Left home Saturday morning from my heavily smoked valley, in Williams Lake with friends now hopefully until smoke clears or it rains hard enuff to put some of the fires out.

Just registered with Red Cross after waiting 3.5 hours to see someone, other than time all was good. Had my knitting with so it wasn't to bad. Next will be blood work up at hospital tomorrow for INR, blood Wednesday seemed to go astray so will redo. Stopped Wally World while out and picked up a few groceries for here, then down to SaveOn for the cold stuff like cottage cheese to go with real tomatoes, Rosemary ham and cheese for sandwiches.

Finished spinning the refugee yarn from PG, will likely be plied tomorrow or Thursday for handspun socks for me. Other than above news nothing else exciting in my world, except for fires out west. Nothing I can do about them except pray for much rain.

Evacuation order

For Tatla Lake as of 9 pm tonight, have suitcase packed and enuff knitting stuff. Will access situation in the morning but will load up car and be ready to go. Hopefully enuff gas to make it to Redstone.

OK

For everyone worried about me I am OK. The smoke cleared yesterday and breathing was normal. Its back again today, but cool enuff to leave windows shut up tight. -1° at just after 6 am the coldest spot in BC and after the heat wave in here the cooler air is most welcome. Instead of sleeping on top of comforter last night was underneath and it felt great.

Finally finished Kristie's socks, this pair was on the needles since last February, was almost difficult to make the socks identical. And see now that the last pattern isn't the same, just a sight bit of difference. Will get them washed today so hopefully they can go out with Wednesdays mail.















Had some rain yesterday and was most welcome, even stood outside until my head was pretty wet, with the rain came blessedly cooler weather. Not much of a fan of temps in low 30's, when its cool like this really easy to just put on a sweater.

Eventful summer so far

First thing exciting was the big washout on the only road into Williams Lake (detour available for the hearty and brave), after road was repaired, the next biggie was the start of the fires, so many big ones that it truly was scary. I left on the 16th (while I still could get out of here) because of breathing issues from the heavy smoke. Made it to Avola and Fay & Monty's place late Sunday afternoon. There for two nights, then followed the Yellowhead highway to Prince George (total of just under 1000 kms from home). Jim & BJ's place was the perfect hideout for this refugee-evacuee. Felt towards the end that I had overstayed, but had to wait until Highway 20 was opened so that I could get home. Finally Friday 28th fire had allowed #20 to open again, relief.

Some of the fire activity that I saw on the way out on 16th, some places still had small fires burning right up to edge of highway.


Now more or less back to almost normal activities (still under evacuation alert), spun quite a bit this morning on second braid of what I will forever call my refugee yarn, did first 4 oz braid while in PG. Eventually it will be my refugee socks. What looks like black in pix is really a dark purple.

Yesterday pix of sun coming over east mountain. So much smoke that could hardly see the sun.

And finally something I stole from Maggie's pix and will forever become my motto.

So after a long journey am so glad to be back in my wild mountain valley. Where its still hot and dry, low 90's in forecast for at least the next week.

Home

Down my driveway 5 ish yesterday, brought in perishables and planned on the rest today and tomorrow but instead Vera from the Harris ranch came along and brought everything in, in just minutes.

Home maybe today

Highway 20 reopened last night 6 pm so loading car and will head south towards Williams Lake, planning on stopping there for a bit of produce then west towards home. Will be tough seeing all the fire damage especially the big Hanceville-Riske Creek fire (still burning) but now not so close to the road. When I left home thought I might only be gone 3-4 days, over stayed my welcome with BJ and Jim. Was either here or shelter in one of the big evacuee camps. Ever so glad to have been here but time to go. Will likely still be on evacuation alert, with temps predicted to be high and hot (33C-91F) for a couple days next week will push fire rating back to extreme.

Was glad to have had my spinning wheel with me, finished a braid of BFL, spun fairly fine, will do second braid of same stuff and eventually ply it and will make myself socks (to forever be called my refugee socks).

Still away from home

Still staying in PG waiting for two sections of highways to open, highway 27 is still closed from Williams Lake to McLeese Lake and WL still empty because of the evacuation order there, highway 20 heading west from WL still closed and that is the only way home for me.

Working on second sock for Nolan, sock for Kristie and spinning some everyday. Didn't come close to getting the yarn spun I wanted for the T d F, for some strange reason evacuation plays head games. But I have felt safe and away from the fires and especially the smoke filled air. The fire known as the Hanceville-Alexis Creek is now the largest so far this fire season. It's a Mell of a Hess.

Evacuee

Left home Sunday morning, due to RCMP roadblocks in various places only made it Avola stayed two nights with Fay and Monty. Then Tuesday headed north for Prince George, staying with a spinner friend (met at OFFF) several years ago she & husband were there shopping. The town of PG has done a wonderful job assisting evacuees (over 9000), discounts on lots of stuff.

I brought my spinning wheels (both Louet S90's) so got the one set up and started spinning a dyed BFL. Felt good to be sorta back to almost normal stuff. Also brought knitting of course, several pair of socks on the go. BJ has several skeins of Wollmeise that I am interested in (if'n I can afford it). After seeing her stash there is no way I could ever run out of either spinning fibre or yarn.