So what has transpired in the past FOUR MONTHS - packing and moving into STORAGE so we can travel in an RV, taking care of business at The Rivers Resort in beautiful Strawberry, saying farewell to our amazing Sonora United Methodist Church family, and traveling by auto to CO for TWO family reunions Then having to resume life upon return, including a month of summer to entertain grandchildren and our guests at the Resort. No RV until our Unit at The Resort sells!
Retirement is great! So far this month, I have read a novel in three days, crocheted a baby blankie or two, enjoyed three meals a day with my retired husband, smelled the smoke come in each night and blow back into the wilderness area by noon usually, answered a LOT of "smoke calls" people asking how bad is the smoke and cancelling as a result of my honest answers. The Resort and the surrounding National Forest is deserted thanks to the RIM FIRE - over 300 square miles so far. We are under voluntary evacuation but the fire fighters seem to have it well under control. While it is seven miles away from Long Barn it must go over five ridges to get to us and there are so many "structure fire companies" ready to battle it, no one is very afraid that it is going to get any of the populated areas. It is just very hard to imagine a strip ten miles wide from here to Sonora blackened - that is 300 square miles. Of course the areas burned are deep within the forest so most visitors never will see the blackened trees or burned carcasses of the critters.
We did have an awesome visitor the other noon - a juvenile golden eagle! I was returning from the Strawberry Store and noticed it sitting on the parking block in front of our car next to Unit #1. It was totally exhausted, disoriented, singed on the neck feathers, and being harassed by the wasps (meat bees) I wanted to go over there and swat a few wasps!! Once it had its bearings and had rested for ten minutes - realizing it was still alive - it took off and swooped up the river "looking for lunch" according to the fishermen who were likewise fishing for their lunch.
I will have to get started on the monthly bookkeeping right after I help my dear husband celebrate his big "70" birthday. Have a very special Labor Day Weekend and say a prayer of THANKS for the 4,000 plus personnel fighting this fire and all the 50 plus wildfires in the West!!
