Pretty Sunsets

I do have to say one thing for the smoke in the air....it makes for some gorgeous sunsets. This first one was two nights ago with the air relatively clear (nice break from the last week). My cousin and I were out walking around our grandma's neighborhood trying to work off some of the huge dinner we had. I love how the rays are coming out of it.

This second one is from last night. I had visited my grandma's again and was driving home right at sunset. I could see the amazing sun in my mirrors as I tried to get home before it completely set. I had to drive up a different road from where we live to catch this one because our road is behind a hill and the sun was already gone there. I just didn't want to miss this beauty.

Last Year on In My Words....POTD Day 9 Natural

Up And Going

View from my night swim

 Pool is finally relined and refilled. I have been spending the last two weeks getting the water balanced. The other day when it was over 100, I decided that we were close enough for a swim in the evening when it was still so hot out.

It was lovely...the water was a perfect 75 degrees and in the dark, I couldn't see how badly the backyard needs attention so it was completely enjoyable.

I toodled around on a noodle for twenty mins or so. I am still trying to get the pH and alkalinity right but for the most part, it is pretty good and the new liner looks so nice. It is great to have a pool when the weather is hot, even if it is a little bit of work.

Even though everyone I know is claiming they are ready for it to be fall, I am hoping we have a few more months of hot weather so I can get some enjoyment out of the pool before I have to put the leaf net over it in the fall.

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Nine Years Ago on In My Words...How He Got Me

Smoke Is Here

I got off work the other afternoon in a town about 10 miles from our town. It was kind of hazy outside but not too bad. We have a forest fire burning north of us and the wind had shifted, hence the haze.

I ran some errands, and when I was coming out of the grocery store, I noticed that I couldn't even see the other side of the parking lot. The smoke had completely dropped into our little valley.

I drove home (having to put on my headlights as our truck is grey/silver and blends right into the smoke), and when I was about a mile from town, I drove out of the wall of smoke to a much clearer scene. It was a little scary to see the wall of smoke behind me and I knew that it would only be a matter of time before it got all the way here.

Below is a picture I took after getting home, looking down our street towards the hills to the east of us. You can see that it is kind of hazy and we could definitely smell the smoke in the air.

The picture below, is the next morning when the smoke had moved in. As you can see, you can barely make out the hills in the background. And this isn't even as bad as it was when I came out of the grocery store. Needless to say, I put a N95 mask in the truck in case I need it in the next week. The weather is expected to stay pretty much as is so we are forecast-ed to have the smoke for a while.

They had to cancel one of the plays the other night because the outdoor theatre is obviously exposed to the smoke. Thankfully, I don't seem to have any breathing issues so the smoke doesn't bother me much but I do feel for those that it greatly impacts.
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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Red Skies At Night