A new project found it's way under my needle this week.
WAY back in 2012, I won this FQ bundle in a giveaway from Amy at Diary of a Quilter.
It's called Tend the Earth by Deb Strain and it's been patiently waiting on a shelf for a long time. I've been eyeing the Ramona quilt pattern for a while and I had a sudden hankering to put the two together.
I wanted a few more low volume prints so I spent time doing one of my favorite things...shopping from my fabric pantry and finding coordinates that worked with the fat quarters. I think these 6 pieces are a good fit!
That gave me 38 fat quarters. It took a while to press everything and cut squares, but now I have a nice stack and construction can begin. I love the versitility of hsts.
This quilt was not on my list at the beginning of the year, but this just feels like the right time to dig in and it is filling the need to just guide fabric under the needle.
Monday night we went to bed with the windows cracked open, listening to the sound of a soft rain playing across the tin roof. It's one of my favorite sounds.
And if you're lucky enough to be in the high desert mountains when it rains, the smell will intoxicate you. It's one of my favorite smells.
I woke early Tuesday morning...3:00...too early, yet perfect timing. I could hear another favorite sound from the deck.
I had to wait for daylight to see anything
I walked down close to the dirt tank in my jammies and couldn't see even 1 toad, but the sound was almost deafening.They stop singing when you get close even though you think you are being stealthy. 😉 This doesn't happen often in the desert. It's always cause for happy tears and a grateful heart and today that is especially the case as it was absolutely God's hand and your chorus of prayers that rained down on the fire.
I was excited to hear the morning report from the incident command center, and although he acknowledged the moisture as a blessing it did not put the fire out. It moderated fire behavior conditions for a day or two as they continue their work to mop up, continue clearing, and prep to secure the rest of the perimeter.
I was hoping more rain had fallen in other areas, but they said it averaged 1/2" with a little more on our side and a little less on the south end. Still grateful for every drop.
As of Tuesday morning, the road to town is now open and they have downgraded our 'Go' evacuation status to 'Ready'...both good things.
The fire now sits at 28,750 acres. 46% containment. This morning they reported that firemen were walking every step of the contained lines (the black outline on the east and north end), turning over stumps and piles to insure there are no hotspots or smoldering debris. Currently, that's a distance of 48.3 miles.
Prayers are still welcomed as there are more folks living in the area where the fire has moved into and the folks on the ground and in the air are still working to secure the perimeter. As for us, we are safe and the fire is no longer a threat to our property. We greatly appreciate each and every thought and prayer you sent our way. Thank you. 💖
DH and I were outside at 8 on Sunday morning when vehicles began pulling down our road.
It was a small crew of 9 that had come in to chip the trees and brush they had cleared earlier in the week.
We visited with them for a bit and of course thanked them for the work they have been doing. They all said it was a pleasure to work in such beautiful surroundings.
Just wanted to pop in here and share a quick fire update with ya'll.
As of Saturday night, the fire has burned across 24,828 acres. It was 19,088 on Friday evening. The majority of the increased acreage is due to the back-burning that has been concentrated on the south side as the fire moved up and over Capitan peek so it is no longer visible to us. It's just smokey and when it clears, we can see plumes of smoke up high and down in the canyons.
Capitan Mountain sits at 10,079' in elevation. We are at 5,500'. The incredible good news is that the fire sits at 43% containment. That's the black outline on the north-east. And, that's also where we're located, so we can breathe easier though we continue to pray for the 916 people working to secure the remainder of the perimeter as well as other land owners in the fire's path.
The fire's a long way from out, but in this rugged terrain, they simply have to let it burn. A good burn is actually healthy for the forest, but it's also scary when it comes so close and get's out of control.
A reader had commented and asked how many ranches were affected and I don't have any concrete answers, but not a lot. There are 2 ranches on the north side of the fire that run to that road that is blue and they lost some grass, but the 1st responders were able to contain the fire to the lines they had cleared along the 616 base road. The ranch country is north of that and it's not rugged, mountain country. For the most part, the fire has been contained to the National Forest and Capitan Mountain Wilderness- the rough canyons and mountains which is the green on the map.
Our rain chances increase on Monday and Tuesday so we're praying that comes to fruition and falls on this beautiful, but parched mountain wilderness.
