Several mornings ago we awoke to the smell of smoke. In this dry, grassy-covered place, that is not a good thing. As we looked outside, a haze could be seen from every direction. Wild fires. As it turned out, our area was pretty much surrounded by many wild fires, started mostly from electrical storms. The heat and wind fanned them until a smokey haze filled the horizon. We have seen no sign of actual fire, but the haze is here and has lasted for days now. How interesting that conditions would combine to create them and help them to grow. Happily, they seem to be under control now. But not before we have lost hundreds of acres and even some homes to them. It makes all the fire preparations Big Brother required of us seem a bit less irritating.

Allegra is 13 today. I took her and Audrey Birthday shopping yesterday. Allegra picked out some clothes. She looks so cute in them. She is a lovely girl. We had a very fun girl bond.