What Don't Kill Us. . . . Updated with Pictures

Should only make us stronger.  That could be questionable when faced with the natural disaster my community was faced with this last weekend.  It amazes me how something like this causes people to come together and work exceptionally hard for the good of each and everyone.  But it is all good.  Our community will be changed forever, hopefully, for the better.  Yes, life will go back to life as usual but not entirely.  The earth is scarred and now, so is our hearts and minds. 

Yesterday, while much of the fires in my immediate area have been contained, the kids and I went driving. . . not just to look but to see if those we knew of in the bottom were okay and how they fared.  I think those we talked to were grateful for just the drive by and checking up on them.  To an outsider just driving through, they'd never believe a community was back there until they got there.  I think I live in a remote area. . . not hardly.

While we didn't take shots of all we saw, we did shoot what we could.  Kind of hard to get stopped, even at 20 mph for the wildlife we  saw.  It is heart breaking to see the cardinals and other birds sitting on branches and limbs where there once had been foliage.  In normal circumstances, a rabbit on the side of a county road will run. . . . Poor things didn't know where to run and so were just sitting on the dirt as the rest of their world was blackened.  Glad to see that these small creatures survived.

Like Scarecrows Waiting for Rain

(06/21/2011)

 Its a Long Time Till Spring

(06/21/2011)

One of the Many Melted Phone Boxes

(06/21/2011)

Not Much Green Left

(06/21/2011)

Starting the Cleanup Process

 

(06/21/2011)

A Few of Our Local Heroes: Kenny, Jordan, and Tim

(06/21/2011)

Without these guys, we'd be up a creek.

Fresh From the Oven

So many question the validity of what law enforcement and emergency response teams tell them.  They get antsy and impatient wanting to go back in after evacuation before being told its time or just wanting a look see and ride around in these areas.  These wildfires can be extremely dangerous especially in the conditions Texas and much of the southern tier of states have been experiencing lately.  Wildfires are environments and weather conditions within and environment and weather pattern.  They seem to have minds of their own.  They are difficult and dangerous enough to contain these fires so they tells us to stay away for a reason; our own personal safety as well as their own.  There are too many dangers to name, I am sure other than just the flames themselves.

Here are some pictures I found of our fire and they show just how dangerous these fires can be.  The one with the truck in it show a draft of fire flaming out from the top of a tree.  That can happen in less than a split second.

I cannot thank our volunteer firefighter and Foresst Service personnel for the hard work and dedication they exhibit to keep the rest of us safe.

Welcome to Hell & Good Morning Sunshine! Updated pics

Friday a little after lunch, a fire was started by a trailer blowout/wheel bearing just east of the Trinity line over in Polk County.  This thing has mushroomed like no tomorrow.  Over 14,000 acres have lit the skies.  We have had a lot of great help with this immense fire that refuses to die.  Even an Army Ranger just passing through on his way from his home in Port Arthur to Palestine to visit family on leave stopped to see if he could help.  He leaves for Afghanistan in a month.  Thanks Michael for all you do. 

There has of course been many rubberneckers who need to just stay home for their own and the safety of emergency personnel.  But even greater than the issue of gawkers, there have been many who have rolled up their sleeves and gotten down and dirty in doing what they could.  Our official and unofficial volunteers rock!  Without them, we'd be up a creek with no paddle. 

There were reports yesterday afternoon/evening that this fire was burning yesterday at a rate of 200 acres per hour.  I'd believe it with the winds the way they were and are again, today.

Here are pictures that I could get:

Friday Evening trying to find the blooming thing as we had absolutely no knowledge but knew it was close.  These pics are around, behind the fire.  In the first one, you can see the hood of the truck and headlights.  That wasn't even fifty feet from the front of the truck. 

(06/17/2011)

(06/17/2011)

(06/17/2011)

Damages less than 6 miles from the house as the crow flies.  The trees on the plantations look like poor scarecrows standing there.

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

Starting Point on Highway 287

(06/18/2011)

Flaring Back up Close to my House

(06/18/2011)

 Pics through Saturday, June 18th, 2011.  It has been pretty nerve wracking through the day.  At times, we were like, "should we bolt and run" and then later it would be "think we'll stay and wait it out longer."  The winds are in our favor for the most part.  It is a very unfortunate thing for anyone, human or otherwise to be in the path of this storm. 

These pictures are from my front porch or back yard:

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

These pictures were taken last evening before dark.  It was really crazy.  This whole weekend, I haven't wanted to leave as badly as I did last night.  After darkeness came, you could see the glow of the flames, really strongly against the clouds.  I just wish my camera hadn't broken so that I could of been able to take pictures of the flame clouds.  They were very pretty but terrifying all at the same time.  We rode it out, anyway with folks on standby if I needed them to help me haul animals out.

These are some of the smoke clouds that the flames reflected from.  Please mind that the lens on my cell phone is cracked and so presents a haze in photos.

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

Okay, Sister did manage to get a pic of the glow last night, though the pic was dark.  I did what I could to make it more visible. These are some EXTREMELY hot fires.  This pic was taken right behind my house.

(06/18/2011)

  

This morning, the sun rose with the promise of another extremely hot day.  I fear for our firefighters who are already exhausted. 

The view el Sol gave me this morning was promising to say the least.  The fire in the sky was a heavenly fire that gave hope that the earthly fire was gone.

(06/19/2011)

(06/19/2011)

(06/19/2011)

As I write, the northern end of the county is still on fire.  Some roads are closed.  So, if you are reading this, please keep these folks in your thoughts.  Hopefully, the personnel gets this stopped before it jumps anymore county lines.

Here is a link to one of the volunteer firefighter's personal videos.  He has some others that are mind numbing but I don't know where to access those. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9vrBoD-xw4

I will post more pics as I get them.

More pics from yesterday evening retrieved from Sister's phone:

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

Just after turning off our county road onto FM 2262.

(06/18/2011)

(06/18/2011)

On the way to take water to County Deputy.

(06/18/2011)

Ramblings of a HOT Summer Day

The last week or so, has been busy. . . I think. . . Seems at least three days was spent entertaining cousins from down the road. . . That's okay. . .  what else better is there to do in the summer?  There have been many activities going on from work to play.

Here, Brother had decided the best way to unroll a spool of wire in our process to rewire our hotwire fence.

(06/08/2011)

Sissy Dog playing dress up and undercover for the CIA.  Oh the antics of a little boy!

(06/08/2011)

(06/08/2011)

The HOT summer time is the perfect time to grill outdoors. . . It helps keep the house cooler and provides great nutrition.  And I found a new way to clean the grill rack. . .  Good thing I fire it before actually using it.

Dally doing her part.

(06/09/2011)

Where we live. . . you can never be certain what is lurking in the woods.  Thank goodness for the brave wamoose hunters that help protect us from really large beasts that could devour us.

Wamoose Hunting Cousins.

(06/09/2011)

As hard as it was, little boys managed to find some patience to wait until it was a bit cooler (less than 100 degrees) to do their fishing. . .But it was still pretty durned hot! 

Cousin's first catch of the day.

(06/10/2011)

Sister learned she would be getting her commercial steers for the 2012 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this week during her trip to San Saba, Texas.  This means building another pen for them since they cannot be penned with her 2012 County market steer.  Thankfully, part of the work was done for her but the existing pen needed expanding.  Cousin from Down the Road said he'd help her of which I am thankful, as well.  What a back saver!  We made sure to feed him good.  They were funny to watch, giving each other a hard time as they went.

Whose Working Harder?

(06/11/2011)

Still trying to figure out who is working harder.

(06/11/2011)

Holding her mouth right?

(06/11/2011)

How many munckins does it take to twist a wire?

(06/11/2011)

And I finally figured out where and how the yucca got started on the place and surrounding area. . . Granny. . .she always keeps me guessing.

More lost flowers found on one of our cross fences.

(06/12/2011)

Channel Surfing Cat

Our boss, or so she thinks.  Light refused to relinquish remote control. . .

(06/06/2011)

And she was watching t.v. or at least appeared to be.

Speaking of Animals With Personality. . . Mr. Congeniality (06/06/2011)

Fiddler was at it again.

Jake and I were loading scrap metals (aluminum, copper, and iron metal) on the cattle trailer to clean the yard/barn and get ready for a Tuesday shipping as Tuesday was my go see Dr. Alvey day.  I went to get something out of the truck bed and turned around.  See what I found:

A big butt doing inspection.

(06/06/2011)

I am checking to make sure you guys are doing this right.

(06/06/2011)

Needing to inspect the things on the back.

(06/06/2011)

Not sure about this job.  You people are messy.

(06/06/2011)

What is this, are you sure you are allowed to take this stuff?

(06/06/2011)

Let me think on this a while.

(06/06/2011)

Such a hard decision, either pass or fail.

(06/06/2011)

Let's do a biting test to see if the materials are sufficient.

(06/06/2011)

It will have to do. . . I have other pressing things to do.

(06/06/2011)