Next Project

I am not finished with my other ongoing projects but I am on to a different project. At some point you have to leave a project behind and move on. (Ongoing is SO my word for 2017.)

I am going back into my photo archives hunting for photos for a special occasion in March.  At the same time I am deleting photos AND retrieving photos of the grands. 

I think this photo was taken about 25 years ago….I found it as a scanned negative.  Far Guy spent the better part of a few weeks scanning all our old negatives a few years back.

What kid doesn’t like a fire truck?  Every year at the Father’s Day Picnic little kids get to climb all over the fire truck and sometimes they got to go for a ride.  This photo was taken in 1992.

On the right is the old six by six that Far Guy drove through a line of fire in a CRP field while I was on top with the hose…I leaned over and squirted the hose through his window and finally just held the hose in my hands and pointed it straight up so it acted as a waterfall and cooled the air around me.  Needless to say I was relieved to get back to the black (the area that already burned.) I also gave him the what for.

I can only work on this digital project for a short time…it is tedious…one digital folder at a time.  I also have to bring down several photo albums to make sure I get the dates correct.  I would like to have this project done by the end of the month…I am crossing my fingers on this one.

Earth Day : Grass Fires and an Owl

In honor of Earth Day I took some photos of the aftermath left by grass fires that mysteriously start all times of the day and night in our area.  Spring and Fall brings out the “fire bugs.” Sometimes if fires are not being set we wonder “Who is in jail?”  During the winter we are safe and during the summer if we have enough rainfall we are safe because green vegetation doesn’t burn as well as the dry vegetation.

There was a strong wind the other day, the fire was set on both sides of the road, but it burned much better to the north.  Burr Oaks are a great fire break, it burned some into the brush and then went out…or was put out by the local Volunteer Fire Department.

That is the Fire Chief’s place in the distance and the old farmstead where I grew up.

There is a ban on burning here in Minnesota as of Monday April 21st.

On our drive we saw an Owl at the edge of the Highway.

He/she was a beauty.  I think it may have been sick or injured…perhaps stunned momentarily.  We went back the next morning to see if it was still there and it was not in the ditch or at the edge of the field.  We hope it recovered and flew off!  I think this might be a Saw-Whet Owl. It was a rare opportunity to see one so close up…he thought we were pretty interesting.

Sunday Drive

We went for a drive yesterday to see the area burned in the wildfire last week.   Quite by accident we happened upon the spot where it might have started.  I am not a Fire Investigator..but if I was I would check this area out.

Some spots were still smoldering even though we got rain overnight.

The first area burned fast, just burning the underbrush.  There was a house back in here about a quarter of a mile that escaped..how I am not sure.

That was the case all along as we drove on..especially further into the fire area..at times it was well over a mile wide.   Houses with steel roofs survived..I don’t know if that is a coincidence or if by that time enough fire departments had been called in to protect structures.  The Cedar Shake roofs didn’t fare so well.

In the pines the fire crowned ..some people said that the wind carried flames over a half a mile.

It smelled terrible.  Well.. just  like a forest fire.

I took this out the window, over on Twin Lakes Road where it goes from green to black where the fire raged through.

We went into town and did some errands.  In the stores you could tell lots of fire people/firefighters had been through..they left the smell of soot in the stores.  More than 50 fire departments mostly Volunteer Fire Depts. fought the blaze.  It was 80 % contained on Saturday..some hot spots were still in the area..a peat bog was burning and piles of timber..but we got rain yesterday afternoon a good soaking rain.

Some people still have those burn containers..they use old barrels to burn papers and their household garbage.  To cheap to use the county dumps and too lazy to recycle.  To stupid not to burn or weld on a windy day in dry spring weather.

Just for the record, I have no idea how this fire started.  I have seen fires start in crazy ways..the catalytic converters in cars parked in tall grass, cars that start mysteriously on fire after they have been stolen, flaming rolls of toilet paper thrown from vehicles, little kids with matches, burn barrel fires that sent sparks elsewhere and unattended campfires, oh and one time I saw a dock start on fire during a fireworks display:(

Wildfire

There was a wildfire about twenty miles south and east of us.  It started on Tuesday afternoon.  The wind was horrid, gusting to 45 MPH.  The fire travelled fast.

As we left home you could see a cloud of smoke.

We drove the back roads ...having heard that some roads were closed. 

We did not want to be in the way..but we  wanted an idea where the fire was and I wanted to take some photographs.  We only met one fire truck.

This was a crowning fire..the Pine trees heat up and then they go “whoosh” and are totally engulfed in flames.

I was in a crowning forest fire only once in the 1990’s..it is scary and you can hardly breathe the smoke is so thick.  I asked Far Guy if he knew the way to the lake, he didn’t so I pointed in the direction of the lake and said if we get separated and the fire turns ..it is that way and I will meet you in the lake.  I was never so happy to get out of a fire..I coughed for days.  We were in the forest when they dropped the airplane tankers of water..that is something to see.  Someone said they saw fish flopping around..what a strange site to see in the middle of a forest fire.

Anyways..I am way to old to fight anymore fires..it is really hard work.

We were about three to four miles away from this fire.  We never got into the smoke at all.

The winds were strong from the west and north west.   The area in the path of the fire was evacuated.   Highway 40 where we took these photos from turns a bit south up where those red buildings are on the right.  We didn’t go any further.

12 homes and 45 out buildings were lost in the wildfire.  It is being called the Green Valley Fire, it started in Becker County in Green Valley Township and moved into Hubbard and Wadena County. 

Firemen are still out there, the fire is 25% contained as of last night.  Us “gawkers” have stayed away..when it rains over the weekend we may go for a drive..by then it should be completely contained and the firemen and their equipment will be gone.  There is plenty of time for more photographs..it will be black for awhile.  I believe about 7,500 acres burned, no loss of human life has been reported however a number of dogs and cats perished ( Mostly because their owners were at work when the fire reached their homes.)

I hope it rains soon:)

Retiring Fireman

At the annual fireman’s banquet there were three retirements.

My other baby brother, a friend and Far Guy.  Between them they volunteered for 58 years.

The third time is a charm for Far Guy.  He came out of retirement twice to help out because they were short handed during the daytime.  A while back he said “I am just too tired to keep up with those young guys anymore.”  So he turned in his pager.

The pager used to go off every night a 6PM for a pager test.  The dog knew that it was time for supper..the dog also knew if he and Far Guy were off someplace in the yard when the pager went off Chance was to go to the house.  I don’t miss the pager going off all times of the day and night..ignorance is bliss.

Behind every fireman is a helpful understanding family..sometimes they have to leave in the middle of a family dinner, sometimes they are gone for half the day, or all night.  You wonder are they okay..and what is holding them up.  Did they have one call after another..or do they have big problems?  Sometimes they miss supper time completely and even if it was not your night to cook..you cook anyway and save something for them.  They will want to eat and take a shower and sometimes talk..especially if it was a “bad call” and they need time to wind down.

Around these parts if we didn’t have a Volunteer Fire Department we wouldn’t have any Fire Department.  Well we would have one but it would be so far away it wouldn’t do much good.

58 years ..I wish I could get some long term volunteers like that at the museum..but I guess greeting guests at the museum isn’t near as interesting as going into burning buildings.

Thanks guys..you did good! :)

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and Throat

Minnesota has a number of wild fires burning.  Three areas North of us are or have been burning.

The Smoky Hills are real smoky.  Wednesday afternoon the smoke moved in.  The wind was coming from the north.

It smells like a wild fire..wood and grass burning..it has a certain smell.

The good news or bad news is that we are in a winter storm watch all day on Thursday.  Duh..I think it may snow.  It will be good news for the wild fire fighters and for the trees that need moisture to get through the winter…and it will take care of all the smoke in the air.   The bad news…winter is coming.  I knew it was coming just not so soon.

Whilst writing that last sentence and listening to Obama and Romney debate.. Far Guy’s pager went off.  There was a fire reported on our corner.   Far Guy took off running..I said “Grab a shovel for me too.”  Arson..there was fire in the ditch on both sides of the road.  The west side is a plowed field..the east side is all trees..pines and oaks..there was a forest fire in there years ago.  I for one did not want to repeat that afternoon/evening.  We needed to stop the fire..and with two old people wielding shovels we kept it from advancing into the trees.  I don’t know what kind of sick bastards start fires when it is so dry.  They should be put in jail for the rest of their lives..or burned at the stake.   No photos..I left the house so fast I did not grab my camera.

Far Guy said, “ You could have taken some really good photos.”

Just like old times..it seemed like it took forever for the fire trucks to get there…but they came and they had water and quickly knocked the rest of the fire down…they mopped up.. and we came home tired and coughing.  I will welcome whatever moisture comes our way:)

April 29th on the 28th

Thirty-one years ago tomorrow my first nephew, Josh was born. I was so excited to be an Aunt for the very first time. He still calls me Auntie and freely gives hugs, he lives next door.

“She who sees robins first” and Josh

It was “she who sees robins” birthday yesterday..I won’t divulge how old she is..but she was nineteen when she birthed Josh.  I took this photo earlier in the month at an open house at Station Number Two..Josh was walking around talking to little kids..showing them what a fireman looks and sounds like in an self-contained breathing apparatus. He did scare a few children.  Small children have been known to hide from firemen during a fire, because they were afraid..and firemen look and sound scary.
I snagged this photo of Mason( Josh's son) that day too..it was one day after he turned six.  He invited us to his birthday party.  I asked him what he would like for a gift..truly a gentleman he replied “I will like what ever you pick out.”  I asked again and he replied “A Transformers Movie” ..well ok what if I cannot find it what other movies would he like..Horses..no..Dogs ..yes. We found a Transformers Movie and just for good measure Where The Red Fern Grows one of my favorites.  The best present he got at his party was a giant gallon jar of pickles..he was just thrilled! He kept all of his requests straight and never asked for the same gift twice..impressive for a six year old. He got some water guns that Far Guy and I were both coveting..super blasters…we were both thinking what a fun thing to use with Chance!

I am not sure if I reminded you to change the batteries in your smoke alarm when we went to daylight saving time.  If you didn’t replace them..put it on your list of things to do.  I made Far Guy do it..he would like to eek out every little bit of juice from a battery and wait for the smoke alarm to start going beep-beep..not me..replace them:)

Volunteer Firefighters

In our area it would be impossible to have a paid Fire Department.  We rely on Volunteers.  Well trained neighborly volunteers.  I was a Volunteer Firefighter and EMT years ago, I am retired.   Far Guy has retired twice,  because day time is so poorly covered he is on call during weekdays. 

I am not sure that the general public knows that these guys work day jobs and then at night when the pager goes off summoning them to a call, they roll out of bed to go on a rescue call or a fire.  Rescue calls are usually short, in two hours you can be back in bed..can you sleep?  That depends on the call and it’s outcome.  Fires are the pits, I hated Fire Calls..sometimes it takes all night to put out a fire. Then you spend a couple more hours washing hoses and disinfecting SCBA’s.( Self Contained Breathing Apparatus)   In the spring brush fires were the worst..you can have many a day until it greens up.

Sometimes you are just sitting down to supper and the pager goes off.  Sometimes you are in the shower, sometimes you have company.  This area is a fairly busy when it comes to calls..I don’t know the exact numbers but they respond to about 200 calls a year..that would be about four calls each week.

Saturday night we were invited to the annual Fire Department Dinner.  Salad, Cheese and Crackers, Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Green Beans and some kind of desert that Far Guy thought was heaven.

My other baby brother got a Ten Year Pin..time flies..he was a Volunteer Firefighter in Wyoming too, before he moved back here. 

My brother Jody on the left and Ken who was chosen the newest Firefighter of the year! If you ever have occasion to be in a bad situation..these are two guys that you want on your side. They are also wonderful leaders and mentors to the younger up and coming firefighters. 

Volunteer Firefighters and members of Rescue Squads are some of the real unsung heroes in small communities:)

White Slippers and Old Roads

I have finally made it through all my email, I have not been there since last Sunday..now I can delete and forward to my hearts content. Sometimes I just love the feeling of power when I hit delete. I was diligently getting rid of old messages a few every day.. now I am backlogged. I know I have not answered everyone's questions.. but sooner or later, I will get around to it!

Far Guy and I went out looking for more White Lady's Slippers and found two more clumps. I finally heard back from Welby Smith the Botanist from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He writes...

The white-flowered form of this species is caused by a simple genetic mutation, so white-flowered plants should continue to produce white flowers year after year. But they will probably not breed true. That is, offspring of white-flowered plants that originate from seed will probably be pink and white rather than all-white. If white-flowered plants seem to be increasing in number then it is probably the result of vegetative spreading via underground rhizomes. For some reason, a number of different pink- or blue-flowered plant species have white color forms so it must be a fairly simple mutation. Thanks for sharing your discovery with me. Welby

In an earlier email he wanted specific directions of exactly where these plants could be found. I had documented the site with photographs, so that next year we can follow the plants progress. It should be interesting from year to year to see if more whites appear. My specific directions leave a lot to be desired.. I am no good with road numbers, and those numbers over there are confusing.. both are similar numbers. one a 37 and one a 39..do you suppose I could remember which was which? Heck no, and the little roads are not always marked..eventually I found it..but I could have driven over there and looked at a road sign faster than I eventually found the info. I need a new Minnesota Road Map.

When I was on the Fire Department, I used to drive the Chief nuts, you see I grew up around here, and he was from Texas..big city.. they use real important road numbers in Houston. I knew all the old places here by the name of the people that used to live there, this was way back before the enhanced 911 system and real addresses. We had Star Route, RR2, RR1, the mail man knew where everyone lived at least on his route. I knew who used to live there, the Chief knew who lived there now.. so if he needed me someplace..he had to find a translator.. he found dogs worked well.. " You know the green house with the big black dog and the little white dog?" Sure, you want me to go to Sparky and Fido's house..sure thing Chief, you know if you had just said the old xxx place I would have known exactly where you wanted me to go. I could never remember his call number either.. or my truck number.. and radio etiquette, well that just escaped me. "Chief it is me, I am at the hall" " Chief, I just left the hall." then if he answered me, I would say "Roger, Roger." Drove him nuts. I could never remember if a 1072 was a dead body or a car accident. and it ain't polite to ask over the radio either. Then you had to switch channels..to the Fire Channel.. and if that didn't work to get him on the radio..we live in the sticks you know.. I would have to relay messages to dispatch.. and they would have to relay my message to him. If he was on one side of the small hills and I was on the other..we could not communicate except through dispatch.. what a pain in the you know what that was. Must be lots of Iron Ore in those measly little hills. Then if the communications tower gets hit by lightening.. you have to go back to the plain old phone calls. One day a few years ago, he was on a call all alone, he called here, and said " Hate to ask you, but can you go? I am it today. I might need help on this rescue call ." I said "Pick me up at the end of the drive. " I waited a long time.. the call had been cancelled. I kinda figured that out after I had drawn great pieces of art out in the dirt road while waiting.. you know on old RR2. It is much easier now, with the enhanced 911 system, and the naming of all the roads, and cow paths. I still call some old places by their old names, even though lots of different people have lived there. Old habits are hard to break.

I am a bit slowed down today.. it might be the cool weather, today is cool and windy.. certainly doesn't feel like JULY.. it feels like fall weather. You know cold, damp, dreary, just before an early freeze. I was outside, in sweats, a sweatshirt, a hooded heavy Sweatshirt and still got cold .. I refuse to bring that Parka back out for use in JULY :)