Another Hot Spell #2

Wow, neat picture! Uh, OK, I'll take a stab at guessing---15 fires?

Red - Doesn't look good... hope the rain puts them out. We started getting rain about 5pm and I don't think we got a 1/2 in. but at least a 1/4 in.

that's a pretty good guess suzie!! I'll wait a bit and see if anyone else guesses!

We're figuring that this weather system over the next two days will put out 1/2 to 2/3 of all of the fires that we have going on in our region. In the area visible in this picture, we figure that we'll probably only have about 4 left. (the four that are the largest). But, it's just a guess. with any luck, they'll only be one or two left. amazing how tenacious they are. we did get some rain last night and most of those turkeys still grew in size. two of them actually doubled overnight even in the rain. Can only imagine how large they would be if we were getting 80 or 90 deg stuff still! If any one is intersted I can post two pictures that I took of the same fire about 1 hr apart from each other.

Red - I'm seeing 12? I'd be interested in the other picture.

Are the fires in an area that has burned recently? Is any property in jeopardy?

as far as I know, those are not in areas that have burned recently. I'm not sure if you're seeing the patches of shorter (usually brighter colored green) trees. Those are reprod units (term for logged then replanted). Many of the fires are in reprod or both reprod and old growth.

If the temperatures were normal and it hadn't rained the fires would be outta hand by now and the one that i'm showing would easily be three times large than it is. pay attention to the fire that is to the right of the large rock in both pictures ( I checked the time on the pics... they are forty minutes apart)

now notice the top and right side of it

I see less fires in the second one, but the smoke is more spread out so it's hard to count.

I know that areas that weren't allowed to burn, burn hotter and therefore the rain wouldn't put them out as easy.

unfortunately some poor soul had to go find those two. I sent them in to find two on the other side of the rock and then these two appeared. I actually told them that they didn't need to go fishing for them. (all fires are supposed to be scouted by a person(s) on foot to get Exact location). The map with the picture (this one) makes them able to pinpoint. And I could find them both again if needed. They still went out to get find these.

I wouldn't want to walk up there! Looks like the area around Rainer.

oh... I get it. No, none of this has been allowed to burn, unfortunately. If it were me I wouldn't fight any of these until after we see what the rain does. and if it were just a small creeping fire, I'd let it go. like the two fires in the last two picture.

This picture is of the same two fires, just a different angle.

I wouldn't have walked there either!! Especially not with someone else saying that I didn't need to!!

I pretty much believe that fires should be allowed to burn unless they threaten property. I didn't want to step on toes though. I think that letting them burn is better in the long run, that it will actually cause less major fires to happen. Fighting fires, even small ones can cost lives, as I'm sure you know. I like how Yellowstone deals with fires. I like how they deal with wolves too.

I’m a ivory tower scholar so please let me know if I’m wrong, I won’t take offense.

no, oddly enough, even though I deal with them, I agree for the most part. I think that all of the creeping fires should be let go on their own. The larger (hotter)ones I debate with myself on. the should be let go of so that they can get back into the natural cycle of burns. However, since they haven't been allowed to burn, the fire that does burn through there will be so much hotter that it will be devasting to the flora and fauna instead of part of the cycle that allows it to burn slower and cooler.

Maybe doing controlled burns in those areas? I think that if a fire does have the chance of being a danger, which most of the big ones pose, they should be fought. It is a hard balance to leave an area effected by man or to harm the area in order to help set right what we have done to it.

Ok, I'm for bed, see you tomorrow.

that's for certain.

This is a pic was taken a month or so ago of a 12 year old fire that burned way too hot.

this pic was taken in a fire are that had burned only 3 years before (and much much cooler)

I agree zhinu! They just need to have us doing the balancing!


Good night all.

Wow - such beautiful photos. Even though I am new to the Northwest I am in love with the forests. We had quite a bit of thunder here in Portland and it drizzled yesterday and rained overnight. I have been busy with the remodeling of my house and keeping an eye on my garden. Planting some vegetables was the first thing I did even though I can't move in until the end of September - didn't want to miss the tomato season. My tomato plants are hugh and have lots of tomatoes - I think it is the daily covering of sawdust! I have a summer squash that has lots of blossoms but no squash. I read somewhere that I may have to hand pollinate. Anybody know about that? The last time I heard about male and female plants/flowers was in college in the 60's :)

Portland1 - You're lucky on the tomato front, most people I know barely have green tomatoes right now.

General - It's sunny here right now, though it doesn't look like it will last. I love the sun on rain drops; I wish I could make jewelery out of them.

zhinu - I can't believe how many tomatoes. I have 4 plants of different varieties and about 50 tomatoes. It looks like they may all ripen at the same time! Right now I am in an apartment on the 14th floor and it is great for storm watching but I am anxious to get into the house.

It sounds like we had some tree damage last night in the pine grove by my house. They had the chain saw and chipper out this morning. Didn't look like it did any property damage, but it's a real possibility if one of those trees goes. They're probably 4 stories tall at least. they could hit the house across the street, much less the ones basically under the trees.

Drizzling here today. Don't know what the temp is, I had to take down the thermometer.I'm glad it's cooler because I was leveling the pad for the shed coming on Friday. I'm getting too old for shoveling rock!! A neighbor unloaded it from the trailer, that helped a bunch. The drizzle kept it cool even if I wasn't. About 3/4 of the way done, need a breather before I go finish.

The siding is coming along nicely, not so noisy today, but the cats are still hiding. It's mostly dry, so they should get a lot of finish work done today. I'm ready for some peace and quiet!

Wow - you guys have been busy. I'll have to catch up when I get home from work. So many fires . . . I didn't realize how busy you'd been, redchic.

It was hot in Corvallis on Saturday - we were in and out of air conditioning. We were dripping as we hugged eachother at my dad's bday party in the afternoon. That place had air conditioning, I'm pretty sure, so it got better. After that we went out to Philomatch to my brother's and he has awesome air conditioning. It was pretty decadent.

At about 6:00, the wind came up with a fury and cooled things off and we all went outside to hang out. After dark, we started to hear the thunder rumbling. I slept soundly at my brother's in Corvallis and missed all the night-time noise and light. My relatives who were in Corvallis said it sounded like the thunder was right overhead.

Saturday started off overcast and cool and I remarked that I hadn't thought I'd need to bring a coat along. But by 10:00 a.m. it was getting warm and muggy. Moving and packing in a house with 20 people and 6 energetic little kids (all under the age of 6) was hot and gross. Heh.

The rain finally came last night as I was mowing the lawn and it has been raining pretty hard and steadily since then.

redchic...awesome pics. Be careful out there (sounds like a TV line, hahaha)

Well Portland, if you have fallen for the forest, you've definitely moved to the right place! Even right there, right outside the city are some really pretty areas. Then just a little farther out, and i know it's really touristy, but have you been to Multnomah Falls yet? You should. I love the falls there, but there's usually too many people for me. but, there are many, many smaller falls and pretty trails right around there. The drive up to the observatory up there is really pretty in the fall.... the leaves of all the orchard trees are turning colors. your tomatos sound great and good luck with the squash.

Katie, sounds like you had an interesting and fun trip, even it it was hot and much work. Thank goodness for the AC or else you'd really have been sweating. Did it break the century mark there on Sat as it did on Fri? Or did it just get muggy?

Thanks for the wishes Sally! strangely enough, right now the biggest hazards are: not slipping onto ones own butt and two, not being able to see 100 feet from you due to fog or rain. Oddly enough, the firefighters really liked the picture of all of the fires that I had enlarged and printed (11 x 17) and have been trying to get many copies. The head person posted the picture up on a giant wall map. Then oddly enough (the've all seen lots of fire pictures), they all really wanted one. As it turned out none of them knew what "their fire" looked like because they had either been: smoked in, fogged in, or rained in. and they didn't know that there were THAt many fires around them. Typically one of the first things that they all do (this is a rule) is get an idea what "their fire" looks like, so they're all feeling a little "lost" out there and want the picture to know "their fire". i had no idea that it would be that big of a deal, but it has been a lot of fun whatching them try to pick "their fire" out of the bunch. and by the bunch I mean the 12 visible fires, and 3 not visible ones. So I guess that both suzybell and zhinu are right! There are 12 visible and 15 in total (counting the not visible ones)!

Now you've got something else to do, like you needed anything else! ha,ha,ha I bet it's fun, so you don't mind.
I told you your pictures were good. I'll have to show you some I took at the cape in FL sometime.

Couldn't stay up last night, all this work is starting to wear on me, 15 yrs ago it would have been easy, today.....I have to push it and pace myself at the same time. Is that an oxy moron? Anyway the hard stuff will be done shortly. And the siding should be done tomorrow. Then we wait two weeks for paint. It'll probably take that long to decide what color LOL. Not really we're staying pretty much the same, we like it.

Drizzling again this morning and these poor guys just keep on working. Better than that awful heat.

Where is everyone?

Just popped in to see if anyone is up...I've had it for tonight, the bike ride was on the cold side and i am stiff and sore tonight....

Sally is right...Red your pictures are absolutely beautiful!!

I'm here, not quiet as tired tonight.

Well, thank you very much ZhinusMom and Sally. Really I was just lucky enough to be in the right location at the right time. I think that's the case with a lot of those pictures.

Where did you go for a bike ride ZM?

Sally, it sounds as if you're really going to appreciate the quiet life and a break when this is all done!!! but, it's going to look really good!

that's good! glad to know that you're getting a bit of a break!

Siding got finished today. Got the spot ready for the shed, but it's coming early in the morning. What have these people got against me sleeping in for once? They need all day to build it, so they need an early start. Then we wait for a couple of weeks for the painters. Hope they can make it sooner, I want to get things back where they belong. At least I'll be able to put stuff inside the shed.

Portland1

About the squash blossoms .......

I have done that - easy thing - get a q-tip and make like a bee - get pollen from male part of flower and transfer to female part of a different flower on a different plant. I don't know whether these need cross pollination, rather than being self-fertile - so to be sure, I would take pollen from one plant and put it on another plant.

If you don't remember how boy parts and girl parts appear, you might google for that.

Here is one http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/senior/vegetabl/squash6.htm

HTH

Red,We ride on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, various places. Yesterday we left Tumwater, went out Delphi to the Capitol Forest...Over Waddel Creek to Little Rock and back into Olympia. Not that long, but mostly up hill and my knees aren't liking that lately.

Sally glad the siding ius done. Know how you feel about those early starts...they were ripping off our roof before seven am!!!

My knees are hurting just hearing that. I mostly ride flat, arthritus in the knees. I do water aerobics 3 times a week, that's easy on the knees, but not as good for the bones. This morning I took a good long soak in the jacuzzi. We have a pool and jacuzzi in our clubhouse, and I make good use of them.

They were late getting here this morning (aaarrghhh) I could have slept in. But boy did they get done quickly. You can tell they've done a few of those. Had it finished before noon. It's a Tuff Shed and I really happy with it, I'll be able to put all my orchid supplies in one place. Plus get some of the garden tools out of the garage which will make DH very happy! Went looking for some linoleum to put on the floor, couldn't find what we wanted, so we'll look some more. I took care of the important stuff already, bought some pretties to hang beside the door. LOL

I was going to paint it myself to save money, but the siding guy said they'd do it if I pay for the paint. Didn't turn down that offer. It'll take them no time at all to spray it on. So now I have to get things cleaned up, some metal work that needs a coat of paint, etc. And clean all my bird houses of course.

It was a beautiful day, pleasant all day. Still haven't put my thermometer back up, but I think it was 70 ish.

redchic - one of the reasons I moved to Oregon was because I love forests. I have been to Multnomah Falls and the observatorty - great view. You are right about the crowds at the falls. I have also been to Mt Hood and camping south of Bend. I also enjoyed the area around Sisters. I am trying to be retired but if the economy continues in it's present trajectory I may have to go back to work and that would require me to be in a big city so I decided on Portland. Sounds like you have an exciting job - what exactly do you do for the Fire Service?

wannadanc - thank you for the squash help - today I performed procreation in the garden...

Sally-we finally got into the 70s here once I was out running around in Levis and no airconditioning in the car..........been helping my daughter get finished up with with a swap project that has to be shipped by monday....we may make it.

redchic I am with Portland1....it sounds fascinating...what do you do?

Today we put down 2 tons of flagstone on top of crushed gravel to make a patio with space left between the stones for planting. I will fill in the space with potting soil and then I want to plant ground cover. Can someone recommend a ground cover that is evergreen and can take foot traffic? We won't be playing football - my kids are grown and I live alone - but there will be foot traffic and parties. :)

Around North Seattle, there is a group of plants being sold as "Stepables" with tags the shape of feet. I have no idea how many plants make up what they are selling, but its like 20-30 or so, all recommended to be walked on or played on. I would check those out if they are available in your area.

http://www.stepables.com/

This message was edited Aug 22, 2008 10:55 PM

I am not sure but I think the wooly thyme is evergreen and would work well. Fred Meyer, and most other garden centers have "stepables".....some really neat groundcovers that will take a reasonable amount of foot traffic...a friend of Lauras has her entire back yard in wooly thyme