Horrible Wildfire, Alberta

A gigantic wildfire is burning in one of our western provinces, Alberta. Perhaps you have caught a news broadcast about this. It is the Fort McMurray fire. Though it seems to be the biggest and has displaced a whole city there are many more wildfires burning in our west, with at least  80 fires burning in north eastern British Columbia. The pictures from around Fort McMurray are horrendous, and it is hard to imagine driving in your car between walls of fire being unable to see be cause of the dense smoke, fear gripping you as burning embers fall on the road and your car. This is exactly what I saw on the news yesterday.  Today, they say that the fire is growing larger, and could double in size by the end of today. It has been burning for five days.  Thousands of people have lost their homes and possessions and have made their way south to Edmonton, and other places of safety. Some people had earlier gone north, but with little in the way of accommodation and supplies, the Mounties are bringing convoys of cars back south through the burned city to get them on their way south. People, once they get to safe areas, the families can find their own places to shelter, with friends or family, or even strangers who have opened their homes to evacuees or there are also places opened where families can stay if they have no other options. It is beyond belief. Some of the pictures just break your heart. Such devastation. First responders are under great stress, and are overwhelmed. The fire has been described as a monster, eating its way through thousands of hectares.
A great many maritime people had gone 'out west' to find jobs, and now some are coming home, jobs gone and no expectation of one after the fire does its worse. Homes, jobs, livelihoods gone.

Monday, 09th
I'm not sure when I started this, but the fire is still burning though it has moved north east away from the town, but is burning through hectares of boreal forest.

I had a really nice spur of the moment trip back to Ironwood, yesterday. Dawn suggested we go and I jumped at the idea. Again, it would be a short visit.....had to get home by supper, but I was happy to spend the afternoon with my girls and the grandbaabies. The weather was nice, warm and sunny. I took 56 pictures, but I won't share them all here of course. It will be hard to pick out the best but I shall try.  Heather gave Dawn and me flowers and then when I got home, Rae and Colton brought me some tulips. So nice. It was a good day.

This is little 'Stinky' and he liked my shirt

These little ones are looking for their bottles, since

they were bottle fed, though not as often now.

One of my favourite views on the farm

Meet Franklin. He joined us on our walk to the barns

This little lamb was born a week and a half ago. He was a

little timid.

These little lambs(twins) stick quite close to their mom.

Just look at that face....

This ewe just loves to have a good scratch. You can tell she's 

enjoying it and H is working hard to do a good job

Dawn and Heather giving a little rub to the ewe 

and having a conversation as well.

I have to show some of the little black ones as well

They look like they are paying close attention to H

We all talk to the ewes and lambs as though they understood

every word, but I think they do understand H

Friday, the 13th........

A few days later.........the wildfire has moved away from Fort Mac and the cleaning up has begun. It will be at least two weeks before the people can get back in to see what is left of their homes.  

I am still having difficulties settling down to do anything specific, but am feeling better, so that's a good thing.

I thought I would finish this off before too many more days passed. As it is, it is old news.

The leaves are beginning to pop on the trees,

and even with the cooler mornings

Spring has finally arrived.

Grass is a dark green

Dandelions a brilliant yellow

Sky, varying shades of blue

The sun warming.

and the peepers peeping.

Ah, Spring

Welcome