KORGLEND2

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Another beautiful day in the neighborhood!

       92 degrees and gorgeous today. Not a hint of smoke!

Below: weather station happily at work. 



Friday, August 30, 2013

Better air these days!

The fire crews have disappeared with the smoke. The sun is coming from a much sharper southerly angle now, and days are shorter, it is starting to feel like fall. The fire will be 100% contained by September 1, and our little hamlet of Glendale is safe.

Below,flowers, BLUE sky and clouds.  What a pleasure!




Our house with sunflowers.


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Incredibly pretty clouds

Clouds over Sutherlin's Cooper Creek Reservoir today




Sunday, August 25, 2013

Sunday afternoon and evening

Wild sky with sunflowers






Happy's sunbath


We got a touch of rain today, just .15" but it is most welcome.  The Douglas Complex is 86% contained, and they are beginning to send fire crews home.  They have dismissed the National Guard also, and all evacuations are cancelled.  This is GREAT!  The firefighter tent city at the high school is being disbanded, and will be gone entirely in a few days.  The kids will have their football field back just in time for school!
 Patrols will continue on the fire perimeter for a while longer. 



Saturday, August 24, 2013

Our smoke is getting better!

Today we went to Grants Pass (about 30 miles way) and the smoke there was very thick and toxic smelling. It made our semi-clear air seem delightful! There are wildfires all over this region. Below: sky at dusk with weather station.


Friday, August 23, 2013

Storm fizzled

Today we woke up to thunder and collected a few gallons of fresh rain water for the pond.

Predicted: heavy fire-drenching downpours lasting all afternoon and into the night. Flash flood warnings were issued.
Actual: 0.14" of rain, over by 11:30 am. 

Below: this morning's clouds and smoke. A little rain 
seems to make the wildfires smolder. 





Tenkit hates thunder. She came and snuggled with us under the covers this morning. When it was safe, she went outside, below. 





Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Another thunderstorm is coming.....

Today we wait for the next thunderstorm with dread.  The last one brought wildfire nearly to our door here in Glendale.  The pink sky tonight is thanks to the ongoing smoke. 



The trusty weather station at dusk



Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Monday, August 19, 2013

Almost a full moon

Another beautiful smoke-free day! By night, some telltale pink streaks in the sky, proving the smoke is still present.

Below: pretty moon above fir trees near dusk.



No smoke today, and even the flowers look happier!



Today was our second day with no oppressive smoke. 

The Douglas Complex wild fire is now 75% contained with a tentative date of September 1 for 100%. 


Below: blue sky as August SHOULD have!


(This is not an illusion of the camera angle, this 
sunflower actually IS much larger than the distant fir trees.)

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Blue Sky

Today we have clear blue sky. It may not last, but for now it is 84 degrees and clear, absolutely perfect! A west wind has come up though, which will bring smoke. When it is pretty and clear, it is easy to forget there is still a raging forest fire two miles away. Fire is 72% contained now, per Inciweb. So far, the fire is burning 46,932 acres.



Smoke is coming...


Tenkit enjoys the sun!



Friday, August 16, 2013

Weather Station Works Great!

The new weather station is performing flawlessly, so far 27 hours of data logging without a glitch.  Very nice!


Moon and smoke this evening.



Thursday, August 15, 2013

New Weather Station

The new Davis weather station is up and running. The wonderful company overnighted it to me when they realized they hadn't sent it yet. My goodness, that had to be expensive! In New Jersey yesterday, here in Oregon before noon today! I appreciate it, love having a weather station again, especially with the proximity of fires.  We need it here!  Smoke today was heavy through the afternoon, west winds bringing it to us.


Looks like a Star Trek shuttle craft has landed on our pole!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Manual Rain Gauge

I am quite happy with my good old fashioned rain gauge. It came in very handy the other day when we had half an inch of rain in less than an hour! 



Smoke is back in Glendale this afternoon, 
the Douglas Complex Fire is 50% contained.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Sun, then rain, hail, thunder, lightning, you name it Glendale had it today!

These big thunderheads decided to let loose 
this afternoon....and brought us almost half 
an inch of rain! (.46" in an hour!)


The hail got even bigger, about nickel sized!

We collected rain water for the pond in every container we 
could find, and had to empty these numerous times!    

A little more water with every storm that passes through.

Compare to yesterday's pond photo. Much better! 




Friday, August 9, 2013

A nice little wet electrical storm

Today we got 0.16" of rain, not much, but it should help with the nearby fires, lowering the temperature and raising the humidity. It sure makes the air nicer, no smoke in our yard for now! 
I am glad that I have the manual rain gauge, I am waiting for my new weather station to arrive, but meantime, I can still accurately measure precipitation!

Below: the frog pond yesterday, almost totally dry. 
Few drops of rain barely wet the rocks.

Today after rain, much better!
Dragonflies will appreciate this.

5:30 p.m.: That big cloud column is still booming, 
off to our north.

Note the pink tinged sky around this monster cloud.

Looking west.





Thursday, August 8, 2013

Thursday August 8, 2013

This morning we had smoke but by afternoon we had clear air and thunder.  Never got any rain though. Nearby fires are 17% contained. Below, some photos of the incredible sky today!




Helicopter going back for more water



Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Wednesday: Good news and bad news!

The good news is that we got a little bit of rain and cooler temperatures. The air is much improved. Below:  nice rain clouds!


The bad news:  had to return my weather station, it will be a a few days before I get the new one and get it set up.  Darn!

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Sunday Smoke around noon.


All the hills around have disappeared into the smoke.







Saturday, August 3, 2013

$%@%^&!!! Weather Station!

Weather station has a mind of its own, temperature sensor has it down again. Oregon Scientific sent a new one already, will install tomorrow. 

Fire today created lots of morning smoke and then in the afternoon the winds cleared it away. They say 15% contained now. Only one picture today, at dusk.


Friday, August 2, 2013

Friday Fire Update in Fotos

The winds have shifted away from us for now and it is a relief to see the sun. The fire that worries me most is the small fire directly on the other side of the hill from us. It is so so close! The complex is 9% contained today.

Looking northwest from our street:

To the southwest:

Due west: 

A block from our house, looking west: