Hyrum's sheep

This big guy has a name. 

I must ask Hyrum

Several years ago, on my daily walks,  I came upon a special place. 

Maybe you will remember my telling you about a very special family.

https://ginaceramics.blogspot.com/2014/11/cairns.html

A family of 8 children,  all of them born at home, 

all of them home schooled. 

They built these cairns. 

They built them just because.

That was six years ago.  All have grown up.  All of them,  boys and girls alike,  have joined the Spring City Volunteer Fire Department and all of them are  certified EMT's. 

One of the children and now a handsome young man,  comes by and helps me for an hour a week. 

Hyrum also helps other locals, works in the local Cafe, and goes to college on top of that.  All this he does on his bicycle.  

Other family members are just as hard working. 

We work together. Hyrum is always finished before I am,  

On his own he begins a new chore. 

Hyrum works harder and more intelligently than 10 others.  

And why am I showing you these sheep?  

They are Hyrum's and I am taking care of them for a little while, 

long enough for them to eat the field bare. 

All I have to do is brake the ice every morning in their water trough. 

The sheep are doing me a favor.  They are grazing down the field next to the house.  Reducing the chance of the field catching on fire. 

Speaking of fire....

Happy Thanksgiving, 

Gina 

A Fire in the nearby mountains

 changes color in the valley.

It bathes everything in a special light. 

Even simple things take on more importance.

Little flowers glow in the light. 

Open fields are greener.

Old does not look quite so old. 

Even one lonely hollyhock, growing through a crack,  is bathing in the sun.

The fire is almost out, they say.  

Have a safe and happy week, 

Gina

Fire, Fire

Pond on fire.

Thirty firemen showed up.  
All have been trained by our Fire Chief Clarke Christensen. 
Clarke is also our Police Chief.  
We are so lucky to have him.  
His credentials are the envy of every Public Servant.  

Items which needed to be saved were pushed out of the way.  

This fire truck is almost as big as our house.  
Spring City is the proud owner of two of these monsters.  

Our firemen go through rigorous training. 
Always conducted by our Fire Chief. 

This was one of the training sessions... removing all overgrown areas around the pond.  There are always many challenges while burning the perimeter.  Old trees have to be saved.  The direction of the wind and fire can change instantly.  

The very next morning.  Clyde is checking the situation.  Lola will come out when the coast is clear.  

It will only take a week or two for the undergrowth to be green again.  

Dear friends, stay save.  We are closer to the end of this terrible virus....closer every day. 
Gina 

Pondside

We had to do it.

The Firemen came and burned the Cattails and wild underbrush. 

It burned into the night. 

They spared my Daffodils.

The ducks and geese looked on from a safe distance.

The wind shifted just in time.

They have made it through the fire but will have to toughen it out tonight. Eighteen degrees Fahrenheit is predicted for tonight. 

See the heavy underbrush? 

All gone.

By the end of May it will be lush and green again. 


Are you getting ready for Easter?

I have a friend who makes the finest, yes the finest chocolates.  

I have placed my order.  

Have a great remainder of the week. 

Gina 

Too Close

A fire has been raging

Salt Lake Tribune

Only 15 miles from our town.

Saturday evening.  Taken from our house, when the fire first started.

Salt Lake Tribune

53,000 acres have  burned. Homes have been lost, Livestock has perished. 

Hundreds of brave firefighters are risking their lives. 

This has been a very strange year.

High winds, no rain in weeks, no snow in the mountains, freezing temperatures and record highs in June.

No fruit on my trees, none.

My garden doesn't want to grow.

Our chickens are hiding from the sun.

Irrigation water has been shut off until further notice.

We are able to pump water from our pond. 
Our garden will eventually grow.

Warm wishes to you, my dear

Blogging Friends

Gina