The good times of summer with side effects...

Here we are enjoying the joys of 4th of July.

The joys of the parade, picnics and fireworks.

All joyous time....

But with a black cloud over it.  Some years are

dry, but this year is especially dry. So campfires

and fireworks are usually down sided.. but there

is always those who don't think the rules are for

them..  And of course Mother Nature doesn't

help much either. With lightening...

We here in Bonner County, are in the mist of

several fires. There is two by Priest Lake,

which is about 30 miles as the bird flies from

us.. and then there is the one that has made

national news... the Cape Horn fire near Bayview.

So far over 8 houses have been lost and a lot of

people fearing for theirs. As just a quick shift

of the wind and it could take out a village.

Washington State ... in Wenatchee area, had that

very thing happen to them last month. A fire they

figured they had a handle on, with in minutes shifted

with the wind and lost of houses and hundreds of

acres of land lost. And flames whipping local business

on the edge of town.

Our valley has a smoke hue to it.. and firemen

have been working around the night trying to get

it in control. Both fires are sending smoke our way.

And our hearts go out to those who have lost their

homes... and the ones who are finding shelter to

stay with their animals as they wait to see if their

house is next.

So stay safe out there.. and whenever dealing

with outside fires.. keep in mind, it doesn't take

much to lose control.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.... G.B.W.