I'm very grateful right now that the wind storm we had last night didn't come on the weekend.  We had a dust storm like something out of a sci fi movie.  IT was pretty incredible!  I looked out my window at about 5 and I couldn't see past the orchard all the way around.  The wind didn't seem like it was that strong but there is nothing to hold it back up here on the flats.  There are power outs in lots of places and Several more fires around the area are raging out of control now and DNR as well (which means lifeline) has been called in.  Tony is headed up to Tonasket to watch fire fighters and try to keep them healthy.  It can be pretty boring and its long 16 hour days.  We thought his boss wasn't going to be doing any more fire watch but his brand new son-in law who is a pyro talked him into it.  It can mean good money sometimes so I'm trying to  think about it like that.  We want to finish our addition sometime and this might be the money to get it done.  I'm just not looking forward to not seeing tony for the next possible two weeks until the fire goes out or they get releaved by the wenatchee crews.  He is going to be leaving at 4 am and not getting back until late.  We are hoping that he can get some days off but they are all just playing it by ear and going to see what happens.

We have had 100.o degree weather for the last couple of days as well as evening lighting and thunder storms... so we currently have at least two fires we can see from our house and several more in the county apparentely.  If you have read on the wildfire situation in this months National Geographic you know that mismanagment and a leave it alone policy has allowed our forests and grass land ripe for the harvest of fire.  We have been told that lifeline on occasion has gone for 14 days at a time doing the medic watch for fire season.  It would mean some major overtime but I'm not really looking forward to having my hubby gone that long. The thunder storms are supposed to continue every evening for the next week.  Should make camping for everyone who is coming over for the weekend fun!!  Of course it rained really hard here today...*snickers*  It lasted about 30 seconds and was gone.  It didn't even make our clothes wet.  The heat dried us off in minutes.  The mornings are still beautiful and HOT.  The evening thunder showers really just help cool off everything from the heat of the day.

The view from our driveway.  There is two fires one on the upper left and one on the right.  Both were growing large fast.

This is a close up off the one on the left.  Its swooping through someones wheat field and over to the radio tower.  Poor Farmer is probably losing on this big time.  You have to feel for them!

EDIT:

The Jackass Butte fire, which is the top one burned 1000 acres and threatened homes but is now mostly out.  The wind picked up this afternoon and cleaned out most of the smoke from the valley. I have a horrible sinus headache from the smoke so I was very grateful when the wind picked up.  Another fire is also going down by Mallot, its currently only 300 acres.  My hubby voluntered to man the medic vehicle on the fire with a co-worker.  It pays extra overtime above his usual pay.  I'm praying that the fire is out before the family comes or that he can find a replacment for sunday and monday.  The extra money would be nice because we do have two back to back parties to cover the cost for so It would be helpful.  I also had to get my new glasses which cost 300.00 dollars for both pairs.  They came in last week and I'm so very glad to have them.  I'm having to get used to carrying around two pairs of glasses but the sunglasses are so... NICE!

 

We have had a lovely three days of fun and Now I'm trying to get the house back together and get everything re-organized.  We went to the movies sunday night with the kids and had popcorn.  Then monday after swimming lessons we headed to Lake chelan for a vision apt.  They have a walmart with a vision center so I could afford some new glasses.  Its been five years since my last eye appoinment.  We have been wanting to take the kids to the waterslides in Chelan so since we were already there for the apt. we decided to do it.  It was a lot of fun and the kids loved it.  They all swim good enough now that everyone but Katie can do all the slides except a few.  They allowed us to go with Katie down the slides she couldn't swim on so we all stayed together.  The Slidewater slides are pretty good, not to big so you can lose kids, but enough variety its still very cool. I snuck out to my apt. and then came back.  My eyes are good.  No change, although the doctor recommended perscription sunglasses.  Considering the year round sun I agree with him.  I found two pairs of plastic frames in the super cheap section, one for reg. and one for sunglasses.  I hope I can keep from losing the sunglasses.  I'm a little worried about it because they cost so much.  I'm just hoping they will last for a nice long time, but they sure would be nice.  I tried the transitions but they don't work for driving at all and that's when I really want sunglasses.  On the way back from chelan we found a great little restaurant right on the columbia river with very good food/service and had dinner.  Lake Chelan is only an hour away so it was really nice not having a long haul before the slides and then after when your good and tired.  My calves hurt so bad still today because of the climb up the hills for slides.  We had a really great party last night for my birthday with lots of our friends.  It was really great and many stayed until dark sitting around the fire talking.  The Chilcotes always stay late and we love it.  Our kids are the same age and Rob and Jessica are a lot of fun.  Tony and I really enjoy spending time with them.  My kids had fun buying gifts for me and Tony bought me a great new blender.  ITs a beauty!!