Monday, August 15, 2011

Smokey .........

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It finally cooled off a bit at the end of the week. I had plans to get outside and catch up on some of the long neglected yard work. However, we were under a blanket of smoke on Friday and Saturday. People were warned to stay inside since the air quality was so bad. There is a huge fire in the Dismal Sawmp. Wind currents were bringing the smoke this way. Also, a large cut over piece of land was being burned on the other side of town and we were getting smoke from it. I tried to do some things outside but the smoke burned my eyes and throat so I gave up and stayed inside. I did get outside today and got all the shrubs in front of the house pruned. They have been growing like weeds this summer. I was beginning to worry that the house would be completely hidden by bushes.

Maggie May has an appointment at the vet tomorrow morning for her rabies shot. It should be interesting getting her in the carrier. She runs in the opposite direction every time she sees it. For some unknown reason, she has decided that she wants to stay in the house all day. Not too long ago it was almost impossible to get her inside. Maybe she is smart enough to know that Mollie Ann comes in the house when she goes outside and she doesn't want Mollie in her house. Sometimes they are hard to figure.

I'm still on my reading binge. I need cut back on the reading and spend some time crossing things off my long, long "To Do List". I also need to start walking again. I just gave up completely during all the hot weather and I can tell that I haven't been exercising.

Hope you have a nice week.



17 comments:

Unknown said...

My mom lives in Virginia Beach and when we were home in June visiting there was a wildfire burning in Southeastern North Carolina that was sending enough smoke her way to cause code orange air quality alerts for several days. I have COPD so this meant that a good chuck of my vacation was spent cooped up indoors instead of out on the beach. This current fire started in Suffolk and spread into North Carolina causing a few code red days for Mom and, according to the local news (form Roanoke), code orange alerts as far inland as Martinsville and Danville. I sure hope they get a few heavy downpours on that thing before we go home again next moth. Peat fires like this one can smolder for months.

Michelle said...

I hate that kind of smokiness. Terrible for your health! I love it when I am on a reading binge. Happens more for me during the dark winter months.

Lynilu said...

Gosh, it seems that there is more than the normal number of wildfires this year. Or is it that we hear more because of "instant news" via internet? Fortunately since the monsoons finally arrived, ours have slowed to almost nothing at this time, and I'm thankful for that. Hope yours is over soon, too.

Lydia Kang said...

The smoke sounds scary. I hope you guys are okay. The reading binge sounds like fun but it's hell on the to-do list!

Linda said...

Hope you catch Maggie Mae on the first try. Do you have coyotes licking their lips to eat your kitties?

Amy said...

The smoke is icky. We have had it in the Northern Neck quite a bit this past week. We were in Newport News this weekend, and I think there was no difference between the amount of smoke there or here. I could go for some more rain if it helps.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Wow, that fire/smoke sounds so unhealthy, not to mention the heat you had to endure. I think your cats are smart staying in with the AC. Who wants to hunt in heat and smoke...LOL

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

We camped at First Landing in Virginia Beach a few years ago when the Dismal Swamp was on fire - I couldn't believe how smoky it was!

NitWit1 said...

The long hot summer really affected nearly everyone's routine. I quit my gym routine, although I picked up my housework inside where it was cool. These were jobs my housekeeper is not expected to do.

Reading was good, but did not replace anything.

Greener Pastures--A City Girl Goes Country said...

I keep meaning to read wonderful books but then I get caught up with my to-do list. Keep reading. That's so much better. Everything else will be there when you get to happily ever after.

Gilly said...

That smoke looks dreadful! We get fires on the heather moors, quite often started either deliberately or by accident - a cigarette end or something. Peat cam smoulder for ever, so they are hard to contain.

Sweetflutterbys3 said...

I was just in Chesapeake, Va a few days ago and they had what seemed like every firefighter in the world there over the weekend. I understand it was about the Dismal swamp situation. Scary stuff!

schmidleysscribblins,wordpress.com said...

Oh to heck with it. We are retired. We can read as much as we want. Right? Dianne

From the Kitchen said...

I just saw your comment on another blog and had to stop by a "Virginia" blog and say hello. I'm a native Virginian now transplanted to the Chicago area. Every October brings me back home to enjoy fall. I'm originally from Roanoke.

Hope that fire is being contained by now.

Best,
Bonnie

TheBookGirl said...

Hope that the smoke clears soon for you. It must be hard to be outside.

Your dog story made me laugh. Our dog hated the carrier, which we thought was actually quite luxurious, lol.

I have also stopped walking for exercise in this heat, and I feel it. Need to get back on track, as it is all too easy for me to just say, I'll do it tomorrow...

CountryDew said...

We've had smoke from that all the way into Roanoke! Must be a huge fire. Glad you stayed inside and took care of yourself.

J_on_tour said...

Nice to hear of your progress in the garden that keeps me inspired. This week I have accumulated 6 sacks of grass and leaves and thats before I start on the shrubs !