On Monday the news was full of stories and photos of the "supermoon," which looks especially large and bright due to its close proximity to the earth. I'd taken several photos of it from our backyard Sunday night but moisture in the night air blurred the image. I got my best shot on Monday night soon after the moon rose.
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| The light of the supermoon was bright but it might have been more impressive still without competition from the harbor and city lights |
Monday was also marked by ear-shattering noise that started in the morning and continued ALL day. Noise is common in my semi-rural community. Houses always seem to be in the process of being built or renovated. Tree trimming occurs on a nearly continuous basis. Sirens routinely set legions of neighborhood dogs howling. But this noise was worse than all those combined and it just didn't stop. It didn't take long to pinpoint the source with my camera.
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| Fortunately for you, I didn't record the sound associated with this photo of sandblasting in process on this house's exterior |
The next photo provides an update on the status of my lath (shade) house, currently under construction by my husband. He and the neighbor across the street put up the walls on Monday. They expect to raise the roof today.
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| Soon I'll have space for all sorts of shade plants! (Photo taken from the main level of the front garden looking down into the area bordering the street) |
Unfortunately, Tuesday morning brought news of wildfires in Southern California, brought on by a combination of exceptionally low humidity and high winds. As the day closed, there were 4 significant fires, the worst of which was the Thomas Fire burning in Ventura County about 2 hours to our north - it's burned 65,000 acres, destroyed more than 150 structures, and is still 0% contained. This morning, I woke just after 4am and smelled smoke. At the time, I thought the wind must be blowing smoke from the Creek Fire in Sylmar our way but this morning brought news of yet another fire, this one near the Getty Center. If the TV news coverage is accurate, this one has already destroyed homes as well. The fires have also prompted widespread evacuations and multiple freeway closures. It's a mess here and utterly heartbreaking for those directly affected.
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All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
I was extremely dismayed when I heard on the news here about yet more uncontained wildfires in California. I'm so frightened for you and all the other California bloggers who might be affected. On a happier note, your lath house looks great! And you got a lovely photo of the supermoon over the harbor. Although the lights of the harbor competed with it, they also made for a very pretty picture.
ReplyDeleteI think 2 of the fires are now 5% contained and the other 3 are still showing zero containment. It's very depressing. Concerns are that the winds this evening may make things worse in some areas. God forbid they spark any new fires.
DeleteI keep checking the news about the fires, I am so worried about all of you down in the LA area. Please stay safe.
ReplyDeleteThe lath house looks so good! What are the measurements? It's hard to tell in the photo how big it is.
We're safe but, as our area is also considered high risk, it's hard not be be nervous. My husband reminded me that our "bug out" bags and the cat carrier are ready to go...
DeleteThe interior space of the lath house is just 45 square feet. It's quite tall for its size, though, so I expect I can also hang plants from the ceiling. The peaked roof is proving to be as challenging as my husband expected. Only the first few struts are in so far.
so sorry to see awful fires.
ReplyDeleteHoping they can soon be contained.
Containment seems to be proceeding very slowly thus far, Diana - or maybe that's just my anxiety talking.
DeleteBeautiful photo of the super moon. We always seem to have renovation and tree trimming/yard service noise around too.
ReplyDeleteThe fire news is awful with so much destruction and disruption. Apparently the Getty is well prepared with self-contained systems to protect the art.
The level of chaos created by myriad freeway closures added an extra level of tension throughout the area. Yes, I'm sure The Getty is well-prepared for emergencies of this order. It'll be closed for at least the next 2 days but I expect that's mainly to keep the surrounding area as free of non-essential traffic as possible.
DeletePretty twinkling lights and full moon. You do have a nice view!
ReplyDeleteThe fires really are worrisome for both people and animals. I saw a video of a horse trotting down a highway - poor scared thing! Hope it soon gets contained and the winds die down.
I'm excited about your lath house, think of the possibilities!
I just heard that one ranch in the path of the fire was unable to evacuate its horses. Time to hope for a Christmas miracle!
DeleteI almost mail-ordered some plants for the lath house this week, then decided I was getting ahead of myself. One step at a time...My poor husband is already worn out and there's still more work on the roof and interior to do.
Hi Kris, I immediately thought of you when I heard about the latest wildfires in California. I hope for the best and that these awful fires will soon be under control. Your husband is doing a great job on the lath house; it is looking good!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Deb
The fires make me nervous, Deb, and a general text alert to remain vigilant that came through on my iPhone last night didn't help that any! But we're safe. The winds and low humidity are now expected to remain an issue through the weekend.
DeleteBeautiful work on that lath house. It's going to be great! That first photo, a gem.
ReplyDeleteThe fires, the winds, it's been a long week already.
The widespread nature of these fires and the utter chaos surrounding them makes this fire cataclysm seem even more awful, HB. There was just a local news report of notice of a new fire in Malibu but no confirmation as yet.
DeleteI hope those sandblasters don't start too early in the morning! The lath house is coming along splendidly. We saw some of the super moon as we traveled home from the Oregon coast, getting home the day before the fires started. It was like hydration therapy in Oregon, where my youngest son was married in a lighthouse -- and then home to the Santa Ana winds and firestorms. So heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteThe samdblasting started about 10am but continued until near dark - and they were back the next day too! I left around the time they started on Tuesday so at least I missed most of stage 2.
DeleteCongrats upon becoming an MIL! A ceremony in a lighthouse sounds very romantic and I'm sure Oregon was lovely compared to the hyper-dry conditions here. Don't you feel like we're being slowly mummified?
It's great to see your lath house coming into being! I'm taking notes ;-) as it seems like one good way of providing shade and rabbit protection for small plants - win-win!
ReplyDeleteIt's been tremendously disheartening watching the fire news - hope nothing flares up in your area. All my family now live south of Riverside, and thankfully there's nothing active that far south; but it's still awful watching the inferno and thinking of how much destruction is going on.
The fire situation remains awful, Amy. The winds in my own location were worse today but, luckily, there are no fires here. However, it seems San Diego has now been added to the locations affected.
DeleteYes, I just saw that. :(
DeleteI saw Riverside County on the fire map this morning, Amy. I hope your relatives are okay. This fire situation is monstrous, like a multi-headed Hydra.
DeleteYou have captured the moon very nicely. What's a shade house? I hope you are safe from that fire. Gosh! that fire is truly horrible.
ReplyDeleteOh, KL, your environment and climate is clearly very different from mine here in coastal Southern California! The shade structure we're building (or, more accurately, my husband is building for me) is designed to give plants that prefer some shade a respite from the intense heat and sun that's prevalent here, especially during our extended summer period. Greenhouses are arguably far less useful and lath (shade) houses here.
DeleteWe're at a safe distance from all the current SoCal fires but we're not complacent. Our area is also at risk during periods of high winds and extreme low humidity (below 10% most of today here).
Oh dear, I've been thinking about you folks for the past few days with the terrible wildfires. I have cousins out there, so I'm somewhat familiar with the area. Take care! That first shot of the Super Moon is spectacular. Great vignettes!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the concern, Beth. The fire news seems to get more depressing with every passing day. The winds and low humidity are now expected to continue through Sunday.
DeleteI was thinking about you when I read the reports of the fires in the paper. I know how terrifying fire can be; we had a very small taste of what it can be like here this summer. I'm so pleased that there is the joy of the new shade house to divert your attention. Shade is something I need more of here, if only to be able to grow salad crops in summer; I must work out where I could put a shade tunnel.
ReplyDeleteThe shade house is coming along, Christina. My husband is chipping away on the project little by little.
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