Thursday morning, 7:25, October 1:  Smoke and heat and fire are creeping across the valley floor and in the mountains of upper Napa Valley and Sonoma, again.  I am visualizing fighting fire while affirming  “I am unafraid of the elements.”  As I work the yoke of a new design, mechanically knitting as if to dowse the worry in my brain, which is afire with catastrophic scenarios, one by one, and stitch by stitch as (in my mind) I hose off the embers as they land.

Unsure where at the castle this is, but I suspect the same carriage house where my nieces and I photograph often.
My camera is packed, as is most of my craft stuff. But all the same, while I try my hardest to ignore the possibility that the fire very well might sweep through at any hour, from a new malignant spark. We are vigilant.

Friday morning, 6:15, October 2: September into November  is the crisis time for fire in California mountains, unless we get lucky and rain comes earlier, which it hasn’t for as long as I remember. Cant go for a walk without breathing in smoke. We have got to think about this trend worsening, every dry season, everywhere !  We. Have. Got. To. Think.  The new soldiers are those who fight the elements, namely fire, in the war on climate change. Never enough fire personnel for these wild places on the map. Its my opinion that we need to teach our strapping strong unafraid youths to fight the elements . . . fire, flood, pandemic, rampant & rogue Perfect Storms of every kind, not governments.

Of course, all this fire in Napa Valley is wrecking so much of this year’s late harvest of many of the vineyards and wineries.  We are in a withered place.

Edited in updates for remainder of Glass Fire added below.

Saturday morning, 7:50, October 3: So far we are okay and as of this morning the Glass Fire is now 10% contained, and not approaching in our direction as yet.  I thought I should post an update more often through this local fire ordeal, so I don’t leave anybody hanging in unnecessary worry. I am still working my mindfulness of the moment, affirming “I am unafraid of the elements”. Its just that some elements are more soothing than others right now, and I am needing to listen to the healing bliss that  is the sound of rain . Thank you All for your thoughts and prayers, for us here in Napa Valley, and I will share them gladly with the rest of the world, but especially for those who have lost their homes in the recent fires, and my prayers are joined in.

Sunday Noon, October 4: Glass Fire is 17% contained now. The wind has blown the smoke and the live edge of the fire to the north-east, at the base of Mt St Helena in Calistoga. Clear here for now, and as the threat of burning recedes and dwindes, we relax a little. Still not unpacking, but really looking forward to rain forecast next week, and cooler temperatures with it!

Monday 6 a.m, October 5: Glass fire is now 26% contained which is a very good safety measure, especially because winds are settled and temperature is cooling a little, with forecast rain this weekend. At this point, I’m confident I can unpack the car, and get back to life without so much adrenaline stirring up the PTS. Probably the last update I’ll make for the Glass fire, and if people are still curious, or have questions, please just write a little comment and I’m ready to reply right away. xx

Thursday 6:30 am October 8: Glass fire 62% contained and no longer a threat as the weather is cooling and no high winds are forecast before it should be completely out. Evacuation orders continue to downgrade and lift throughout the valley. Over the last few days I have unpacked and put everything away, looking forward to the forecast rain later this week. What a week. I’m exhausted.