Top Finish & Fire

In between everything I've been sewing the mule/donkey quilt. Today it will get mailed to Millie in Texas for professional quilting.

Close up of block and sashing.
Backing for the top.

Didn't want to journal much about the AZ Monument fire, there has been enough info on news. FaceBook had so much info and pictures from people at the fire, it was like you were right there experiencing all that was happening. The predicted week-long 40-50 mph wind suddenly stopped after one day! That is what saved us. Fire has now burned to back side of mountains. Fire fighters hope the wind doesn't change direction and blow it back to our side. So much was burned up, people's homes and animal habitat, great losses.

I have to say, many local people in this community came forward to help. They opened and ran evac centers for animals and people. Here are two dogs we are fostering.
A breeder gave up ten small dogs when she had to evac her residence. Both of our fosters are cute but almost ferrel. I could not catch them yesterday. Hopefully they will come around and not fear people.
My neighbor went with me on Thursday last week to evac llama and alpaca from down by San Pedro River. It was a long tiring day, six hours total. We had to take back roads to get around roadblocks, so many trucks/trailers going into fire zone to rescue livestock. Once the animals were loaded into my horse trailer we were sent around a back route because fire was so close (the air was choking with smoke). At one point the fire had roared down so close we could see flames. We drove thru Bisbee and Tombstone to Sonoita where a breeder is keeping the evac'd animals. Sorry, no photos- it all happened so fast!

Hoping to get back to normal in the next week. Stress took it's toll on me, the danged fibro has flared up. I need to slow down but so much to do. Night sky is back to normal without so much smoke.
I'll be posting pics of working on garden and chick updates.

Dodger

Well, Dodger did not come home with us. There was nothing the vet could do. By last night he could barely stand, the back legs would not move for him. Now he lives in our hearts.
This was a favorite photo of Dodger. Silly boy blinked just like a kid would close his eyes when the camera flashes.Dodger was big, loveable and goofy.
Photos of Dodger last summer, he enjoyed being with the poodle mob.

I think Mattie was his favorite friend. This is how we want to remember Dodger, having his fun.

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Shocked this afternoon to go outside and see the smoke has grown so much.
This local fire is Ash Canyon, about 30 miles away. Not sure how it started because the area was closed from any legal visitors several days before fire broke out.Neighbor just let us know the fire is out of control and burning towards Ft Huachuca. I won't say much more until reports come from authorities.

Close up with zoom on my camera.Ash Canyon has beautiful old growth oak trees and is a populated area. Not much news about this fire is coming out, maybe more on tv tonight.

Diving into a new quilt project today. Mules & Burro focus fabric with western prints to frame. This will be a comfort quilt for a neighbor that is ill. The family has mules and burros, some abused rescue and a couple of saddle mules. Mule critters have always fascinated me. She loves them so very much.

This is the pattern I chose to show off the focus fabric - "One Patch Frame" from the book "Block Explosion" by Cindy Casiato's. Wanted a throw size quilt so the blocks will be smaller at 14 inches instead of 18. The project should finish quickly. Now I wish I had been practicing on my HandiQuilter so a nice panto could go on as a great finishing touch.
(((sigh)))
Almost forgot- one more chick hatched early this morning, tiny and brown, so small it must be one of Frizzies chicks. The other brown chick is lots bigger than bantam babies. Photos later.