Pawrents Prater

Hi, everyone! Thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers. We're safe from the fires here in the city, all we get is some smoke and ash. We have fires burning everywhere around us, though, and they are big. The one up in my beloved wine country is more than 500 square miles, ten times bigger than the whole city of San Francisco. It's actually a collection of fires, they call it a "complex." These were lightning-caused, which is very weird. We don't have thunderstorms here. We don't have lightning in the summer. There hasn't been any rain, just a little drizzle here and there.

We spent the past week taking day-trips around the area, something we always like to do anyway. Every place we went there were some businesses open, but so deserted. Downtown, business after business boarded up. This should be the height of our tourist season, with people and traffic everywhere. We stayed away from the fire areas up north and down south, but even so, twice there were road closures behind us after we left.

Anyway, we're all good here. Hershey went to the vet and got some medicine we hope will help with his arthritis. He was very good in his scooter. Please do keep for our firefighters and rescue workers, and for the thousands of evacuees. And we're for those in the path of the Gulf storms, and in places around the world where there is political and social unrest. All of this on top of the coronavirus, it's just hard to comprehend.
heart Marty

Here lots of people are bilingual, it is a necessity being a tiny dot of French speaking people in North America where everyone speak English. I did read a study once that was saying that People born in some language can learn another language more easily and French is one of those, it as too do with the root of the language.

I am never sick for a long time, I guess that is why the mono was not too hard on me. A common cold or a flu last a max of 3 days for me.

I love doing pork in the crock pot, so easy to do that way without over cooking it!

Lisa, a few years back when we had the awful fires in Gatlinburg and the Smokies I was impressed with how many states sent firefighters and crews to help. Luckily we don't tend to have the fires like California and that was certainly a different year for us. Seemed like every time you turned around more fires had popped up, but that one in the Smokies was something else. (It was started by two teen aged kids who were tossing matches into the wind up.) My heart goes out to anyone that lives with fires as a regular threat. Anyway, I remembering seeing a caravan of three trucks I think it was bringing in an Indian crew from AZ. Wish I could remember the name of the crew on the trucks. Seems like it had an Indian tribe name and something hotshots.

That taco soup sounds good. I think I have most of the ingredients already on hand. May have to try that.

A free trip to the dump sounds nice. I don't believe there are any free trips here. They weigh your car/truck going in and weigh it coming out to figure out what they are charging you.

Dee, I hope you have a good visit with Ward today. And good weather for it as well. I wonder how they will handle visits this winter. Hope by then things will be in better shape and you can just go in and visit him.

My day is off. I talked with a friend last night who really needed to vent. He is spending a lot of his time caring for his elderly mother without help (or VERY little help) from other family members that live closer (like right next door to the mom). My friend lives about an hour away from his mother, but has been going up and staying with her 6 days a week (sometimes more), and is just tired and frustrated. Anyway, I ended up being up very late last night and I'm dragging this morning. Hopefully I can get to bed earlier tonight.

Pippi sure does do a lot of napping any more. I am hoping this fall maybe all she needs is to get more active again. Wish they could stay young and healthy for sooooo much longer.

- Laura (Pippi, Cheeky, Inky and Nimbus)

Good morning everyone Happy Tuesday
Anick when mommy worked she used to put food in the crock pot before she left for work and it was ready when she got home.
Carol so glad the schools is listening must be hard on Evan getting behind because he had no computer and very frustrating.
Laura they say the storm Laura hitting Texas going to be the worst. That is great you were there to listen to your friend taking care of his mother I know the feelings he is having but he is blessed to have you to talk too. You are indeed a good friend
Lisa I hope things clear up by winter so we can go inside to visit yesterday the weather was hot and they brought him out in the sun not under the shelter without a hat again can't wait for my nephew to send me the army hat then I will have the aid put it on him and insist he has it on whenever they bring him outside. He kept sleeping the aide would touch his face tell him why are you sleeping when you have visitors. He mumbled something but we don't know what he said. Devan came with Jerry but even though outside they said only 2 can visit but they checked our temperatures and Devan had a slight fever due to her UTI and the antibiotics she is on so she chose to sit in the car and get on her phone. When we got home Jerry cut my grass while Devan was inside on her phone. After Jerry finished the grass I asked if they wanted a pizza I would order they said yes and Devan wanted one with everything but anchovies so I ordered a large pizza and some chocolate brownies. I needed a chocolate fix. They ate when it was delivered then left at least they would not have to worry about lunch since Lisa was working.
I hope Kathy and Stephen are having a great time since today is Stephen Birthday wishing him a Happy Birthday
Marty glad the fires are not in your city and hoping the smoke is not back hoping you have a great time on your vacation even if you just stay home and relax.
Leslie hoping it cools down some so you can go on your long works with Toby
I did the 88 rows on the shawl but it did not seem to hang down like the picture showed so I added more rows 108 so now it hangs to my waist so tonight will start working on the sleevees.
Hugs Dee & Tori

Evan had an interesting first day back at school. He got sent to the office for not listening to the teacher, being mean and not doing his work. He is the new kid in class as they have all been there for 2 weeks. But he will buckle down. Just have to get back in the school groove. He is a wonderful boy and will be fine. 
I wish they would send Parker to school. He is in 6th grade and that is at the Middle School. But he was looking forward to it as Coal is in 9th and thats at the middle school also and he would have had his big brother around there. But Coal is doing school at home and doing good and I think Parker is doing pretty good.
Carol and Molly and Pooks 

Dee, That's great that Jerry Still wants to help! It sounds like Devan is going through her bratty teenage stage!

Anick, l am so sorry your country is about to go through a second . We seem to be still stuck in the first! I don't know we will ever get away from wearing masks! That might be a good thing?

Carol that is an adorable photo! I hope the boys can all get used to the new way of learning!

Laura that is awesome that you're getting together with your musical friends! I'm actually jealous! Wish l could play an instrument!

Dee that is a surprise about Devan. When my hubby mom passed the Mortician was a women and it was her first time. She did great! It does matter how they look for anyone viewing so if Devan becomes one I hope she takes it seriously.
Prayers and Love for all.