No News is Good News is Right.....

That did turn out to be true, that no news is good news, 'cause when we got the news it is bad. From two reliable sources we got the word that our house is gone.

We are now gypsies and are homeless. We will stay in New Mexico the rest of the week as our rent is paid! We will be going back to Bastrop to take care of things, check the ruins and do all the paper work. We had been considering moving sometime so we didn't have to cope with so many stairs and now the decision was made for us.

Thanks to Joanna for watching out for us. She and Jennie will probably be the first to see how bad it is when they finally let folks in. Probably be next week as the fire is still burning and hot spots all around. Again, we are more fortunate than most as we have some things with us here.

I have only praise for the firefighter and first responders. I am thrilled and happy for the families that their homes survived the fire. I feel so sorry for the folks that lost their homes and businesses.

I will let you know where we will be hanging our hats! Thanks to all for the kind offers. Guess we could just travel the country and stay two weeks here and two weeks there and wouldn't have to pay rent for a couple of years. :)

A few photos of our place....

The back yard about a year ago.

The flags in the snow, February 2011.  Snow is rare in Bastrop!

Antique Murphy Bed, folding bed, made in 1863, was my grandmother's on my Dad's side.

Coming down the drive to the house.  We finally had it paved this year.  Ha.

March 2010

Snow February 2011

Out my kitchen window, fall 2008.

Update on Our Home

No news is good news, they say.  Not so sure about that.  Our home is in the middle of the Bastrop fire in Texas.  Gene and I are still in Angel Fire, New Mexico, so thankfully out of danger.  We will probably not hear anything before the weekend.  The area where we life has downed trees and hot spots so no one is getting in.  I'm sure it will be days before residents will get back in.  Joanna is checking for us from Austin.  Jennie will help her if it turns out the house is there.  The fridge/freezer will be so rotten .. sorry for them.

Joanna was caring for the house a few years ago while we were gone and the fridge went out.  She said, "Never again".  But you never know.  :)  If the house is gone, we will lose lots of memories, antiques, etc.  But in reality that is only stuff when we are all safe and sound.

We are luckier than some of the families.  We came to New Mexico and planned to be gone about three months so we have clothes, medicine, computers (brains), art stuff and important things like golf clubs.  Some folks had about 3 minutes notice and left without anything but their clothes, phones and cars.  Our neighbors were gone for the day and couldn't get back to rescue anything so have the clothes on their back, the car they were in and that is it.

Other friends have lost their homes for sure.  Some had home businesses and lost their machinery, tools and their way to make a living.

The authorities are now saying 35,000 acres burned, 800 homes lost, 4300 meters without power, etc.  This will be a long term problem.  Students with no school supplies, no where to live, and so much more.

The best thing you can do for me is to help the places in Bastrop that are offering support to the displaced families.  The Bastrop Christian Ministerial Alliance is coordinating donations at Rundell Business Park at 704 Hwy 71 West (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) Please call 512.332.8661 for more information. Checks and Money Orders to Bastrop Christian Ministerial Alliance PO Box 856 Bastrop TX 78602  The Alliance is the central clearing house for help to the shelters and people needing clothes and help.

Of course you can help through the Family Crisis Center,   Red Cross and others as well.   Housing will be such a big problem.  I cannot imagine where the families will live.

You can start here at one of the local TV channels, KXAN, that has been broadcasting news live and from there search for Bastrop Fire on Google and you can see the horrific photos and stories.

This photo was taken by Kerri West on Sunday looking east over Bastrop.  Our home is somewhere in the smoke on the right side.

This video shows how quickly a fire moves.  Scarry.






And for art:  Don't forget about the contest to win the new book by Maggie Price.  Look on the sidebar upper right.  All you have to do is comment on my post or paint a little painting.  Have fun with that.

Angel Fire Show and Fire in Bastrop

The show on Saturday, September 3 was fun.  There were lots of people there.  (Doesn't look like it in the photos, but it had rained a little then so traffic had slowed down.)  My make shift booth worked out pretty well.  I have the heavy folding table with us for the small paintings and Gene attached pegboard to a ladder so I could hang paintings on both sides.  With my other easels I had most of my work on display.  It was a great way to pass the day.  I always have a door prize.  Sixty people signed up to win a print.  A visitor to Angel Fire won and I will deliver it tomorrow.

My set up.  The door prize table was across the sidewalk but moved as it was getting wet!  Yay, love the rain.

This was down the way, other booths.

We left on Sunday for Gene to go to the dentist, so I haven't been posting.  Too much time in the car!

This is along Interstate 25, near Truth or Consequences, NM.  The light on the hills was great and it was raining somewhere!

On the way down, Joanna called about the fires in Bastrop.  Oh my, it is horrific.  500 homes burned, 25,000+ acres burned and 5,000 people evacuated.  We don't know about our home yet, but the photos on the internet and the stories make us think it is gone.  We won't know until they let folks back in the area.  Please pray and think of the families.  They lost livestock, pets, homes, businesses, etc.  A couple of firemen have been injured.  I am so thankful for those brave people that are trying to help.  I'll let you know when we know more.  Thanks.