Bastrop Cleanup September 29 - October 1 and Fire Notes

Keep Bastrop County Beautiful is notifying where to drop off recycle refuse on their blog at
http://keepbastropcountybeautiful.org/removal-of-household-waste

Hope this info helps y'all.

Here is an article in the Austin American Statesman about Bastrop.

* * * * * * * 

Joanna, Jennie, Larry and Brandon came out on Saturday and helped Gene take down our clotheslines and the mailbox that his brother Albert made for us. (Guess the mailbox will finally get it's facelift.) We hadn't planned on moving for a while so they were deep in the ground and cemented in.  Took some picks and sledge hammers to get them out and over to the storage building.  Lots of work there!

We went and dug in the ashes some more.  Found the three bronzes (one here I sketched of On Demand) that our old friend Charlie Force made. (I see in that post a clock and candy dish for the inventory.) They are charred and the race horse broke off the stand, but think they can all be shined up and good to look at again!  Joanna found my spurs.  They were the first or second pair made by Ed Blanchard, according to my Dad.   He made them for my brother out of a rasp that you use for shoeing horses.  They have my brother's brand on them.  No leather straps of course. 

We found bits and pieces that are recognizable but not useable.  Parts of the old folding bed, a watch that Gene bought when he was in high school, etc.  We found pieces of what seems to be turquoise from my mom's jewelry I suppose.  It was a tough day, but good to be with family and share in the work.

I did walk around the RV park and sketch this morning so will post that later.  It was 103 yesterday, dry and an extreme fire danger day.  Should be followed up with the same today.  Not good.  Be careful out there!

Gene is riding his bike and we are trying to find a bit of a routine.  Still working on inventory of the contents of the house.  We had way too many things!

We can't thank our kids for their help and support and everyone else enough for all the good wishes.

Gene says we are not collecting anything anymore.  Well, good luck with that.  I had to get a mug before we left Angel Fire.  Oh my.

 Here is the mailbox after the fire, the cord up the pole for the flag didn't burn.  Weird, you can see the bottom of some burned trees right behind it.

Some of the mugs after the fire and a lid for the copper cannisters.

Then there is the elephant.  I got this in Chile, I think.  It goes with a Bolivian tradition, though.  It is said that to have good luck takes three elephants.  You need to be given one, find one and steal one.  This starts the new tradition in that we found this one in the fire ashes.  Then on Saturday my dear friend Regina brought me a new one.  Now I have to steal one, so ... you better watch out if you have an elephant!

 And here is the little elephant from Regina with my Pilot pen for an idea of size.  Just a perfect addition to the tradition.  :-)