Nasty time

I don't like June much in the desert. In years past it is a time of heat, very bright light, and stillness. It is as if nature is holding its breath, waiting for the monsoons to arrive in July. This year it's hot and bright, but the spring winds continue to blow in the afternoon. And we have not seen a drop of rain for months.

All this translates to high fire danger of course, and the Chiricahua Wilderness, across the valley from us, has been burning for more than a month. More than 100,000 acres have gone up in flames, in spite of the fact that more than 1000 people and numerous Hot Shot crews are fighting the fire. But the wind is not helping, and every time I look out my kitchen window, I see a new area going up in smoke. At night we see the fires burning, and that is from 60 miles away! All that because some idiot was not careful. Never mind the more than 23 million dollars that this has cost: what about the environment, what about the animals and the birds? It makes me want to cry.

Thankfully, they have finally closed the Coronado National Forest behind our house ($5,000 fine) and hopefully we will keep the Dragoons and the Cochise Stronghold from going up in flames.