Labor Day Stars and Air Quality

         Just six and a half months before the pandemic Roland, Jenna and I had gone to Bandon.  And yet it feels like decades ago since we made that trip on Labor Day weekend last year. I did not think about that Labor Day until yesterday when I was looking for a picture of the fog. 

        We chose not to go anywhere this year due to COVID.  When Labor Day had turned into night I was lying in bed and looking up at the stars.  What a beautiful sight to see stars all summer.  I didn’t realize that Labor Day would be my last opportunity even though I spent several minutes admiring the twinkles (which appeared to be twinkling as the fan had been lightly moving the blinds).

The next day the RS pres. had picked up to attend a mini-RS meeting.  We’ve had four now beginning in Canyonville, Riddle, Working sisters, and Tri-City.  Will have one more in Myrtle Creek.  I enjoyed the scenery as we were outdoors.  The light breeze was inviting.  The skies were clear on the drive home.  But sometime between 1:00 and 1:30 the smoke crept over the mountains until they seemed to disappear.

Sometimes fog and smoke will appear the same as both distort our vision.  But fog is clean and rises. I don’t have any problems breathing in the moist clean air.  Smoke descends – it envelopes and lingers.  Smoke is not pleasant.  It chokes. It destroys.  It does assist with cool colors sometimes.  But it’s certainly not worth what the fires take away.

From earlier posts I am sharing these pictures of the fog and the smoke:

Sept 5, 2019 fog Bandon Beach

Sept 5, 2019 Bandon

Tri City Smoke Sep 2017

Bandon fog

smoke Myrtle Creek

the worst the smoke has ever appeared 2017

2017 before masks were a required fashion statement

current Star Mountain fire cropped from KZEI photo

    

 Our hometown has not been surrounded by smoke and fire as it was in 2017.  I don't recall the governor issuing evacuation orders in 2017 as the hot topic that's been presented this year.  We have been told that the entire state are at Level 1: be prepared to leave Level 2: pack up to head out and Level 3: LEAVE RIGHT NOW.  

We are at a level 1 saddly there have been and continue to be several at Level 3.

Fog to Sun and 30 degree Jump

Roland turned up the heat as

he was cold yesterday morning. 

The fog was thick and did not seem

to start lifting until after 9:00. 

It started.

It was still foggy. 

I did not choose to leave the

house until almost 11:00.  It

appeared the fog had lifted

quicker in Myrtle Creek than in

Tri City.

Still the hills were hidden.  I

couldn’t see the towers until 11:30. 

It was 47 degrees just before

the fog lifted.  Of course

I was already hot and had the

windows open, fan running and  

told Roland that he should shut

 his door and plugged in the small

space heater that is probably

the perfect size for his office. 

I think his office is plenty hot without

the space heater.  The longer it

takes the fog to lift in the morning, the

hotter it gets during the day. 

It got up to 75. Fortunately

we have not removed the

air conditioners (as of yet)

The fog does not seem as dense
this morning.

Call It What It Is

I don’t wish to jinx it by saying anything, but the weather has been nice overall. There have been many cool winds.

There have been some hot days.  I think we had the most heat in May.  That is when I was sick and miserable anyway.

The July temperatures have exceeded over 80 only twice thus far.  Yesterday it did not get over 71.  That is really awesome.  There were even a few drops of rain throughout the day.

The fire signs have all indicated moderate.  I am so happy to refer to this season as summer and not “fire season”