fires in Southern California...

Today has been a difficult day for many southern Californians, as the southland has once again been ablaze with fires... this time in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties. One of the fires started yesterday and the other ones late last night. Fortunately, I am not in the immediate area of any of the fires, but they are all close enough for us to experience some of the side effects. This morning our air was full of smoke and the sky a strange orangish-brown which colored the noon-day light with sunset-golden highlights and shadows. Tiny bits of ash floated in the air like miniature snowflakes.

Please forgive me for this very long post full of photos, but fire and smoke make for some interesting photo opportunities...and beautiful red sunsets. I can't give you a whiff of the smokey air, but I can give you a little peek into the day from my vantage point...

this is a great thick cloud of smoke covering much of our sky today...

(note the floating Christmas trees already being set up in the bay to be lit after Thanksgiving)

the early afternoon sun shining through the smoke...

This was a most incredible sight--my friend pulled the car over so I could take a couple of photos. Look at the beautiful light reflections on the water... the red color absolutely amazed me!! I had never seen anything like that in the middle of the day!

...and then began the sunset in brilliant reds and pinks and orange...

...and then the sun finally sets...

(no, it's not snow...it's a bit of ash on my car!)

And though I've been able to share with you some photos of the beautiful side of the fires, for those who have lost homes, the fires are not so lovely. Please pray for all those affected by the fires--for the safety of the firefighters, for those who have lost homes and belongings, for everyone who is helping in any way, and for the fires to be put out completely and quickly.