New Year 2018

August was my last post??!!  Not very good at this anymore, am I?

I'm sure most of you that read this know about the Thomas Fire.  It started on December 4th in Santa Paula.  We are on the border of Santa Paula and the east end of Ventura.  That first night was very scary for our families.  I was so glad that Nick was off duty that day so Alissa and the kids weren't alone.

View from driveway

Bruce and I stood in the driveway or the middle of the street watching the glow of the fire behind the hill.  And were still watching as the flames came down our side heading for the orchard that lay between us.  We stood out there until 3am.  We had packed suitcases and sewing machines.  Alissa and Nick had done the same.  Both men would walk up the block to Foothill (each on his side of the subdivision) checking to see the progress of the fire more closely.  

Flame cresting the hill

Most of the older neighbors packed up and left.  The rest came by to chat for awhile; always with a watchful eye up the street.  Our next door neighbor between us and the "barn" is basically deaf without her hearing aids.  Bruce wanted to be out side if the word came for us to evacuate.  Wanted to be able to flag down the police or firefighter to have them break into Pat's house and get her out.  She slept through all the "excitement".  But after finding out what had gone on, she had a key made and gave it to us.

Newell and Bruce

The winds were so strong.  Trees along the barranca (dividing our side from Alissa's) came crashing down closing off the main street into our side of the subdivision.  Our neighbor's tree broke a large limb and landed on their other neighbors driveway blocking them in.  Bruce took his limb saw over and cut enough off so they could get their cars out.  Had to wait for tree service guys to get the large limb cut safely off.

Sun set 12/5/18

Molly's birthday was the next day 12/5/18.  She turned 6.  The previous weekend we had a family celebration.  Alissa had made fun snacks for her to take to school that Tuesday, but school was canceled.   The kids were actually out of school from the 5th until January 8th.  Between the smokey air and the Christmas Holiday the county shut down the schools for the month.

Our power had been out the first night of the fire but had come back on.  Alissa's and Nick's were still out the next day (5th).  So they brought food over and spent the day.   For Molly it was a fun celebration of her birthday while us grown ups were just relieved that the Santa Ana winds had blown the fire past our homes.

As the days went by it was unbelievable the destruction that had/was happening to our little town and then on up the coast to Carpinteria, Montecito and parts of Santa Barbara.  Everyone knew someone who was affected.  We could only drive on Foothill for a block before it was barricaded and guarded by the National Guard.  Very strange site to see.  It was so sad to hear about the looting that was going on.  Bad enough to loose your home or part of your home, then have to worry about being robbed.

On a happier note, Julie and Kevin came out from Ohio to spend the Christmas holidays with us.  I was glad that the air had cleared in our part of town.   The weather was warm enough that we could spend time down at the beach.  So happy they are making a yearly visit to vacation with us.  Looking forward to the next visit!  

Had Christmas on the Thursday before Christmas.  Nick had 2 days off in a row and it was the first time in years he got to watch Molly's surprised face "Christmas" morning.  It was a wonderful day and so much to be grateful for.

Alissa took Molly and Connor to see Santa the following Saturday.  She thanked Santa for coming early because Daddy was a firefighter.  The wonderful man played right along and asked Molly what her favorite present was.  

January 29th was our 47th wedding anniversary.  We celebrated with a dinner out.  I was still recovering from flu.  Bruce had it and then I got it.  Was so dehydrated that I passed out. Ended up spending 5 hours in the ER being pumped full of fluids.

I skipped over the other December news.  We sold the "Barn"!   People came to see it as soon as it hit the MLS.  Had an offer that day.  Turned it down because we wanted to wait for the broker open house on Thursday and general open house that first weekend.  The people wanted it so badly that they offered us more not to have the open house.  After a minor termite repair and add GFI breakers in the kitchen, it was a done deal.  The wife is a interior designer and loved our color choices.  (Thank you very much, Alissa!)   By December 20th the house was no longer ours.

Nice to have it done, but Bruce is now wondering around the house like a lost puppy!  Too cold to do the needed projects outside.  Not much better inside.  We're starting with the hall closet filled with 20 banker boxes.  A few of them still have antiques in them.  Trying to figure out how or where to sell them.  6 have photos.  Others paper work; still have all the stuff left over from both our parents and Bruce's brother Ron.  Taking a trip to have one box we've been through to have it shredded.  One of the best things to come of this is that Bruce is finally ready to get rid of "Esmeralda".  The wood carved goddess his aunt and uncle brought him from India.  He's had it since high school and I've always hated it.  Came to live with us when Dad moved in and it's been on our mantel since we moved to Ventura.

After getting the closet storage reduced, we're going to tackle the family room.  Namely taking out the horrid fireplace and built in floor to ceiling book case.  Hence the need to clear out storage.  Have a lot of stuff on the bookcase.  Once the fireplace is done, we'll start laying the new flooring.  Will be glad to be rid of the carpet.  Biggest problem will be my sewing room (the actual living room).  So much heavy things in here.  The 4' Bankers desk from the old office; my longarm machine and 4 kitchen base cabinets hooked together to make my cutting table and fabric storage.  

I'll try to do better to keep you all up to date.