Flower Friday : : Lantana and Buckeye Butterfly

The Lantana is a little soot burned. 
The butterflies seem to have fared better.
There are still a lot of them around. 
Although it is almost November, it is still very warm.
We are so very lucky, but
we are still tired and off-kilter.
We sleep a lot *.
I cry when I read the newspaper.
I cry when I see a firetruck.
I cry for no reason.
We are returning to our routines,
but it will be a long time before things return to normal.
Everyone who lives here is touched by the scale 
of this disaster, traumatized.
We all know that there is absolutely no reason
why some survived  and others didn't. 
We are all grieving
We are all hoping
We are all doing what we can....

*The first extra is a telephoto shot, taken from the car, of Hood Mountain. Our family hiked to the top last year and enjoyed  stunning views of the Sonoma Valley and beyond. The fire that burned for days closest to our house started here. It gives a good idea both of the steep and difficult terrain and the way the flames jumped around, leaving some areas lush and green while burning every stick of vegetation right next to them. 


*The second extra is self explanatory...