April 21, 2025 This will always be the TOP PAGE of 2025 Hummer season SCROLL TILL NEXT CURRENT ENTRY

 Hey blogger followers thanks for the emails and things.  I am going to try to do better and look more...try to answer better. I'm not use to it working. I am still struggling with my life routine. The hummers have started arriving!!! Yippee! It was stated that other places may have more varieties -Here we have definitely 4 varieties. but never the quantities that are found here at the ranch. In July and August we use sometimes over 70 feeders and some are gallon feeders that they drain in one day .. using over 12-15 gallons of nectar in one day in July. 600-800 lbs of cane sugar a season. See the info page fun fact for calculations of the numbers that are found here. (see the live cam page for variieties.) People Nicknamed Hanna Hummingbird Haven Home of dueling hummingbirds.   Rufus are here!! started arriving June 22, 2025 JULY 12,1015 MY FIRST MALE CALIOPE IS HERE!!!! Though  hard find them now with my hundreds of hummers.

As of July 2025 The rufus has arrived Come soon before rufus start leaving by end of July and as of July 13, 2025 I saw my first Caliope Male! I saw it with my own eyes sitting in the morning by my french doors. I Tried to get a pic but it is too skidish. We also found out that hummers can read, we put up my new sign and they read it- their haven and said this is the place to come, The numbers are crazy.

"A hummingbird sips from a hibiscus, a fleeting kiss, a burst of color." —   Victoria Drive

Aug 13 , 2025 

“The tiny hummingbird, though small, is a powerful symbol of adventurous spirit. Have the heart and spirit of a hummingbird: seek beauty, variety, and adventure.”  I was home doing my best to just get my breakfast glass of milk, a ding dong to eat and sit out on my deck watching the hummers. I feel it’s been a a good day just to shower and get dressed.  I happened to get some company.  The hummers are really humming today.  Then during our conversations my phone rang. Trying not to interrupt our visit,  I tried to politely text in front of my guest that “I’ll get back to you as soon as I can, I have company. " Then their reply was from LuAnn  she texted “Dena, Diana said you’ve had trouble with a hummingbird.  Is it okay? We’re thinking of going for a drive on the west fork of the duchesne road.  Would you like to come with us?  We’ll probably leave here around 1:30” thoughts ran through my head, they might  be coming to pick me up and go somewhere? Me really me? Do I want to go so they can plan? Oh, I better answer right away. “Sounds fun let me know when you leave. If possible. Is it too much trouble to take me. I think I can get my oxygen tank out of my car to take. “ I have been lots of trouble to some and they don’t like to take me. These two gals are my friends and I was afraid I’d be too much trouble and the fear I would loose them as friends raced through my brain. But “no they said I won’t be too much trouble. They are coming. “ I got so excited. Going to go do a-little bird watching.  We have all kinds of beautiful country and wildlife here to see.   I called my husband to let him know.  He’s like ..where they’d say? And what they a doing? They said west fork of Duchesne road but we both thought, that road is quite treacherous, need a good four wheel vehicle and then to top it off, no phone service. So maybe they got confused and ment north fork road instead. I told him I’d let him know as soon as I knew for sure. I started preparing. Hmmm …what fun thing do I have on short notice to take. Put a bottle water in the freezer. Oh..I have some special grapes I know they’ll like, I can offer. Cotton candy grapes what a treat.  They are birders ..Oh my, binoculars I must take.  So all prepared I thought — ready to go and waiting.  Said they were on their way but that’s was when they were in my driveway.  So I hopped to go.  We’ll I guess in truth I really can only say ..I hobbled down the stairs with my goodies.  Still had to grab shermania oxygen tank from the car.  I asked again where they planned on going so I could tell James..West fork of Duchesne again they said. Oh my.. I better tell him as we know that bad dirt /rock road. No phone service.. but surely will just go partway up till the road gets bad.  Well look at birds and animals and good conversation. Then come back. Texted quickly because as soon as we leave my house there is no phone service . Off we went, past Moon’s ranch and livestock. I showed em where to turn onto West Fork dirt road. They had researched it..so had a map on her phone.  No phone service, hmm, didn’t know how’s that was going to work, I thought. I had been before, a long time ago but still kinda remembered.  So hopefully I can help some with my knowledge. It was a beautiful day with a few clouds.   Up you climb. I had to show em the cabin some people I met this year.  Then sun ranch with their big fancy gate.  The dirt road to here is ok. Following the river the road goes.  Lots of small birds a flying by.  Rabbit bush really blooming.  Though most flowers now dry and gone.  Along the river some beautiful rock formations we had to stop and see. Munching grapes along the way. Then I happen to mention along this willow spot of the river, “saw some moose the last time I went.” Then a second right after that Diana said. “Hey I see one.” I went no way.. I was just mentioning. She is just teasing. But sure enough a beautiful cow moose just standing there a eating. Tried to grab my binoculars. We saw the moose a little more but then she moved deeper in the brush.. hidden ..even though we knew she was there. Shoot…she was such a beauty.  On we went onward up to the diversion dam. The water from there comes down by my ranch..From my  memory of this route, I had told and warned them that is where the road gets bad. Yep it did. Now we shifted the car into 4 wheel low gears. Diana carefully maneuvering, slow and steady. She drove us in her Subaru forester.   Not a another human soul did we see. Did see lots more small birds and LuAnn yelled stop ..LuAnn saw a bigger bird.  Squeal the breaks went, But Oh too late. Even with binoculars to find and couldn’t tell exactly what is was.  Then a doe crossed our path and with a little fawn. Oh so cute a watching the the fawn a pronging along their way.  The road getting more treacherous as we go ..big ruts and rocks or quite sandy to avoid. Got a little nervous but then I was told of their other adventures. I was not a novice. I myself had been through all kinds of four wheeling and rock crawling adventures with my husband’s family.  Diana too had even done rock crawling in Moab and all kinds of four wheeling.  Was like Really Diana.. mild manner Diana .. who knew she had four wheeling in her blood. We had some water crossings and more big rocks. Did I say big big rocks. Oops no way around hit a couple .. clunk the car sounded but didn’t think it was the oil pan.  No drips a dripping behind us on the road. We were like pros a going.  Oh, though some places too hard to find anyplace to avoid.  Surrounded by thick brush. Then attacked by the brush so thick on the side ..so pop bang the side mirror went to the fold mode.  I wasn’t sure exactly how far we’d gone but my memories thought still much farther to go to the top. We looked at the map and her gps still worked ..showed about 1/2 up to Duchesne ridge.  We decided to go on.  Oh a big rock in the road can’t go around. LuAnn said what if I get out and move it. Me and Diana say ..aaaaa yea sure.. thinking no way can that be done.  Oops ..brush so thick can’t open her door.  That ment she had to climb over Shermanana oxygen tank.  She is great at maneuvering herself around things and jumping off my deck and things, that I started a while ago ..I called her a affectionally a monkey ..she is so good at jumping around and getting around obstacles.  So out she went to fight that gigantic rock. We would have centered the car for sure on it. She made it look simple and moved that big old rock.  So now Diana commented she has now been upgraded to the nickname a gorilla not a monkey. We all couldn’t stop laughing. The gals read the story and commented "That’s quite a story so far.  Just wait…it gets better!!!!" Saw some crazy cows and a sheep herd. One was a black lambie of the family. Their sheep dog running and barking at us. But no sheep herder around.  On we went on our bumpy journey.  Beautiful scenery to behold. Quaking aspen shimmering silver in the wind. The road still treacherous, Diana maneuvering all obstacles we faced. Then all of a sudden we heard a hissing. Oh no we thought. We tried to find a level spot. Gorilla jumped out to check the car tires. Sure enough there definitely was a hissing on the right passenger front side. It sounded like the hissing of a snake.. At this point I think looking in the face of even a rattlesnake a hissing might be a better thing. Oh I guess not. Looked like a rock punctured and slit the sidewall. The tire now going flat quickly.  Oh my. Thinking, I can barely walk and Diana has troubles to, what are we going to do. Then remembered we had our gorilla along in the back seat to hopefully save the day.  Honestly, Got a touch afraid, no one around to save us. Can’t call Aaa. They stayed calm and collected. LuAnn said “Maybe you both have a hard time walking, but you had a monkey gorilla in the back seat!😂🙂”  Thoughts racing through my head. I really didn’t come prepared.. no coats ..not another oxygen tank ..thinking survival things I forgot racing through my head. Quite a dilemma, but they just kept reassuring me and I felt calm and safe. LuAnn quickly found the jack and the spare tire and got them out. A little trouble finding a place to put the jack. Put rocks to hold the other tires. I felt helpless.  Since I have a hard time getting around.  I sat in the car not helping.  Now to the fight of getting the lug nuts off. Oh, they came off easier than we thought. A good sign we all are thinking.  Then, I finally got to help.. I was the lug nut holder.  Yay, That’s an important job not to loose them. We joked I was being lifted in the air.  Got the tire off and the spare on. Then came my important job of passing the lugnuts to Diana to give to LuAnn.  Yay, we did it.  What a great team we made. We joked again, I was being lowered in the air. We were so proud-what a great job we did. Now the decision on what to do. So decided to get our snack bag out since we were stopped ..a needed refreshment. Looking at the map on her phone ( I still don’t know how it was working) and our location.  We thought maybe we were 3/4 of the way up. Casting our votes it was unanimous to go on ..knowing from my experience there’s a better road when we reach the top. After resting and eating, we headed onward the bumpy journey with our spare tire on. Seemed like traveling and traveling, forever and forever.  Trying still to enjoy our surroundings. Then out of the blue, a side-by-side vehicle came toward our way. We waved and stopped them and asked how much farther to the better dirt road. They told us we were close and had to go only a couple miles farther. We were told it was going to get better. We told them our story in case someone came looking for us. On we went with hope for victory and really the road didn’t get better. Finally saw places were people had put up camp.  Maybe the top was close.  We made it to the t at the big gravel road on top.In my right mind I think, who puts a four lane gravel highway in the middle of no where? There was even a sign posting with destinations and mileage. Hopefully easier going with the spare on. Saw a gorgeous regal 4 or more point buck in velvet on the side of the road. Drove till came to the fork in the road, now a decision had to be made. Duchesne ridge or mill hollow.  Diana started toward mill hollow.  We saw it was a little farther but thought it would be a better decision.  We traveled on by Mill Hollow reservoir.  Told them that reservoir had golden trout. The sunlight was wrong and we couldn’t see them. We finally hit state road 35 a paved road finally. Back to more civilization though still no phone service. 

I thought it was fun for my first adventure.  My husband said it was nice to see me smile and laugh once again.  It it’s been such a struggle just to survive this last year.  My husband and my faith-full cat by my side.  It was good for us gals to get outside. It was a great feeling to feel alive once  again.  I’m still smiling and laughing as I write this story. 

Do we look like mild manner mature ladies?  Yep, is what my husband thought 😀 who knew hidden adventurers lurked inside..and I did make a good lug nut holder!! Not a single lost.

We prefer to think of us as mature, mild-mannered ladies with an adventurous side.🤣  Like hummingbirds-adventurers we are.. 

We dream of what the next adventure will be. 

Except I didn’t get any pictures even of the three of us with hummingbird adventure spirit.  

They wrote back “Oh, that will have to be your job the next time we go on an adventure.  Great idea!”

Aug 12 , 2025 

"The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation."

"My bank account after a hummingbird refill day at the feeder"

I meet  all types of people that love ❤️ hummers also.  We are still using 25 Lbs of sugar a day.  Oh the 15+ Gallons is quite a chore. Today was a gentleman that is a biologist from Vernal. Working here in tabby valley to look for a rare flower that only blooms in august along rivers and canals. It’s the Ute ladies'-tresses See the beautiful pictures above.  It’s like an orchid.  Very rare. It’s now on my bucket list to see it.  So you all now can look for it also. It’s always fun to learn something new. If you see it.. take a pic and send it and let me know the location of it. I was down right sad my sego lilies didn’t bloom this year.  Think just too dry.  Did you notice other creatures enjoy also.  I always look for our state flower. It grows on my property.  My pics are from last year. See below. So not to mix them up with the Ute ladies'-tresses. Hopefully next year rains will come, to wake them up from their resting place. 

Aug 10 , 2025 

"Pretty sure I saw a hummingbird argue with a bee over a single flower petal. Talk about fierce!"

Remember if you come. I have trouble getting around.  Some people think they are in the wrong place.  So they get nervous and leave after just a few minutes.  Please stay and watch hummers.  There are chairs on the deck to sit.  For us, I know it’s been a lot harder this year to do the hummers. We didn’t have out the full number of feeders for them. Bringing them out of storage became too much. I just couldn’t do it. I had to hire someone to help. We were trying to work and keep up with what feeders that we do have out. It was just toooo difficult.  I hope it did not affect the hummers for next year.  

Today was a crazy day.  Lots of visitors.  Luckily, a couple Rufus hadn’t left for them to see.  Though you’ll see, some hummers have left. Then the bees and wasps start a coming.   Too many wasp that the traps set out can’t control.  That’s when it becomes hummers vs the bees.  A fierce battle begins.  Spraying the bottoms of feeders with a vinegar and water mixture to try to help control bees/wasps with the smell and hummers are ok with it. The morning lows are now in high 30’s and low 40’s . Signs that the season is getting closer to the end. Hummers frantically feeding to build up fat for their journey south.  We ran out of sugar.  Luckily our friend had some. Using more than 25 in a day.  More than we anticipated for getting so late in the season.

Aug 5 , 2025 

“Hummingbirds, with their vibrant colors and swift movements, bring a sense of joy and playfulness”

It’s now August and the Rufus will start leaving. See what the week brings for sightings.  I get sad thinking hummingbird season is almost over.  I think alot of rufus males left for their journey south.  I never know what triggers me a thinking of ideas to write in my blog.  So this is how the light bulb went on for this idea to write about. 

My friend built a beautiful bird cage in her yard.  See pic. She wants to start fabricating those and selling them with installation. She wants her design to have solar panels on the top for lights inside.  She is starting to make them for others so if you’re interested - email me - I will let her know. Christee incubated bob white quail eggs to live in it. Three was the total she ended up with.  Can you see them in their?So if you have a group quail what is  it called? A covey is the answer. We were discussing then, is three a covey of quail? Come to find out … no was the answer. Three isn’t classified as a covey should be 6 or more. 

Then it got us thinking, hmmm what is a group of hummingbirds called? After all these years, I really didn’t know.  

While there isn't a specific collective noun for exactly an abundance group of hummingbirds, a group of hummingbirds is most commonly referred to as a "charm". 

However, other poetic and descriptive terms are also used, such as: 

• A shimmer of hummingbirds

• A glistening of hummingbirds

• A bouquet of hummingbirds

• A hover of hummingbirds

• A troubling of hummingbirds 

Therefore, you could refer to hundreds of hummingbirds as a "charm of hummingbirds", or use any of these other beautiful collective nouns depending on the specific imagery you want to evoke. It is said often on the internet that hummingbirds are more of a solitary bird. As the ai answer of about hummers is “ However, it's worth noting that hummingbirds are primarily solitary creatures and do not typically congregate in large groups like some other bird species.” At the ranch it is not the case for solitary behavior.  Hummers love the social club here.  They seem extremely happy to socialize.  I actually feel they enjoy the interactions.  They always seem to be happy and smiling to me. 

July 28 , 2025 

“Harper once read an article about hummingbirds, and how with certain kinds, the sunlight becomes a prism through their wings and the prism becomes a rainbow. All that's left is the shadow of the little bird in the photo and the rainbow wings that carry it through gardens. Moving from beauty to beauty, of kept promises with each open, living flower. Everlasting hope. Everlasting covenant.

Even dead seeds make roots, and roots underground sprout blooms, and the rain falls, and in due time and in due season the hummingbird returns, looking for nectar and hoping to find a harvest. Carrying her story in her rainbow wings, from generation to generation.”

Ashley Clark, The Dress Shop on King Street

Some pictures taken here at ranch are courtesy of Matt H. see his link for more pictures 

https://www.instagram.com/psittybirder/

Hummingbird wings clear reflecting the  sun and rainbows here in valley go together.  So I put some pics of each. I am having trouble sitting and watching the antics of my hundreds of hummers.  Too much for my broken brain. Way way way over stimulated. So doing my things and my blog seem tooo overwhelming.  

Been having lots of visitors to see the Rufus before they leave in just alittle more time.  It’s hard to believe it will soon be over.  I don’t want to think that way. So I am trying to enjoy the next few weeks. I have some females that will stay longer to take care of their young. So it extends the season for me. 

July 25 , 2025 

“I'm not saying hummingbirds are gossips, but they do seem to spend an awful lot of time hovering by flowers..."

These weeks, Using 25lbs of sugar, about 15-20 gallons of nectar in one day.  Everyone says “no way that’s impossible.”  I called other hummingbird locations around the USA about info.. maybe alittle advice..but they all laughed at me and say no way…I was a crazy lady.  But never forgot to ask me ..please donate money for our cause, but we won’t help you by even answering questions till you donate, and laugh about my craziness.  Nobody believes how many hummers I really do have ..until they come and see for themselves.  Even the wasatch birders had to come see for themselves to verify and to believe me.  After coming, they were lovingly willing to put me on their web page so you all can see for yourselves.  I am gracious they do it.  Thank you Milt Moody at utahbirds.org.   Hope you all get to look and enjoy the rest of the fabulous articles on their website.  One friend, Charlie Rapp, a true hummingbird enthusiast said “It’s like a constant runway from the trees to the feeders.“ 

Todays visitors were amazed and grateful for the once in a lifetime experience. Even friends that know me doing hummers are amazed. Guests ask" why here? " I’d like to say the hummers just come for our love and to be with our spirit.  We sit and talk to them everyday we can. I think honestly, it’s location, location.  The river provides water and bug hatches for them to eat. The cottonwood trees for landing and resting space, along with providing nesting material.  Then we provide 50-70 feeders. The girls hummers say hey Lots and lots of males to choose from. Males hummers say hey lots and lots of females to do their mating dance. It’s like a social club. I really think they like to be social.  Do they gossip? Hmm, I wonder. Other guests ask why do I let other people come? I say there were just so darn many, I just had to share it!  Other lovers of these amazing creatures please come see them before ..”poof” they are gone for another season.  It’s like life we never know maybe our self’s “poof “ we are gone. Don’t know if I will make it for another year but we will try our best to keep this 8hummingbirdsranch a going.  The hummers are counting on us. 

July 22 , 2025 

"Warning: Watching hummingbirds may cause uncontrollable giggling." 

The giggling is very contagious especially to my recent now family visitors taking fun pictures. Look below. Bringing a beautiful bromeliad to add smiles. They say hummers can drink from bromeliads, so I am going to try. Being silly and giggly that’s what we all need everyday.  These pictures say it all.. don’t you think ? giggle giggle. Jenine and Toni say “We love making you part of our family. I’m so grateful for all you do to provide us all with this beautiful experience.” Doesn’t that just make you smile..😀😎😍 Hope you all have a smiley giggle day! See their hummer pics on picture page

July 20 , 2025 

"Quick as a hummingbird, she darts so eagerly, swiftly, sweetly—dipping into the flowers of my heart." – James Oppenheim

My friend and talented photographer, Paul Hunsaker came today, hopefully to capture amazing spectacular pictures again. My husband said he could smell our fabulous cranberry - grape pork loin, a cooking.  So lucky I happen to make it today, We have to share with our family guest.  Thank goodness he brought 20lbs of sugar..  we’ve used 10 lbs in the few hours since he came. Those Calliope’s have got to be found, and pictures taken. A dedicated and patience photographer. His family didn’t all come this time. 😂 Hopefully next time. Our grasshoppers need to be caught. The river misses rocks a skimming it glassy waters and fun swimmers a swimming.  Oh, then our doe and fawn blessed us while he was here. 

My friend Suzanne has a window feeder. She has noticed also, more abundant hummers have arrived. She says “They have been crazy here lately. The first time I put my feeder out, I had to eventually dump it out and try again. Then from then on, they have visited more frequently… until yesterday. They had it emptied within about 6 hours!

I feel like I am feeding a bunch of Unruly teenage boys or pigs who are always wrestling at the feeding trough. 🤣”

July 4 , 2025 Happy fourth of July!!!

“Add a little sparkle to your day with a hummingbird sighting."

Hey, a two deer morning for the fourth.  I did find (well my husband did) a super company A & H Signs &Tape https://makesomesigns.com to make my sign. Ordered it. Get it Monday. Here’s the final draft. Not too fancy so you can still read it from the road. What do you all think? Still making my hand painted one for the deck.  Lost my purple paint.. that’s another story maybe next time. 

 Still trying to do my walk then time to look at the cranes. Thought the cranes left but yea …no they are still here but sad news ..no colts this year.  Baby sandhill cranes are called colts. This name is given due to their long legs and ability to run soon after hatching, similar to young horses. Saw 5 deer. One doe with my first sighting of two fawns.  Walking was another matter. Traffic is overwhelming - they zoom by barely missing me, even with Stupid cows on the road. Cows made such a mess up north fork.  It’s dodgem poop and pee obstacle race course. Then one cow a big big did I say big?, momma cow who had lost her calf and was coming my way, So I crossed the road to get away from her. Man her bellowing moo calls were so loud .. goes for miles. I don’t know how the calf couldn’t find that. Oh yeah, did I say Cows are noisy. Then she decided to cross over to me. Oh crap.  💩 as if there wasn’t enough all ready. I wonder how many people die a year from being smooshed by cows?  Fighting poop quicksand and pee lakes..Well let’s just say that cow and many others was my last straw. I gave up a going for awhile.  Boring treadmill for awhile it shall be. Though actually. I have it looking out the window I see my beautiful heart mountain and my river and hummers. so really not quite so bad. Trying to 

take time to smell the roses as they say, time to sit on the porch and deck everyday. I like mornings when it’s still cool. Enjoy listening to the river. watching critters, non-nectar birds, and adding a little sparkle in my life. Watched my bird feeder camera taking videos I knew I wanted to keep. This afternoon trying to download them to keep.  ‘I love the camera angle prospective, “ as one friend said. Still haven’t found the help I need for setting up the livestream.

July 1 , 2025

 "Hummingbirds and flowers go together like summertime and fireflies; like rainbows and sunshine."

Tasha Tudor .

The July 4th holiday is almost here. Our valley and the bigger town of Tabiona go all out for the fourth. We have all kinds of activities a going on the week of. Like corn hole, sand volley ball, family night, 5K run and much more. Our community also has a rodeo Friday and Saturday nights with even maybe fireworks.  We have a parade Saturday morning at 10 am. The route is on Main Street in Tabiona.  It is the only parade I have been to and know of that you get to see twice.  They go down the few blocks and turn around and come back by. So double the fun. Twice the candy, trinkets, and water fights. We also have a big bake sale from the DUP gals you can’t miss. Located on the east end of the route.  We are big time now. We even have a video to watch on the Facebook “Come home for the fourth“  A must see. It’s about 8 or so post scroll down https://www.facebook.com/Tabionarodeo/  it tells all about the other activities also.  Wear your best cowboy/cowgirl hat and come see hummers and join all the fun festivities. 

June 30 , 2025

"Hummingbirds bring a touch of magic to our everyday lives."

Had more visitors this weekend.  We still are a little slower with the hummers so far this year.. but there are still plenty to enjoy but I’m hoping more to come. I had a group of four an Bleu the dog on the leash from Provo.  I need to be a better photographer. Hummingbird enthusiasts…I have to show everyone the unique mask  Toni acquired, when traveling in Japan. We are waiting to see if a hummer feeds from those flowers.  While wondering why Japan had the mask in the first place, when the hummers are only in the Americas. Guess they know just what will to sell to crazy tourist😀 heee.  Well you wouldnt believe it but the hummers came to use those flowers on the mask, It was up close and a very personal experience for her.  How cool is that!!!  Hummers are inquisitive- was propably thinking hmmm what is that?  We need more of those masks for visitors. See my picture page for pictures Toni and Jenine shared. Then I had another couple driving by to see relatives just stopped by.

Then long time friends came for dinner and tractor ride and hummers. What a fun day.

June 22 , 2025 

“Every hummingbird encounter is a reminder of nature’s wonders. “

As I drink my sugar free root-beer floatie treat - watching my tree stump with a flock block goodies on it for the variety birds that don’t drink nectar. Wow!! what wildlife it brings.   It was a put out for our other feathered friends. As I look, I think, it’s about time to put the new flock block out.  Today it is nice to have back the cooler normal temperatures.  Today also turned out to be a busy visitor day. A group of three that had been here last year from the Aviery class and they brought me a fantastic framed picture of a Rufus Its from Matt H. https://www.instagram.com/psittybirder/

pic below they took last year. It will be sitting on desk table. I show everyone when you come. I ment to get a picture of them holding it to put up on the blog for a thank you.  I was just not feeling to great today.  Got the best pictures i could so i can remember who they were.  It was the first day a Rufus was spotted. The Rufus are coming. So how apropos. The group did not bother the hummers at at all. Hummers drank as they watched. Then another couple from park city showed up a few minutes later.  It was for a quick check out of the ranch so they can bring the grand kids next time. 

June 21 , 2025 

“Hummingbirds are like living jewels in our gardens."

The sun is shining. Maybe just a little too much wind at the moment. Colder air for a day or two a coming they say.  Longest day hours today. The start of summer officially here. Optimistic more hummers will be a coming.  I thought it has been a little slower so far this spring.  I have thought we have more black chin males this year.  I do like purple.  There are still a lot of the broad tail unique jingle jangle sounds a buzzing. Come on down Rufus. Your the next contestant..Oh, been watching to much price is right at night. Almost thought I saw Drew Carey here.  😀 It has been another weird weather season.  It has been above record heat.  In this gorgeous valley everyone says you don’t need air conditioning. Cool nights - open windows, a perfect combination. Well, let’s just say …Luckily we put in air conditioning. Been feeling overwhelmed. Too many things still needs to be done to keep the ranch a-going. Frustrated with my baby step progression. Not anymore birder visitors yet.  See what the weekend brings. 

June 19 , 2025 

"Finding peace in the delicate dance of a hummingbird. “

I went for my hobble-walk saw some beautiful flowers. Then drove up to see the cranes. Both cranes were still out a feeding, not on a nest. So looked again for babies to pop their heads out of the grass. Nope, I think this year is not their year to be parents.  So went homeward bound   disappointed. Today we were planning on being on ant attack mode day. Our last year efforts were still kinda working.  For this season we thought we better do a full defense on slot.  For years I had ants crawling everywhere. Up the deck poles on the feeders. Constantly in the feeders floating in the nectar. Finding a crack in the outside door ..chasing nectar into the house they came.  Others must of had ant problems, so feeders then added ant moats to try to combat the invasion.  We are a very dry climate. These ant moats do not work here at the ranch. Well, Unless you are filling them about 20 times a day with the water.  Too daunting of a task. Ant baits didn’t work here either.  The armies of ants still kept coming. Then I was worried the ant bait might be carried into the feeders and contaminated the pure nectar.  Then luck beheld me. About three or four years ago, I found out a secret defense. A visiting Birder gave me the greatest suggestion ever. It was called tanglefoot insect barrier.pics below I looked everywhere for it. Finally found one in a tub that came with the tree wrap paper.  Ok I said hesitantly, let’s give it a try.  Put the paper around the pole bottom. Just starting to put this sticky like honey goo on the paper wrap the ants Immediately they turned about face. Didn’t want to be even close to it.  Oh, but be careful to wear gloves or you are sticky forever. We did the bottom of all the poles holding feeders.  Yep it worked.. amazed!Thought we had it solved .. Ants are clever. One missed spot bam they found it. Then the attack assault changed to coming down from above. So had to do a top assault defense. The paper wrap over time didn’t work.  So I saw an infomercial .. a miracle new tape.  Even holds brick to brick.  So I switched to that clear double sided alien tape.  The tape is amazing.  My husband should sell it, he is such a fan.  We never could put things on our brick house. With this alien tape the impossible is now possible.  It sticks things to the brick.  Oops ..back to the story.  Once the tape is up where u want it put the sticky goo on the top  of the alien tape.  Perfect - done. Then I saw they sell the tanglefoot in a can like plumber putty with the plumber applicator in the can. Hmm I thought, that would be better.. well it was easier to apply.  Not so much sticky everywhere. We thought this will be great,  no sticky mess …but darn it, it didn’t stop the ants as well. Do not use that kind. Always be sure and stay with the icky goo tub. Got the poles all nicely redone today. Waiting to see how our efforts work by tomorrow. 

June 16 , 2025 part 1

“The hummingbird represents beauty and joy. She is a creature of flight, bringing her closer to the cosmos with each wingbeat. She is constantly moving and is rarely seen at rest, preferring instead to perform her aerial acrobatics. Her heart is as fast as her wings and her colors are bright and shifting; they are colors that capture the sunlight in their iridescence. She brings love wherever she passes by.”

Leah Myers, Thinning Blood: A Memoir of Family,

Sometimes, I think I used to be a hummingbird.  It all seems so familiar. It is probably familiar because my parents use to feed hummingbirds after they retired. Traveling in their motor home, they spent their summers in a Provo canyon.  Riverbend trailer rv park.  It was fun - until Udot decided to widen highway 189 and turn the rv park into a maintenance shed in around 1996. What a waste of a wonderful spot for a udot maintance shed.. You can still see a few remnants of the rv spaces as you drive by. One rv spot that is still showing was where my mom and dad stayed.  Brings back memories every time I drive by. Anyone else remember that rv park? There were many hummingbirds there that I would watch and help make nectar for. Aww  So much for reminiscing.  Here at the ranch it’s been really hot for here.  Too hot in the sun to be outside a walking or working. The cottonwoods are sending cotton, falling like snow.  Tried taking pictures and videos but it just does not capture it. Hummers will be using this white cotton for their nests. I have on my records, as of this week the numbers increase dramatically.  Waiting to see what enfolds.  Rufus will be coming in about 10 days.  I thought I had a glimpse of one yesterday.  Hoping things go well in their travels to make it to their summer  here at 8 hummingbirds ranch haven their temporary home.  The evening had a spotlight sun glow on heart mountain and one of my does a eating. Oh I had to add my new ai recognized bird. What a laugh no black phoebe just another hummer it doesn't recognize.

June 13 , 2025 part 

"Let the hummingbird’s grace remind you to move through life with elegance”

Quiet day so far.  Taking the morning to just sit and watch hummers enjoying the ranch nectar.   When I was in the northwestern Montana, we acquired a larch or tamarack tree. I was fascinated by this particular pine tree.  They are deciduous. It’s the only pine tree that turns yellow in the fall and looses it needles for the winter. They are not evergreen. It is such a spectacular sighting in the fall foliage. In the spring regrowth is a beautiful yellowish - blueish-green. The rebirth of its needles are a beautiful sight. It is doing quite well in these Utah mountains. I had to show a pic. Be sure to look for it as soon as you drive in gate look right (west) with the other pine trees. They grow really tall but alas in my life time, I won’t see it.  Hopefully someone else can enjoy it.  As long as they don’t think the tree died and decide to chop it down.  Hanging baskets are starting to rebloom again. Adds a refreshing elegance to my deck. Hopefully hummers are enjoying their nectar.  The day goes on .. have to be careful up here…dark clouds start forming at any minute. It formed today. Be prepared for lightning.

June 11 , 2025 part 1/1

“These hummingbirds give me a feeling of  mystery. Wings that beat faster than thought.  Such a wonder of life.”

I received a bunch more emails. Trying to answer. Though I am trying to get off my devices and be more outside seeing nature. My deers came this morning and then I had other guests. Birdie guests.  My deer where sure a watching them. It was fun.  Don’t know where they planned on going. Thought they would stay by the river..not in the sea of sage brush. They must of had a plan for their family. The camera took interesting hummingbird picture also.  My funny Bird reconize software... it said i had this..We all laugh... sure ..its a hummer.

June 10, 2025  1/2

Won't be Weather rock updates for now, as the days have been much the same. 38° morning sun light clouds and in high 70 low 80’s..

“Hummingbirds show us that persistence can lead to moments of pure magic”

Everything has been hectic.. trying to get my life back a going from that stupid brain tumor complications but it isn’t quite working. I feel I get farther and farther behind. No time to enjoy things. I must schedule the time to enjoy life..can’t be stressed.  I know I need to get better, much better than what I am. So we took a moment to go check on the cranes. They were both out. Not on a nest? Looked and looked for the babies a following them. I tried in vain. I couldn’t see the pair feeding anything. Not a single little head popping up from the tall grass. We also took a pictures of some of the blooming flowers to show you all. 

June 10, 2025 part  2/2

 I had other visitors yesterday. Bryant from Tracy Aviery brings his bird classes to see my hummers.  He came earlier this year with this one class of three. Still no Rufus or male calliope yet that I have seen. I am pretty positive that my cameras won’t get that species correct either to let me know.  I sure was hoping the cameras would see some hummer species I could not. I can’t be watching all the time.  Hoping they would be another set of eyes for me.  Yesterday ended with a brilliant color sky.

June 7, 2025 part 1/2

The weather rock says nice sunny day 

“Sunshine, flowers, and hummingbirds: the perfect recipe for a day of pure delight." 

….Small Break day, had to drive to check the mail. Mail is not delivered to our physical residence. Others do in rural areas ..so why not us? Next, it was to Suzanne’s house, off to return the wheelchair that I had been a borrowing. Had to say good bye to my faithful wheel chair companion. Hopefully on to new adventures without the wheel chair as a crutch. Now someone else in need could use it. Our neighbor got hurt a building their house. So maybe he can use it. While there at her house, they had a new filly. It was born a couple week ago. Oh how fun to see the cute new Clydesdale.

June 7, 2025 part 2/2  continued  After chatting awhile with them, off we went to Hanna store to get fuel for the car and of course get Mountain Dew and chips. Leaving there we took a drive to check the fence along the back property. Cows will be coming to the neighbors soon, cows make a big mess if they get in the ranch.  Things seemed ok. We then drove up North Fork road, past Defa’s camp and cabins. 

Checking to see if there was any cranes this year.  Jackpot!! After 4 long years of not a single sighting..this year a pair decided to make that field their home.  Maybe we’ll see baby colts grow up this year. They should be out and about in a few days. So we will keep checking.  Here we can see the Hanna heart of aspens.  The fire fighters saved it from that dragon fire. My pic hopefully show you where they stopped the fire right before aspen trees.  Then I went for my .3 mile hobble-walk and Sherman-a (my oxygen tank) in tow. Pic with my sister doing the walk also. 

North Fork River was still doing some spring runoff - so too muddy to see fish a swimming.  Wow!! there are some mountain flowers blooming finally. White, Yellow, Red  and Purple-Blue. Hopefully pics next time. Our exciting day ended with a bright moon over the heart mountain.  Another day now completed.

June 5, 2025 part   Scroll for all parts

JUNE 5, 2025

The weather rock says a ditto day like the other past days. Cool 45°dry morning. Sun, maybe a high of 70°’ s day. 

"Feeling overwhelmed? Watch a hummingbird. Pure, unadulterated joy in a feathered package." 

After doing hummer feeders, Today was yard work. With last year’s hospitalizations, we’ll let’s just say things got neglected. With all these thunderstorm rains,  It is a bit overwhelming when the grass and weeds are taller than me.  Then, Things that are quickly set by the side of the house, you know instead of proper placement- all those things need a good going through. Everything outside just needed sprucing up. I wanted the ranch to look kinda civilized. Even if the ranch is in a chaotic wildlife wildness world.  Chipmunks and squirrels running around in and onto everything.  Not to mention the raccoons and skunks again.  They attacked the garbage can twice in just these last few days—what a mess all over the entry way gate. We even tried heavy rocks on the top to hold the lid.   Raccoons are just to clever. We are too old to bend and clean up their messes..the ranch takes a lot of work to keep it a going. When we are lucky,  a younger neighbor is hired to help us out.  Everyone here in Hanna has lots of chores, so helping out is a rare commodity. We sure appreciate it when they can.  So back to work —I must try..not that I personally can do much physical activity but supervise and do a little something I can do, since I am still a struggling. 

JUNE 4, 2025

The weather rock said a chiller morning of 37° but a warmer day a coming back. 

"A friend is like a hummingbird, bringing sweetness and joy into our lives with every visit." 

It’s been kind of a fun week. I’ve had more visitors this week to sign my register. Two other nice couples that came today from Bountiful, Utah.  The story is, They were camping  over in Woodland, Ut ..See pics of us enjoying the Hummer antics. They heard about me from the ace store in Kamas, Ut. They were buying a humming bird feeder to put up on their camper window. We work at that ace sometimes and stop there a lot, but only when wolf creek pass is open.  Almost Everyone knows us in Kamas. I get lots of visitors from there. As Always, it was so interesting to hear that we were mentioned.  They recommended that they should take the 34 short extra miles to see our haven.  So off they came.  They were happy with their unplanned outing and generous for the birds.  Our full numbers and Rufus are not here yet but they still enjoyed the quantity we do have. They vow to be back, to see the masses. I am hopefully that the other hummers will still come. 

JUNE 3, 2025 I still do NOT recommend these vicohome cameras. Going to be too expensive for each camera. I am having such dificulties with batteries life even when plugged into an oulet and the extra payment for the bird recognizition is so far a joke.  They have no software for Laptop use and will not let me share a live stream.. If share they require the user set up an account so they get emails from them.  so basically a person to bother with their sales.

May 25, 2025 (3 parts)

May 19, 2025 

The weather rock saying some sun a dry but a little snow blowing crisp 28° morning maybe in the middle 40’s still cold ish ..

“Wings of wonder, heart full of awe.”

Spent a little time before the rain and cold front arriving, fiixing the solar panels and moving camera for better lighting. Friends are saying great pics and video. Just don’t know how to put the video on this blog and of course the live stream. What do you think of the pics of this broadtail male it is a taking? I am just overwhelmed with the 900+ event videos in less than a day. Then the ai bird recognition I paid for ..still says broadtail male is an Anna’s. And doesn’t recognize any females. see last entry pics

May 17, 2025 

The weather rock saying clear maybe cloudy maybe some sunny a dry 28° morning maybe in the middle 50’s cool cool breeze today. Nice! 

My second inspirational quote "In the quiet hum of the hummingbird’s wings, we find our inner peace." 

 Working on cameras ..trying them out. Paid for their services and one perk is suppose to identify who’s who of birds  a coming to it. Well we laughed and laughed at it. Hmmm maybe not worth the extra money per month for that. Look at the results in just the few days...Only one correct ...The black chin..... I could keep some battery charge for only a few hrs...  Then these feeders only hold 20 ounces so… yep filling every hour it will be .. another big hmmmmm .. see... a lot of complicated bugs to come up with solutions.  The VicoHome says I can’t use their bird cameras for live streaming. Great.. but someone told me I can do it by a roundabout way if use some other platform. That I can…Help I need help anyone out there who knows???? Feel like helping??

May 16, 2025 

The weather rock saying clear maybe cloudy maybe some sunny a dry 28° morning maybe in the middle 50’s today. Nice!  The hummers have stayed even with the colder days.  We even had snow falling around yesterday.  Brrr. 

I got emails and notes form you all.  Thanks it was fun.  I try to get my brain working better to answer and all

Hummingbirds are said to be positive symbols, often representing healing, joy, and the beauty of life. They are also believed to be messengers, sometimes carrying messages from deceased loved ones or ancestors. 

I decided I am going to add a hummingbird inspirational thought to my blogs..so here it is my first “The hummingbird’s resilience is a reminder to never give up on our dreams."  I am still working on my cameras dream . I need better lighting and we need time to place the solar panels.  Charging is a must. I had over 900+ (in just one day) of motion events on only one camera …so battery life short and memory card full and plain old me over whelmed with it. We have a lot of bugs to figure out. Unfortunately, this is not my full time job. I wish it could be. 

Thanks for your patience..

May 8, 2025

The weather rock says a fine sunny day low of 31° a warm in the 60° ‘s degree day 

What a glorious day !!! , as I heard the broadtail mating buzzing sounds today.  So the mating rituals are in full swing. 

Doing feeders  today ..finally this year, maybe I will be able to try to help some with the responsibilities..I only have 10 feeders out at the moment. Oh boy I say..this is really a struggle. Thinking every moment ..not sure how the two of us will beable to do 70 feeders over 12+ gallons a day .. when hummers are at full throttle in July and August. Oh wh our mass quantities will be here expecting their nectar. Unfortunately, we still have other life chores to keep the ranch a going.  Jim and a friend kept it going last year, but it is a full time job. I feel guilty, I ask so much to do it.  We are still working on the cameras.  They need full charging and then to set the apps up and getting live streaming is harder than I thought as just the apps dont let you do it or it is going to cost a bundle. I was hoping someone reading this might beable to know how and to help do them.

May 7, 2025 

The weather rock says a chilly night of 32° dry and light clouds more sun, wonderful. Maybe high 50's today.

Yesterday was an eventful day.  We had a surprise visitor. See the pic.  I am hoping to add the video but gotta do a lot of work to retrieve download.. you know more work. Yep a moose.  A rarer treat. Though we know to stay far away from them. They are big and can be mean .. we’ve seen 4 point buck deer intimidated by them.  The hummers didn’t seem to mind.   Just kept drinking.  They didn’t share.  This moose didn’t seem to drink they’re sweet nectar. Though on the internet there are pictures of some moose that do. Hey, also, the feeders with the cameras arrived last night. Today, after other ranch chores, maybe the camera adventure begins. Hope it’s a good one.. see if we can set up a camera. 

May 4, 2025  The weather rock says cloudy day chilly 31° morning but it’s wet so it’s raining. A homemade tomato soup and grill cheese day. 

Hey, it’s Star Wars day. May the fourth be with you!  Deer and big bug here pic. More hummers arrived. Male and female.  My first black chin male ..really noticeable today. What a fun day. 

Today at the ranch, as I was sitting on the deckwatching the male hummers doing their territorial rituals for the feeders ..listening to the river ..enjoying the Mountain View’s and fresh rain air ..all this beauty, creating a moment of contemplating on life. 

For me, my life fighting this brain tumor and all the complications it caused.  Then the surgery adding more complications. Living life has just been a struggle to survive till the next day. Haven’t had any moment to think beyond survival.  Though I know, Life goes on clicking by.  

 A friend after reading my blog said “ I can read it in your voice!!“ as she reads. She says it sounds just like me. Hopefully when u come to visit, you can take the time and find your own solence and contemplations while watching and listening to these fabulous creatures . . ..it is truly one of life’s great bucket list moments. 

Then guess what I did? I ordered wifi humfeeders with cameras .. waiting for their arrival to get the live stream agoing. ..keep your fingers crossed ..

May 2, 2025

Man, it's already May..more hummers coming each day. My weather rock  says  It’s a beautiful sunny cool low of 29° morning.  Deer are a grazing on our pasture grass.  Few Hummers getting their morning drink. My friend sent me a good wake up text.

She said “Scatter sunshine all along your way… cheer and bless and brighten, every passing day!! 🤗 “ . Not sure how to put the songs on for a link but I will try. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ckKeQNCyPBU&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVOzucFf5Xk  Got some beautiful hanging baskets to put out.  Pic ..They always sell em for Mother’s Day a coming up . , So I grab some when I see them. Hope the hummers like them.  It’s too cold here yet to leave them out. So the bring in at night ..out in warmer day task begins.  Heated feeders a must for the birds.  A simple 7 watt regular light bulb not a led as they make no heat and a foil pan duct tape on the bottom. Keeps them warm down to 20 degrees.  Just in case you might need one from not freezing. No messy bringing them in and out every day. What a relief. not the best Pic  will try to update. Hope you all have a happy sunshine day.

April 27, 2025

Had first visitors to the ranch...wildlife. Deer,  a Blue Heron, and a kingfisher making lots of noise. all just hanging out. 

April 21, 2025 

Yep it is true... they are here... a few days late this year.  They started arriving here this very day.  If you don't have your feeder up..get it out of storage and be ready for them.

Healthwise I have had many new challanges from the last year. I am still hanging around and still trying to recover.  Looking to the future and the arrival of the hummingbirds.  Hope you are also.. Hopefully making plans to see them ..Looking forward to sharing these wonderful creatures.

Day 27 October 24, 2024 1 am not lockdown Fire Blog ENDING  2024 had been quite a year here at the ranch.

Look for future blog in March of 2025

It’s  40 winds n ne 3 mph  Air 32  i guess I don’t need that update anymore. 

Today is Thursday, It has been quite a few days. Hey, did you miss me a writing? Anyone wonder what happened? Wondering about my faithful loving cat? Did the fire consume us after all?

Starting now with Sunday 

Day 23 October 20, 2024 Lock down 

Again a day with no time to write on the blog. Heard is being said the statement that men think twice and be afraid about the strength of women. Look at all the hundreds of fire fighters that came to fight the fire for weeks to no avail but it only took strength of one older woman, it was mother nature with her super strength in just one day to put the fire almost out. Men be warned to beware of the strength of women.  Even though the fire was down graded, The stupid dragon still keeps fighting to go completely away.  There were still many hotspots but now feeling safer, was able to do work all day Sunday.  Had to be doing things to prepare for surgery on Monday.  Trying to retrieve all our belongings and then to unpack and put back away all our evacuation items. Maria came to help get the house ready.  She made it so our home 

would be inviting. So I could rest peacefully and recuperate at home. It now became it was the day I had to say goodbye to our check point gate keeper.. was told that he will be leaving Monday morning. 

Day 24 October 21, 2024 at 6:00 am UDOT officially reopened state road 35. What a blessing. We were able to leave and drive the shorter way to surgery. Had to do the emergency necessity surgery on my trachea.  Driving the first time over Wolf Creek pass since the fire. Now able to see all the devastation. What a shame has happened to our lovely mountain forest. Maybe someday it will repair it self to all it's glory. Though probably not done in time for me to see.  My lifetime will probably be over.  Now on state road 35, Only to be stopped for one way road construction, then add a cattle drive across the road.  A half hour delay that added worry that we won’t make that surgery time. The surgery took all day. I came home but I had to recuperate till this Thursday morning. Even though having totally exhaustion, then complicated by unable to speak and of pain, I am awake this morning because of my trachea surgery. 

So spending some time to write this blog.. so much has happened to catch the blog up to date. So I want to write to complete and close out this fire blog.  Start a new chapter at 8 hummingbirds ranch. 

Please stay tuned for the conclusion ending .. 

Day 21 October 18, 2024 lockdown 12:30 pm was supoose to 10 am

It’s  41 winds ese 6 mph  Air 3

Well the soap opera doesn't end.  Always a cliff hanger ending. Power has been out so nothing we can do. It’s affecting everyone but I take it personal. We just can’t get a break. 

Went to the store but just about to get coffee for our gate keeper (reference to ghostbusters) poof the power quit, so no coffee machine a working. 

We are really dependent on that electricity. 

Not able to add the update to the log. 

We are NOT a-going anywhere today.  No garage door opener a working. Staying at the ranch. Oxygen concentrater quit. Luckily , I have my oxygen tanks, no power needed. But had to get from car as evacuated. No heat though. No food a cooking. No Wi-Fi to be a written the blog. In bed with covers over my head.  Maybe should start a fire.. cook s’mores. oh no though i think, not a fire. The fire update looked good.  The fire guy Dennis Burns said Tanker 1 applied her fire retardant. (that’s Mother Nature) Snow and rain in the mountain.  The gate keeper said “lots of crew got there demo orders and will be leaving.”

Our evacuation order has been resended. But new closure to all the forest added. So far 35 and north fork still closed to escort only traffic. Great. Now to drive still around strawberry Heber City. On Unita basin Facebook page; bad post of pictures coming in saying “strawberry is a mess” Still have to unload all the cars full of evacuated things. Get lots of things from the neighbors to get. Things that were evacuated.  A day of total unpacking was planned. Waiting for the power to return. Waiting is all we seem to do.

Day 20  October 17, 2024 lockdown  8 am 

It's  45 winds wsw 11 mph  Air 13 

Actually, slept in this morning.

Still waiting on the weather to help stop the dragon fire. 

Things look more optimistic. Don’t want to feel tooo excited. Every time I do, something bad happens with this dragon fire.  It’s all been toooo much for my compromised brain. I have mixed feelings about this, as it will be the end of this fire blog writing. Then a good bye to all the new fire fighter friends that we have met.  Though, the blog is really made to tell about those tiny magical creatures. The  hummingbirds, of  which I will be writing. They will be coming the end of march from Mexico winter range. Really that’s not to far away now, since all of this drama.  Hopefully my brain tumor and all my breathing problems will get better. Looking forward to a brighter future. Maybe I can still do these magical creatures. The Rufus males will be coming in July to make up the four kinds of hummers that Utah has. We’ll be back to the loving job of over 10 gallons a day of nectar.  Now giving an update on my cat. She shows only a slight improvement but some improvement is better than none. Luckily a friend is exchanging oxygen tanks today in vernal. I was running low on new full tanks. A friend said this saying “I'm tired of being a doormat for fires to wipe their feet on!" Yep, we agree and are tired of all the stress. We need lots and lots of rest. Hopefully today, no drama with this saga. Getting back to are daily lives. All that catching up on our work we needed to do the last 20 days. We have to wait maybe just a little longer.  See what the day brings, and go from there.

Day 18 October 16, 2024 lockdown 4 pm

It's 56 winds s 9 mp air 35. 

Had a lliile rain, amazing.   Not enough though..still waiting to see.

 Day 18 October 16, 2024 lockdown 1pm

 It’s 66 winds s 11 mph  Air 13 

This morning my cat looks bedraggled but she is calmer and resting. Her eyes look sharper and clearer.  She is finally eating.   Did my nebulizer with her this morning. Along with wrapping her in a blanket and sitting in the cold 40 degree weather for 5 minutes. She is still having breathing problems. Hopefully it will get better. Today, All of us ready to evacuate people, feel like hmm I’ll put what Suzanne says is best way to put it “ I feel like I am living out of a suitcase in my own house!!” Yes. I replied. That is exactly what we have been doing also. 

Day 18 was October 16, 2024 lockdown 3:30 am

It’s 39 winds nne 3 mph  Air 56

The story of the whirl wind day yesterday of my faithful loving cat.

First, the day of anticipation of winds and total evacuation. Forecasted winds for the extreme winds that are coming, that they my cause havoc. So Not looking forward for this day.  Today is to repack and have everything by the door, ready to leave quickly.  The only feeling of safety, is yesterday the fire fighters came and made plans for saving our home.  Knowing pumps will be placed in the river and sprinklers on the roof and a team of fire fighters here to be ready is calming. So hoping the drama today will not begin as forecasted.

Now about October 15, 2024  Whirl wind of a day. 

second, the whirl wind day begins. All night and day  long, my cat is sick. Not eating and cry’s with pains

 While scratching her ears and squeaking breathing sounds and hardly breathing. Such a struggle she is having to breathe. 

We had been Calling vets the last two days to see if one would come out to our beautiful valley. Since we were unable to leave for that amount of time to drive and see one. Only to be told, we are too much of a fire hazard zone to come. No vet will come. The only options are to head to Heber City or to Roosevelt. Both an hour and 15 minutes away.  We decided to do the Roosevelt option. Luckily, they give  us a 1 o’clock pm appointment. So now we hurry to get things ready to go. Must talk to fire people so that we can leave for such a long period. Approval is given . It is Suppose to be a quite day. It is Wednesday we need to worry. since she is so sick. And maybe dieing. Approval is given. Oh, thank you! thank you! is all I can say.  Now to shower and get the car ready.  It is full of all the evacuation items.  Now must be unpacked. Gotta have my last bottles of full oxygen tanks to keep me going.  Oh, I say, my wheel chair has already been evacuated.  I will do without I have to I say. I can do it. Grabbing a toast and some milk packing insulin, getting cage and other items Just about ready to go, When the security alarms are a blaring.  In the drive way the fire truck sits. Oh no, we must be leaving. My husband hurries to try to meet them. Three guys hop out surveying. Crews are employing a "point-protection strategy," setting up pumps, hoses, and sprinklers on structures they say.  We are planning a plan of action. They talk and they survey.. my husband learns they are from        

Arizona . One mentions he loves his job. He gets to travel to all these unique and quaint locations.  Seeing places that others haven’t. Meeting interesting people in all these unique communities. My husband jokes. I’d like a job where I just get to ride around and sit in a truck all day.  the fire people jokes back at him. we hop out sometimes ready to fight when the moment is needed.  Working tirelessly to save  and protect people homes. They laugh. Now the clock is ticking. We missed our deadline to leave in order to make the appointment. Hurrily we leave.  Then hit the construction on highway 40 .  One  lane road oh great.sit a waiting. We call the vet .. telling them the situation.  We must hurry. They say. the vet plans to leave in 1 hr.  My poor sick cat crying each moment. Trying to soothe and keep her calm. Have to be there our all our travel is in vane. We arrive only 15 minutes late. what a relief. they take us.  They do the examine  and make conclusions. 

Time is clicking its now 330. Must be back tge fire people tell us. ready to levacate the other animals if needed.  Fingers crossed👍🏻 we won’t have to. The Roosevelt vet comes to explain the observations. Well it wasn’t great news. She had osteoporosis and a broken jaw from it. X-rays showed you could see right through her shoulder blades. An infection in hers ears and a collapsing trach like me. The osteoporosis is eating cartilage, around the trach so the trach is collapsing just like me.. can’t believe it. It’s the trachia just like me . She can’t breathe just like me. What a weird coincidence. It is collapsing just like me. Thats why I do two nebulizer treatment a day to keep it from collapsing. it is by her vocal cords just like me.  When I do my nebulizer suppose to have her in the same room. Then her ears infected cleaned and did the ear drop thing that fights tge infection for two weeks. Got a steroid injection for the  trach to help some of the collapsing. Diet changed for more calcium so kitty food is recommended. Treat the symptoms like croup. Steam and cold air treatment that’s 5 minutes long when we have cold air tonight and morning each day.  Not pneumonia lungs look good. So now leaving so late. Stopped at tractor supply for her new kitten diet needed. Hadn’t eaten or drank . Sugars were low so had to eat. So stopped at fast food Arby’s to get a sandwich.  Stopped at maverick for fuel and drinks. Only to find the credit card machines are down..and have to go to another station.  More time is ticking.  The cat is exhausted must get her home. We finally arrive home so she and us can finally get a-little rest. So nice be home what a blessing. Have to text everyone of our vet conclusions.  The  bad / good news. I’m sorry I didn’t mean bad bad news. There is hope. We found out what’s wrong so we can try to treat it. maybe some answers for me also . My cat is feeling better even now just the few minutes home ..she ate really good which she hadn’t.  She has a little spring in walk ..nice to see.  I feel like it’s the beginning of better things. Thanks for your thoughts and we send them thoughts back to you. 

Though through the night she has still trouble breathing the steroid need to have time to kick in.  Constant flicking of her ears and constant licking.  

And pic

Day 17  October 15, 2024 lockdown 7 pm

A whirl wind of a day. 

No time to write the blog. Sorry, there are no pictures. No new heros. Will explain on morning blogs. Shoot, now I have two days to write. And correct some things on the last two days. Great. Luckily, the winds were more favorable today. In the evening around 6 pm plenty of smoke was seen coming home. It was showing over by the west, the way of Rhodes canyon toward Lightening Ridge Mountain a bigger plume and then showing one up North Fork canyon a smaller plume.  So darn it. It is still the fire dragon. Forecasted winds for tomorrow are that they my cause havoc. So Not looking forward till tomorrow.

October 14, 2024 Evening 11 pm report

It was a quiet evening around 11 pm. The smoke hanging low against the mountains. The almost full moon created an Erie scene. All seemed well to be able to sleep without fear. 

Picture 

But ..hate those buts…until about 1130  pm.  All of a sudden, the security camera was going crazy .. blaring it’s alarm. Someone coming in the drive way.  Lights coming through the windows and all around on the walls. Again, thoughts creeped in to my groggy head. They were here to come to evacuate us. On such a still night, I couldn’t imagine. So then I thought, maybe they were doing spot checks. Checking out our houses-which they patrol consantly. My husband finally woke up but the lights were gone. He decided to go to the checkpoint and ask. It turned out to be a large fire truck from Montana. It was looking for a fire hydrant. It had turned around in our driveway. Our fire hydrents are hard to find,especially in the dark of night. Luckily we do have one. It is up the on state road 35 just a little bit more west and on the north side and they didn’t see it.

Day 16 October 14, 2024 lockdown 7 am 

It’s 47  winds nnw 4 mph 0 Air 155 Smokey

I have a bigger block this morning, as I was up most the night with my sick cat. I am trying to add pictures inside the log as I go.  Hopefully that is a better feature for everyone. The evening news for us, is the fire still burning on lightning Ridge Mountain. Though the whole yellow lake fire continues on other lines also. I have some pictures of it on our Lightning Ridge mountain. Our view we see, are these flames and we all know what a few flames bring, The Yellow Lake dragon fire.

What a shame this tragedy has happened to our forest. Our beautiful beautiful  Forest. Everybody’s thinking: how much of the forest is going to be gone? What’s going to happen to our breath taking views? How much of the vegetation for the animals is going to be gone? What is it going to happen to the awesome wildlife? Locally, everybody wants to know what happened with the fire at Defas. Luckily I have a picture.

Launi cam update 1:24  "A lot less smoke “ oh shoot it wont let me add more pictures hmmm .

Because some of the command has been changed to Duchesne, people have been seeing a constant stream of vehicles coming towards us from the East. In the 8 minutes she drove to church, Suzanne said "counted about 28 cars and trucks!! It was astonishing."  I was unable to get out yesterday to add to my blog some of the heroes I meet. Hopefully today I can. From here on my road of fire vehicles they are coming from kamas, coming in convoys  over the pass. Yes everyone, they are using our precious pass. Our life line. So that must be OK.  Oh if only we could once again use it ourselves. 

It is our life line - for us and the Unita basin. Necessity for work, then especially now for me and others medical, shopping supples, an alternate route for 40 when they close it usually due to accidents yes Fatal accidents that happen frequently. The pass is for our safety - not having to travel so many many extra extra miles around Strawberry. Having to travel on what we call the death highway 40 and then just fighting all the oil tanker truck traffic. A lot lot of our income work is from the oil fields. Keeping state road 35 open in winter will be another blog after the fire.

Suzanne, was talking to Maxine Penrod last night. Everyone —-She is doing well. Glad to hear right? 

Maxine said “her granddaughter and her husband were staying at some hotel near by and saw some bedraggled, exhausted firefighters that could barely make it to their rooms and shower and go to bed.  The numbers of people working in on the fire has grown each day. “ thank yous go out to all the people helping . The old and new fire commands and all the fire crew people that have helped with the fire. Thank you to all the quiet people behind the back lines that we don’t hear about and  neighbors that are helping!

                                 THANK YOU!!!

Kayleen Silver was told to stay indoors for the next two weeks because they tested her lungs and they were not doing well.  Though if you check the purple air up here in my lock down zone, wow we happen to have lots of good quality moments. Better than other areas of Utah or the country.  There is a meeting tonight at 6 PM in our old gym. If you are going, if you could, please specifically about the lightning ridge mountain fire on the south west side. What they are doing about it ? For me.  Again, I can’t leave for that long period of a time. Please let me know the answer.  Hopefully I will get the meeting streaming of it. But the quality of it - well, it is hard to hear what is being said. So appreciate your answers. Thanks. Logging off for now. Going to have a brigham city peach for breakfast as a treat for all this writing. YUMMM.  Again stay tuned for the ongoing saga. Hopefully ending soon and I won’t have to write this fire blog.

Day 15 October 13, 2024
Lockdown 10:30 AM

It’s 55... winds 0...? Hmm could my station not be working, Air 78 .

I guess I get to update the blog now. We went out to look at the mountains. It’s just too smoky today. Looking south down the valley. Man oh man.

Looking at the mountain. Yep the same. Things are hectic, lots of traffic at the guard station. We noticed that one of them that they have to let through is very essential. 😀Notice the pictures. Heee

Waiting for the update on the fire and then waiting on the update for the community that’s not fire related. No heros just hectic.

Day 15 October 13, 2024 lockdown 6 AM 

It’s a little cold this morning at 5 AM. down to 36 yay brrrr  Winds nnw 5 air quality 107.

I first want to apologize for the quickness. I know there are a lot of errors especially the last blogs written with my fire brain. It’s because the voice text I have been using, makes lots of errors. please bear with me. As it’s the only way I can get the blog written and do my things that I need to to go. Monica had a little time to help correct it last night. Making it spiffy. Thank you Monica. I don’t know how much I’ll be writing today. 

 First, I wanted to give a shout out to my sister. Over the years, we had kind of lost touch. But out of the blue, She suddenly started texting me. I am so glad to hear from her. She gave me a crying moment yesterday, as she had to say how proud she was of my website and of my blog. She knew that my mom would be proud of me and would have enjoyed reading this blog. Love you mom. I miss seeing my sister.  I love her very much. 

Now I will tell of the Bad news of last night.  After I say, we had one of those herder sheep dogs lost and was pacing on state road 35.  It was hungry and fire fighters kept trying to feed it. Hopefully they’ve found the owner so it can be rescued. On with the news. It all start when Gordon posted the news about Rhodes canyon fire had crossed over the other day. This meant it was heading toward Lightning Ridge.  Sneaking on the back side of North Fork canyon. So now we are watching it more closely. Last night was the first time that we saw a little spot of smoke on west top of lightning Ridge .  A sneaky little puff of the dragon. A real close-up on the camera, Also verified it. Looking through the night there’s definitely fire up there. We need them to stop that sneaky thing on Lightning Ridge Slowly creeping to our home. So it’s like this, if the fire comes here to our home, then it has a straight shot south to the rest of Hanna. If we go, the fire is heading straight to Hanna. That’s why people are watching what happens here. We need the winds to be in our favor. I heard there are many prayers and thoughts. Even fastings. We do need a miracle.  The new command is working hard to try to save us. Thank you new command.  Something in my gut though tells me the fire is too strong.  I hope my gut is wrong.  Stupid gut.  The launi cam pic says “I forgot to go out earlier, but I just went out. It’s really smoky tonight, but no, I can’t see any glow but when I look through my camera, there’s a slight glow.” She has two pics. We haven’t seen the planes for the last few days, I’m hoping and praying that they send them back today.   Then. I wanted to make the blog more than just bad news maybe a little humor,  the things about the hero’s. but (hate those buts) I am losing faith and a little more serious.

My husband got up at 3:30 am to do our nightly check. He came back with good news that the mountain was black. No flames visible. The picture he took was totally black. Hey, there is some hope. Since my husband was up, he was so thoughtful and brought me some more of those cold yummy grapes to eat. Oh, how delicious. yummm.  He also brought some cold cold ice water to drink on my sore sore throat. Remember I said I had eaten all my grapes. That I needed them. Well, I was so lucky one of those nice neighbors brought me some.

Thank you very much nice neighbor!! Will try to get more hero’s today.  It is now 6 AM Logging off right now. Stay tuned.

posted are those pictures of that poof of smoke, launi’s nightly cam. 

Day 14 October 12, 2024
Lock Down Part C

The Drama begins... This is what I see here today at the hummingbird ranch. It’s 1:30pm and the wind tickled the nose of the dragon. The dragon sneezed an woke up. It is moving. Doesn’t look good again. Lots of smoke. We went had to go look to see if the dragon is getting in the swell of lightening mountain or not. It changed in a blink of an eye. I looked just a little bit. Ok all clear. Now poof it is not. It’s so hard to update this blog. Every second it changes. I can’t keep up. The news is that the fire is down to the Stillwater pipeline. It is back walking down when Logs fall.

 Now My blog I am writing in the calm.  

Well, my work is cut out for me. I just heard there’s over 564 crew members working at this fire. That’s an awful big blog page to get all those people heroes. I wish my health was better, so I could actually go out and meet these people. I was so exhausted. You see I only added one and picture of 3 working. I couldn’t get over there to see em when leaving. But I’ll try to get what I can. Got my oxygen tank ready to get out more hopefully later. No I don’t think I can do it. I have three fire people out clearing a fire line along State Route 35. They are trying to make a bigger barrier to stop the fire, if it comes down this far. If? I have a picture. They also are up past John Moons home by the mountain, with equipment making another fire line to try to stop it there. I am only seeing one fraction of all the efforts they are putting in to save us. Log trucks hauling the logs getting out. I know they have even escorted a few people up north fork to get essential items they had forgotten when evacuated. Just thought you all would like to know. Then I have seen all kinds of equipment bull dozers, caterpillars water trucks going by to get things done. I haven’t yet met the people on the close fire line in the heat of it all. I will keep trying to meet all these heros in my little corner of fire zone. I also met a bulldozer person and another Medic that I did not think at the time to start the heros on my blog. It’s called fire brain. It kinda gets you not thinking clearly. Then I met two bosses but somehow I chickened out to ask them. I should have, now that I look back. We decided we are doing pancakes today and handing out. It is so hot out there. Is it really October? Root beer floats all around the treat given today. I am also lucky to have neighbors bringing items to keep us going. Thank you so much!!! I needed a pet carrier, so launi posted it on Facebook. Bam the calls started coming in. I don’t have door dash here, not that I know of in this valley.  Sure feels like I do. I have a few groceries coming this afternoon. I know I need to get working on regular things. But now the fire is in movement mode. All abandonment of anything is what is going to happen. 

Day 14 October 12, 2024
Lock Down Part B

I got a liitle rest. Wonderful. Smoke is down. I can breathe a little better. No new blaring evacuation orders. Had a sugar free A&W Root Beer float to perk my spirits and cheer me up to write. It’s actually is one week today since lock down. Really? It seems like forever. it’s Saturday. Normal people have it off and they’re probably sleeping in. Not us, still checking fire. Husband went to see this morning. Though because of this dragon fire, I have met some really fantastic fire hero people. One positive thing, out of all this tragedy and horror. They come from local Utah cities and all over the country. They are coming to help and see our beautiful community. I tell them about my heart mountain my home sits on, and my Hanna hummingbird haven. The Hanna heart now gone I assume. The Stoney face rock figure, our state stone, our beautiful red orange sandstone features, our quaint stores; Our Hanna store, Hanna Hilton, Sandstone eatery, our k-12 school, our wagon rides, and our yaks (though now evacuated), and most important Our community spirit. Next time I will ask them, if I can tell you followers a little info about them on my blog when I talk to them. You know, since we are on the road of fire traffic vehicles. They move back and forth almost constantly protecting us. At nights lights flashing in my windows. Actually it is a nice feeling knowing the check point guard is just steps away to inform us of any danger. My cat is meowing I think she is saying. Though I don’t know for sure. "I am worried about you. Stop writing. I need attention. You need to relax." I need to re organize some things for evacuating so logging off for awhile. Let’s see what the day turns into...

Stay tuned in for more updates. 

Day 14 October 12, 2024
Lock Down Part A

It was a warmer night again. Still 41, Burrr. The Air is bad 175. Winds say north west 5 mph. Doing my new morning routine. Waiting for the update. The fire dragon is still here and not sure changing even with the new command. But giving them time for all their efforts to kick in. I was hoping to see it getting smaller on our south west end section by us and North Fork. But not sure yet if it is.  No Planes, I did not see yesterday.

As I sit here, looking at my beautiful, hummingbird collage of birds that were taken from at the ranch. Which hangs on my kitchen wall (which was made by Paul Hunsaker). Who’s wonderful photos you are looking at on the blog. I think this all is so surreal. Luckily, the hummingbirds are all gone to a safer place, hopefully home for a good winter in Mexico. The Launi cam last night: “Well, the picture does look like there’s a little teeny bit of glow more to the right. I can’t see it with my eyes.”  My husband 10:00 pm last nightly report "I did not see any glow tonight up North fork." This constant wind changing directions has gotten to me. It holds our fate. Never knowing, do we need to go or stay. People are getting complacent. Enough of this we all say. Too many Sleepless nights and stressful days! My faithful old cat has been sick and not sure what to help her. I think traveling to evacuate and the change of new place will finally be the end of her, also. We haven't been able to do our work jobs being on this lock down, unable to leave. I am just too tired to write anymore today, except for this Helpful hint. "I was also warned about this and to tell everyone. if you do evacuate make sure you think about perishable items such as food in fridge or on counters and watering your plants well. 

Too tired for even my fabulous grapes (ate them all) so I need grapes, yummy popsicle, or omg my ritual sugar free rootbeer float. Logging off for awhile. Hopefully get some needed rest from all this stress

Day 13 October 11, 2024
Still Lock Down 3:00 pm

Yeah, A whole bunch of California crew command just came by.

Going up to Moon's. They are up on Johns hill behind his property. They are making a containment line as we speak. Maybe I am feeling they are getting in there maybe we have a chance. Wow wow wow. Also this is the pic from Launi house down by Tabiona taken a few minutes ago. She says "I just went out and took a picture. Looks about the same as yesterday. Looks like it's going north more." I liked what John Moon says "I think we shouldn't believe anything we don't see and only half of that" For all this writing, I am going for a popcicle treat. Yum Yum Yum. My friends call me the popcicle queen, since I had all these medical problems. I Love them!

Day 13 October 11, 2024
Still Lock Down Continued 1:00pm

The sleeping dragon fire woke up puffing smoke and fire. Not good except the wind changed to SW but gusty 12mph. ugggh mph. Picture of morning and now. And so it begins again. Time to watch. They have added more mandatory evacuations. See Fire Watch app. Two pictures this morning sleeping. One when up and 3 more awaking dragon fire.

Day 13 October 11, 2024
Still Lock Down

Hey, Everyone thanks for your support. I got an email this morning and see my blog has been sent to others to read. So I am starting to write. Lots of things happened yesterday. Oh its 9:00am and oh our road of fire vehicles is full of a convoy of Fire fighters. The most I have ever seen. What a Fabulous site. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! The world is having so many disasters. There was hurricane Milton. There’s other fires all over, flooding, war, and just terrible things happening. That our fire is only a blip in the world of life. But yet I still write about it. First, I have to do my new daily ritual of looking at my weather station, then Apps, weather, wind, and current satellite infra red maps. Then physically scanning the area of the two directions on mountains that the fire is coming from. Looking for any site of flames. Making sure there’s no fire. Then waiting for any fire updates from the command. Jim going to the check station. PLUS doing all my medical treatments and other chores. For today, I have a lots of pictures to show you from yesterday. The fire was crazy and everyone in town was sending me bad pictures. Warning us. Seeing how we were. This prompted me, that I had to go look for myself. Can you believe it, they let me out of the checkpoint to go to look. Hooray! I took a bunch of pictures. We also took a bunch of pictures here at the ranch off of our deck that faces the main mountain that is mostly affecting us. Look at the ash on the mountain it looks like snow. Also the evening moon on my heart mountain. No fire there, yet. Just pictures everywhere. Also got some cool pictures of the new jets that that have come in..  Oh its 9:30 The planes have started. What a wonderful sound!!! The smoke was everywhere. It still is this morning. We actually saw flames last night and boy was it a glowing. It was warmer night, only 41. "Burr" I say.  It was down to 37 the other night. My weather station says 54 and winds west at 4 mph. The air sensons at our neighbors read Red 175. Oh I just checked again and its down to 82. Yeah! It changes alot.  Look at that purpleair.com at our location. Stockmore I think it is listed. We received bad news last night that the fire had gone from Rhodes Canyon, and now in the bottom of lightning ridge mountain and growing. Anyone that lives in this community knows that that is a bad thing. it is now very very close to us. Lightning ridge mountain is the one behind John & Brenda Moon‘s house which is right next door. We look at it every day. People in the community of Hanna and Tabiona look up toward our house. They see the fire flames and smoke plumes. It looks ominous. It looks directly like it is on our house. We actually saw the jump break of fire too our swell area of the Lightning Ridge Mountain. We saw it.

Prequel:

It was a beautiful crisp fall day on Sept 27, 2024  at the  8hummingbirds ranch . So we decided to take a drive up North Fork Canyon and take a look at the amazing Hanna Heart that appears on the mountain each fall.  Yes, yippee, we saw it.  The aspen had finally changed to their golden sparkling color.  So of course, Had to get those pictures . What a beautiful site.

Day 1 September 28, 2024

Who knew that something so little.. could be the beginning of complete chaos for the ranch. A small fire started by man.  Still under investigation but rummers of an arsonist has terrorized us exist. My humorist charming friend Launi driving home said she thought she saw a poof of smoke on utah highway 35 by the Mill Hollow area.. Later that day she sent me a post I want to share. I hope i can. Well here it is.

Days 2-5 Sept 29 -Oct 2, 2024

It simmered and grew, while the ranch and Hanna, Utah still thought not much about it ...at that time seemed miles away.   But...Like in a horror movie..but ..until they closed our lifeline road ut state road 35 over wolf creek pass to fight the fire. Then it started to be noticed. Work was now incovenienced. Had to go through vernal to rock springs instead of now the long route of heber. Hmmm a real bummer my friend would say. Out working as the fire grew each day.

Day 7 October 4, 2024

A day at home not thinking about the fire at all. Going to a Tom's house, picking fresh apples off the trees.  Cooking a wonderful turkey and stuffing dinner. Just a typical day. Going home to have Suzanne bringing wonderful fresh fruit staying the night before her birthday bash and invited Tom for Turkey dinner also. 

Day 8 October 5, 2024 Day 1 of Lock Down

The day started early. Jim helping me so that he could leave to work in wyoming 3 hrs away.  Did meds, did my breathing nebulizer treatment, Insulin a little to eat.  He left to go. I continued to get ready for Maria.  I must explain Well things went bad in december and that's a wholeanother blog.  Short story well they found a pituatary brain tumor. Had to have surgery or die...Well things went bad and 60 days in the hospital came home unable to do anything.  Well the house went crazy without me. It became such a nightmare for me to stay here.  i was lucky to find someone to help me in this tiney valley. That angel was Maria. Not being able to breathe and on oxygen and not able too much she saved me. She was coming today to help on the ranch.While we Busily working on the ranch we notice the wind growing stronger. Gale Force winds. It was blowing crazy. We couldnt put the trash outside.  Then busily still working, all of the sudden my phone did that horrible horrible alert sound. oh my what was that? We thought. We went running to my phone and saw the alert that we must evacuate mandatory for north fork and the west fork and Wolf Creek Pass. The fire spread so much and was headed our way and to our beautiful valley.(now they say it tripled in size that day) Didnt know at that time Hanna community alerted to be getting ready to evacuate stage also. Thinking Now what? Jim is gone and I can’t leave. Its all too much for me. Struggling already, I must have the oxygen and wheel chair ..everything ready for me to go. Maria has no idea how to help me, only Jim and now he is three hours away. Panicking, now in tears now trying to reach him he’s not answering, come on Jim answer I text . Maria says she will stay to help me until other help can come. Even though she made plans with her grand children. I frantically start calling my  friend  Launi.  she offers to help and be there right away but realizes I  myself have no car jaim took it and she has no car to help evacuate me. So now that means I have to call Suzanne I call my rancher farmer gal. Who’s birthday is today.  Oct. 5th. How can I be so selfish and bother her on her birthday 

What a day to ruin her birthday plans for a big party with a bunch of family and here I am asking her to leave everything and come help me. She reply’s she is more than happy to help. She is such a good friend. I am in tears, scared, don’t know what to do. How do I do this? I can’t even breathe, barely moving around, let alone try to pack some things to go. Maria says, don’t worry everything will be OK, but the wind is so strong and just crazy. In in my head, I can see the fire dragon coming up to us and burning us alive. . Maria is trying to comfort me.  I finally reached jim tell him the news that we have been told to do evacuate immediately it is mandatory you must get home in the meantime Suzanne is getting ready to come over to help me so Maria can go home .. sorry the story is so traumatic to me ..that even writing it down now is causing terrible horror memories causing terrible pain, a racing heart and crying . with all my troubles so far this year. I felt so helpless and I had to rely on others.

My cat is upset that I am upset. So i must stop now.

 it’s like Star Wars, i will come back to the beginning. I have a bunch to add and some pics. If you don’t like what I’ve written.. oh well, then you don’t have to come back and read it .hee heee

Day 8 October 6, 2024 Day 2 of Lock Down

There is so much I left out but still need more time to write will try honest.

Day 9 October 7, 2024 Day 3 of Lock Down

Another restless night fell upon the three of us ..made home made pizza. Food still needed to be eatable in lockdown and than a touch of laughter the irony to make yep the fire camping favorite s’mores .. but boy were they were good.  The secret is to use the orange chocolate. Feeling like things seem to be lessening risk, Tom made the decision he was going home due to complete exhaustion and hopefully to get needed sleep. Now it became The two of us doing the constant patrol of the night sky.. again looking for any faint glow.  All security cameras facing the crime dragon fire scene .. finally a glimpse of sleep fell upon me. .

Day 10 October 8, 2024 Day 4 of Lock DownT

Then it happened..  at 5 am …it always happens in the night. right? …the security camera rang and beeped wildly. an alert om my phone,  car lights shining in the driveway . now headlights gleamed and red lights appeared in the window. Oh my thoughts raced in my sleepy groggy head. oh no they were here to evacuate us.  Heart racing…I’m fumbling out of bed hurrrying without my oxygen, running to get Jim in the great room. Grabbing the phone telling Siri to call him.. Harley is now screaming his loud distress cry’s.  Hurry I think, hurry to tell him some one was here …get up, get up  I am screaming. Calling at the same time .. he answers  quickly .. then finding out,  it was just him. returning from the checkpoint .. he forgot the security camera alarm and had not texted me when he left, not to wake me. Kinda got me upset...  Don’t you think? Man. 
It seemed forever to stop my heart from beating so fast.  This day was planned to get some paperwork and chores, since we have totally disabandoned everything. While waiting for the text pics of the daily update from my friend .  This day turned to be a smoky morning. Still some ash falling.  This day Seems impossible to do anything the 

Phone constantly ringing and texts. Then it happened our other dreaded fear. Work emailed .. or constant worry .. an install needed right away. Oh no . Now having to explain our complicated dire situation .. then  my friend other humorous, charming reliable, friend, her text tone rings. yea the pics of the update  came   .. the life changing decision to be made stay or evacuate.  Stay was the decision.  Now lunch time. Let’s do orange chicken and rice. Take some hot food to our great check point guard as a thank you. Our news today was about he was escorting a repair team to Defas Dude Ranch to fix a well pump. So not at the check point. And all that ask the Defas Dude Ranch is still standing at the moment.  They only had till 1 and the weather expected to change, so meaning north fork was now closed. No escorts for anything even evacuations.  Closed due to the danger for our safety.  My next test was from Monica. Hey your blog is now on line. You can find it on a Google search. I went really?? 

Use 8 (space) hummingbirds (space) ranch (space) blog. So I tried it, friends tried it- to see if it was really true.  It was, they found it. So now excitement.  I was suggested to wriet a log of the fire in the newsletter and this is now the thoughts started racing. But oh the life of the evacuees .. oh my my.. laptop had been packed and moved to my friends house for safety. ugggg.. now to get someone to bring it to the check point to retrieve it. My husband saying no we can’t have anything more to worry about moving. No room for things with the animals to save and get out in a hurry. Uggg my heart broken. Crying in sadness. Oh ok we will get it he says. And get it he did. So now you can read my ramblings.  I told Monica though this writing is hard. so much to back track and make up and then to get current. We need a Dailey log of this dragon fire attacking us. Well, I am doing it so hope you are enjoying.  On with the saga .The evening treat to the guard was a root beer float. They always say please we don’t need anything but secretly I think he liked it.  News around tonight was about they are sending in the big level 3 fire command. not i

Out Francis anymore .. new command center in Duchesne, ut .

Told the news maybe west fork fires were subdued .. so told try to get a restful night sleep.  No constant checking the mountantains and skys needed.  Tom didn’t need to stay to help evacuate quickly during the night.  He can finally get some rest also 

Trying to relax alittle decidedd to let the bird out make a spaghetti dinner. How harley loves to eat spaghetti and hamburger sausage.  So he’ll finally eat. watch a little tv. How about dvr dancing with stars.  Exhausted and tired and restless decided not to finish the show and gave Harley his whipping cream to get him ready for bed .. then did my nebulizer breathing treatment and put my things together to go bed. but darn it it was the dreaded excitement of being able to write this fog that I text my friend asking questions and bothering her through the evening about my blog then the new command but a notice of a community meeting in Duchesne. I had to text the book club ladies.ok Done that. Then receiving responses: why not here in tabby. I explained, I thought it was due to the new higher command fire people are now going to be in Duchesne. I was just a messenger.Please Look at Facebook Utah fire info. Maybe you can do comments to them. In between, Texting my blog now it has become late to my friend. . I had to quit bothering her. Sorry, I told her because of my excitement. I would stop bothering her for the night till tomorrow heeee heeee . Sleep came though only to 2am. Getting up and Checking my precious cat. She’s asleep but still breathing. Then yep you guessed it ..Eat some of my fabulous grapes Launi brought me and drink some cold water. Oh refreshing . Check my sugar reading. Then thoughts starting flowing for my blog .. started writing dictating till 330.  Looking at the tempature a cool 41°,  great I think. winds say nw 6 mph. Hmmm. Look at mountains on the camera. Seeing no glowing fires to attack us. Must get sleep I tell myself. So shut off my brain, put ocean waves on and relax.. my cat wakes to come Lie on me. She is still alive. Gently Stoking her with love, calming her fears. Showing her I am ok. Now to sleep if I can.  Nope, no sleep. checked clock write some blog. Man my stupid head. Maybe some issues from the brain tumor affecting me. Yep now 4:30. Go to bed I say. Pet my faithful cat. to sleep i must I mumble. 

Day 11 October 9, 2024 Day 5 of Lock Down

Waiting again for the text about the morning update. Trying to write more on my blog. Hurrying to get this up and
running. It was a low of 38 degrees and smoky skys today. Lots happening on the road of fire vehicles, I call it. semi haulers and fire trucks. busy busy.  Friend texting a photo of fire by Defas Dude Ranch. Making French toast for breakfast. At 11 am yea the wonderful sounds of airplanes and helicopters. Here they come again and again. Blessed is that sound. Suzanne said best "I'm thankful for whomever is trying to save us." Planes again as i write...so great. Still no update at 1:15 pm now 2:00 still waiting. Won"t be able to travel to the community meeting. Because of Lock Down.  Try to stream it. Though its facebook which I dont do. I rely on Launi for those things. Hey the update fire report finally came at 3 pm. Now to decide stay or go. 

I have 75° a hot day for October and the fire to grow. We are starting to have cabin fever today. Our friend told us about people that have purple air on the internet they are sensors that monitor air quality at their homes and outside their homes. It’s all over the nation ..Shows one here in our valley and it’s tracking and monitoring of these smoky sky’s ..  much better today looks like. Only a 23 which is low. It can be bad in upper 100s. You can look for yourself. Suzanne just sent a picture from her house. Man the plume of smoke looks big and blowing away from the ranch.Been alot of Log trucks today coming done with loads. The report sounded in our favor. Trying relax tonight. Tacos it shall be for us and the checkpoint guards.Have to meet Jessop at the checkpoint to hand off items that needed to go from here in the lockdown. 

Website created and edited by Monica Brown and Dena Reid
Last Updated on October 18, 2024