Thanks for all of the concerned e-mails, but Famille Historiann and all of the animals are just fine. We live about 40 or so miles east of the High Park Fire that’s now tearing up the foothills west of Fort Collins. We’ve been seeing, and unfortunately smelling, the smoke even this far out. This is the second major fire outside of Fort Collins this year, and it’s only June.
This is the great advantage to living on the High Plains Desert rather than in the mountains: there’s no such thing as a forest fire down here! Because of course the only trees are the cottonwoods along the creeks and the landscaping in the sweet, quiet little towns like mine.
Here’s a tune from a local band called Paper Bird to remind you that this is a lovely state most of the time. It’s just that sometimes, you know–smoke gets in your eyes (and skirts!)
Historiann 
Glad ur all right!
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I am glad you all are OK. I was just in Boulder for the ADE seminar and was hearing news of the fire and hoping you all were safe. I lived in the high desert of Utah for some years and so do understand fire ecology, but my sense of Colorado geography is a bit vague. I am happy you are further away than I imagined.
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Good new, hope the fire will be put out with minimal damage and loss. Too bad that large fires are common in the west.
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I remember as a child watching the smoke from Yellowstone burning from about 100 miles away. Something about those big western skies.
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We had some nasty fires raging north of us for a week or so. It’s always a tragedy as it affects people and wildlife, even if there’s no chance of the fire taking out your own spread. Here’s hoping they bring it under control soon, giving you and everyone else a relief from the worry and the smoke!
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