the smoke has cleared

  

The fires in my state of Idaho have now all either been put out or are at least
now contained. For about a week I was worried that one of my favorite
little towns in Idaho wouldn't be saved. Hailey is near the town I
live in and is our county seat.
Ketchum and Sun Valley were also in the line of fire, but while some of the canyons
burned, only one house and some outbuildings were lost.

My grandparents lived in Ketchum for many years and are
buried in the cemetery there.
It is the most beautiful cemetery on the side of the very hill they lived on.
I always thought it was neat that they were buried in the same place that Ernest
Hemingway is buried. This area was one of Hemingway's favorite places on earth.
His son Jack always lived in Ketchum and Mariel Hemingway lives here.

This fire has burned some of the most amazing scenery in all of the state, and
we are blessed it didn't take more of it.
Now the fire is out, thanks to some awesome firefighting, and the smoke
has finally cleared.
I'm feeling very grateful.

I wasn't able to work much in the garden for a few days because of the heavy smoke 

in our area, but I did go out to cut roses last week and play with them a little.

We have been so dry this year with very little rain and heat like we have never had.

A little hard to keep everything wet, but still things have done well.

I love all these pastel-y colors together. 

The blue you see out the window is my bench on the front porch.

I'm sure glad it was there. 

Isn't it odd that sometimes you can be so focused on something 

that you never notice the obvious?

I don't remember seeing it while I was snapping away.

Oh---

and Edsel has the right idea! 

moss roses

This planter of moss roses never had a chance.

Edsel claimed it as his and who am I to say otherwise!