It has been hot and hazy here of late and even though we can not yet smell smoke, it is obvious that forest fire smoke is in the air. How could it not be? So many fires are burning in B.C. Alberta and Saskatchewan, we are surrounded by it. We badly need rain (without lightning) and plenty of it, but that is not forecast for any time soon.
Note: Just back from a few errands and 1/2 hour after I said we can not smell smoke, we now can smell nothing but smoke. Air Quality is rated 7 on a scale of 10, with 0 being the best.
Regardless of how you feel this current weather trend has been caused, it is hard to deny climate change exists at this point. For the first 30 years in this house, we had a few hot days and maybe 3 days each year at +30C or above. We never needed air conditioning and could easily cool the house off each night. This year, we have already had 13 days at +30C or higher and 11 of those have been in the past 3 weeks. Not a trend we want to see continue.
Not much to tell. After working for 3 companies over 43+ years (38 years 7 months with my last company), I finally got that promotion I had waited my entire career for……retirement.
I have been exploring this new career for the past 7+ years and while it is not always exciting, the chance to do what I want for myself and my family instead of what my company wants has been very fulfilling. Early on, there was a long list of projects in my “to-do” hopper and I attacked these projects with a vengeance for the first 9 months of retirement. Eventually, my brain told me that this was not what retirement was about, so it took me another 5 months before my industriousness again took over and I attacked another line of projects, this time somewhat shorter and less complicated, as well as many new projects related to the family weddings in 2016. After going hard for 6 weeks and 3 weddings, my body was telling me to relax, then the flu bug hit and as soon as that was done with me, my sciatic acted up. No rest for the wicked. In 2020 and 2021, the Covid 19 pandemic changed the whole retirement gig. I was lucky to not be still working, for sure.
I enjoy photography, gardening, working with my hands, walking, cycling, skiing, travelling, reading and creating special photo and video productions obtained in my first pastime. I may never become wealthy in any of these pursuits, but I already feel I am rich in life experiences far beyond any expectation.
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26 thoughts on “Seeing Red”
Beautiful pictures! Scares me what summers will be like in 5 or 10 years at this rate…
This was actually the sunrise on a smoky day. 6:19 in the morning. The sun soon disappeared behind the smoke. Thanks for reading Marion. Stay well. Allan
Hi Allan, lovely poem and wonderful sun captures to portray it.
Sustainability is the only way to go to reverse climate change. Unfortunately there a lots of good intentions and plans but none of them get properly implemented.
Nature will determine if we survive and how painful it will be. Just crazy that everyone is building bigger, more powerful vehicles but nobody is concentrating on fuel economy any more. Then, we the people buy these shiny vehicles and keep flipping them every 3 years for newer, more powerful, less economical vehicles. It is as bad as fast fashion. We have 2 vehicles, one is 13 years old and the other is a hybrid and is 10 years old. No need to change and really, nowhere to go. Thanks for reading Blanca. Allan
Hi Allan, this is the way to go. I never owned a car till I got married, I always used the public transport and we plan to keep the car we have now for at least good 10 years. I’m trying my best to convince my husband that the next car should be an electric one, see if I succeed!
The fast consuming society we live in is destroying the planet. A more sustainable way of life is urgent for the planet to survive. There are many ways to be more sustainable, from major changes to tiny ones and we all need to take part and do our little bit. I try to buy less and invest in quality products to make them last longer over time. I also try to suport brands sustainably produced or those making sustainable changes to improve in this field. Recycling and reducing waste is also an easy way to help the environment.
Hope you are doing well, and reading your blog is always a pleasure!
You are definitely doing your part Blanca. Others will have to come to their own conclusion and hopefully learn to do the right thing. All is well here and we are doing our best to keep safe. Stay well. Allan 🤗🤗
Covid and climate change deniers. Somebody needs to see if they are the same people. As long as money rules the world, the reign will be short and so will the rain. Thanks for reading Lynette. Allan
Those shots were taken in July, so the temps are much cooler now and the forest fires in B.C. and Alberta are mostly under control. A few small fires remain burning as we head through fall into winter. Thanks for reading Irene. Hope you have a great weekend. Allan
Yes, BC got hit really hard this year. We were 800 km (500 miles) away. They got the fire and we got the smoke. Winter snow will not seem so bad, this year. Thanks for reading Ann. Allan
Beautiful shots. The forest fires seem to get worse every summer. We’ve even experienced some hazy skies in southern Ontario, which is something I don’t think I’ve ever seen in this area before. Climate change is real and this goes to show that our actions do have consequences. It’s too bad not everyone believes it and that we’re not doing nearly enough to address the issues.
Funny thing is the fire season in Alberta was just “average” this year, but BC got hit hard and that is where most of the smoke came from. Human caused fires are a huge problem (ignoring fire bans, building codes and reality). We all need to do better to protect our environment and our habitats. Too many huge pickups and SUVs, too much driving, too many huge homes. I can understand why everyone wants shiny, new, bigger, better, more powerful. But instead of singing in the key of “Me”, we need to sing in the key of “We”. Small steps by many result in big changes and better lives for all. Stay well. Allan
Sunrises look especially creepy in fire season. I always wince with those. After experiencing an unprecedented wildfire season here, I can honestly say that Canada is now at the point California was a few years ago with the Camp Fire in 2018. It’s not going to get better unless we take radical action against climate change
Picture This 
Beautiful pictures! Scares me what summers will be like in 5 or 10 years at this rate…
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In 5 or 10 years, a yellow sun might be a rarity. Hope we can turn things around. Thanks for reading Lyssy. Happy October. Allan
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What beautiful sunsets Allan, I adore the vivid colours.
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This was actually the sunrise on a smoky day. 6:19 in the morning. The sun soon disappeared behind the smoke. Thanks for reading Marion. Stay well. Allan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Allan, lovely poem and wonderful sun captures to portray it.
Sustainability is the only way to go to reverse climate change. Unfortunately there a lots of good intentions and plans but none of them get properly implemented.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nature will determine if we survive and how painful it will be. Just crazy that everyone is building bigger, more powerful vehicles but nobody is concentrating on fuel economy any more. Then, we the people buy these shiny vehicles and keep flipping them every 3 years for newer, more powerful, less economical vehicles. It is as bad as fast fashion. We have 2 vehicles, one is 13 years old and the other is a hybrid and is 10 years old. No need to change and really, nowhere to go. Thanks for reading Blanca. Allan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Allan, this is the way to go. I never owned a car till I got married, I always used the public transport and we plan to keep the car we have now for at least good 10 years. I’m trying my best to convince my husband that the next car should be an electric one, see if I succeed!
The fast consuming society we live in is destroying the planet. A more sustainable way of life is urgent for the planet to survive. There are many ways to be more sustainable, from major changes to tiny ones and we all need to take part and do our little bit. I try to buy less and invest in quality products to make them last longer over time. I also try to suport brands sustainably produced or those making sustainable changes to improve in this field. Recycling and reducing waste is also an easy way to help the environment.
Hope you are doing well, and reading your blog is always a pleasure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are definitely doing your part Blanca. Others will have to come to their own conclusion and hopefully learn to do the right thing. All is well here and we are doing our best to keep safe. Stay well. Allan 🤗🤗
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It’s all rather worrying, but wow those sun photos Allan!
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The scary part was that I took them right out my front door. I hope not to see many more summers like this past on. Thanks for reading Leighton. Allan
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Yes, we have more than enough climate change deniers, too, and governments unwilling to really deal with the worst sources of pollution.
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Covid and climate change deniers. Somebody needs to see if they are the same people. As long as money rules the world, the reign will be short and so will the rain. Thanks for reading Lynette. Allan
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Hoping you get some rain to help control the fires and bring the temps down very soon. Your photos are amazing.
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Those shots were taken in July, so the temps are much cooler now and the forest fires in B.C. and Alberta are mostly under control. A few small fires remain burning as we head through fall into winter. Thanks for reading Irene. Hope you have a great weekend. Allan
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Good. 😊
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Amazing photos! I can’t imagine how hard it must be to live so closes to big fires like that….glad they’re finally out!
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Yes, BC got hit really hard this year. We were 800 km (500 miles) away. They got the fire and we got the smoke. Winter snow will not seem so bad, this year. Thanks for reading Ann. Allan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful shots. The forest fires seem to get worse every summer. We’ve even experienced some hazy skies in southern Ontario, which is something I don’t think I’ve ever seen in this area before. Climate change is real and this goes to show that our actions do have consequences. It’s too bad not everyone believes it and that we’re not doing nearly enough to address the issues.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny thing is the fire season in Alberta was just “average” this year, but BC got hit hard and that is where most of the smoke came from. Human caused fires are a huge problem (ignoring fire bans, building codes and reality). We all need to do better to protect our environment and our habitats. Too many huge pickups and SUVs, too much driving, too many huge homes. I can understand why everyone wants shiny, new, bigger, better, more powerful. But instead of singing in the key of “Me”, we need to sing in the key of “We”. Small steps by many result in big changes and better lives for all. Stay well. Allan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sunrises look especially creepy in fire season. I always wince with those. After experiencing an unprecedented wildfire season here, I can honestly say that Canada is now at the point California was a few years ago with the Camp Fire in 2018. It’s not going to get better unless we take radical action against climate change
LikeLiked by 1 person
When humans encroach into pine forests, bad things can happen. Fire is the great renewer, but not for houses. Thanks for reading. Allan
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John Oliver did a great show about the next pandemic where he talked about humans encroaching on nature. It’s worth a look
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I did see that and you are right, it was a great piece.
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It’s a wakeup call isn’t it?
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Great red sun pics. It’s a shame we don’t get those scenes unless something is on fire…
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I agree. It is also a shame that many do not pay attention to the warning signs. Thanks for reading. Allan
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