The smoke finally let up over the weekend after three days of gentle rain showers. I am so grateful to have the unobstructed views again as well as the help watering some of the landscape. This last month has been a smokey and dismal one as air quality remained in hazardous conditions for almost 4 weeks straight. Along with the rain came a very welcome cold snap as well. Mornings and nights have almost felt like Fall is in the air. The welcoming of Fall is slightly terrifying as it means I will be in full hustle mode preparing for winter and I am currently no where near ready. Once fire bans are lifted I will have to pull out the chain saw and begin stock piling wood for the wood stove. I also still have the task of purchasing and installing the rest of the chimney pipe as currently my wood stove is just a decorative piece in the living room. 
On a positive note, I welcomed my horse onto the homestead for the first time. Johnny seems to be settling in nicely and enjoying the pasture I worked very hard on last summer during my time off work. I absolutely love being able to watch him from the large kitchen window as he grazes. We broke out for a little ride around the neighborhood one evening to get better acquainted with our surroundings. He was very interested in a couple of deer we encountered along the way but Zeus my miniature schnauzer scared them off our trail. 
Recently one of my friends had been boarding her horses and a hand full of chickens at my place due to the fire evacuation levels in her canyon across the river. This was a blessing for me as I was struggling to make ends meet and her spare cash put me in a much more comfortable place. She also left me with a large bundle of T posts, a livestock water trough, two garden gates and several wood fence poles. These materials will work perfectly for me to add on to the lower pasture I replanted last Fall. I love finding treasures in another persons junk! I am continuously blessed by my friends around me.
