Hi everyone,

At the last report I've heard, there is over 230 wildfires burning in Florida.  The hugh fire north of us is still burning and probably will be burning for a month or more, but it is finally under control and did receive some rain which helped slow it down.  In the past week, many of the major roadways have been closed at times due to the smoke being too thick to see through and in a few cases, too close to the fire.

At our home, we have finally received some rain.  It was such a blessing!  It wasn't enough to pull us out of the drought, but it offered a drink to the pastures which was desperately needed.

There hasn't been much news on the people who have been evacuated, so I couldn't tell you if they are back home or not.  The firefighters have been working extremely hard to keep them all safe.  

The wildlife has fled the fires.  Last night on my way home, I saw two hugh black bears run up into one of my neighbor's carport!  All my mom's chickens have been stolen, another neighbor has found his cow feeders destroyed by bears, and the law was just changed to allow people to kill alligators on their land.  There's been a great increase in alligator attacks.  I've warned my kids to keep an eye out when they go to feed the horses.  You never know when a hungry preditor may be close and it appears the fires have driven them into our small 300 acre neighborhood.  I think we'll skip any summer camping for awhile.