Search

Search
Close this search box.

Friday Fun Stuff and Some Not so Fun Stuff


This week has been a bit challenging.  Our lake home was threatened by the Chimney Fire. (which also threatened Hearst Castle by the way).  If you follow me on Instagram and Facebook you probably have seen the photos.  We were at the lake two weeks ago when the fire started. We were casually watching Beau play in the water at the main launch ramp when suddenly we saw this across the lake.


We all watched the fire “in the distance” through the night.  The next day it appeared it was somewhat under control and then the wind shifted. On Sunday we watched dumfounded throughout the day as it turned into this and much worse.

We left that Sunday night shocked at the loss of homes across the lake but incredibly impressed by the planning and coordination it takes to fight a fire from the air and ground. We all thought there was little possibility it would cross the lake.   We had renters at our home ( we warned them what was going on, they still wanted to come).  They were out wine tasting and completely unthreatened by the fire (they are californians !).  We got the word that the fire had jumped the lake and that it was burning near the gatehouse of our community. This is a photo (of the drive into Oak Shores) taken by SLO Stringer (an independent news person who was our main source of news throughout the ordeal)

We received the evacuation notice. We called our renters.  They had to gather their stuff and evacuate in a matter of minutes Saturday night.  The power was turned off on Sunday (think rotting food).  Last night the power was restored and today at noon the evacuation was lifted. Tomorrow we go survey the mess. We are so thankful to the fire fighters that we have no more to worry about than that.  

Now on to the fun stuff.  Leslie (of Gwen Moss blog) posted this beautiful diy fireplace mantel that she created herself.  Are you kidding me? You have to check it out here

I love Mary Ann’s tips on how to update your dining room for fall  here

Loved Sherry Hart’s suggestions on how to make black and white work, and all her great finds at Target and World Market.  D.C’s Target & WM must be a step up from ours….

Have you checked out the latest Atalanta Homes & Lifestyles? I absolutely love that magazine. Is anyone else as obsessed as I? This kitchen by Lauren DeLoach

Photo by Sarah Dorio
source

…and this room by Nina Nash and Don Easterling, Mathews Furniture 
particularly caught my eye

Photo by Sarah Dorio
source

Have a great weekend friends! I know I am breathing a sigh of relief!!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sheila @ Maison de Cinq says

    Oh my gosh, I'm so behind on blog posts and am just reading and doing some catching up tonight so I am only just seeing this. So, sooo glad that your gorgeous lake house survived and was not in harm's way. Being a Californian can be pretty nerve-wracking this time of year.Hope you are all doing well Cindy!

    Sheila
    xo

  2. Nancy says

    Gosh I'm so glad y'all are ok. We lost everything in a house fire when I was 8 and it still haunts my heart to this day. I can't hear a fire truck go by without tearing up. God bless firefighters everywhere for the hard work they do.

    xoxo,
    nancy

  3. La Dolfina says

    So glad everything is fine! Whew!
    We were at Heast Castle about a month ago and smelled the fires in the distance.
    Such a beautiful area;)

  4. Karen says

    Cindy,
    I'm so happy your lake home was saved. We had a fire near our home only once, option evacuation, and it was very scary. This drought has made for the ideal conditions for fire. I hope we get some rain this year. Thank goodness for our brave men and women who fight these fires.
    Love the links you've given us…Leslie's fireplace and home is amazing.
    xo,
    Karen

  5. Mary Ann Pickett says

    Each time I saw a bit of news about the fires, I thought about the beautiful time we had at your home with you and Steve… I didn't want to think that it could be ashes like some of your neighbors. Thank God.

    Thanks for mentioning my dining room post…so sweet. Good luck with the refrigerator!

  6. Anonymous says

    We have just returned to Australia after 5 weeks in San Francisco and LA, seeing the
    California fires on the news reminded us of the summer fires we have here in Australia.
    So sad to see how drought stricken California is, we had 9 inches of rain here in the
    time we were away

  7. Celia Becker @ After Orange County says

    Oh Cindy, I can so relate to your fire woes. We have evacuated twice since living in our Lake Arrowhead home, both times for 2 weeks. Fortunately our home was spared but many friends lost theirs. It is just one of the things us Californians live with in the land of fires and earthquakes. I have grown almost numb to it now. Not sure if that's good or bad? Glad your home was also spared but how sad for your community. Best wishes.

    • Cindy says

      Oh my goodness..two weeks twice and it was your main residence? Luckily our community was completely spared some of the communities across the lake not so much.

  8. Holly Boyle says

    Glad to hear all are safe, except maybe the fridge! And yes, we Californians do know how to prioritize when impending disaster looms. Years ago gathered with friends sipping wine and nibbling cheeses, a mild earthquake rumbled and our first instinct was to grab the wine glasses and bottle! Not a drop spilled and laughter all round. Thanks as always for your lovely blog. Cheers!

    • Cindy says

      Thanks Leslie. I have heard all is well. There is just a lot of grime to be cleaned up on the patios etc. No views have been harmed either from what I hear.

Edit Content
Click on the Edit Content button to edit/add the content.
• powered by chloédigital