The Road to Nowhere....

Last week we drove South on 101 on our way to Sacramento. We haven't had much rain lately so I didn't call CalTrans before we left to see if there was a problem with the Confusion Hill Slide (in Winter we never leave home without checking first as the highway closes often due to the unstable hill which often slides and covers the road). Imagine my surprise when we rounded the corner and saw this! The Road to Nowhere.

I can report that the new bridge (what is it costing? Something like $64 MILLION?) is well under way. I confess,I had no idea they were this far along. We stopped on the way home and Liz took this awesome picture.

I taught a class on Saturday, French Roses. This is such a beautiful quilt and so very much fun. You don't have to stress about anything. I made the cottage chic quilt here and during class I began another one for Sydney's big girl bed from 1930's prints. I used a background of white with large pink polka dots and all the flowers will have a solid yellow center. Sort of paying homage to 1930's Grandma's Flower Garden Quilts. (I'll be teaching it again in August and September).

Just a few minutes after I got home after class my next-door neighbor rang the door bell. One of our neighbor's house was on fire! I looked out my bedroom window and there were flames shooting 8' in the air from their roof! Lots of smoke and loud crackles filled the air. "Anyone got a phone?" yelled the only person I could see. He had a garden hose and aimed it's tiny and ineffective stream of water onto the roof. I returned to the bedroom and called 911. They told me the fire dept. was at the scene. "No...I'm at the scene and there are no firemen here. "Well, soon.....5 engines are on their way," the 911 dispatcher said. Some very, very long minutes later the first truck arrived...and down the little drive on the side of our house. Problem: eventually 5 engines arrived, an ambulance and 4 other fire vehicles. Where to park????? Only one truck can make it down the little lane. The rest parked and double parked in front of MY house. I'm sure all the traffic thought it was our house burning down.

We're fine.....the neighbors and their cats got out in time. The insurance company has repairs already started..today is Monday, fire was Saturday 5 pm. Fire last month near the store, now near our house.....and all those Northern CA wildfires. Hmmmm.........