Skip to main content

Smoke on the Water

OK...I'm EXHAUSTED.

They don't make a strong enough coffee. (Well, OK, they do, but I don't function very well when I end up dizzy and shaking, with low blood sugar. And I like strong coffee!)

Last night, my husband and I woke up to a smell. Usually, it's the sound of Daughter #2 looking for 4 a.m. company. (Well, actually, that DID happen!) No, first, it was the smell--that burning chemical smell. He walked the house first; then, I did. Oven was off. No unusual appliances on. The backyard wasn't burning. And the spray paint can I had used to paint my sister's failing outdoor lounge chairs had not ignited the garage. (Praise the Lord!)

"It's coming in our window." he said.

Wait...the smell. I had smelled it days ago on the trip home from the library...and days before that, when I thought my car's failing radiator might be toast. (We're waiting for the new one to come in! Maybe the new mechanic can fix the false "check light" computer message on my dashboard alert screen.)

I had the radio on during the post-library trip, after seeing amber alerts, and the Lite 98 personality said, "the Great Dismal Swamp is burning."

So, here it was, 2:30 a.m., and I remembered--the swamp is burning. Still?

Just to make sure--now 7:30 a.m.--I checked the local weather station's blog. Sure enough. Still burning.

Not an uncommon phenomenon, if you read the linked article in the blog. Once burned for three whole years! (Maybe there's a secret source of crude oil that we don't know about!) But, 80 miles away from North Carolina, weeks later, and now we're waking up to the smell of the swamp, that's not actually our house burning!

The Great DISMAL Swamp, indeed.

I know. Even in my exhausted state, I know that swamps, like forests, burn for a reason. God gives us an ever-changing landscape, even in the midst of what seems like destruction, so life can flourish. Another huge praise!

Reports say that the fire could be extinguished with a large enough rainstorm--perhaps as soon as today. We'll see. We may just keep the windows closed and breathe in "fresh" conditioned air. One step closer to a somewhat restful night's sleep. (Daughter #2 won't permit a perfectly restful night's sleep.)

And then folks won't say to me: "Girl, your eyes have the mist from the smoke of a distant fire."

(Oh, man..... Long way to go for a Sanford/Townsend Band
reference.)

Deh Deh Deh
Deh Deh De-Deh
Deh Deh Deh...Deh Dehhhhhhh......

Smoke on the Water....Fire in the Sky..... What? No Deep Purple either?

OK, I'm EXHAUSTED....

Comments

My ADHD Me said…
I'm SO glad I didn't end up seeing your name/address on my fire pager!!
It's VERY scary to wake up in the night and smell smoke. Glad things were ok.
My ADHD Me said…
Hi. Me again. Last night when I read your blog, it reminded me of a SNL episode. (I don't sit around watching SNL all the time but since we've been referring to it lately...anyway). I tried and tried to remember the name of the instrument I wanted to say. NOW I REMEMBER!!

"COWBELL!! WE NEED MORE COWBELL!!"

Why did your blog remind me of that?
Kelly said…
I'm exhausted too, and it has nothing to do with the swamp and alot to do with VBS. Big week.

Next week you can R&R. I'm jealous (in a godly way.) wink wink.
The Patterson 5 said…
Yes we've been smelling the burning too. A few AMs while we are out walking Toby neighbors have been seen walking around their houses looking concerned-searching for the cause of fire. You are not alone-I am glad too that it is not your house or the spray painted lawn furniture! I like the song references! It will take me awhile to get them out of my head
My ADHD Me said…
MORE COWBELL PLEASE!!

I'm over here banging on my cowbell but I cannot hear yours.

Why can't I just get MORE COWBELL!!!
Kelly said…
Write some today. Please.

(or you need to change your blog name to "write some maybe possibly one day when I have time in September when the kids go back to school." And that is WAY to long of a blog name.)

SMILES!!!! Thinking of you.
My ADHD Me said…
(sing to the tune of Barney's I Love You song)

"I Miss You,

Yes I Do,

Without your blog I go "Boo Hoo"

Cause I look and I look just to read a post by You.

Won't you please write something new."

Hi. I know you were on vacation and have been busy. Don't worry....only 57 days til school starts!
My ADHD Me said…
Hi Sue.
You know, I'm starting to look obsessive compulsive with all these comments on this one post. It is up to you to fix that.
HaHa Just Kidding. I already looked obsessive compulsive way before I left the first post.
Just wanted to say "Hi" and let you know I'm thinking of you!
Hope all is well!

Popular posts from this blog

On this Merry Christmas Night....

Merry Christmas, blog friends! I know you're wondering, "Did she finish painting her family room (finally....)??" (Nope!) * * * D oesn't this look like how our days are sometimes? Myriad things scattered about, unfinished. Trying to take a cozy, restful seat by the fire, but still that seat stays empty. We try to make things brighter, but the light strings don't quite have the power to make things clear for us. And we wonder how many coats it will take to cover up what had been there before, without splotches and unevenness. (Three may just be right--sigh....!) * * * We may have things unfinished. We may have "miscalculated" the use of our time. Or perhaps we were called away to other things for which we were needed, even if they weren't part of our plans. Even in our peaceful approach to Christmas, that seat of rest may be vacant. But the opportunity to "Be still...." doesn't always lie in a cozy sea

When I was 45....

I t was a very good year! (Yep, celebrating again! I hijacked my own blog--LOL!) The glass is half full, and things have never looked more browniful! Awesome day on tap.... sunshine, take-out barbecue for dinner, cake.... Thanks for celebrating with me! Enjoy.... ( Let it rise....One of my all-time favorite praise songs! )

Post #100

L ong before we bloggers celebrated our first 100 posts, the psalmists provided us with theirs. In recognition of my 100th, let's celebrate by looking at the Bible's "Post #100" (a.k.a., Psalm 100, A Psalm for Thanksgiving or Thank Offering): Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Surprisingly, there is no direct Hebrew translation for the English word 'joyful' as used in this verse in the King James Version. That leaves things a bit open to interpretation. My study Bible (NASB) says 'joyful' is "a shout of loyalty and homage." The dictionary defines 'joy' with the word rejoicing, meaning "to be made glad again." 'Noise,' however, does come with a Hebrew equivalent, meaning "to split the ears with sound," as in to shout, shout for joy. Lands implies all the earth, the nations, the world. We, those of all nations, are to present to the Lord, out of our loyalty and homage to Him, joyful shouts that