The Coffee House

[Gary A.]

Hi ho Dave.

My daughter says that I make the best grilled cheese sandwich.

(The best ones are made with soft white bread, lots of butter, and American cheese...using a cast iron pan, in case you didn’t know).

Since she was little, after the time I ran out of white bread, Princess has preferred her grilled cheese on cinnamon raisin bread.

Nice! I think every family has that kind of story. Who knows what ours will be, haha.


In other news, this is much more acceptable for October.

View attachment 148114

Jellyfish in CT is welcomed news ...

 

[Gary A.]

Buenas Dias Coffee Hosers. 56F presently, the sun is still low and casting a reddish-brownish smoke tinge to the sky. It is projected to hit the mid 70's but we've been running the A/C and two HEPA filters to minimize the ash affecting Mary Lou's asthma. She, Mary Lou, is taking the day off, between Charlie's Crud and her own asthma, it is all taking a toll. She and Ms. Maggie are cuddled up on recliner getting some Zzzz's.

 

[smoke665]

The problem out here, due to the highly flammable nature of the forest and brush, all it takes for a controlled fire to become uncontrolled is a bit of wind. In California, there has been a debate going on for half a century about forest/land management and fire.

We talk about it all the time with forestry. The misguided Smokey the Bear campaign led to dangerous consequences. How The Smokey Bear Effect Led To Raging Wildfires without fire, to clear out the undergrowth and tinder, it just accumulates, to the point where it's extremely flammable. Regular prescribed burning actually makes the forest safer.

 

[Gary A.]

The problem out here, due to the highly flammable nature of the forest and brush, all it takes for a controlled fire to become uncontrolled is a bit of wind. In California, there has been a debate going on for half a century about forest/land management and fire.

We talk about it all the time with forestry. The misguided Smokey the Bear campaign led to dangerous consequences. How The Smokey Bear Effect Led To Raging Wildfires without fire, to clear out the undergrowth and tinder, it just accumulates, to the point where it's extremely flammable. Regular prescribed burning actually makes the forest safer.

What is kinda interesting biologically, is the Chaparral, (a thick brush ecosystem in the west), is not a climax community. It is the regular incursion of fire every few decades or so, which allows Chaparral to be dominate and appear to be stable.

 

[waday]

 

[smoke665]

@Gary A. Fire is the cleansing mechanism that promotes an ecosystem by "thinning" growth. One of the largest plots of long leaf pine in the state is on what used to be the firing range for FT McClellan. Shells fired down range would routinely start fire which they never bothered to put out. Long leaf thrives on fire, so it became a dominant stand.

 

[JonA_CT]

The problem out here, due to the highly flammable nature of the forest and brush, all it takes for a controlled fire to become uncontrolled is a bit of wind. In California, there has been a debate going on for half a century about forest/land management and fire.

We talk about it all the time with forestry. The misguided Smokey the Bear campaign led to dangerous consequences. How The Smokey Bear Effect Led To Raging Wildfires without fire, to clear out the undergrowth and tinder, it just accumulates, to the point where it's extremely flammable. Regular prescribed burning actually makes the forest safer.

What is kinda interesting biologically, is the Chaparral, (a thick brush ecosystem in the west), is not a climax community. It is the regular incursion of fire every few decades or so, which allows Chaparral to be dominate and appear to be stable.

One of my favorite state parks had an pretty extensive brush fire a few years back. It was eerie to hike through the remnants, but 5ish years later, it looks so healthy and vibrant. It was cool to see the rebirth...long grasses growing in the middle of the forest that probably hadn't thrived there in decades.

 

[Gary A.]

Several varieties of pines requires heat to melt the resin around the seeds, enabling the seeds to germinate. Gary thinks the most famous of those pines is out west, the Giant Sequoias.

 

[Gary A.]

The problem out here, due to the highly flammable nature of the forest and brush, all it takes for a controlled fire to become uncontrolled is a bit of wind. In California, there has been a debate going on for half a century about forest/land management and fire.

We talk about it all the time with forestry. The misguided Smokey the Bear campaign led to dangerous consequences. How The Smokey Bear Effect Led To Raging Wildfires without fire, to clear out the undergrowth and tinder, it just accumulates, to the point where it's extremely flammable. Regular prescribed burning actually makes the forest safer.

What is kinda interesting biologically, is the Chaparral, (a thick brush ecosystem in the west), is not a climax community. It is the regular incursion of fire every few decades or so, which allows Chaparral to be dominate and appear to be stable.

One of my favorite state parks had an pretty extensive brush fire a few years back. It was eerie to hike through the remnants, but 5ish years later, it looks so healthy and vibrant. It was cool to see the rebirth...long grasses growing in the middle of the forest that probably hadn't thrived there in decades.

Yeah, secondary succession is pretty interesting to observe and study. Between the fires out here and the hurricanes out there ... there will be a lot of chances for observation.

PS- The Mt. St. Helens area is being intensely studied.

 

[smoke665]

Several varieties of pines requires heat

Here the Pine Beetle is a major pest. Fire really helps to keep them under control. The other thing fire helps to harden off the pine, making it less susceptible to bending over.

 

[SquarePeg43 4]

Hey Hosers! It's Friday!!!! Looking forward to a fun weekend in VT , leaf peeping and relaxing. Leaving tomorrow morning. Had a great time at the Pit Bull/Enrique Iglesias concert last night. Someone gave my sister-in-law 2 tickets that they won on the radio. Not the best seats but not bad either! Front of the upper level and free lol - sweet deal. Interesting concession choices and prices at the Garden. $14 for a top shelf drink or $14 for a beer... hmmmmm what to do what to do?

 

[Gary A.]

Several varieties of pines requires heat

Here the Pine Beetle is a major pest. Fire really helps to keep them under control. The other thing fire helps to harden off the pine, making it less susceptible to bending over.

The major insect pestilence out here is from non-native invaders.

 

[limr36 6]

Several varieties of pines requires heat

Here the Pine Beetle is a major pest. Fire really helps to keep them under control. The other thing fire helps to harden off the pine, making it less susceptible to bending over.

The major insect pestilence out here is from non-native invaders.

That's how I feel about the swarms of day-trippers from the city who have 'discovered' one of my favorite hiking areas and totally ruined it.

 

[Gary A.]

Gary has been receiving emails from his club wineries:

"We wanted to give an update about Russian River Vineyards given the fire conditions in Sonoma County. We are grateful to report that we are safe, and so far there has been no damage to our property or vineyards. If you are in the fire area, we hope that you are safe as well and have you in our thoughts."


An outreach for help from a Temecula winery 500 miles to the south:

"We know so many of you connect with the Nap -Sonoma Wine Country as do we!

We want to help so for the next week we will donate 10% of all wine sales to the Santa Rosa chapter of the American Red Cross.

If you would like to donate to the directly this is the information
American Red Cross of the California Northwest
5297 Aero Drive Santa Rosa , CA 95403 Phone: (707) 577-7600

www.redcross.org/local/california/northern-california-coastal/chapters/california-northwest

We also know that many of you are in industries that may be able to help with equipment and man power needs.

Northern California Wine industry leaders have formed a support network to provide immediate assistance of resources, such as generators, trailers, lodging and manpower."

Ann Petersen, Executive Director of Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley. “Our focus right now is on getting on-the-ground support to impacted growers and vintners to help stave off further damage. We need the entire wine community to support this region with immediate and strategic action.

Petersen is working with other local industry leaders to organize resources and direct them to those in need.

Vintners in the affected areas have immediate on-the-ground needs, ranging from equipment to experienced manpower. Priorities include:
Water Tanks, as local water resources are scarce and needed by firefighters; those who can provide should immediately email maureen@sonomavalleyvintners.com
Generators to power cooling tanks and other urgently-need equipment
Tractors and trailers to assist with moving grapes, equipment and debris
Lodging to house workers, including tents, mobile unites or locals willing to open their homes
Volunteer Labor. Experienced vineyard and cellar workers are needed; unskilled manpower is also welcome

We Hope some of you may be able to help with these needs as well.

Many of the grapes in that region had not been picked yet so the need will be great!

We have personal friends who are winery owners and they tell us the damages are beyond what we are seeing in the news.

Let’s Help!

Don and Brenda Lorenzi"

 

[Gary A.]

... And it's Dodgers vs. Cubbies