Wonderful "Families" Picture

Only Olaf is missing from this great shot; I can only presume that he is standing on a chair!

Watered down in Ohio

Thanks, Bones, for the details of your experience. I sure wish I could send you all some of this Ohio rain. There's flooding going on in many places because we've had a couple of days and nights of rain . . . and this after a bad drought that killed lots of plants and damaged trees. I wonder if there are still people who claim global warming to be a conspiracy theory.
love,
mickey

Tuesday Update from Topanga

Good morning everyone. All's well in our neck of the woods, in fact we are having a bit of a forced vacation. Originally you could leave the area and return with local IDs but now if you leave you can't come back in for some strange reason. I feel sorry for the early evacuees who have been away from home since Sunday, especially all the families with little kids. (Claire and kids returned yesterday because it was so stressful having the kids out of their familiar routine. So we're all "stuck" in our canyon.) Rumor has it that fires like this pull the crazies out of the cracks and the powers that be are afraid of other fires being set in our canyon(?) Not sure that makes sense after three days but that is the way things are right now.

The winds seem to have died down, which has been a major factor, but the heat is climbing to the upper 90s today and the actual fire is only 10% contained, so we still have some waiting and watching till this is over.

SoCal Fires (Update I)

Our incendiary conditions are nationwide news and I need to update you all on our individual circumstances.

The Malibu Canyon fire has traveled the past day and a half to within striking distance of Topanga Canyon. We are, in our particular zone, under a voluntary evacuation order. The street above us (Bowers) is a deadzone with everyone gone and gates left open if the fire department needs to enter. Claire and the three kids moved out to a hotel so as to not have to undergo the transfer in the middle of the night. As of this afternoon, the fire has moved to Las Flores canyon and they may be issuing a mandatory evacuation sometime soon.

We have packed all our valuables, photos, business records and are ready to go if necessary. We feel that our particular geographic position (way down Webb Trail as most of you know) protects us because the fires usually like to climb and if the front reaches this far it just might trip over to the next ridge. We do need to beware of embers and Janek and Robin are planning to man the roofs, on ours and with Brian up the street if need be.

The weather conditions are making it exceedingly difficult to contain this fire--NO humidity, whipping 20-60 mph winds and constantly changing wind directions.

I know that in other places it is even worse although I haven't been following them closely. San Diego is really under siege and I have heard that Christopher and Beth have evacuated from their apartment. I haven't heard anything from Cousin Ann.

All this to say that we are safe, ready and will keep you posted!

Update I
Here is a link to a great Google Map that gives you some perspective on where we are with regard to the fire. Zoom out one notch and pan right--we are in Fernwood up the Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Update on Mickey

Mickey had successful hip surgery last Tuesday and had three days in an excellent hospital with fine care. We had previously visited nursing facilities for a week-long rehabilitation and she ended up going to Scarlet Oaks (where your grandad ended his days). However, the place had really deteriorated and after getting her settled in on Friday, she had a horrible night (won't go into the details) and I pulled her out on Saturday (with a lot of help from many dear friends) and she has been in my new front guest bedroom since then. She will need 24 hr. care until at least this coming Friday when we hope she will have made sufficient progress in mobility to be on her own - renting a hospital bed etc., since she has a loft futon bed!

It has been a real ordeal for her (me too!) because she needed help moving out of bed/middle of the night etc. We communicated by cell phone across the house! However, we have had visiting nurses, physical therapists - who will continue for some time -and yesterday visits/flowers from the monastery, various well-meaning friends and even a Reiki treatment this afternoon. I juggled clients in and out today while removing the high toilet seat in my waiting area bathroom for clients. However, all is well and the physical therapist really helped today so she can get out of bed onto the walker by herself now - hurrah!

Despite all this, she is healing as expected and I assure her she will be skipping down the street in a couple of months without pain - maybe no pirouettes for awhile. She sends her love - as do I. We are thrilled to view the pictures of sweet Phoebe. I did have to cancel my flight to LA this Friday - I'll get out there later this year when things, hopefully, settle down. I know she would love to hear from family.

Love, Momma/Mom/Barbara

More on Phoebe

Slowly adjusting to life on this plane..................

Phoebe Jean

Nathie and Olaf proudly announce the birth of their DAUGHTER, Phoebe Jean Krull, who arrived rather quickly at 5:35 in the morning of October 3!

She was the result of her parents' plans and dreams, nine months of intense development and 4 and a half hours of labor. (Alright!--a mother's dream!) She had a water birth by candlelight (meaning she was born in a kiddie pool in her living room) and weighed 8 lbs. 12 ozs. and was 21 inches long. (In the photo no one yet knows who she is because she really just got placed on Nathie's chest--more pictures will come soon!)

Bonnie, Claire (Nathie and Olaf, of course) and three midwives of the "Sacred Entryways or Pathways" (or something like that--now that I don't remember the name it sounds funny but is no reflection on their wonderful, supportive, knowledgeable and professional efforts!) were all present. Julian slept through the whole thing in his bedroom but could not be cajoled into sleeping more after the onset of the lusty wails of his new sister.

She is beautiful, with a round face, pink skin, and extremely long fingers and toes--surfer or pianist, nobody knows!

Congratulations to all and welcome to Phoebe!