We are pretty smokey up in north Snohomish County. It's muggy outside and difficult to work for more than a short time outside. Nose is runny, eyes itchy, sneezing, slightly nauseous. How are things on the east side?

Weird morning. At almost 7 am, I can't even see the sun, although I don't think we have any clouds. Usually I've been able to track it as a bright orange ball, but today is just kind of dark.

It's supposed to be pretty bad for a while. I'm having a little trouble breathing today, and yesterday when I went to town, I saw a lot of people wearing masks. You can't even tell what the weather is! They're having a meeting at the barn in Winthrop today to update everyone on air quality issues and evacuation notices. The fire plume was huge last time I saw it - can't see anything now. This is getting old.

I'm just holed up inside with all the doors and windows shut. Maybe the basement would be a better place to hang, doesn't smoke rise? Those fire maps are sure scary, seems like the whole west coast is on fire. Too bad there isn't some easy way to nab all the flood waters from Texas to put out the fires...

Yay, pouring down rain here in north Snohomish County, with some lightening/thunder. Hope it helps douse some of the fires. I know my lawn and flowers are all smiling!

Edited to add: it only lasted perhaps a half hour, but at least it washed the dust and ashes off the plants and gave them a good drink of water. I poked my finger in a couple mole hills and they were damp a good 2-3 inches down.