The Rainy Tuesday and a Scare

This picture pretty much sums up what Delilah thinks of Calamity Acres, I'm afraid. 

To be fair to this poor girl, she lived her whole life from a tiny doeling at Juniper Hill.  She had a companion there, Sampson, who has been gone for a while. 

She is bewildered and cannot figure out why her life is upside down. 

Sharpening her weapons.  She isn't afraid to use them, either! 

However, we did have some periods of relative quiet during the afternoon, thank heavens! 

WE NOW INTERRUPT OUR REGULAR BLOGPOST. 

While I was typing the blogpost this morning, I began to smell smoke. 

I knew there was a paper towel hanging in the kitchen, and I began to think I had left a burner on. 

I went out there... nothing....

I came back in the office and smelled the smell stronger, and went into the bedroom, where Lilly was napping on the bed.  

There was smoke everywhere.  

I called 911. 

You cannot see the whole response from these pictures.  A Kansas State Trooper was here first. 
Then the Tongie City (Tonganoxie) Fire Department, coming from the west.  Then the Stranger Creek department (Volunteers) from the east.  Two sheriff's deputies (one of them Kelly's breeder)... and the Weststar Energy truck.  

I cannot thank all of them enough. 

I had been able to call Keith, who turned around from where he was headed to come back to the house. 

As he got here, his phone rang, it was his boss who was at a meeting in Salina.  Our county emergency manager was in the same meeting, had heard the fire call (he himself is a volunteer) and heard our address.  He told Keith's boss, who called to see if we were okay. 

Kathy from next door had heard the call on Troy's radio (he is a volunteer) had already offered her house to us and the dogs for as long as we needed.  

Unbelieveable. 

The kindness of friends... I cannot impress upon you all that when the chips are down... it's your neighbors and friends that will pull for you. 

What did I think to do? 

I did not know if the wall was on fire, or the electricity. 

I called 911 as I went to the kitchen. 

I grabbed my purse, the Western Digital harddrive with our family pictures on it... and my camera. 
I grabbed a leash and leashed Ranger, who needs help. 

I called Lilly and Abby to come, and they came immediately. 

I loaded them all in the car... and drove the car far from the house, and left them. 

I had called Keith initially and hung up on him... and called him back to tell him the house was on fire. 

I got the gate open for the fire department(s).  

I went back in the kitchen for my Carhartt, after the trooper walked through. 

I was so glad to see Keith, and so grateful to God our Father for not losing our beloved little house. 
A washer is nothing. 

Keith had to lift Ranger out of the car but we are all back in the house, Keith on his way to work.... and Mary Ann grateful that nothing worse happened.  

I'm waiting for KanGas to get here to re-light the furnace, and also grateful that it's not 27 degrees out right now. 

Prayers of thanks going heavenwards today!