Smoke from California wildfires is back again. This is the sun in the late afternoon.

Hours later, I saw the full moon rise, looking just as red.

I didn’t know whether to open or close the sliding glass door for the night, but decided on a compromise, half open.
Once the moon was gone, the household was asleep in pitch dark. Emma’s sudden sharp barking had me leaping out of bed. After shushing her, I stood by the open deck door, listening. Scritchety-scratch, scrabbling came from the nearby fir trees. I got the flashlight out and discovered the prowlers. Two of them!

They weren’t shy. I know they’ve been here before. This time they were after the hazelnuts that Lincoln hadn’t managed to steal yet. The Captain held the light while I snapped the picture.
In the morning I found new holes dug in the grass. I felt guilty about having accused the rabbits of making those holes a few weeks ago, but maybe they were all guilty of having digging parties. Not sure what they were digging for, but they could get jobs on an open-pit mine site.
October 1, 2020 at 7:33 pm
The smoke is really unhealthy. I would shut all the doors and windows and run a clean air machine! Gorgeous photos though! 🙂
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October 1, 2020 at 8:40 pm
If it gets much worse I’ll do that. I had hoped it would all blow away by now. It really is unhealthy. I can taste it and my eyes are dry. I know everyone is suffering from it.
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October 2, 2020 at 9:04 am
You should check the air quality in your area. Usually it will come up as a warning on my phone, but this week has been especially bad according to a few sites and weren’t any health warnings from Weather.com. Take care!
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October 2, 2020 at 9:22 am
Yes, I do. It’s not as bad right now. When it was bad it was up to 10+, and now it has dropped down to 2. Seems to get worse at night and also depending on whether there’s a breeze. Today is better than it was. Terrible stuff though. I’m sure there are places where it’s much worse right now.
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October 2, 2020 at 3:11 pm
It’s terrible here. UV 2 with 143 air quality index.
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October 1, 2020 at 8:13 pm
Great photography Anneli. It was bright last night from the large moon. Raccoons are digging for June bugs that are burrowed into the ground. The raccoons can get very ambitious, with the lawn full of torn up holes.
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October 1, 2020 at 8:39 pm
They must be digging for those larvae (that look like white prawns), because the hatch is over. In this case, they’re welcome to tear up the grass. I hate those bugs.
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October 1, 2020 at 8:31 pm
We had the same lighting conditions here, down island from you. Fortunately, the smoke is staying in the upper atmosphere and not even close to the ground level. Love your photos, especially of the prowler.
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October 1, 2020 at 8:38 pm
You would have the smoke too, Sonja. Our smoke has dropped down into the valley. Not nice!
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October 1, 2020 at 8:32 pm
Skunks and raccoons will both dig for bugs in your lawn.
I love your photos. Sorry to hear about the smoke. Those wildfires in California don’t seem to be slowing down.
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October 1, 2020 at 8:37 pm
I had hoped it was winding down but it seems to have resurged again. So sad for the people down there and also for the many animals that suffer and die in these fires.
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October 1, 2020 at 10:02 pm
They are probably trying to fatten themselves up for winter.
Yes, it’s very sad.
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October 1, 2020 at 11:58 pm
l would not open a window through the night when there is still smoke, this is really unhealthy! It´s good to hear that the racoons are good for at least some thing. Very good pictures!
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October 2, 2020 at 8:29 am
Yes, I know you’re right, but then it gets stuffy in the room. It’s hard to know which is worse. I’m hoping it won’t last as long this time but I see the smoky haze all over the valley again this morning.
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October 2, 2020 at 2:37 am
Poor little rabbits get blamed for everything. 🙂 A couple of winters ago, I had to stop putting suet blocks out for the birds because the racoons would open the cage and steal the entire block! I caught a few in the act. Sorry about the smoke…stay safe!
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October 2, 2020 at 8:31 am
We had the same experience a few years ago. I don’t like having the raccoons around because I worry about the dogs getting into a tangle with them and those raccoons can be very vicious, especially if cornered.
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October 2, 2020 at 6:19 am
Anneli, your photos are always so enjoyable and heartwarming. Have a great weekend. ❤
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October 2, 2020 at 8:24 am
Thank you so much, Carol. Enjoy your weekend too.
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October 2, 2020 at 3:42 pm
Anneli, I just posted a short review of Reckoning Tide.
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October 2, 2020 at 4:14 pm
Thanks a lot for that, Carol. I’ll do the same for you after I read your latest. (My Kindle has been commandeered by the Captain for a while, but I will get it back and take care of that business.) Every bit helps, and I appreciate it!
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October 2, 2020 at 5:22 pm
I’m off to put a review on Amazon. ❤
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October 2, 2020 at 6:33 pm
Thank you very much. 😉
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October 2, 2020 at 7:15 am
Wow, it looks really dark with the sun out due to that smoke. We had some hazy smoke with a pink sun for a couple of days, but nothing like you’re experiencing.
My dad’s wife feeds ALL the wildlife on the 16 acres where they live. Deer, raccoons, woodchucks, fox, and even the skunks! 🤷♀️
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October 2, 2020 at 8:35 am
She must be a very kind person. I hope the skunks behave!
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October 2, 2020 at 9:24 am
She loves animals.
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October 2, 2020 at 9:25 am
I figured she must. She can’t be a bad person then.
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October 2, 2020 at 9:26 am
Okay. 😉
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October 2, 2020 at 8:21 am
The smoke is awful, but makes for red vibrant sun and moon. My family and friends in the SF Bay Area have been experiencing awful harmful smoke that makes the air quality dangerous. What a horrible fire season it’s been.
On the more fun side, “your” raccoon looks mighty healthy and happy. She must be a lover of those digging parties. .
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October 2, 2020 at 8:33 am
Yes, the raccoons seem to be well fed these days. So many fruit and nuts trees around. The smoke really is terrible to breathe, but now that you’ve mentioned SF, I should be quiet. I’m sure they have it much worse down there (although I can’t imagine how hard it would be to breathe)! This is bad enough.
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October 2, 2020 at 11:18 am
AMAZINGGGG !!
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October 2, 2020 at 11:35 am
Thanks for the follow. Your blog looks great.
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October 2, 2020 at 12:30 pm
thanks so much! yours too 🙂
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October 2, 2020 at 2:25 pm
Nice photos, Anneli. The smoke contributes to some dramatic shots. Cute raccoon, too bad they can be destructive.
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October 2, 2020 at 2:49 pm
The particles trap the colour somehow. And yes, I wish I didn’t have to worry about the dogs with the raccoons. It’s a worry when I let them out for last call at night. I always put them on a leash (even though our yard is fenced) because of the raccoon.
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October 3, 2020 at 12:36 pm
That smoke is awful though it does make for spooky photos. And raccoons can be such trouble-makers. We get yard holes but they’re from our giant moles. *Sigh* I hope your air clears soon.
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October 3, 2020 at 2:36 pm
Right now it’s hard to tell if it’s smoke or fog, but I think it’s a little of both. Can’t last forever though.
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October 3, 2020 at 2:53 pm
Not once the rain comes anyway. 🙂
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October 5, 2020 at 5:41 am
Awful smoke, beautiful photos, and naughty prowlers.
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October 5, 2020 at 8:29 am
The smoke seems to be lifting again but a thick fog has settled on us. 1/4 mi. visibility! Naughty prowlers still around.
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October 7, 2020 at 4:28 am
🙂
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October 10, 2020 at 1:05 am
Those fires must be such a worry. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with such awful air. I feel for all the poor wildlife and nature too. I’m glad you have a few little ‘friends’ in your garden who are staying safe…even if they are being a bit of a nuisance!!
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October 10, 2020 at 8:08 am
Thanks, Jo. The “little friends” remind us that life is good.
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