I maintain that everybody needs an editor.

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Start of TOB

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KRWG fundraiser

Laura and Carrie at the end of the annual KRWG fundraiser.

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A 2:30 explosion rocked the neighborhood

15 minutes after the explosion. The home is burning. Emergency vehicles are still arriving, and thru binoculars, it is clear that the walls were totally knocked down from the explosion.

The fire has gotten bigger from what it first was and the smoke keeps turning black. There have been what sounded like a couple of secondary explosions, perhaps as small propane tanks might have exploded.

Water just got turned on the flames. Nobody at home could have survived.

Moments later, (3:06 am), water from the pumper truck arced over the flames from the north.

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Update, from the Las Cruces Sun News:

UPDATED: Massive explosion levels home near "A" Mountain, home reportedly owned by former DEA agent (9:36 a.m.)

Sources: home owned by former DEA agent

Sun-News report

Article Launched: 10/23/2008 06:18:59 AM MDT

Investigators rummage through Thursday morning's house explosion... (Photo by Shari Vialpando)

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LAS CRUCES - An early morning explosion leveled a home near "A" Mountain Thursday. The home, according to sources who spoke to the Sun-News on condition of anonimity, is owned by a former Drug Enforcement Agency officer. According to the Dona Ana County Assessor's Web site, the property at 4852 Deadwood Camp Court is listed under the ownership of Paul A. Hering Jr.

No injuries are reported, but the home is a total loss and federal investigators have been called in.

The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department and the Dona Ana County Fire and Emergency Services Department are on scene and waiting for daybreak to beging investigating the massive home explosion in the Talavera area east of Las Cruces.

No injuries are reported.

The explosion occurred at about 2:30 a.m. at a home on Deadwood Camp Court, according to Dona Ana County Spokesman Jess Williams.

The home was totally destroyed, and some nearby residences also were damaged.

Officials say it is the worst explosion they have seen in recent memory.

Police and fire investigators will conduct a full survey of the blast radius at daylight.

Some nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution while the investigation proceeds. Access to the area is closed.

As is standard in an explosion of this magnitude, the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have been notified and may send investigators. The New Mexico State Fire Marshal's Office will be involved in the investigation.

The cause of theexplosion is unknown at this time. The house was unoccupied and for sale. The house was valued at approximately $850,000. There is no fire burning on the scene.

The American Red Cross has been called in to support firefighters and law enforcement personnel on the scene as the investigation unfolds.

Las Alturas, South Valley, New Mexico State University and Talavera Volunteer Fire Departments responded.

Check back throughout the day for more information as it becomes available.

The Las Cruces Sun-News will provide updates as they become available.

And from KFOX in El Paso:

The destruction was said to be immense, with debris scattered over a wide area. A number of surrounding homes also suffered damage as a result of the blast. Despite the damage, there were no reports of injuries, although some neighbors needed to be evacuated as a precaution.

Jacob at Willamette

Stopped at the bookstore to get Jacob a sweatshirt before we left. The morning is cold, gray, and rainy, which is what Jacob can expect from now until April.

Stu and I had a great visit. Jacob was generous with his time and his conversation.
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Why the mirror?

This Willamette landmark is the Hadfield fountain. So why does the eagle have a mirror on its back?
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Beaver fever

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Stu in the redwood grove at Willamette

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Willamette university on a beautiful Sunday afternoon

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Oregon State Capitol

From the grounds of Willamette University.
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Stu by the mill stream

Parent's weekend at Willamette. Jacob might allow us a photograph tomorrow.
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A surprisingly crowded and blustery day at the beach

Lincoln City, Oregon

Why was the beach so crowded today? Glass Floats and Lincoln City's Finder's Keeper's program!

This very cool program began at year 2000, when 2000 glass floats were hidden around the beach, a reminder of the glass floats that once floated in from Asian fishing boats but do not so much any more. Since 2000, the town has maintained the program and expanded it by one float each year. Found floats are the property of the finder, and finders can get a certificate of authenticity for the float. Floats are made by local artists, and glass foundries are common in Lincoln City.




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Basket slough NWR

Too picturesque for words.

This was taken from a hilltop overlooking the Willamette Valley. The trail was named for a former refuge manager who was killed on Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. The trail was a beautiful memorial.
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Beaver at wildlife refuge

Big rodent with lots of friends. Also bald eagles, a red tail, northern harrier, a flock of scrub jays, another of cedar waxwings. Very sweet.
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Salem's market

It is the end of the season at the Salem Farmer's Market. We found a mouth-watering collection of greens and veggies and fruit. Next time we visit during the market season I want to stay at a place with a kitchen!

They actually had more variety of chile than we have at our market. Snacked on fresh apples for the rest of the day. Yum.

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On Willamette campus

Bell tower at Willamette University. Written in chalk, with an arrow pointing to the words, was "Obviously not."

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Mount pointy top

Out the west side of the aircraft. Could not get the pilot to go around again. Stu thinks it is Mount Bachelor.

I think this means we are near Portland. Must ask Stu again if we are almost there yet.
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Home, from 10000 feet.

Flight out this morning took us over Las Cruces from a couple miles up. This is looking back at Talavera.

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There is a moose on the plane !

There were likely not more than 20 people on the plane, and this caused some problems. After we were all seated, the flight attendant told us that about 5 of us needed to move from in front of row 8 to behind row 13. (Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.)

But not enough! After we shuffled around, the flight attendant had to tell us again, need more movers! So a few more people moved and the plane took off.

By the way, all Frontier planes have wildlife painted on the tail. This was Floyd the Moose, named for Frontier's Chief Pilot.

And for Teresa: the plane was a DeHaviland

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And away we go

Heading out to first child's first parent's weekend.

We are guessing that he will not fit in the winter coat we are bringing. And he forgot to tell us if he needs more pine nuts. They might be the only things stopping him from wasting away.

Portland is cold and rainy. Our flights are on frontier, which apparently flies props. There are about ten people in the waiting area. We might be in for a seriously small plane.
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Onate band takes the field

LCHS is sitting behind them in the stands in blue and red. LCHS cheers!
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Socorro marching competition

Quincy is in the front of her row... better pix to come later.

Stu made the giant clock in the back right. The show theme is Pulse and he also made a giant EKG monitor.

Hand crankin'

Not the same as the Watson's roaster, but good for the confined space of the farmer's market. You can see the blue flame at the bottom of his contraption. The chile is red and green in the roaster -- it is about the end of the season for the green. This vendor brings produce from his Deming farm.

There were eggs this morning!
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Harvest!

The pumpkin grew up, turned orange, and moved inside. Maybe by the time Jake comes home for Thanksgiving it will be ready to pitch off the roof!?!

I went down with kitchen shears this weekend to harvest Le Grande Pumpkin but the stem defeated the measly little shears. Stu and Quincy (aka pumpkin!) took a very sharp bread knife to conquer the gourd. The pumpkin is of little interest to the dogs but bigger than widget.