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The following
letter was sent on January 2, 2013:
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Looking Forward,
Looking Back
Colorado High
Park Fire
Update
(contains photos
- please be
patient as they
load)
For those of you
who wish to read
or missed my
past letters,
they are posted
on our website
at
http://rivercrossinginc.tripod.com/feature.html
A Hundred Thanks
to every single
one of you who
has come out to
our property
since the fire
to help us with
the clean-up
process. It
means so much to
us, and we can
never adequately
thank you
enough. May God
bless you
abundantly for
your continued
kindness.
*******************************************************************
OK - I'm better
now. : )
My grateful
thanks to all of
you who sent
encouragement
our way after my
last "Black
Blog" letter. I
spent a couple
of weeks in Ohio
with my folks in
early December,
and getting away
from the "black
zone" for awhile
helped. When I
returned, I
found my
emotions were
transitioning
(finally) from
mourning the
loss of our
home, and the
beautiful green
mountain and
landscape, to
wanting to heal
its wounds and
move forward. I
caught the
holiday spirit,
and shopping for
replacement
items finally
became fun! Mike
and I have begun
re-stocking our
wardrobes and
household
essentials.
Our insurance
company has come
through, and
while most of
the money has
already gone out
the door to pay
for mortgages on
non-existent
houses, burnt
tree and debris
removal, and
re-purchasing
necessary items
for daily life,
we have enough
left over to
start to budget
for the
re-building
process. We're
working to make
it stretch as
far as we can,
but thanks to
your help, we
are on our way!
Here's what's
been happening
since my last
update:
Late September
A hard-working
party of five
joined Mike and
I and we blasted
away with
everything we
had to try to
clear an area of
burnt forest at
the base of the
mountain.
Chainsaws,
chippers,
pullers, haulers
and toters
gamely slaved
away all day
long with barely
a break. At the
end of the day,
a small but
significant dent
could be seen on
the hillside. We
estimate four
hundred trees of
all sizes were
dropped that
day.


While we worked,
we were happy to
see seed being
dropped by
helicopter on
neighboring
burnt National
Forest Land.
This should help
with the erosion
problem come
next spring.

A Paradise Park
neighbor who
owns a
construction
company came by
with his HUGE
backhoe. He
dredged our
upper
silt-filled
pond, enlarged
another, and
excavated the
area where
Mike's utility
shed used to be
so we could
begin
construction on
a new one. He
also cleaned up
and smoothed out
the areas where
the house and
woodshed used to
stand. That
monster of a
backhoe could
rip out entire
stumps without
even breaking a
sweat! Very
impressive and
very
appreciated.


The day after
the pond was
enlarged, a
thunderburst up
on the mountain
caused a river
of inky water to
flood back into
the pond. Very
disheartening
for Mike.

Very Early
October
(In case you
missed this part
in my last
"Black"
update:) Grace
Hood, with KUNC,
has been
following us
since the
evacuation. She
came up to visit
us in early
October and
produced this
really nice
radio and video
clip.
http://www.kunc.org/post/6-months-after-high-park-fire-we-re-not-all-better-yet-we-will-be
Early October
In spite of
SNOW!, another
dedicated work
party braved the
cold to
construct a
filter dam from
brush and stumps
in a neighboring
ravine to
hopefully keep
that silt and
ash from flowing
back into our
ponds come next
spring with the
snow melt off
and rains.

The heavy frost
that morning
clung to every
fried pine
needle and
branch on the
blackened trees,
and for a brief
time, the
mountain looked
like it used to
in the winter. I
got choked up,
knowing it was
only a beautiful
illusion.

Mid October
We gave up on
the idea of
removing four
acres of
blackened trees
without
professional
help. We decided
to allocate some
of the insurance
funds to bring
in a
tree-cutting
team with a skid
steer, a 15"
chipper, and a
forest
masticator. They
did a massive
amount of work,
but there was
still much to be
done when they
left.


Late October
A forest fire
burning in
nearby Estes
Park since
October 9 got
kicked up by
strong winds,
and the smoke
came and filled
our valley.
Disconcerting.
It was in very
steep terrain
and difficult
for them to
fight. It burned
slowly for
weeks, and
finally in
December, after
another alarming
high wind event,
they finally got
it under
control.

Hooray! The
first
reconstruction
project was
begun! A
concrete pad was
poured for the
"Bunkhouse" - a
storage shed
where we can
stash our stuff
and where Mike
can re-locate
his leather
clothing
workshop when we
begin the
remodeling
process on the
Studio. It's got
two interior
rooms, and an
attic for more
storage.

We did a lot of
research into
Fire Wise
building
techniques (www.firewise.org),
incorporating
fire-resistant
siding and
decking, and
other options
with the goal in
mind that, God
forbid, another
forest fire
sweeps through
our land, this
little building
will be able to
defend itself.

Early November
Ellie the Donkey
(see September
27th posting)
received her
award as "Animal
Hero of the
Year" from Pet
Aid Colorado, in
a ceremony at
the Pepsi Center
in Denver. It
had been hoped
she could be in
personal
attendance, but
it was decided
she wouldn't fit
in the freight
elevator!
Michele accepted
Ellie's medal in
her place, and
the coolest
balloon
sculpture had to
suffice for her
presence.

Mid November
Construction
continued on the
"Bunkhouse," and
we brought in
another
professional
tree-cutting
company to
complete the
section behind
where the house
used to stand
and by the front
gate. There's so
much blackened
National Forest
which will have
to heal on its
own, and we'll
be looking at it
for years to
come, but my
goal was to
clean up as much
of our own
property as we
could before
winter set in.
That way, the
land could rest
during the
winter, let the
snows soak in,
and grow in
hopefully lush
and green next
spring. It would
also give me all
winter to start
getting used to
far fewer trees
on our
landscape.

All of the black
trees you see in
this photo are
now gone:

We saved only
the ones that we
think might have
a chance to make
it. It's a lot
emptier now than
we're used to.

December
I went to Ohio
to help my folks
while my Mom had
surgery, and
during those two
weeks, Mike
worked his hiney
off finishing,
caulking,
texturizing, and
painting the new
Bunkhouse, with
helping hands,
of course. He
got that part
done just before
the holiday snow
set in. Ain't it
cute?...

Christmas Time
Since we WON'T
cut any of the
surviving little
green trees
outside for
Christmas, we
decided to
decorate one for
our annual email
holiday card.
Grace Hood was
doing a
follow-up story
with us and
kindly snapped a
series of photos
so we could pick
our favorite.
Since the tree
was shorter than
our heads, we
counted
"1-2-3-Bend!" so
we could crouch
down and get on
its equal level.
Hilarious, to
say the least.
It was good and
very healthy to
laugh our heads
off. What a joy
to have
Christmas joy! I
had planned to
have the
contrast of the
green tree
against the
black mountain
as a background,
but God had
other plans, and
a beautiful
snowstorm moved
in just in time
to paint a
pretty white
backdrop.
Here's a few of
the fun outtakes
we decided NOT
to use for our
"formal"
picture, but we
love 'em
anyway...

New Year's Eve
We decided to
lay low and stay
put for New
Year's Eve,
catching up the
end-of-year
books and
staying warm and
dry, and feeling
grateful we made
it through and
for all that God
has provided us
this year. Then,
as icing on the
cake, He sent a
herd of over 90
majestic elk to
graze and spend
the night in our
meadow - the
first time we've
seen the herd
here since the
fire. Mike was
concerned the
fire had changed
their winter
migratory
patterns, and
you don't know
how special it
was to hear the
bull elk bugle
and the cows
chirp at each
other that
night. What a
gift!

The Future
All the hired
work crews have
departed, and
Mike and I are
dependent again
upon the
kindness of
volunteers to
help us
literally pick
up the pieces
and keep moving
forward in the
rebuilding
process. The
Bunkhouse still
needs flooring
and shelves, our
goods need to be
hauled up to it
and organized,
and the winter
snows had
delayed any
further outdoor
work for the
present. We now
must draft plans
for building my
own work
studio/office.
We're hoping
that once we
empty the middle
section of the
Studio, we can
bring up our
architect
friends and
designers to
figure the best
way to re-model
this space into
our new home.
We'll have a
thousand
decisions to
make, and
budgets to
figure, and then
the
sledge-hammers
will start
swinging as we
raise floors and
ceilings, add
insulation,
remove walls,
and de-construct
and re-construct
this building.
What a task we
have ahead of
us, but it feels
good to be
moving forward
into a new and
bright future!
There y'go. Time
continues to fly
by, and we
continue to make
progress. Thanks
to all of you
for your good
cheer, words of
encouragement,
and prayers. It
helps to know we
are not
forgotten, even
if we are a
couple of
toughies who
pretend
everything's OK.
We're learning
to adapt to the
"new normal,"
and while things
will never be
the same and
we'll be healing
from the summer
of 2012 for some
time to come, we
are determined
to make it.
Hope to see you
soon!

Sharon & Mike
Guli
PO Box 127
Bellvue, CO
80512
970-221-2992 |
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The following
letter was sent on November 29, 2012:
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OK - The Black
Truth Blog
Colorado High
Park Fire Update
There's a real
nice radio with
video clip at
the end of this
story to cheer
you up after
reading this! :
)
Almost six
months. Seems
like yesterday
in many
respects. While
the topic of the
High Park Fire
has fallen to
little notice in
the news
anymore, and as
the holidays,
school,
elections, and
storms and news
from across the
country take
precedence, the
aftermath of the
fire is still an
everyday
struggle for so
many here.
If you’re
wondering where
I’ve been, well,
lately I just
didn’t have it
in me to
compose.
Great progress
is definitely
being made, but
personally, I
think I hit the
wall emotionally
about four weeks
ago. So many
months of “stiff
upper lip,”
“keeping your
chin up,” “think
positive,” “be
grateful for
what you have
(believe me – I
am!),” “stay
strong,” “move
forward,” “what
a great attitude
you have!” and
“roll up your
sleeves and do
what needs to be
done” have
finally taken
their toll.
Yes, we will
make it. As Mike
said this week,
“We’re fighting
through it.” Ha!
Literally and
figuratively.
When every day
you must make
the decision to
ignore the
black, face the
black, clean up
the black, cry
about the black,
or somehow else
deal with the
black,
eventually it
all adds up. And
I can’t even
imagine what my
fellow fire
survivors are
going through
who lost
everything!
Some of them
have sold out
and moved away,
some have
already
purchased
property
elsewhere “that
won’t burn,” as
one neighbor
said, some are
still sifting
and sorting
through the
ashes and debris
of their homes
and dealing with
insurance
companies, and
some appear to
have abandoned
it all. But
others are
already
re-building,
with hopes and
dreams to put
this behind
them.
Thank you so
much for your
continued
thoughts,
support, and
prayers. The
insurance
company has come
through for us
wonderfully, and
now we’re in the
process of
stretching every
dollar. Each day
we have to
decide what to
cover, what to
put off, and
what likely
won’t happen
after all. I’m
also finding
there’s no way I
can run my
business, heal
the land, and
take care of
myself all at
the same time.
Something’s
gotta give. It’s
overwhelming to
face it all, and
make all these
decisions, and
then feel guilty
I’m not bouncing
with joy, when
things could be
so much worse.
I think I’ve got
about half my
brain back now.
I’ve realized
I’m speaking in
fragmented
sentences (which
reflect my
thoughts), and
will completely
lose track of
what I was
saying at all.
I’ll walk five
steps and have
to literally go
back to remember
what I was
doing. It’s
rather
disconcerting.
And this
is improvement
over three
months ago! : )
I have little
patience, I’m
fried, and I
really, really
need to get
away. I live
with burnt trees
around me every
day, and so now
even when I’m in
a beautifully
un-burnt area
like Estes Park,
I still “see”
burn everywhere
in my mind. Not
good. This will
change
eventually, I
know it will.
Shopping for
replacement
clothes has not
been as fun as
I’d hoped. When
every kind
salesperson asks
me, “How are
you? Are you
finding
everything you
want?,” I
sometimes
struggle not to
burst into
tears, and have
to resist the
urge to say,
“No! I’m not
alright! And I
want my own
(name particular
favorite lost
item of
clothing) back,
and you don’t
have it!” So
selfish and
self-centered of
me, I know.
Warning – if
these days you
ask me, “How are
you doing?,” I
might tell you!
Sorry if I’ve
been crabby to
you, my dear
friends. Thank
you to those who
have been here
helping us out
when I have a
controlled
outburst. You’ve
been so kind…
Good days and
bad days.
Emotional ups
and downs. A
high point in
this last month
was our annual
Victorian Ball
in Estes Park on
November 17.
What a joy to
see all of you!
You lifted my
spirits and kept
me happily
distracted. It
wore me out, but
was worth every
minute.
Quite a few of
you have
expressed
concern for our
wellbeing. It is
appreciated. We
will make it,
but it’s been
rough going
lately. We’re
both too
stubborn to
cave, and we
know this is to
be expected
after what we’ve
been through.
Experts say it
can take a year
or more for
folks to “bounce
back” after a
disaster like
this. The whole
community was
affected in one
way or another.
Mike keeps
telling me to
cut myself slack
for not “getting
over it” yet.
He’s right.
We still need
help, on many
levels, and I’m
willing to admit
it. We need
physical help
with the land,
emotional help
when I’m
pretending
everything’s OK,
and spiritual
help with
continued
prayers. Not
just for us, but
for our entire
community, as
well.
Well, there you
have it. Perhaps
writing this is
my own therapy.
Hopefully this
will be a
turning point,
and I can start
to get it out of
my system. Trust
me, I hate this
part. I am so
grateful God
made me a person
of great hope
and with a
naturally
positive
attitude, and I
know this is
only a temporary
season. I’m
looking forward
to when this
passes, because
IT WILL! : D
Thanks again for
your love and
prayers. A
“normal” update
will follow
soon, full of
news and photos
and all the cool
things that
are
happening here.
Thanks for
listening, my
friends. You are
like a warm,
cozy blanket to
me. Just
understand if I
don’t feel like
being cheerful
right now, and
know it’s
temporary.
Flashes of joy.
It will be
alright.
Carpe diem,
Sharon Guli
God is Good
Postscript:
Grace Hood, with
KUNC, has been
following us
since the
evacuation. She
came up to visit
us in early
October and
produced this
really nice
radio clip you
can listen to on
the internet,
with a video at
the bottom of
the article. I
hope you'll
listen to them
and enjoy! If
Mozilla Firefox
won't play the
audio and video
clips, it should
work on Internet
Explorer.
http://www.kunc.org/post/6-months-after-high-park-fire-we-re-not-all-better-yet-we-will-be
Here's a link to
the first story
she did on us,
too, right at
the beginning of
all this:
http://www.kunc.org/post/day-life-wildfire-evacuee
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The following
letter was sent on September 27, 2012:
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Work Parties and
Donkey Story
Colorado High
Park Fire
(contains photos
- please be
patient as they
load)
Two Work Party
Weekends!
this weekend and
next:
September 29 &
30 and October 6
& 7
Great news! -
We've just been
approved by the
USDA for funding
to help cover
the cost of some
of the debris
removal and
erosion control
on our property.
We're going to
have two
intensive work
party weekends
to plant grass
seed, place
straw wattles,
and continue the
process of
cutting,
chipping, and
hauling away the
hundreds of
burnt trees on
our property.
Please RSVP by
clicking
here
if you want to
join us for the
fun

We know it's a
busy time of
year, and the
kids are back in
school, so we
don't expect the
sizable turnouts
you've blessed
us with the last
two work days.
Any help you
wish to give
will be humbly
welcomed and
appreciated,
whether it's all
day or just for
an hour or two,
or whether it's
one person or a
whole team. It's
a dirty job, but
we have a great
time while at
it.
Yes, we have a
bathroom,
electricity, a
land phone line,
internet, and a
working
refrigerator.
Please bring
munchies for the
potluck meals.
Please RSVP by
clicking
here!
We'll email you
detailed
directions to
our place and
our physical
address. Campers
are welcome.
Hope to see you!
*********************************************************************************************
ELLIE the DONKEY
Story
Yes, you read
correctly!
During all the
sadness of the
fire, people got
a "Feel Good
Story" in the
tale of the
"hero" donkey,
Ellie, who
regretfully had
to be left
behind in our
meadow when Mike
and I were told
to evacuate.
Reporters, both
local and
national, called
us to hear all
about it, and
the story "went
viral," as Mike
likes to say.
Good news - she
made it out
safely, and for
your reading
pleasure, below
are photos and
the whole
scoop...
NEWS FLASH! -
Just before
sending this
email, I was
notified that
Ellie has been
nominated by Pet
Aid Colorado for
their "Colorado
Animal Heroes"
award for
helping keep her
herd safe during
the fire. Pretty
cool! Best
wishes, Ellie!

ELLIE, THE
"HERO" DONKEY
- For several
years, Greg and
Michele Van
Hare, active
Victorian dance
friends of ours
who run a
carriage/wagon
business on the
side, have
boarded their
four Percherons
and two mammoth
donkeys on our
pasture during
the summer. What
sweet, gentle
giants. We have
enjoyed getting
to know their
personalities,
especially of
Ellie, one of
the donkeys.
While she is the
most gentle and
loving equine we
have ever met,
we have also
seen her "face
down" any
creature or
thing she viewed
as a danger to
"her" herd.
Throwing those
hugely long ears
forward, she
would calmly and
deliberately
stride toward
the object of
her attention,
and never once
did the
perceived threat
refuse to back
down, whether
they be bull
elk, moose,
neighboring
mustangs, or a
strange dog.
Michele Van Hare
shows off two of
the Percherons.

On Saturday,
June 9, the fire
exploded too
fast and too
close, and Mike
and I were
unable to
evacuate the
huge animals, as
the only trailer
on the property
was a gooseneck,
and we were
driving a
Hyundai and a
Chevy van.
Having called
the Van Hares
right away once
the evacuation
order came in,
and knowing they
were on their
way and almost
there to get
their animals
out, Mike and I
pealed out with
the smoke cloud
looming over us,
having
reluctantly left
the horses in
our 25-acre
enclosed
pasture, with
plenty of food,
water, and open
space. The fire
department was
already going
door to door to
get everyone in
our neighborhood
out ASAP, in
fear that the
wind could shift
and sweep the
fire over us
all. Unknown to
us as we left
the property,
when we reached
the front
entrance to
Paradise Park,
we found the
fire department
had already
closed our road
to any and all
incoming
traffic,
including the
Van Hares who
were less than
ten minutes away
at that point. I
cannot express
how distraught I
was at leaving
those animals
behind. In
addition to the
horses on our
property, nine
other horses on
our neighbors'
properties to
the east and
west of us also
had to be left
behind by their
owners.
For four long
days, we prayed
and cried and
prayed some more
for a miracle
for those
helpless
creatures stuck
in the middle of
the firestorm. I
filed reports
with the rescue
team of the
Humane Society
and daily
checked with
them to see if
any news was to
be had. The Van
Hares had the
difficult job of
preparing their
children for the
worst. As if
losing our home
wasn't enough,
it was
heartbreaking to
think the
animals left in
our care may
have suffered a
horrible fate.
In the midst of
all the other
stress and shock
we were already
going through, I
couldn't stop
second-guessing
my actions that
day regarding
those poor
creatures.
On Sunday we saw
on the reports
the fire had
swept Paradise
Park. On Monday
morning we were
told by the fire
chief himself
that our
neighborhood had
burned heavily,
and he believed
only one or two
structures had
survived. Still
no word on any
animal rescues.
On Monday
afternoon, I was
told by the
Humane Society
that a "posse"
had attempted to
get up to
Paradise Park to
check on the
horses, but had
been refused
access as it was
still too
dangerous.
Monday evening,
Mike and I heard
through the
grapevine that
our home had
indeed burned to
the ground.
Through all of
this, I had to
keep calling the
Van Hares with
the increasingly
bad news, and
urge them to
keep praying for
a miracle.
Tuesday we
received it!
That afternoon,
Mike met with
the lady
organizing the
handling of all
evacuated
animals brought
in to The Ranch,
the large
fairgrounds
complex in
Loveland. Turns
out she knew the
Van Hares
personally, and
we'll probably
never know who
pulled what
strings or if it
was simply meant
to be, but
Tuesday evening
we received a
phone call from
a posse member
with the
incredible,
amazing,
wonderful news
that all but one
of the horses
had indeed been
rescued from
Paradise Park,
including those
of our
neighbors!
Hallelujah! One
of the draft
horses could not
be found, but
having only one
missing was
wonderful news!
Right after I
notified the Van
Hares, a second
phone call came
in saying the
missing
Percheron had
actually been
located and
brought in
earlier in the
day. Apparently
he had busted
out of our
pasture and fled
over the hill to
a neighboring
property, where
he was found
lonely and
dejected with a
strange herd of
other horses.
Another
hallelujah!
While I had the
lady on the
line, I asked
her, if she
could, to please
tell me what she
had seen while
in Paradise
Park.
Paraphrased, she
said, "As we
drove in, while
a number of
houses had
definitely
burned, we were
shocked at how
many homes were
still standing.
I don't know
what those
firefighters
did, but so many
houses had been
saved. There was
black all
around, but in
the middle of it
all was this
lush, green
meadow where
they found all
of the horses.
It was amazing."
I say it was our
miracle!
These photos
were taken by
the rescue posse
that day. In
this shot, you
can see, on the
far left, the
beginning of the
stretch of
"lush, green
meadow" that
continues
further on into
our pasture
where the horses
were found. You
can still see
smoke rising in
the background
from the ridge
off the edge of
our property.

It was reported
that when the
rescuers
approached,
"...the lead
donkey, with
singed whiskers,
walked up to
(the volunteer)
and laid her
head into his
chest," which
was just like
Ellie!
I had asked the
posse member on
the first phone
call if she
thought Greg Van
Hare might be
allowed to go
back in with
them the next
day to look for
the missing
horse. She got
real hesitant
with me, and
said she didn't
think that would
be allowed, as
things got
"dicey" as they
were pulling
back out of
Paradise Park.
The next day, I
saw these
photographs
taken by a
fellow posse
member, and they
weren't kidding.
On the last few
frames, you can
see the smoke
billowing up in
front of them as
they were trying
to to leave
Paradise Park.

Quite alarming,
to be sure, and
by the next day
the fire
department
stated they were
changing the way
the Humane
Society was
going to proceed
with any further
animal
evacuations,
probably due in
part to the
close call
encountered by
our own posse,
I'm guessing. I
was told later
that someone had
seen seven horse
trailers lined
up at the
entrance to
Paradise Park on
Tuesday to get
in and get all
fifteen of those
animals out of
there. Our
humble thanks
and grateful
appreciation to
those unknown
volunteers who
risked their own
necks to save
these sweet
animals!
Click here to
see the full
slide show of
photos taken by
the posse as
they drove to
and into
Paradise Park to
rescue the
horses.

After seeing
early photos of
the scorched
meadow, I can
only cringe at
the thought of
the hell those
poor creatures
went through
that terrible
day of the fire.
Imagine their
terror as the
fire swept
around on all
sides of them,
and the massive
heat wave
blasted over
them with those
blowtorch winds,
as our house and
five
outbuildings
burned within
their sight, as
embers dropped
down around them
and set the
meadow on fire,
as fire trucks
surged in and
helicopters
roared overhead
and men charged
about, yelling
in the storm as
they had to pull
out to save
their own lives.
I get goosebumps
even now.
This is what our
meadow looked
like two weeks
after the fire,
to give you an
idea of what the
horses lived
through.

At the Ranch,
the talented CSU
vet team checked
over every
animal as it was
brought in. The
horses and
donkeys were
processed,
doctored, and a
UPC barcode was
slapped on each
ashy
hindquarter.
When we arrived,
Mike quickly
suggested
putting all the
Percherons
together, pair
by pair, into
double-wide
stalls. How
happy the lone
Percheron was to
be reunited with
his "family"
again! Ellie and
Belle, the
donkeys, smelled
of smoke and
were coated with
black soot, poor
Belle's nose was
quite scorched,
and their
whiskers were
all singed off.
Ellie was
decidedly not
herself, as she
stood swaying in
the corner of
her stall, not
even
acknowledging
our presence at
first. This
behavior was
most unusual
from a creature
who usually
pushed her way
in front of you
for loving
attention every
time you stepped
into the
pasture. I
slipped into
their stalls and
began
immediately to
pet and love on
them, and pretty
soon Ellie
started to
hesitantly nudge
me in her
familiar way. I
was almost in
tears.
Ellie's pasture
buddy, Belle,
enjoys an
ash-free meal at
The Ranch in
Loveland after
being evacuated.

That Thursday
evening, Mike
and I had dinner
with the Van
Hares to recount
the details of
the story. In
spite of my
stress and my
doubts, they
reassured me we
had made the
right choice to
leave the
animals enclosed
in the safety
and provision of
the pasture
instead of
turning them
loose to fend
for themselves.
In fact, when we
had passed each
other on the
road the day of
the fire, they
told me they
were so relieved
to see we had
made it out
safely, and from
that day had
given the fate
of their beloved
animals to God,
whatever the
outcome would
be.
I asked Michele
straight out if
the animals were
okay, as I know
smoke inhalation
can cause
lasting and
serious health
issues. She said
while the eldest
Percheron was
obviously
stressed and
wasn't himself,
they were all
going to be
alright. She
said all four of
the Percheron's
tails were
singed, because
likely they had
turned their
butts to the
blowing wall of
heat as it
passed over
them, as horses
are prone to do
in a storm. Of
most interest to
me, however, was
that the
donkey's noses
and insides of
their ears were
scorched,
leading us to
believe, just
like Ellie had
done time and
time again, she
had "faced down"
the danger as it
approached the
herd. We'll
never know
exactly what
transpired
during those
terrifying days,
but we do know
it's extremely
likely Ellie did
her part in
following her
instincts as
always in
leading her herd
to safety and
facing down
anything that
threatened them.
If it had always
worked in the
past, why not
face down a
forest fire,
too?...

If you do a
Google search
under
ellie the donkey
high park fire,
you'll find over
eight pages of
links about
Ellie. Here's
just a few...
http://www.pawnation.com/2012/06/20/heroic-donkey-keeps-buddies-calm-and-safe-in-wildfire/#page=1
http://www.wusa9.com/news/nation-world/article/209274/381/Donkey-Saves-Four-Other-Animals-From-Fire
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20869704/vets-think-donkey-minding-draft-horses-did-pasture
http://www.coloradoan.com/viewart/20120614/NEWS01/306140031/CSU-vets-care-livestock-rescued-from-High-Park-Fire
http://www.care2.com/causes/heroic-donkey-keeps-buddies-calm-and-safe-in-co-wildfire.html
Closing note:
The Van Hares
are looking for
a new home for
Belle, who is
also very loving
and gentle. If
you know anyone
who is
interested,
here's their
Craigs List ad:
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/grd/3232623946.html.
They can be
reached at
970-663-4201.

Hope you enjoyed
the story, and
hope to see you
soon!
Sharon & Mike
Guli
PO Box 127
Bellvue, CO
80512
970-221-2992 |
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The following
letter was sent on September 12, 2012:
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After Fire
Progress Update
Colorado High
Park Fire
NOTE:
Tree-cutting
work parties
being planned
for Sept. 29 &
30, and Oct. 6 &
7!
Please RSVP to
Events@guliproductions.com
if you need more
info, or want to
come and need
our physical
address and
detailed
directions to
our house.
Campers are
welcome. Hope to
see you!
Wow - three
months have gone
by already since
we lost our home
to the High Park
Fire. Hard to
believe. So much
has already
transpired.
Last week we
FINALLY finished
our Home
Inventory
Contents List
for the
insurance
company. What a
chore, and what
a blessing it's
done. Our
insurance
company (State
Farm) has been
absolutely great
through all of
this, but trying
to remember
every single
item we lost,
how old it was,
and researching
what it would
cost to replace,
was
time-consuming,
labor intensive,
emotional at
times,
mind-bending,
and exhausting.
In the meantime,
thank you all
again for your
tremendous
support with
gift cards and
donations. We're
not used to
being on this
end of charity,
but your
kindness has
helped us obtain
needed items
while waiting
for the
insurance
details to get
worked out.
There is no way
I can properly
express the
emotions we feel
at your
generosity.
While I am eager
to return to
work, after
being "out of
the office" for
most of three
months, I'm
finding my focus
still is not
where it used to
be. I'm sure
it's asking too
much to expect
my mind and my
body to be
operating at
normal capacity
this soon after
such a blow. I'm
grateful I'm
able to fulfill
as many duties
as I am able,
and look forward
to the day I
have my full vim
and vigor back.
In the meantime,
thank you for
your continued
patience as I
slowly slog
though the
backlog. Each
week brings
improvement, and
it's SO nice to
be focusing on
planning dances
and events again
instead of
looking to the
sad past.
So here's all
the great stuff
that's been
happening since
my last post...
On August 6,
Mike hired a
professional
arborist to come
up and remove
three large pine
trees that were
too close to our
studio.

They also
sprayed over 40
trees to try to
prevent pine
beetle
infestations,
and save the
trees closest to
the studio that
were untouched
or only
partially burned
by the fire.

We're learning
more about which
burnt trees
might survive
after all, and
which ones
really need to
go. We plan to
remove all the
torched ones
from behind the
old house, and
thin the
remaining ones,
so we'll end up
creating our own
mini "Paradise
Park" right
here, which will
have more
mountain meadow
grazing for
wildlife. Should
be real pretty
in a few years.

Speaking of
wildlife - we've
had twin spotted
fawns running
around here the
last six weeks
with their mama.
They've lost
their spots by
now, but are
still adorable.
It's great to
see the
wildlife.

An erosion
control
specialist
walked our land
two weeks ago,
and has given us
advice on
treatments. A
weed control
expert should be
coming soon,
too, and
hopefully there
will be funding
available from
both sources to
assist.
We've had two
incredible work
parties, with
friends (and
strangers!)
driving from as
far away as
Laramie, Parker,
and Colorado
Springs to come
help in the
clean up
process. On
August 25 & 26,
we had multiple
teams at work.
Even two of my
sisters came,
Stacy from
Boulder, and
Sheila all the
way from
Minnesota to
surprise me and
lend a hand!

Stacy humorously
demonstrates the
proper stance to
take when
shoveling
debris.

"Team Chainsaw"
cut down and
limbed burnt
trees,

while "Team
Trailer" loaded
the blackened
branches to be
driven across
the meadow.

There the
branches were
quickly and
noisily disposed
of by "Team
Chipper," (so
sorry - I didn't
get an action
photo!) friends
who towed their
own personal
chipper to our
land to help
with the massive
project. The
trunks and
branches that
were too large
to chip were
taken, one
tractor bucket
load at a time,
by Mike and
stacked on the
edge of our
property for
future disposal.
The "Ditching
Team" - brave,
weary,
determined men!
- dug a
125-foot-long
ditch in which
to bury our
phone line from
the pedestal to
the studio.

The "Trim Team"
clipped and
removed every
dead piece of
brush they could
find,

while "Team
Sharon" raked,
hauled, stacked,
and removed all
kinds of
flammable
underbrush from
around the
studio in order
to better
fireproof it for
the future.
Here's my team
getting Mike's
version of an
amusement park
ride. They loved
it - even if
they did scream
a lot!

And
"Team Sarah," a
team of one!
spent hours
going over the
areas where six
buildings used
to stand,
collecting over
400 fallen nails
and other
tractor-tire-punching
hazards. Of
course, after
all that work,
she was rewarded
by Mike and her
brother by being
thrown in the
pond! Here she
is hanging up
her ashy, soggy
laundry to
dry...

Speaking
of the pond...it
was a great way
to cool and wash
off after a
long, hot day of
hauling sooty
trees around!

This was no tea
party! It was
hard work,
sweaty, and
filthy, but
these great
people kept
smiling through
it all.



Even the dogs
got dirty!

I wish I had
pictures of
everyone who
contributed that
day. I cannot
possibly begin
to properly
express my
appreciation
enough. It blows
my mind what
kindness and
willingness
everyone is
showing to us.
Thank you so
much!

Dog tired.

We ended
Saturday's work
day with a
fabulous potluck
by the tipi Mike
put up to
commemorate how
he first lived
up here on the
land 31 years
ago. Smoked
salmon and
chicken, salads,
fresh corn on
the cob, and
lots of other
homemade
goodies!
Afterwards, we
were treated to
a special gift
by our musical
friends, and
then danced a
few by
starlight. On
Sunday, after
wrapping up a
few more
projects, we
relaxed the rest
of the day with
more friends and
neighbors who
stopped in,
brought more
tasty food, and
good cheer. Good
company, good
food, and good
times - just
what was needed!

Even our local
sheriff came by
for our "open"
house. The big
tough guy
brought the
cutest fuzzy
puppy along...

And then last
week we had a
professional
roofer friend of
Mike's come up
and replace the
shingles on our
deck overhang
with metal
roofing. Hooray!
One less thing
to fret about
during fire
season.
So - where do we
go from here,
you keep asking?
Step one -
continue cleanup
Step two -
rebuild a
storage/work
shed
Step three -
remodel our
studio to make
the "rough" half
of it a home and
better work
space, and to
prepare it for
winter. This
will be a
massive and
intensive
project.
Step four -
continue to
ponder the
possibilities of
rebuilding
something where
the house used
to stand, based
on finances and
energy left.
What can I say?
We can't do it
without you -
your prayers,
your words of
encouragement,
your willing
hands of labor,
your generosity,
your kindness
and friendship.
There is way too
much for just
Mike and I to
accomplish, and
I am humbled
every day and
honored to
receive your
blessings sent
our way.
In closing - in
the morning,
just at sunrise,
the mountain
turns copper, as
all the fallen
pine needles
catch the light.
For a brief
time, it glows
beautifully
golden, before
fading again to
black. What a
beautiful and
rare sight...

We're so
grateful for
your continued
prayers and
support. I know
the fire is
ancient history
for most you,
and it doesn't
make the news
anymore, but we
are still living
through the
aftermath, and
it touches us to
continue to
receive your
kind emails,
cards, and
calls. We know
we'll still be
working it for
years to come.
Progress
forward...
Most sincerely
and with
continued great
appreciation,
Sharon & Mike
Guli
PO Box 127
Bellvue, CO
80512
970-221-2992 |
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The following
letter was sent on August 16, 2012:
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Before and After
Fire Pics &
Update
Colorado High
Park Fire
(contains lots
of photos -
please be
patient as they
load)
For those of you
who wish to read
or missed my
past letters,
they are posted
on our website
at
http://rivercrossinginc.tripod.com/feature.html
Thank you so
much for your
continued
encouragement,
advice, and
support. Mike
and I are still
slogging through
the mind-bending
process of
preparing the
House Inventory
list for the
insurance
company. It's
frustrating to
have to spend
time researching
and logging the
price of
everything from
a can of
hairspray to a
custom-made
kitchen table,
but it has to be
done. I'll be so
glad when we can
successfully put
this step behind
us and focus on
moving forward.
One positive
aspect - this
project has
forced us to
concentrate and
get the brain
juices focused.
It's hard and
exhausting, but
it's helped us
jump-start the
process of
moving out of
mental zombie
land.
In the
meanwhile, we
have made our
fist shopping
trip to town to
start restocking
my new office
with everything
from paper clips
to Post-it
notes. Hooray
for Post-it
notes! Friends
have also
donated various
pieces of office
equipment and
supplies, and
I've cobbled
together enough
items to start
the process of
catching up on
my business.
Hopefully by the
end of the month
I can get back
to the FUN STUFF
like planning
dances and other
events to share
with you.
I'll start with
a series of
photos taken on
June 9, the day
the fire first
burst from a
smoldering
lightning strike
the previous
Wednesday to a
dangerous fire.
This first photo
was taken by me
around 10 AM
that morning
from my
driveway, after
a neighbor
phoned to inform
us of the fire.
At first Mike
had hope the
northwest winds
would drive it
around us, and
since the
firefighters
were already
working it both
on the ground
and in the air,
it looked at one
point they'd
stomp it down.
Unfortunately,
the winds were
too strong, and
the fuel was too
dense and dry.
Photo taken
around 10:00 AM
from my
driveway, before
any evacuation
order was
issued.
We think we
pealed out of
there somewhere
between 12 and
12:30 PM
(we weren't
watching the
clock anymore).

Laurie, my
firefighter
neighbor's wife,
shared with me
several dramatic
photos she took
of the fire
literally IN
Paradise Park
before she
evacuated a few
hours after us
on June 9. What
a scary sight.
While we know
our house
survived until
the following
afternoon, her
photos appear to
show the flames
already
surrounding and
possibly in our
meadow, just
behind the ridge
of trees in the
foreground. Part
of me wishes I
could have been
here to see it,
and part of me
realizes better
now why Mike
vehemently
hustled me out
of there before
it reached this
terrifying
point. It's one
thing to see
photos of the
forest fire on
the news from a
distance, but
quite another to
see it
surrounding your
own home.
12:22 PM, photo
taken by Laurie
less than a mile
from our house,
probably about
the time we
left.

12:51 PM, taken
at our closest
neighbors.
The ridge of
trees you see
just beyond the
snow fence are
ours.

1:10 PM - Here's
the really scary
one.
Again, the
flaming smoke
you see is from
our property,
just beyond the
trees.
Good thing Mike
got us out of
there when he
did.

Thank you,
Laurie, for your
photos and for
sharing your
brave husband,
Jim, throughout
this whole
ordeal. Jim
spent almost
every night in
Paradise Park
after the fire
raced through
(he was
dispatched
elsewhere when
the fire "blew
up" on our road
on June 10),
doing his part
to make sure no
additional homes
were lost. Jim
and his fellow
local volunteer
fire fighters
were among the
first responders
to the fire.
They are our
heroes.
2:14 PM. One of
the massive
water-dropping
helicopters
sucks water from
a neighbor's
pond.

Photo below
taken at 2:49
PM, as
firefighter Jim
and his wife
Laurie help
evacuate more of
our neighbors,
and the
helicopter
prepares for
another drop.

By the next day
about the time
this photo was
taken, the
ferocious winds
had caused the
fire to spread
to 14,000 acres,
and 20 miles
away, entire
towns were being
evacuated, and
you know the
rest of the
story...


Most of you
never had the
opportunity to
visit our home,
so below are a
few photos to
give you a
better
perspective of
"before." Mike
moved up here 31
years ago and
built this house
from scratch,
piece by piece
and part by part
over the years.
It had a glass
solarium on the
front, which
provided solar
heat during the
winter months.
We had a
wonderful cast
iron wood stove
which provided
cozy warmth at
night and on
cloudy days. It
was a good
house, with
plenty of room
for me to have
an office, and
host family,
friends, and
clients.





We had five
outbuildings
that burned
completely, too.
Here was our
woodshed and
utility shed.

In
our house, many
a happy hour was
spent with
friends around
the custom-made
butcher block
dining room
table, and,
being the artist
that he is, Mike
had on display a
beautiful
collection of
Tiffany glass
lamps, Italian
glass vases, and
hand-signed
Western art,
along with
historic
clothing pieces
and
irreplaceable
Hudson Bay
blankets. When
it was time to
evacuate and he
saw the smoke
cloud exploding
over our
shoulders, there
was no time left
to take any of
these valuables
along. They will
be missed.


Below is a photo
time line of
sorts, of the
house burned,
sifted, and
cleared.



We have already
met with two
highly skilled
architect/builder
friends of ours
who are advising
us on how we can
remodel the
Studio to make
it better suited
for our needs
now. We plan to
build a
Western-styled
storage unit
where our old
Utility Shed
used to stand,
in which to
temporarily move
Mike's leather
studio and our
storage items
while we gut and
rebuild the
Studio. We need
to build this
new unit soon,
before the
weather turns
for winter. In
the spring, when
we've had time
to breathe and
ponder our
finances and
options, we will
consider what we
want to do with
the large dirt
platform that
used to be our
home. Mike has
suggested a
tennis court and
swimming
pool.... : )
Here's a cool
comparison of
the meadow on
June 30, taken 3
weeks after the
fire came
through, and
again a couple
of weeks ago,
after receiving
more rain and
the meadow grass
grew back. We
are so grateful
to have this
oasis of green
to look at every
day. It helps us
to cope with the
poor burnt
mountain, which
hopefully will
blossom with
healthy plants
and underbrush
by next spring.
The baby aspen
trees are
already choking
many of the
mountain's
gullies with
beautiful
greenery.
Photo taken June
30, three weeks
after the fire
swept Paradise
Park:

Photo taken July
24, three and a
half weeks
later:

Yesterday we
received a
letter from the
Forest Service,
stating they
plan to "bomb"
the mountain
across from us
with wood mulch
and weed-free
straw by
helicopter to
help prevent
erosion and
encourage the
native plant
life to grow
back by next
spring.
Hopefully I'll
be here that day
to get photos.
Should be pretty
exciting. I was
shocked to find
ash had flowed
all the way from
the mountain to
the middle of
our meadow. The
grass is
absolutely
loving this free
fertilizer;
however, Mike is
concerned it
could be too
much of a good
thing, and he's
already taken
steps with the
help of kind
friends from
Cheyenne and
Parker to cut
down burnt
underbrush, take
it into the
woods, and stack
it in the
gullies to try
to prevent too
much washout.
The ash pouring
off the mountain
in the early
weeks after the
fire had already
choked up our
upper pond. It's
starting to
settle, but Mike
figures he'll
need to get a
backhoe up here
one day to do
some cleaning up
on the property.
Where our meadow
burnt completely
down to bare
dirt, weeds like
thistle are
taking over, and
will need to be
mowed down in
some places and
pulled by hand
in others.
Our upper pond
was filled with
ash runoff from
the mountain.

For those of you
who think
"Studio" means
"studio
apartment," let
me clarify - by
no means! Our
studio, for
which we are
immensely
grateful
survived the
firestorm, is
over 2500 square
feet in size,
and the upstairs
is quite lovely.
It is fully
liveable, and we
lived here for a
year when we
were first
married. It was
originally a
barn, and so the
half of the
building which
serves as our
workshop (Mike's
leather studio,
his painting
studio, his
office, my
sewing studio,
our research
library,
storage), is
rather "rough"
in places. The
tree poles which
were used in
constructing the
original horse
stalls are still
visible, and the
east side of the
building doesn't
even have a
concrete
foundation,
which is how the
skunk got in.
The upstairs of
our Studio.
Downstairs is
where you can
still see the
barn poles.

We are so
appreciative God
spared our
meadow of green,
our studio and
garage, and gave
us a familiar
place to which
to return. So
many people in
our county lost
everything, and
their whole
properties are
now in the
"black zone." We
have such a good
network of
neighbors, and
this tragic
event has helped
draw us
together.
Everywhere you
go, you see
evidence of
folks cleaning
up, helping out,
and planning
fund-raisers for
the fire
department.
This photo of
our exhausted
local volunteer
firefighter
neighbor and
hero, Jim
Terrell, was
taken on June
11, the day
after the fire
exploded out of
control on our
north road.
Along with two
HotShot teams,
Jim personally
kept watch over
Paradise Park
and our
surviving studio
for the next
three weeks as
the fire raged
on. We are so
grateful...

Wanna
help? There's
plenty of work
for everyone!
Just on our 40
acres alone, we
need to plant
seed, cut down
burnt trees,
clear burnt
underbrush, move
fire-risky items
into safer
zones, build a
new storage
shed, gut and
remodel our
workspace,
critter-proof
the home, dig
out ponds, pull
thistle, and
more, and
more...it's
rather
overwhelming and
certainly too
much for just
the two of us.
We will be
announcing "Work
Party" days, but
anytime now if
some of you find
you have a day
free and really
meant it when
you said you
wanted to come
help, please
call or write
and we'll
gratefully book
a date.
As always, thank
you again for
your continued
support, both
via prayers,
kind words,
donations, and
gift cards -
blessed gift
cards! - while
we slog through
everything
necessary.
Almost every day
shows small
steps in a
positive
direction. Tears
still flow when
they need to,
but that's to be
expected, and
they are
balanced by
laughter with
good friends.
You know we'll
make it.
Most sincerely
and with
continued great
appreciation,
Sharon & Mike
Guli
PO Box 127
Bellvue, CO
80512
970-221-2992
|
|
|
|
The
following letter was sent on August 6, 2012:
|
|
|
Progress Report &
Pics on the Fire
-
Colorado High
Park Fire Update
(contains photos
- please be
patient as they
load)
Progress Report
People are so
great. Today we
had our first
cleanup work
party, organized
by a church
group in
Cheyenne, and
supplemented
with friends
from Parker.
Don’t feel left
out – it came
together quickly
and we will
certainly be
scheduling more
for the near
future and will
let all of you
know! In the
meantime –
please pencil in
the afternoon of
Sunday, August
26. Mike is
planning a
surprise… an
email will come
soon with
details.
The youngest
volunteer for
our
erosion-control
work party
didn't mind
getting dirty at
all!

Hard to believe it
was exactly eight
weeks ago yesterday
that we lost our
house to the fire.
So much has happened
so fast, and every
day goes by and I
can’t account for
it. I know each day
is filled with
taking care of
necessary things,
but unexpectedly
I’ll find I can’t
even remember the
end of a
sentence. It's a
frustrating and
funny side effect of
all of this stress.
This week I made
great strides in
getting my new
office set up, and
I’m feeling more
peace already. I’m
looking forward to
making headway on
the massive project
of catching up on
two months’ worth of
mail, phone calls,
emails, and
business.
So many of you have
sent us gift cards
and donations, and
we are so grateful.
The insurance
company has been
great, but your
generous help has
allowed us in the
meantime to put gas
in the car,
groceries in the
pantry, buy
household items, and
given us the ability
to focus on taking
care of the mess. I
honestly don’t know
how people with full
time jobs can do
everything that
needs to be done in
this kind of
situation. It takes
so much time to
contact all the
banks and insurance
people, make lists,
get necessary items,
make arrangements
for sifters and
debris removers and
tree cutters and
still keep the
business details
from falling through
the cracks…it can
feel overwhelming.
I’ve been trying to
write for weeks, but
we had to spend 10
days tending our
booth at Cheyenne
Frontier Days, and
each night I came
home exhausted.
Please accept my
apologies for the
delay.
Our booth at
Cheyenne Frontier
Days. I'll admit it
was hard to focus on
work right now.

So – I took
inventory, and I
have a comfortable
little set of
almost-matched
dinner plates,
bowls, salad plates,
and a few extra
saucers. We have
plenty of glasses,
and a friend loaned
us silverware and
plastic storage
containers. It’s
really rather
humorous – a few
nights ago, Mike and
I decided to make
spaghetti. We
located two pots for
sauce and pasta,
found an appropriate
frying pan to brown
the meat, and then
were almost stumped
when we remembered
our colander no
longer existed. What
to do? Ah ha! I
remembered I used to
have a little sturdy
plastic one I had
been using the past
year to wash brass
casings to make my
bullet reloads. I
fetched it, washed
it, and voila!
Spaghetti was
served!
Wildlife and
Greenery
I asked my sister,
Stacy Moore, a
professional
photographer who
lives in Boulder, to
please come to the
land before the
sifters arrived, so
she could document
what had happened
and help me start
our inventory list.
We walked the
mountain, and were
surprised and
thrilled to see so
much greenery
already sprouting on
the lower slopes.
Rich green grass was
spreading where the
ash flows had
provided nutrition,
and little aspen
trees were popping
up everywhere. At
this rate, I’m
guessing the
mountain will have
green underbrush all
over it by next
spring. That will be
very nice to see.

I spotted a mother
elk and her little
brown baby calf
coming out of a
surviving aspen
grove across our
meadow a few weeks
ago, and a few days
ago I saw a mother
deer and two darling
spotted twin fawns
scampering across
the road as we drove
home after dark.
Yesterday we saw
four mule deer bucks
in velvet. A little
red fox was out
hunting, and birds
and ground squirrels
are plentiful.

Sifting
On July 17, the
cavalry arrived in
the form of 20
wonderful people
from Franklin
Graham’s ministry,
Samaritan’s Purse,
in white plastic
protective suits.
They removed all the
warped roofing, what
was left of the
appliances (the
refrigerator burned
so badly it came out
in two pieces), and
piled all the metal
into a huge stack.
Then they began
sifting the rubble
from any area where
we thought they
might find
valuables. Mike
found a couple of
trophy belt buckles
and other melted
nostalgia items, and
I found my hematite
necklace collection
fused together, as
were my seed beads.
They found a fair
bit of stuff, but
unfortunately, the
majority was not
salvageable. It has
been estimated the
fire hit our house
at about 2700
degrees, and that
extreme temperature
melted glass and
ruined everything.
Of all the broken
dishes and warped
items they fished
out of there, I was
able to salvage – (drumroll,
please) one saucer.
Ah well. At least we
could list things
for insurance, and
say goodbye.

Of all the things
they found, only one
solitary saucer was
salvageable in the
end.

Mike hams it up with
the remains of a
pair of his goggles.

One of the cutest
things found in the
ruins were two nests
of baby bunnies – 15
in all! The mothers
used to nest under
the deck of our
house and behind the
woodshed, and must
have come in after
the ashes cooled and
made their little
families. We
collected them and
took them to the
Humane Society,
since I feared they
would be easy prey
and we were having a
debris removal team
come soon. I was
contacted by phone a
few days ago, and
the Humane Society
wanted to let me
know they plan to
use the bunnies for
a promotional piece.
Such fun!



Debris Removal
They came and took
away our house this
past week. It’s odd
and disturbing
inside to see your
home carted away,
bucket load by
trailer load. The
professional debris
removal team did a
wonderful job. They
were polite, hard
workers, thorough,
and respectful. In
only four days they
were able to do what
would have taken me
and Mike so much
longer, caused more
pain, given more
grief, and worn us
out even more than
we already are.



It was a strange mix
of sadness at seeing
the ruins hauled
away, and a feeling
of peace as the land
was restored to bare
earth. We have up to
two years to decide
if/how we wish to
rebuild, so we will
probably let the
land rest through
the winter, and take
our time making such
a large, important
decision.

Mike and I are still
emotionally,
mentally, and
physically whupped.
We’re getting things
accomplished, but
only one at a time,
and it takes
everything we’ve got
to stay focused. In
a way, it feels like
we’re recuperating
from a long illness
– we have to pace
ourselves, we have
little reserves, and
are easily tired.
But something
happened a couple of
weeks ago – I
started to have
momentary flashes of
feeling normal. For
just a few minutes
at a time, I forget
the constant focus
of the fire and its
results, and my mind
strays to an
inspiration for a
new show, or wants
to design a new
historic outfit.
Granted, it’s like
someone with a
broken leg getting a
fleeting notion to
run across the room,
but it’s still a
nice change, and
definitely a move in
the right direction.
Things you don’t
think of…
We came home about a
week ago, to be
greeted in the door
by the strong smell
of…skunk! Nuts! Just
when we had the
house cleaned head
to toe by the smoke
removal team, some
vagabond skunk,
possibly a fire
refugee, had passed
by and we suspect
spent the day under
our house.
Critter-proofing our
studio from skunks
was yet one more
thing we hadn’t
expected to have to
do, but the fire has
pushed our hand on
the matter.
We’ve never owned a
dryer up here, and I
always hang our
laundry to dry in
the sun. I have to
time it carefully
these days, since we
are prone to
God-blessed
afternoon showers. I
have to make sure I
bring it in before
the rain hits the
mountain and the
smell of burnt
campfire infuses my
sheets. And now… the
smell of skunk,
too! Ha ha.
As many of you know,
we have had a pine
beetle infestation
in this part of the
country for years,
and thousands of
acres of forest have
already been killed
off across the
mountains of
Colorado. The trees
around our house
were relatively
unscathed, but since
the fire, the
beetles have been
attacking our
charcoaled trees
mercilessly, since
they are attracted
to stressed trees.
At night, you can
actually hear the
beetles grinding
their way into the
trunks. It’s eerie.

One of the thousands
of "ash pits" across
the landscape -
weird alien
footprints where
entire trees used to
be, now burned
completely away to
their very root
structure.

Now that the debris
team has carted away
the ruins, we are
left with a large
empty dirt space
where there used to
be our home and five
outbuildings. We’re
having trouble
wrapping our brains
around it. It’s so
odd to see nothing
there. We can still
see every detail of
our home in our
minds, and now, it’s
just vanished. It’s
so weird.

Upcoming projects
Mike and I are
formulating ideas of
how all of you can
help (since so many
of you are asking),
and I hope my next
email to you will
list some specifics.
We are already
starting to schedule
a number of “work
party” days. We need
to clear underbrush,
plant grass, rake up
remaining debris and
burnt areas, build a
storage shed,
remodel/improve and
fire mitigate our
studio, and
hopefully have a
fundraiser for the
local volunteer fire
department, all just
for starters. Thank
you for your
continuing offers to
help. I promise you
we’ll gratefully
accept. And
remember... hold
August 26!
In closing…for now…
Good news – Squiggy
(the neighbor’s lost
cat who miraculously
survived the fire
and was finally
reunited with his
owners a month after
the disaster) is OK!
He’s turned the
corner, his poor
burnt feet are
healing, he’s
putting on weight,
and his owner says
he’s turning back
into his finicky,
loveably
cantankerous self.
Squiggy at his
owner's apartment,
getting healthy and
lovingly ornery.

Well, once again
I’ve gone on longer
than I intended.
Thank you, thank you
all again a hundred
times for your love,
prayers, and support
during all of this.
I wish to stress for
you again the fact
that while we’re not
“alright” yet, we’re
getting closer, bit
by bit. We’ve
already begun
sketching plans for
a sweet new storage
building on the site
of the old utility
shed, and we have
kind and highly
skilled friends
giving us advice and
ideas on how we can
rebuild and/or
remodel. It will be
a long time until
things are “normal,”
but it feels so good
to have flashes of
inspiration now and
again. We are
finally sleeping
better and longer,
I'm using my
"eye-pad" far less
often, our cat loves
us, God is good, and
so are all of you!
We will keep in
touch. Please
call or write
anytime. We will
continue to try
to catch up with
everyone as we
can.
Most sincerely
and with great
appreciation,
Sharon & Mike
Guli
PO Box 127
Bellvue, CO
80512
970-221-2992
(Yes, our land
line is
operational!)
|
|
|
|
The
following letter was sent on July 12 2012:
|
|
Ash Day Reality
Check
-
Colorado High
Park Fire Update
(contains photos
- please be
patient as they
load)
(In between
everything else,
I'm still
working on
getting links to
photos and
articles put
together for
you. Thanks for
your patience…)
Okay, so I’m
here alone for
the first time.
I admit, it’s
kinda weird.
Reality check
time.
Mike left this
morning to meet
with State Farm
to give them the
floor plan of
the burnt house
and photos of
what it and the
other four lost
outbuildings
used to look
like. He’ll be
back in a few
hours, but being
sandwiched
between the poor
scorched
mountain on one
side and our
carcass of a
house on the
other is
affecting me.
Part of Paradise
Park before the
fire:

Part of Paradise
Park during the
fire:

Sunday morning,
I rode horseback
up the burnt
mountain with a
neighbor, and I
think seeing the
damage that
close and
realizing the
enormity of the
loss knocked me
off center for
the rest of the
day. I came back
from the ride,
and that
afternoon I just
stood outside,
looking from the
black mountain
to the ruins of
the house, and
cried and cried.


Other
weirdnesses – in
town earlier
this week, I
stepped outside
the hotel, and
the wind was
blowing, and I
realized I had
developed the
habit of my
stomach
clenching,
wondering if the
fire was kicking
up again and
threatening our
home or someone
else’s. You look
west to the
clouds on the
mountains, and
my first thought
is to wonder if
what I see are
storm clouds or
smoke clouds
billowing up. I
turn on the A/C
in the car, and
the smell of
smoke from the
mountain comes
out.
The second time
we visited the
mountain, every
time there was a
breeze, dead
pine needles
rained down by
the thousands,
ash grit blew in
your eyes, and
clouds of ash
wafted up from
the mountain.
When it rains,
the black gets
even blacker,
and the whole
valley smells
like a campfire.
I washed my face
this morning,
and black came
away.
Ash drifting
from the burnt
mountain in the
wind before the
rains came to
wash it away.

At the little
local post
office in
Bellvue, which
had to be
evacuated at one
point because
the fire came
too close,
locals now
gather to share
stories, and
when no one is
there, you see
the ash tracked
in on the
carpet, ash that
used to be homes
and the
beautiful
forest.
All this is
strange, but
part of the
cycle. The good
news – we have
had enough rain
now to give us
reassurance, and
the
pre-evacuation
status on our
neighborhood has
long since been
lifted. However,
lightning still
makes me flinch,
and since an
intense forest
fire can cause
the ground
itself to become
water-resistant,
there are now
washouts and
mudslides
closing certain
local roads.
Rain water makes
rivers coming
off the mountain
in a recent
storm.

Paradise Park
neighbors
discuss the best
way to repair a
crushed culvert
on our road.

Mike and I moved
back “home” for
the first time
yesterday
afternoon. We’ve
been visiting
the mountain
daily for about
a week, meeting
with insurance
adjusters,
neighbors,
working the road
to prevent
erosion, and
taking care of
things while the
professional
cleaners spent
four days wiping
down every
surface of our
studio
(including the
ceilings and
walls) to remove
smoke residue.
Then they
evicted us for
24 hours while
they ran an
ozone-generating
machine to
cleanse the air
of the smells,
and then
steam-cleaned
the rugs. While
we have been
comfortably
housed during
this evacuation,
we still had
slept in seven
different
locations in 31
days, between
hotels, business
trips, and
family. We were
ready to come
home and put
things away in
drawers. So we
checked out of
the hotel,
collected our
things from
storage, and
slept for the
first time on
the mountain
last night since
June 9.
It’s good to be
here. We’re
still chock-full
of positive
attitude and
future plans,
but the reality
is, the month of
stress has taken
its toll, and
I’m finding
myself
“crashing” at
unexpected
times. We’re
both
short-tempered,
but don’t mean
to be. We’re
both tired all
the time, and
are having
trouble
concentrating or
finishing
sentences. We’re
jumpy and
hyper-sensitive.
We’ll be
alright, but we
know this is
going to be
normal for
awhile.

Imagine leaving
your house
rapidly, never
to return. You
reach for
things, then
remember they’re
gone. Little
things, like
jackets and your
comfy slippers.
Big things, like
a family memento
or an expensive
item you forgot
to grab. I’m
keeping a list
nearby now, to
write down
everything we
need to replace
for daily
living. Last
night we picked
up a monitor,
speakers,
keyboard,
printer, and ink
so I can set up
a new office (I
worked out of
the house). I
need to get all
the little silly
but handy stuff,
too, like a
stapler and
paper clips. We
have to replace
everything from
bread and eggs
to salt,
ketchup, and
mayo. Three days
ago, even before
we moved in,
Mike bought a
quart of milk
and some
Cheerios, just
so he could feel
“normal.” All we
had in the
studio was soup,
tea, hot
chocolate,
honey, and
popcorn. Kinda
hard to make a
meal… : )
Today I have to
make a bunch of
phone calls, and
try to get
caught up on
having been gone
from the office
for a month.
This is a busy
time of year for
us with gigs and
events, and we
have to
maintain. At the
same time, we
have five
buildings that
need to be
sifted through
and hauled away.
Assessors need
to be called,
along with the
phone, gas,
satellite, and
power companies.
Actually, I got
a huge laugh
when the phone
company
representative
on the cell
phone said to
us, “I
understand you
don’t have dial
tone at your
home?”
Understatement
of the year,
considering the
entire thing is
burnt to the
ground!
I’m also now
surrounded by
piles of stuff
that need to be
put away
somewhere. I
have spent very
little time in
this building
for the last
five years,
since my office
was in the
house, and Mike
had settled in
very comfortably
in the studio.
Now we have to
work out a whole
new system of
being in each
other’s space in
this smaller
living area. He
has moved his
office into his
painting studio,
and I will set
up my office
where it first
was when I moved
up here over six
years ago. I
have to remember
where to put
things like in
the old days
when we shared
this bathroom
and bedroom. We
have one dresser
to share,
instead of two
and a wardrobe.
But that’s OK –
we have fewer
clothes! Ha ha.
And I am very
grateful we have
a place to
return to, as so
many others do
not and will
have to live in
a hotel,
shelter, rented
apartment, or
with friends for
a long time to
come. Between
our fire, the
one in Estes
Park, and the
one in Colorado
Springs, over
600 homes were
lost.
Our local power
company, REA,
has done an
incredible job
getting
electricity
restored to our
damaged
neighborhood.

We have had so
much love and
offers to help
sent our way.
Friends are
chomping at the
bit to come help
us remove debris
and rebuild, but
we’re still in a
holding pattern
until the
insurance people
finish their
paperwork and
approvals. Our
homeowner’s
insurance
company, State
Farm, has been
great, but
things must
follow a path,
and we have to
be patient. The
business
insurance
company has been
less than
satisfactory so
far,
unfortunately.
We greatly
appreciate the
sales we were
able to make in
New Mexico at
the SASS End of
Trail festival,
but other than
that, Mike has
basically been
“out of work”
for a month now.
For every one of
you who gave us
a donation or
gift card, thank
you so much!
Donations are
being put to
good use, either
for paying for a
mortgage on a
house that
doesn’t exist
anymore, or gas
or food, and the
gift cards are
so helpful to
buy clothing,
toiletries, and
countless other
items most
people already
have. Mike and I
have two
teaspoons, seven
forks,
miscellaneous
bowls and
plates, and
enough pots to
cook spaghetti,
and I’m grateful
we have two sets
of sheets and
towels for the
guest room. I’m
really looking
forward to when
the insurance is
resolved, and I
can go shopping
in the right
frame of mind to
pick out my own
set of dishes
and cutlery
again.
More good news -
we have
everything we
need to get the
business back on
track, and Mike
and I are strong
and creative.
Yes, of course
we’ll have
emotional
fallout and be
running behind
schedule for
awhile as we
re-settle.
That’s to be
expected. Yes,
being here alone
with the ruins
is disconcerting
for me, but I
have to get used
to it sometime.
In the
meanwhile, I
have all of you
to share with,
and whether you
read this letter
or not, it helps
me to talk about
it.
I am compiling
lists of what
needs to be
done, and
believe me, I
will certainly
be sending out
the call when we
need a team up
here to take
care of a job.
There will be
plenty of work
for everyone who
still wants to
help. Out of
eight structures
on the property,
we lost five,
and a thousand
trees.
I’m also
planning to host
a fundraiser
ball for our
cherished
volunteer fire
fighters, six of
whom lost their
own homes in
this fire while
they were
defending
others. I’ll
keep you posted.
My favorite of
the scores of
signs of
appreciation
lining the
streets of the
High Park Fire
area.

I’m not nearly
as depressed as
this letter may
sound, but some
of you may want
to know what
it’s really
like, and I do
have my moments.
We are dealing
with a loss,
after all, and
our whole world
has been rocked.
The view from my
kitchen window
will never be
the same. But in
the meantime, we
have a job to
do, and we will
do it well,
because that’s
who we are.
There is still
plenty of
laughter, and
God is taking
good care of us,
and has blessed
us with a home
to which to
return, a lush
green meadow and
a surprising
number of
untouched trees,
and good friends
and family.
We’re mountain
people, and have
the pioneer
spirit, and
we’ll be fine.
Here's a good
note to end on -
tonight, after
Mike had
returned, a
stray cat came
by our place.
With the patient
help of a
friend, we were
able to catch
him. The bottoms
of his feet were
burnt, he was
skin and bones
(he only weighed
just over 5
pounds), was
covered in fleas
and terrified,
but still sweet.
We made a call,
brought him to
our vet, and
were able to
reunite him with
his owners, who
are our next
door neighbors
who lost
everything on
their property,
and who had not
seen their cat
since the fire
broke out. Poor
guy - with his
damaged feet, he
must have
suffered greatly
and was
starving. They
thought he was
lost forever,
but Squiggles is
now in good
hands, receiving
love, care, and
medical
attention, and
it sounds like
he has a good
chance of making
it.
Squiggles,
belonging to our
neighbors, lost
when the fire
broke out, found
and rescued
today!

Thanks for your
continued
thoughts,
prayers, and
support.
Sincerely,
Sharon & Mike
Guli
PO Box 127
Bellvue, CO
80512
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The
following letter was sent on July 1, 2012:
|
|
Our First Trip
Back to
"Paradise" -
the latest
Colorado High
Park Fire Update
(contains photos
- please be
patient as they
load)
OK, we’re back
from our first
trip to our
mountain
neighborhood,
Paradise Park,
since we were
evacuated three
weeks ago. First
fact – the house
is TOAST! It’s
now just a huge
hole with burned
out pieces of
blackened metal
junk. The fire
was so hot it
melted glass.
However, I was
surprised to
clearly see a
few
clean-looking
mugs and at
least part of a
plate. We could
also make out
the charred
outlines of
things like the
washer, stove,
microwave, two
file cabinets,
and the warped
metal frame of
what used to be
Mike’s favorite
recliner.


Mike and I were
both surprised
at how
practically we
handled it, even
making jokes and
laughing when we
identified
something in the
rubble. I think
this was due in
large part
because we were
thrilled at how
much prayer,
firefighter, and
angel-protected
green surrounded
our place. And
the studio – the
blessed
protected
studio! – looks
like it was gone
on vacation for
all this
disaster, and
was plunked
right back down
in the middle of
it all. It’s
beautiful and
perfect! We
walked in,
flipped a
switch, and
power had
already been
restored! The
water is good,
and all of our
sewing machines,
business
machinery,
resource books,
and costumes
stored in this
building are
wonderfully
safe! Of course
there is a smell
of smoke, but
we’ll see if
insurance can
help clear that
out.
The miracle
Studio/Shop -
our new home.

So, while we
will certainly
mourn the loss
of our beautiful
house and its
treasured
contents, we’re
so glad we can
return “home.”
The studio is
where Mike and I
lived the first
year we were
married, so
coming home to
it is a warm
experience.
Besides our work
rooms, Mike’s
office, and
storage space,
it also has a
guest bedroom, a
cute little
kitchen and
dining area, and
bathroom. At
this point,
we’re talking of
moving into the
studio, where we
already have a
collection of
second-best
dishes and
towels, and
sheets for the
guest bed, and
everything we
need to live
while we start
the cleanup and
rebuilding
process. One
current idea
we’re
considering is
to rebuild a new
studio on the
site of the old
house (complete
with a new
guest/client
quarters), and
then once that’s
finished, move
into it while we
gut and rebuild
the current
pieced-together
studio into our
new home. That
way, I’ll get
the sewing room
of my dreams,
Mike will have a
painting studio
with perfect
north lighting,
and we will
redesign our new
living space
together.
Mike's beloved
Spencer
Mountain, viewed
from our front
door across the
meadow, was
scorched to the
top. This is one
of Mike's
greatest
regrets.
Hundreds of
other trees on
our property
will need to be
removed, too.


Mike views an
ash flow across
our property,
caused when any
little bit of
rain falls on
the burnt areas.
Erosion control
is now a
concern.

In the meantime,
Mike will begin
the financial
task of juggling
filling leather
orders again
with having to
take time off
from leather
work to do the
necessary
months-long job
of cutting down
and removing
hundreds of dead
trees, making
sure the
neighborhood
road stays
passable due to
possible
mudslides and
erosion,
removing debris,
and planning and
re-building our
outbuildings and
home.
The point is -
we have a plan,
and we’re gonna
be OK!
Mike's garage
and tractor were
unscathed! It
started right up
- good thing,
because we're
gonna be needing
it for all the
cleanup.

Thank you to
everyone for
your continued
care and
prayers. As you
have bountifully
offered, we will
gratefully
accept your
help, because
this task is too
great for just
the two of us.
Some help will
be financial,
some for
comfort, some
with the loan of
heavy equipment
to clear and
build, and some
with physical
labor. We have a
long road ahead
of us, but it’s
ahead, not
behind. Behind
us is the pain,
tears, fear, and
loss, and ahead
is the joy of a
new road. We’re
both artists and
designers, you
know, and the
challenge and
joy of what we
will plan and
what is to come
has a great
appeal.
Not visible in
these photos,
our green valley
is now
surrounded by
about 1/2
mile-wide band
of black, some
of which was
torched so
fiercely the
actual ground is
burnt. Too many
of our neighbors
lost everything,
and have nothing
but blackness
and ash to which
to return, if
they have the
heart. Our
miracle oasis
has encouraged
us to return to
Paradise Park
and rebuild.
Thank God for
you and your
prayers, His
angels, and the
brave
firefighters
from across the
country and
beyond.

For all of you
who wrote and
called, I hope
in the coming
weeks to be able
to speak with
each of you
personally to
give you my
heartfelt
thanks. Thank
you for your
understanding
and patience.
Every single
email, card, and
phone message
was read, heard,
and appreciated.
This is not the
last you’ve
heard of us! :
)
I’ll try to keep
you posted as
our journey
progresses….
Most sincerely,
Sharon & Mike
Guli
PO Box 127
Bellvue, CO
80512
PS: I plan to
post more photos
soon on Facebook
to be viewed
publicly, and
will let you
know when and
give you the
link. |
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The
following letter was sent on June 29, 2012:
|
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Colorado High
Park Fire Pics &
Update
(contains three
photos - please
be patient as
they load)
Dear Friends,
Family, Fans,
and all of you
who reached out
to us,
Once again,
thank you for
your continued
prayers, and
your patience
for news from
me. I never knew
being evacuated
would keep me so
busy. We've been
putting on about
100 miles a day
on the car,
driving from
insurance
appointment, to
Citizen Briefing
Meetings, to the
storage unit, to
WalMart to buy
necessities, to
the post office,
to the hotel,
etc, etc. In
between all
this, I've been
helping maintain
daily contact
with our
immediate
neighbors, as we
stay in touch
with each other
with the latest
updates,
concerns, and
for support.
Twelve homes
were lost in
Paradise Park,
and numerous
outbuildings. We
were the first
to be evacuated,
and are the last
to return. Yes,
folks...
WE FINALLY GET
TO GO HOME!!!
: D
It's Day 19, and
today it was
officially
announced that
at 5:00 PM all
who wish to
return to our
neighborhood,
Paradise Park,
would be allowed
in with the
proper
credentials.
Even better,
we've been
informed our
local electric
company has
already replaced
poles and lines
and has power
back in that
area. Amazing!
Due to Mike's
heavy schedule
this weekend
(he's the venue
coordinator for
a mounted cowboy
shooting event
here), we don't
know for sure
what day we'll
be able, or
emotionally
ready, to drive
up the charred
mountain to view
our place. We
know from photos
sent our way by
kind
firefighters
that an oasis of
angel-protected
greenery
surrounds our
standing
Studio/Shop, so
we've got that
to look forward
to. However, the
beautiful
mountain across
our meadow was
scorched to the
top, and those
trees will not
return in our
lifetimes.
Our house, which
burned on
Sunday, June 10.
These three
photos were
taken by Channel
7 News from
Denver on
Tuesday, June
12.

Not only will
there be
emotional issues
to deal with,
but I never
thought about
all the hazards
they are warning
us about when we
return. Things
such as rotten
food, wildlife
and foraging
bears,
dangerously-burned
trees and power
poles, safety of
wells and septic
systems, along
with the dangers
of working with
removal of
debris, downed
metal roofing,
inhaling too
much ash, and
disinfecting
everything after
smoke and
fire-fighting
chemicals have
filled the air.
The list goes on
and on.
The fire is 85%
contained, and
they have been
sending troops
and equipment to
help with the
other very
serious fires in
our state,
including the
new devastating
one in Colorado
Springs. They
are letting us
back into our
neighborhood
under a
"Pre-Evacuation"
category; in
other words, we
need to keep our
eyes peeled for
anything bad,
and need to stay
prepared to
leave again
immediately if
need be. Smoke
and smoldering
can go on for
days, weeks,
even months, and
if we see
anything "green"
catching fire,
we need to let
the authorities
know
immediately.
They also told
us to make sure
we all had a
"safe zone"
picked out to
run to, in case
a fire flares
up, roads get
blocked, and we
can't get out.
They advised us
to go to one of
the "black
zones," that is,
an already-burnt
area, or to the
center of one of
the green
meadows that
survived the
first blast, on
the theory it
hopefully would
survive another.
Pretty sobering
stuff.
Because
of this fact, I
plan to leave my
evacuated
valuables in
storage until
this fire is
truly out.
"Contained"
means they don't
think it will
spread anymore;
"controlled"
means they think
they've got it
all out in the
interior.
"Controlled" can
take months.
The lost house
is in the
center, the
garage is on the
left, and across
the driveway you
can see our
beautiful, saved
studio/shop.
What a miracle!

During the past
19 days, I found
that "normalcy"
became very
important.
Things like
purchasing and
using again my
usual shampoo
and soap gave me
comfort. I
became somewhat
obsessive about
keeping track of
my remaining
"stuff." For the
first two weeks
or so, I was
glued to the
phone and Mike's
side. I find
myself babbling
incessantly,
even more than
usual. : ) The
fire chiefs are
now referring to
the "New
Normalcy," that
is, getting used
to a new
landscape as we
return to our
"moonscape"
properties, in
some cases.
My quote
to folks is, I'm
fine until I'm
not. One day I'm
good, joking and
comforting
others. Then,
any little thing
can bring tears,
especially
unexpected
kindnesses. One
evening complete
strangers paid
our dinner bill
and left without
us knowing.
Hotel clerks
have done us
favors. Or
hearing bad news
about a neighbor
can throw me for
days.
But
funny things
happen, too. I
joke about my
"Eye-Pad" - the
folded up hanky
I carry
constantly in my
back pocket. I
have my
"closet," a
large cardboard
box in which I
stash my
non-summer
clothes I
grabbed as we
left the house
for the last
time. I carry
from hotel to
hotel my
"refrigerator,"
a brown paper
grocery bag in
which I
transport our
snacks.
Part of Paradise
Park. Our
property is
located at the
left of the
large green
meadow that
survived the
fire. Another
miracle!
You can see how
the fire swept
around from the
back to take our
house, then
winds carried
the burning
embers from
torching trees
across the
meadow to the
other side. The
bottom left of
the photo is
what's left of
Spencer
Mountain, which
we view from our
front door. It
looks flat in
this photo.

For those of you
wondering - all
gigs are still
on! I haven't
cancelled any
events yet,
including one I
had to do the
day after we
evacuated. That
was hard, but I
was surrounded
by love. I look
forward to
seeing many of
you at upcoming
dances and
programs this
summer.
Normalcy.
For
those of you who
have generously
sent us
donations, gift
cards, emails,
letters, phone
calls, and love
- thank you so
much! While we
do have good
insurance, the
mortgage still
has to be paid
on a house that
isn't there
anymore, and
bills, gasoline,
food, and other
necessities are
still needing to
be taken care
of. Mike has
been unable to
work in his
studio for
almost three
weeks, and he
will be losing
more work time
as he gets the
tractor fired up
to start making
our neighborhood
safe again by
removing burnt
trees and other
hazards, and of
course, removing
our own debris
and starting the
rebuilding
process.
I'm not
used to being on
this end of
charity, but
someone asked
where they could
send us stuff.
Currently, we
actually don't
need "stuff,"
since we have to
take an
assessment first
of what was
lost, and when
we finally
finish our list
of items that we
need, I may open
a "Fire
Registry" at Bed
Bath and Beyond
or something
like that. Since
Mike and I all
but eloped and
cheated you out
of throwing a
bridal party for
me, maybe now
we'll have a
do-over! : )
In the meantime,
we are doing
fine, but if you
want to send
donations, or
gift cards to
Macy's, WalMart,
Home Depot,
Amazon.com,
Barnes & Noble,
Bed Bath and
Beyond, or such,
be assured they
would be humbly
accepted and put
to good use. Our
mailing address
is PO Box 127,
Bellvue, CO
80512 (We're not
asking, but you
did).
Believe
me, I will be
compiling a list
of help we will
need, too, and I
promise I will
ask for help
when we're at
that point. The
clearing and
rebuilding
process may take
years. In the
meantime, hugs,
prayers, and
love go a long
way. Oh yes, and
a good meal with
friends is
always welcome!
Last
thing - Mike and
I were
interviewed for
NPR's
"Marketplace"
radio program
this week. They
wanted a
perspective on
how the
evacuation
affected us from
a financial
point of view.
It will be
airing this
weekend on KUNC.
And
apparently the
story of the
evacuated brave
donkey, "Ellie,"
from our
property has
intrigued the
press. I've had
at least four
different news
agencies express
interest in her
story. Maybe
another day I
can share that
one.
Enough
for tonight. I'm
tired, and have
an emotional day
to prepare for
tomorrow. One
friend said,
"Sharon, when
you view your
lost home for
the first time,
and see the
burnt mountain
and blackened
surroundings,
and smell the
smoke and ash,
it will be the
worst moment
yet. But it
will be the last
of the worst. It
will get better
from there." I
believe she's
right.
Thank
you, my dear
caring friends.
I will take new
photos and share
them in a future
posting.
Hopefully soon
we can get back
to using this
email list for
happier things.
In the meantime,
thank you for
your love.
God
bless every one
of you.
Most
sincerely,
Sharon & Mike
Guli
Guli
Productions/Michael
J. Guli
Designs/River
Crossing Inc. |
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The
following letter was sent on June 13, 2012:
|
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The
Colorado High Park Fire and Us
Dear Friends, Family, Fans, and
all of you who reached out to
us,
As many of you know by now, the
High Park Fire in Colorado has
burned more than 43,000 acres
since it started on Saturday. It
is truly a "wild" fire, with
strong winds and drought
conditions making it
uncontrollable. Today for the
first time, our brave
firefighters, together with an
incredible teamwork of support
from across the country and
beyond, were able to make a
start at containment, achieving
10%. Vast evacuations continue,
over 100 structures have been
lost or damaged, and one person
has perished. Please pray for
rain, no winds, safety of all
involved, especially our
exhausted hero firefighters, and
success over this catastrophe.
The fire was caused by a
lighting strike from an intense
storm last Thursday night. After
smoldering unknown, early
Saturday morning a smoke plume
was reported within a mile west
of our house, which is located
in a beautiful area known as
Paradise Park, next to national
forest land. By 10:00 AM, we
received a call from a concerned
neighbor who had heard of the
report, and shortly thereafter
we could indeed see a small
smoke cloud too close for
comfort. I began to pack, hoping
it would only be a drill, as
firefighter planes and
helicopters quickly arrived and
began the assault. The wind was
already of concern. Mike kept
watch as the smoke intensified
and at times filled our valley.
Not much more than an hour
later, we received an urgent
automated reverse 911 call to
evacuate immediately. We
scrambled to grab the cat and
select those items from house
and studio which we deemed most
valuable and/or which could not
be replaced, and which we would
most need to continue to carry
on our lives and business should
we never return. I threw an
armload of clothes into a small
suitcase, and we pealed out of
there in our car and van with a
towering black and orange smoke
cloud over our shoulders.
Through the graciousness of our
friends, Mary, Lonna and Rex,
Susan and David, and Cyndee and
Robert, we boarded our cat,
stashed our stuff, and are
sheltered comfortably. We are
safe, and we were able to take
the most important things with
us.
Today, we received official good
news, and bad news, and good
news, through the eyewitness
account of our neighbor who is
one of the hundreds of volunteer
firefighters on the front lines,
and verified even further by
aerial photographs from a local
news channel.
It has been confirmed our house
and outbuildings have been lost,
despite the personal and valiant
efforts of our neighbor Jim
Terrell, his fellow
firefighters, and a firefighting
team from Idaho. The Good News -
our studio, a separate building
where Mike and I lived
comfortably the first year we
were married, and where all of
our production takes place, and
containing many valuable
research books and materials,
our sewing machines and heavy
equipment, and all of Mike's
beautiful artwork, is untouched
as of this time, along with our
garage and some large farm
equipment. Praise God! More good
news - all 15 horses which had
to be abandoned when we and our
neighbors had to evacuate so
rapidly, including six which
were on our own property, were
today evacuated by the Humane
Society, and are safely reunited
with their owners.
While we will mourn the loss of
our home and its contents, we
are blessed to still have a
place to which to return. Other
neighbors have lost everything.
Please pray the fire
does not return to our valley
(there were still HotShot teams
in there fighting fires today),
for continued protection
of all of the firefighters, and
for favorable weather
conditions.
When this is all over, and if
the property status remains the
same, we and our neighbors plan
to return to Paradise Park,
clean up, adapt, rebuild, add
on, and carry on. As Mike says,
we are mountain people, and we
are grateful everyone got out
alive. Houses are just houses,
after all, and can be rebuilt,
and the memories will still be
cherished. God is good, and
miracles have happened.
Mike and I wish to thank every
one of you who have called,
texted, emailed, and prayed for
us during this stressful time.
You have offered love, help,
pillows, food, shelter, trailors,
makeup, soap, offers to help
clean up if needed, offers to
help design and rebuild, hugs,
comfort, your phones, your
internet, and more than I can
say. We have been touched by the
outpouring of support from
literally across the world.
We do not expect to be allowed
to return home for some time
yet, as this is still an active
and dangerous fire. Once it is
controlled, we have been told it
may be 6-8 weeks, or more,
before power can be restored to
the area. We are in good hands,
and so many of you have offered
us lodging, we know we will be
well cared for. And yes, we have
insurance! : ) And most
importantly, we have each other,
and all of you.
We appreciate the love and
support more than you know.
Thank you for your continued
prayers. Mike knew the one
person who perished, and we have
too many friends and neighbors
who are still awaiting news on
if their homes remain.
We apologize for not being able
to personally return every call
and email, but we have been
running constantly since
evacuating. Be assured we have
listened to, read, and
appreciate every one of your
messages, and will keep in
touch.
Thank you, friends. So much love
from you all. God bless every
one of you.
Most sincerely,
Sharon & Mike Guli
Guli Productions/Michael J. Guli
Designs/River Crossing Inc.
PS: If you wish to view footage
of the fire, we suggest you
visit
www.9news.com. |
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