Labor Day weekend, 2011. Hot, dry, extremely high winds. At 2:30pm on Sunday, my neighbors, Linda and Leighton called to tell me there was a fire west of us… let’s go see how serious it is. Pictures show the burning fencepost on 713, and the aftermath. We headed back toward the ranch, and south on Hwy 304. Smoke is billowing up, fire crews stand by helpless, we see the fires approaching the Walker Ranch on 304, and the fires close in on the Walker Ranch. Then we learn of the fires on Hwy 71 in Bastrop to the north. In the days that followed, the Bastrop fire grew in size and intensity. On Day 3, we see smoke from the main Bastrop fire to the north, smoke from the fires to the south. Hwy 713 was closed heading toward Austin. Hwy 535 was closed heading toward Austin. Hwy 71 was closed heading toward Austin. The only way to go would be towards Houston. We were among the fortunate ones… fires came no closer than seven miles. Our hearts are with those who lost everything. The animals knew something was dreadfully wrong… as the smoke lifted, they seemed to ask if everything was ok.