We’ve had some good rains so far this winter with 8 inches total as measured in my back yard.  Already that’s 4 times the total rain fall compared to last year.  But then, last year was the driest year on record.  Two inches - that’s desert weather.

We had a storm come through Wednesday night and yesterday with another due to grace us today and over the weekend.

The effect on the hillsides continues to amaze us.  I reported below that grass was growing on the flatter, more level areas.  Now some of the slopes are starting to show hints of green.

Also, large areas were hydro-mulched.  There’s no seed in hydro-mulch.  It’s just ground up newspaper stained with a green dye.  (Read the post.)  The green stain has quickly faded away and now those parts of the hills are a rich brown.  It’s really beautiful at sunset.

So I can’t really say that looking out our back yard the scene is one of devastation any more.  It’s really very beautiful.

For more photographs visit http://RalphNordstromPhotography.com/santiago_fire/santiagofire01.html .