Smokey the Bear Days

Today Tripp, Thatcher and I attended the Smokey the Bear Days in Capitan. Tripp enjoyed the parade, eating the candy thrown at us, the live music, and looking at all the booths set up along the main street. It was a lot of fun and we got to meet up with a few of our friends. I have decided to share a little info about our friend Smokey:

The living symbol of Smokey Bear was an American black bear who, in the spring of 1950, was caught in the Capitan Gap fire, a wildfire that burned 17,000 acres in the Capitan Mountains. The cub was in the Lincoln National Forest. Smokey had climbed a tree to escape the blaze, but his paws and hind legs had been burned. He was rescued by forest rangers fighting the wildfire.

At first he was called Hotfoot Teddy, but was later renamed Smokey, after the mascot. A local rancher who had been helping fight the fire took the cub home with him, but he needed veterinary aid. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Ranger Ray Bell took him to Santa Fe. His wife Ruth, and their children, Don and Judy, cared for the cub.

The story was picked up by the national news services and Smokey became an instant celebrity. He and the Bells were featured in Life magazine, cementing his star status.

Soon after, Smokey was flown in a Piper Cub to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., where he lived for 26 years.

Upon his death in November 1975, Smokey's remains were returned by the government to Capitan, and buried at what is now the Smokey Bear Historical Park.

Tripp intently watching the parade. He could hear all the fire trucks heading our way.

Our friend Eleck and his grandmother.

Check it out...it's Smokey!

Kimberly and Thatcher

Mmmmm....sucker.

We ran into Stacy and her daughter Erin, who is only two weeks older than Thatch.

I know this photo looks a little random, but if you enlarge it you can see the interesting facts written on the cards concerning black bears.

After all the festivities, the boys and I joined Stacy, Erin, Gina, and Andy for lunch. Here is Stacy with Thatcher.

Erin and Gina

Gina's son Andy

Erin enjoying a cookie. She is so cute and messy.

Funny story about this photo. If you look closely, you will notice Thatcher is wearing one of Erin's shirts (a girls shirt). He had a huge blow out (you moms know the kind...poop everywhere). Well, I forgot to pack a change of clothes for the day and therefore Thatch was forced to be "precious" as the shirt says.

On a more serious note, the fire danger in Lincoln county has reached extreme which is the highest it can go. The Rangers have closed down the forests. We need rain badly or the fires are going to come. Please think of New Mexico tonight and send up a prayer for rain.