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Hi, all. The smoke has cleared, but it’s still pretty topsy turvy out here. Laurel’s family has been tied into the Mountain Drive community for generations, and that neighborhood was one of the hardest hit by the Tea Fire. The homes on Mountain Drive were all hand-built, one-of-a-kind dwellings, and the people inhabiting them have been gathering together to work and play since the 50′s. Mountain Drive is home to artists, craftsmen, barefoot (not naked since the 70′s) wine stomps and a rare and beautiful collection of good souls. For all the news emphasis on the rich and famous in Montecito, this community is full of people who work with their hands and hearts, close to the earth. Laurel can name more than 40 people off the top of her head who’ve lost their homes this week. I’ve been amazed by the resilience of the fire victims and the generosity of the community around them. It may be something of a cliche, but it’s good to see that the toughest of times seem to bring out the best in most people.

My friends Abe Powell and Bryan Field-Elliot have created MountainDriveCommunityAssociation.org to provide resources for Tea Fire victims and those who would like to help them. The site is unique in that registered victims can list specific needs and contributors can list specific resources. Links to relief organizations and bulletins listing meetings and events for Tea Fire victims (MDCA, Red Cross, FEMA and more) are also at the site.

Photos by Laurel and me are here. If you’d like to see pictures from our friend Cara Peace, go here..

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