Today I had Afternoon Tea. It's a thing I like to do occasionally. Makes me feel all girly and upper-class or something.

Sometimes I go out, but we do own an Authentic English Tea Service (well, okay, it's a breakfast service, but it's English) and some of those cool tiered trays that you stack the sandwiches and bread and cakes on. The tired trays were made in a country whose name I'm too lazy to try and spell but it starts with Ch so feel free to use your imagination.

Today I stayed in and had Afternoon Tea at home. Sandwich selection included cucumber (of course), chicken salad, and ham. With bite-sized quiches (crab), fresh crescent rolls with butter, and chocolate mousse cake for dessert.

I don't know why I'm telling you this, but there you go. It's my blog and I can blog about anything I want.

You might be wondering why I stayed at home and did all the work myself in a sunny, summer afternoon when Denver is littered with tea places that feature tables placed in shaded gardens, perky waitresses, and someone else hired to wash the dishes.

That's because it's not. A sunny, summer day, I mean. There's a big fire someplace outside of town and the city is covered with a heavy haze of smoke and ash today. The light is an odd yellow and the wind is blowing hot and dry. Those with asthma, heart conditions, and any respiratory-related illnesses are strongly encouraged to stay indoors.

Citizens are also requested to cease calling 9-1-1 to report that there's a fire.

This isn't the same fire that's in Glenwood Springs, of course. That's hundreds of miles away, across the Divide (Continental), on the west edge of the state. Too far away to be dumping haze and ash on Denver, in spite of the fact that it's already burned 7000 acres in the 36 hours or so it's been burning. That one burst forth from an underground coal fire that's reputed to have been burning for a hundred years.

I ask you. They're all over me about having an annual emissions test on my car when they know there's a fire that's been burning in the Western part of the state, spewing coal haze into the air for centuries?

I always say there's nothing like a nice sandwich.