Cooling temperatures and increased moisture in the air brought dense fog to many areas of Floyd County this morning. If the weather forecast is correct, April will leave us with showers with thunderstorms on the horizon.

At least two candidates have taken out paperwork for the seat of outgoing Courthouse Supervisor Jerry W. Boothe  and more may emerge.

Former Floyd Town Manager Mike Maslaney sought signatures for his petition on the streets of Floyd during the Friday Night Jamboree last week. Protocol Automotive owner Joey Kaylor took out paperwork as well. Neither has formally announced.

Maslaney is also an investor in town redevelopment projects like The Village Green (where Blue Ridge Muse is located) and directed the management group for the downtown redevelopment program.

Kaylor recently relocated and expanded Protocol to a new location on U.S. 221 North.

The National Weather Service this morning issued the following weather statement for Floyd County:

Above seasonal temperatures and dry conditions will continue for one more day. Until the area receives rainfall… Fire danger will remain high.

Temperatures today are expected to be 15 to 18 degrees above normal. These very warm temperatures… In combination with low afternoon relative humidity… Will result in the dry woodland fuels… Such as leaves and brush. Fire can spread quickly under these conditions.

A reminder… Open air burning in virginia and west virginia is not permitted before 4:00 pm. Even after 4:00 pm… Be very careful with fire… And make sure your fire is not close to an area where it can escape into the woods or a wild land area. Make sure you have water on-hand… And use proper tools… Such as fire rakes and shovels to slow the progression of the fire and to keep it contained within a safe area. Check with your local authorities if you plan to burn. Some areas require burning permits.

Campfires should not be left unattended. When you leave your campsite… Make sure the fire is out and the ground is cold to touch… Using water to extinguish the fire.

In 1995, I photographed the Smokejumpers forest firefighting crew out of Missoula, Montana and saw first hand what a fire can do to woodlands and those who live in the region.

It’s not something we want to see here.

They show up every morning as I attempt to put on boots or shoes: Tokens of appreciation from one or more of the six feline creatures that allow us to share their home.

This morning, my toes encountered bottle caps and twist ties as I tried to slip on my motorcycle riding boots. Yesterday it was twist ties, a sock and a dead mouse.

Cats have their own way of showing love and such outpourings require careful inspection of footwear on a daily basis.

The sun is peeking through the trees of our back yard this morning and the sounds of birds stream through the open windows.

If the weather forecast is right (and that is always a big "if") we are heading into an incredible weekend with clear skies and temperatures in the 80s throughout. It will, I hope, be a weekend to get my Harley out and enjoy the beauty of the area where we live.

Southwestern Virginia offers so many reasons to enjoy life and, sometimes, we get so caught up in the isses and folly that surrounds us that we forget to just take time to just…well..live.

Sometimes it helps to just hit the open road and leave worries about the economy or festering local issues behind.

Musicians will be on the street in Floyd tonight, spilling out of the Friday Night Jamboree at the Country Store. At FCHS today, the girls varsity softball team faces Auburn after a questionable call at home plate cost them the previous match with the traditional rival. A multi-school track meet is scheduled as well.

It’s going to be a beautiful day and a great weekend. Get out there.