For the past two weeks, wildfire smoke has hidden the mountains and turned Almost Paradise into a gray, eye-watering haze.

Winds from the south carry smoke from devastating Spokane-area fires and enormous Oregon blazes; winds from the north bring smoke from the Upper Smith Fire and Canada. When the wind stops, the smoke simply stays put.

Add summer heat, closed windows, and dry conditions, and North Idaho feels less than heavenly. Yet behind the smoke, mountains remain.

This Morning Brew reflects on firefighters, displaced families, gratitude for clean air, and faith that blue skies will return once again soon.

But first we dip into our mail to see what kind of feedback we have on this Friday!