PRAY FOR MELANIE GRIFFITH!

Melanie Griffith begs for prayers as her mother is evacuated from big cat sanctuary in path of ferocious LA wildfire that has gutted homes, destroyed 22,000 acres of land AND the set for Wipeout

Melanie Griffith asked for prayers after her mother was evacuated from a wildlife sanctuary because of raging wildfires in Los Angeles.

The actress wrote on Twitter: ‘Please say a prayer for all residents in the path of the #SandFire . My Moms place Shambala is being evacuated.’

Griffith’s 86-year-old mother, Tippi Hedren, opened the preserve in 1983 following on from her film Roar.

There are over 40 big cats – including lions, tigers, cougars, black and spotted leopards, servals, bobcats, and an Asian leopard cat – who are cared for at the ranch.

On Sunday evening, Griffith, 58, confirmed that her mom was safe and the beloved cats had been saved. She wrote: ‘Mom is safe! Shambala is safe. Now sending love and thanks to all the firefighters who saved her and the cats.’

They accept donations for The Roar Foundation, the organization that runs the center.

Sable Ranch – a filming set used in the A-Team, 24 and Supernatural and the site for the Wipeout set – has also been destroyed.

The blaze has grown ferocious new power two days after it broke out, sending so much smoke in the air that planes making drops on it had to be grounded.

Officials said it has run through the area ‘like a freight train’.

The latest figures released by the authorities say the blaze is at 20 percent containment and a total of 18 family homes have been gutted in the areas of Sand Canyon, Bear Divide and Little Tujunga.

On Saturday, authorities said the Sand Fire was at 20 per cent containment, but the U.S. Forest Service corrected that figure and said the fire remains at 10 per cent containment. Above firefighters battled the Sand Fire on Sunday

About 300 miles up the coast, crews were battling another blaze spanning 10,000 acres (16 square miles) north of the majestic Big Sur region.

Authorities say almost 1,700 firefighters who are being hindered by scorching temperatures of up to 112 degrees are battling the blaze in the mountains north of Los Angeles known as the Sand Fire.

On Sunday crews faced another day of hot weather, low humidity and high winds that could once again fan the fires’ explosive growth. Shifting winds sent smoke away from greater Los Angeles and into desert communities, where residents were warned about poor air quality.

Late Saturday evening, a man’s body was found outside a home on Iron Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. Detectives are working to determine whether he was killed by the blaze or another cause, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Rob Hahnlein said.

My Entitled Daughter-in-Law Demanded That I Retire – My Son Gave Her a Reality Check

Hi there, I’m Nora, and if you told me a week ago I’d be venting on the internet about my family drama, I would have laughed. But here I am, a private school teacher with 13 years under my belt, caught up in a pickle that sounds straight out of a daytime drama.

A smiling senior woman pictured while gardening | Source: Shutterstock

I’ve been teaching at a small, tight-knit school where I know every kid by name because we have only one class per grade. It’s a special place, really, far better than the nearby public schools, which, to be honest, aren’t great.

I plan to retire in about five years, give or take, content with my quiet life and looking forward to restful golden years. Now, onto the juicy part of this saga: my relationship with my daughter-in-law, Christine.

A woman not talking to her mother-in-law | Source: Getty Images

To put it mildly, we’re not exactly chummy. At family gatherings, we orbit each other like distant planets, exchanging polite nods more out of necessity than desire. Civility, that’s our unspoken agreement.

But last week, Christine dropped a bombshell that could have made headlines in our family’s newsletter, if we had one. It turns out, my adorable grandson Joey is set to start school next fall, and guess what? He’ll be landing right in my class.

A little boy standing in a sunflower field | Source: Unsplash

You’d think that’d make things simple, right? Nope, Christine had other plans. She cornered me one evening and demanded, yes, demanded, that I retire! “It was your plan anyway,” she said, her tone sharp as a tack. “A couple of years won’t change anything.”

I was gobsmacked! The audacity floored me so much I couldn’t muster a single word in response. Over the next few days, she didn’t let up. Every chance she got, she started arguments, trying to corner me into agreeing to retire sooner. It was relentless.

A mother-in-law and daughter-in-law arguing | Source: Getty Images

Just when I thought I’d have to cave, my son David stepped in. Ah, David, always the peacekeeper. He’d been watching this drama unfold and had cooked up a plan to give Christine the reality check she clearly needed.

So, David had been pretty quiet about his plan, but boy, did he make a splash when he put it into action. That day, as Christine strolled into the house, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

An angry woman | Source: Getty Images

There she saw David, Joey, and a young lady I hadn’t met before, all huddled around a book on the living room couch. The scene was so calm and focused, it was like they were in their little bubble.

Christine, looking like she’d just walked into a surprise party meant for someone else, asked in a bewildered tone, “David, what’s going on here?”

Man, woman, and young boy reading | Source: Pexels

David, bless him, didn’t miss a beat. He was as calm as a cucumber when he said, “I’ve decided that Joey will be taking private lessons at home. Since you’re uncomfortable with him being in my mother’s class, this is the only viable solution. We’ll be hiring private tutors for all his subjects.”

Christine blinked a few times, obviously trying to process this new arrangement. David wasn’t done yet, though.

A surprised woman | Source: Getty Images

He continued, “This means we’ll need to redirect our finances to cover the cost of his education. It’s quite expensive, so we’ll have to cut back on our vacations, restaurant dates, and even our clothing budget. Essentials only from now on.”

“Also, since we’ll be economizing, we’ll need to cut back on takeout, which means more cooking at home for you.” The weight of his words seemed to slowly sink in as Christine’s face fell.

A woman looking at her husband during a conversation | Source: Getty Images

She started to argue, her voice tinged with desperation, “But that’s unnecessary! Can’t we just reconsider this?”

David, however, stood firm. He stressed the importance of Joey’s education and maintaining a peaceful family environment, not letting Christine’s objections sway him. “It’s important we do this the right way,” he insisted.

After the storm settled a bit and Christine had a few days to mull things over, something seemed to click in her.

A little boy completing his homework | Source: Unsplash

Maybe it was seeing David going to such lengths to sort out Joey’s education, or perhaps the realization of what her demands had been doing to everyone.

Whatever it was, the change was clear and somewhat surprising. One quiet evening, she approached me, something akin to humility in her eyes—a look I wasn’t accustomed to seeing on her.

A distressed woman lost in her thoughts | Source: Shutterstock

“I’m sorry for the trouble I caused,” she admitted, her voice soft, reflecting a genuine sense of remorse. “I didn’t realize the pressure I was putting on everyone, including you. I hope we can find a way to move forward from here.”

Hearing those words from Christine, well, it felt like a breeze after a stifling heatwave. I appreciated her coming forward to apologize; it wasn’t easy and it showed a willingness to mend fences. “Of course,” I replied, “let’s move forward, for Joey’s sake.”

A woman talking to her mother-in-law | Source: Shutterstock

So, as the next school year rolled around, Joey started attending the private school as we had originally planned. The air between Christine and me had shifted.

It wasn’t like we were about to become best friends, but there was a newfound civility, a professional courtesy almost. We both understood that whatever our differences, Joey’s well-being was the priority. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it was a start.

A senior teacher sitting in her office | Source: Pexels

The school year was off to its usual bustling start, but little did I know, a small unexpected moment was about to ease some of the tension between Christine and me.

About a month in, Joey, my grandson, won a class art contest—a little victory, but a big deal for him. Proud as ever, I set up a display of his artwork in the classroom, a colorful testament to his creativity.

The little boy and his artwork | Source: Pexels

One afternoon, as Christine came to pick Joey up, something unusual happened. She paused—a rare break in her usually brisk pace. Her eyes landed on the display, and a softness appeared on her face that I hadn’t seen before.

“Joey did this?” she asked, her voice mixing surprise with a hint of pride.

“Yes, he’s quite talented,” I replied, seizing the chance to maybe, just maybe, bridge the gap between us a bit more. “He’s been very enthusiastic about art. It’s wonderful to see him express himself so creatively.”

A dragon drawing on a piece of paper | Source: Unsplash

There was a moment, just a heartbeat or two, where Christine looked from the artwork back to me. I saw something in her eyes then—maybe gratitude, maybe a reassessment of old judgments. “Thank you,” she murmured, “for encouraging him.”

That small exchange felt like a window opening after a long time closed. From that day on, our interactions took on a slightly warmer tone.

Woman looking at artwork | Source: Pexels

Christine began to inquire more about Joey’s day-to-day activities, showing a genuine interest beyond mere pleasantries. She even volunteered for a class event, which, believe me, was a surprise to all of us.

As the months rolled by, Joey flourished. Not just in his artwork, but academically and socially too. Every day, he seemed to come home with a new story, a new success, a new friend.

Boy doing a project with classmate | Source: Pexels

Seeing him thrive like this, I felt a deep reassurance about my decision to stay on as his teacher. It was proof that despite the personal challenges, my professional integrity and dedication to these kids could make a real difference.

By the end of the school year, while Christine and I hadn’t exactly turned into friends, there was mutual respect, cemented by our shared commitment to Joey’s wellbeing.

A little boy drawing at a desk | Source: Pexels

It wasn’t a perfect resolution—life seldom offers those—but it was a functional truce, a testament to the compromises we’re willing to make for the sake of the children we love.

Looking back, what began as a standoff that might have ripped our family apart, turned into a journey of understanding and compromise.

It showed me that sometimes, it’s the little things—like a child’s artwork—that can bridge the biggest divides. So, here we are, not perfect, but a family that’s learning, growing, and, most importantly, sticking together.