We actually got a small amount of rain a couple of days ago, although not enough to produce a noticeable growth spurt in the "forbes" (My euhemism for what's supposed to be grass).

It did, however, seem to cause an "emergence" of June Bugs that were all over the front patio around the outside light. I've seen somewhat higher "densities" lots of times before, but none that I recall that had such an abrupt appearance.

We've seen fairly regular appearances of one cottentail in the yard. (At least we think it's the same one each time.) The "ditch bank" out behind where it hides is shaded by trees and overgrown with "scrub" junk (sumac and poison ivy mostly) so there's not much grass or anything else edible for bunnies, and our minor bit of mowing provides "more succulent weeds" for it. We're also about the only house in a block or two with no noisy dogs so we're getting preferential treatment.

With the exception of one enormous garter snake (about 3.5" long) wildlife activity has been generally (and abnormally) absent, although that may be partly due to the neighboring truck drivers' penchant for enormous loud dumb dogs. (There are some fairly intelligent large breeds, but apparently not here.) The son (also a wheeler) leaves his dog(?) with us some when he's in town, but it's a weiner and I'll forgo comment on the intelligence factor, although I'll concede a whole lot of "personality." "Weird" comes to mind.

We've had a couple of days within the last week when the high temp was (barely) below 100 F, and there have been some very widely scattered T-storms passing through the general area, but there's been much more concern about the 60 to 70 mph winds in them than about any other effects. Few of them have dropped measurable moisture, and thus far they still are avoiding the SW Kansas and NW Texas/Oklahoma area where the drought is most severe (and prolonged). No possibility of any breaks there in the forecasts.

Most in the region here would welcome a decent (but hopefully not incredibly extreme) hurricane to get some water up.

John