I'm not sure why the drought monitor seems so far off from our actual conditions, but calling this area around my station normal is very, very wrong.  We have had less than 3/4 inch of rain in 26 days and with the abnormally high temperatures and hot sun, the effects are quite dessicating.  Our creek has been dry for 10 days, we have dry wetlands, our ponds are dropping severely, and wildlife are coming near the house to get water.  Pastures are burned up along with lawns.  Corn and soybeans have flash dried in the fields and fire danger is high with many counties around us under burn bans- the only reason we are not is that this county has no one to issue one.