So close . . but yet, so far away. We missed the "noreaster" by a mere 5 miles to our east. I followed it persistently as it tracked northward, the rain shield tantalizingly just out of reach for three days . . so the song continues "rain, rain everywhere, but not a drop right here!"—as I dutifully water my container plants and flower bed and loquat trees. It's like fighting a losing battle, but they would do the same for me if they had fingers and a hose. Leaves are curling up on trees and falling a few at a time without changing color— no water. So the best survival technique is to shed the foliage to save the bark. There are fewer deer and horse flies around given that the maggots (larvae) live in boggy muck that is cracked and brick hard these days. Nevertheless, nature is resilient, taking it all in stride, so often a far more sensible stride than I do!