The past week has been interesting with record temps and record rainfall. Quite unusual for January. Record high of 61 on the 7th, followed by nearly one and a tenth inches of rain on the 8th. The rain easily exceeded the previous record of around a third of an inch at Des Moines. A majority of the rain soaked into the topsoil. Local streams did respond however by jumping up one to two feet as did the Des Moines river.  Not much animal activity the past week despite the warmer temps, which averaged an amazing 15.7 degrees above normal. The longer range GFS model is indicating a return to more normal temperatures with passing northern systems. So, the southern influx of systems and warmer temps looks to be over with, at least for the next couple of weeks. Some of the eastern Iowa extended family has been sick with flu-like symptoms that have lasted for a week or more.