A total of 0.09" of rain fell Thursday, otherwise it was a bone dry week, with temps warm enough to dry the soil to a near normal condition.  Area waterways are still a bit on the high side of normal for the time being.  Our NWS is predicting a wet week ahead so soil conditions may improve.  A nearby pond  has come up lately but still remains much below its normal level, so clearly rain is needed.  More trees are budding and area lawns are slowly getting greener.  Daffodils and ramps have grown quite a bit and I expect the ever invasive and tenacious Morrow's Honeysuckle to start greening up pretty soon.  There was a tom turkey fanning its tail recently, trying to impress a hen in the woods.  And the "gone but not forgotten" insects have returned.  A few ladybugs and a couple black ants have shown up inside the house.  And numerous boxelder bugs have come out of the woodwork and somehow one found its way onto my hand.  I lent it a helping hand and promptly showed it outside where it had more room to roam.