Although it is mildly wet, conditions are drying out very rapidly. It was a rainy week totaling 1.8 inches of precip. Wednesday into Thursday itself produced 0.94 inches of rain and restored two ephemeral ponds on the property that otherwise do not occur in the summer. By Saturday, the standing water was gone and lawn mowing was both possible and necessary. However, there is still lingering moisture. Surface soils remain slightly damp, the drainage ditches are carrying water, Hess Lake is over its banks and into surrounding woods, and lawns are lush and green. Summer is in full swing; lots of Illinois and other out-of-state vehicles on our backroads. More roadside farmstands are appearing and are advertising local produce. The corn is more than knee-high. Lightning bugs have been active for several weeks and a Rose-breasted grosbeak made a brief appearance. Lots of agricultural and outdoor recreation going on.