Mon 8/2 – Sun 8/8/26 rural Central Oregon High Desert           
There was no precipitation this last week.  It has now been 20 days since the last measurable rain (0.06”, the morning of 7/20).  Noticeably, our well water has slightly warmed as it has done in past drought years in August.  Daytime highs this week averaged 94°F (lowest – 83; highest, twice – 94°F), and morning lows, approaching normal for this time of year, averaging 30°F (lowest – 30, highest 37°F).  I have been drying all laundry outdoors (for weeks now) to offset some of the energy use from all-day air conditioning.  Am able to open windows most overnights.
The native bunchgrasses are browning and the leafy ground cover is desiccating.  There is no manually detectible moisture in the undeveloped soils on the property.  Several of the pine trees I recently reported (in condition reports) as showing drought/bug-infestation stress are apparently dead now and I presume the newest ones now showing dead limbs will soon be fully affected as well.  
I finally saw a honeybee in the native desert lupine (in the open undeveloped area of my garden).  Most walking and flying insect life (including garden pests) remain scarce, despite watering garden vegetables and a small new lawn, compared to prior years.  Yellow jackets have increased since last report, but are still scarce compared to normal. 
Smoke and haze varied Mon 8/2 thru Sat 8/8 from the numerous wildfires in Central Oregon: a smoke incursion arrived early AM Tue 8/3 and lasted until shortly after dark, with a AQI 117 (low-moderate: “unhealthy for sensitive groups” ) at nearest official location 8 miles north in La Pine; haze varied from barely visible in the distance to light overhead.  There has been no smoke or haze in the dark morning hours the last 3 days i.e., the stars and Milky Way were clearly visible.  
There was no effect at this site from a [small] wildfire (Crescent Butte Fire (694) that reportedly started about 2 PM Sat 8/8 approx 7-8 miles WSW of this site.  Levels 1 and 2 evacuations were designated.  It generated a smoke plume followed by a brief period of haze -visible but not covering this area – that cleared before dark.  Personal note:  in light of the locations, amount and intensity of this year’s wildfires in the state, I feel this site has been “charmed” this summer, having missed the numerous smoke incursions, thick haze and days/nights of elevated AQI’s that affected this area during recent years’ wildfire seasons – and am very grateful many times every day so far!