Only 0.08" in the past week. A dry spot can be found outside if one looks hard, but in general, the basement is still damp so reporting Near Normal. The decreasing temperatures are not putting a high water draw burden on the soil right now. Potted plants still need watering.  Grass growth continues to slow. Threats of frost in the past week have partnered up with plants just ending their productivity (likely due to decreasing sunlight) so folks are starting to end their gardening season. NOTE: No frost yet at this location. The past week's weather has been mostly clear and calm.

Trees continue to change color slowly with light yellows appearing. Sumac fully in burgundy now. Chestnuts are coming into ripe but are not there yet.

In the garden, asters and sedum have opened. A few traveling monarch butterflies have passed through. Hummingbird feeding is done for the season. Chipmunks and red squirrels seem to be finding their winter nests. Canada geese can be heard migrating or just visiting.

Allergies have increased but that seems very connected to the furnace running each day and the humidity indoors has been dropping. While autumn is officially here now, we're still on a general upswing towards deep piles of vibrant leaves.