Woodland Asters in bloom

Prior to the rain, we were a bit concerned about the woodland asters all over the property. They were drooping badly.
Well, the rain of the last week was plenty, and by a few days in, they'd not only perked up, they were blooming.

Hot

And just in time for the kids to go back to school, lo and behold, a heat wave!
At 12 noon, it is 84 degrees (much cooler here than elsewhere!)
Humidity is about 70%
Barometer is at 29.25 and steady

Fox on Goddard Memorial Drive

This was an honest-to-goodness Jeff Barnard Wormtown Fleet moment. Heading up and over Airport Hill from Main Street to Tatnuck Square, what do I see on the side of the road but this guy? A young fox, just standing there, staring into the weeds by the side of the road! A closer look (after I took this, I pulled around the median again to to get a closer look, but he ran off before I got a closer photo) revealed that his eyes were all squinted up, as if he wasn't well somehow. I don't think he was rabid--he was together enough to run from the car--but he was a bit dazed.
Anyway, Jeff, you may have forgotten your camera today, but I didn't!

Hiker Help Please!

Hello Hikers of the Cascades Trail and the Cataract Cart Road.
A couple went through this evening and lost an iphone on the trail and spent more than an hour at dusk trying to find it (even going so far as to scan the ground with flashlights when dusk overtook them.)
If anyone comes across an iphone with a bright pink case please let us know here at the Lodge.
Thanks guys!

Nice one!

We had PLENTY of rain last night, which has made today quite nice! Here, we had 1.02 inches before midnight and an added 0.12 after. While this hasn't gotten the Cascades going, it did give everything a good drink, which means that the wood asters, which were droopy, have perked up and everything's much fresher. Expect the trails to be damp today.
At 11 am, it is 67.6 degrees and rising.
53% humidity and falling
29.32 inches of mercury and steady
The fire danger remains LOW.

Volunteer Thursday!

Every other Thursday morning this summer, we're doing sign work with volunteers here at the Lodge. If you can wield a paintbrush, an adz, a hand saw, we'll find something for you to do. Work goes on here until 11:30 today.
(to the accompanyment of the woodchipper next door...'though I am freshly assured that this will end by noon today!)

At 9:30 it is 71.1 degrees and rising...quite pleasant.
42% humidity and falling
29.18 inches of mercury and steady
We have 1 mph of wind
The streambed is just a trickle (and likely to stay that way, unless the isolated showers for tonight pan out).
Fire danger is LOW ('though it's MODERATE just to our west).

Damp

The 0.4 inches of rain that we got last night all fell after midnight, so it's on today's count. Expect it to be damp on the trails; we're still hearing the drip of water off the trees now.
It's 76.1 degrees and rising at 10 am.
51% humidity and steady
29.21 inches of mercury and steady
O mph of wind
And the rain wasn't enough to bring the stream up above a trickle.

In addition to some family health excitement, the lack of posting has possibly been because it's been hard to hear yourself think here at the Lodge lately. The development next door has made it up the property bound to the house now, and the boundary runs without many trees as a buffer up here. They have cleared right up to the boundline, with chainsaw and excavator and chipper, and it's been loud, to say the least. We also have an impressive pile of woodchips along the boundline, and an unprecedented amount of sun in the backyard.

You can join us for sign work here between 8:30 and 11:30 Thursday morning!

Wormtown Taxi

If you follow Worcester blogs, then you surely are aware of Jeff Barnard, aka Mr. Wormtown Taxi. Jeff's been fighting cancer, and he's been in the hospital.
If you'd like to wish Jeff well, you can fill out the form below (set up by Mike), and we'll see that he gets it (and if you're a blogger and you want the html for the form, get in touch and I'll send it to you!).

Workin'

We've got some workers here today, building more stone wall and working on a platform for firewood. Also, today's weekly work project is TONIGHT at God's Acre. You'll find us at 5:30 off of Swan Ave (find a map here) for a trail blazing project in the Tessaset Hills trail. If you RSVP to Mary (mary@gwlt.org), we'll make sure there's pizza for you.

At 10:30 it is 71.1 degrees and steady.
48% humidity and steady
29.38 inches of mercury and rising
Clear sunny skies
No wind to speak of
The stream continues below measurable levels.

And the development is RIGHT over against the Cascading Waters boundline today (but, mercifully, no banging today).