This is what has been our joint quarterly report for the last few years. It is almost fall. I am a little early. I just got back from Puddletown. I am here for a PhD exam and then I leave for Oregon, Washington and BC. I come back for another exam and leave for Germany, via Scotland.

Here, it has been a cool summer; the last week has evidently been in the 90s, but most of the summer was cool. August was one of the wettest ever. Our normal rainfall is about 3.5 in. Official rainfall was 8 or so inches. At my unofficial gauge it was near 20 in. Didnt have time for much of a garden this year. I got tomatoes and peppers. Looks like over a ton of pears and maybe 1/2 ton of apples. Chestnut trees are full but no walnuts. Oaks produced a lot of acorns and the fuzzy tailed rats are happy.

The wildlife is doing well. I have done counts on butterflies and mushrooms this year. Way above normal populations. Chiggers too. The nights are starting to cool. We see what are fall birds starting to return. We have the finest wildflower bloom that I have seen in a decade. Falcons have produced good broods, much to the consternation of the jays. In spite of the stories about GM pollen, the Monarchs are coming in large numbers. We are seeing fruit from wild plants that we havent seen in years. Excellent growing year. Turkey population is getting very high. So are quail and pheasant. This is one of those years. Who said 2000 would be all doom and gloom.

How is it where you are?

Best wishes,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), September 04, 2000

Answers

That is OUR traditional quarterly report. Too many time zones, too little time.

Best wishes,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), September 04, 2000.

109 and still rising,hasn't rained in over a month..maybe Al has something with that global warming..think I'll go poke some holes in some SUV tires

-- austin (just a t@d bit.warm), September 04, 2000.

Have been doing this for a long time. Forgot that the new people might not know that I am from central Missouri.

Best wishes,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), September 04, 2000.

...think I'll go poke some holes in some SUV tires

If you were to attempt such a thing with my SUV I would blow your fucking head off.

Have a nice day.

-- Don't Make Assumptions (question@everything.xxx), September 04, 2000.

Sounds nice, Z. It's still hot and dry here in the DFW area of Texas...pretty much like it was the past three years. We had some good rain in the Spring, and haven't had water use limitations set. The one thing I've heard this year that I hadn't heard in the past 2 years is that armadillos are digging up yards in the neighborhood [seeking water?]

I've seen many more butterflies this year than last, and fewer grasshoppers. I didn't make a garden. The drought and the watering restrictions resulted in its death last year, and I had no reason to believe this year would be different.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), September 05, 2000.

Assumption,

"poking holes in some SUV tires" referred to #5 of 'How to be a good Democrat':""You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical,documented changes in the earth's climate,and more affected by yuppies driving SUV's""

Now you'll probably be offended that I may have insinuated that you are a 'yuppie'

-- austin (just a t@d.bit warm), September 05, 2000.

What's the big deal with being a Yuppie? Should I be ashamed of it? Sell my cozy house in my cozy neighborhood and move to a trailer park?

We got 2 SUV's. Does that make me a Yippee Yuppie?

-- (Yuppie@here.so.what?), September 05, 2000.

Z,

Fall is a season I look forward to with great anticipation. Old Sol is beginning to peek out now for longer intervals, after a foggy summer. The first Monarch of the season floated past me two days ago, it seems early - {I think I say that every year}.

There is a bit of chill in the air in the morning, though not enough to send too many varmints seeking shelter under the house yet.

In a 'normal' year, I'd start to anticipate the first good bit of rain, then a perscribed burn. Since the tree diseases have gotten a strong toe-hold, burning is out of the question. As for the oaks, I'll check the acorns & get back to you. The New York Times had a good article on our poor oaks in the last couple of weeks. I guess they've finally identified then pathogen that's doing them in. It's pretty sad to travel the coast range now, and see the terrible turning.

On a brighter note - hopefully Boletus edulis lurk 'round the corner. Not long after that {it seems}, I'll expect to see the migrating whales. They'll accompany me into the next season.

The big excitement for this year seems to have been the amount of brown pelicans sporitng breeding plumage & behaviors further north into their old rookery ranges.

-- flora (***@__._), September 05, 2000.

Hi Z,

I've just returned from almost a week of fishing in Northern Michigan. Here in Central Ohio, the weather has turned seasonably cool (low 70s) and the tops of many maple trees are starting to turn. The harvest is coming along: corn, soy, wheat are bountiful. There has been enough rain to saturate the water table and break the drought.

There have been two odd shootings: a family of seven killed in an apparent murder/sucide and a man shot his wife on school property (classes weren't in session). Stories are in the Dispatch if anyone cares.

I love this time of the year!

-- (kb8um8@yahoo.com), September 05, 2000.