This sky at sunset means thunder tomorrow. Unstable air is flowing east over the mountains and as the land cools overnight and heats tomorrow, the rumbling will start. Mark my words.

Last Tuesday the trail crew plunged into wet brush and sat under dripping hemlock branches to eat lunch. On the Fourth of July the weather pattern abruptly changed (as it does most years, almost like clockwork). Fieldwork took a break for the holiday. There has been puttering around the house and garden, reading in the shade, preparation of summer food and consumption of lemonade.

Back to the woods tomorrow, with a different attitude about sun and shade…