Another 0.66” of rain this week has further improved conditions so that it is only mildly dry now.  Hiking trails at Douglas Forest, Sprague Farm and Old Furnace parks finally have some moist spots in the usual places.  We could play Pooh Sticks yesterday for the first time since late summer as the streams at Douglas have a little flow.  It was very cold last night and we saw the first ice on the Pascoag Reservoir this morning.  Winter birds like finches, sparrows, cardinals and blue jays have been busy this week and we had a Great Horned Owl hooting away in the tree outside our house.  We also saw a Bald Eagle fishing on the lake a few days ago.  Fire danger at George Washington park was reduced from Extreme to Medium early this week.  The NIDIS site still shows the southern half of RI in moderate drought (D1) and the northern half in severe drought (D2), but with recent rains that will hopefully be reduced soon.  Happy Thanksgiving!