Some scattered showers last week helped to alleviate lack of moisture. But several diggings in scattered areas of the yard at various depths ranging from 8 inches to over a foot indicated a very hard, dry, compact sample. Very difficult in some places to even get the shovel into the dirt. Some frost last week have diminished the annuals;however, some are still flowering including petunia, cosmos,and zinnias. Some of these are in containers. Outdoor mums from last year are beginning to flower also. Trees are now flush with Autumn color, particularly hickory, red and sugar maples, birch, and beech. A bald eagle was sighted perched on a dead tree branch. Crows were pestering it but it seemed oblivious to them. Retention pond levels still remain below normal. No aquatic fowl spotted. Water temperatures in the fish pond is becoming colder. It might be time to put the heaters in before winter to keep the fish happy.