Cool enough...

...to open our windows throughout the house the last couple nights. But today, though still in the lower 80s, was muggy and oppressive again. Oh, well. We've had a hint of autumn.

Thinking about all those affected by the horrible wildfires in California, as well as those in Iowa affected by the derecho on August 10. We have family friends who live in a forested area outside of Cedar Rapids, and in a similar storm a few years back, thousands of trees were flattened around their place. This time their property was spared, but there is so much damage in the city from the 100 mph winds, and the state lost a third of its corn crop...and many are still without power ten days later!

Happier news: a surprise giant panda cub was born at the National Zoo. It had just been announced a few days ago that Mei-Xiang "might be pregnant." 

Thank you for all the love for Haley the Monarch yesterday!