While the rest of the country and world broil, we have had a cool, damp summer in the Adirondacks. I read that based on historic trends, forests in temperate climates including those in New York may experience less stress and more vigor due to the warmer and wetter weather that climate change is bringing. It is certainly true here.

Look at this heat map from one day this summer. The brown area had heat warnings.

Compare it to a map of the Adirondack Park from the Adirondack Almanack.

All those trees are keeping us cool – and wet.

How wet? As of today, we have already had a total of 23 inches of rain. The annual average is about 38” over the past twenty years.

So wet, the frogs want in.

This very little frog hung out on our window all day. How little?

So little! That’s him compared to a pen.

How cool? So cool the last time I swam in my favorite pond, I had to cut it short due to an ice cream headache and concern for hypothermia. I thought I was done with pools for the summer. But then we headed south for a family event, to Rockville, MD.

I brought my swim stuff, just in case. And lo and behold, we found this beautiful facility.

8 lanes, 50 meters long! And underused. That’s something we don’t have in the Adirondacks.

Now I’m back home and sleeping under two blankets again.