It’s a warm, clear night and this month’s full moon, the full harvest moon, dominates the sky. I see no stars.

Practice getting lost. Seriously.

Once you’re lost, it’s not the time to learn a new skill. Here are a few techniques that will help you cope if you are ever really lost on land, even if you don’t have a compass. Note: This is directed to people living in the northern hemisphere, you’ll have to adjust directions if you are in the southern hemisphere. 

This is the largest of the annual meteor showers, even bigger than the Perseids.

This annual summer event will peak on August 12 this year.

While viewing is best after midnight and far from city lights, the proliferation of meteors (an average of 65 shooting stars per hour) in the northeast sky promises some exciting viewing.

Watching a thunderstorm form and unfold is dramatic. I am grateful to be spared the devastation that continues to impact people on the east side of the Hudson River.

Billowing cumulonimbus clouds crowd the sky like quilted fabric in every shade of gray.

It’s so oppressively hot, even the insects are not moving. If you’re lucky enough to be near water, then you might get a breeze.

Weather like this is conducive to a thunderstorm, so if you have to get to shelter, how much time will you have?

I’ve been out at the lake before sunrise for the last several days.

The calendar may say it’s spring, but the heat and humidity say it’s summer.

Here’s what was on my mind this past week while (mostly) immersed in nature.

I knew I had a brief window of time between the end of last night’s thunderstorm and this afternoon’s desperately needed rain. 

So I set out under a full moon and took one of my first light hikes.  I love the transition times.  At first the full moon was clear, but clouds were building in and the only way I could get through the boggy part of the trail was to fox walk.

Weather is always changing.

I’m fond of this project, because it can be done by people living in urban settings. This simple tool is a wonderful way to observe and learn about wind speed.