WHERE DID SUMMER GO?

Dear Friends,
While working in the office this morning, we got many questions about the current weather in the Hocking Hills.  Most people were wondering if they should pack umbrellas for their hikes or if they should carry a sweatshirt in case it remained chilly the rest of the day.  As weather forecasting goes, I am not an expert so I got on the trusty internet to look at weather.com and was shocked by the 10 day forecast and as I reflected on the summer weather in general, it seems that we are in the midst of a strange year for weather.


July in the midwest was the coolest  ever on record.  This summer has been among the driest in recent history also.  Many of our lawns have long since turned brown and crunchy.  The leaves have already started their seasonal color change and the local waterfalls have long been dried up. 


Now as I look at the 10 day forecast it looks as if this coming week is going to feel more like November than the first week of October.  The high temperature this coming week is 70 and that will not happen next Sunday.  This week one day, the high is going to be 56 degrees! Our overnight temperatures are going to be as low as 34 degrees a few mornings.  I suppose we need to start thinking about bringing in our house plants and covering anything we don't want to freeze. 


Don't get me wrong, I do love the fall weather.  There is nothing better than putting on a pair of jeans, an old sweatshirt and my hiking boots and hitting a trail without having to worry about carrying a gallon of water and sweating out 2 gallons.  I am just not sure if I am ready for frost on the ground yet. 


I do know that if the weather gets too cold this week you will find me having a bowl of homemade soup for lunch in the restaurant or curled up on the couch in the fireside room with a book and a cup of tea.  I would love to see you there!


Ellen,
Innkeeper