As I stepped onto the deck to bring the cat food dish in for the night, I noticed we had an unexpected but welcome guest in the outdoor water bowl - a grey tree frog. I wasn't 100% percent certain my velvet-skinned friend could easily get back out on its own, so I scooted a finger underneath to give it a boost up to the edge of the container. After it departed, I gave the cats some fresh, non frog-flavored water.

It's been so painfully dry this summer that the nightly frog songs have quieted greatly, so it was a pleasure to encounter this little one.

Dry conditions continue here in northeast Wisconsin, though they were punctuated this week by some wild weather. We had only very minor wind damage here and some rain, but cities about an hour drive from us were hit by an EF3 tornado, suffering substantial damage. Thankfully no fatalities were reported, but dozens were injured. It'll take a long time to rebuild.

(If you need it, we have a printable tornado prep checklist on the site. Unfortunately, tornado season is not over yet.)

With rainfall trending well below average for the late spring and early summer, the gardens and orchards are showing the stress. Mulch helps, and we've been watering, but it's not practical to attempt to water everything all the time.

It has me thinking back to the stories my mom told me about growing up during the Great Depression on the family dairy farm in northwest Wisconsin. Grandpa cut marsh hay because it was the only thing growing, and they drove the cattle herd out to graze brush like deer because the pasture grasses failed.

There are weather trends that come along roughly every 30 years, and those that cycle roughly every hundred years, and I surely hope that we don't see the high temps and drought they faced back then. I'm going to do some more research to see what other strategies might help mitigate the weather swings.

Mosquito populations are down this year with the dry conditions, but other pest insects are abundant. At least the ducks are enjoying the Japanese beetles, once we catch them (they often land too high for the ducks to reach). If you need relief from biting and stinging critters, we can help with that.

It's also the time of year where wild plants (and some tame ones) are in full growth and more likely to trigger phytophotodermatitis, so we have help for that, too.

Duncan and I were talking this week about how our current medical system often focuses on one time or ongoing intervention (get a surgery, take a pill, get a procedure) rather than looking at what's triggering the problem in the first place.

While it sure is appealing to think about simply "fixing" something, more often than not, if we go right back to the same lifestyle, we'll be facing more similar problems down the road.

I went to a new dentist who is recommending deep cleaning for my gum pockets. If this works (for now), am I going to need more deep cleaning at regular intervals? My budget does not like that math, so I've been researching alternatives to see if I can nudge my gums towards healing on their own. (My old dentist said things were fine earlier this year, so I am also somewhat suspicious about the recommendations.)

This Week's Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Look for the root cause. Whether you're caring for a garden, your health, or your home, ask why something is happening before reaching for the quickest fix.
• Leave a little room for wildlife. A shallow dish of fresh water, a brush pile, or a patch of native flowers can make a surprising difference for birds, frogs, pollinators, and other helpful creatures during dry spells.
• Strengthen your buffers. Mulch in the garden, savings in the bank, food in the pantry, and practical skills all help soften life's inevitable ups and downs.
• Learn from the past. Previous generations weathered droughts, storms, and hard times with creativity and determination. Their experiences still have something to teach us.
• Prepare before the next storm. Take a few minutes to check emergency supplies, review your family plan, or print a checklist while the weather is calm.

Resilience grows when we understand the causes behind our challenges, care for the systems that sustain us, and prepare today for whatever tomorrow may bring.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

Making the Most of Summer

Summer invites us outside—to garden, hike, forage, preserve the harvest, and gather with family and friends. Along with all that goodness come a few seasonal nuisances, from itchy bug bites to unexpected plant reactions. Here are a few articles to help you enjoy the season a little more comfortably, along with one of my favorite pickle recipes while the cucumbers are rolling in.

When bugs bite back

Mosquitoes, horseflies, bees, wasps, and other biting or stinging critters are simply part of summer. This guide covers natural ways to ease the itch, reduce swelling, and know when it's time to seek medical care.

Read: 20+ Home Remedies for Bug Bites and Stings​

Nature's answer to poison ivy

If you spend time outdoors, jewelweed is a plant worth getting to know. Learn how to identify it, harvest it, and use it traditionally for poison ivy, bug bites, and other minor skin irritations.

Read: Jewelweed: Nature's Poison Ivy Plant​

Jewelweed is also featured in The Wild Apothecary Series: Volume 2 - Jewelweed Medicine.

When sunshine and plants don't mix

Some common garden plants and wildflowers can make your skin much more sensitive to sunlight, causing painful rashes and blisters. Learn which plants to watch for and how to avoid phytophotodermatitis before it catches you by surprise.

Read: Phytophotodermatitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment​

A pickle recipe that's as easy as summer should be

If your cucumber vines are starting to produce faster than you can keep up, Betty's no-canning dill pickles are one of the simplest ways I know to turn fresh cucumbers into crisp, tangy goodness—no water bath required.

Read: Betty's No Canning Required Dill Pickles​

Popular recipes on the site this week: Peach Cobbler, Spaghetti Sauce for Canning, and Zucchini "Apple" Pie.

Coming in September 2026 - The Resilient Living Summit. I'll also be starting a Stories of Resilience series on YouTube soon.