I finally feel a bit of breathing space. Bill has been home a week now and is doing really good. So let's rock and roll!

Just noticed that essentially all of our photographs this week come from a small cluster in eastern PA. Sometimes it just works that way!

The masthead photo by Frank Skokoski comes from a series he shot at the Susquehanna Wetlands in Luzerne County. Frank's bird and wildlife pictures are great and his blog (keepyoureyespeeled.net) is really fun to read. So, okay. That's not a state park or forest. But, oh. Who can resist the pretty kitty? 

I was lucky enough to catch a fleeting glimpse of a bobcat on the Great Allegheny Passage between Confluence and Ohiopyle many years ago now. He was enough of a ghost that I wasn't even sure that's what I saw until I asked Bill if a bobcat's hindquarters are taller than the front legs. As Frank says, always keep your eyes peeled!

Look for Marci, Bernadette, and volunteer Stephanie at Stormfest in Camp Hill Borough on July 27th from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. We will be talking about the value of trees in controlling stormwater and flooding and making fish and leaf print t-shirts!

Here's a real feel-good story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette submitted by Neighbor Larry, who's always looking out for good stuff. Read about the efforts of Always B Smiling to construct a trail-side activities center for kids with health and mobility challenges to enjoy the Pittsburgh area's Montour Trail. If you happen to be out and about and see these kids and the volunteers who are learning more about the joys of outdoor activity I suspect you too will ALWAYS be smiling!

Yes, last week's question was pretty easy - even if you didn't know that it's a National Natural Landmark you know that Hickory Run State Park is famous for its boulder field. Did you remember that New Trail Brewing Company's limited edition brew in celebration of Hickory Run also supports the fund to keep the boulder field graffiti free? Indeed it does!

Because I'm feeling a bit giddy having Bill home after all that time, my question this week is a follow up on NNLs. Who's older? You or the National Natural Landmark program?

Enter each week to increase your chances of a fabulous prize at the end of the month when I'll draw one entry from all correct answers received during the month.

We are into the first week of August now with our look ahead on the calendars. Summer? Where did it go?

Put a bookmark on the PPFF Events calendar and DCNR Calendar of Events so you never miss an announcement.

Blue boxes locate events; green photographs and news.

Photographer Rosemarie Rotenberger wrote that she paddled Lake Nockamixon, witnessing "an annoyed osprey flick a juvenile bald eagle," but this was #picoftheday.