diff --git a/programs/Hadrons/AWilson.cc b/programs/Hadrons/AWilson.cc
index ad5cae2a..c9ecc701 100644
--- a/programs/Hadrons/AWilson.cc
+++ b/programs/Hadrons/AWilson.cc
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ void AWilson::execute(Environment &env)
     auto &grid   = *env.getGrid();
     auto &gridRb = *env.getRbGrid();
     
+    LOG(Message) << "setting up Wilson fermion matrix with m= " << par_.mass
+                 << " using gauge field '" << par_.gauge << "'" << std::endl;
     env.addFermionMatrix(getName(),
                          new WilsonFermionR(U, grid, gridRb, par_.mass));
 }
diff --git a/programs/Hadrons/CMeson.cc b/programs/Hadrons/CMeson.cc
index eb746061..3683d8e8 100644
--- a/programs/Hadrons/CMeson.cc
+++ b/programs/Hadrons/CMeson.cc
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ std::vector<std::string> CMeson::getOutput(void)
 // execution ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void CMeson::execute(Environment &env)
 {
-    LOG(Message) << "computing meson contraction '" << getName() << "'"
+    LOG(Message) << "computing meson contraction '" << getName() << "' using"
+                 << " quarks '" << par_.q1 << " and '" << par_.q2 << "'"
                  << std::endl;
     
     XmlWriter             writer(par_.output);
diff --git a/programs/Hadrons/GLoad.cc b/programs/Hadrons/GLoad.cc
index 2add8a11..756c4f29 100644
--- a/programs/Hadrons/GLoad.cc
+++ b/programs/Hadrons/GLoad.cc
@@ -73,5 +73,7 @@ void GLoad::execute(Environment &env)
     std::string fileName = par_.file + "."
                            + std::to_string(env.getTrajectory());
     
+    LOG(Message) << "loading NERSC configuration from file '" << fileName
+                 << "'" << std::endl;
     NerscIO::readConfiguration(*gauge_, header, fileName);
 }
diff --git a/programs/Hadrons/GRandom.cc b/programs/Hadrons/GRandom.cc
index d39769a9..d6bb381f 100644
--- a/programs/Hadrons/GRandom.cc
+++ b/programs/Hadrons/GRandom.cc
@@ -61,5 +61,6 @@ void GRandom::allocate(Environment &env)
 // execution ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void GRandom::execute(Environment &env)
 {
+    LOG(Message) << "generating random gauge configuration" << std::endl;
     SU3::HotConfiguration(*env.get4dRng(), *gauge_);
 }
diff --git a/programs/Hadrons/GUnit.cc b/programs/Hadrons/GUnit.cc
index ce406612..330b09e4 100644
--- a/programs/Hadrons/GUnit.cc
+++ b/programs/Hadrons/GUnit.cc
@@ -61,5 +61,6 @@ void GUnit::allocate(Environment &env)
 // execution ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void GUnit::execute(Environment &env)
 {
+    LOG(Message) << "creating unit gauge configuration" << std::endl;
     SU3::ColdConfiguration(*env.get4dRng(), *gauge_);
 }