Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:30 a.m. in "The City."

I'll start with the sports report, because the boys in blue righted the ship yesterday, in honor of my birthday, I'm sure. Cubs' pitcher, Jake Arrieta, with a record of 17 - 6, tossed a no hitter against the Dodgers, winning 2 - 0. The Dodgers have been no hit twice this year. Sadly, the Cardinals and the Pirates are ahead of the Cubs in the standings. However, the Cubs are well ahead of the Giants in the Wild Card™ race. The Tigers fell once again to the Blue Jays, 2 - 9. Nuff said. My beloved Red Sox finally surrendered a game to the Mets, 4 - 5. The Caps, who are nearing the end of their season, defeated the Great Lakes Loons, 6 - 3.

My birthday turned out great. I got a message from my daughter, Stephany, to wish me a happy birthday. I was thinking that you don't really get a chance to choose your children. While it is true that you usually get the chance to decide whether to have children, you don't usually get the chance to choose what they will be like. Genetics, environment, and all of the influences that life can throw at us, combine to make them who they are. In any event, although technically Stephany is my daughter-in-law, I like to think of her as my daughter with all that entails. I hope that Adam realizes how lucky he is to have her in his life. I can say the same for myself with Mary, as she is the perfect complement to my weirdness.

Speaking of Mary, she made a great salad for my lunch yesterday after we returned from our walk with STWD That was after we planted the previous day's garden purchases, but before we departed for the Michigan Heritage Park at Hilt's Landing. This park just opened in June, and as it grows in scope, it should be a great addition to the cultural experience that is West Michigan. It is great even now. A self guided trail walk takes visitors through the various eras of Michigan's history, from the era of the Mastodon, to almost the present day. Interpreters along the route describe how things were in the storied past of Michigan. We liked it, and I took some pictures of the various exhibits and their surroundings in a wooded setting, just outside of the city of Whitehall, MI. I guess that now would be a good time to include some that I like.

As you enter the exhibit, you are greeted by a sign explaining what you will be seeing. 

The land on which the exhibit was built was donated by this man, George Hilt, a well known businessman and philanthropist in Muskegon and Michigan..

Even in Michigan, cacti are a native plant. 

Small children get a chance to play with "The Bones" as they leave the entrance building 

I like the way this photo turned out. In the background, is the first exhibit, a Native American encampment.

This young lady is indeed a Native American, who interprets what you are seeing at the encampment.

Keeping with the theme of Michigan over time, the next stop is a trading post.

Near and dear to Mary.

This young lady was demonstrating how to felt the left over wool ends. 

Michigan was a stop on the Underground Railroad, as African Americans escaping bondage fled to Canada. 

Michigan sent 90,000 troops to fight in the Civil War, or The War of Northern Aggression, against the Confederacy. 

This is an interpretation of the housing for the lumberjacks of Michigan's late 1800s.

In the early 1900s, children entertained themselves, without electricity or batteries, by chasing these hoops down the street. 

That photo was taken on the porch of this circa 1900 farmhouse.

For Mary, no stop in a circa 1900 house would be complete without looking at the kitchen.

Moving through history, we encountered this exhibit about the Civilian Conservation Corps, a partial answer to the high unemployment brought about by the Great Depression.

The all male Corps participants, received $25.00 each month, along with clothing, meals, and a bed in which to sleep. All of the beds were in tents without A/C. The men rose at sun up, worked  all day, and went to sleep at the sound of taps for that $25.00.

The Michigan Heritage Park is part of a larger exhibit that includes the museums in the City of  Muskegon.

Later in September, the Early Times Chapter of the Pontiac Oakland Club of Michigan, will be having a car show at the park for vintage Pontiacs.

After a stop at the grocery store and the second favorite watering hole on the way home, Mary crafted my birthday dinner. It was actually one of the meals I had planned to make while she was OOT, but which I never got around to making. She interpreted it much better, but that's a story for another day.

That brings us to the weather. The next several days will be hot and humid, before we get back to more comfortable temperatures and lower humidity levels. No precipitation is in the forecast, so that means that watering will be part of my activities for a few more days, at least. The sun will rise today at 7:08, and set at 8:21. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:30 a.m. in "The City."

Well I made it, I'm officially 64 years old today. No big deal sure, but when I was a mere lad of 59 or so, I thought I might not make it to 60. But I did, and so I plan to enjoy my day and do just what I want to do., well mostly. I'll take the morning walk with STWD, which is always a pleasure. She will love me for it and I'll enjoy being out and about.

Mary will be working on my valances in her craft room, and I'll be reading the newspaper while sitting in my La-Z-Boy. To once again borrow from that old beer commercial, "It doesn't get any better than this."

In sports, the boys in blue are definitely back, as they dropped another one to the Dodgers, 2 - 5. Their West Coast road trip is becoming their worst nightmare. Is Jon Lester for real? Sadly, he is all too real. I grant that teams that score a total of four runs over three games, versus teams that score 18 runs over that same span, are going to have a hard time pulling the proverbial rabbit out of the hat. But, that's what good teams have to do.

Speaking of an inability to score runs and an inability to hold the other team under 15, I offer the Tigers recent score. On Saturday, they lost to the Blue Jays 1 - 15. Baseballs were flying out of the park like there would be no tomorrow. We were watching at the Post, and every time Mary looked away, the Blue Jays were scoring runs in droves. Someone called for a new manager in Detroit to replace Brad Ausmus. Without a bullpen, not even Joe Torre, Tony La Russa or Tommy Lasorda could make this team a winner. That's because they have no starting pitching either.

Now we know why Dave Dombrowski's contract was not renewed as Detroit GM.  His fatal flaw in Detroit was trading away or losing good pitchers and decimating the farm system to win now. Unfortunately it will take years for the new GM to rebuild the Detroit farm system. However, Dombrowski was hired by my beloved Red Sox.

On a positive note, those same Red Sox are still on a roll, once again defeating the Mets 3 - 1. The Caps, lost by only one run, but the pitchers that one man at the Post said the Tigers could call up from the Caps in September, gave up 15 hits, as the Caps lost 6 - 7 to the Lug Nuts. Oops. Oh, the Bears found another way to lose, 10 - 21, in their case to the Bengals.

In the weather department, Saturday was mostly rainy with a side of more rain. We needed it, so that's okay. I won't have to water any time soon, I hope. Today, will be partly cloudy with a high temperature of 76 humid degrees.

Yesterday, we traveled to that aforementioned garden center, where we got some mums, some additional perennials, some minor bulbs to scatter, and two pumpkins for the front porch. Now I have to plant the perennials and the mums. Oh well, that's the life of a semi-retired farmer/gardener. The bulbs will wait until later this fall. Oh, I forgot to mention that the flower I called yellow cone flowers in a previous blog, are actually called Black Eyed Susan. They have a scientific name too, Rudbeckia hirta. I'll stick with Black Eyed Susan. Here's their picture again, with their garden mate, the pink hibiscus, or is it pink hibiscuses?. Why? Because I like to look at them, again.

Looking good, again.

Otherwise, the day will be pretty uneventful. The sun will rise at 7:08 a.m., and set at 8:23 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City."

As of now, the view out the Weather Window, (WW), is a confirmation of the forecast by the National Weather Service, (NWS). The street is wet and their forecast calls for steady showers most of the day, with a chance of T-storms this evening. Of course, the NWS issued a weather alert for yesterday evening that gave a 65% chance of rain starting at 5:00 p.m. too. When Mary and I went down to see Sally at the Post, we took umbrellas that ensured that the forecast would be unfulfilled.

Trainspotting yesterday was interesting. On both runs, the trains were headed by locomotive #2057 of the Mid-Michigan Railroad, (MMRR) fleet. Locomotive #2019 has been missing in action (MIA), the last few runs. The southbound run at 10:50 a.m., consisted of a single box car (BC), four covered hopper cars (CHCs), one Dreaded Black Tank Car (DBTC), two white tank cars, (WTCs), and one lone gray tank car (GTC). When the train returned north at 2:25 p.m., the box car was gone, there were six CHCs, two, DBTCs, and that was it. The train was moving quickly through town, which is unusual.

Speaking of locomotives, Adam and Steph remembered my upcoming 64th birthday with a great gift, a book that identifies the various locomotives in use throughout the United States, (U.S.). Adam recommended that I carry it with me in the car as we travel, since the same locomotives seem to ply the route that passes the Palatial Estate (PE). As I noted the other day, the exception was the inclusion of locomotive #1216, a General Motors Electro Motive Division EMD-SW 1200, with SW standing for switcher, as it passed through on its way to the yards south of here somewhere near Holland. I have not seen it return. That locomotive is over 50 years old.

In sports news, the boys in blue are back, as they dropped their third straight, this latest one to the Dodgers, 1 - 4. The Tigers had no better fortune, as they lost to the Blue Jays, 3 - 5. My beloved Red Sox are doing better, as they beat the Mets, 6 - 4 in 10 innings. The Caps also had an oops. In a battle of Michigan teams, they lost to the Lansing, MI Lug Nuts, 5 - 7. The Lug Nuts call Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing, MI, home. Oddly, the stadium has one name, but the field has another, Jackson Field. Here's a link to that stadium, http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20130228&content_id=42085626&sid=t499&vkey=team1.

The Caps, shorthand for West Michigan Whitecaps, play at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, MI., even though they are listed as being in Grand Rapids, (GR). Here is a link to the Caps and their home ballpark. http://www.fifththirdballpark.com/about-us/history.php

Today, with the rain expected to continue, our plans to walk with Sugar the Weather Dog, (STWD), to the farmer's market, may have to be altered. To use a sports metaphor, it will be a game time decision. We had also planned to visit a local garden center, but the rain may make that a no go, another game time decision,

At least I should not have to water the gardens of the PE. I have to be careful to budget my time, as the days always seem to get away from me lately. Mary also has plans to go to her craft room and work on the new valances for my music room/weather center/office. The fabric has a guitar motif. We picked up the fabric in Plymouth, WI, last summer when we visited nearby Elkhart Lake, WI, and the Road America facility for Mary's birthday. LOL.

When the sun rises today at 7:03 a.m., our plans should become more clear, pun intended. The sun will set at 8:28 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 11:30 p.m. in "The City."

Since I am always talking about the gardens on the PE, I thought it would be nice to include a couple of pictures that I took earlier today on my way to my doctor's appointment. The large pink flowers are attached to a perennial that Mary got last year. I believe that the name is elephant hibiscus, The yellow flowers are also a perennial. I believe that they are yellow cone flowers. I do know that they are spreading like crazy. The pink flowers appear at the end of summer and into the early fall. The yellow flowers appear in mid summer and carry through into the fall.

The flowers are about 6 inches across.

Naturally, the yellow cone flowers are much smaller. They will need to be divided and then moved about in the gardens.

In sports, the men in blue had a bad day in San Francisco, losing to the Giants 1 - 9. The Tigers fell to the Angels, 0 - 2. My beloved Red Sox had the day off. As for the Caps, they torqued down the Lansing Lug Nuts, 7 - 5. 

I made it to the doctor's office on time and all went well. Since it turned out to be a beautiful day here in GH, I rode my bike and then cruised around town just for fun. 

No trains to spot today. 

Mary returned this afternoon, and STWD was glad to see her. Me too. Apparently she had a good time reading, knitting, and going walk about. She tells me it rained for two days, so she had lots of time to do more indoor than outdoor activities. 

I spent some time today reworking some music in my traveling book. I have more to do, but when you are retired, time is a plentiful commodity.

The sun rose at 7:03 a.m. and set at 8:28 p.m.

I finished my novel a few minutes ago. I was surprised by the ending, much like the last novel I read by this author, Lisa Gardner. Naturally I am now on a Gardner reading marathon, much like I was with Tom Clancy and Robert B. Parker in the past.

I don't yet have plans for tomorrow beyond the morning walk with STWD. That's okay by me. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just passing 6:45 a.m. in the "The City." The sun will rise in a few minutes @ 7:03 a.m. on a mostly sunny day with a high temperature of 73°. What's not to like?

Since I covered most of the things I did yesterday in the previous blog, this should be a short one.

In sports, the men in blue finally lost one to the Giants, 2 - 4. The Tigers fared better, as the overcame the Angels, 5 - 0. My beloved Red Sox took another game from that other team in Chicago, 3 - 0. The Caps slipped past the South Bend Cubs, 4 - 3. Three out of four isn't bad, but I need not state the obvious.

I have an appointment at the hospital to see the podiatrist. It pays to do a little preventative care every three to four months. After that, I plan to return home and read more in my novel. It is s strange story, and I haven't been able to guess the antagonist. I like it.

Otherwise, not much is happening. Mary gets home later today from her trip to the Great White North. Since she has been mostly off grid, she will probably want to binge watch the news. Or not. I haven't watched much of the news, preferring to watch car shows or read, over the news about guns, climate change, wild fires, and the presidential race that got started way to early once again. We talk a good game, but we sweep things under the carpet too easily as new "stories" come into the entertainment/ratings room, oops, I meant the newsroom.

But I digress. STWD and I will take the morning walk, I"ll read the newspaper and go to my appointment, and then await Mary's arrival at the PE. The sun will set @ 8:28 p.m. under a waxing gibbous moon. Ciao.

Good afternoon GH. If it seems as though I am late reporting from "The City", that's because I am. I felt so snug and warm in my bed last night, that I stayed there until after 8:00 a.m. this morning. That was about one hour after the sun rose at 7:02 a.m. With Mary OOT, I can do whatever I want, whenever I want.

I took the bus to the golf course this morning, but instead of playing nine holes, my original plan, I hit a bag of balls from the driving range. That was due in large measure to the fact that it was cold and damp and I didn't want to stress my Yak too much. As it turns out, I am still not ready for prime time at the golf course, as I duffed, sliced, and drove some straight. Oh well, if I can ever get rid of my habit of lifting my head, I will be doing much better.

Yesterday, I harvested more beans, another zucchini, and dug up the beets. With regard to the beets, I read the cookbook and learned how to prepare them. In fact, I had some with my salad this morning. Preparing beets is a lot like blanching tomatoes and their kin. You just have to boil the beets for about 45 minutes and then dunk them in some ice water and the skins come right off. They sliced up nicely, and I have enough for several salads. I also prepared the beans, so they are ready for another meal.

I did hear the southbound train this morning while I was on the driving range, but I didn't see it. I saw the northbound run this afternoon, as it passed through at 1:29 p.m. Engine #2057 was alone as it pulled five CHCs, four DBTCs, and two gray TCs.

In sports yesterday, the men in blue handled the Giants very well. The Giants are seven games back of the men in blue for the wild card, following their loss and the Cubs win, 8 - 5. The Tigers fell to the Angels in Comerica Park, 7 - 8. My beloved Red Sox lost to that other team from Chicago, 4 - 5. The Caps were victorious over the South Bend Cubs, 7 - 2.

STWD and I took our regular morning safari to the newspaper office and when I got back from the golf course, I read the paper and did the crossword puzzle. I also spent time reworking some music for my traveling book. I plan to settle in and read more of my latest novel for the balance of the day.

The sun will set at 8:29 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:00 a.m. in "The City."

Well, STWD and I survived day one in the ongoing adventure of Mary, OOT. That's Mary out of town, by way of edification.

Mary got off yesterday morning nearly as efficiently as she had planned. STWD was once again pinned to the back door in a futile effort to go along and not be forgotten. Once Sugar saw the suitcases heading for the back door, she was determined to be a part of whatever plans were happening. I assured her that Mary would be back and that she and I would be just fine in Mary's absence. We are and will continue to be.

Speaking of Mary's absence, I decided that it was time to try the recipe I had downloaded from the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) web site. It's called the"No Bull" Beefaroni™ recipe, as it substitutes some form of vegetable based ground beef replacement for the usual beef in the ingredients list. I used some burgers by Field Roast™ for that ingredient, and I also used fresh onions from our gardens on the PE. I also omitted the sugar from the recipe, as I didn't' feel the need. Let's just say, that for a first time recipe, it was delicious. Nutritional? Maybe, maybe not, but that wasn't/isn't the point. This was/is comfort food to assuage me in Mary's absence.

Later in the day I made a stir-fry that also used a vegetable, a green pepper, from our gardens. The stir-fry too was delicious. Sugar couldn't have either menu option, as onions was one of the ingredients in both, and dogs cannot have onions. I did save some macaroni from my "No Bull" Beefaroni™ for the weather dog's breakfast.

Today, it is time to have toasted rice cereal with almond milk for breakfast, from which Sugar can have the dregs. In spite of the dire warnings from the dairy industry, almond trees do not use more water to grow almonds, than is used to grow a cow for milking. I always let Sugar feel as though she is getting something special when I am done eating. Yes, I spoil her terribly.

I also save some yogurt and fruit for her too. She likes yogurt which is good for her, and hasn't noticed that the yogurt is soy, not dairy based, in keeping with our vegan lifestyle. I am always reminded of the episode of the Simpsons© in which the owner of the Quik-E-Mart, Apu, tells Lisa the vegetarian after she has eaten a hot dog from his rotating grill that she need not worry. "We changed to veggie dogs six months ago, no one noticed." Sugar also loves the water from the veggie hot dog and tuna replacement cans, so she is fine with the soy yogurt too.

Speaking of STWD, she sensed a disturbance in the force yesterday afternoon and put herself away in her hide-e-hole. Nothing came of her fears, so I don't know what it is that set off her storm radar. She returned when I made my dinner to partake of some chopped carrots and green peppers.

I used some extra rice that Mary had made for her traveling menu, as well as some extra tofu that was left over from Sunday's breakfast. One thing I can make is a tasty, nutritional, stir-fry with lots of protein and vegetables.

In sports, I didn't go outside to practice my golf swings, as it was too windy. Today looks much better weather wise. The men in blue got a walk off home run from Kris Bryant in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Indians, 2 - 1. Now they are off to San Francisco to face the Giants on a West Coast road trip. The Tigers are definitely in free fall, as they lost to the Reds, 5 - 12. My beloved Red Sox defeated that other team from Chicago 5 - 4. The Caps lost to the South Bend Cubs, 2 - 4.

In a segue from the sports report, the weather today will be partly sunny with a high of 67° after the sun rises at 7:01 a.m. That same glowing orb will set at 8:31 p.m.

I heard the southbound train run when I was out on my bike, at 10:45 a.m., but I didn't see it. However, at 3:00 p.m., I saw the northbound train roll by. Engine #2057 was rolling solo pulling nine CHCs, three DBTCs, one BC, that's a box car, and two white tank cars. All of the cars were unloaded, judging by the lack of ground vibrations. I wonder what happened to engine #2019.

I did get the front porch light repainted and resealed, so that was productive.

I don't have any specific plans for today, other than that golf practice, and walking with the intrepid weather dog. I'll read the newspaper and do the crossword when I get back from our safari. Then I'll red more of my novel. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City."

Not much was happening yesterday, and that corresponded nicely with my desires.

Since the weather looked threatening when I got up, Mary had already taken STWD for her morning constitutional. As it turned out, the T-storms that had been forecast for yesterday and which ultimately drove the intrepid one into her hide-e-hole, arrived about 11:00 a.m. A few claps of thunder was all it took to convince Sugar that it was time to get out of town, or at least out of harms way.

We did get a good downpour that will eliminate the need to water for today, and with luck, tomorrow too. Our current temperature of 66° will yield to an overnight low of 53°, before the sun rises at 7:00 a..m. The sun will set at 8:33 p.m. under a gibbous moon.

This is day one of the adventure. STWD and I will be on our own until late Thursday as Mary begins her mini vacation in the woods. I'm already planning what I'll do with my time alone. Mary has her bags packed and she's ready to go, but as of yet, she's not standing here outside our door. That's what happens when you listen to the John Denver channel. She did leave me with some things that I'll be cooking when she is gone. My dinner yesterday was minestrone which Mary had thawed from a batch I had prepared earlier in the year.

Speaking of cooking, Mary made a terrific breakfast yesterday. Scrambled tofu was accompanied by her version of American fried potatoes. All were delicious. She was trying to ensure that I get enough protein and other nutrients while she is away, knowing that left to my own devices, I may be lacking in some of them. I've assured her that I can do this and not to worry.

In sports, the men in blue seem to be for real, as they swept the Braves with a convincing win, 9 - 3. That puts them at 20 games over .500, but still in third place, with an overall record of 71 - 51. unfortunately, the Pirates are playing great baseball, and the Cardinals are having a typical Cardinal year, which puts those two teams ahead of the men in the standings. However, the men are several games ahead of the Giants in the wildcard race. The men have an afternoon game today, a make up of a rain out against the Indians leftover from June. The Tigers fared worse, as they fell to the Rangers, 2 - 4. They now have a record of 59 - 64, which puts them in third place too. My beloved Red Sox are still in last place, with an overall record of 50 - 68, following a loss to the Royals, 6 - 8. The Caps dropped one to the Captains of Lake County, OH, 2 - 5.

Today I'll see Mary off on her road trip before I hit the mean streets with STWD. We'll return and then I can make my meals. STSD will be there to provide both moral support and do her usual job of clean-up. Then I'll settle in to read the newspaper and do the crossword.

I have a couple of books to return to the library, which Sugar can witness from outside. I'll bring her home before I hop on my bicycle to pick up some books and make a drop at the UPS™ store. Then it will be time for lunch. I'm not sure what that will be yet. Once those things are done, I'll sit and read another novel. I also want to try a few practice golf stretches and swings in the back forty of the PE in preparation for my first game in 20 years or so.

I'm looking at a bus ride to the Grand Haven Golf Club on Wednesday. I checked, and Harbor Transit™ goes to their location in the township. The club is celebrating their 50th anniversary Thursday through Sunday, so Wednesday should-be a good day to play my inaugural nine holes.

Otherwise, not much will be happening. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 9:00 a.m. in "The City." I decided that I liked a warm bed more that I wanted to get up last night, so this blog is not tardy, just fashionably late, like sports fans in LA.

Speaking of sports, thanks Howard Cosell, the men in blue are on a roll, as they won again over the Braves, 9 - 7. Edwin Jackson, the former Cubs pitcher whom the men allowed to escape to Atalanta, served up a couple of homers and the men pulled out another one. The Tigers weren't so fortunate as they lost to the Rangers, 3 - 5. My beloved Red Sox finally lost to the Royals, 3 - 6. The Caps hammered the Lake County, OH Captains, 11 - 1. The Bears in a meaningless pre-season game, defeated the Colts, 23 - 11. I say meaningless, unless you are one of the players trying to win a job or a place on the team.

Yesterday, we walked with STWD over to Center Town so that she could get a visit with the groomer and a sweet treat. Since I like to use the reward system when something unpleasant happens, I think that the next time something like that occurs, Sugar will associate it with a good thing.

Otherwise, I didn't accomplish much. I'm still frustrated by my small speakers, as they won't play for any length of time, even when hard wired to the music source. That's better than having iTunes turn on all by itself, but having solved the problem with the music service, I now have another problem. I know there is an answer, I just haven't uncovered it yet.

Mary made a new recipe for dinner last night and I pronounce it a keeper. It was a linguine with spinach in vegan Alfredo sauce and it was delicious. I give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars rating. I'd have given the recipe a 5, but I left off half a star, because I like to have things a tad saltier than Mary, who allows me to add salt at the table. Personal preferences I guess.

Today, I have to finish my household chores after the walk with STWD. The chores shouldn't take long, and then I can sit back and relax. I am going to start a new novel, since the book I am now reading by Ralph Nader, is becoming monotonous. I get his point, so like someone once said, "It's time to dismount when the horse is dead."

No trains, no pictures, and not much else.

According to the NWS, the chance of rain and T-storms is anywhere from 75% to 90%. Those storms may or may not happen between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Once again, I'll await the forecast from the intrepid weather dog.

The sun has already risen at 6:59 a.m. and it will set at 8:34 p.m., after those may or may not happen rain showers, Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City."

I just went down to let STWD out, and it is muggy at this early hour. Today, after the sun rises at 6:58 a. m., the high will be 83° with humidity at 73%. I'm certain that I'll have to water this morning, since no rain is expected until tomorrow, when there is a forecast for T-storms with an 80% chance. We'll see what STWD has to say Sunday morning. Monday, the winds are supposed to be like last Thursday, with gusts in the 20 - 30 mph range. I don't know their direction, so whether the "Big Lake" will be whipped into a frenzy is uncertain. Once again, we'll see. If it happens, I'll let you know.

Mary is beginning her trip to the woods of the Great White North on Monday. Well not exactly the Great White North, but she is going to a place where electricity is in limited use and the days are spent in contemplation, thus giving her the chance to read, knit, do some cross stitch, and just relax.

STWD and I are staying behind to fend for ourselves. For me, that entails eating off the land and trying to survive until Mary returns to the kitchen. In the meantime, I'll have to survive on Tater Tots™, homemade Beefaroni™, baked potatoes with salsa, and whatever snacks I can scrounge. All of that accompanied by music that is too loud for my own good. Somehow, I'll get by.

With a few days off, we used the time to travel to one of the places that was on my list of places to see in MI, Greenville. But first, we had to go to my P/T golf appointment, More on that in a minute. Before we set out for Greenville, we had to go to a very uncharacteristic place for Mary, "The Mall." She needed new shoes for her trip. Then we set out for Greenville.

It was a busy place, as their annual Danish celebration was going on. We saw many of the same things in their street market that we saw here in GH during our own Coast Guard Festival™. We stopped for a quick adult beverage at a place called The Reno Bar. Nice people and very much a throwback to the old days, like Stan's in Spring Lake. Actually, it probably hasn't changed much since the day it was built. Here is a picture of me outside.

The entire main street of Greenville was taken over by the Danish craft fair.

Like all craft markets, many things to see, but which you only buy if you are a  tourist.

While this building dates to the early 1800s, the security camera mounted on it's spire is very modern.

My P/T appointment went very well. The therapist, Brian, analyzed my golf swing, grip, and stance. He pronounced them basically sound. I got some exercises to do to keep me from hurting myself when swinging, to go along with some changes in my approach to the ball. That will ensure good solid hits without over swinging. All good. Maybe when Mary is out of town next week, I can take the Harbor Transit™ bus to a local golf course and try the things I learned. Since Mary will have the car, if the bus doesn't go there, I won't be going. At my advanced age, a bus trip anywhere in the Tri-Cities area is only 75 cents each way. I'll have to check if the bus goes to the golf course.

In sports yesterday, the men in blue seem to have returned. They beat the Braves for the second day in a row, with a comeback win, 5 - 3. That after dropping two games to the Tigers who didn't fare so well, as they lost to the Rangers, 0 - 2. My beloved Red Sox once again beat the Royals rather handily by a score of 7 - 2 The Royals are a good team. While not likely to make the playoffs, things are looking up for the Sox. The Caps lost to the Lake County, OH, Captains, 3 - 4. Tonight, the Bears play a pre-season game against the Colts. Not likely we'll see many of the starters for an extended period, but worth the watch. 

Since we left early and came back late, no trains were spotted yesterday.

Today, a morning walk with the intrepid weather dog, and some household chores. I want to stay in after watering. I will do my requisite exercises to strengthen my core and keep my Yak strong for a golf game. 

The sun will set at 8:36 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. I have been up from my nap for a short time, so I thought I'd write my blog before I returned to a more blissful state. It is just past 1:00 a.m. in "The City."

In sports, the boys in blue manhandled the Braves at the "Beautiful Confines" 7 - 1, to end a three game skid.The Tigers also won, 4 - 0 over the Rangers. My beloved Red Sox are on a roll, winning their third straight, this one over the Royals, 4 - 1. The Caps once again defeated the hapless Great Lakes Loons, 6 - 4.

No trains to spot yesterday.

We did make it to the beach yesterday. It was a dark and stormy day.  Oops, that's a hack opening if ever I wrote one, but it is a beginning. We didn't take the kites, because the winds were just too strong. As we walked the path to the beach, we had to hold onto our hats, literally, so that they didn't wind up in a neighboring town, township, or county. Between us, we took some great pictures, and so I'll include them right now. There were so many I liked to choose from. I hope you enjoy all the views, especially the ones from the Grand Haven State Park campground, the reason people come to GH to camp.

Up the channel on our way home.

Just a nice shot as we walked towards the state park.

See what I mean about the dark and stormy skies?

The entrance to the lighthouse park on the channel. Some people call this the "Money Shot!"

More dark and stormy skies.

A sign explaining the flag signal system. 

The American flag at the state park straight out. That's why we left the kites at home. 

Duh!

That's a shot of the warning flag as it flew straight from the winds causing the waves on the "Big Lake."

In spite of the warnings, people chose to be stupid.

This is a shot of the people surfing near the breakwater that leads to the lighthouses. What do they say, "You can't fix stupid."

Yep, "You can't fix stupid!"

Same comment.

I wish I could print this one.

Same thought.

The "Big Lake" was angry yesterday.

I don't know, I just like this view.

No camper to block the view, yet.

The clouds over Dewey Hill.

Wow!

Mary took this one, and I really like it!

Our Coast Guard rescue boats were tied up behind the breakwater. I hope they weren't needed yesterday. Perhaps they were, because of the need to rescue the teenage girls.

WOOD TV, sent out their meteorologist, Kyle Underwood, to do some video of the "Big Lake." He recorded sustained winds of 20 mph with his hand held gauge. Naturally, the roiling lake was a feature story on the station from Grand Rapids. The don't have the "Big Lake", just the Grand River as it passes through downtown GR heading for Lake Michigan.

I hope this link will work for you, because it shows the power of the waves on the "Big Lake." In spite of the warning, two teenage girls had to be pulled from the lake yesterday afternoon. I know the second video at this site will play.

http://woodtv.com/2015/08/19/big-waves-dangerous-rip-currents-for-lake-mi/

Today, I'm off to Muskegon for a P?T consultation. I want to try playing golf again, so I am getting the assistance of a therapist who knows how to assess my strengths, weaknesses, and flexibility for playing the game. I don't have any problems right now, and I want to keep it that way. I'll keep you posted. That should keep me busy for today.

As of now, Mary has no work until Thursday of next week. That will give us time to do a few things that we have been putting off for awhile. I'm hoping that the recent rains will hold off the watering of the gardens on the PE until Saturday.

Speaking of watering and the weather, our current temperature is 66°, before we bottom out overnight at 64°. The weather today, after the sun rises at 6:56 a.m. will be partly cloudy and windy, with an expected high temperature of 80°. The humidity will be a more comfortable 60%. The sun will set this evening at 8:38 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just passing 2:30 a.m. in "The City."

In sports yesterday, the results were good for some, not so good for others. The men in blue have once again become the boys in blue, as they were crushed by the Tigers, 8 - 15. So, one of my teams has regressed, while the other has shown a pulse now that Miggy has returned. Sigh. My beloved Red Sox have also shown a slight resurgence of late, as they slipped past the Indians, 6 - 4. That's two in a row. The Caps easily defeated the Great Lakes Loons, 7 - 2.

Today's weather is a mixed bag. Mary wants to go to the beach and see the big waves and fly her kite. I don't know, I'd like to, but if the NWS is right this time, as they rarely are, their forecast calls for rain and wind. Good for kite flying, but more like a day in the old Portland, OR.  Right now, our current temperature is 68° as we drop to the overnight low of 58°, before the sun rises at 6:55 a.m.

Trainspotting yesterday was good. I think it is time to publish my list of acronyms that I use to describe the various train cars and locomotives. CHC = Covered Hopper Car. DBTC = Dreaded Black Tank Car. Box Car = Box Car. EMD GP 38 = Electro-Motive Division, General Purpose type 38 locomotive. EMD used to be a part of General Motors Corp.™. MMRR = Mid-Michigan Railroad.

At any rate, the southbound train passed through at 10:48 a.m. A lone locomotive,  #2057, an EMD GP 38 that is painted in the current livery of the MMRR had the lead. It's usual partner, #2019 was not in evidence. In 2057's wake, were seven CHCs, one with the ends painted blue, four DBTCs, and two box cars. The northbound run with the same single locomotive in the lead, passed through at 2:47 p.m. Six CHCs, 4 DBTCs, and two box cars were in its wake. In addition, one blue tank car and one white tank car were in the line up.

I didn't get much done yesterday. I did get about one-half of the non-fiction book I am reading finished. The book entitled; Return to Sender, Unanswered Letters to the President, 2001 - 2015, by Ralph Nader. I finished the first half that details some of the letters that Mr. Nader sent to President Bush. The second half is filled with still more letters, these to President Barack Obama. I'll report more about that part in a future blog. Whatever your political persuasion, this is an excellent read.

Today, I may get to the things that I had planned for yesterday. More play with the girls, finishing the mini helicopter, and more reading, All of those activities after the morning walk with STWD. That's Sugar the Weather Dog when fully spelled out, similar to STSD, which equals Sugar the Sous Dog, my kitchen assistant chef. Plus, the aforementioned beach activities.

The sun will set at 8:39 p.m. this evening. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 12:30 am. in "The City." That rain we've been expecting finally arrived. No watering tomorrow! Right now, the temperature is 70° as the T-storms move through. We will fall to a low of 60° overnight, before the sun rises at 6:54 a.m. and we climb back to a high of 79°.

STWD is in her hide-e-hole, where she repaired at the first crack of thunder. She'll likely be there most of the night, as the storms are expected to last until later today. Thursday windy conditions and temperatures in the 70° range are expected. Not surprisingly, the humidity will remain high for a few more days.

In sports, the Tigers and the men in blue are still playing in the top of the seventh inning, as a lengthy rain delay held up play at Wrigley Field. The score is Tigers 6 - 5 over the men in blue. My beloved Red Sox hired former Tiger's G.M. Dave Dombrowski today. I guess that they are expecting things that he couldn't deliver in Detroit. The Red Sox won 9 - 1 over the Indians yesterday. The Caps hammered the Great Lakes Loons, 7 - 1.

I thought that my mini helicopter was through, but It looks like I may resurrect it after all. I'll know more later today. It won't have the regular on/off switching arrangement, but it is looking like it may fly again. Stay tuned.

Later today, I have to put on my editor's hat and assist Mary with the final output of her latest work. She thinks that this index will be about 10 pages. Here's hoping.

Otherwise, I didn't get much done yesterday. I watched some TV, read the newspaper, and worked the crossword puzzle. I also sorted out my filing cabinet where I keep all of the old bills and shredded those that were no longer pertinent. I created a huge bag full of shredded paper.

Later this morning, if the weather is no longer threatening, STWD and I will take our morning stroll. If there is any sign of bad weather, the intrepid one won't go out.

I did get to the big-box everything store to return some potatoes that we bought yesterday. They were moldy. If I had any thoughts of returning there, they were quashed by that experience.

So today is editing, walking with STWD, reading, playing with the girls, and finishing the mini helicopter. That looks like enough before the sun sets at 8:41 p.m. I probably will set about then too. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City."

I may have to say goodbye to an old friend, because my old eyes won't let me see well enough to solder the new battery into my mini-helicopter. It looks as though I may have to take my final pilot's test on one of its larger cousins. One more try on the mini-copter, but I am not holding out hope.

In sports, the men in blue and the Tigers have a two game series starting later tonight. Just like the recent series between my beloved Red Sox and those self-same Tigers, I have two horses in the race. In this case, at least one of the teams has a shot at the post season. Both teams were off yesterday. Speaking of my beloved, they lost to the Indians, 2 - 8. The Caps were off.

Today's weather won't be T-storms or any storms until later tonight, if ever. In other parts of MI yesterday, there were high winds, four inches of rain, hail, and downed trees and power lines. Like all too often, the rain passed to the north and south of GH.

Trainspotting yesterday was very rewarding. At 10:45 a.m., the southbound run of locomotives 2057, and 2019 passed by. In their wake were 14 CHCs, one DBT, and two box cars, not heavily laden. The northbound run occurred at 3:38 p.m. Same locomotives in reverse order, towing 13 CHCs, 12 DBTCs, two white tank cars, one very rusty tank car, and two gray tank cars. All were heavily laden by the feel of the way the house was shaking.

The day started for myself and STWD in a walk and then a trip to the kitchen to get the vegetable broth started. Here's a picture of that effort.

So aromatic.

Also in the kitchen, I started work on my latest baking effort, baguettes. Mostly the early effort was putting the ingredients in the bread machine in the right order and pushing the start button. I then went outside to water, and that proved to once again be prescient. When I returned to the kitchen, I had to wait for the dough to come out of the machine. Following the directions, when I placed it on the floured board, I punched it down and waited 10 minutes for it to rise once again.

The recipe called for the separation of the resulting dough to be divided equally into two pieces for shaping into long narrow baguette loaves. Fortunately for our dinner plans, Mary came along to add her gentle touch to my manly efforts, or dinner would have been a lot different. 

As you can see, her efforts paid off.

It was now time for the loaves to rest and relax until dinner time. That allowed us a chance to go to the big-box grocery store. There is a story in that trip, that I'll leave untold.

Once we returned, it was Mary's chance to put her superior culinary skills to work.

Chopping of garden fresh vegetables, green peppers courtesy of Sally, and zucchini from our gardens.

Sauteing for effect.

Broiler ready.

The delicious outcome.

I like to think that it was my baguettes that made all of this possible. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Later today, I plan to finally get back to doing nothing. Maybe, just maybe, those promised showers will make their way to GH. I'll play the girls, read some of my non-fiction book, after I go for the morning walk with STWD. The sun will rise at 6:52 a.m., and set at 8;44 p.m., just before those showers. Ciao.