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

Generally, it's not a good thing to toot your own horn, but in this case, but if I have to polish my own apple and crow just a bit, so be it. Mary stayed out of the kitchen, well mostly, and I was able to bake those previously mentioned biscuits with only the aid of STSD (Sugar the Sous Dog). As hoped, my new flour sifter worked terrifically, actually better than anticipated and the flour and other powdered ingredients were as smooth as silk when I mixed in the vegetable shortening and almond milk. Mary did have some input in the finished product by pre-chilling the shortening for me, but that was a good thing.

I had previously cubed some old bread for croutons and those preceded my biscuits in the queue. While they were toasting, I was busily and happily sifting, shaping, cutting, and placing the biscuits on the baking sheet. Out of the oven came the croutons, and then the oven's temperature setting was raised to 400° to make it ready for the biscuits. In they went, and 16 minutes later, the finest, crispiest, most golden-brown, and tastiest biscuits came out of the oven. They became part of dinner that included Mary's mushroom gravy.

I liked the gravy, as did STSD, although Mary didn't think it was her best effort. True, I like nearly anything/everything with gravy on it, but I have to respectively disagree with Mary's self-assessment of her gravy. At any rate, the dinner was excellent by my standards.

I finished the largest portion of my indoor chores yesterday. I have just one or two other things to accomplish before I can start over again.

The weather yesterday was the best that fall can offer. Cool and crisp like a tasty Granny Smith apple. A nice segue to the sojourn we'll be making later today. We'll be traveling to Sparta, MI for their Apple Fest to buy a bushel of Granny Smith apples for sauce, other meals, and pies. I like my cold cereal with apples cut up in it too. Another plus is a chance to work with STSD and bake apple pies.

We have a current temperature of 57° under clear skies. In Sparta, the current temperature is 55°, also under clear skies. Later today, the high temperature in GH will be 75° while it will be 72° in Sparta. In both cases, the forecast calls for sunny skies. All good. Interestingly, the sun will rise here @ 7:35 a.m. and set @ 7:37 p.m. In Sparta, the sun will rise and set two minutes earlier.

Sports news yesterday was all good too. The Cubs moved to 98 - 55 in the NL Central with their 5 - 0 win over the 2nd place Cardinals @ Wrigley Field. That gives the Cubs a very comfortable lead of 18 games over those same Cardinals. That win also clinches the Cubs' home-field advantage for both the NLDS and NLCS. The Cubs starting pitcher, Jake Arrieta, pitched a gem. The Cardinals and the Cubs face each other again today @ 1:05 p.m.

The Tigers were also victorious too, with their win over their AL Central division rivals the Kansas City Royals by a score of 8 - 1. That means that the Tigers, with their 83 - 70 2nd place record, have a good shot @ the Wild-Card in the AL. Victor Martinez, Justin Upton, and Cameron Maybin all homered in support. The Tigers and the Royals play later today @ 1:05 p.m. I guess I was wrong about the Tigers chances this year.

My beloved Red Sox are solidly in 1st place in the AL East with a five and one-half game lead over the losing 2nd place Blue Jays The Sox won over the Tampa Bay Rays, 2 - 1. The Sox were powered by David "Big Papi" Ortiz' moon-shot two-run homer in the 1st inning. Starter Drew Pomeranz was masterful. pitching out of a jam and so he deserves much of the credit. The Sox' Magic Number is down to four as they face the Rays again this evening @ 6:10 p.m.

I'll have more to say about the results of the college football games in tomorrow's blog, The Wolverines of Michigan face the Penn State Nitney Lions this afternoon @ 3:30 p.m. The Spartans of MSU play the Badgers of Wisconsin @ 12:00 p.m. and the Huskies of Northern Illinois play Western Illinois @ 3:30 p.m.

As mentioned, we will be in Sparta today, so we have no additional plans. We'll be enjoying the fall weather and visiting a place we've never been before. Oops, I was channeling the late John Henry Deutschendorf Jr., AKA John Denver, with that last sentence. Ciao.