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

Yesterday, a good day was had by all. While the winds blew and that made walking and driving a bit of a challenge, the sunshine was a welcome sight in the run-up to the first day of winter and the subsequent Hanukkah and Christmas holidays. This seems like a good time to describe the weather as it currently exists.

I was just outside with GTWD and STWD and it felt almost balmy by mid-December standards. In fact, although the NWS in GR is reporting a current temperature of 23°, the DTWS shows 30°. One good thing about our back forty is that it is somewhat enclosed on three sides. That means that you have to go to the street in front of the manse to experience what the weather is actually like. It is also worthy of note that the temperatures and other weather conditions are often different here on the shores of the "Big Lake."

The NWS has forecast high winds for today, with gusts that can reach 50 mph. For those of you who read my previous blog, you know that that is equivalent to 57.5 knots. In either case, the NWS has continued the winter weather advisory for today. Walking, driving and other outdoor activities will be made more difficult by the winds as the snow that lies in open areas will be blowing across the roads and fields. The forecast high temperature for today is expected to be 34° with temperatures around 36° through Saturday. No significant precipitation is in that forecast for that period.

Sunday, Christmas Day and the second day of Hanukkah, the temperature will rise to 41° with a 70% chance of rain later in the day. The temperature on Monday, Boxing Day, and the third day of Hanukkah will be 39° with that same 70% chance of rain. Maybe some of the snow covering will be washed away.

The sun will rise later this morning @ 8:13 a.m. and set @ 5:12 p.m. Mary will be working on an index that is due today and I'll be working on some crossword puzzles. I will get some time in with the girls today along with the other activities that we have on tap. I mostly finished reading and sharing the N.Y. Times yesterday while sitting in Mary's office. GTWD and the intrepid one were also there and they just had to occasionally interrupt.

I also observed one-half of the Monday run of the trains on the RSTL @10:47 a.m. Locomotives 2019 and 2057 were headed south towing one CHC, four DWTCs. and five DBTCs. We were somewhere in the north country when the northbound run must have occurred. However, before we left on our errands, I did see a railroad work truck riding the rails, also southbound.

By mid-afternoon, Mary's eyes and lower back were feeling the strain of sitting in her office chair, so we did an uncharacteristic thing, we traveled to the busy mall area to purchase some needed items. We also visited Walgreens near the PE to pick up my first prescriptions under Medicare. The experience went more smoothly than I thought it might. A slight snafu was quickly resolved by the pharmacy staff and after that, everything was great.

We need to go to the grocery store later today after Mary is done with the index to gather the items needed to prepare Christmas dinner on Sunday. We plan to be mostly traditional, with green bean casserole, garlic-smashed potatoes, dressing, canned, jellied, cranberry sauce, a vegan roast beest, and Mary's famous mushroom gravy to pour over everything. I am certain that I will like everything.

Ciao.