Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City."

I got up around 2:00 a.m. when Ginger hopped off the bed. That is usually a sign that she wants to go out. But no, it was a sign that she wanted a treat, as I learned when I went downstairs, So instead, I made her and her sister, STWD, go out. Then I did the dishes and emptied the dishwasher. Can I say that the fur-children weren't rewarded for coming downstairs? No, I can't, because they know me too well.

But I digress. When I was outside with the fur-children, I learned that the NWS is right. The current temperature is a brisk 54­­° as we drop to 52°, our overnight low. In addition, the skies are indeed partly-cloudy. Later today, after the sun rises @ 7:18 a.m. and well before it sets @ 8:05 p.m., the high is forecast to reach a sweltering 70°!, also under partly-cloudy skies. We like it! I don't mean the Royal We. I mean we, as in Mary and I.

Baseball news yesterday was not good. It had nothing to do with Amanda's birthday and everything to do with slumber in the lumber for all the teams and perhaps fatigue on the part of the Cubs, as they are near to wrapping up their long road-trip.

The now 83 - 59, still in 1st in the NL Central Cubs, were rained out on Friday night, forcing them to play two last night. Plus, I think that the start 1st game last night was delayed by inclement weather too. The Cubs dropped the first game, 3 - 10 to the Nats, behind a rookie Cubs  pitcher sent up from Triple A to start the game, and they lost the second game, 5 - 6, in spite of Victor Caratini's Grand Slam in the 4th. Oh well, maybe they can salvage the final game today @ 1:35 p.m.

My beloved, 97 - 46, still solidly in 1st place in the AL East Red Sox, were thoroughly outplayed by the 89 - 63, 1st in the AL West Astros, as the Sox lost, 3 - 5. Eduardo Rodriguez came off the DL for the Sox and was unsteady. Sadly, as has been the case lately, the bullpen nor the Sox' bats could bail him out. Maybe tonight in Fenway when they face the Astros in the series finale @ 8:05 p.m.

The sole bright spot in the day was the 59 - 83, 3rd in the AL Central Tigers defeat of the 78 - 64, 3rd place in the NL Central Cardinals, 4 - 3. Too little too late for the Tigers, but you have to take the wins whenever they come. The Tigers and the Cards play again this afternoon in Comerica Park @ 1:10 p.m.

The Caps didn't fare so well against the stronger Hot Rods last night as they Caps fell to the Hot Rods, 5 - 6. Game 2 in the playoff series is tonight in Bowling Green, KY @ 7:35 p.m.

A short digression, if I may. We stopped @ Stan's in Spring Lake on our way home from the 57th Native American Pow-Wow in GR yesterday. I was lucky enough to score a 2017 Frederick Douglass quarter for my America the Beautiful Quarter collection. This was the first of those I've seen and it bears the "D" for the Denver mint along with the 2017 designation. The Douglass quarters are for the District of Columbia.

Speaking of that 57th Pow-Wow, we enjoyed it immensely in spite of the windy conditions and the cool temperatures. We took a lot of pictures and we learned quite a bit about the meaning of the feathers on the staffs of the tribes present. In addition, the Pow-Wow paid homage to the many Native America veterans present there.

As the drums pounded in rhythm, the veterans of wars that ranged from WWII to Afghanistan were saluted. In fact, one of the songs/chants that the drums and the singers played was the Veterans Welcome Song, to accompany their entry into the arena. We learned was their Native American regalia is not a costume. Pictures were only allowed at specific times and everyone was asked to talk to the various men and women before photographing them outside the arena.

I wish I had room for all of the pictures, but I have chosen to include some that best illustrate what we saw and heard. Don't forget, you can click on any of them for an enlarged version.

In spite of the cool temperatures, the Pow-Wow was well attended.

Vendors selling various goods were in abundance.

Staffs representing tribes and the POW/MIAs from the U.S. and Canada were carried in the Grand Entry.

Colorful regalia was proudly worn by the men and women of the various tribes.

These two men were "Elders" participating in the Grand Entry.

The rhythmic drumming was accompanied by the rhythmic jingling/ringing of bells on the feet and legs of the dancers.

Truly amazing!

This man,  a Vietnam Era Veteran, explained the meaning of the various Eagle Feathers on his staff, that had feathers and rings that represented the four seasons, 13 for the Native America 28 day calendar, and other aspects of Mother Earth.

You can't go anywhere with a camera without getting some shots of the sky through the trees.

We came home and I commissioned Mary to make her famous Spaghetti-Role Casserole for dinner. It was great and like most of our meals, generated leftovers.

Today, we plan to go to Hemlock Crossing for a Prairie Wildflower Walk, another great photo-op. Other than that, we have to walk the fur-children. The cool temperatures are less stressful on STWD. Ciao.