Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 7:00 a.m. in "The City."

I'm up because when you are, you are. Actually, once I awoke this morning, my shoulder was aching and I decided that discretion being the better part of valor, I'd get up and put away the dishes in the kitchen and then sit down and blog rather than try to grin and bear it. Wow, that's either a terrific long sentence, or a serious run-on problem. No matter, it is what it is. Once again wow, I am full of cliches this morning.

We have a current temperature this early morning of 34° under partly-cloudy skies. According to the forecast from the NWS, those skies will remain partly-cloudy then clear by early afternoon as our high reaches 38° under sunny skies. In fact, the forecast for the weekend has temperatures in the lower 40s with only a slight chance of precipitation in any form. The sun will rise @ 8:08 a.m. and set later @ 5:10 p.m.

We took a late road-trip to Newaygo yesterday afternoon to retrieve Mary's Christmas stocking from the The New Ewe, Mary's self-proclaimed favorite yarn store. I like going there because it is a nice ride in the wilds of Michigan and the store has a very comfortable chair that I can sit in while Mary browses. A win-win, at the risk of using that over-used phrase.

In this case, we also took along our camera and between us, we were able to take some pix of industrial buildings and other things of interest. I'll include those now. It may seem odd, but in a rural part of our adopted state, I like taking pix of industrial things.

A reminder of what was, a store that now houses an antique mall, but which was once the local purveyor of multiple mercantile goods.

This building probably dates to the 1800s. I had Mary take this pic for me. I think she captured the essence of the old and the new of Newaygo quite nicely. The original purpose of this building is unknown, unless you consult the local historical archives.

Trains can be heard/seen constantly criss-crossing through the town.

Oddly, along with the industry that is just behind the main street of Newaygo, stands this little chapel for travelers.

Renee parked behind The New Ewe.

I'm not sure of the activity of this facility that is obscured by leaves during the summer months.

Newaygo is a small town that still has a freight railroad and many manufacturing businesses that help to keep it viable. All too many small towns/cities in Michigan and across America, died with the coming of the highways, the rise of shopping malls, and the loss of automotive-related jobs. Ironically, those same shopping-malls are themselves dying with the rise of the internet. Progress I guess.

Mary had checked the weather before we left home and there was nothing in the way of precipitation in the forecast. However, as we were returning home, we had to drive through a serious snow/icy rain-squall before the skies cleared as we neared home. Much like other parts of the Midwest, Michigan's weather can be unpredictable.

We stopped in Spring Lake and then when we got home, the fur-children were eagerly awaiting our return, as their dinner was late by dog standards. Sure, they's had their breakfast around 12:00 p.m., but they still knew that their 5:00 p.m. dinner was delayed until 6:00 p.m.

Our dinner was more of that spinach/lentil/mushroom soup that I'd made the other day, accompanied by some warm dinner rolls. This soup is a definite keeper. 

I heard the morning train run heading south on the RSTL @ 9:30 a.m., but I was snug in my warm bed yesterday morning, so hearing was all I achieved. However, I actually espied the afternoon run before we left home. That run consisted of MMRR locomotive #2025 towing six DBTCs and seven DWTCs heading north.

I nearly forgot to mention that I am listening to Pandora and music of the season that includes artists such as the Dick Haymes, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Eartha Kitt. I, along with many others, consider Kitt the quintessential/greatest "Cat Woman" from the 60s TV series, Batman. After the first two seasons, Kitt replaced Julie Newmar, herself a 1960s heartthrob, in several appearances during the show's final season from 1967-68. In my humble opinion, Kitt made the role uniquely hers,. I think she set the standard for many more actresses to follow, some not so memorable.

Today, we have some kitchen activities and perhaps some indoor chores to accomplish along with an appointment @ the chiroipractor's office. I like having nothing pressing on the agenda. Ciao.