Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 9:00 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature is 49° under rainy-skies. There is no longer a Gale Warning in effect. That expired @ 8:00 a.m. today. However, there are still windy conditions in the forecast, with winds of 20 - 30 mph along the shores of the "Big Lake", causing the NWS to continue that Small Craft Advisory until 11:00 p.m. Monday. All small craft, inexperienced mariners, or boats without proper instrumentation are strongly encouraged to seek safe harbor.

The NWS has also continued that Lakeshore Flood Advisory until 11:00 p.m. tonight! Waves may build to 11 feet in height, driven by those winds which may in turn lead to beach and dune erosion.
The sun rose today @ 7:56 a.m. and it will set later @ 7:05 p.m. The NWS is forecasting a 90% chance for rain today.

I made it to the Hemlock Crossing Nature Center for that program entitled: Natures Artbrush Series: Autumn Splendor, taught by Ottawa County artist and naturalist, Nancy Berg. This was billed as an outdoor activity which produced a 16 X 20 finished canvas of a fall scene. In spite of the cool fall weather, we did get outdoors to sketch our subject material and then worked indoors to get some paint on canvas. I didn't finish, as was true of many others, so I brought my canvas home to add the details that had to wait for the paint to dry more. So far, I like my efforts.


We had a light lunch when I got home and then traveled to Turks Restaurant in Nunica for that afternoon gathering of our History Book Club group. Turks has been a locals favorite for many years. However, their specialty is burgers made from beef patties, so for those of us who are vegan, their appetizers of mushrooms deep-fried in hot oil and chips with smoky salsa were a suitable fare. I took some pix of to give my readers a feel for the rural, "Roadhouse" atmosphere of Turks.

Nice clouds in the background.

Hogs are a large part of the "Atmosphere" @ Turks.

We had some great conversations, caught up on what people have been doing, and enjoyed ourselves immensely.


When it was time to go, we made our way back towards home. Those travels allowed me to take some pix of the dark clouds that had formed over the area while we were indoors.

I always want to take pictures of the clouds during the winter months, so this time I was ready, although it is still fall.

Not bad from a moving vehicle and with only a 14 to 42 mm lens on my camera!

We stopped @ Stan's to watch more of the drubbing that the Spartans of MSU received at the hands of the Badgers of Wisconsin yesterday. The Spartans were thoroughly outplayed by the Badgers, eventually losing the game, 0 - 38! Yes, the Badgers are that good, and yes, the Spartan defense is/was overrated.


In better news, the Wolverines of Michigan traveled to Champaign to face the Fighting Illini, and came away with a 42 - 25 win over the Illini. A much better result.


Over in Ohio, the Huskies of NIU eked out a 39 - 36 win over the Ohio University Bobcats. Sadly, the once promising Huskies are only 2 - 4 this season.


The Detroit Lions play tomorrow night against the Green Bay Packers, while the Chicago Bears are in their bye week.


Today, should be a day of rest and relaxation and then tonight, we'll be in Spring Lake for a concert at Seven Steps Up featuring May Erlewine. More on that in a future blog. There are a couple of artists that caught my ear, so I may have to put them on my calendar too.

Otherwise, no walks for the fur-children as the weather precludes our going out unnecessarily. I do want to take a trip to that big-box home center in Norton Shores though. Ciao.