Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 3:00 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature is 28° under partly-cloudy-skies. Today's high is forecast to reach 36°, also under partly-cloudy-skies The sun will rise today @ 7:38 a.m. and set later @ 5:20 p.m.

That's a rather tame forecast as compared to the recent forecasts that contained Small Craft Warnings. Gale Warnings, Beach Erosion Advisories, Winter Weather Advisories, and/or other dire predictions about weather conditions in general. I'll take it.

I baked chocolate-chip cookies yesterday following an old family recipe, I just don't know whose old family. Nonetheless, they turned out great veganized, using our homemade applesauce in place of eggs and vegan margarine in place of butter. They are also smaller than the recipe called for, as each was one tablespoon of dough versus two. I guess that that means I can eat twice as many and feel good about my restraint.

Yes Virginia, they are as tasty as they look.

Earlier in the day, I placed an order for some pajamas at the last of the big-box retailers left in the mall in Norton Shores. We were able to pick up one of the two items in under two hours, the other won't be available until later next week.

While we were out, we decided that it was time to replace the towels in the bathroom, so we found some at that same store that were suitable and in the right color. However, the shelf was labeled incorrectly and the towels were not the sale items at the incredibly low price that we thought. However, the sales associate took that into consideration and adjusted the price to the lower one on the signage. We got all the towels for under $40.00 versus over $100.00! Kudos to that big-box retailer and that sales associate.

Afterwards, we stopped @ another big-box retailer nearby, but they had nothing we wanted so it was off to Stan's in Spring Lake for some adult libations. Since we were in Spring Lake and since Mary "needed" some new flowers to brighten up her flower room, she crossed the street to get some at Spring Lake Florist. They are supposed to be long-lasting and they are beautiful, as you can see.

Of course, much of that beauty is in the arrangement created/designed by our in-house floral arranger who chose just the right vase from the many we have available. I wish I could remember the name, but alas, memory fails. All photos, courtesy of our own Senior Staff  Photographer and her Smart Phone camera.

Looking good!

Home for some leftovers, salad and some TV watching that included news and an episode of Jeopardy that featured former champions. One of those former champions won nearly two million dollars during his extended run as champion a few months ago. He once again knew most of the answers, some very obscure, and risked enough monies on the program's Daily Doubles, to take home the $250,000 Grand Prize! 

This afternoon, I have my monthly Irish Jam Session at the library. However, the "Big Game" in college football in Michigan between the Spartans of MSU, who are 4 - 5, and the Wolverines of Michigan, who are 7 - 2, will take place @ the "Big House" in Ann Arbor @ 12:00 p.m. So, attendance at the jam session may be lighter than usual. We shall see.

Mary will be glad to have me out of the manse for a couple of hours and I'll be glad to be Jamming. Hey, what a perfect opportunity to add some music to this blog, starting with Bob Marley and the Wailers as they play their song, Jammin'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFRbZJXjWIA

While not Irish, Jammin' is still a great tune with a catchy beat and a great message. Since I should be including something Irish, I'll include one of my personal favorites as performed by Christy Moore, The City of Chicago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvOcyRqNfBI I like to both sing and play this one in spite of its somber undertones, because it is also inspiring on another level.

Otherwise, not much is on tap for today. Maybe some reading, some wood-burning, some painting, and... Ciao.