Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 7:45 a.m. in "The City."

It is amazing how late you can sleep in when you have no need to get up. 

We have a current temperature of 54º that feels like 54º under partly-cloudy skies and a wind speed of 4 mph. Today's high is forecast to reach 70º, or not, with partly-cloudy skies and 69% RHI. Tonight's low will fall to a very comfortable 60º. This being the first official day of fall, the weather has cooperated by turning very fall-like.

The sun has already risen today @ 7:33 a.m. and it will set later @ 7:41 p.m.

I made it to my doctor's appointment yesterday with Mary driving and the fur-children at home. This visit was much shorter than the last time and as expected, everything went well. 

Since we had left our fur-children at home, I brought my camera and we set out to do a limited amount of local exploration. Since public accommodations are not on our agenda, our trips are limited by the distance between the manse and our furthest point, and back.

We visited Spring Lake and GH for some photo-ops that gave me a chance to record some great pix for posterity.

If you are entering Spring Lake, this is the only way from the south.

And over the entire area.

Beaches on Spring Lake, the lake, are nearly gone.

As the immortal Yogi Berra once purportedly said, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it!" We took the left fork and headed south towards home. 

Yesterday, GH held more of that, "What's old is what's new" for us. 

Sometimes, you must stop, look, and listen to get a great pic.

The Grand Trunk and Western Coal Tipple has been unused for almost seven decades. Yet, the remnants of coal-fired steam locomotives remain under its tower.

How the old Grand Trunk and Western Pere Marquette and the tipple look today. 

From the channel side.

An unoccupied playground framed by the coal-tender of locomotive #1223, the Pere Marquette, and a box car.

If their human is going, the dogs are going.

The Sims #2 stack will stand until the spring of 2021

Some charter fishing boats are still waiting, but some people just fish from the pier. 

Yesterday's bloom is today's fading last flower. 

Just a short, sports, report. Yes, I know, but I couldn't resist the chance for some bad rhyme.

The 32 - 22 Cubs defeated the 15 - 39 Pirates last night,  5 - 0, with LHP Jon Lester, 3 - 2 getting the win with some run support from his teammates. Javier Baez bunted home an RBI in the early part of the game to get the offense going. Victor Caratini, Kyle Schwarber, and David Bote all got hits too. Cub's manager David Ross, says that LHP Jose Quintana, fresh off the IR, will get the start @ 7:05 p.m. tonight. 

Ross is concerned about the oblique injury suffered by 3rd baseman Kris Bryant in the 2nd inning. Bryan's playing status is day to day now. Until he is able to play regularly, it is likely that David Bote will man third-base.

My beloved Red Sox play tonight in Fenway @ 7:30 p.m. EDT.

The Tigers also return to action tonight in Minneapolis @ 7:40 p.m. EDT.

Today, some indoor chores, perhaps a visit to the man-cave, more reading, more TV, etc. Mary will not be visiting the man-cave, but she will be reading and crafting and helping with those indoor chores. We may have to take advantage of this great first day of fall and go walkabout with the fur-children. Ciao.