Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 3:45 p.m. in "The City", where the current temperature is a sultry 80° under fair skies. However, it feels more like 82° with a brisk wind out of the southwest @ 12 mph and an RHI reading of 57%. 

The sun will set this evening @ 9:07 p.m. before rising again tomorrow @ 6:35 a.m. and then setting later tomorrow night @ 9:06 p.m.

As of now, we have a Beach Hazard Statement in effect until about 11:00 p.m. tomorrow night. Swimming conditions will be hazardous to swimmers as there will be a possibility of rip currents. In addition, the NWS has issued a Small Craft Advisory from St. Joseph to Manistee beginning @ 2:00 a.m. tomorrow and continuing until 11:00 tomorrow night. Windspeeds from 10 - 20 knots with gusts up to 25 knots will propel waves up to five feet. 

While I hadn't gotten out with my camera of late, but I did get out with Mary this morning for a visit to the annual Flea on Seventh market and to our own back forty and vast gardens, Mary and Ginger have been out and about utilizing Mary's Olympus TG-6 Tough camera for some great shots of the channel, Dewey Hill, and the waterfront in general. 

So, I'll start with their efforts and then segue to my own pix afterward.

There is always driftwood on the City Beach.

It is Coast Guard Week in GH as seen in this pic.

But I think this is the better shot.

Mega boats in the dock near the Lynn Sherwood Waterfront Stadium.

Early in the day, the beach was sparsely populated.

As I noted above, we visited the Flea on Seventh market earlier today. We didn't buy anything, well not on that visit, mary went out later to buy some garden art, but I did get some pix of things at the market.

A true "Antique" with prices this low!

A perfect description of their merchandise. 

In the window display of the Book Cellar on 7th, is this Lego™ replica of Hogwart's Castle.

The glare was an issue, but I got a decent shot from this angle of the entire display.

Next to Guitar Haven is a shop called Tenden, which makes specialty items in leather and cloth. 

Our Coast Guard banner waves proudly over our front gardens. 

While in the back forty, our vast gardens are doing well. 

Speaking of the back forty, I grilled out last night on a beautiful evening for outdoor activities. 

Yesterday, all of my baseball teams lost. Nuff said!

Today, the Tigers have already lost again. They will be in MN tomorrow night @ 7:40 p.m. to play the Twins. 

My beloved Red Sox defeated the Brewers, 7 - 2 today. The Red Sox will be in Houston tomorrow night to play the Astros @ 8:10 p.m.

The Cubs are still in San Francisco to play the Giants @ 7:08 p.m. tonight. The Cubs will then be off until Tuesday evening before meeting the Cardinals for a 7:45 p.m. start in St. Louis. Who will still be with the Cubs after that? I dunno.

The Caps defeated the Dayton Dragons today, 6 - 5. The Caps will be off until Tuesday when they travel to Lansing, MI to play the Lug Nuts @ 7:05 p.m.

Tonight, I will be once again joining my weekly Ukulele Play-Along Session @ 9:00 p.m.

I am currently reading a book by Wajahat Ali entitled Go Back to Where You Came From. As Ali pointed out in an early chapter, he was born and raised in an expensive section of California, one that he cannot afford today.

Mary is cross-stitching downstairs and ear-reading a book entitled Pandora's Jar: Women in Greek Myths, a non-fiction book by Natalie Haynes.

We are collectively ear-reading a fiction book entitled Your's Cheerfully, by A. J. Pearce.

Otherwise, I have indoor chores to do tomorrow. Weather permitting, our deck will be restained tomorrow too. However, if that T-storm forecast for tomorrow is accurate, that will have to wait for at least an extra day.

I think that's enough for one day. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City." 

It is definitely not a dark and stormy night. In fact, the skies are clear and the current temperature is a very comfortable 64°, which is also our overnight low temperature and our "Real Feel" temperature with a slight wind out of the southeast @ five mph. 

The sun will rise into partly-cloudy skies this morning @ 6:30 a.m. and set later @ 9:11 p.m. In between, there is a slight chance for a stray T-storm which may lead to an overnight possibility of a 60% chance for showers. It looks more like the showers will occur late tonight into Thursday. 

I have not been out with my camera of late, nor has our Senior Saff Photographer, as she and her wing gal, Ginger, have been taking it easy so that Ginger's gimpy leg gets a chance to recover. 

That being said, we finished the indoor chores, cross-stitched, read the newspapers, worked the crossword puzzles, and ear-read, put paint on canvas, practiced my ukulele, cleaned our potato crop and trimmed the garlic that we grew in the auxiliary gardens. So, we actually accomplished quite a lot for a couple of retired people. 

Baseball news yesterday was mixed.

The 40 - 57 Cubs defeated the 40 - 48 Pirates yesterday, 4 - 2, in what may be the last time Cubs fans will see Willson Contreras as a Cub, at least for this season, as both he and Ian Happ are quite possibly on the trading block to a contending team that is willing to "Rent" them for a pennant push. But, Contreras may return next season as a free agent signing, as that is his real desire. 

However, at this time, he and Happ have great value and could bring in several high-end minor-leaguers in any trade. Time will tell. The Cubs have the day off today as they travel to the west coast for a 9:45 p.m. start versus the 48 - 49 Giants Thursday, with LHP Justin Steel on the mound for the Cubs.

My beloved 49 - 49 Red Sox look like they will be sellers this season too, as they are so far behind the division-leading Yankees that it might be time to part with SS Xander Bogaerts and others. The Sox fell to the 49 - 47 Guardians last night, 3 - 8. Tonight, RHP Nathan Eovaldi, 4 - 3, tries to make things right for the beloved @ 7:10 p.m.

The 39 - 59 Tigers are spinning their wheels as they lost to the 55 - 44 Padres last night, 4 - 6 in 10 innings. Today's game with LHP Tarik Skubal, 7 - 8, on the mound for the Tigers, begins versus those same Padres @ 1:10 pm. However, the Tigers signed a bunch of recently released pitchers to minor-league contracts to see if they can return to form and help a depleted Tigers pitching staff.

Finally, there is light at the end of the Tigers' tunnel, as their affiliate, the High A, 50 - 41 Whitecaps, defeated the 45 - 44 Dayton Dragons last night, 3 - 2. Tonight's game begins @ 6:35 p.m.

Today is another P/T appointment, along with more ear-reading, more cross-stitching, and probably more watering. That should be enough for one day. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. across the nation and across the world. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City." 

The current temperature under clear skies is a very comfortable 61° which is also the "Real Feel" temperature with no wind. The overnight low has now been reached as we near today's sunrise @ 6:29 a.m., yet well before the sunset @ 9:12 p.m. The high temperature today is forecast to be a very comfortable 77° with an overnight low temperature of 68°.

I want to keep this one short, so I'll state that in the baseball games yesterday, the Cubs, the Red Sox, and the Tigers were all victorious over the Pirates, the Guardians, and the Padres respectively. Each of those games occurred at their home ballparks and today's games will be at 2:20, 7:10, and 7:10 EDT p.m. In addition, the Caps will be home tonight to face the Dayton Dragons @ 6:35 p.m.

Otherwise, the day was mostly reading, cross-stitching, P/T, and retirement. What's not to like?

Today, we have indoor chores to finish, Mary started those last night. We'll get more newspapers and crossword puzzles in the mail today.

STWD is hanging in there. So too is Ginger. Both of our fur-children went for walks yesterday, and in both of their cases, not too far.

Today, we have only those aforementioned indoor chores and our regular dose of retirement activities. In other words, it is all good. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 6:45 p.m. in "The City", where the current temperature is 77° under partly cloudy skies, and it also feels like 77° in spite of a wind out of the south @ 11 mph. 

We have several advisories, statements, and watches, in the current forecast from the NWS that include:

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the lakeshore communities from St. Joseph to Manistee until 12:00 a.m. tonight. 

We also have a Beach Hazard Statement in effect from 8:00 p.m. tonight until tomorrow afternoon for Allegan, Muskegon, Ottawa, and Van Buren counties. Strong currents and high waves will make swimming hazardous all up and down the shores of the "Big Lake."

Finally, there is a Small Craft Advisory in effect from St. Joseph to Whitehall with the NWS forecasting 10 - 20 knot winds with gusts up to 25 knots that may produce waves up to five feet in height.

The sunset tonight will be @ 9:16 p.m. The sun will rise into mostly-cloudy skies tomorrow @ 6:26 a.m. before setting once again @ 9:16 p.m.

I did more watering today because I cannot always count on the forecast from the NWS. They will indicate rain that too often bypasses GH. But, here's hoping, as more water is good.

We have been listening to another ear-read, finishing crossword puzzles, cross-stitching, ukulele practicing, chair assembling, and painting. It is nearly time for dinner.

But before I go, I have to remark on baseball. 

The 36 - 57 Cubs totaled the 49 - 44 Phillies last night, 15 - 2. In addition, the Cubs have begun tonight's game in Philadelphia with RHP Marcus Stroman on the mound. The final score was 6 - 2 in 10 innings.

My beloved 48 - 46 Red Sox were totally embarrassed last night at home, as they were pummelled by the visiting Blue Jays, 5 - 28. That score is a record for the Sox. What should have been a great season, has gone south for the Sox. 

While things are going better for the Sox today, they are still down 1 - 3 in the bottom of the 8th inning as of this writing. Update, another night, another loss, this time, 1 - 4. Sadly, the Sox also placed third-baseman Rafael Devers on the IL with several strains. The Sox are now calling up players from their farm team to fill the gap left by so many injured players.

One positive note, David "Big Papi" Ortiz was inducted into the Hall of Fame today. 

The 38 - 56 Tigers are on the field right now, with RHP Michael Pineda on the mound for the Tigers. The Tigers are down 0 - 1 in the second. Once again, another night, another loss, 4 - 8. 

Finally, the 47 - 41 Caps are visiting the 54 - 34 Great Lakes loons tonight for a 7:05 start. The final score was 3 - 2.

Tomorrow should be an excellent day to do as little as possible. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past sunrise @ 6:24 a.m. yet well before sunset @ 9:17 in "The City." We have no expectation for precipitation until Saturday and Sunday. However, last night's storm means I don't have to water today, with the exception of the hanging baskets and the large planter on the front porch of the manse. 

I have no pictures to share today, so let me get on to what's really important.

I had a good pool session at P/T yesterday. My therapist was, and I am not joking, Quinn, who has a Ph.D. in physical therapy. So, that makes her wait for it, Dr. Quinn!

At any rate, by the time I got home and we had a late brunch, the afternoon was getting away from us as always seems to happen when you are retired. We took about 1 1/2 hours to finish our ear-read of one of the Maggie Hope series of books, and then I stayed upstairs to do some maintenance in my studio. By then, it was time for Mary to feed the fur-children their dinner and for me to finally return to the netherworld of the downstairs for some newspaper perusals, crossword solving, and TV viewing. 

Of course, Mary was hard at work on yet another cross-stitch project, actually the continuation of one she had put aside for a bit.

Today promises to be a bit more sedate as I do some indoor chores, Mary cross-stitches, and we read more newspaper. 

Baseball's second season begins today/tonight, with the always rebuilding 35 - 57 Cubs facing the 49 - 43 and also disappointing Phillies, @ 7:05 p.m. with LHP Justin Steel on the mound for the Cubs. The Cubs, like most Major-League™ teams, stocked up on pitching during the 2022 MLB™ draft. Many prospects/projects, but "Wait until two or three years from now."

My beloved 48 - 45 Red Sox are home tonight @ 7:10 p.m. to face the 50 - 43 Blue Jays, who recently changed their manager in hopes of sparking the team to a Wild Card berth in the postseason. To say the least, the Blue jays should have been better this year. No pitcher has been announced for the Sox. 

But in what is just one more in a series of negatives for the Sox, LHP Chris Sale was making only his second start since his return from the IL. Unfortunately, in the first inning, he was hit in his pinkie finger by a batted ball, fracturing that digit and probably ending his season. Sigh. 

The also disappointing 37 - 55 Tigers stumble into the second half, beginning with the first game of a doubleheader in Oakland, CA versus the very bad 32 - 61 A's for a  3:37 p.m. start time. Game two will be sometime this evening, The Tigers also loaded up on pitching in the recent draft, but once again, there is always a future, not a present for the Tigers. Miggy Cabrera grounded out in what is likely to be his last All-Star plate appearance. But, who knows. 

The Tigers have lost a lot of pitchers to injuries this year, but they have seen the development of some future stars too, such as Beau Brieske. The recent call-up OF Riley Greene has been a pleasant surprise for the Tigers. His emergence bodes well for the team's future. Sadly, the Tigers had to send rookie 1st baseman Spencer Torkelson to the Triple A Toledo Mudhens due to his less than stellar offfensice output in his inaugural MLB™ 2022 campaign. He'll be back! 

Also, unfortunately, the Tiger's corps of offensive stars from last season is not doing well this season and that has been a huge disappointment for Tigers' manager A. J. Hinch and for Tigers' fans.

The 47 - 40 Caps are playing the 53 - 24 Great Lakes Loons tonight @ 7:05 p.m.

Well, that wraps up another day here in the Tri-Cities. I'm sad to report the impending closure of Seven Steps Up, in Spring Lake. Too much pandemic and lackluster attendance doomed this intimate entertainment venue. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:15 p.m. in "The City."

This will be a slight departure from my regular blog format, as the MLB™ All-Star break is now here and the past weekend's games were nothing to memorialize nor remember. 

The current temperature is a sultry 78° under mostly sunny skies with no chance for rain until at least Wednesday afternoon, and that's a maybe. An Air Quality Alert is in effect for most of lower Michigan today and likely tomorrow too. Our overnight low temperature will only drop to 70° before we see tomorrow's high temperature of 83°.

That said, we took a short ride this afternoon to run some errands and find a place for a photoshoot. This being "The Season" in GH, downtown, the City Beach, the Grand Haven State Park, the downtown were very busy and crowded, so we had to park at Chinook Pier and take some shots near there. 

Fortunately, Mary and Ginger are regulars in that area, so they know the good places to shoot from. But we got to see something that they have never seen nor photographed before, a large cargo ship, the Robert S. Pierson, as she departed after dropping a load at the docks. So naturally, I shot that departure along with some other flora, fauna, and things, both there and in our own vast gardens. 

For perspective.

As the Big Freighters go, she was average in size.

But, she filled the channel as she traversed towards Lake Michigan.

Another shot as she passed.

The Pere Marquette from the back side.

M R Ducks.

As is this guy.

And a friend.

Our plants are finally blooming between the garages. 

As are the roses in Mary's rose garden that the rabbit hasn't eaten.

Something about this shot called to me.

As did this one of our newest annuals and our perennials. 

Otherwise, not much is happening here at the manse. 

I had a nice ukulele session last night. Mary is happily cross-stitching and ear-reading, while I am reading another novel having finished the previous one late yesterday afternoon. We are collectively ear-reading a shared novel too. All in all, retirement is good Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. across the nation and across the world. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City."

This is going to be a special edition of my regular blog. No weather report, no baseball scoreboard, and no extraneous things that seem to find their way into this space on a regular basis.

Instead, I am going to devote this space to wishing Happy Birthday to the most amazing woman I've ever known. 

First, a YouTube™ link to the Beatles and their version of Happy Birthday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeOHAzjxLhk

Second, what I think epitomizes Mary and me, courtesy of this blog's Senior Staff Photographer.

Spicy with a side of potatoes.

A birthday is meant to be a day of celebration. So, for my wonderful wife of nearly 49 years, I couldn't think of a more perfect way to say Happy Birthday to my own. very special Michigan woman.

Here are a couple of additional musical posts from YouTube™ sung by a duo of Michigan artists, Ruth and Max Blomquist. 

Michigan Girl. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY3EaBxYRE0

And, 

I Don't Remember a Waltz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWAF710hM3c

Mary, Happy Birthday to you. 🎂  🎂  🎂  🎂  🎂  

jax 22'

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just before 7:00 p.m. in "The City", where the current and Real Feel temperatures are the same, 73°, with a wind out of the west @ 13 mph. 

Tonight's low temperature will drop to a very comfortable 60° before we rebound to tomorrow's high temperature of 76° under sunny skies. The sun will rise tomorrow @ 6:18 a.m. and set tomorrow night @ 9:23 p.m.

I am going to keep my baseball report short, as the results so far today have not been good. The Tigers and LHP Tarik Skubal, dropped one to the Royals, 2 - 5. Tomorrow night, the Tigers are in Cleveland to play the Guardians @ 7:10 p.m. with RHP Elvin Rodriguez on the mound for the Tigers.

The Caps needed 11 innings to lose to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 2 - 5. They play the Timber Rattlers again tomorrow night @ 6:35 p.m.

The Cubs once again face the Orioles tonight with LHP Justin Steele on the bump for the Cubs beginning @ 8:05 p.m. 

The Red Sox are facing the Tampa Bay Rays tonight @ 7:10 p.m. with RHP Josh Winckowski tossing for the Sox. FYI, Chris Sale returned to the mound for the Sox last night and threw five scoreless innings with a fastball topping out at nearly 97 mph! 

Now, on to what's really important. We had planned to go to Hofma Park yesterday, but we ended up at Hofma Preserve for a photoshoot, where I took some pix I liked. Today, Mary and Ginger went walkabout and Mary took some pix of her own, so today's blog will give you a twofer.

Just off the parking area at Hofma Preserve.

Mixed sun and shade.

Sunshine breaking through the trees. 

Wild ferns.

A fallen tree blocked this trail.

Today, Mary took some great pix of the waterfront, the channel, and near the Ottawa County Courthouse.

The large and the small dock in GH.

Overcast, but calm.

A dedicated bench.

A plaque commemorating those who served the citizens of Ottawa County.

A fountain that bubbles gently in that area.

Today, I was at P/T and Mary watered our vast gardens. My P/T session went well and I have another one Friday morning. Mary is still cross-stitching and I am done. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is nearing 5:00 a.m. in"The City", and I will try to KISS this blog.

The current temperature is 66°, corresponding to the overnight low and the Real Feel with a wind out of the west @ 12 mph. Sunrise @ 6:16 sunset @ 9:24.

Beach Hazard Statement in effect from 6:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. with strong currents posing a hazard to swimmers.

Small Craft Advisory, St. Joe to GH until 2:00 p.m. Wind speeds 10 - 15K with waves up to four feet.

Today's high will reach a very comfortable 76° with a forecast overnight low temperature of 66°.

We had a heavy rainstorm last evening, which means I don't have to water. 

The 34 - 52 Cubs are in Wrigley tonight to play the 43 - 44 Orioles, a team that is starting to surge and which is in the same AL East division as the Yankees and the Red Sox, so their record means that they are better than they might seem at first glance. Game time tonight @ 8:10 p.m.

The 47 - 40 Red Sox are again in Tampa Bay tonight after losing last night, 5 - 10, to the Rays. Tonight's game commences @ 7:10 p.m.

The 36 - 51 Tigers lost a pair yesterday to the 34 - 52 Royals, 1- 3, and 3 - 7. What can I say, the Tigers are awful. Game time tonight is 8:10 p.m.

The Caps are home tonight to face the Timber Rattlers @ 6:35 p.m.

I got up early yesterday to go to a P/T evaluation and receive my schedule for the next four weeks. All of my visits will be in the therapeutic swimming pool to help strengthen my lower back. Here's hoping.

Later, I made vegan Italian burgers which became part of our dinner along with Mary's soon-to-be-famous avocado, pesto, and spicy mustard dressing. It was delicious. 

I also started another colored-pencil drawing project which is going well, so far.

After dinner and Jeopardy, I retired to the media room, where I enjoyed watching the Beatles in A Hard Day's Night, which was a four-star romp through the early 1960s. I never get tired of this classic Marx Brothers-style movie.

Today, indoor chores, more ear-reading, more J6 Committee hearings, and more cross-stitching. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City", where the current temperature is a very comfortable and seasonal, 56°, which coincidentally, is also the Real Feel temperature with a minimal wind out of the west at one mph, and our overnight low temperature. 

There will be a Beach Hazard Statement in effect from Monday @ 2:00 a.m until Monday @ 5:00 p.m., with strong currents and wave action that can and will be hazardous to swimmers.

In addition, there will also be a Small Craft Advisory in effect for those same hours from St. Joseph to Manistee with wind speeds from 10 - 20 knots and gusts up to 25 knots that may produce waves up to five feet in height. The sun will rise today @ 6:15 a.m. and set later @ 9:25 p.m. In between, the high temperature is forecast to reach 79° under sunny skies with an overnight low temperature of 71°.

Baseball news yesterday was not great, although, I had the chance to relive my boyhood and lie in bed and listen to the West Coast night road game between the 34 - 51 Cubs and the 55 - 29 Dodgers. 

Starting RHP Marcus Stroman returned from the IL and pitched well, leaving the game with a 2 - 1 lead. Unfortunately, the Cubs called upon RHP Rowan Wick in relief to hold the Dodgers, which he was unable to do, and the Dodgers went on to win the game, 4 - 2. Today's final game begins @ 4:10 p.m. eastern time with LHP Drew Smyly, 2 - 5 taking the mound for the staggering Cubs,

My beloved 46 - 39 Red Sox needed 10 innings and a walk-off run scored by rookie Jeter Downs, to win their game over the 61 - 24 Yankees, 6 - 5. The Sox and the Yankees play tonight @ 7:08 p.m. in Fenway Park with 8 - 6 RHP Nick PIvetta taking the ball for the Sox.

Sadly, the really awful 36 - 48 Tigers were trounced in Chicago by that other 40 - 43 team, 0 - 8. The Tigers have a chance to send several players to the All-Star game, but that is small consolation for a team that is so far behind. The Tigers and that other team play this afternoon @ 2:40 p.m. with RHP Drew Hutchison, 1 - 4, on the mound for the Tigers.

The 41 - 39 Caps took two from the 44 - 36 Dayton Dragons yesterday, 3 - 0 and 5 - 3. The Caps and the Dragons play today @ 1:05 p.m. and then the Caps return home for a series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

STWD and I took a slightly longer walk yesterday morning as Mary and Ginger took a much more extensive stroll past the mega-busy Chinook Pier area, where a craft fair and the farmer's market were in progress. I have it on good authority, that there was no room to spare between the patrons at the farmer's market and not much more at the craft fair. This is "The Season" in GH. 

While Mary and Ginger were out, they snapped some pix of the sights here in GH.

One of the local churches was charging $20.00 per car for parking across the street.

Which allowed the crowds to park nearer to their goal, the craft and farmer's markets.

From the back side of the markets, the view was less frenetic.

As was this scene from the shore of the channel. 

Where not a slip was unused yesterday morning. 

Much quieter in Central Park, as preparations for an outdoor wedding were proceeding apace. 

Later in the day, I was out in the vast gardens of the palatial estate, while Mary and Ginger went to that big-box nearly everything store for a pickup. I planted the various flowers and vegetable plants we'd purchased the day before at another big-box home center and now our gardens have new colors to supplement the fading colors of the early spring/summer annuals. 

Today, we will do more ear and print reading, more retiring, and probably pay a visit to our auxiliary gardens for some harvesting and/or maintenance. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 9:00 p.m. in "The City", where the current and Real Feel temperatures are 77° with a wind out of the west at six mph. Tonight's low temperature will be a seasonal 63° before we pass the sunrise tomorrow @ 6:13 a.m. and reach the high temperature of 78° before the sunset @ 9:26 p.m. and an overnight low temperature of 67° followed by Friday's high temperature of 81°. 

Baseball has been very, very good to me, so far. 

The 34 - 48 Cubs placed RHP Kyle Hendricks on the IL with right shoulder soreness before they went on to win one this afternoon over the 47 - 37 Brewers in Milwaukee, 2 - 1. The Cubs will get no rest, as they hop on a plane to LA for a 10:10 p.m. start versus the 51 - 29 Dodgers, with RHP Marc Leiter jr., 2 - 2, on the mound for the Cubs.

The 34 - 47 Tigers swept the 40 - 40 Guardians in Cleveland today, winning game four of their series by a solid 8 - 2 score. Miggy got three RBIs as the Tigers' bats came to life. The Tigers travel to Chicago to face that other 39 - 41 team @ 8:10 p.m. with RHP Beau Brieske, 1 - 6 going for the Tigers.

The 45 - 36 Red Sox are not faring so well right now, as they are down 0 - 6 in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Sox will be in NYC tomorrow night to face the 58 - 23 Yankees @ 7:10 p.m. with RHP Josh Winckowski, 3 - 2, on the mound for the Sox.

The 38 - 38 Caps are in a delay versus the 43 - 33 Dragons in Dayton due to a wet field. HUH?

We had a nice afternoon after Mary dropped off Ginger for her regular spa session. We initially intended to travel to Hofma Park, the counterpart to Hofma Preserve in GH Township, but the park was closed for some tree removal. So, we traveled to Stearns Creek Park, also in the Township, for a hike and a photo op. As my regular readers know, of late, I've been publishing pix taken by our Senior Staff Photographer due to my busy schedule, but today, I just had to get out for some pix of my own. Here are some of those pix.

Trees before people, I guess.

We'd never been to Stearns Creek Park before.

Located on the farm where George Vollmer grew up, and also where his brother, Ludwig, grew up too, which I learned tonight from Ludwig's daughter, Jeanie.

Many trails.

Cacti.

More trails.

Signs of human visitors.

Stearns Creek as photographed through the trees.

A great day for a safari.

That safari was part of a day of ear and print reading, crossword solving, cross-stitching, and other home activities. 

Tomorrow, I hope to ear-and print read more, play more music, relax, and enjoy being retired. Mary will be stitching and reading too. Ciao.