Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 1:20 p.m. in "The City."

The NWS is reporting that it is a beautiful Memorial Day. From personal experience when I was taking photos this morning, as well as a visit to our deck and looking out the WW, I can attest to the veracity of their forecast. 

We have a current temperature of 75°under sunny skies, although the NWS has issued an Air Quality Alert, for the counties of Allegan, Kent, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa, and Van Buren in Michigan for tomorrow, May 30, due to elevated levels of ozone. 

People and businesses are strongly urged to avoid refueling vehicles, filling portable gasoline containers, and any outdoor activity which may exacerbate those ozone concerns.

On this Memorial Day weekend, people are encouraged to avoid the use of charcoal starting fluid too. Yeah, like that's going to happen. 

Sunset today will occur @ 9:15 p.m.

I got up extra early, well at least for me, in order to take my camera to the corner of 6th and Washington, near the Grand Haven City Hall, to record the events of the Memorial Day Parade. 

While the parade only lasted about 15 minutes, I got some great pix of the Hooligans Flight Team during their flyover, the participants in the parade, and some of the dogs that were there to bear witness to the veterans of Grand Haven as they passed by. I also shot some pix of our own Grand Haven High School marching band and some of the flowers in our vast gardens.

However, before I could get moving this morning, Mary and Ginger had already been out on one of what has become their morning walkabouts and they took this picture of the post-parade set up for the speeches at the Lynn Sherwood Memorial Stadium. To me, these empty seats are reminiscent of the many, many grave markers at Normandy, France and in our own country at the numerous veterans' cemeteries throughout this nation. 

With Dewey Hill in the background, I love this picture taken with Mary's Smart Phone.

Before the parade stepped off @ 9:30 a.m., the participants were staged and ready.

The US Coast Guard Honor Guard near the beginning.

Many of Grand Haven's veterans marched too.

The Hooligans Flight Team during their formation flyover. 

Gold Star Parents have lost a son or daughter during service to our country. 

As have Gold Star Families. 

The Grand Haven High School Marching Band.

With a young woman whose horn was almost bigger than she was. 

The chase vehicle with a terrier at the ready.

A 1948 Willy's Jeep. 

The age of this Jeep was unknown.

What's a parade without a Cobra replica?

And a dog to cheer the participants along. 

Another dog. 

And yet another.

And one last dog picture.

The poppys are beginning to bloom in our vast gardens.

As are these irises from South Haven.

Mary tells me that I have chosen this type of flower for three years to fill my water pump bucket. What can I say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

I'll report on the happenings in baseball. However, I am too dejected by the Cubs, as they are worse than I reported in my previous blog. Sure, they SUCK, but that is being kind after they were swept over the weekend by the Reds. Nuff said. 

My beloved Red Sox are trying to suck too, as they seem to be experiencing slumber in the lumber more often than not. They are above .500, just, but that isn't saying much.

However, the now 25 - 26 Tigers defeated that other team from Chicago yesterday and they are trying to go even with the league today versus the 33 - 19 Texas Rangers as LHP Matthew Boyd hurls for the Tigers. Here's hoping.

Right now, Mary and Ginger are on the deck ear-reading etc. We have no further plans for today and that's fine with me. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 6:00 a.m. in "The City", where the current temperature under clear skies is 51°, with a "Real Feel" temperature of 51°, owing to a breeze out of the southwest @ one mph. 

Today's high temperature will reach 69° before an overnight low temperature of 54°, also under clear skies. The sun will rise this morning @ 6:10 p.m. and set tonight @ 9:14 p.m.

Today will be very pleasant in W. MI. In spite of the slight rise in daytime temperatures over the next several days, and in spite of the lack of precipitation, we should have many wonderful days ahead.

On a personal note, Mary, Ginger, and I walked to the Lynn Sherwood Waterfront Stadium yesterday, covering about two miles total in distance there and back. I wasn't fast, but I was able to make it, a win for me!

I also finished Symphony of Secrets, by Brendan Slocumb. I enjoyed this book as much or more than his last book, The Violin Conspiracy. I am ready to start a new book by T. Jefferson Parker entitled The Rescue, a story about a dog and a writer. However, I need to have motivation to begin.

In baseball news, the 5th place in the NL Central, 22 - 29 Cubs, SUCK! That's right my loyal readers, the team spent a boatload of money on free agents last winter and the result is that they started the season well, but they have fallen apart of late, with a seeming inability to score runs, but more importantly, a lack of quality pitching from several starters and numerous relievers. 

What can I say? After yesterday's loss, 5 - 8, and Friday's loss, 0 - 9, to the 4th place in the NL Central, 23 - 29 Cincinnati Reds, the Cubs are floundering and wasting the time of fans, both diehard and newbies this year. At this rate, the way things are going, heads will likely roll, and the Cubs will once again be sellers at the All-Star break. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. Today's game with LHP Drew Smyly, 5 - 1, taking the mound for a 2:20 p.m. EDT start should be a test of the Cubs' mettle.

In better news, the 24 - 26, 2nd place in the AL Central Tigers, defeated that other team from Chicago, the team with a 4th place in the AL Central record of 22 - 32, 7 - 3. The Tigers wasted a fine performance by RHP Michael Lorenzen, 2 - 2, who flirted with a no-hitter, before giving way to the bullpen who tried to throw the game away. But, while the woeful Cubs suck, the Tigers are trying to reach the .500 mark, now just two games away. Today's game with LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, 4 - 4 on the mound begins @ 1:40 p.m. EDT.

Finally, my beloved, 4th place in the AL East Red Sox, eked out a win over the 2nd place in the NL Central AZ D'Backs, 2 - 1, with RHP Garrett Whitlock notching his 2nd win against 2 losses. Today, the beloved once again take the field versus the D'Backs @ 4:10 p.m., with RHP Tanner Houck, 3 - 3 pitching. 

Today @ 12:45 p.m. EDT, the 107th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indianapolis 500, begins as the checkered flag drops on the latest 33 car field of nine former winners and four rookie drivers.

This is getting long, so I will add some pix that I took on our walk yesterday and that will be that before my day gets away from me. 

Street musicians plied their trade in the downtown.

As our Ginger, shared my soymilk-based cone at the Lynn Sherwood Stadium on a warm afternoon. 

People were enjoying the ribs and sides at the 16th annual VFW Post #2326 Rib Fest. 

Boats of all shapes and sizes, including this peddle-powered sternwheeler, were out in force yesterday.  

Houseboats too.

Along with walkers, dogs, and Jet Skis too.

I love to take pix of the flora everywhere we go.

Including our own irises at the manse.

Now I know that's enough for one blog. Today will be a day to relax, read, cross-stitch, and enjoy life. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 8:15 p.m. in "The City", Grand Haven, MI. 

The NWS is reporting a current temperature of 56° although it feels more like 53°, with a wind out of the west @ nine mph under fair skies. 

My DTWS shows a current barometric pressure of 29.48" of Hg and steady, while the NWS is reporting 30.09 of Hg and falling. The sun will set later this evening @ 9:06 p.m.

Tomorrow, the high temperature is expected to reach 60° under mostly sunny skies, after the sunrise @ 6:14 a.m. and well before sunset @ 9:08 p.m.

If you are a fan of the 20 - 25, 3rd place in the NL Central Cubs, you were, or should have been appalled by today's game results. RHP Jameson Taillon, 0 - 3, looked terrible as he gave up enough runs in the bottom of the first to the 21 - 24, 4th place in the NL East Phillies, to put the game out of reach. Former Cub, Kyle Schwarber, hit another prodigious Grand Slam home run to right field and the Cubs in spite of home runs by Dansby Swanson and Christopher Morel, couldn't close the gap in the 3 - 12 loss. Tomorow, LHP Justin Steele, 6 - 1, takes the mound for the north-siders @ 1"35 p.m. EDT in an attempt to salvage the rubber game of the series. 

The 20 - 23, 2nd place in the AL Central Tigers, fell to the 19 - 27, 5th place in the NL East Nationals, 2 - 5, as RHP Alex Faedo, 0 - 2, failed to get the Nationals out enough times. Tomorrow, the Tigers face the Nationals @ 1:35 p.m. EDT, with RHP Joey Wentz, 1 - 3 toeing the rubber for the Tigers.

My beloved, 25 - 20, 4th place in the AL East Red Sox, play later tonight in California versus the 20 - 25 4th place in the NL West Padres, when LHP Chris Sale, 3 - 2 makes another try for the beloved. 

Today, we walked downtown, with my camera slung around my neck and my quad cane in my right hand to provide additional support, to take some pix of the 2nd annual Jeep Fest. I made it there and back, a distance of nearly two miles, with some discomfort, but with a great deal of pride in my accomplishment. My knees are good to go. Now I just need my yak to join the club. Certainly not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon. 

I won't post too many pix, just some random samples of what we saw.

My new Jeep Fest T-shirt

Interesting

Interesting.

Just had to find some mud.

Canine Jeep fans.

A radio-controlled Jeep.

A Jeep with a Chevrolet V8 conversion.

I have many more pix, but these will have to suffice for now.

Then we came home, had lunch, and did some reading before we drove down to the Grand Haven State Park for a Drive-by Kite Fest photo op. After my long walk this morning, I just didn't have the energy to get out and about. 

Near to the State Park.

Close to City Beach

From a nearby parking area. 

A close up of the same subjects.

The beach was crowded with Kite Fest goers in spite of the cool weather. 

All in all, it was a great day for walking, picture taking, and just getting out and about. Tomorrow, less activity of the walking kind and more of the artistic type. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 8:30 p.m. in "The City", Grand Haven, MI. 

The NWS is reporting a current temperature of 56° under partly cloudy skies. The "Real Feel" temperature is a54° with winds out of the northwest @ 11 mph. The NWS has also added a Small Craft Advisory from St. Joseph to Whitehall, beginning tomorrow @ 4:00 a.m. and ending tomorrow afternoon @ 5:00 p.m., with 10 - 20 knot winds and gusts up to 25 knots propelling waves up to only five feet in height. The sun will set tonight @ 9:05 p.m.

Tomorrow's high temperature for the 2nd annual Jeep Fest and Kite Fest, will only reach 58° with an overnight low of 48°. However, wind speeds on land of 15 mph will also be great for the kite flyers. The sun will rise tomorrow @ 6:16 a.m. and set tomorrow night @ 9:06 p.m.

Today was a day filled with the many activities of daily living here at the manse and in the surrounding communities.

Mary and Ginger went to the big-box grocery store this morning and when they returned, I helped unload and stow their myriad purchases. 

Later, we traveled to the UPS store for a return and then we were off to the Grand Haven State Park to see if any kites were flying today. Sadly, not many were against a fog-shrouded Lake Michigan backdrop. 

So, we decided to travel a bit farther south to either Hemlock Crossing County Park or to Pine Bend County Park, home of the Weaver House and its surrounding woodlands. I chose Pine Bend, where Mary and Ginger took one trail, while I stayed nearer to our car and the Weaver House for some pix. 

This trail was the one taken by Mary and Ginger.

The Weaver House itself was closed for a private function.

However, the Staging Area was there for a photo op.

I looked north to see this open area calling to me. 

Which caused me to espy this adjacent trail into the woods. 

To paraphrase the late Yogi Berra, "So, I took it."

As every gardener knows, dandelions are perennials. 

Fallen trees and stumps are always an attraction for me.

As also shown in this pic.

An old piece of farm equipment was next to this modern tank of LP gas also caught my eye.

Finally, it was home for some dinner for Ginger, and time to finish the indoor chores before our own dinner.

Tomorrow, more pix from the Jeep Fest and Kite Fest and that's about it for the weekend. 

I am slowly rebuilding my stamina that waned badly over the months of my knee surgery recuperation, but I will get there. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:30 p.m. in "The City." The NWS has issued no watches, alerts, advisories, nor warnings at this time. The current temperature is 58° under partly cloudy skies with a "Real Feel" temperature of 56°, due to a wind out of the west @ 11 mph. The NWS is reporting a current barometric pressure of 29.79" of Hg and falling, while my own Desktop Weather Station (DTWS) is showing 29.18" of Hg and rising.  The sun will set tonight @ 9:20 p.m.

Tomorrow's high temperature, also under partly cloudy skies, will be a very seasonal 63°, with an overnight low temperature of 46°.

I drove myself to my podiatrist this afternoon, my second solo trip, and then we set out to go to Weesies Brothers Garden Center in Coopersville, MI, with Mary driving, for some additional plants for the vast gardens. Speaking of plants, our handyman, John, stopped by yesterday and Mary had him dig the holes for her newest roses and a perennial. My yak was fine with that plan. 

I took along my camera today since we were going out, but I had to wait until our return trip, when we visited the Grand Haven State Park and Beach to take some new pix. This coming weekend is the Grand Haven Kite Fest, so a few early fliers were on the beach demonstrating their skills and showing off their kites. No big ones yet, probably tomorrow or Thursday, as the Fest begins on Friday.

However, I took pix of what was going on today, so here are some of those shots.

Brightly colored kites stood out against a cloudy sky.

Actually, I think that the colors stood out better against the darker background.

Kites over the beach, with the lighthouses in the background. 

Kites, Old Glory, and the flag of the State of Michigan. 

A perfect chance to shoot a swing set and the kites.

A lone boater and a gull.

And a last chance to see the Grand Haven State Park with no one present. 

By the by, I managed to walk over 2,000 steps between my podiatrist visit, our stop at Weesies, and our visit to the State Park. Not bad.

I don't know what to make of the way my MLB teams are playing these days. 

The third place in the NL Central, 19 - 22 Cubs, are having trouble scoring runs and their relief pitching is looking porous, especially after the Cubs tied their game last night versus the Astros and then went on to lose, 4 - 6, with Michael Fulmer, 0 - 3 taking the loss. The lone bright spot was the three-run home run off the bat of Christopher Morel. It is time for the Cubs to jettison some of those off-season signings who are not producing. The Cubs are once again in Houston tonight @ 8:10 p.m. EDT, with 6 - 0 Justin Steel on the mound.

The third place in the AL Central, 18 - 21 Tigers, are doing better than some expected, defeating the 21 - 20, 4th place in the AL West, Seattle Mariners on Sunday, 5 - 3, with Jason Foley, 1 - 1, notching the win. Tonight, the Tigers are home to face the visiting 22 - 19, second place in the NL Central Pittsburgh Pirates, in a game that commences @ 6:40 p.m., with RHP Michael Lorenzen on the hill for the Tigers.

Sadly, my beloved 22 - 20, 5th place in the AL East Red Sox, fell to the Mariners yesterday, 1 - 10, with RHP Tanner Houck, 3 - 3 taking yet another loss. But, even if Cy Young himself was on the mound for the Sox, one run won't get it done. Tonight's game in Fenway Park, once again versus the Mariners, begins @ 7:10 p.m., with RHP Nick Pivetta, 2 - 3 on the bump.

Tomorrow, I graduate from P/T. My recovery is now up to me and my own efforts. I won't miss the P/T sessions, but now I have only myself to blame for a lack of progress.

We may, or may not, do more gardening tomorrow, now that we have more plants to put in the ground. None are too large, so it should be an easy session in the vast gardens of the palatial estate. 

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