Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 7:00 a.m. in "The City", where my DTWS is displaying a current temperature of 65° under cloudy-skies, with a barometric pressure reading of 29.21" of Hg and falling, albeit only slightly. That would seem to correspond to the NWS forecast for afternoon showers with a 24% to 45% probability between 12:00 p.m. this afternoon and 7:00 p.m. tonight. The sun will be rising this morning @ 7:46 a.m. and setting later @ 7:29 p.m. 

We had quite a bit of rain yesterday that included some thunder, before the skies cleared for a few hours in the afternoon into the late evening. That respite allowed Mary and I to go out and check out the local car dealer for a new car to lease. Our current Jeep lease is set to expire in a few months. However, it would seem that the current supply-chain shortages that are plaguing the auto industry have left the local dealerships mostly bereft of new vehicles to sell or lease, with only a few exceptions, i.e. pickup trucks. Oh well, there are still a few months until we have to face that problem.

Before we set out, Mary went up to her office to listen to her latest novel and I stayed downstairs to do something I had not planned on, watching the 1 - 2 Chicago Bears take on the 0 - 3 Detroit Lions. The game ended in a final score of 24 - 14 in favor of the now 2 - 2 Bears and left the Lions at 0 - 4. 

Rookie QB Justin Fields got his second start for the Bears under newly promoted OC Bill Razor, who took the offensive reins from Bears' HC Matt Nagy. Fields looked good, at least for one game. A good choice by the Bears. Are the Bears for real? Are the Lions that bad? Probably not and very likely.

In addition, last night I had to wait out the results of the baseball game between the victorious NY Yankees, who prevailed 1 - 0 over the Tampa Bay Rays, and the also victorious Boston Red Sox, who defeated the Washington Nationals, 7 - 5. Once again, Rafael Devers was the man for the Red Sox, recording four hits, that included two home-runs. First, a solo home-run and second, a two RBI homer. I now await the one-game playoff between my beloved Red Sox and the hated NY Yankees, as Red Sox RHP Nathan Eovaldi, 3.75 ERA, with 2021 a won/lost record of 11 - 9, pitches versus the Yankees RHP Garrett Cole, 2.68 ERA and a 2021 won/lost record of 16 - 8. The game begins @ 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night in Fenway Park.

Since we were going out, I took along my camera, following that adage that the best camera you have is the one that you have with you. We made our way to the Grand Haven City Beach, where I took a lot of pix, some using various settings and special-effects to photograph the ever-present gulls, the sky, and the beach itself.

The gulls taking flight as seen with one of those aforementioned special-effects applied.

Same here.

I especially like this one. Hitchcock anyone?

Both shadow and substance, the Twilight Zone effect on Lake Michigan.

This gull was soloing against the cloudy sky.

This shot was a quickie taken as the gulls separated, again using a special-effect.

Just because.

A lone gull awaiting something.

Same fence, one more gull.

All in all, it was a great photo-op and I got the chance to try some of the things I learned during a recent Coffee with Olympus session. 

Today should be more laid-back. I gave up on a book I started, as it was just not to my liking. So many books, so little time, as "They" say. Nothing urgent on the agenda. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever  you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is nearly 10:30 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 70° feels more like 68° with a wind out of the south @ 10 mph. The sun rose @ 7:43 a.m. and it will set later @ 7:24 p.m. In between, showers and 

T-storms begin in earnest around 6:00 p.m. with a 50% chance, increasing as the evening wears on and they will continue throughout most of tomorrow.

My beloved Red Sox are hanging on by the proverbial "Skin of their teeth", as they won over the Nats last night, 4 - 2, to close within one-game of the Wild-Card front-running Yankees, who lost last night to the Rays, 3 - 4. The Yankees "Magic Number" is now down to one, meaning that any combination of a win by the Yankees or a loss by the Red Sox means that Yankees go to the post-season and the Red Sox go home. 

The 4 - 0 Wolverines of MI are in Wisconsin @ 12:00 .m. today to play the 1 - 2 Badgers.

The 4 - 0  Spartans of MSU are hosting the 1 - 2 Kentucky Hilltoppers tonight @ 7:30 p.m.

Finally, the 2 - 2 Huskies of NIU are hosting the 3 - 1 Eagles of Eastern MI today @ 2:30 p.m.

Although we did get out yesterday for our Covid-19 boosters, an interesting experience that has left me with a slight ache in my left bicep, we didn't go anywhere for a photo-shoot. However, I did have my camera along for the ride, so before we left, I took some pix in our own vast gardens using my 40 - 150mm lens in a macro style.. 

These flowers are on a fall-blooming plant.

Apparently, this bee found the flowers attractive too.

As you can see, some of the flowers are setting seeds that don't seem to bother the bee.

If you are a bee, you go where the food is.

I am about 3/5 of the way through a new novel, Not A Happy Family, by Shari Lapena, that is much better than the last book I tried. This book is in my preferred large-pring format, so that helps.

Mary is still listening to her latest novel and happily cross-stitching away into the wee hours of the morning, long after I have faded and turned in for the night. There are far too many definitions for the phrase, "Turn in for the night", but it means to go to bed in the majority of the definitions.

Otherwise, today is a day for indoor chores, reading, cross-stitching, baking, etc. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 7:30 a.m. in "The City."

My DTWS is showing the current temperature from 53° to 54°, depending on whether you are looking at the reading from our front porch or our deck in the rear of the manse. There are no current advisories, alerts, watches, warnings, nor statements in effect at this time. The only variance in our weather conditions is from the forecast being offered by the NWS for tomorrow afternoon, when they are predicting a 42% for afternoon T-storms. MY DTWS barometric pressure reading of 29.59" of Hg and falling is the only indicator of those coming storms. 

The sun will rise into clear skies @7:42 a.m. and set later @ 7:25 p.m. 

Sadly, I think that the sun has set on my beloved Red Sox, as they lost the rubber game of their series versus the Orioles last, 2 - 6 while the Yankees won their game to pull two full games ahead of the faltering Sox. The Sox move on to D.C. to close out the regular season versus the Nats when LHP Eduardo Rodrigues, 11 - 8, tries to get the Sox back on the tracks @ 7:05 p.m. tonight. But, with only three games left in the regular season, things do not look good for the Red Sox, who according to manager Alex Cora, must win. Ya think?

In other sports news, the 4 - 0 MSU Spartans are home tomorrow to face the 1 - 2 W. Kentucky Hilltoppers for a game @ 7:30 p.m. The Spartans should be able to handle the Hilltoppers, but they need to dominate, not just get a win.

The also 4 - 0 Wolverines of Michigan visit the 1 - 2 Badgers of Wisconsin for a game @ 12:00 p.m. tomorrow.. Once again, Jim Harbaugh's squad has to look and actually be great versus a hungry and stinging Badgers team. 

The 2 - 2 Huskies of NIU are home to face the 3 - 1 E. Michigan Eagles @ 2:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. That's going to be a tough assignment for the Huskies.

Mary and I love to visit and walk the local cemeteries wherever we are. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and my less than perfect yak has kept us closer to home for the last couple of years. At any rate, we traveled to the Grand Haven Township Historical Cemetery yesterday for the first time in the 10 years we have lived in GH. It is much smaller than the older Lake Forest Cemetery in GH proper, but there are still some interesting things to see and photograph. The cemetery was founded in 1872.

Even the sign at the entrance is showing its age.

But overhead, modern jet-aircraft are leaving contrails.

Some graves are so old, that the trees have pushed the markers aside.

I was trying different aperture settings and shutter speeds for this shot of an interesting family plot.

The Hoecker family spent a lot of money in 1917 to have these unique markers carved for Mutter Dorothea and Vater, Adolph. The Hoecker's were early Dutch settlers here in W. MI.

There are many of these cast-iron markers in the cemetery.

I viewed a presentation from Olympus given by their rep, Mike Amico, about taking pix of fall colors. As is generally the case, I came away with some interesting ideas.

Mary finished her latest cross-stitch project, a Halloween themed depiction of a witch and a pumpkin last night and it looks great. Late Wednesday night, she had finished listening to her latest book, but it did not disappear at midnight Thursday. Instead, it did not vanish until the same time as Mary downloaded it days ago. She has already found a new book to listen to as she stitches. 

I tried out a new author last night and I didn't like his first book. So, I quickly put it down and I'll be starting another book today along with painting and playing music. 

Today is also the day when we get our Covid-19 booster shots. As people of a certain age, i. e. 65 plus, we qualified for the Pfizer booster shots before other, younger people, except those with underlying health issues. 

Otherwise, our decks are clear for today. 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."

My DTWS is showing a current temperature of 54° versus that being reported by the NWS, 53°. I'll go with the very local 54°.

The sun will rise this morning @ 7:41 a.m. and set later tonight@ 7:27 p.m. To paraphrase Forrest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that."

I am probably going to eschew anymore baseball new, that is unless my beloved Red Sox manage to overhaul those Damn Yankees and nail down the second AL Wild Card spot. Right now, the Sox are one game in back of the Yankees with four games left in the regular season. The Sox won last night over the Orioles, 6 - 0, while the Yankees fell to the Blue Jays, 5 - 6. Can the Sox pull a rabbit out of their collective hats? Stay tuned, as the Sox and the Oriole play again tonight beginning @ 7:05 p.m., when RHP Nick Pivetta, 9 - 7, makes his final start of the regular season. 

By the by, the Yankees are also in action tonight against the Blue Jays beginning @ 7:07 p.m. Do the Blue Jays have another win in their pockets? They are four games in back of the Yankees in the Wild Card standings, but they can play the role of spoiler.  Are the Yankees going to fold? Once again, stay tuned.

Otherwise, not much is happening around here. I went to a grueling P/T session yesterday and then came home to make vegan Italian burgers, two of which became part of our dinner along with our own recipe vegan Coleslaw as a side. 

I finished my latest novel, The Bourne Treachery, late last night. In this man's opinion, since this book was written by someone other than the late Robert Ludlum, it was not of the same quality as the Bourne books penned by Ludlum. 

Mary finished listening to her latest book on an E-Reader service called Libby, and she loved it. I have to ask if she stayed awake long enough to watch the book vanish into the ether as it was on electronic loan. That's how anything that becomes due or is returned on Libby is handled, it just disappears.

I read an article written by Dr. Fiona Hill, a former member of the previous administration that Mary had forwarded to me. It was very sobering and I have to discuss it with Mary.

We have our Covid booster shots scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at a local chain pharmacy store. Everything I've read indicates that the side-effects should be minimal. Here's hoping.

Otherwise, not much is on tap here. More painting, more music, more puzzle solving and more retirement for both of us along with more cross-stitching and listening for Mary. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 8:00 a.m. in "The City" where the current air-temperature is 66°, the same as the water-temperature @ the Grand haven State Park. Alas, my yak and the Covidiots and mask-holes seem to have precluded my swimming in the "Big lake" for yet another year. 

At any rate, there are also two alerts in effect until 2:00 p.m. this afternoon. 

First, a Beach Hazard Statement has been continued for Allegan, Ottawa, and Van Buren counties, with high-waves and strong currents. Second, the NWS has extended the Small Craft Advisory from St. Joseph to GH. Windspeeds from 15 - 25 knots may produce waves from three to six feet in height, which is why there is that Beach Hazard Statement still in effect and why small boats should stay in port.

Speaking of warnings and alerts, I should have listened to my own inner-voice and not watched any of that fiasco that was supposed to be an NFL game between the 1 - 2 Bears and the 2 - 1 Browns. Rookie Bears' QB Justin Fields threw for 68 yards, but with nine sacks, he only netted only one yard in his first NFL start. That last happened in the NFL in 2009. With only 47 yards of total offense on 42 plays, it is going to be a long season in Chicago.

Speaking of long seasons, the Lions struggled to be competitive in their game versus the Ravens, but a late rally by the Ravens was a "Gut Punch" to the Lions, who lost the game, 17 - 19, to go 0 - 3 on this young season. It gets worse next Sunday, when the Lions travel to Chicago to "Play" the Bears in yet another game of minor-league football @ 1:00 p.m.

In other athletic news, the 4 - 0 Wolverines of MI defeated the 3 - 1 Scarlet Knights of Rutgers, 20 - 13 last Saturday. While it was a win for the Wolverines, Jim Harbaugh's squad should do better than just escaping with a six-point win. The Wolverines are @ Camp Randall Stadium in WI next Saturday @ 12:00 p.m. to play the 1 - 2 Badgers of WI who fell to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame last Saturday, 13 - 41. 

The 4 - 0 Spartans of MSU also struggled to contain their opposition, the 2 - 3 Cornhuskers of Nebraska, escaping with a 23 - 20 victory last Saturday night. The Spartans have to play better to be considered a contender in both the Big 10 and the college bowl standings. The Spartans welcome the 1 - 2 Hilltoppers of Kentucky to "The Woodshed" in East Lansing, MI next Saturday night for a 7:30 p.m. game. 

The 2 - 2 Huskies of NIU soundly defeated the 1 - 3 Black Bears of Maine, 41 - 14. The Huskies' next opponent in Dekalb, IL, will be the 2 - 1 Eagles of Eastern MI next Saturday @ 2:30 p.m. 

In baseball news, my beloved Red Sox were swept by the Yankees over the weekend, as they fell to the Yankees last night, 3 - 6. The Sox are now second in the AL Wild Card race, one game behind the Yankees. The Sox are off until tomorrow when LHP Chris Sale, 5 - 0 makes his next start @ 8:15 p.m. EDT.

The Tigers seem to have a light at the end of that proverbial tunnel that is not a train, but they still fell to the Royals, 1 - 2 yesterday. The Tigers are home today @ 1:10 p.m. to face that other team from Chicago, who clinched the AL Central Championship yesterday. 

The Cubs are done at home this year, as they dropped another game to the visiting 87 - 69 Cardinals, 2 - 4. The Cardinals are finishing the season strong, but they could not overtake the Brewers who won the NL Central Championship. "Wait Til Next Year" is not the operative phrase for the woeful Cubs next year either, as they finish the season with all road games, three games in Pittsburgh and three games in St. Louis. The Cubs are also off until Tuesday night's game in Pittsburgh @ 6:35 p.m. EDT. The Cubs have some hope in their young pitchers for next season, but the overall picture looks bleak. 

I finished a novel yesterday and Mary made progress on her Halloween cross-stitch project. She utilized her time yesterday afternoon more productively than I did, stitching and listening to her own novel. Today, I have an afternoon P/T appointment for my yak and Ginger has an afternoon grooming appointment. That should be enough. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 7:00 a.m. in "The City."

We have a current temperature of 55° per my DTWS, but according to the NWS, it feels more like 50° with a wind out of the northwest @ 11 mph. We have reached our overnight low with that 55° reading. We have two weather related concerns to report about. 

First, is a Beach Hazard Statement in effect for Allegan, Ottawa, and Van Buren counties until Monday evening. High-waves and strong currents will pose a hazard to swimmers and people who choose to walk on the piers. 

Second, is a Small Craft Advisory from St. Joseph to Manistee, with windspeeds of 15 to 25 knots and wave-heights from three to six feet. The sun will rise this morning @ 7:36 a.m. and set this evening @ 7:36 p.m.

Today's high-temperature is forecast to reach 66° with an overnight low of 59°. I am at a crossroads with regards to my summer uniform of shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt versus long jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. 

In Sports news, the only good thing to come out of Wrigley field yesterday, was the two-run home run, #28, in the bottom of the first inning of game one, by Patrick Wisdom. Cubs' manager, David Ross, noted that rookie RHP Justin Steele gained some valuable experience versus the red-hot Cardinals as he surrendered three home runs. Maybe, but that's only a slight plus. If he can't get the opposition out this year, why will next year be any better? Just asking. 

The Cubs and the Cards square off again today @ 2:20 p.m. EDT when RHP Adrian Sampson, 1 - 2, makes the start. Speaking of Sampson, I didn't read his name anywhere in the pitching plans for next season. Just saying.

My beloved Red Sox are now only one-game ahead in the Wild Card race, as they lost to the Yankees last night, 3 - 8. Today's game versus the Yankees is scheduled to start @ 4:10 p.m. when RHP Nick Pivetta tosses the first pitch for the Sox.

The Tigers didn't really fare any better than the Sox last night, as they fell to the Kansas City Royals, 1 - 3. Miggy got his 2,980th hit, but that wasn't a deciding factor for the Tigers. The Tigers and the Royals play tonight @ 6:10 p.m. EDT when rookie Tarik Skubal, 8 - 12, throws for the Tigers. I used the verb throws versus pitches, because his record indicates that he needs to be more of  pitcher than a thrower to be successful in the major-leagues.

College football has a full slate today, as the MSU Spartans, 3 - 0, welcome the Cornhuskers of Nebraska, 2 - 2, to Spartan Stadium @ 7:00 p.m. EDT.

The 3 - 0 Wolverines of MI, welcome the also 3 - 0 Scarlet Knights of Rutgers to "The Big House" in Ann Arbor for a game that begins @ 3:30 p.m. EDT.

The 1 - 2 Huskies of NIU host the 1 - 2 Black Bears of Maine in Husky Stadium in Dekalb, IL starting @ 2:30 p.m. EDT. 

We set out yesterday afternoon for a photo-shoot @ nearby Coopersville. That was after I walked STWD. I had originally wanted to go to Muskegon for some shooting there, but the Taste of Muskegon is going on and so we detoured to Coopersville. I got some nice shots while Mary and Ginger went walkabout. We joined up again after while and took a few more pix. While my plans were to take some pix on the southside of Coopersville, we ended up in the downtown area. Oh well, that allowed Mary to purchase some pumpkins for our Halloween front-porch display @ the outlet grocery store there, "Off the Tracks."

The local farmers contributed this bounty, for a price, to the store. It looks like an outdoor cornucopia. 

Mary selected two pumpkins for our front-porch display.

At first, I went walkabout alone and later with Mary and Ginger, for some pix of the downtown area and the railroad tracks and equipment that belong to the Coopersville and Marne Railway. All pix were shot with my 75 - 300mm lens using my newly received and installed lens hood to see how that would change things. I'll let you be the judge of any difference, but I think it helped limit the glare factor of the pix.

Although now relegated to museums, railroads used to have a caboose on every freight train. 

Not a rolling piece of the Coopersville and Marne Railway to be seen in this shot. 

I decided to capture this passenger car through a luggage cart.

The tracks run from Coopersville on the west, to Marne, in the east. 

Marne was the home of 1950s rock-star Del Shannon for part of his life. His life and music is now celebrated in Coopersville every August during the annual car show and Summerfest that bear his name. 

The Coopersville Hardware & Feed store has been in Coopersville for many years in its current configuration. The current owners discontinued the feed and flour mill and remodeled to focus on the hardware side of the store. 

Using these storage silos as a frame for this rolling crane. 

This windmill is in front of the farm museum.

Same, just more of the tower. 

This rusty rolling crane was what I framed in that earlier pic.

A storage and workshop for the railway?

A local resident has their own windmill. 

A switching engine for the C & M Railway.

Ginger near a fire hydrant. Stereotyping?

Today, I think college football, a little kitchen action, some music, and part of the indoor chores are on my to-do list. Mary will be joining in the fun too. I also have another crossword puzzle to solve and more reading of Stephen King's newest novel,  Billy Summers. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 8:00 a.m. in "The City", where the current temperature being displayed on my DTWS is a brisk 57° under cloudy-skies. We had some rain yesterday and late last night, but as of now, all we have in the way of a precipitation forecast from the NWS is for late tonight and into tomorrow @ anywhere from 90% to 99%.

We do have a Small Craft Advisory in effect  until 2:00 p.m. today from Holland to Manistee, with strong winds and high waves. 

In addition, there is a Gale Warning in effect for that same area beginning @ 2:00 p.m. today until 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, with wind speeds up to 45 knots and wave heights possible up to 10 feet! 

Of course, there is also a Beach Hazard Statement until tomorrow @ 11:00 p.m. The NWS is reporting that the water temperature of the "Big Lake" has dipped below 70° which adds to the danger for swimmers. The sun rose this morning @ 7:32 a.m. and it will set later this evening @ 7:41 p.m.

Since I am or was on the subject of  Gale Warnings, Beach Hazard Statements, and Small Craft Advisories, this looks like a good place to insert some pix I took when Mary, Ginger, and I visited the Grand Haven City Beach late yesterday afternoon before we made a stop for a pick up at that big-box nearly everything store. This was the first time in many months that Ginger was able to walk on the beach, since dogs are banned during "The Season" that runs through Labor Day. 

I got some great pix of the roiling waters, the lighthouses, some gulls, some kiteboarders who were surfing the waters of Lake Michigan, and Ginger as she returned to the car with Mary in tow. I had my camera set on automatic, with the 75 to 150mm lens installed on my camera as I varied only the settings of both the lens and the 4/3 DSLR camera to get these shots.

I think the sky made a nice backdrop to this man kiteboarding.

The Gale Warning was not yet in effect. 

This gull was sitting it out.

The waves were building while we visited.

The same kiteboarder in this shot and the next.

That's the outer lighthouse behind the kiteboarder.

These two surfers were just boarding with no kites. 

Ginger can never get enough walking nor of guiding Mary safely down the beach.

All in all, Mary loves the fall as much as Ginger, probably more.

In sports news, the Cubs are still struggling to find some reliable pitching, something that will have to be addressed in the off season. As of now, Cubs' manager David Ross believes that only tonight's starting pitcher RHP Kyle Hendricks, 14 - 6, and last night's starting pitcher, RHP Alec Mills, 6 - 7, are definitely in the rotation next season. That means that the Cubs will be looking in their mostly depleted farm system, the free-agent market, or trades for pitching help. Every team is looking for pitching, so.... The Twins defeated the Cubs and Alec Mills last night in a 4 - 7 loss for the Cubs. Tonight's game versus the Twins, begins @ 7:40 p.m. EDT.

My beloved Red Sox are red hot right now, having won six in a row. The also red-hot X-Man, Xander Bogaerts, contributed four RBIs last in last night's win over the Mets, 6 - 3. Journeyman RHP reliever Ryan Brazier, 1 - 1, picked up the win for the Sox. Tonight's game versus the Mets begins @ 7:10 p.m. EDT when LHP Chris Sale, 4 - 0, makes his next start. 

The Tigers have now won two in a row over that other team from Chicago, following yesterday afternoon's win 5 - 3. Yes my friends, the Tigers are for real, as they are beating some very good teams. The Tigers' win went to RHP Bryan Garcia, 3 - 2, in relief. Garcia is only 26 years of age and should be a solid reliever for the Tigers next season and beyond. Tigers' OF Victor Reyes had four RBIs for the Tigers. Today's game also begins @ 1:10 p.m. EDT when RHP Casey Mize, 6 - 7 takes the mound for the Tigers. Do I sound like a Tigers' "Homer" yet?

I had an uneventful appointment at the dentist yesterday and I am good to go until next spring. 

Mary and I were trying to decide what we accomplished yesterday, as we couldn't point to any one thing. I finished a book late last night, but that is about all that I can point to. Mary made lunch and dinner. I am reasonably certain that she made further progress on her cross-stitching project, but I forgot to look when I was downstairs earlier. I think a successful trip to the beach for a photo-op and a walkabout are also worthy of note.

Today on my agenda, I have no appointments and only the indoor chores that I put off until today. I will likely start another book and read the Tuesday edition of the Grand Haven Tribune and perhaps work the crossword puzzles from Monday and Tuesday too. I must play more music, but painting will have to wait for more sunshine. Mary will continue to do that voodoo that she do so well. Oh, right now, the Gandy-dancers are walking the tracks of the MMRR checking the rails and looking for ties that need to be replaced. I stand corrected. They are also checking the rails for parallelism and cutting out sections to be replaced. They never replace too much, making the tracks look like a railroad track quilt. Ciao.