Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City."

I thought that it would be good to start with the weather this early morning, I was just outside with GTTSD. However, her sister, STWD, wouldn't go out. It was starting to mist and I suspect that STWD could sense this and stayed inside where she was safe and warm. Naturally, Ginger had to wander around for awhile before she could get down to business.

The current temperature is 36° under, not surprisingly, cloudy skies. Later today, the high is forecast to reach 42° with an 80% chance of showers all day. The NWS has issued the following Gale Watch for mariners on the "Big Lake." I decided that the best way to present the information is exactly how it is presented on the Weather.Com website.

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS ISSUED A GALE WATCH... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. * WINDS... BECOMING WEST LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND INCREASING TO POSSIBLE GALES AROUND 35 KNOTS. * WAVES... BUILDING TO 6 TO 9 FEET LATE TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A GALE WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN THE RISK OF GALE FORCE WINDS OF 34 TO 47 KNOTS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED... BUT THE SPECIFIC TIMING AND/OR LOCATION IS STILL UNCERTAIN. IT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LEAD TIME FOR MARINERS WHO MAY WISH TO CONSIDER ALTERING THEIR PLANS

In his song, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot notes that "Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams, her islands and bays are for sportsmen." He also refers to the "Gales of November", but this is February. I thought that since I am referring to Gordon's song and lyrics, I'd include a YouTube link to the song which includes the lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A

I like thinking of Gordon as a kindred spirit who plays and sings much like yours truly. I hope you liked the song and the sentiments that Gordon was trying to express.

Yesterday was a nice day sunny here in West Michigan with temperatures in the mid-forties, so Mary and I decided not to waste the day and took a ride over to Rockford, ostensibly to visit J. T. Stitchery, a yarn shop located there and buy some additions to Mary's stash. I say Mary's stash, but I was able to pick some yarn for a sweater vest that Mary will be knitting for me. Mary had the foresight to place my camera in my hands before we left, so I took some pictures in Rockford to commemorate our visit and day.

This is J. T.s

Located behind J. T.s are a public parking area and a railroad themed bookstore. During "The Season" in Rockford, parking is at a premium. Today, on-street parking and in the lots was plentiful. 

Across the road from J. T.s are a dam and public park that is part of the allure of Rockford

Above the dam, the waters of the Rogue River are partially frozen

However, with the sluice gates partially open, water was flowing noisily below.

There is a "Nature Trail" located adjacent to the dam and river,  but the snow cover made it just a tad too natural for us.

As I noted earlier, I was outside with GTTSD and while I was downstairs, I picked up the sock that Mary is working on from the dining room table and placed it high on the counter in the kitchen. Ginger can get into things when given the opportunity to explore the table when she is downstairs. So I decided that discretion being the better part of valor, I'd remove the temptation from her view.

Since I was in the kitchen, I washed the pots, pans, cutlery, and dishes from lunch and dinner along with the stovetop. I think it a fair way to "pay" for the fine meals that I receive. Speaking of lunch and dinner, we had a salad and sandwich for lunch when I came back from my haircut and then we were off to Rockford. 

We stopped @ Stans in Spring Lake on the way back and then when we got home, Mary tried a new recipe for mushroom stroganoff that required chopping, sauteeing, and other sundry cooking activities. At any rate, lunch was tasty with Mary's homemade ranch dressing and the dinner was terrific. As I often say, it is "A Keeper!"

I spent some time with playing with Leilani, my ukulele, yesterday morning and she sounds better than I do. Still, I am learning and I like the different sound of Leilani. With so many girls to choose from, I don't spend as much time with Leilani as I should. The fingerings are different from my six-string guitars, Blue and Abigael and of course my 12-string guitar, Ivy. My banjitar, Susanna, has the same fingerings as any guitar, but her sound is like that of a banjo. 

I am still reading the non-fiction book, The Black Presidency by Michael Eric Dyson and I am also reading another pulp-fiction novel, Blackjack, by Robert Knott an author writing for the estate of the late Robert B. Parker. It is a large print version so it should not take long. 

GTTSD and I did some trainspotting yesterday. At 9:30 a.m., EMD GP 38-2 locomotive #2057 was spotted heading south, solo, pulling seven DBTCs. At 1:15 p.m., that same locomotive was seen heading north, this time towing 11 CHCs, three DBTCS, and three DWTCs. 

Today, I'll finish my indoor chores and then get down to the business of doing nothing. Mary will continue her knitting along with some cooking. I wanted her to soak some beans for me last night so that I could make some minestrone, but I guess that she forgot. Oh well, there is always another day.

The sun will rise this morning @ 7:52 a.m. and set @ 6:05 p.m. Ciao.