Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 1:00 a.m. in "The City."

As you may have noticed, I didn't get around to blogging yesterday. I didn't have much to say and I wanted to give my yak a chance to rest. However, it looks like the yak situation is coming into focus. We took a walk with the fur-children to the bank downtown and my yak held up well. I'm not perfect, but hopefully the light I see at the end of the tunnel isn't a train.

We used the new leashes we got for the fur-children and the only drawback to their use is us. By that, I mean we don't quite have the adjustment right, especially for STWD, but we'll get it. I guess you can say that it is a failing on the part of the humans at the end of the leashes.

Speaking of the humans here in GH, we are currently experiencing a temperature of 39° that feels like 33° under partly-cloudy skies. Once the sun rises this morning @ 7:39 a.m. and well before it sets @ 8:02 p.m. we anticipate a high temperature of 41° under sunny skies. Sadly, the NWS has forecast that there may be T-storms on Thursday and the temperatures will not get out of the 40s until April 5!

Good news though, our pepper plants are doing well in their indoor greenhouse home and we should be able to get them outside around mid-April and into the ground around May 12. I am encouraging them everyday as Mary waters them. We are still awaiting the first sprouts from the tomatoes and the tomatillos that Mary planted a few days ago. Their germination time is around 12 to 14 days versus the nearly 28 days it takes for the peppers to sprout.

In other news, Mary once again demonstrated her skills in the kitchen as she completed her loaf of whole-wheat bread and also made a fabulous vegan root-vegetable stew. The recipe required EVOO, celery, minced garlic, vegetable broth, chickpea flour, carrots, turnips, potatoes, mushrooms, bay leaves, tomato paste, thyme, pepper and my personal favorite, a bottle of Guinness Stout beer. With some assistance from Mary's sous chef, me, and some time atop the stove for sauteing and cooking, dinner was terrific. The bread served as a sop for the extra juice that was generated in the making of the stew. I've included some pix that Mary took to chronicle her efforts.

No-Knead whole wheat bread.

Stew in the Dutch Oven, almost ready to serve.

Probably two more meals!

Back to the other things in life. Following our walk to the bank with the fur-children, we settled into do some reading and indoor chores. I finished the crossword with Mary's assistance and then we settled in to do what retired people do, whatever we choose.

By the by, the current temperature in Mesa, AZ is 67° under clear skies. Today's high is forecast to be 86° under sunny skies. The Cubs also made some roster moves today, as they signed 29 YO LHP, Tim Collins, to a Major-League contract, but sent him to Iowa for a while. The team also made room on the roster by designating 36 YO RHP, Brian Duensing for assignment and also sent outfielder/infielder Ian Happ to the the Iowa Cubs to get more at bats than he is likely to get sitting on the bench in the early part of the season in Chicago. He wasn't happy, but this is a business.

In Lakeland, FL, the current temperature is 65° under partly-cloudy skies. Today's high is forecast to be 82°, also under partly-cloudy skies. Tigers'  manager, Ron Gardenhire has named 32 YO RHP, Jordan Zimmerman, as the starter for the Tigers' opener on Thursday @ Toronto against the Bluejays. However, in Saturday's spring training 18 - 6 win over those same Bluejays, center fielder, JaCoby Jones, injured his shoulder. The Tigers are not ready to promote outfield prospect Daz Cameron to the big club yet, so they are scouring the wires for a fill in for Jones.

Meanwhile, my beloved Red Sox are enjoying 71° under partly-cloudy skies in Ft. Myers, FL. they have signed top RHP, Chris Sale, to a contract extension and they feel set in their infield The Sox hope to repeat last year's World Series win. As they close out their spring training, they will have a high today of 84° under partly-cloudy skies.

We have an appointment at the dentist in Holland today. Mary is still a bit under the weather, so her attendance is a game time decision. Otherwise, not much is happening. Ciao.