Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 7:30 a.m., which means that the sun already rose @ 6:14 a.m. into cloudy-skies that will produce rain this morning with a 100% probability. Later, before the sun sets @ 9:08 p.m., the skies will clear somewhat. However that eventuality precludes our plans for gardening today, but does bring along a with a Small Craft Warning issued by the NWS. That means that inexperienced mariners, boats without instruments, and fools should stay off the waters of the "Big Lake" until tomorrow morning @ 8:00 a.m. One plus, the high temperature forecast is 70°.

Tomorrow, the high temperature forecast from that same NWS includes a high temperature of only 56° with only a 20% chance for additional showers. Friday and Saturday the forecast calls for more rain with T-storms possible and high temperatures in the upper 60s. The Memorial Day Weekend forecast does not look all that promising to start "The Season" here in the Tri-Cities, with temperatures not getting out of the 60s with the exception of Friday's 70°s. It could be worse, as the already rain-soaked south will be seeing record high temperatures.

Two trains came by yesterday. At 10:00 a.m., I espied MMRR locomotives 2015 and 2019 heading south towing 8 CHCs, 4 DBTCs, and 4 DWTCs.

Later @ 1:26 p.m., I allowed my apprentice train-spotter to record the northbound passage of those same locomotives towing 7 CHCs, 5 DWTCs, and 5 DBTCs.

Baseball news yesterday was once again split. The 28 - 18 Cubs and Javier Baez waited until the bottom of the ninth to get the walk-off win, 3 - 2. The Cubs were down by one run when Kris Bryant scored on an infield ground-out off the bat of Willson Contreras. Bryant kept on running from 2nd and showed off his own base-running skills to cross the plate and tie the game. With the bases loaded with Cubs, manager Joe Maddon called upon Javier Baez, who couldn't start due to an ankle injury, to deliver the game-winning single that allowed Anthony Rizzo to score the winning run following an intentional walk to Jason Heyward. A real thriller. The Cubs and the Phils play again tonight @ 8:05 p.m. EDT as Cole Hamels goes for the Cubs against Cole Irvin for the Phillies.

What was that I said about any Major-League™ team being able to beat any other team on any given day? Well, following the bruising the 25 - 23 Red Sox laid on the Blue Jays on Monday, the 20 - 28 Blue Jays returned the favor last night as they cruised past the Sox, 10 - 3. Eduardo Rodriguez took the loss for the Sox as Marcus Stroman recorded the win for the Blue Jays. Tonight's game features the Sox' Rick Porcello against the Blue Jays Aaron Sanchez @ 7:07 p.m.

In that same vein, the 18 - 27 Tigers lost their 7th straight as they were dropped by the 14 - 31 Marlins, 3 - 4. The Tigers just couldn't get it going and thus the loss. The Tigers and the Marlins play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m., as Dan Norris gets the call from Ron Gardenhire and Jose Urena is given the ball by Marlins manager Don Mattingly.

The 18 - 26, 7th place West Michigan White Caps, AKA The Caps, eked out their own walk-off win over the 25 - 20, 4th place Bowling Green Hot Rods, 4 - 3. The Caps return to the field today @ 11:00 a.m. to face those same Hot Rods on School Kids Day.

Elsewhere in our little world, I redeemed myself, as my latest apple pie was a decided improvement over my last one that tasted like chili more than apples. I had Mary double-check my spice selections to make sure I got them right. I taste-tested the pie after dinner last night and it is indeed good, albeit a bit juicier than I expected. While I was working in the kitchen, Mary was baking her Dutch Oven wheat bread, which became part of our dinner to go along with the pinto bean soup she had made in a previous kitchen stop.

Oven ready.

Perfection, almost!

Odd shaped, great taste!

I was in bed when the fur-children wanted their last out before the rain came in, so Ginger was at the ready.

As was STWD.

Sorry about the picture quality, our usually reliable Senior Staff Photographer seemed to be having trouble with her Smart-Phone camera late last night.

So, in lieu of gardening today, more coloring, more kitchen, and more reading. Ciao.