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."

The current temperature is 67° under mostly-clear skies. As predicted yesterday by the NWS based in GR, we did get rain last night, albeit without the T-storms that were in that forecast. Tomorrow's forecast indicates that there is an 80% chance for rain and T-storms, starting in earnest around 6:00 a.m. Our high today is forecast to be 79°, under sunny skies. The sun will rise @ 6:52 a.m. and set later tonight @ 8:44 p.m.

We had a terrific day yesterday. We made our trip to that big-box arts and crafts store and then traveled on from there to Newaygo to pick-up Mary's Summertime Santa Workshop bag of goodies. I guess you might call it an early Christmas stocking.

Along the way, we took a lot of pix, actually depleting the battery in our camera at one point. Fortunately, Mary had the foresight to put the replacement battery in her "Go Bag", so a quick exchange and we were once again ready to go. We almost bought, but didn't, buy another battery the other day at The Camera Store when we were there, so maybe we need to reconsider that decision.

Before I get too out of order, as I noted, we started our extended trip in Newaygo at The New Ewe yarn and quilt store and picked up Mary's goodie bag. While we were there, I engaged the owner of The New Ewe's in conversation and learned that the building next door and one across the street, had been chosen for a restoration grant from the State of Michigan. I just had to take some pix of the ongoing project.

At one point in history the store, which now houses an antiques emporium, served as a drug, grocery and sundries purveyor.

The workers have found three layers of brick in the process.

The piles of debris are growing as they are removed and cleaned of the old mortar.

Since Mary had packed our Subwa Veggie Delight™ sandwiches along with some of my vegan pepperoni/salami, giardiniera and the last of my funfetti cookies and we were good to go for a picnic lunch. We tried several stops for lunch, but ended up in a park in the city of Fremont, MI, a memorial dedicated to the Veterans of the Fremont area and vicinity who served in all of the wars and conflicts from the American Civil War to the current conflict in Afghanistan. 

Before we got on the road again, I took some shots of one of my favorite subjects, an empty playground area. I like to think that an empty playground speaks to the potential energy of American youth.

 I also got some shots of industrial sites too.

An interesting juxtaposition of old grain handling equipment and modern fast-food restaurants.

As we traveled, I shot many pix through our increasingly bug-splattered windshield and out the opened side window.

Many signs told us we were in Amish Country and this is proof. It is also proof of yet another form of transportation that does not require fossil-fuel.

Near the end of our trip, we stopped in Ross Park in Norton Shores, where we saw another form of non-fossil-fueled transportation. .

Ross Park is where the Arts and Drafts fair is being held this weekend. However, we were too early to see that event. But, we did discover a nice little secluded beach on Mona Lake where I took this pic of yet another non-motorized form of transportation. We plan to return to Ross Park in the near future.

Finally, a stop at Stan's in Spring Lake before we picked up Ginger from daycare and made our way home. Dinner was one of Mary's soon to be famous vegan pizzas with her own version of pizza sauce and my vegan sausage.

Wow, the morning is getting away from me. However, I have a few comments on the world of baseball from yesterday. 

The now alone in 2nd place in the NL Central Cubs, with a 2nd place record of 64 - 58, lost their second walk-off game in a row, this one to the 51 - 70 last place Pirates, 2 - 3. The team also optioned OF Alberto Almora Jr. to Triple A IA and recalled IF Addison Russell from that same team. Russell went down to IA to "reset" himself and the hope is that Almora Jr. can do the same as he has struggled offensively of late. The Cubs and Jon Lester play the Pirates again today @ 1:35 p.m. EDT.

My beloved, 65 - 59, still in 3rd place Red Sox, got a great performance from starting pitcher, Rick Porcello, 11 - 9, as they crushed the 39 - 83 5th place Orioles, 9 - 1. The Sox and the Orioles play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m. when Eduardo Rodriguez gets the call.

The 37 - 82, 5th place in the AL Central Tigers, topped the 71 - 52, 2nd place in the AL East Rays, 2 - 0, behind a strong performance by Drew VerHagaen, 3 - 2. The Tigers and the Rays reprise their rivalry tonight @ 6:10 p.m. when Jordan Zimmerman, 1 - 8 goes for the Tigers.

The suddenly surging, but still in 8th place in the MWL East WhiteCaps, took another one from the 2nd place Great Lakes Loons, this time by a final score of 6 - 3. The Caps welcome the Lake County, OH Captains to the Fifth/Third ballpark tonight @ 7:05 p.m./

I will be off to my monthly Irish Jam Session at the library this afternoon. Mary plans to solo at Hemlock Crossing for a presentation about the Praying Mantis with a hike afterwards. After yesterday, that looks like enough for both of us. Ciao.