Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 6:30 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature is 59° under cloudy skies, with the anticipated rains due @ 8:00 a.m. and mostly over by 11:00 a.m.. The sun will rise today @ 7:14 a.m., leading to a high temperature of 71°, and set later @ 8:11 p.m. Once again, we have a  Beach Hazard Statement in effect until 11:00 p.m. tonight. That's accompanied by yet another Small Craft Advisory too, also in effect until 11:00 p.m.

We did get some rain late last night into earlier this morning. but all we got was rain with no thunder. Still, STWD repaired to her hide-e-hole just in case. At least I won't have to water all of the flowers and vegetables in the vast gardens, as the cool overnight temperatures minimize evaporation.

I did manage to bake that aforementioned blueberry pie yesterday. I anticipate that it will taste as good as it looks. Mary hopes so too, but she had all she could do to wait for the pie to cool. That never bothered Yogi Bear™ when he spied a pie on the farmer's windowsill, so she is to be commended. However, her plans do include the pie as part of a vegan breakfast.

Photo courtesy of this blog's Senior Staff Photographer.

Baseball news yesterday was mostly good, with the exception of the loss by my beloved 75 - 65, 3rd place in the AL East Red Sox to the 1st place in the AL Central Twins, 1 - 2. Once again, Andrew Cashner took the loss as the Sox scratched out one measly run, a home run off the bat of Mookie who saw his 4th inning shot hit Pesky's Pole. The Red Sox welcome the 1st place, 92 - 49, Yankees to Fenway tonight @ 7:10 p.m. for the start of a weekend series as  hopes fade for my beloved Red Sox.

The 76 - 63, 2nd place in the NL Central Cubs and Jose Quintana were victorious over the 3rd place, 71 - 68 Brewers last night as Kyle Schwarber delivered a Grand Slam home run in support of the Cubs win. They Cubs and the Brewers continue their series tonight @ 8:10 p.m. EDT when Cole Hamels starts the Game.

Once again, the Cubs have been bitten in a pitcher's arm, as they sent closer Craig Kimbrel to the IR list for 10 days with soreness in his right elbow. At least Yu Darvish threw on the sidelines before last night's game and he felt fine following his own arm issues. He should be ready to start Saturday's game.

The 41 - 97 5th place Tigers, topped the 51 - 90. 4th place in the AL Central Royals yesterday afternoon 6 - 4, as Matthew Boyd got the win. The Tigers are in Oakland for a weekend series starting tonight @ 10:07 p.m. when Spencer Turnbull gets another turn against the 2nd place in the AL West As. While there, the Tigers and the As will finish a game that started in Detroit in May but was suspended by rain. A quirk in the rules means that the Tigers and the As have to finish this suspended game in Oakland even though the As had a 5 - 3 lead @ Comerica Park.

I have nothing good to say about violating my rule against watching the Bears and seeing them lose to the Packers, 3 - 10. I guess that Da Bears' defense played well, but the Bears lost the game and the offense could do nothing in spite of the predictions by several announcers before the game. Is there a bright spot? Nope. The Bears are off until September 15 @ 3:25 p.m. when they travel to Denver to face the Broncos.

In college football, the 1 - 0 MSU Spartans are home tomorrow to face the Broncos of Western Michigan @ 7:30 p.m.

The Wolverines of Michigan travel to Army for a 12:00 noon game against the Blacks Knights. The Wolverines should win, but...

The 1 - 0 Huskies of Northern Illinois University, travel to Utah to face the Utes of Utah @ 1:00 p.m.

Not much else to say. We will sample my Simple Simon's pie man type wares this morning as we await a visit by the snow-removal man for an estimate on clearing our shared driveway this winter. The Old Farmer's Almanac and the NWS are forecasting a winter with above average temperatures and above average precipitation. What form that precipitation will take is anyone's guess. However, if it is snow, we plan to save my yak and sign up for regularly scheduled visits versus a pay as you go plan. Yes, it may prove to be unnecessary, but we are willing to take that chance.

Elsewhere around the PE, Mary is making excellent progress on my apron and I may get into the kitchen today to try my hand at a vegan roast recipe I'd like to try and perhaps a visit to that big-box arts and crafts store in Norton Shores is in the offing. Ciao.