Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 4:30 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature is 28° under cloudy skies. Today's high is forecast to reach 37° under skies that will be cloudy this morning, giving way to sunny skies this afternoon. The sun will rise today @ 8:02 a.m. and set later @ 5:09 p.m.


There will be a Gale Warning in effect from 1:00 p.m. today until 4:00 p.m. tomorrow. South winds 20 to 30 knots with gusts up to 35 knots and waves 6 to 9 feet are expected from Holland to Manistee. Strong winds will cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility. Winds and waves will peak Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon. Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions.

There will also be a  Lakeshore Flood Advisory in effect for the "Big Lake" from 7:00 p.m. tonight until 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night. Minor beach erosion and lakeshore flooding are expected for Mason, Oceana, Muskegon and Ottawa counties. Parking lots and roads along the immediate lakeshore will experience minor flooding. Minor erosion of beaches and sand dunes are also expected. Southwest winds gusting to 40 mph will generate 6 to 10 foot waves north of Holland on Saturday night and Sunday.

This seems to be the new normal along the shores of Lake Michigan. It is getting to the point that I don't  know whether to report what is now nearly an everyday occurrence.

Not much was happening yesterday. We did take the fur-children for a walk as they were very insistent about being included in any outdoor activity before they would be satisfied with our leaving them at home, as evidenced by Ginger pinning herself to the back door and STWD being nearby.

Too cute?

Once we got out, we stopped at the Cook's store downtown for yet another Dutch oven for Mary's bread baking. This one is not as large in diameter as the one I use for making a stir-fry and it is also more square at the bottom. That should help the loaves of bread come out less flat and taller.

Afterwards, we made a stop at the chiropractor that preceded our stop at the library so that I could pick up more books and Mary could do some research regarding a previous owner of our manse. We have both been intrigued by the history of the manse that was built in 1903 and which has been extensively remodeled over the ensuing years.

Finally, we made our way across the bridge to Stan's and then back home where Mary opted to make vegan macaroni and cheese for dinner. Of course, the fur-children were ready for their dinner and evening duty call. A little TV and then I went upstairs.

As previously noted, we will be going to Muskegon this afternoon for that performance of the Singing Christmas Tree presented by the Mona Shores High School.

According to a recent story in the Grand Haven Tribune, one of the musical numbers will be accompanied by the Frauenthal Theater's Barton Theater Pipe Organ, first installed in 1929 to accompany silent movies. That organ has been undergoing extensive repairs since it was damaged in 2018 by a roof collapse. Barton organs are not as famous as those made by the Wurlitzer  Company, but they have an enthusiastic following of fans throughout the country. Here is a link to theat organ being played at the Frauenthal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG0Mu5tlFes

Barton Theater Pipe Organs can still be found in many venues. Alas, the organ that was part of the excitement at the old Chicago Stadium now is in Las Vegas, NV. Worthy of note, many years ago, there was a now closed restaurant in Chicago called Sally's Stage, that had roller-skating waitresses and a Barton organ for entertainment.

We also plan to visit the small Muskegon Holiday Artisan Market prior to the Frauenthal. We hope to come away with something to add to our Christmas tree ornaments.

This evening commencing @ 6:00 p.m., Grand Haven will be having its annual Jingle Bell Parade which officially marks the beginning of the Christmas season in our fair city. The parade is always held on the first Saturday in December and multiple units join in the festivities as Santa Claus makes his annual pilgrimage to GH. This year, he will be visiting with children, adults, and pets at his new home in the historic Grand Trunk Railroad Depot Building on Harbor Dr. His "Old" home was showing its age from many years of occupancy in the downtown and so the depot will be a welcome and warmer relocation for everyone involved.

Oh, I was listening to Coast to Coast AM and its host George Noory as I worked before he closed out his program with UFO Phil and his homage to the show simply titled, Listening to Coast to Coast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqWPCsNke24

That looks like enough for one day. Ciao.