Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just after 4:00 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature is 52° under rainy-skies, with winds of 11 mph that make it feel more like 48°. Today's high-temperature is forecast to fall down to 40°! Yes, you read that right, that's a 20° drop from the afternoon high yesterday! The forecast from the NWS calls for a 100% chance for rain overnight that falls to 20% by 6:00 a.m. today..Yes, that's it for the 60° temperatures. We can expect to see highs in the upper 30s, the lower to mid 40s, and perhaps the mid to lower 50s until at least April 26! Otherwise, it is probably time for me to say rinse and repeat on the balance of the forecast.

The NWS has changed that forecast from a High Wind Watch to a High Wind Advisory with wind gusts still expected up to 50 mph for today. That will continue until 8:00 p.m. tonight. The wind gusts of 60 mph are no longer in the forecast. Tree limbs and power lines could still come down, accompanied by scattered power outages. I guess that slight change in verbiage made the difference between a Watch and an Advisory. Or not.

The Gale Warning  that was issued until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow is also still in the forecast. West winds increasing to 45 knot Gales and waves building to 8 to 12 feet on Monday are likely from St Joseph to Manistee! Strong winds will cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility. Apparently, mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. They should remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure vessels for severe conditions.
 
The Lakeshore Flood Warning  is also still in effect until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow. Significant beach erosion and lakeshore flooding can be expected for Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren counties. Significant erosion of beaches and dunes is expected along with damage to any property or buildings near the edge of the dunes could be in danger of possibly falling into the water.

Enough for that rinse and repeat on the weather conditions here in W. MI.

As it turned out yesterday, we waited until about 2:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon and then we were able to sit out on the deck with the fur-children and read and take some pix of the flowers and fauna here in the vast gardens of the PE. I wanted to try out the macro-lens on my Olympus DSLR camera and with some coaching from our Senior Staff Photographer, Mary. She participated in a seminar last year. By using that lens and camera, I got some nice pix. I was trying to remember why I didn't participate in that seminar and I think that it was due to my Irish Jam Session being scheduled for that same date and time.

At any rate, once I got the hang of holding the camera at the right distance from my subject, i e , remembering that I had no ability to change the distance with the lens, instead having to change my physical distance as I held the camera, I did okay. Here are some of the pix that I/we took yesterday.

This first pic, taken by our Senior Staff  Photographer, was of our already sprouting lettuce crop on the deck.

I took this rare pic of STWD, the "Cutest Dog on the Planet!"

Our Senior Staff  Photographer shot this pic of the sun as it went in and out of the clouds.

This is our "Iron Butterfly. But, " Is it In a Gadda Da Vida?

I'll include the short version of song In a Gadda Da Vida by the 1960s psychedelic band Iron Butterfly from YouTube™ now. This version is nearly three minutes in length.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv1k4Dug7_8

If you have a need or desire to "Bang Your Head", and if you have a spare 17 minutes, I'll add the link to the long version here, also courtesy of YouTube™.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIVe-rZBcm4

We still don't remember what these flowers are called, but they are still very photogenic.

Our Senior Staff  Photographer also took this pic of our Hydrangea Bush which I couldn't get into focus.

Our Senior Staff  Photographer  once again took this pic.

I was getting the hang of it by the time I shot this close-up of one of our two blooming daffodils.

Pardon the hand in both pix, but I had to hold the flower for a clear shot.

This is a Geeen Man.

This is also a Green Man. Both are Mary's additions to the manse and our Vast Gardens.

Overall, we had a great day in the "Warmth of the Sun." What a great way to segue to more music, with the inclusion of this song by the Beach Boys with that phrase as its title. This song, written by Brian Wilson and band-mate Mike Love, is only 2 minutes 50 seconds long. It features the lead-vocals of Wilson in one of his more melancholic moods. But then, wasn't that true of most of his moods?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoDm_flnwxc

Me, I like this song, also penned by Brian Wilson, Fun Fun Fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JasiSpmfsU

For all the songs included in this blog, you just have watch some ads for the sponsors that make the inclusion of the music possible on YouTube™.

I also took time to change the strings on my Ovation© six-string guitar. I'd been too lazy until this morning.

Today, we have no specific plans. With the colder temperatures and the wintry skies, it is a good day to stay indoors, read, color, play music, write and do whatever strikes our collective fancies. Ciao.