Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 31° belies that fact that it feels like 23°, albeit w/o precipitation. We are expecting a high temperature of 37° today, and Saturday will be similar. No precipitation and nothing to shovel. What's not to like? The sun will be rising at 7:58 a.m. today before setting at 5:09 p.m.

I had a quiet day yesterday. The time seemed to get away from me though. I did the crossword after walking with Sugar the Weather Dog and Mary. Mary stopped off at the library to pick up some books, but Sugar was more intent on walking that worrying, so we kept on our rounds. Sometimes, Sugar get's very upset when one of her humans get's "Sucked up" by that big building with books in it.

I thought I was done with leaf raking, but I needed to do more when I got home. There is only that down side to melting the snow. Another day, another bag filled. Then I went to the man-cave to continue the painting of the ornaments. I still have a few sessions to go as the various colors dry. I did more highlighting yesterday as Mary worked on another project, and I am now 90% complete. Then it was time to return some things to the big-box hardware/home center in Muskegon and to stop once again at the big-box everything store for yet another return and to pick up some things that we didn't get the other day. This experience at that store was a total turn-around from the previous visit.

Then home for a visit to the favorite watering home, followed by a nap in the media room. If I could have stayed in yesterday afternoon/evening, I would have, but sometimes you just have to go out. One more out this weekend, possibly to the annual Jingle Bells Parade Saturday evening, and we should be done.

Apparently I missed any trainspotting and that's okay with me. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature outside the Weather Window of 28°, is accompanied by NO precipitation of any type or form is in the forecast. The National Weather Service is showing that our high today will be 32° along with that 0% forecast. Friday will be 37° to accompany another 0% prediction. In fact, even Saturday will have only a 10% chance of precipitation with a high temperature of 36°. It looks like Sunday will be the best this week, with sunny skies, no precipitation, and 37 balmy degrees. Today, before sunrise at 7:59 a.m., we'll see our overnight low of 23°.

We are getting closer to the shortest days of the year on December 21 and 22, 2014, and then it's downhill from there. On that day and the next, the sun will rise at 8:13 a.m., and set at 5:14 p.m. Today when the sun sets at 5:11 p.m. we'll still be enjoying a longer day.

Speaking of the winter solstice, it is always followed by the coming of spring. This year, that happens for the Cleveland Indians on February 18, 2015. As far as I'm concerned, that's when spring begins, when pitchers and catchers report for spring training. Both the Tigers and the boys in blue have yet to announce their spring dates. That's also true of that other team from Chicago. However good news abounds. My beloved Red Sox report on February 20, 2015.

Trainspotting, yes. Well actually I am issuing an aural report from about 9:30 p.m. last night and about 12:10 a.m. this morning.

In other news, Mary got a call for a rush job from one of her packaging partners yesterday. A short turnaround time, but a short book too. By late afternoon, I had painted the red portion of those Christmas tree ornaments and now I have to do some of the other colors and allow them to dry. In between, I made a fresh batch of chickpeas seasoned with red hot sauce and a new squash type, since I had the oven running.

As the day wore down, Mary decided it was time to go to the Post and visit with Sally. We took along some of my newly baked banana nut bread. I had tasted it earlier and pronounced it fine. Sugar the Sous Dog was sad to see any portion of the loaf go out the door. I need to get the correct battery for my desk clock later this week. Maybe when we are across the bridge for my replacement lenses I can accomplish that feat.

Today, more playing with the girls, more ornament painting, more crossword puzzling, and more picking up some books at the library. All of that after the morning constitutional with Sugar the Weather Dog when we pick up the morning edition of the Grand Haven Tribune. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 34° belies the fact that we have unexpected precipitation on the ground in the form of snow. Not much, but not in keeping with the forecast of 0% either. In fact, the current forecast calls for a high of 32° after the sun rises at 7:56 a.m., and long before the sun sets at 5:09 p.m. However, if the forecast is right, at least we'll have sunny skies later today. Sugar the Weather Dog and I are, or will be, happy about that. When we were out yesterday, the wind was blowing strongly out of the east into our faces as we walked home. However, the westerly winds today may also be less than pleasant.

We made it to my appointment at the eye doctor yesterday after running several errands along the way. While my prescription is accurate according to the doctor, she suggested that the prescription for the reading portion of my bifocals could be increased, so that is what I am having done. The new lenses should be ready in a few days.

Speaking of those errands, we had to stop in the big-box everything store to get some things that are not available locally. While they do have nearly everything, the dearth of assistance beyond the front door is a challenge. Needless to say, it was also too hot in the store for people dressed for the weather. They ask if you enjoyed your experience at the exit, but in between, you can't find anyone to help you.

Prior to that, we stopped at the big-box hardware and home center to return a defective item and to have a key made. The self-service key machine didn't have the blank we needed, so we still had to stop at the "Helpful Hardware Place", Ace™, in Spring Lake. If possible, I'll do all my hardware shopping there in the future.

At least when we were done, we got to stop at the favorite watering hole and then off to the Post for another libation or two. All good once we were done with our errands.

I almost forgot. At 9:13 p.m., locomotives #2019 and 2057 rolled by heading south at a good rate of speed. They were towing one box car, nine covered hopper cars, three white tank cars, a lone dreaded black tank car, followed by an additional white tank car bringing up the rear. The northbound train went by at about 12:02 a.m., but I can only speculate that it was of a similar composition.

Today, I get the day off from highlighting. I am enough ahead to get on to other things on my agenda. Other than a pleasure walk with the intrepid weather dog, I have nowhere to go and all day to get there. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 12:15 a.m. in "The City", where the current temperature outside the Weather Window is 14°, although it feels like 13°. 14° is supposed to be our low for the night. There is still no precipitation on the horizon, although we did see a few flakes of snow earlier on Monday. Today when the sun rises at 7:57 a.m., the temperature will rise to a much warmer 35° under partly cloudy skies. As the day progresses towards sunset at 5:11 p.m., the temperature will once again drop, but the low will only be 31°. With the exception of the high on Monday, the temperatures in December are starting out nicely. Each day in the five day forecast from the National Weather Service shows that we will stay in the low to mid thirties, with a slim chance of precipitation.

Sugar the Weather Dog, Mary, and I took the morning constitutional on Monday. Sugar and I dropped Mary off at the Health Hutt for some groceries, and then we headed home by way of the Book Man, our local independent book seller, after Sugar was done sniffing. Mary came home shortly thereafter.

Mary had to go to work, and since she had some ripening bananas, Sugar the Sous Dog and I made another loaf of my famous banana nut bread. However, we weren't done. I followed up the banana nut bread with a loaf of whole wheat bread from the same cookbook, Mary's Fanny Farmer cookbook from the 1970s. Both loaves turned out great, and so I have included a picture of both loaves directly below. The dark loaf is the whole wheat.

Since I am now a pie baker, I thought I'd try my hand at a loaf of whole wheat bread.

Earlier on Monday evening at 9:02 p.m., I watched the southbound train rumble by. Locomotives #2057 and #2014 were towing one box car, 20 covered hopper cars, and two of those dreaded black tank cars, with a gray or white tank car bringing up the rear. That  train was, much earlier than usual. The northbound train went by at 12:10 a.m. The same EMD GP 38 locomotives were towing a similar configuration of cars. Six covered hopper cars, four of those dreaded black tank cars, and one gray tank car separating the white and black tank cars. 

Today I have those ornaments to paint after I walk with the intrepid weather dog. Then I can settle in for some additional highlighting for Mary. I am up to page 269 of 514, so that makes me 52% finished. I am liking the subject matter, so it is going smoothly. I always said that if I was going to get my PhD, that I'd get one for the period that surrounds the Revolutionary War and the writing of the Constitution. So you can guess what the subject matter of my highlighting efforts includes. 

Other than that, I have an appointment to see the eye doctor to get my new glasses checked for the reading prescription. I want them to be better than I am seeing right now. Ciao. 

Good evening GH. I am a bit premature with this posting, but that's the way the ball rolls sometimes. I just finished watching some inane TV show, so I thought I'd sit down and write this blog. Just think of this as the early morning blog I would normally offer.

We have a current temperature of 33° as we head down to the overnight low of 21°, before we rebound to a post sunrise temperature of 23°, albeit with a 0% chance of precipitation for the next several days. Incidentally, the sunrise tomorrow will occur at 7:56 a.m,. and the sunset will happen at 5:11 p.m. Sugar the Weather Dog and I will take the morning constitutional in less than ideal conditions. I must say although the temperature today was warmer, the wind out of the west was a harbinger of things to come. The mist was being blown right in our faces as we walked westward. Still, we had a good time.

Mary wasn't able to accompany us, as she was busy printing out her latest project. When Sugar and I returned, it was time for the morning juices, flax seed capsules. Breakfast consisted of leftover deviled eggs that had morphed into egg salad sandwiches, with homemade applesauce on the side. Later we had more of the greens that Stephany had made for Thanksgiving, along with stuffing muffins, turkey for me, and everything smothered in Mary's delicious gravy. I had the lion's share of the greens, but that is fine with me.

That means that so far, we have had three meals from the Thanksgiving dinner that Stephany prepared. We are likely to get one more meal, and if you count the original meal, that makes five. Plus, there are still some mashed potatoes in the refrigerator and greens in the freezer. I am in heaven.

I just watched the southbound run of the twin locomotives. They were "deadheading" to borrow a phrase. and that means that they will likely be returning north with cars in tow. It is likely that I won't be awake to see that trip.

I got the laundry done today, all of it. Now I have to get busy highlighting Mary's nest indexing project. I started it and I like the subject matter. That means that it will be a labor of love. I still expect to be paid for my efforts. Once you work for free, you will be expected to always work for free, so I won't make an exception now or ever. My boss is too much of a slave driver.

Otherwise, I got in some time with the girls and that's a good thing anytime. In the next few days, I'll be setting up the Christmas tree, which means that I have to fit in painting the new ornaments. I'll be heading off to bed in a few minutes, and then I hope to sleep the sleep that I deserve. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:30 in the early morning on this dark night. Right outside the Weather Window, there is nothing to see. There is also a current temperature of 48° as we drop to the overnight low of 44°. When the sun rises at 7:54 a.m. the new dawn will bring a high temperature that will be about one degree lower than the overnight low that is currently predicted by the National Weather Service. By Monday, the high is expected to get to a not so balmy 23° under partly partly cloudy skies. Go figure.

We had a great holiday. We joined Stephany and Adam for Thanksgiving dinner on Friday. As is always the case, Adam laid out the various appetizers and Stephany outdid herself in the kitchen. Her dressing muffins, greens, my personal favorite, green bean casserole, and the mashed potatoes to which Adam gave  his blood, sweat, but no tears, were all excellent. Leftovers abounded. Stephany made extra greens just for me to have leftovers, and for that I thank her. We were fortunate enough to carry some leftovers home and I will enjoy all of them. In fact yesterday, we did, in fact, start the enjoyment. Mary made her gravy to add to the feast.

On the way home, we stopped off to pick up Sugar the Weather Dog and she was glad to see us, as we were glad to see her too. Once home, she immediately went to couch and was gone to the world. I was tired after our holiday activities, and so I retired to the La-Z-Boy for a nap. Two hours later, Mary woke me and we journeyed to the Post to have an afternoon cocktail and enjoy the conversation.

In between, the Wolverines of Michigan lost to the 28 - 42. We watched the start of the Spartans of Michigan State defeat of the Nittany Lions of Penn State, 34 - 10. On Friday, the Huskies of Northern Illinois University, handled the Western Michigan Broncos, 31 - 21, in a battle of MAC 10 rivals. Today, the Lions and the Bears have the day off. That's good for both teams.

Today is laundry day after Sugar, Mary and me take the morning constitutional. The predicted temperature will make for a great time, I'm sure. Then I'll settle in for the crossword and watch the laundry go round and round. Afterwards, I should find time to play with the girls. That should be enough for the day as Mary continues her work. I'll wait until Monday, December 1, to start the annual Christmas tree set up. Mary feels strongly that I shouldn't get started before the month of December. I like her thinking, but the major retailers got started a bit earlier than I.

The sun will set at 5:11 p.m., and then I will be ready for the day's labors to end.

That looks like it's time to say Ciao before the sun rises, so Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:00 a.m. in "The City." We have a current temperature of 21° as we await the rising of the sun at 7:53 a.m. Naturally, as the Earth rotates, the sun will set at 5:12 p.m. A 60% chance of precipitation is expected today, but that shouldn't cause any travel concerns for Mary and me. Especially me, since I don't have to drive. Saturday, the chance of precipitation falls to 40% as the temperature rises to 43°. Sunday we are supposed to get to 46° as people begin their long treks home from their family gatherings.

I had a great Thanksgiving. Mary worked, I walked with Sugar the Weather Dog, and then I went to work in the kitchen paring apples. Sugar the Sous Dog was there to assist, as always. As I prepared the applesauce, she was able to partake to of the apples I was paring. I also pared enough apples to make an apple pie. My pie was a scratch effort. I used no store bought items that weren't in their most basic state before I began. I have included a picture directly below to highlight my efforts.

For my first effort, I like to think it looks great and will also taste great. Photo courtesy of Mary.

Once I had cleaned up after myself, Mary came down and continued using the oven, as she baked a loaf of rye bread she has been working on for two days. Then she got to work on some deviled eggs. All in all, the kitchen was a busy place yesterday. Sugar the Sous Dog was ever vigilant to make sure that nothing went awry.

I found time to complete the crossword from yesterday's newspaper too, along with finding time to play the girls. In short, what a great day. I watched a small amount of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from NYC. Three hours was more than I could give to that activity. Then it was time for football. The Detroit Lions were victorious over the Chicago Bears, 34 - 17. As a transplanted Michigander I was torn, but I'm glad that a team that I follow won the game.

Today we'll be traveling south for Thanksgiving dinner with family. I have it on good authority that the greens are taking over the kitchen where we are heading. That's okay with me, because I love greens. I didn't know that until a few years ago, because greens were not something that my mother nor my maternal grandmother ever prepared. Of course, it wasn't that long ago that I discovered that I liked deviled eggs too. I used to eat just the egg whites from hard boiled eggs, But one day I reasoned out that if I liked eggs scrambled, I could eat egg salad and deviled eggs too. Even fried eggs are now in my repertoire. I still don't care for mushrooms nor bananas. Sugar the Sous Dog can always have my share.

That looks like enough for two or three days. Ciao.