Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:30 a.m. in "The City."

We have a current temperature of 55° that feels like 53° with the southwest winds of seven mph. We also have that Small Craft Advisory still in effect until 8:00 a.m. this morning. We'll continue to see wind-speeds of 15 - 25 knots out of the southwest and wave heights of three to six feet from St. Joseph to Manistee. 

As the day wears on, the winds will move offshore and gust to 20 - 30 mph as we go from sunny skies this morning to partly-cloudy skies this afternoon. 

Today's high is forecast to reach 65° and tonight's low is forecast to drop to 51°.

We had that forecast rain event yesterday afternoon into evening right on schedule. It came down in buckets. That being the case, Mary decided that it was time to go for a grocery store pick up in the early afternoon before the rains came. 

Mary decided that since I was busy in the kitchen, she'd take Ginger along for the ride. It took them a while to return, and as I subsequently learned, they made a detour to the City Beach, one of Ginger's favorite stops. Mary thinks that Ginger will now expect that to be a regular feature of her day, along with trips to the cemetery. Mary doesn't have the heart to tell Ginger that winter is coming and trips to the beach will soon have to wait for next spring. At any rate, Ginger had a great time romping on the beach and Mary enjoyed using her camera to capture the lake and Ginger's activities.

Lake Michigan was quiet before the storm.

Still very scenic and photogenic though. 

Would that a still pic could capture the rapture of Ginger's day at the beach.

From what I gathered, Ginger had a great time and Mary enjoyed the wind and waves too. Ginger ust have sensed that something was coming, because the was willing to get back into the car for the ride home.

Of course, the rains came with some thunder and that meant that we had to get STWD to leave her hide- e-hole long enough to grab a quick bite and make a dash for the backyard, shaking all the time. She didn't stop for long when she came back in, as she flew back upstairs. She calmed down enough for a late night visit. 

Once again, the trains surprised me and my journeyman trainspotter. Last night, I was once again abed, when I heard the southbound run on the RSTL. I was informed that the train wasn't too long, but that it seemed loaded as it passed by the manse towing about six CHCs, and many CGCs @ 11:45 p.m. 

Earlier this morning, I heard the northbound run @ 3:33 a.m. What's with this new schedule? Mary and I have speculated that they are trying to hide something or that zombies are at the throttle. Whatever, it is a change from the regular Wednesday and Friday runs, to what has now been two days in a row.

As I noted earlier, I was busy in the kitchen making some vegan beaf tips for a stew. One reason that Mary traveled to the grocery store, was to purchase to purchase, the various vegetables for that stew.

Today, I have two appointments at the hospital. One is for my delayed annual Medicare exam in the morning, while in the afternoon, I have my orthopedist appointment. 

Mary plans to stay behind and do more knitting, some kitchen activities and reading. Ginger will be here to assist her. STWD should be fine now. My day  is mostly spoken for with all of the things on my personal agenda. 

The sun will rise this morning @ 7:56 a.m. and set this evening @ 7:04 p.m. Ciao.

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."

Let's start out with what is really important. We found an able replacement for Pride and Prejudice after we watched the final episode. This BBC series is entitled Lark Rise to Candleford. Unfortunately, the series has only four seasons in the can as it was abruptly canceled by the BBC for nebulous reasons a few years ago. Oh well, we'll enjoy it whilst we can. 

With the able assistance of my newly promoted Apprentice Trainspotter to journeyman status, (I was sound asleep when the southbound run occurred), I am able to give a mostly complete and accurate trainspotting report for last night and this early morning. 

At 10:55 p.m. last night, I heard the southbound train passing by the manse on the RSTL. I was happily abed, so I ignored it. Fortunately, my newly promoted journeyman trainspotter was on the job and espied MMRR locomotives 2019 and 2025 passing by towing numerous CGCs, more than 20 I am supposing, and six CHCs. 

Earlier this morning, I heard the approach of the train heading north @ 2:56 a.m. Those same locomotives were towing 18 CHCs, and one DWTC. 

I may have to make that journeyman status probationary, as an exact count wasn't provided. Estimates are generally fine, but as I've been schooled in baking, being exact is very important. However, when you are dealing in non-life or death reports, like trainspotting, you generally don't have to be exact, so... 

We have a current temperature of 54° that feels like 51° with 11 mph winds blowing. Those winds will lead to the Small Craft Advisory that goes into effect @ 12:00 p.m. today, when the winds will blow @ 15 - 20 knots, with gusts up to 35 knots, for the lakeshore from St. Joseph to Manistee until 4:00 a.m. tomorrow. In fact, there is a chance that some of those winds will be Gale Force!

We mostly lolled about yesterday in between doing those aforementioned indoor chores. Since the Lions were on their by week, and the Bears had already won last Thursday, I was able to ignore the NFL games yesterday. 

Instead, after reading more and working a crossword puzzle, we took the fur-children for a walkabout in the cemetery. I once again eschewed taking my camera, but our Senior Staff Photographer took hers and got some great pix.

Subject matter and composition go hand in hand.

This marker may look damaged, but it is exactly as it was sculpted in the late 1800s.

This area of the cemetery is one of the oldest. 

As this stone stairway attests to in its neglected state. 

Nearby, is this area of fallen tree limbs.

This stump has been there for decades.

As has this marker, but probably in this case, for over one-century.

And this one too. 

Today, we are finally going to do that which we had planned for yesterday since it will be raining this afternoon. Mary wants to read, as do I. We are sharing a book by Sarah Kendzior entitled Hiding in Plain Sight, another tome about the sad state of our government, our country, and the world, and the man who claims, for now, the title of POTUS.

Otherwise, I have no plans and that's fine with me. I want to do some vegan cooking, but I need to get Mary to assist with some measurement of some very strong vegan broth maker that if not used judiciously, overwhelms the flavor of the finished product. 

The sun will rise this morning @ 7:55 a.m. and set later this evening @ 7:06 p.m. 

That's all folks! Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 8:00 a.m. in "the City."

As you can read. I didn't get up last night. In fact, I didn't get up until about 6:30 this morning. No reason, maybe I just overdid it yesterday. Or maybe, I just needed some additional sleep. Whatever the case/cause, I'm back.

I was lying in bed and thinking about the way the harmonica part sounded on the pop tune from the 1960s, Laugh Laugh, as made popular by the faux British Invasion group The Beau Brummels. The band actually formed in San Francisco in 1964 and were obviously heavily influenced by the Beatles and other British bands, from their mop top haircuts to their clothing and style of music. 

One day, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, oops, I was channeling Rick from the movie Casablanca and Captain Inspector Renault, Claude Rains, there for a second. That being the case, I'll include a link here to the song Laugh Laugh, for your enjoyment. This cut from YouTube™, was from the TV show, Shindig! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAeVOoTXt8o

But as usual, I digress.

The current temperature is 47° that feels like 43° with the 11 mph winds. I guess that once the temperature drops near 40°, Wind Chill becomes a factor. Today's forecast has no advisories, no watches, and no warnings included. Today's high temperature will be 65° under skies that will be a mix of sun and clouds this morning becoming cloudy this afternoon. The low will fall to only 57° overnight. The sun rose this morning @ 7:54 a.m. and it will set this evening @ 7:07 p.m.

Tomorrow, Monday, there is an 80% chance for rain showers in the mornig that will turn into a steady rain in the afternoon. Interesting.

We had a busy day in the kitchen yesterday, followed by a walkabout with our fur-children at our favorite place, the Lake Shore Cemetery. Neither of us took a camera, so no pix. 

However, that doesn't mean that I have no pix to include. Like Peter Graves as Captain Clarence Over and Leslie Nielsen in his role as Dr. Rumack might have intoned in the movie Airplane, when Nielsen asked about when they could land the plane, "Captain, how soon can you land?" Graves says, "I can't tell." Oh what the hey, here is a link to that scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGWYnNdA3Xc

But, I'm digressing once again. 

I made my first ever green tomato pie from scratch yesterday. I picked the tomatoes. I blanched and chopped the tomatoes. I made assembled the pie and it turned out c'est magnifique! However using the old family recipe that I followed, necessitated a change in the amount of cooking time and the temperature. If I make another pie next year, I'll know what to do. Fortunately, Mary was there to encourage me and take pix along the way. Ginger in her pivotal role as sous terrier was there too. 

The green tomatoes, blanched, peeled and pared.

The bottom crust being rolled out. 

In the pan and ready for the filling.

Almost there.

Oven ready.

Fresh and hot out of the oven.

Plated and ready for a "Taste Test"

We waited until we'd returned from our walkabout to allow the pie to cool sufficiently. We both think that our collective efforts were excellent!

Somewhere in there, Mary finished our outdoor Halloween decorations and also picked some flowers from the mums in our vast gardens.

Looking good on our end table.

Later, Mary chopped and sliced the ingredients for our dinner of homemade pizza. She had already made the dough and left it to rise before our walkabout. 

While the finished pizza was nice to look at, the end result was not up to Mary's usual standards. I did a little checking in a previous blog and I think I know why. The previous edition of this type of pizza had included a mix of vegan Italian sausage and pepperoni, along with yellow peppers, olive oil on op of the crust, and I think some diced garlic. So, while it was nice to look at, the pizza was kind of bland in taste.

The makings.

The finished pizza fresh from the oven.

I know that some might say that I'm being critical, but Mary always says I need to be honest or what I found lacking may be repeated. So, it may be just my opinion, though I think that Mary shares it, this was not her best effort. 

Today, we have no plans other than some indoor chores and reading. We finished our latest BBC series,  the 1990s adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and now we are hoping to find a replacement. No walkabouts for us or the fur-children today. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City."

We have that previously mentioned Small Craft Advisory still in effect from St. Joseph to Manistee, now until 4:00 p.m tomorrow. Southwest winds of 15 - 25 knots early today will become northerly as the day wears on, until this evening, when they turn easterly, Those winds will produce waves from three to six feet in height from St. Joseph to Manistee.

We have a current temperature of 66° that feels like 66° under partly-cloudy skies and in spite of winds blowing @ 18 mph.. This afternoon, the high temperature will reach 69°, also under partly-cloudy skies after the sun rises @ 7:52 a.m. and long before it sets @ 7:10 p.m. The low temperature tonight will drop down to 49° with no precipitation in the forecast until Monday's 60%.

I was witness to both ends of the train run on the RSTL yesterday. The morning run occurred @ 9:08 a.m. as MMRR locomotives 2019 and 2025 passed by heading south towing 21 CHCs, two DBTCs, 11 DWTCs and one BC.

Later @ 12:53 p.m., those same locomotives passed by heading north, towing 10 CHcS, three DBTCs, 17 CGCs, and one LC (Lumber Car).

We took the fur-children to their doctor's appointments yesterday afternoon and received the latest innovation in veterinary care necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic, curbside meet and greet. STWD went first and then Ginger had to sit in my lap and worry that Sugar would not come back. Then it was Ginger's turn for being poked, prodded, and given her rabies vaccination. Sugar got an extra shot of Benadryl™ due to her having had allergic reactions to vaccinations on previous occasions. 

After their collective visit, we received a phone call from their doctor informing us that they are in good shape. Both five-year old Ginger, and especially 14 year-old STWD were pronounced fit. In the case of STWD, she has cataracts that go with her age. Both of them are in good shape when it come to their weight.

After lunch and before dinner, we watched two additional episodes of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. We have only one more episode to view before we have to find a replacement. 

Lunch was one of my favorites, Sauerkraut and vegan Swiss Cheeze sandwiches on rye. I had mustard to go with Mary's homemade thousand island dressing on mine. 

Dinner was Mary's take on a post we saw on Facebook™ for baked beans, nutritional yeast, toasted bread, onions, and some vegan margarine. We think that this is another keeper. 

Before we transitioned to vegan eating, I'd never thought that I'd like baked beans. 

I spent some time crossword solving and reading and Mary did too.

We took the time to set up our new water leak detector in the man-cave. While we were there, I grabbed our box of Halloween decorations and carried it upstairs. Last night, after I was ensconced in the media-room upstairs, Mary stayed downstairs and placed some of the indoor decorations. Today, we will get the balance of the decorations placed outdoors. 

In addition, we still need to do some transplanting of two of our wax begonia plants. I may be in the kitchen making a green tomato pie during that time, so Mary may have to solo on that project with the able assistance of Ginger. Mary also wants to try planting some basil herb seeds for a winter harvest of fresh basil. In both cases, we will have to wait and see.

Those Damn Yankees had to go against the Tampa Bay Rays in a fifth and deciding game in their AL Division series. Good news for Red Sox fans like me, the Yankees fell to the Rays 1 - 2, as the Rays now move on to the AL Championship™ series to play the Astros. The winner of that AL Championship™ series moves on to the 2020 MLB World Series™ versus the winner of the NL Championship™ series between the L.A. Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves. I won't be watching, as the Cubs and my beloved REd Sox, not even the Tigers will be there. Maybe next season, if there is a next season. Sigh.

Otherwise, more indoor chores, more reading, more knitting, those aforementioned Halloween outdoor decorations, the pie making the transplanting, and more retirement. Perhaps, if STWD is sufficiently recovered from her doctor's visit, we can take a walkabout. Whew, I'm tired just thinking about our day. Ciao.  

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 7:00 a.m. in "The City."

What a whirlwind day we had yesterday. By the time we arose, it was nearing noon here at the manse. The fur-children, as always, were ready for their brunch and I was eager to get on with my day.

As I had anticipated, after lunch, I spent some time in the kitchen making vegan food and cleaning up after myself. It's not that I have an insatiable need for cleanliness, it's just that when you spent as many years as I did working for a company that stressed, "If you've got to time to lean, you've got time to clean", that it is ingrained in my psyche. I also find it hard to work with clutter in my working environment.

Fortunately, I had my sous-terrier, Ginger, on hand for assistance and she and her sister STWD, were at the ready when I chopped up the mushrooms. All in all, a good couple of hours.

Later, Mary used some of my efforts to make her secret-recipe pasta sauce for dinner. Our sous-terrier was also delighted, as she loves, and I stress the word loves, uncooked whole-wheat pasta, especially spaghetti noodles, for a snack. Mary was quick to mollify Ginger. As you may recall, Ginger won't touch the chickpea variety, while STWD will gladly take whatever she is offered. Who says that dogs have no sense of taste.

Later, we spent some time reading while the fur-children waited "patiently" nearby. They were awaiting the "signal" that it was time for a walkabout. The "signal" is our closing our reading material. At that juncture, Ginger is off to the races, as she rockets to pin herself by the backdoor so as not to be forgotten. STWD, as befits her dowager status, gets there too, but she just strolls to the backdoor. Ginger is a youthful five-year old, while STWD is a more mature 15.

Speaking of that walkabout, we took our usual drive to the Lake Forest Cemetery. Ginger has the route memorized and grows more agitated as we approach the gate. When you vary the route, or go somewhere she isn't anticipating, she tends to freak out a bit. STWD just sits quietly in the backseat, hopeful, but not overly excited, at least until I help her out of the car.

At any rate, I didn't take along my camera, but Mary, our Senior Staff Photographer, took hers and snapped some great pix of the wild turkeys that call the cemetery home. Unlike their domesticated cousins, these turkeys can, and do, fly.

I thought that this was a good place to insert that infamous "Turkey-Drop"scene. as narrated by fictional WKRP newsman, Les Nessman, from the sitcom, WKRP in Cincinnati, as a nice segue to those pix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p00nBSNIPwg

The turkeys were aware of our fur-children, and they gave us a wide berth.

But, they continued to graze amongst the markers. 

In addition, our Senior Staff Photographer took some additional pix of the flora at the cemetery from various angles to best capture the vibrant colors of this beautiful fall day.

As is all too often the case, the naked eye sees more than the camera lens.

But, I hope you get the idea.

Sunlight through the trees as a backdrop to the colors of fall. 

I decided to torture myself last night, sitting down upstairs in the media room after dinner to watch the Bears and the Buccaneers, while Mary worked on some knitting downstairs. To my surprise and delight, the Bears defense stymied Tom Brady and the Buccaneers offense, as the 4 - 1 Bears took control of the clock and kicked a last minute field goal for the 19 - 18 win. Not baseball, but a good way to end the day.

We have a current temperature of 47° under clear-skies with a 7 mph wind that makes it feel like 43°. In addition, another if those seemingly ever-present advisories will go into effect @ 8:00 a.m. today and last until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow. This advisory is yet another Small Craft Advisory that will start out with southerly winds @ 15 - 30 knots and switch over this afternoon to southwesterly winds that will produce waves of three to five feet south of Holland and four to eight feet north of Holland. Is it time for more pix? I dunno.

We have an appointment for the fur-children at their doctor's office this afternoon for their annual exams. Plus, Ginger is due for a renewal of her Ottawa County license too. STWD just needs her Senior Wellness Exam. In both their cases, they have some vaccinations due, but we have to return another day for a second round, since neither of our fur-children seem to fare well with a massive infusion of the various drugs in one visit. 

Otherwise, I have to make a stop in the man-cave today to install our water leak detector. According to the description on the website, it should be an easy installation, but rarely is that the case. 

I am about to re-engage with my harmonica lessons and also take some time to play with my "girls" too. I love these early morning hours when I can just relax and play. 

The sun will rise today @ 7:52 a.m. and set this evening @ 7:11 p.m. Ciao.

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."

We have a current temperature of 48° that feels like 48° with winds of one mph. Today's high is forecast to reach 63° under sunny skies, with winds between 10 and 15 mph. That's once the sun rises @ 7:51 a.m. and well before it sets later this evening @ 7:13 p.m. after which the low wil drop down to 45°. We'll have highs in the 60s for several more days, with Sunday's high reaching 72°! There are no alerts, advisorise, watches, nor warnings in effect at this time. 

Yesterday, we accomplished those indoor chores and I also decided to stay outside and do some of the chores I had planned. I have more to do, but those will wait until I feel like getting around to them. After all, I am retired.

We did go to the local big-box nearly everything store for a grocery pick up, without the fur-children. 

Like all of these services, they do the shopping and load the car for you. What's not to like?

We cruised over to Five-Mile Hill, high above Mulligan's Hollow, Grand Haven's downtown and the State Park, to see what we could see and photograph. We wondered why we hadn't done that before. I think that it may be do to the lack of accessibility during "The Season." But maybe, we just never got around to it. Does it matter?

At any rate, the view was spectacular under the mostly-sunny skies and with the fall temperatures.

From the top of the hill, at the apex of Prospect St. and Emmet St. As you look down Emmet St., you can see Lake Michigan in the background. 

The long view of Mulligan's Hollow and the channel.

Same shot, more magnification.

The leaves are turning beautiful colors for fall.

A piece of a root or wood on the dunes atop Five Mile Hill.

These storage silos are over one-mile away, across the Grand River.

Mulligan's Hollow is home to soccer in the summer and a ski hill in the winter.

Looking towards Lake Michigan, also down Emmet St. 

We were just gazing into the sky, when Mary espied this falcon, hawk, or...?

Probably a falcon, but we can't be certain.

Nonetheless, she or he was enjoying the air currents atop the hill.

Home to finish reading an article aloud from The Nation magazine that I had started reading before we went out, watch the third of six episodes of Pride and Prejudice, followed by another episode of Dharma and Greg during dinner. I moved up to the media room to watch the Vice-Presidential debate. Nuff said.

During the course of the day, I watched both ends of the train run on the RSTL as they passed the manse. I was quick enough to watch MMRR locomotives 2019, 2025. and 2170 out the WW pass by, towing six CHCs, four DBTCs, three DWTCs. and 21 Covered Gondola Cars, (CGCs) heading south @ 8:41 a.m.

Later, I espied those same locomotives heading north @ 1:37 p.m., towing nine CHCs, three DBTCs, two DWTCs, one Box Car (BC), and 42 CGCs. all fully loaded. I did a little research, as I'd never before seen locomotive # 2170 plying the rails of the RSTL. I couldn't find a pic nor info about that specific locomotive, but it was akin to #2019 and #2057, although #2057 sports the livery of the Huron and Eastern RR, part of the Genesee and Wyoming system owned by the Mid-Michigan RR 

BCs can carry many types of of dry cargo, while CGCs generally carry coils of steel, covered to protect them from the weather.

Today, we once again have no specific plans, but I may get into the kitchen for some batch cooking. I also think it is time to go walkabout with the fur-children too. Ciao. 

Good mornig or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:30 a.m. in "The City."

According to my outdoor weather-watchers, (the fur-children and Mary), @ 11:00 p.m. last night, the weather was a perfect fall night. Mostly clear skies and temperatures in the lower 60s. In fact, right now, the current temperature is a very comfortable 64° that feels like 62° with winds blowing @ 15 mph.

Later today, the high is forecast to reach 65° under mostly sunny skies before we drop to our overnight low of 50°. In addition, there is a Small Craft Advisory in effect from St. Joseph to Manistee, with winds speeds from 15 to 25 knots and waves that will reach a peak height of four to seven feet this morning before the wind and the waves decrease this afternoon. That Small Craft Advisory will remain in effect until 4:00 p.m. today. Small craft operators, you know the drill. 

The sun will rise this morning @ 7:49 a.m. and set this evening@ 7:14 p.m.

We accomplished quite a lot yesterday. I made it to my ortho appointment. Mary went to the library. We took the fur-children for a walkabout, and collectively we worked in the kitchen. Brunch was  leftover spaghettirole casserole and salad. 

Later, we collectively crafted some vegan grilled steaks with marinade, once again following an old family recipe. Whose family? We don't know. At any rate, Mary crafted two of the four steaks we made into part of our dinner. When seared, or was it blackened in a cast-iron skillet, they were terrific!

Mmmm Good!

We watched another episode of Pride and Prejudice and we are liking the nuanced, often one-dimensional and/or stereotyped characters, as they encounter the rigors of everyday life in Merry Olde England. 

Tonight, there is another of those political "debates", this one between the Vice-Presidential candidates. Once again, like a moth to a flame, we'll likely be sucked in.

Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage small and larger businesses and their employees, many of whom have already been laid off while others will get their notices soon. Typically, the politicians can't agree on the fact that the role of government is to care for the citizens of the country that they took an oath to serve. Once many of them get elected, they quickly forget who pays their salaries. No matter your political persuasion, VOTE on Tuesday, November 3.

Today, we actually have nothing pressing on the agenda. I have some indoor chores to accomplish, I must wheel the trash bin to the curb along with the recycling bin, or is that bin due to go out next week? I'd like to do a few outdoor chores too, but those can await another day. 

That's all folks! Ciao.