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", where the current temperature is a 43°, but it feels like 36°, with a wind out of the northeast @ 13 mph. In addition, the NWS has extended that Small Craft Advisory for St. Joseph to Manistee until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow. Winds of 10 to 20 knots will propel waves up to six feet in height.

The sun will rise this morning @ 8:21 a.m. and set later @ 6:34 p.m.

Yesterday was a pedestrian sort of day. We lounged around the manse until it was time to get our annual flu vaccinations at a local pharmacy. Aside from the usual pain in the arm, that went very smoothly and hopefully soon, we'll be protected from the many variations of this season's flu. Later, we took the fur-children for a short walkabout. 

I finished my latest novel, Cold as Ice, by Allison Brennan late last night. Or, was it early this morning?. This time, I read a book in my least preferred paperback novel format. Still, it was a good, if not terrific read. I'd give it four out of five stars. 

As you may recall, we were in a cabin in the woods near Irons, MI last week and I took a slew of pictures to record our trip. I'll try not to repeat when I add more now.

As usual, sometimes a great pic is right at your feet. 

In this pic, the water was rushing past Bear Track Campground.

If you look closely, the bottom is visible through the crystal-clear waters there.

Although we didn't use it, a hammock was available adjacent to the cabin. 

Never let it be said that our Senior Staff Photographer is one-dimensional in her artistic pursuits. I was lounging in my La-Z-Boy when she told me to grab my camera and take some shots of the clouds in the sky. So I did.

Mostly I stood near the doorway of the manse and shot skyward with a wide-angle lens using the automatic setting on my camera. 

The passage of time changed the way the sky looked.

I used the telephoto feature of the lens to capture this shot.

Once again, the passage of time changed the view.

Today, is another in that long-line of average days in retirement. Indoor chores, music, reading, cross-stitching, TV viewing, and trying to stay limber for my yak. As my P/T practice stated in one of their missives, "Motion is the lotion." So, I'll endeavor to keep that in mind. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 11:00 p.m. in "The  City." A current temperature of 50° feels more like 42° with a brisk wind out of the northeast blowing @ 18 mph. Tonight's low-temperature is forecast by the NWS to drop to an actual 41°, before we rebound to tomorrow's high-temperature of 47°, which will be four degrees colder than today. 

That brisk wind is the reason for the Small Craft Advisory that was issued by the NWS from St. Joseph to Manistee until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night. That Small Craft Advisory forecast calls for 15 to 25 knot winds with gusts up to 30 knots and wave-heights from five to eight feet, making for hazardous conditions for Small  Craft. The sun will rise tomorrow morning @ 8:18 a.m. and set later @ 6:37 p.m.

There was good news in college football yesterday, that is if you are not a fan of the Wolverines of Michigan, because the Spartans of MSU rallied to defeat the Wolverines, 37 - 33. It was a great game for everyone to view, just not the best outcome for fans of Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines.

Yesterday, after the game, we went for a walk to keep me on a steady course, and that was a good thing.

Today, we did the same, that is after I finished my kitchen activities and after Mary and Ginger returned from their sojourn to the City Hall, the waterfront, and back. 

Somewhere in there, I got to photograph the activities of the men, working on the railroad at the nearby crossing located at 6th Ave, along with changing many of the ties beneath the rails in front of the manse and heading towards Holland. As a railfan, I was thrilled to get pictures of the various machines and men at work. 

This machine and two men removed the hold-downs that held the rails to the ties. 

While, this machine was used to remove the old ties.

Some activities still require workers with shovels to follow the machine.

This truck placed new ties in their proper places. 

When this machine, one of two I saw, came by to reinstall the ties as this man on his bike stopped to watch. 

In between, the neighbor across the street asked for permission to grab some of the old ties. 

Finally, a second machine came by to reinstall the hold-downs and spikes for the rails.

I was just shooting this smaller machine, but I got a great shot of the colorful leaves across the street. 

The reinstalled rails with a view of the rebuilt crossing on 6th Ave.

Of course, since I was outside, I took a pic of our Halloween decorations, our parkway garden in front of the manse, and the soon to be retired vast gardens too. 

Our mums are still blooming.

But our tomatoes, and peppers are now just a memory. 

I should mention that the woeful 0 - 8 Detroit Lions fell to the only slightly better Philadelphia Eagles, who are now 3 - 5 , by the final score of 6 - 33. The almost equally inept 3 - 5 Chicago Bears, fell to the 3 - 4 San Francisco 49ers, 22 - 33. The only bright spot for the Bears, was the play of rookie QB Justin Fields, who displayed some great skills as both a runner and a passer in the loss. But, a loss is still a loss. 

The Lions limp into their bye week next week, while the Bears visit the 4 - 3 Pittsburgh Steelers next Monday night. 

Earlier today, we did some of our indoor chores along with those aforementioned kitchen duties and our walkabout. I had a busy but satisfying day of crossword solving too, while Mary researched our local election picks before we filled out our absentee ballots, signed them, and then Mary and Ginger delivered them to City Hall. 

Tomorrow? Who knows. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just after 9:15 p.m. in "The City" and I'm back. Yes, we had a great four-day vacation in a cabin located in the Manistee National Forest, about 100 miles north of the manse. 

The cabin was everything we'd hoped for and more.

We have a Small Craft Advisory in effect from  St. Joseph to Manistee until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. The NWS forecast calls for wind speeds of 30 knots and wave heights from four to six feet. 

Our current temperature is 55° according to my DTWS, with the NWS reporting winds out of the north @ 10 mph. causing it to feel more like 50°. Our overnight low-temperature tonight will drop to 49°, while tomorrow's high-temperature will rise to 58° with a forecast low-temperature of 47° after the sunrise @ 8:15 a.m. and well before the sunset @ 6:40 p.m.

I had a terrific P/T session today, which followed a great deal of walking at that aforementioned cabin on 20 acres in the Manistee National Forest. 

We were just down the road from the Bear Track Campground, near the small town of Irons, MI. 

The campground is closed to campers for the season, but that didn't stop us from taking some great pix.

The brook was babbling and easily heard with no background noise. 

A nice photo of the waters as they flowed past these fallen trees. 

These teps were as steep as they seemed, at least to me.

I'll include more pix in future blogs, but as PT. Barnum once purportedly said, "Always leave them wanting more."

At any rate, we hiked the nearby trails to the tune of over 10 miles, up hill and down. That being said, I guess that I'll include another couple of pics of our visit that shows the trails we followed. 

So much to see in a very tranquil setting. 

More scenic than any picture can depict.

Tomorrow, is the annual football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the MSU Spartans for the bragging rights over which is the best college football team in Michigan. Personally, I'm rooting for the Spartans because I adopted them when we moved here ten years ago. The game between the 7 - 0 Wolverines of Michigan and the 7 - 0 Spartans of MSU kicks off at Spartan Stadium at noon tomorrow. I know where I'll be. Mary will probably join me for part of the game, but I suspect that she will soon be upstairs cross-stitching on her latest project.

Is that enough for one day? Yes? Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. across the nation and across the world. It is just past 9:00 p.m. in "The City." This is a special early evening edition of my regular blog.

My DTWS is displaying a current temperature of 47° with a barometric pressure of 29.42" of Hg and falling, Our overnight low-temperature forecast, courtesy of the NWS, calls for 40°. However, that aforementioned Gale Watch has been upgraded or updated to an actual Gale Warning from St. Joseph to Whitehall. Wind-speeds of 35 knots will propel waves of only one to three feet in height. So, the NWS cautions that there is a a chance that small boats may capsize. They strongly encourage small boats to stay tied up and in port.

The sun will rise on Sunday @ 8:08 a.m. and set later @ 6:49 p.m.

For fans of the 7 - 0 Michigan Wolverines, today's game against the 3 - 4 Wildcats of Northwestern had to be highly satisfactory, as the Wolverines crushed the Wildcats 33 - 7. 

Over at the campus of Central Michigan University, home of the 4 - 4 Chippewas, the 6 - 2 NIU Huskies eked out a win 39 - 38 in a MAC 10 contest.  

As you know, baseball is over for yours truly with the loss last night by my beloved Red Sox to the Astros. Sigh. 

We accomplished the indoor chores today and I also completed a crossword puzzle. 

However, the highlight of the day was the appearance of a rainbow over Grand Haven following a light rain shower late this afternoon. So perhaps there is a Pot O' Gold at the end. that's why Mary called the rainbow to my attention. I grabbed my camera, kept it set on the Scene Mode and the Beach setting, stepped onto the front porch of the mande and happily snapped away.

Looking northeast from the front porch of the manse.

The same location, just a different angle.

Due north, with more elevation.

Just too cool to pass up.

Of course, what would one of my blogs be without some YouTube™ videos with rainbows as their theme. So here are two, one from the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Somewhere Over the Rainbow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fahr069-fzE

And one from the late Harry Chapin, Flowers Are Red.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHm2KdTTKUw

Otherwise, it is time for me to take a few days off to rest following the stress of yet another baseball season with no positive outcome. I know that I should be satisfied with the near-miss by the Red Sox. But I'm not. I can never be satisfied with the fire-sale the Cubs held, wherein they "Sold Off" the entire core of their 2016 World Series winning team. But, I'm not. I'm too old to watch and wait for yet another rebuilding effort by the Red Sox or the Cubs. I want it all and I want it now!

So, I'll be signing off until later this week as I clear my head and, wait for it, as I "Wait Until Next Year!" sigh.

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

My DTWS is displaying a current temperature of 46° under cloudy-skies according to the NWS, as my view out the WW is dark, with a side of dark. The "Real Feel" is 44°, once again per the NWS with a wind out of the northeast @ two mph. The sun will rise this morning @ 8:08 a.m. and set later @ 6 :49 p.m. Once again, all times ae shown in EDST.

The NWS has issued a Gale Watch  from St. Joseph to Whitehall starting sometime tomorrow evening and ending sometime Monday afternoon. How's that for accuracy? Northeast Gale Force winds of 35 knots may propel waves up to three feet. Three feet? Mariners are cautioned to stay in port. We have have seen more concern from the NWS over Small Craft Advisories with lower wind-speeds and higher wave heights. What makes a Gale Watch with the numbers I've just stated more dangerous? Go figure.

Today at noon, the 6 - 0 Wolverines of  Michigan entertain the 3 - 3 wildcats of Northwestern in a Big-10 matchup.  

The 5 - 2 Huskies of NIU travel to Central Michigan University to face the 4 - 3 Chippewas, also @ noon in a MAC 10 game..

What can I say, there is no joy in Bean Town. My beloved Red Sox and their manager Alex Cora went to Houston last night and were thoroughly outplayed by Dusty Bakers' Astros. The Sox lost a must-win, best of seven game, 0 - 5 to the Astros, to find themselves watching the World Series from their respective couches this year. 

I was concerned about the Red Sox less than stellar bullpen and I was sadly proven right. While starting RHP Nathan Eovaldi pitched well while he was on the mound, giving up only one unearned run to the Astros early in the game, the Red sox bullpen once again imploded and the rest is history. Wait until next year is a saying that goes with the Cubs, not the Red Sox. 

We had a visit from the people who do our fall cleanup and winter snow removal yesterday to trim our overgrown hedges, cut back some trees, transplant a dogwood tree and some Hostas, cut back the jungle between our garage and that of our neighbor, and do a general fall cleanup. Everything looks great, but more leaves will be falling. 

I had a P/T appointment yesterday that went well. I made some vegan Italian burgers too and finished the Thursday crossword puzzle. I gave up on another novel that just wasn't working for me and I am starting another. Mary is still cross-stitching and ear-reading her book.

Today is indoor chore day and watching the Wolverines hopefully win their game over the Wildcats. 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 6:00 a.m. in "The City." All times listed in this blog are in Eastern Daylight Time until we "Fall Back" on November 7, 2021.

My DTWS is displaying a current temperature of 46° as we head towards today's sunrise @ 8:07 a.m. There are no alerts in effect at this time. Our high-temperature today is forecast by the NWS to reach only 50°, that's about six degrees cooler than yesterday. Of course, the water temperature of Lake Michigan is 63°, which means that the surfers we saw at the Grand Haven State Park yesterday were quite happy to be in the water. In fact, one of the surfers when asked by a bystander about the conditions said, "Awesome!", when asked about the high-waves. The sun will set tonight @ 6:50 p.m. as a precursor to the overnight low-temperature of 43°.

We decided late yesterday afternoon to travel to the library for a massive pick up, then on to the UPS store for a drop off, a side trip to the beach at the Grand Haven State Park for a quick photo-op and then finally to the gas station for a fill-up before stopping at the Goodwill Store for a donation. All that before returning to the manse. It was a busy day in retirement. 

As I mentioned, we stopped at the beach for some pix, so I'll include a few that I like here. All pictures were taken with a wide-angle lens and my camera set on the Scene Mode using the pre-set Beach setting.

This one captured the pier, the lighthouses, and part of the beach.

Same shooting location, just a tighter focus on the inner lighthouse, the rocks, and the walkway leading to the pier.

I never moved far, I just took this shot of the waves breaking at the mouth of the Grand River.

Of course, with the 25 knot winds, the waves "Broke over the railing", to borrow a phrase, and spilled onto the walkway.

I like how the camera made these shots possible with little help from me other than changing the telephoto settings. 

Tonight is the make or break night for my beloved Boston Red Sox, who are down 2 - 3 to the Houston Astros as the ALCS moves to Houston for a game tonight @ 8:08 p.m. RHP Nathan Eovaldi will make the start for the Sox in a must win game that will determine whether the Sox go to a deciding game seven, or whether they go home to watch the World Series on TV. I'm rooting for the Sox, but as I've said, their bullpen is a bit on the porous side. Hopefully, there will be a game seven Saturday night, also beginning @ 8:08 p.m.

Elsewhere in sporting news, the 7 - 0 Spartans of MSU have the day off tomorrow before taking on the 6 - 0 Wolverines of Michigan @ Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, MI on Saturday, October 30, for a 12:00 p.m. game. Here in Michigan, this game is for bragging rights for the entire season.

Speaking of the Wolverines, their opponents tomorrow are the 3 - 3 Wildcats of Northwestern @ 12:00 p.m. in the Big House in Ann Arbor, MI.

The 5 - 2 in the MAC West Huskies of NIU, are @ the home of the 4 - 3 Central Michigan Chippewas for a game @ 12:00 p.m.

We had one-half of my potato crop with some of my vegan bratwursts for dinner last night. Not a huge crop this year, but next year, look out, because I'll be planting actual seed potatoes in our three containers.

After dinner, I watched a presentation from Australia about Landscape Photography. Like always, I learned some new things, reinforced some previous knowledge, and enjoyed listening to the presenter's Aussie accent.

Today, I have a P/T appointment @ 10:30 a.m., so I'll be going back to bed shortly for more rest. I have to be up at 9:45 to allow myself time to get ready for the long drive to the P/T building. It takes nearly 15 minutes to get there. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 6:15 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature per my DTWS is 64°, whereas per the NWS it is 62° with a wind out of the south blowing @ 15 mph, the "Real Feel" is  60°. The 15 mph wind may or may not, be a result of the winds blowing on the shores of Lake Michigan that have caused the NWS to keep a Small Craft Advisory in force until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow. That Small Craft Advisory is due to winds is due to the 20 - 25 knot winds with gusts up to 30 knots propelling waves up to eight feet in height. Surf's Up! A current barometric presure of 29.15" og Hg and rising is also on the display of my DTWS.

The sun will rise later this morning @ 8:06 a.m. and set later @ 6 :52 p.m. All times shown are in Eastern Daylight Time until next month.

What can I say, you've heard it here before, but the beloved do not have a solid bullpen and thus, once starting LHP Chris Sale faltered following six innings and after only giving up a solo home-run in the top of the first, the Sox' bullpen imploded en route to a 1 - 9 loss to the visiting Astros, who now lead the best of seen ALCS, 3 - 2. Game six is in Houston Friday night @ 8:08 p.m. with RHP Nathan Eovaldi on the mound for the beloved and it is a must-win game for the Red Sox. In fact, that Sox would have to win two in Houston to win the AL Pennant and move on to the 2021 World Series. What are the odds? Let's just say that moving mountains is probably more likely. 

We made a pick-up at the big-box nearly everything store yesterday afternoon with Ginger along for the ride. She and Mary had walked earlier, but once the rains threatened, we were not going to put her down to get her paws and fur wet. Wet terriers are not a thing of beauty.

Later in the evening, the thunder rolled and STWD adjourned to her upstairs hide-e-hole for a feeling of safety. 

Otherwise, this should be a quiet day here on the Palatial Estate and at the manse in particular. I have more reading to do, more crossword puzzle solving to accomplish, and more resting to be done. I spent time in the kitchen yesterday making some squash-kale soup, so today is a day of retirement for yours truly. Mary is still working on her latest cross-stitch project and it is coming along nicely. By the by, Mary came to bed earlier this morning on the heels of "reading" her book once the batteries had gone to zero-power on her tablet, mid-sentence. Ciao.