Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 6:45 p.m. in "The City", where the current temperature is a windy 53° although it feels like 51° with a light wind out of the east and away from Lake Michigan blowing @ six mph. 

However, there are Gale Force winds along the shores of the lake, so the NWS has issued a Gale Warning in effect until 8:00 p.m. tonight with southwest winds blowing @ 35 knots producing waves up to 11' that will ease up to 20 - 30 knots and waves heights will be reduced to about four to seven feet in height from St, Joseph to Manistee.

That Gale Warning will be superseded by a Small Craft Advisory that will remain in effect until 5:00 p.m. Saturday evening.

Our low-temperature tonight will fall to 48° before sunrise tomorrow @ 7:56 a.m. when the high temperature will only reach 53° under skies that have a 38% chance of showers, before sunset and a low temperature of 43°

A Gale Warning is like a siren's song, calling out to photographers like me, and also calling out to our local surfers too. After we took a short walk with Ginger, we jumped into our car and motored over to Grand Haven City Beach where Ginger and Mary had all they could do to walk south and I had all I could do to steady my camera for some shots of the waves and those aforementioned surfers. 

The "Big Lake" was roiling today.

The outer lighthouse has stood for decades against the battering waves.

These surfers were ready to ride.

But first, you have to carry your board into the water.

Then you paddle out.

While your partner seperately faced the waves.

And sometimes, you wipe out!

All in all, it was a great chance to catch some waves either behind a lens or on a board. No kite surfers were in evidence when we were there in the early afternoon, and with the Gale Force winds, we aren't sure that any would show up later.

Yesterday, we did some ear-reading, and then Mary was off to her Tuesday afternoon class to join in a discussion about science-fiction movies, while I was in the kitchen making some vegan meatballs and sausages with the able assistance of Ginger, my sous dog.

Early this morning, like 1:00 a.m., I finished a novel and then watched some TV before heading to bed. 

Tomorrow, time for more ear-reading, music, and cross-stitching. I may get a chance to work on today's crossword puzzles too before we settle in to watch more of those J6 hearings. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 6:30 p.m., on a cloudy evening in "The City", where the current temperature is 57° although it feels like 56° with a breeze out of the east @ five mph. Our overnight low-temperature forecast from the NWS calls for 42° before we rebound to a sunny 66° after sunrise tomorrow @ 7:52 a.m. and well before nightfall @ 7:10 p.m. and an overnight low of 48°.

The NWS is forecasting a series of 60-plus degree days until Thursday when we fall into the 50s for the foreseeable future with rain possible late Wednesday into Thursday. After all, this is Michigan and that means that these are the normal temperatures, which is okay by me and especially Mary. 

We like to say here on the shores of Lake Michigan, what many like to call the Third Coast, that we are salt and shark free and the chance for a hurricane is ZERO! Wildfires are also in that category and we have a huge supply of fresh water for agriculture too. What's not to like?

The 1 - 4 Lions found yet another way to lose today, falling 0 - 29 to the 2- 3 Patriots. What can I say, the Lions are even worse than the Bears if that is any consolation. 

Speaking of the Bears, they drafted Justin Fields at QB to be the next coming of any of the great Bears QBs, like Sid Luckman or even Bill Wade. But what they seem to have accomplished is to turn Fields into another Bob Avellini, Cade McNown or? Is Fields a bad fit? Is he not the QB the Bears expected? Is he just not that good? Who knows, but he won't make us soon forget Jim McMahon or even Bobby Douglass.

Mary and Ginger went walkabout early this morning and they took some great pix using Mary's Olympus TG-6 Tough digital camera, both for their own enjoyment and one for me too.

A view to the west of the channel and Dewey Hill.

Looking north.

Looking south.

And, looking at the construction site of the Tribune Lofts, for me.

We didn't get a lot done today that was on our original agenda. We ear-read, print read, cross-stitched, painted, and played some music. 

Tonight I have my weekly Ukulele Strum @ 9:00 p.m. It's not the same as in-person gatherings, but with the Covid pandemic still raging in the US, it works for me. 

Otherwise, we'll see if we can get to some of our postponed activities tomorrow. If not, there's always another day when you are retired. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 10:45 p.m. in "The City", where the current temperature is 55°, although it feels like 51° with a brisk wind out of the east @ 15 mph!. 

That explains why that pesky Small Craft Advisory continues from St. Joseph to Manistee until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow. Wind speeds of 15 - 25 knots are still expected to propel waves up to seven feet in height.

The sunrise tomorrow will be @ 7:51 a.m. while the sunset will be @ 7:12 p.m. The high-temperature tomorrow will be seven degrees warmer than today, reaching a zenith of 62° before dropping to an overnight low of 40°.

Otherwise, this day was a bit slower than yesterday. Mary got up, walked to the Farmer's Market, and then returned to walk Ginger, who cannot go to the market area when the market is open for business.

Mostly, I watched the 6 - 0 Wolverines of Michigan start out with a quick TD and then stall during the middle of the game, perhaps due to the collapse of the Wolverine's running backs coach. 

At any rate, the Wolverines got their act together and went on to defeat the 3 - 3 Hoosiers of Indiana, 31 - 10. The Wolverines are home next Saturday to play the 6 - 0 Nittany Lions of Penn State, also @ 12:00 p.m.

Sadly, the 2 - 4 Spartans of MSU were crushed by the 6 - 0 Buckeyes of Ohio State University, 20 - 49. The Spartans were never in the game. Next week the Spartans are home to play the 3 - 3 Badgers of Wisconsin @ 4:00 p.m.

The 1 - 5 Huskies of NIU were also soundly defeated by the 4 - 2 Rockets of Toledo, 32 - 52. 

We started a new ear-read today and I also started a new print-read too. Mary has been happily cross-stitching on a new project after having completed her last one earlier.

I finished three crossword puzzles and then I mostly vegged out. Oh, I finished that aforementioned colored pencil drawing I was working on too. 

Tomorrow, we have a plant to transplant, some cross-stitch projects to frame and continue, more print and ear reading to do, and my weekly 9:00 p.m. ukulele session. I may, or may not, get more paint on canvas too. That looks like enough for me and Mary. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:25 a.m. in "The City", where the current temperature is a seasonal 42°, which will also be our overnight low temperature. However, with a slight wind out of the east @ seven mph, it feels more like 37°.

We still have a Small Craft Advisory in effect from St. Joseph to Manistee, with windspeeds of 15 - 25 knots producing waves up to seven feet in height through 11:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

The high-temperature today will be about four degrees warmer than yesterday @ 56°, beginning under partly-cloudy skies and changing to sunny skies by early afternoon, with an overnight low of 51°. 

The sunrise today will be @ 7:50 a.m. with sunset tonight @ 7:13 p.m.

We had an event-filled day yesterday. We planted our new roses, traveled to that nearby big-box home improvement store, listened to the last of the Maggie Hope books, The Hollywood Spy, read the newspapers, worked the crossword puzzles, cross-stitched, painted, and employed colored pencils. Whew, I'm tired from just writing all of that. 

Today, we hope to be more retired and less busy.

The 5 - 0 Wolverines of MI are on the road today @ 12:00 p.m. for a game versus the 3 - 2 Hoosiers of IU. The Wolverines are favored to win this contest.

The 2 - 3 Spartans of MSU are home today to face the visiting 5 - 0 Buckeyes of "The Ohio State University", for a game in East Lansing, MI beginning @ 4:00 p.m. Batten down the hatches boys and girls, because the Buckeyes are that good, while the Spartans are, well, the Spartans. 

Finally, the 1 - 4 Huskies of NIU are also home today to face the 3 - 2 Rockets of Toledo @ 3:30 p.m.

Today, more coloring, more cross-stitching, more painting, more college football, more music, and alas, no more baseball of note to yours truly. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 6:00 p.m. in "The City."

We have a current temperature of 67° as we head towards today's sunset @ 7:19 p.m. and an overnight low temperature of 57°. 

Tomorrow, the sun will rise @ 7:46 a.m. and set @ 7:20 p.m.

We still have that Gale Watch going into effect from St. Joseph to Manistee beginning @ 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon and continuing until 2:00 a.m. Friday morning, with wind gusts possible up to 35 knots and wave heights up to eight feet!

Tomorrow'a high temperature is forecast by the NWS to be about five degrees cooler than today @ 65°, with an overnight low temperature od 41°. The NWS is also forecasting a 53% chance for showers in the late afternoon or evening, to go along with that Gale Watch. 

We didn't get as much done today as we'd hoped, but we did get to Hofma Preserve for a photo-shoot and we also made a stop at the City Farmer on the east side of GH for some new roses and a large pumpkin. Or, is that additional roses and a pumpkin?

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that." On with the photos.

The sunlight through the trees gave a green cast to this photo.

Hobbits anyone?

More sun, less canopy.

Wildflowers abound at Hofma.

This trail leads towards the wasp infested observation tower.

We have some of these wildflowers growing in our own vast gardens. 

A similar wildflower, but I was more interested in the setting.

A dead tree provides support for this vine with changing leaves. 

Some "Fun Guys."

Why can't these vandals find a train car to tag?

Tomorrow, that aforementioned doctor's appointment and that's about it. We may plant the new roses, but if it rains, those plans are subject to change. Indoor chores that got postponed today will have to be done tomorrow. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just a short time until sunrise @ 7:47 a.m. in "The City."

We have a Gale Watch on the weather horizon from St. Joseph to Manistee beginning @ 5:00 p.m. tomorrow night and extending until 2:00 a.m. Friday Morning. Wind speeds from 15 - 25 knots with gusts up to 35 knots may produce waves up to eight feet in height! Once again, the Surf is Up! 

Thje sun will set later this evening @ 7:19 p.m.

Ginger seems to be on the mend after her bout of gastrointestinal distress. Having a pet in your care is a trying experience.

While Mary was intent on participating in her weekly course on Sci-Fi movies, I was busy baking another of my soon-to-be-famous apple pies, with the assistance of my newly promoted Sous Dog, Ginger. She was a Sous Dog in training before Sugar's passing.

At any rate, our intrepid Senior Staff Photographer, Mary, snapped this picture of my finished product, which should be enjoyed here at the manse for several days. 

Yes, this is an Apple Pie!

Otherwise, I finished one print book, and we continued ear-reading the final book in the Maggie Hope series, The Hollywood Spy and that was about it for our day. Mary did some cross-stitching and I visited the lab at NOCH, The North Ottawa Community Hospital, now part of the Trinity Health Care System of Michigan, for my semi-annual blood tests. Mary and I used our collective medical knowledge to ascertain that there was nothing of note to report from those. However, I'll see my internist tomorrow for a final opinion.

Today, we hope to do as little as possible. Mary will be baking one of her now perfected loaves of bread and I hope to get into my studio for some music and painting after finishing some crossword puzzles. 

There is s slight possibility of indoor chores too. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 12:15 a.m. in "The City." 

Weatherwise, the only thing worthy of note is the possibility of a Frost Advisory for parts of lower Michigan. That being said, I am going to change the balance of this blog to a forum for our pictures from yesterday and today. 

First, let me add a picture of the final harvest from the vast gardens of the palatial estate as taken by our Senior Staff Photographer. We pulled out the plants from this year's efforts and so what was left were these.

The last cucumber, multiple green peppers, and some cherry tomatoes, most of which came from the volunteer tomatoes that sprouted from last year's seeds.  Oh, there were also two large green tomatoes too.

Plus, although Mary and I thought that our flower gardens were through producing for the year, our Major Wheeler and our Eye Candy hibiscus have surprised us with more blooms too. 

This is likely to be our last bloom.

And while not in our back forty, there are still dandelions blooming.

Mary assured me that I could make the waterfront with her and Ginger to take some pictures there. I reluctantly agreed, made sure that my camera strap was properly adjusted and we set out. 

Along the way, I took some pictures in Central Park of the squirrels there and also of the construction at the site of the former Grand Haven Tribune building.

The builders decided that using the name Tribune Lofts would be appropriate.

We were walking past Central Park when I took this shot. 

The construction is getting serious now, just before winter sets in. 

Also along the way, I had to take pictures of things that caught my eye.

This is why I know dandelions are perennials. 

I didn't want to meet the spider that spun this web.

Great use of a patio at the Piano Factory condos. 

Lots of dogs had brought their humans to the waterfront.

A Yorkie brought her parents.

But this gull was on his own.

Mostly, I took pictures of the boats coming and going.

Fast boats.

Cruisers.

Pleasure craft.

Boats with dogs as skippers.

Retro.

Large and expensive power boats.

Small boats.

Slow-moving pontoon boats.

Boats that were good for calm water.

And of course, Dewey Hill with a lone cloud overhead.

As I noted earlier, I was reluctant to walk that far, but with a rest on a bench at the channel and a few stops along the way, I made it there and back.

So, my thanks to Mary for not letting me off the hook. Tomorrow, I won't be repeating that walk. That will await another day. Ciao.