Good morning GH. It just passed 4:30 AM here in or fair city and the temperature in my office/music room is 72 comfortable degrees. Outdoors, the temperature is also a comfortable, albeit lower, 58 degrees, as we head for a high of, now hear this, 78 degrees. It is likely that that is going to happen more inland, but even if we get into the lower 70s, I'll take it. As I look out the Weather Window, I can see that we did have some precipitation overnight. Nothing to write home about, and of course, there isn't anyone to write to other than Mary, Adam, or Steph, or just a letter to self, but that's okay.

Today, I did some serious farming out in the back part of our palatial estate. Mary wanted to plant the seeds in her new flower garden, so I was tasked with the job of digging up the remnants of the grass in that area and placing the detritus in the lawn and leaf bags. I can tell I am getting older, because it took three bags so that I could lift them. Most younger people would likely have used two or maybe even one. In fact, I felt like one of our elderly neighbors, Marshall, who once lived next door to us. I think I have mentioned him before. I actually contemplated doing the job over several days, just as he did the exterior painting on his house. I am glad that I didn't, because then I would have been digging in the mud, but I still can say that it took a lot out of me.

Prior to this strenuous activity, Mary and I walked over to the local garden center to pick up a garden fork, for turning the soil. This center is nearly two miles round trip, and of course, Sugar the Weather Dog went along for the walk. She was excited that we got a fresh supply of bones for her trips to the "Bone Zone" on the way back.

When we returned, Mary made lunch and then Sugar and I got to work. I enjoyed myself, but today it is a certainty that I won't be doing much outside. No sense in rushing things as Marshall might have said. According to the directions, Mary has to water the seeds/seedlings everyday for the next six weeks. Actually, our plans for the trip to the garden center called for us to get a replacement watering can too, but Mary decided that the hose had a soft sprayer attachment on it already, so we didn't need a new can. I may need something to water the front porch baskets when Mary gets those planted, we'll see.

Otherwise, when I was done, I spent some time doing a crossword/word search, and then I played some guitar. Our neighbor appreciated my efforts. Sugar had other distractions/attractions. Mary spent most of the afternoon and early evening working in her office as Sugar and I enjoyed the outdoors. I think that I mostly get the better end of that deal. I did, except for the baking yak.

I almost forgot. The boys in blue won their 4th out of 5 games, 5 - 3 against San Diego. They are still five games under, and play again tonight against the Padres. The Tigers won a nail biter, 4 - 3. My beloved Red Sox had the day off and play next against Toronto. The Red Sox are still in first place in their division. The Caps fell to Beloit, 6 - 1. Oh, the Bulls were thoroughly trounced by the Nets. Too many missing players. The coach may be good, but he isn't a magician.

So, until it is...Tea time, I'll say Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is just past 1:00 AM here in our fair city, and the view out the Weather Window is dark, as usual. The current temperature here in my office/music room is 71 very comfortable degrees. Outside, the temperature is a chillier 49 degrees. But, here is the important thing, we are expecting a high near 70 today and then mid to upper 70s on Tuesday and Wednesday. We'll drop into the 60s again on Thursday and Friday and then by Sunday, into the 50s. So, I plan to enjoy spring as long as it lasts. I know it will be back in all its glory in the not too distant future. But as I get older, I am less able to abide this extended spring thing. Did I mention the Kentucky Derby is Saturday? No, but it is the anniversary of my second allergic reaction to sesame seeds, so it is tough for me to forget.

Not much happened on Sunday. Mary, Sugar the Weather Dog, and I took an extended walk down to the waterfront in the AM after UP with Steve. In the afternoon, Mary and I took another walk, and in total we covered over five miles. Not bad for a couple of old folks.

In the later afternoon, we spent some time in the "Bone Zone" with Sugar, who has only one bone left in her larder, and Bridget. Sometimes I was good, sometimes not, especially as the beer kicked in. Overall, an enjoyable time for all.

In the evening, I grew tired and went to bed. I listened to part of the Tigers game, in which they swept the Braves, but I fell asleep. I learned that the boys in blue failed to sweep their series against the Florida Marlins, losing 6 - 4. My beloved Red Sox beat the Astros again by a score of 6 - 1 to keep a firm hold on first place in their division. I have decided to pay no further attention to that other Chicago baseball team. The Caps beat the Snappers of Beloit, 5 - 3. So, at least here in Michigan, all is well.

Otherwise, things are quiet. More...Tea time in the morning, then Mary has work to do. Me, not so much. More music, a little time with the local paper, and that's about it. I may, and I stress may, go to the fabric store for some replacement foam for my chair, but that requires me to get in the car, so it is less likely to happen. Ciao.

Good morning GH. Here I am at 3:00 AM, and since I went to bed early, it is no surprise that I am up and blogging. A quick report on the weather here. Today was nothing short of gorgeous. The temperature peaked out in the mid-sixties and the showers stayed away and will stay away until later today and early this week. I know that we need rain, but I think we can get by for a few days. Our current temperature is 51 degrees, and according to the National Weather Service, it is cloudy  But, since the view out the Weather Window isn't very revealing, it is hard to tell. We are expecting some highs in the 70s later this week. Maybe spring has finally sprung.

Mary and I spent some time in the yard of our palatial estate, and cleared the leaves around Mary's roses and picked up some of the twigs and things. We got the lawn/deck furniture uncovered, and put the tarps aside for storage in the man-cave. I didn't want to overdo, but we got more of the cold weather crops planted in their pots and Mary is still moving her other pots around the back forty to see how they look and how much sun they will get. Until the trees fully leaf out, she can't be 100% accurate, but when is farming ever all science and not a good part luck?

Our sports report is as follows. The boys in blue have now won three in a row, but they are still in a deep hole in their division. The Blackhawks dropped their final game of the season, but they still are the #1 seed in the playoffs. The Bulls, in a thrilling triple overtime win, topped Brooklyn, 142 - 134. The Tigers behind their recently recalled closer, topped the Braves 7 - 4. My beloved Red Sox beat Houston 8 - 4.  I also know that that the White Sox lost, but who cares. The Caps lost to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to remain below 500. Ouch!

Otherwise, I did some cooking on Saturday, well actually, I was outside working and Mary did the hard part while all I did was turn on the blender when I came in, to make tomatillo salsa. We had some of that baguette for breakfast along with a fried egg, and that was all good. Tea time preceded breakfast and the grape juice that we are ingesting to keep our arteries clear is working great.

So, until I have more to say, Ciao.

Good morning GH. Phew, what a day Mary and I had on Thursday. I obviously didn't get around to blogging on Friday, but the day was just too great to spend indoors. I'll make up for time lost this AM. .Here in GH at 3:30, it is currently 52 degrees, and we are heading for a high of the mid-sixties for the next three days and then, wait for it, 70 plus on Tuesday.  However, we drop to 66 on Wednesday. Then watch out on Thursday, when we begin to drop into the lower 50s and upper 40s and the chance of precipitation begins to rise. Don't want to count our gardening chickens just yet. As is mostly the case at this hour, the view out the Weather Window is dark with a chance of continued dark until dawn. Our current indoor temperature is a pleasant 70 degrees.

Sugar the Weather Dog and I spent the afternoon in the bone zone while Mary went to the store. I enjoyed cross wording as she chewed contentedly on her bone. I almost said dementedly per a suggestion from the spell check, and that too might have been accurate. I also picked up a few twigs and leaves as I tried out my new lawn and leaf bag chute which worked as advertised. I filled Mary's new planter with dirt when she was gone and she promptly planted lettuce upon her return. Fortunately, lettuce is a cold-weather crop, so the drop in temperatures next week should have no negative effect. She is still wrestling with where to place the other planters on the grounds of our palatial estate to maximize the sun exposure. I just want her to decide before they are full of dirt.

Last night I heard a train, and it sounded like a long one. But, I just didn't get up to look. Like I often say, there's always tomorrow. After that mini-train early Thursday morning, I didn't feel like it, plus I was too tired from our long day of driving on Thursday. Oh oh, I blogged too soon. I have been up long enough now that a train is going by, heading south to north. Two locomotives and a string of covered hopper cars. This one is a longer one than that of early Thursday.

Mary and I went on a knitting quest to go to four yarn shops on Thursday. We ended up going to six and that just leaves one to complete the minimum of seven she needs to qualify for a prize. She got lots of good yarns and things, but I'll let her tell you more. I got to see more of the state, so that was all good. Plus, in one of the towns, we stopped in a nice little tavern for a belated lunch. Mary said their coleslaw was excellent, but by that time, nearly anything would have been excellent. That's because the pizza we set out to get wasn't available, at least not in an enticing venue. Now we have only the place in Muskegon to try for that "Chicago Style" pie. I hope it isn't a bust.

In the world of sports, the boys in blue are on a two game winning streak, having defeated the Florida Marlins twice now. At this rate they may get to 500 by season's end. The Tigers crushed the Braves, 10- 0 after losing to the Royals on Thursday. Suddenly, the Tigers are 2nd in a not to strong division. My beloved Red Sox, hammered the hapless Astros to maintain their grip on first in their division. The Caps, split two games with the Timber Rattlers of WI. The Chicago Bulls have a 2 - 1 lead in their series against the Nets. The Bears, they're draft pick was rated not so good by the "experts" on ESPN. The Lions took a defensive end who was well regarded. I still think they need some help on the offensive side of the ball. Another solid wide-out and some huge linemen would go along way towards protecting the QB. Good news, the first player chosen in the draft was Eric Fisher of Central Michigan University. Coincidentally, he was the first lineman chosen and he is from the small Mid-American Conference, just like Adam;s Alma-mater, Northern.

But enough already. Tea time and UP with Steve Kornacki will be here soon. I also must listen to Auto Talk this early AM. I have to make tomatillo salsa today whilst Mary works, and then the day is mine. Ciao.

Good morning GH. I am going to start out a little different this early morning. I got up to see the train go by and lo and behold, I didn't have to wait long. With the lights off, I looked out the Weather Window, and watched the lights come on at the crossing. I watched the locomotive's headlamp light up the houses across the way, and then, "Bam" (sorry Emeril) there it was; a single locomotive and one, count it one, lone box car. I don't think the Mid-Michigan Railroad ever watched one of those CSX commercials where they claim to move one ton of freight 450 miles on a single gallon of fuel. Let's just say that this "freight train" wasn't terribly efficient.

Anyway, on to the local weather and other things. We currently have a temperature of 42 degrees, heading for high of 47 today. We'll have to wait for Friday for temperatures approaching 60. Mary plans to attend a seminar at the local library this afternoon, and if I read the forecast correctly, while the chance of showers is 70% at 7:00 AM, it drops to 10% by the time she will be walking to the library around two. Looks good for her, but not necessarily for Sugar the Weather Dog and me, earlier in the day.

In sports; the boys in blue saw their bats go back to sleep, as they lost behind a brilliant pitching performance, by Jeff Samardzija. He fanned 8, and was hit by a come backer to the mound that bloodied his finger. But the result was still a 1 - 0 loss. The Red Sox rebounded from their drubbing on Tuesday to defeat the As of Oakland, 6 - 5. The Tigers, also won over the Royals, 7 - 5, to go one game over 500. The Caps, hammered the gang from Lake County, IN  10 - 1. The White Sox, I still don't care.

Mary and I journeyed to Downtown Muskegon on Wednesday to check out what turned out to be a great gourmet cheese shop. We got some killer blue cheese, and some cheddar, both from Ireland. We then had lunch at a pub in a box, that also turned out to be very good. We also discovered as we left town, that there is a place in Muskegon that purports to sell "Chicago Style" deep dish pizza. We will be gong on a yarn shop tour tomorrow, and we will be trying out another "Chicago Style" place a bit east of here in Grandville. Then, we can make a future comparison between the two Michigan places and the real "Chicago Style" pizza made in Steph and Adam's home town. There, they have several places to choose from that know how to make pizza the Chicago way.

Oh well, it is hard sometimes to find food like that which you grew up with. Adam assures me that there is a place here in GH, that knows how to make a "Chicago Style" Italian beef sandwich, but they have to be asked to "gravy dip" it. It seems that when they first opened they did it the Chicago way, but the people here thought that it was weird. I've not tried it, but Adam knows about these things.

Oh well, time for a return to bed and to lie about in the early AM, hours listening to the radio and not having anything to do. That is unless you count...Tea time and a few things in the man cave; which may wait for Mary's trip to the library. No need to rush these things. Ciao

Good morning GH. Well, the view out the Weather Window is cloudy this morning and the current temperature is 35 degrees. However, we are expecting a high of 58 this Friday with 60s and 70s through next Tuesday. But then, we drop back into the 50s on Wednesday and then back to the 60s on Thursday and then back to the 50s on Friday, My 3.. Well, you get the picture, the weather here is like a yo-yo. However, I see some serious time in the bone-zone by this weekend. No rain in the forecast of any significance for the next several days. We will all be glad of that, especially Sugar the Weather Dog.

I went to the orthopedist for my final knee treatment for the next six months, and I must say that my knees are definitely feeling better. I don't know that this would work for everyone, but I encourage people to give it a try before contemplating more drastic measures.

Not much on tap for the day. Tea time, guitar time, Sugar walk time, and that's about it. Oh, a little laundry time too, but that is something that is in and running and requires little attention except at transfer and folding time.

I need to spend some time in the man-cave, but that is discretionary. The man-cave is a place I can go to or not, and do things or not, all at my own whim. I like that. Sugar won't go there, but that too is also at her whim.

A short sports report. The boys in blue seem to have found a way to win, at least for one day. On the other hand, the Red Sox were routed by the As of Oakland, 13 - 0. Still, the Sox are in first place in their division The Tigers, were postponed in their game against the surprising Kansas City Royals. The Caps, lost to the Lake County, IN Captains, 3 - 4. Well, better luck next time.

Overall, a mixed sports report. The Cubs won, the Caps lost, the Tigers were postponed, and the Red Sox were drubbed. Oh, the White Sox, who cares, except to say that they lost to the equally inept tribe of Cleveland.

So, I'd best be on my way even without an early morning rain. Sorry Gordon.

No trains to report, just a short one at about 3:30 this AM. but it wasn't much judging by the lack of the house shaking. I think this is the day in the Tribune when Dick Fox reports on the shipping here in GH. Of course, it might have been yesterday.  Ciao

Good early morning GH. It is quickly closing on 2:00 AM here in GH, and I am up long enough to do some blogging and maybe a bit of reading. Our current temperature is 52 degrees, and the high for today is still expected to be a pleasant 55 degrees. Since we have been subjected to the vagaries of yo-yo temperatures and conditions, this isn't all bad. One thing is for sure, the worst of winter seems to be behind us.

It was so nice on Monday morning, that Sugar the Weather Dog led us on a safari to the local pet supply store to get her a car riding crate.She wasn't in on that part of the plan, and so to get Sugar to try one on, was a bit difficult. Sugar wasn't all that cooperative, because she thought she was being left. Fortunately, the young man at the store had a treat that was irresistible and she went in and the crate proved to be the right size. So we got $5.00 off and Sugar has a new crate.

Once we came back, I finished my housework and then Sugar and I spent some time in the bone zone, i.e., the deck and patio area. She loved her bone, I read, and life was good again. Hopefully, there are many more similar days to come.

We stopped in at the Post Office to check on a certified letter notice that we received. Turns out the letter wasn't for us, but it was a good chance to go there and get something else.

Our next stop was the bank, and then downtown to UPS. A busy day! Eleanore would have been proud. We had to spend $7.00 to get one page scanned and placed on a memory stick. A few more of those and we could have bought an inexpensive scanner.

I may have come up with a plan for the vent in my office. I have to take off the cover and point my camera down the hole and snap a photo so that I can get a more complete picture, pun intended. Once I have that, I can formulate a plan for removing the blockage, I hope.

A short sports report. The Bulls beat the Brooklyn Nets 90 - 82 in the NBA playoffs. I still follow them, but only peripherally, The boys in blue, dropped another one in their quest to become the worst team in professional baseball, and I use that term professional, very loosely. Alas, the Tigers also fell to the Royals. My beloved Red Sox, are still first in their division, having beaten the As of Oakland, 9 - 6. The Tigers need to start swinging the bats on a team wide basis like the Red Sox are doing.. The Caps took one from the Lake County, IN Loons by a score of 8 - 4. The White Sox, who cares.

Alright, that about covers my day on Monday. I have the last of my orthopedist's appointments at  9:00 AM and then I should be good for six to eight more months, taking me into the fall. I hope that Barb got good news from her orthopedist on Monday. I haven't heard anything.

So, it is soon to be time t get up for the doctor, so I'd best be getting back to bed and get some additional sleep. Ciao.

Oh, I thought that no train was coming, but I just heard the horn. Looks like the usual, twin locomotives and in this case no cars, heading north. Odds are they'll be heading south later with the cars. A short line is soooo predictable.