Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 3:00 a.m. in "The City."

Here in the weather office, I've once again turned on the window A/C unit, because once again, the pollen count is so high that I can't open a window to let in the 66° outside air.  So once again, I am quite comfortable. Today's high temperature is forecast to be 80° with the humidity low enough to make my being outdoors to finish my outdoor chores okay.

The NWS in GR has put a 50% chance of scattered T-storms into their forecast for Saturday. We shall see what actually happens, as the NWS office in GR is about 25 miles east of GH. Their temperature and precipitation forecasts are not always accurate for our little city on the shores of the "Big Lake." The sun will rise here in GH @ 6:29 a.m. and set later @ 9:13 p.m. As proof of the difference that those 25 miles can make, in GR versus GH, the sun will rise in GR @ 6:27 a.m. and set @ 9:11 p.m.

Baseball news yesterday was interesting, to say the least. The 55 - 47, tied for 1st place in the NL Central Cubs, are tied with the surging Cardinals with identical records.The real difference lies in the home and road records of each team. The Cubs have won most of their games @ Wrigley, while the Cards have won at both home and on the road.

At any rate, the Cubs have recalled position player Ian Happ from Triple A Iowa, to bolster their offense. However, he may be trade-bait as the Cubs look to land a pitcher to shore up their bullpen.Time will tell whether he is around after the July 31 trade deadline. The Cubs are in Milwaukee to take on the 54 - 50, 3rd place Brewers tonight @ 8:10 p.m. EDT, as Kyle Hendricks makes the start.

My beloved, 57 - 47, still 3rd place in the AL East Red Sox, are 10 games in back of the 1st place, 66 - 36 Yankees, who made their first visit to Fenway Park last night. The Sox offense erupted early and often, as they scored seven runs in the bottom of the 1st inning, en route to a drubbing of the Yankees, 19 - 3. Rick Porcello, 9 - 7 got the win for the Sox. Tonight's game will see Andrew Cashner, trying for his first win as a Red Sox pitcher, when he takes the hill @ 7:10 p.m.

The 30 - 68, 5th place in the AL Central Tigers and newly recalled pitcher Drew Verhagen, looked good for about three innings against the 43 - 63, 5th place in the AL West Mariners. Then the real Tigers showed up and lost the game, 2 - 10. Tonight's Major League™ baseball game, if you can call what the Tigers and the Mariners are doing playing a Major League™ baseball game, will send Dan Norris, 2 - 8, to the mound tonight @ 10:10 p.m.

Sadly, there is no help coming for the Tigers from the 13 - 19, 7th place in the MWL East West MI WhiteCaps. The Caps are the Tigers A level affiliate, and they lost again to the 16 - 16, 4th place Lansing Lug Nuts, 0 - 8. The Caps will try to look respectable tonight @ 7:05 p.m.

Otherwise, I did part of my outdoor chores yesterday until I ran out of paint which necessitated a trip to the big-box home center in Norton Shores for another gallon. I should be able to finish today.

Mary took a long walk downtown with Ginger while I worked, but STWD and I took a shorter walk around the block after I was done. While she was out, Mary stopped in quiet Central Park for some reading time. Ginger is okay as long as she knows what they are there doing.

This is the pic that Mary took with her Smart Phone camera of what she was surveying as she read.

Ginger had her portable water bowl, so she was content to lie at Mary's feet, enjoying the same view.

So today, looks like more outdoor chores, more readin, perhaps some indoor chores, and more retirement for yours truly. Mary is cross-stitching on my kitchen apron and will likely continue with that today. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City."

The indoor temperature here in the weather office is a quite comfortable 77° and my window A/C unit is holding its own. I know that the outdoor temperature is only 64°, but these upstairs rooms have poor air circulation, and with the high pollen counts, there is a need for a window unit and closed windows. 

As is often the case, the view out the WW is dark, but this morning that's under clear-skies. According to my DTWS, the outdoor temperature is 65°. The Weather Window One Report is forecasting that we'll see sunny skies today and a high temperature of 77° after our overnight low of 62°. The NWS is forecasting no precipitation until Monday's 50% chance for scattered T-storms. The sun will rise today @ 6:28 p.m. and set tonight @ 9:14 p.m.

My apprentice trainspotter recorded both ends of the train run yesterday, noting that @ 8:30 a.m., locomotive #2019 passed by heading south, towing only five DBTCs. Later, she recorded the passage of that same locomotive heading north @ about 2:30 p.m., towing seven CHCs, and one DBTC.

I had to press my apprentice into service as I was busy early, getting ready for our morning safari to the farmer's market, and then later when I was in the kitchen making vegan Italian meatballs and vegan bratwursts. All endeavors turned out great. I've got those Italian meatballs down and I think that the bratwursts are in that category too.

Speaking of the farmer's market, we picked up some vegetables there that we aren't growing this year, including radishes, sweet corn, jalapeno peppers, and a ginormous head of cabbage.

Since I'll be grilling today, I'll grill the corn along with the bratwursts. Tomorrow, I'll make Coleslaw using the jalapeno peppers and the grilled corn and a few other ingredients.

Our dinner last night was Mary's pizza using the last of of my regular vegan sausages. I liked it, but then, I always do.

In baseball news, the 55 - 47, 1st place in the NL Central Cubs, avoided the sweep on their West Coast road trip, as they defeated the 52 - 51, 3rd place in the NL West Giants, 4 - 1. The Cubs used home runs by Javier Baez, Alberto Almora Jr., and Kris Bryant to win the game. Bryant was lifted in the 7th inning with a sore knee.

The Cubs had to use Tyler Chatwood as an emergency starter when scheduled starter, Jon Lester came down with a fever on Tuesday. Chatwood did a good job, but the win went to Kyle Ryan, 3 - 1. For only the second time in his career, Anthony Rizzo was tossed from a game by the home-plate umpire. Neither Rizzo, nor his manager, Joe Maddon, know what Rizzo said that got him tossed.

Today, the Cubs are off before opening a weekend series in Milwaukee on Friday against the 54 - 40, 3rd place in the NL Central Brewers with a game @ 8:10 p.m. EDT, as Kyle Hendricks, 7 - 8, takes the hill.

My beloved Red Sox, fell to the Rays yesterday, 2 - 3, finishing the game under a protest by Sox manager Alex Cora. Corawas protesting the substitutions made by the Rays and the order in which they came to the plate, which was decided by the home-plate umpire. David Price got the loss and is now 7 - 4. The 56 - 47, 3rd place in the AL East Sox are home tonight to meet the 60 - 35, 1st place in the AL East Yankees @ 7:10 p.m., when Rick Porcello, 8 - 7 gets the ball from manager Cora.

The 30 - 67, 5th place in the AL Central Tigers, found yet another way to lose, 0 - 4, this time to the 54 - 48, 3rd place in the NL East Phillies. Jordan Zimmerman, 0 - 8, took the loss. Nick Castellanos is still a Tiger, but trade rumors involving several teams, including the Cubs, are rampant before the July 31 trading deadline. The Tigers take the field tonight against the Mariners @ 10:10 EDT as Drew Verhagen, 1 - 0 and recently recalled from Toledo, takes the mound.

The West Michigan WhiteCaps, 13 - 18 in the MWL East, took a game from the 15 - 16, 4th place Lansing Lugnuts last night, 4 - 3. Those two teams play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.

The fur-children got groomed yesterday and the bedding got laundered in their absence. Both Ginger and STWD look 100% better. Sugar got heavily de-thatched, something that I have been doing everyday too, as she is in full shed mode. Ginger once again looks cute with her tail plumage and trimmed face and torso. STWD looks like an improved version of herself.

Oh, here is picture of Ginger on a bench in front of one of our local chirches where Mary and she stopped to read in peace in the church's aptly named peace garden.

Before grooming.

Today, I have plans to grill out and do some outdoor chores while I'm out there. I watered the vast gardens and planters yesterday, so I'll do some other things that I've been meaning to get done.

Mary has begun work on my new kitchen apron using a cross-stitch pattern that is imprinted on the apron that depicts my Kitchen Aid™ stand mixer in the same color. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 2:30 a.m. in "The City.

The indoor temperature is a quite comfortable 72° and the view out the WW is dark, under partly-cloudy skies. The Weather Window One Report indicates that the outdoor temperature, according to my DTWS, is 64°, about the same as the temperature being reported by the NWS in GR. We'll see sunny skies today and a high temperature of 74°. The NWS is forecasting sunny-skies until at least Saturday, with high temperatures in the upper 70s and lower 80s. What's not to like?

The answer to that question may lie in the various statements and advisories that will expire this morning @ 6:00 a.m. One alert that will only expire as things dry out, which given the high water levels right now seems unlikely, is the high grass pollen count. Mary doesn't need a report to tell her that the pollen count is high, given her allergies.

We had two train runs yesterday. The first, @ 9:17 a.m., was MMRR locomotives 2019 and 2025, dead-heading southbound, towing no cars. I can say for certain, that they "Still looked good!

Later, @ 2:20 p.m., I was outside when I heard that lonesome whistle blow. I espied those same locomotives heading north, towing nine CHCs, and one DBTC, all loaded.

While I was outdoors yesterday, I accomplished some outdoor chores, however, I have a bit more to go. But like our old neighbor in IL, Marshall used to say, "There is always another day." I'll get them done some time this week if all goes well. I also picked another tomato, that makes two, for the growing season. The tomatoes will be coming hot and heavy now. I'm still waiting on the zucchini and cucumbers.

Speaking of cucumbers, Mary made lunch yesterday which consisted of a new recipe for cucumber salad and some vegan burgers. Both were excellent.

Baseball was both very good and very bad to me yesterday.

The 54 - 46, 1st  place in the NL Central Cubs, traveled west to San Francisco last night to face the 51 - 50, 3rd place in the NL West Giants. The Cubs and reliever Pedro Strop, 2 - 4, lost to the Giants, 4 - 5. The Cubs are in serious need of a left-handed reliever. The Giants might have been a seller at the July 31 trade deadline, but they are now above .500, thanks to their win over the Cubs, so that may no longer be a possibility. The Cubs and Yu Darvish, who is being described as on a hot streak @ 3 - 4, yeah right, face the Giants again tonight @ 9:45 p.m. EDT.

My beloved, 55 - 46, 3rd place in the AL East Red Sox, toppled the 57 - 46, 2nd place Rays last night, 9 - 4, as they used a seven-run 3rd inning and home runs by J.D. Martinez and Andrew Benintendi to seal the deal for Eduardo Rodriguez, 12 - 4. The Sox and the Rays go again tonight @ 7:10 p.m., when Chris Sale, 4 - 9, continues his quest for respectability.

The 30 - 65 Tigers were off yesterday. They welcome the 52 - 48, 3rd place in the NL East Phillies to Comerica Park @ 7:10 p.m., when Matthew Boyd, 6 - 8, gets the ball. Both Boyd and Nick Castellanos may be traded by the July 31 trade deadline.

The WhiteCaps defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers last night, 3 - 0. The Caps have the day off before they welcome the Lansing Lugnuts to the Fifth/Third Ballpark @ 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.

My visit to the podiatrist went well yesterday and I have a visit to the orthopedist this afternoon, followed by a movie with a huge cherry-cola and a humongous bucket of popcorn. I would have liked to go to the tour of the observatory at one of our local middle-schools this afternoon, but that is at the same time as the movie. Sigh.

That looks like enough for one day. 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.

Here in the weather office/art studio/music studio/command-center, the indoor temperature is quite comfortable and the view out the WW is dark, with cloudy conditions prevailing. The Weather Window One Report using the NWS information from GR, will report that the outdoor temperature is currently 65° as we  head towards today's much more comfortable high temperature of 76° under partly-cloudy skies.

However, to paraphrase the movie, Poltergeist II, "They're back!

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

By they, I mean the seemingly never-ending warnings and alerts about conditions on and near the "Big Lake."

First, there is a warning about Rip Currents near the piers. That means that strong winds and waves combined with proximity to the piers, can produce dangerous currents that can challenge even the most experienced swimmers.

Secondly, along with those Rip Currents, there is a Beach Hazard Statement in effect from 12:00 p.m. today until 6:00 p.m. tomorrow. With winds that may reach 10 - 20 knots, and wave heights beginning @ two to four feet and building to five to seven feet, the Red Flag will be flying to warn people about the dangers of going into the water.

Naturally, the third warning is a Small Craft Warning, necessitated by those same winds and waves. Small boats, or boats of any size, or inexperienced sailors, should avoid going out into the lake. While we were out running some errands yesterday, we saw a large vessel that we had never seen visiting before, self-unloading at Verplank's Dock. When I read the Wednesday edition of the Grand Haven Tribune and peruse the Ship's Log column written by Sam Hankinson, I should be able to supply that identification information. The sheer size of that ship means that the captain and his officers have the appropriate Coast Guard licenses, and crew has the necessary experience. The ship must have all the appropriate instrumentation for navigating the often dangerous waters of Lake Michigan.

The sun will rise this morning @ 6:25 a.m. and set later @ 9:17 p.m.

Speaking of the U S Coast Guard, the annual Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival begins on Friday, but the ships of the USCG and perhaps some ships from the Canadian Coast Guard, won't be visiting until Tuesday, July 29 2019 for an extended stay and tours. This year's festival has been truncated and the schedule has been changed. Why? Perhaps to cut down on the disruption to businesses in our fair city. Who knows?


Baseball news yesterday was not so good.

The 64 - 45, still 1st place in the NL Central Cubs, had no offense yesterday as the 47 - 52, 4th place Padres took one game from the Cubs over the weekend, 5 - 1. The Cubs still maintain a two game lead over the 2nd place Brewers. The Cubs travel west to San Francisco to face the Giants tonight @ 9:45 p.m. EDT as Alec Mills makes his second start for the Cubs.

My beloved, 54 - 46, 3rd place in the AL East Red Sox, also had no offense in their game against the 31 - 67, 5th place Orioles, as the Sox and Andrew Cashner lost the game 0 - 5. The Sox are in Tampa Bay tonight @ 7:10 p.m., as Eduardo Rodriguez takes the mound for the Sox.

The hard-luck, 30 - 65, 5th place in the AL Central Tigers, needed 10 innings and a walk-off home run by Nick Castellanos, who may be traded soon, to win their game over the 38 - 63, 4th place in the AL East Blue Jays, 3 - 2. The Tigers welcome the 52- 48, 3rd place in the NL Central Phillies to Comerica Park tonight @ 7:10 p.m., as Jordan Zimmerman gets the nod from Ron Gardenhire.

The even more hard-luck, West Michigan WhiteCaps, dropped two to the Wisconsin Timber
Rattlers yesterday, 3 - 6 and 4 - 6. The Caps are still in 7th place in the MWL East and they have one more game against the Timber Rattlers today @ 1:05 p.m., before getting the day off Tuesday. The Lansing Lug Nuts come to town @ 7:05 p.m. Wednesday night.

We had a great brunch yesterday that consisted of a bagel with a schmear, topped with a slice of onion and our first tomato of the year. There is nothing like a garden-fresh tomato.

Tasted even better than it looks!

Indeed!

As I mentioned, we ran some errands yesterday, that included a stop at the big-box home center and the big-box craft store in Norton Shores, followed by a stop @ the Village Baker in Spring Lake. We were on our way back from Spring Lake, as we headed for our favorite watering hole, when we spotted that large vessel. The Tip-a Few Tavern was crowded, as usual, but we got a table in the corner after scoring the only nearby parking place right in front. Shortly after our arrival, there was a lengthy waiting list for tables or seats at the bar.

Today, I have an appointment at the podiatrist just before lunchtime. I should do some work around the PE, but that has yet to be determined. Mary is planning on starting my new kitchen apron, which features a visage of my trusty stand mixer. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City."

To paraphrase Erich Maria Remarque, from his novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, things are quiet here in W. Michigan, at least weather-wise. The NWS in GR is reporting a current temperature of 69° under cloudy-skies. Also according to the NWS in GR, today's high will reach 83°, albeit with reduced humidity and no storm alerts in the forecast. The Weather Window One Report from my weather office/art studio/music room/business office shows higher current temperatures, however, the view out the WW corresponds with the forecast that is showing no additional rain this morning and for several more days. The sun will rise @ 6:24 a.m. and set later @ 9:17 p.m.

We had an interesting day yesterday. I was packed and ready to go to my monthly Irish Jam Session @ the library. Since the weather was iffy, my roadie, Mary, volunteered to drop me off after we had visited the farmer's market for some fresh vegetables. We were on schedule, but when we arrived at the library, the doors were locked and there was a sign on the doors that indicated the the library was closed due to "Technical Difficulties." No further information was available, so we continued our trip to the grocery store to replenish our larders. That part of our outing went fine, as did our stop at the nearby nationally recognized pharmacy chain. Home to greet the fur-children, before continuing with our plans to go north for some craft items.

That part of our plan was thwarted by the inclement weather that forced the postponement of the game between the West Michigan WhiteCaps and the Wisconsin Tiber Rattlers. Those teams will play two today, beginning @ 2:05 p.m.

The 1st place in the NL Central Cubs, tried to give the game away yesterday, as Jose Quintana served up several gopher balls. However, the heroics of Javier Baez at the plate and in the field, provided the Cubs with a 6 - 5 win over the 5th place in the NL West Padres. The Cubs and the Padres play again today @ 2:20 p.m. EDT, as Kyle Hendricks takes the mound in an attempt to sweep the Padres.

My beloved, 3rd place in the AL East Red Sox, recovered from their loss on Friday to hammer the 5th place Orioles, 12 - 6, with Jackie Bradley Jr. getting 2 home-runs. Today's game @ 1:05 p.m. will feature Andrew Cashner on the mound trying for his first win in a Red Sox uniform.

The 5th place in the AL Central Tigers, once again managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, after a rain delay that took starting pitcher Dan Norris out of the game and put Gregory Soto on the mound. He served up a Grand-Slam home-run and the almost as bad, 4th place Blue Jays, went on to win the game, 7 - 5. Once again, the Tigers will try to win a game @ 1:10 p.m. today, when Kyle Alexander takes the ball from Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire.

We had a great dinner last night, as Mary made one of my favorite dishes, vegan green bean casserole, using the fresh green beans that we had purchased @ the farmer's market early yesterday afternoon. I think the use of fresh versus frozen green beans made the casserole better, but as Mary pointed out, fresh green beans are not available much of the year. Sigh.

Today, not much on tap. Reading of books and the weekend edition of the Grand Haven Tribune, are on our agenda. No need to water the vast gardens after yesterday's heavy rainfall. 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."

The NWS in GR has issued several warnings this early morn. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was supposed to be in effect until 2:15 a.m. As I look out the WW here in the Weather Office/Music Studio/Art Studio/Editorial Office, I see the the storms are abating as the NWS forecast. The forecast also  calls for cloudy skies until approx. 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, coincidentally while I am in my Irish Jam Session. I may have to be picked up by my roadie, Mary, as I'll be schlepping several items that don't take kindly to getting wet, much like the mogwais/gremlins from the movie Gremlins, whom you didn't want to get wet after midnight. That being said, I thought I'd add this YouTube™ clip from that popular movie released in 1984. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbmmRZ9MBhI

Right now, the thunder is pealing, but waning, driving STWD to her hide-e-hole. However, there is no rain falling. Go figure. We have a current temperature of 69° to accompany the Air Quality Alert, in effect until 12:45 a.m. tomorrow morning, the Excess Heat Warning, in effect until 8:00 p.m. tonight, and the Marine Weather Statement that forecast wind wind gusts up to 60 mph and possible penny-sized hail. I have yet to see the hail.

As I noted earlier in the Weather Window One Report, the skies will remain cloudy as we reach our high temperature of 81° by about 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, another reason to request assistance from my roadie. The sun will rise later this morning @ 6:23 a.m. and set this evening @ 9:18 p.m.

Baseball news yesterday can be summed up thusly, Cubs Win, 6 - 5, over the Padres, with Pedro Strop getting the win and Craig Kimbrel the save. The Cubs and the Padres play again today @ 2:20 p.m. EDT, when Jose Quintana takes the mound for the Cubs.

All my other teams lost.

My beloved Red Sox got their collective behinds kicked by the Orioles in Baltimore, 11 - 2, as the usually reliable David Price lost for the first time @ Camden Yards, the Orioles home-field. Rick Porcello, 7 - 7, goes for the Sox @ 7:05 p.m. tonight.

The Tigers, were once again woeful, as they were manhandled by the almost as woeful Blue Jays, 1 - 12. The Tigers Jordan Zimmerman, 0 - 7, was totally ineffective as was the Tigers' bullpen. The Tigers send Dan Norris, 2 - 8, to the hill tonight @ 6:10 p.m., to be the next cannon fodder.

The West Michigan WhiteCaps were out-hustled by the Beloit Snappers last night, 3 - 2. The Caps are on their way to Grand Chute, WI for tonight's game against the Timber Rattlers, the "A" level affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, @ 7:35 p.m.

Otherwise, I heard the train go by twice yesterday, but I didn't record any information as I was busy elsewhere on the PE. I did some concrete work around the outdoor entrance to my man-cave, used the weed whacker, and clipped some of the old rose buds. I also did a lot of drawing of shapes. I am finding that it is useful as I learn to refine my rudimentary art skills, to repetitively draw simple shapes. I'm guessing that DaVinci and Rembrandt didn't start out with the Mona Lisa and the Night Watch respectively. So there you have it.

I managed to complete the crossword yesterday with much assistance from Mary, and other sources to be named later. I'm still trying to get into the book that I am reading, but the jury is still out on that.

As I mentioned, I am off to the library this afternoon for my Irish Jam Session, and that's all that I have on my schedule. 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." That's "The City" that is home to the soon to be famous, Weather Window One Report, derived, in part, from the efforts of the meteorologists @ the NWS in Grand Rapids, MI, about 25 - 30 miles east of my local Weather Office.

Th NWS location in GR, means that many times, their forecasts are not applicable to our little slice of heaven here on the shores of the "Big Lake." As an example, they were forecasting heavy downpours, T-storms and high winds yesterday. Here in GH, the rains fell, but only lightly, there were no T-storms, and the high-winds were just a pleasant breeze. The Excessive Heat Warning in the forecast for yesterday and today never seemed to materialize here. We walked to the library last evening for a presentation and the Air Quality Alert for yesterday through tomorrow @ 12:12 a.m., was a bit cautious for our fair city too.

I can attest that the Beach Hazard Statement in effect for yesterday through 8:00 p.m. tonight, accompanied by the Small Craft Warning also in effect are likely to be more accurate. Mary always has to remind me that the distance between here and GR makes a big difference. It did pour in GR yesterday, while the T-storms and high winds jumped over us. Okay be me, as light rains and breezy conditions are preferable to heavy downpours, excessive heat, poor air quality, and other weather phenomena.

At any rate, the current temperature, according to the NWS in GR, is 77°, which is nearly identical to the 78° being reported on my own DTWS fed by its accompanying FPMS. The high temperature forecast for today is 83° after the sun rises @ 6:22 a.m. and well before it sets @ 9:19 p.m.

Let's keep the baseball report short today. The Cubs were off yesterday, but they face the Padres today @ 2:10 p.m. EDT today. My beloved Red Sox dropped the Blue Jays yesterday, 5 - 0, as Chris Sale recorded 12 Ks and allowed only two hits, as he hopefully has returned to form. The Sox travel to nearby Baltimore for a game tonight @ 7:10 p.m. The Tigers, well, they are still finding new and innovative ways to lose, as they did yesterday to the Indians, 3 - 6. Matthew Boyd still has issues with the "Gopher Ball." The Tigers welcome the Blue Jays to Comerica Park tonight @ 7:10 p.m. Finally, the West Michigan WhiteCaps hammered the Beloit Snappers last night, 13 - 7. The Caps are still in Beloit tonight for a gem against the Snappers @ 7:05 p.m.

As I mentioned earlier, we walked to the library last night for a presentation, this one about Abandoned Michigan  and Abandoned Detroit, by the authors of the two books, Kyle Brooky and James Peterman.

Given the copyrighted nature of the slides used during their presentation, this is the only pic I have.

However, before we left, I took some pix of the gladiolas that Mary got for her birthday last Monday. As of yesterday, they still looked fresh and were continuing to open.

Not grown in our vast gardens, but terrific anyway.

 While we walked to the library and on our return trip, I took some additional pix of our fair city.

Mary helped me frame this shot of the fountain in Central Park.

Same here.

Of course, once we had heard the excellent presentation about Michigan and Detroit, we moseyed on to JWs for some adult libations. Along the way, I took still more pix.

As the county seat for Ottawa County, MI, we have the Ottawa County Courthouse.

The courthouse, shot through the trees of Central Park.

I also took some random shots that I'll add here in no particular order and with no rhyme nor reason. I just liked them.

What visitors see of our fair sity as they travel past our City Hall on Washington.

Across the street, is this "Homeless Jesus", part of the displays outside the Episcopal Church , also on 

Washington.

As we passed the nearby Public Safety building, I happened to catch this squirrel crossing Washington from south to north.

Our neighbor to the south has these animals as part of what we have dubbed, "The Menagerie."

More of "The Menagerie" with our house in the background to the left.

With our camera set on "Nightscape" I took this shot of a local store across from JWs.

If you are interested, here are a couple of links to the work of the presenters from last night, courtesy of YouTube™. The authors are billed as Ruin Road. They still have "day jobs", but exploring abandoned sites is their avocation that they would like to make their vocation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ22QccJGN8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP-bYiiPnbs

Otherwise, nothing on tap for today. We have more reading to do, more crosswords to solve, and more retirement to be enjoyed. Ciao.