Today is cloudy, again. Last night it rained a bit. Intermittent showers are forecast. The day is warmish at 54°. The dogs ran around the perimeter of the yard a couple of times in a sort of celebration for the warmth. Nala is speedy. Henry takes his time. Maybe ran for Henry is an exaggeration. 

Today I’m going to get my second new tire. It will replace the tire with the gash. That’s it for my to-do list. 

When I went through my albums, I was surprised by some of them. I have an original Mickey Mouse Club album with the theme songs for each day like circus day, special guest day and rodeo round up. It is even in its original cover none the worse for wear. A couple of albums made me laugh. Right now I’m playing Pizzas and Bongos. On the cover is a woman befitting the 50’s as the album was released in 1958. Sorrento Cha Cha is playing now. Another gem is Sing a Song of Italy also released in 1958. Kate Smith and her patriotic songs is in the pile as is Glenn Miller. I have no idea what prompted me to buy these albums, but I do like their quirkiness.

When I was young, I had a record player. It was a kid’s record player. It was just the turntable. My records were different colors. They were red or yellow. I still have some, mostly Christmas records. Many of them are Golden Records or Peter Pan Records. On the yellow ones the singers and musicians are listed. Two list Mitchell Miller and his orchestra. One singer is Betty Clooney, Rosemary’s sister. They all have a regular holes in the middle so no plastic adapter. I thought I’d listen to a few of them later.

I think I am caught in a whirlwind. I seem to be cleaning the hidden places. I remember doing that when I was a kid. My closet was the main target. Most of the clothes were on hangers, metal hangers which left their imprints on the shoulders of the blouses. It was the floor of the closet that was just a jumble of things. It was like a junk drawer but bigger. The pile would get taller and taller until I was forced to clean. I have a closet like that. I keep eyeing it. I just hope my sloth can be strong.

Come on. Come on, spring. Last night was downright cold, in the 30s. I’m still wearing flannel and sweatshirts. Spring, take your turn. It is time. 

In the front garden, a purple crocus has opened, sort of a signal that the garden will bloom despite the temperature. The dafs’ flower buds are high and have a tinge of yellow. Those signs of spring will have to do for now. 

If you heard screaming yesterday, it was my inner sloth because I did the improbable. I took everything off the top of the fridge. I don’t know what prompted that. Nobody can see the top without a step stool. The dust was over everything, thick dust, old dust. I put my tulip bowl set from the fridge top into the dishwasher. It is a set of four Fire King bowls I bought years ago. When I was a kid, my mother had a couple of the same tulip bowls. I remember the smaller one often held mashed potatoes on the dinner table. When I saw the set at an antique shop, my mother was with me. I told her that the bowls are a memory, a piece, of my childhood so I bought them. I made room for the bowls on the bookcase in my kitchen. 

When I was growing up, our vacations were mostly spent at home doing something every day or so. Sometimes we did go to Ogunquit where we stayed in a tiny cottage belonging to a family friend. The cottage was one of many small cottages in rows in a community of cottages separated by single lane dirt roads. When I was young, I enjoyed the visit. I spent time trying to catch the small fish in the warm tidal pools. I hiked through the dunes. We mostly ate burgers or hot dogs and chips. We were free to wander. When I got older, I was mostly bored. I’d sit in the car reading so I could have some peace and quiet. I sometimes wonder if the cottages are still there.

Last night it rained. The day is dark, cloudy, and damp. It will stay in the mid 40’s even tonight. Today will be a quiet day befitting a Sunday. I have no plans, no weird cleaning urges, but I will grocery shop for delivery. My larder is empty. The fridge looks abandoned. I think my inner sloth will be delighted with today.