Today is a day to be outside to take in the best of days. I was on the deck to watch the birds while my coffee was brewing. The nuthatches come in waves. The chickadees are quick to arrive, grab a seed and leave. Yesterday I saw a couple of crows and the cardinal pair. I’m glad I bought more seed.

This is a quiet week for me. The only scheduled event is my uke lesson. I won’t know what to do with all the time. I guess I could clean. Better yet, I could read, take a few naps or sit on the deck.

Saturdays have always been sacrosanct to me. When I was a kid, the whole day was mine. In the winter I’d go to the matinee or ice skate or go sledding if we had snow. In the summer, I’d sometimes ride my trusty steed, my bike, and wander the town. I seldom had a destination. Other days I’d walk all over. Sometimes I’d walk the tracks. Trains still came back then. I’d stand close to the tracks, close enough to feel the wind from the train as it raced by me. I’d put a penny on the track hoping the train would smush it. I’d walk the track which ended at the station. Across the street from the station was the turnout where the trains changed direction and headed back. Sometimes I’d head back like the train. I never found the end of those tracks. I remember the station master’s house. His job was to lower the gate and activate the red lights. The train always blasted its horn before the crossing. The house is still there, but now it is just an odd shaped regular house on the side of the tracks.

I love trains. I loved the subway when I was a kid. I’d kneel on the seat and look out the window. Once I took the train to Washington D.C. Ghana, when I lived there, had trains. I used to take the train from Accra to Kumasi. I always went first class which wasn’t expensive. I’d board the first class car and find a compartment. There were four big, comfy chairs in each compartment. Sliding doors closed off the compartments. I always felt a bit like Miss Marple. Those trains are gone now, but Ghana is hoping to bring them back. I wish we would do the same.

Today, in my Africa video, I saw two white men and a Ghanaian wearing a Lakers shirt.

The lovely weather continues. The days are warm and sunny while the nights are cool. Last night I even shut windows and put on a sweatshirt.

When the dogs go out during the late night, they are usually out and back inside quickly. Last night Henry came back inside looking for his treat but not Nala. I waited a while. It is seldom a good thing when Nala stays out. I called and called, no Nala. I figured she had caught something, and I was right. I grabbed my flashlight and went searching. She appeared and had what looked like a possum in her mouth. I had learned not to chase her so I went inside and shut the door. I knew she’d whack the door when she wanted inside the house, and over an hour later, she did. In the past, she has just dropped the possum and left it in the yard, and that’s what she did. This morning it was gone. The possum had played dead.

When I was a kid, I was always excited for school to start. I’d organize my new school supplies. I remember opening my pencil case and checking out everything inside it. I’d sharpen my pencil. I’d get my school bag ready and practice carrying it. We had to take a bath the night before school started. It was my only Monday night bath.

My mother made the best brownies. She used a square pan. I loved the crisp edges. She always frosted her brownies with chocolate frosting and put jimmies on top, sprinkles to those of you not from Massachusetts. It was the most amazing chocolate overload.

On school mornings, my mother usually made us a hot breakfast. First she’d make the tea and the cocoa. My brother was a tea drinker. I drank the cocoa. There was always toast. She’d make soft boiled eggs served in egg cups. On cold mornings, she often made oatmeal. I remember it was sometimes lumpy. We’d put sugar and milk on the oatmeal. The milk used to ring the bowl and submerge the oatmeal.

I need to do errands today. My larder is empty. I don’t even have bread. The dogs, Jack and the birds all need food. My car needs gas.

Tonight is the last play of the season, The 39 Steps. I have no more outside concerts. Summer is having its last hurrah.