This morning is the sort which makes you smile. The air is cool from last night, the leaves, blown by the strong wind, are rustling as they sway, the sun is bright and the blue sky is deep and beautiful. The dogs have been running in the yard, coming in only for their sips of coffee and a bit of toast with peanut butter. I’ll be out and about today with a stop at the dump and another at Agway for pet food and some mums.

The clematis spread across the front fence is filled with buds and a few flowers, the first to bloom. The pine tree by the front garden also has clematis laden with buds. It has climbed half-way up the tree trunk. Every day I check for more flowers and can barely wait until the fence and the tree are draped in white.

Miss Nala scared me this morning. I called her, but she didn’t come. I went on the deck and called. No Nala. I went into the yard and didn’t see her. I knew she couldn’t get out of the yard, but she scared me nonetheless. I decided to check the house and noticed the open gate to Jack’s room. She was there. She got in but couldn’t get out. The food was all gone. She wagged her stub of a tail at me, but I was having none of it. Poor Jack was hiding and wouldn’t come out from his hiding spot which I suspect was under one of the beds. I filled his dishes again. That dog is an endless pit.

In Ghana, in Bolga, this is still the rainy season. The millet is so high you can’t see beyond the first rows along the dirt roads. Everything is green, the wild grass, the leaves of the trees and the crops surrounding the compounds. It rains every day. When I went back to Bolga, I’d sit at a table in the hotel’s outside restaurant and watch the rain. It was my favorite place to sit and watch and listen as the rain fell on the roof above my head.

I learned early on, during Peace Corps training, that rain never interferes with daily life. I’d shop on market days even in the rain. I never saw a puddle. The ground quickly sucked up the rain. I never saw anyone carrying an umbrella. The rain is welcomed. The rain is a blessing.

The morning is ugly. It is hot and humid. The temperature is already 77°. The sky was partly cloudy earlier this morning then the sun and the blue sky made an appearance, but they’re gone again. I suspect it will be the same all day, sun and clouds, clouds and sun. Rain is predicted for tomorrow, but, as always, I am skeptical of any thoughts of rain. It seems to avoid the cape.

My dance card is filled this week. I have some uke events including a concert early this afternoon, practice tonight and a lesson tomorrow. The last play of the season at the Playhouse is Friday. The summer is winding down so very quickly. It seems always to be the shortest season.

Nothing was stolen yesterday even though I was out for a few hours. The trash bag was in the kitchen. I was on the road when I remembered. When I got home, I slowly opened the front door expecting trash like dog food cans and cat cans. There was nothing. I gave both dogs a well earned biscuit for good behavior.

I woke up when it was barely light. When I looked out the window, I could hear the bangs and pings of acorns hitting the deck and hitting something metal. I looked for a spawn of Satan but didn’t see one. I went back to bed.

Early last night I could hear Nala barking. She almost never barks. Henry always barks. Anyway, I went out to check. Nana was moving around a tree looking up at some critter. I suspected a spawn. She was also trying to climb the tree. She didn’t.

When I was a kid, I wore sneakers all summer. They were white low tops, but I did wear high tops in black when I played basketball. My coach insisted we protect our ankles. I liked the high tops. Years later, I bought a couple of pairs of Converse high tops in wonderful colors, pink and purple. I can’t find the pink ones, but I wear the purple. I’ll hunt again for the lost pair in the vast expanses of my closet. I really like the pink.

Everything is quiet. Both dogs are sleeping. I almost want to wake up Nala as she woke me up around 8, and I didn’t get back to sleep. I’m thinking an afternoon nap might be in order.