Today is cold, dark and rainy. The wind is spectacular. My house was cold when I woke up. It was only 61˚. The heat for a little while, a sweatshirt and hot coffee solved the cold problem. Rain is predicted for the rest of today and tomorrow.

When I was a kid, a rainy Saturday was the worst. The four of us were stuck inside the house in close quarters. The living room couch was my spot for the morning where I sat with my cereal bowl in hand. I had a good view of the TV. I’d watch until my shows were over then I’d read a while or play in the cellar or pull out a game hoping for an opponent. I’d pray the rain would stop. Nothing was worse than a wasted Saturday in the house.

In Ghana, the rainy season meant rain just about every day. Sometimes the rain was unbelievably fierce and heavy while other times it was gentle. I never minded going out in the gentle rain. I was in Southern Ghana, perpetually green Southern Ghana, during the first two weeks of training. I enjoyed the daily rain. Everything washed clean and the aroma of the greenery was thick, especially in the mornings. The second part of training was in the Upper Region, in Bawku and Bolga. The trees were full of leaves. The fields had tall millet and corn growing. The market was filled with stalls offering vegetables, especially tomatoes and onions. Later, when I lived in Bolga, I found out brown was the color of the dry season. Brown fields, leafless trees and dusty roads were the hallmarks of dry season in the Upper Region.

Yesterday I didn’t organize my albums; instead, I cleaned the cat room. I chose a worse task which sort of matched my mood. I vacuumed, wet mopped the floor, cleaned food dishes and organized the litter and food. The room looks good. A while back, I bought Jack and Gwen their own little houses. I put them on the bed. Twice now, I’ve gone into the room, and Jack has come out of his house. He must feel cozy as I suspect he sleeps in a ball so he’ll fit.

The other day I found two desiccated ears of corn in the back of the fridge. I threw them into the backyard figuring a spawn would find them. The other day I saw a piece of corn husk in the backyard. The spawns better be appreciative.

Today is sweatshirt weather despite the sun. Every now and then the breeze is almost a wind. It is 59˚ and will get colder, down to 47˚ tonight. The sun will disappear. Rain is predicted for tonight and the rest of the weekend. Today I start staying home until Monday except for a dump run, probably on Sunday. The cape will be inundated with tourists for the long weekend. Everything is booked. Even my absent neighbors who live in New York are down for the weekend.

Today I’m going to finish a task which has been on my to-do list the longest, sort through my vinyl. I know there are some I bought when I was in high school and college. Now that I have a turntable I want to hear my records again.

When I was a kid, my mother had a hifi. It was her prize possession. She used it all the time. I remember it was brown, and my father bought it for her when he got a bonus at work. She kept her pile of records beside it. I remember a Frank Sinatra or maybe a couple of Frank Sinatra’s. She was a fan. My mother transitioned to cassettes when she a got a cassette recorder for Christmas one year. We bought her the same albums she had on vinyl, but my mother didn’t stop there. She was given a CD player. Her Christmas presents were not a secret that year.

The deck lights are up, set 4 or 5. I’ve lost track. Last night I didn’t need the back door light, and neither did Henry. The small white lights strung down the bannister cast plenty of light. I did a bit of research before I put them outside. Into Google went my request for what will deter spawns of Satan though I did have to call them squirrels for the hunt. Peppermint oil was the answer, a great answer. I could use a natural deterrent. The spawns hate the scent of the peppermint. I ordered from Amazon and had it the next day. The scent of the peppermint was almost delicious as I sprayed the wires up and down. I’m going to use apple cider vinegar from a spray bottle on the feeders and the deck rail. Spawns hate it and it is safe for birds, the peppermint isn’t. I learned a lot.

Most places will not demand masks starting tomorrow. The covid orders have been rescinded here. It has been a long run.