The morning is chilly but pretty. The sun and blue sky have stayed around for another day. It is good to see the sun again, but I wish it had brought a bit of warmth. Yesterday was a banner day. I went to the dump which had not been on my list. I was out and about and decided what the heck. The dump was quiet.

I may go out again today. I think that ties my record for going out two days in a row. I want a trophy.

When I was a kid, I never really minded winter except when it rained. That was the worst. I’d get wet and cold and even start shivering on my way to school or when walking home at the end of the day. Once I was home, I immediately stripped off the wet clothes, got into my pajamas and under my bed covers where I’d read or even nap under the warmth of the layers of blankets. I still love to get cozy under the covers, and I also love to nap. As for pajamas, I stopped wearing conventional pajamas a long time ago. I prefer the t-shirt and flannel pants ensemble complemented by my sweatshirts. I do try to match the colors of the shirts and pants. I don’t know why: maybe it’s my weird sense of fashion.

This is sleep time for the cats and the dog. After I woke up and before I went downstairs, I greeted Gwen in her self-imposed exile. She got some pats and treats. Henry and Jack got their morning treats next. I have created two monsters who come running at the sound of rustling paper, and a running Jack is not a pretty sight. He is upstairs now with Gwen taking a morning nap. Henry is just chilling which means he is chomping on his bone beside me on the couch, a little snack before nap time. When I take a nap, Henry and Jack always join me.

Yesterday I was in line to sign up for the vaccine. My wait time was three months. I didn’t wait.

Today is a lovely warm day. The sun is deep blue everywhere. The clouds have gone. I have a couple of errands so I’ll be out and about enjoying the day.

The longer I stay home, the less I want to go anywhere else. The groceries came yesterday. My fridge is filled with veggies and fruit. I also have more ground beef, my most versatile meal. I’ve made burgers, spaghetti sauce and meat loaf. I’ll branch out this time into other countries.

The last time I went out was the last I got dressed in my outdoor clothes. That was a week ago. Most other days I am dressed in cozy clothes.

My neighborhood has been dark. When I let Henry out last night, I noticed only one other house had a lit light, and it was an outdoor light. It wasn’t even that late, around ten.

My breakfast is usually coffee, two cups. I do eat eggs but mostly for dinner. I tend to have toast as a late night snack. If I am feeling particularly playful, I use cinnamon sugar.

When I was a kid, snacks were often crackers with peanut butter or even a peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich, a great hold it and ride your bike snack.

Oreos were supreme when I was a kid. Back then we just had the original, no double stuff. It was a primitive time.

Emily Dickinson would be on my guest list for dinner. She’d join Mark Twain, Amelia Earhart, P. T. Barnum, Louisa May Alcott and Abe Lincoln. The dinner conversation would be interesting. The dessert would be cake, a recipe from Emily.

If I could go back in time, I’d travel the world in a PanAm Clipper. I’d stop at all the continents except maybe Antarctica. I’d take a slew of pictures and watch out for butterflies.

Black Beauty was the saddest book I read as a kid. It made me cry. The books I loved were about Doctor Doolittle. I read them all. They made me wish I could talk to animals. I think Gracie would have been clever and funny. Henry is impatient, and I can only imagine him tapping his nails and whining while he waits. He’d tell me over and over how hungry he is. He’d drive me crazy.