The first cherries are out! I bought a plastic container of them from a man at the stoplight. Such a treat after months of bananas, apples, pears and more bananas, apples and pears.

The typical Saturday chores filled my morning: water the potted plants, make a trip to the recycling center and stop by the "Tostadería Talca", crowded with people buying grains, seeds and dried fruits. It was a good feeling to stock up on wheat germ, almonds, peeled sunflower seeds, chia seeds, grated coconut and honey, mostly ingredients for our homemade granola.

The sky has been overcast all day with a gauzy layer of clouds, just a thin sun filtering through. A flat day. I feel flat, at loose ends. Sort of how I think Speedy Gonzalez, our pet tortoise, is feeling. He's been sitting in the same spot all day, not foraging for leafy tidbits or attempting to sneak  into the house as he does when the red line on the thermometer climbs. Maybe I'll go tempt him with a cherry. His favorite are the apricots off our ancient tree, but they need a few more weeks.