Turning

Saturday, November 18, 2023

It’s time to winterize, seriously. The Pendelton weather station has sent notices that heavy snow will fall this weekend and top the Cascades. Apparently, the snow won’t fall to the ground here in town, but certainly the local “real winter” is en route.

I’ve drained and stored my water hoses. Have placed an outdoor heater in the barn, it’s capable of quickly unfreezing stiff fingers. A battery-operated snowblower is at the ready.

The horses are sporting plushy thick coats and will get along in freezing weather. My chickens mostly are too de-feathered because they do community plucking. But their huddling gene counterbalances short-on-feathers.

I want to beef up the Dogaloos with cushions to warm the dogs better while they’re outside. And I’ll try, but I’ve discarded too much torn-up bedding to be confident new cushions will last. They’d be safe after puppy Chase matures, but if he’s doing so, it’s not apparent.

To be fair, Chase is smart, fun, and loveable. He’s now one-and-one-half years old and still puppylike. I figure he needs three or four years to settle. So, in this short term, I’ll probably be tossing more torn pillows.

Dear Friends: Fur, feathers, and pillows! “Oh my, oh my.” Diana