High Desert

Friday, December 22, 2023

On today’s date, two years ago, this header photo captured our local weather. This year’s winter, in comparison, has been balmy. The seasonal balm is welcome but worrisome because this is high desert territory. Its reservoirs annually need refills from abundant snow and rain to support the ever-growing population.

Through a relatively dry winter like this one, we with livestock worry about next spring’s hay crop. Unless hay is abundant, finding available bales becomes challenging and costly. Several recent relatively dry local winters have made it difficult to find and afford hay. As the financial stress of supporting large animals grows from shortages of hay and of property availability and affordability, one wonders how much longer we can manage to keep large-animal pets.

Yesterday morning, my donkey, Pimmy, received a full dose of painkiller. Nonetheless, she limped throughout the day but did have more appetite. Today’s plan has changed, as Kate’s veterinary team postponed its visit to her Equine Rescue. So, this morning, Pimmy needn’t be loaded and trailered for examination and treatment.

Meanwhile, Pimmy will receive daily doses of the painkiller and hopefully soon feel less or no pain.

I will have today off unless called in, and tomorrow will work through the day.

Dear Friends: Practicalities aside, the warmish winter feels wonderful to me! Diana