Tuesday, January 25, 2022

_{(January’s “Wolf Moon” is in 3rd Qtr phase Waxing Gibbous; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

My mare, Rosie, wasn’t feeling well last night. I checked on the horses around eight and saw something that worried me, she’d not eaten. Anytime a horse won’t eat, something’s wrong. Rosie’s in her mid-twenties and has been in good health.

Yesterday, the horses were on pasture all afternoon. As we walked home nothing was different about any. Later, all entered the barn for hay and supplements. Sunni and Pimmy gobbled everything, and usually, so does Rosie.

This morning, I will go outside at first light to find what’s going on with her.

Aside from Rosie, and finally, I found the outside warm enough for shirt sleeves on that day off from work. Taking advantage, I tackled lots of outdoor labor, put-off for too long. Among the chores were biggies, like cleaning the goat house and the nesting boxes, dragging the dry lot, moving hay bales from storage to barn. I could go on.

Afterward and dead-tired, I didn’t need the worry of Rosie not eating. But the years have taught me about life with animals on a small acreage. Essentially, “It is as it is,” one works, and one worries.

I’ll go to my part-time job this afternoon if all’s well outside. Otherwise, I’ll call for a veterinarian and stay home to wait.

Dear Friends: Now, in this morning’s first light, I hope for us all a good day. Diana

Monday, January 24, 2022

_{(January’s “Wolf Moon” tonight in 3rd Qtr phase Waxing Gibbous; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

I lost blogging time this morning, trapped in a sudden failure to access my existing Word Press site.

I’ve enjoyed using the Firefox internet engine and recently updated to its newest version offering lots of internet protection. Actually, too much protection. It became time-consuming and a chore to open my sites for emails and calendar. All site re-openings required triple security checks using email and cellphone. Today finding it impossible to access my Word Press site was too much. I hurried back to good old Chrome.

The news is about my two new hen turkeys and their buddy chickens. We rushed to bring them here after their owner’s (Josh’s) dog killed one of the chickens. But my place didn’t have an appropriate coop-shelter. Josh and my neighbors Grant and Bill helped to cobble together a too-small coop and too-small enclosure. That worked okay but overly confined the turkeys.

Early yesterday, I moved a dog play pen that gave my Old Welsummer Hen outings on sunny days. The six-panel pen has a human-size door. I attached it to the too-small setup and the pen added roaming space for the new birds and lets me enter. I’ve another play pen, might try using it to add more space.

Soon the new birds could roam a bit. My subordinate rooster, beautiful Cuckoo Maran, began flirting with one of the new Rhode Island Red hens. He danced and strutted, she was ambivalent.

On a sweet note, my duck-egg supplier, Katherine, brought her stunning Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and new duck eggs into the store. What a delight that she’s not fond of duck eggs! I fixed a duck egg for dinner. It wasn’t among the largest but had a double yolk!

I’ll try to coordinate with Katherine, so next time she’s in the store there’ll be turkey eggs for her.

Dear Friends: Yesterday, delightful too in the store, greeting my next-door neighbors. Diana

Sunday, January 23, 2022

_{(January’s “Wolf Moon” is Waning Gibbous; February’s “Snow Moon” rises @ fullest on February 16.)}

Today’s temperatures will reach into the low sixties. I’ll be at work.

I’ve refocused on starting my new in-store role after this week. Anticipating reduces my interest in operating a cash register, making hours of checking-out customers drag. Also, we’ve slower check-out lines in a relatively-dead time, after-the-holidays and before-another-biggie.

Soon though, we’ve two “biggies” starting. One is a company specialty labeled “Farmdays,” when all the company stores highlight and have on-sale farming and ranching products. Managers say The Farmdays are busy, with long check-out lines.

Another biggie is the soon arrival of baby chicks. Already, while being checked-out out and by phone-calling, customers are asking which day chicks will be here and what breeds. Small children accompanying shopping parents peer excitedly into now-empty brooders.

Like those children, I’m impatiently awaiting this week’s passing.

Dear Friends: Yes and anticipating, peering into those brooders. Diana

Saturday, January 22, 2022

_{(January’s “Wolf Moon” is Waning Gibbous; February’s “Snow Moon” rises @ fullest on February 16.)}

They’re here! Two hen turkeys and two Rhode Island Reds (variations).

I hurried to get them after receiving a text from Josh, their then-owner, saying his dog had just killed one of the three hen chickens I intended to adopt.

That blew a hole in my day off. My plan was to start building a coop for the fivesome, but suddently it became imperative to get them from Josh’s place. I needed to borrow housing for them, so hitched a trailer and took off.

We managed to load into the trailer a small coop, a dog kennel, and fowl care paraphernalia, feeders, waterers, and food. Josh joined me later at my home, bringing the turkeys and chickens. Grant and Bill, my neighbors, arrived to help with unloading and setting up.

Those three are long-time friends. It was Bill who facilitated the transfer of birds after learning that I wished to adopt a hen turkey. Josh and his wife intending to sell their home wanted to relocate the birds. Additionally, their recently-adopted dog has turned out to be an effective chicken killer. The dog’s last victory got us moving to transfer quickly the remaining birds.

My current chicken flock houses with my twin Dwarf Goats. The two species get along well. Often one or more chickens are hanging out on a goat’s back or just riding along.

The imported dog kennel allows newcomers and current residents to integrate while keeping safe both flocks. Josh managed most of the setting-up. He established the small coop at the back of the run, set up a feeder and waterer, placed the nesting boxes, and transferred birds from carriers to the coop.

Grant’s height lets him easily retrieve items from high places, and he did. Also without effort, he looped an extension cord over a tall opening. That prevents the cord from tripping humans and becoming a chew-target for critters.

The final result isn’t gorgeous. It works though until there’s time enough to make it better.

About today’s caption photo. One of those girls straight went to work. That huge egg appeared on the coop floor moments after Josh installed the turkeys.

We finished the job just as dusk closed in. Then thankfully, Bill and Grant walked with me to retrieve the horses. We returned in near-darkness, each leading an equine. I prefer not to walk in the darkness alone with three large animals. In little light they see perfectly, notice quickly what’s around or ahead and sometimes startle me.

Our last look at the new coop found a quiet group. One chicken had settled on top of the coop, one turkey was parked on the perch, with the other turkey and chicken atop the nesting boxes.

And, that was my day.

Dear Friends: Wise Bill suggests pausing my plan to add two baby ducks. Diana

Friday, January 21, 2022

_{(January’s “Wolf Moon” is Waning Gibbous; February’s “Snow Moon” rises @ fullest on February 16.)}

Next week, the feed store where I work will have in stock live baby chicks to sell. Workers have been arranging brooders, setting them up, hanging heat lights. Customers are excited, and so are we cashiers.

There’s not much cuter than one- or two-day-old chickens. The store might offer baby turkeys and ducks, too.

I’ve already been arranging to adopt a couple of six-month-old turkey hens. They’ll be a satisfying pair.

In a move that surprises myself, I’ll bring home two baby ducks. It’s because I’ve eaten duck eggs and found them delicious. I’ve asked duck owners (while checking-out customers) about their experiences of having ducks. All say ducks are fun, they love having them. They say ducks easily are satisfied with a “kiddie pool” to play in. One woman has a duck that loves being harnessed and taken for walks.

Yesterday, the store gave me a surprising opportunity, to move from my position as a cashier, and instead, to handle the business of incoming chicks. I’d take care of them and assist customers interested in them. Additionally, I’d become a back-up person for the Animal Health Department. I leaped onto those changes.

Essentially, they offer a crack at representing a profit center and selling in real-time. I love animals, by nature am a sales type. Everything new should be fun. Plus, it’s a heady moment with my efforts and potential being noticed

I’m stoked!

Dear Friends: Ahead, my favorite “stuff”, new experiences and more learning. Diana

Thursday, January 20, 2022

_{(January’s “Wolf Moon” is Waning Gibbous; February’s “Snow Moon” rises @ fullest on February 16.)}

Today is an early to-work for me, so this is a short good morning. A good thing, too, as my brain does seem blank. Impossible, though, for always my wiring is firing.

I’m focusing ahead, on getting outside, feeding animals, and appearing on time at the store.

Actually, I’m thinking about Susie’s and my recent moon chase, remembering an interesting place where the mobile was parked. The tiny off-road spot intersected three roadways.

I love seeing road curves. They suggest the possibility of a surprise laying ahead. They’re compelling, hint at secrets, fascinating to speculate on.

My recent blog about our Wolf Moon Chase featured some of our best photos, the glorious moon, and a few twilight surroundings. I could have included the atmospheric road-trio.

Today’s a good day to blog about them. They’re lovely, and give my slightly on-hold brain a rest.

Completing a circle is our Moon Chasing Mobile, in its tiny parking spot. Susie has grabbed a camera, is poised for getting an early shot of just-rising Wolf Moon.

Dear Friends: Many of my best-remembered photos are curve captures. Diana

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

_{(January’s “Wolf Moon” is Waning Gibbous; February’s “Snow Moon” rises @ fullest on February 16.)}

At my part-time job, one among our cash-register team became infected with Covid. She’d not been vaccinated and worked a couple of days with Covid while considering it a cold. Afterward, she was away from work for several days. Now working again, she says she’s fully recovered.

She’s young and seems recovered. A number of workers in the store haven’t been vaccinated. I can’t help wondering if others might have been affected by working alongside her during her active bout with the virus.

I haven’t noticed personal symptoms of illness. I’ve received the requisite three jabs, and wear a mask while in public and at work. However, I’m in a vulnerable group, associated with age and background health. I’ve accepted the known risk of “being out there” because working part-time with others is meaningful and worthwhile.

Without going into the yeas and nays of ignoring or dealing with Corona Virus and its mutations, I applaud Joe Biden’s recent anti-virus move. I’ve ordered the virus test kits he’s making available online. The Post Office will start shipping them next week.

Those at-home kits will allow self-testing for the virus, at the earliest signs of a “cold”. A positive result will justify seeking early care in the game.

Receiving home-based tools to recognize the virus helps. Additionally, our health care system must be prepared and capable of providing care to those who come forward after self-testing. Health care capacity is a huge issue, maybe a future blog topic.

First, let’s get those self-tests. They will by degrees boost our assurance.

Dear Friends: This “smart virus” has and still alters worldwide social systems. Diana

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

_{(January’s “Wolf Moon” is Waning Gibbous; February’s “Snow Moon” rises @ fullest on February 16.)}

Susie and I missed an earliest sight of the rising Wolf Moon for not finding an unemcumbered horizon. Upon spotting an already rising moon just above a horizon of trees that lined a huge field, we hurried to park and start capturing.

This rise was unique for occurring in still-daylight. So early, that by turning we could witness a spectacular sunset.

Farther away by hundreds of yards sunlight illuminated a portion of the Cascades, and in the foreground these dozing drafts.

The magnificant moon continuing to rise, appeared smaller with increasing height.

We’ve photographed nearly a year’s worth of moonrises, and never in so much remaining daylight. Yesterday’s unique evening gave us enough light to photograph the moon, our country surroundings, and parts of the mountain range.

As the light faded, and in a scene reminiscent of the long-ago Movietone TravelLogs that closed with a waning sunset, we bade farewell to the sun.

Except for its reflecting light, revealing January’s fullest moon. We enjoyed seeing that while hanging out and talking in Susie’s Mobile Moon Chaser.

Dear Friends: So much beauty out east in the middle of “nowhere”. Diana

Monday, January 17, 2022

_{(January’s “Wolf Moon” rising tonight, this month’s fullest moon.)}

A customer at my register said she has a dog, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. I asked her to bring the dog in the next time she’s in the store. She agreed and asked for a bag of duck food. “Yes,” she said, “I have a couple of ducks, inherited them not long ago.”

“Do you eat their eggs?”

“No, they lay eggs but I don’t eat them.”

“I’m curious because I’m about to adopt two hen turkeys from a fellow who used to raise ducks. He says turkey eggs taste a bit gamey but are better than duck eggs, which are way too gamey to eat straight from the shells.”

“That’s interesting and something I’ve not heard.” She removed her credit card from a reader, laughed and said, “I’ll bring you some duck eggs.”

I laughed, too, “Good!” As she turned to leave, I added, “When my turkeys are in place, I’ll bring you turkey eggs.”

We waved and that was that. Weeks ago.

Yesterday, a fellow cashier radioed while I was in the break room. “Diana, can you come up front? There’s someone here to see you.”

As I headed toward the registers, a woman stopped me. She held a leash attached to a beautiful big dog. “Diana,” she said, holding out a small package, “I’m Katherine, we talked. I’m bringing you duck eggs.”

Well, I was blown away. She held out a package with three white large eggs.

She pointed to them, “One for some reason is much bigger than the others,” she shrugged, “but I want you to have them all.”

I was touched by her kindness, her generosity. “I’ll cook one tonight for dinner and let you know how it tastes, whether it’s overly gamey!”

Her dog, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, is a stunning knockout. The breed isn’t common in this area. Since it’s against store rules to play with my cellphone while working, here are photos from the internet. In them as well as in real life, this is an athletic dog with a substantial muzzle and long wirehair half-hiding expressive eyes. The facial structure and deepset eyes are very appealing.

I enjoyed meeting Katherine’s sweet, energetic dog.

About those duck eggs: I poached the biggest, which by-the-way had a double-yolk. I gobbled it–Totally Delicious!

Folks like Katherine who care about their animals are why I love working in that feed store. The store now is preparing to start bringing in baby chicks. Maybe I’ll adopt a couple of ducks!

Dear Friends: I’m a “bird person”, love those smart critters, they give us their all. Diana

Sunday, January 16, 2022

_{(January’s “Wolf Moon”, now Waxing Gibbous, will rise tomorrow as this month’s fullest moon.)}

The now waxing moon is gorgeous in a sky that’s clearer. Early today, Wolf Moon is visible straight over west and setting behind the Cascades. Our warming weather and inviting atmosphere will provide good conditions tomorrow as Susie and I experience and photograph the full Wolf Moon.

Fortunately, I’ll be off from work tomorrow and free to chase that moon.

I’ve been considering the moon’s continuous appeal and subconscious significance to humans since time immemorial. My thoughts about the moon might be perceptive, but too little so to grasp its forever impact and meaningfulness vis a vis humans.

So, I’ll embark on research, part of which will be re-reading some Shakespeare works. He describes as well as, or better than anyone, “Moon’s impact”. I hope to build a larger narrative around Susie’s and my moon chasing experiences this past year. I’ll be looking for history and intelligence to enlighten and strengthen our experiences.

At the very least Susie and I will learn. At the very best, we will design a narrative to share with everybody.

Dear Friends: While watching Wolf Moon use your imagination, sense your feelings. Diana