Glances

Sunday, September 22, 2024

The header, taken by my friend Angie, is of me holding onto my horses; I’m wearing shiny boots and an equally shiny shirt. This capture is pleasant, although I’d like to see Rosie glancing in a forward direction.

That was a few days ago when I felt good. Yesterday, I began battling an oncoming cold, and unfortunately, the cold won. I spent last night on Nyquil, and today will be on Dayquill. On this day off from my part-time job, I’ll be outside and in the sunshine while caring for my outside animals; the sun will help to dry my system.

This is a simple, Good Morning!

Dear Friends: Some of my colds are one-day wonders; this one might be, too. Diana

Cool

Saturday, September 21, 2024

I drove to Sunriver yesterday for the first time in many years. I was going to meet some long-time friends for lunch, ladies who, with me, participated in a cancer group years ago. We used to share much about our health conditions, private lives, and beyond-that-group relationships.

Yesterday’s luncheon felt like a meeting in the old days. We shared our personal updates, and like in our past discussions, we spoke openly and honestly and were mutually supportive. I have missed those friends and hope it’s possible to join them again.

I was scheduled to work at my part-time job last evening, and I timed my return from Sunriver perfectly. I had plenty of space to feed the horses before I had to leave for work.

Today’s header photo is another from Angie’s camera. It’s an unedited capture of Pimmy and me hanging out in a high spot with a beautiful sky as our canopy. Angie is a sophisticated editor who enjoys transforming photos (e.g., lifting images from pictures and resetting them into different backgrounds). I’m eager to see what she does with those from our photoshoot.

I’m inspired to rework some old photographs featuring my donkey, Pimmy, campaigning in a past political contest. If I can change the images appropriately, they’d again be cool, supporting the Harris/Walz campaign.

Dear Friends: Keep moving without ever slowing our minds and imaginations. Diana

Happenings

Friday, September 20, 2024

The header shows my co-worker and friend, Angie, holding my horses, Sunni and Rosie. After we took photos on my property, we drifted toward my neighbor’s pretty “golf course” lawn. The horses immediately went grass-crazy, and Angie held the lead ropes tightly.

She was at my place for a photoshoot. Angie is an experienced photographer. She has opinions and imagines what she wants to capture. She asked me to wear “sparkly boots” and an attention-grabbing shirt (that big Rosie kept sneezing on). She wanted in the pictures both my horses and donkey. On finishing our shoot, she anticipated a big editing job.

I appreciated Angie’s quick eye and camera savvy. To my surprise, she’s an experienced horseperson; she grew up riding busy Arabians. Yesterday, she fell in love with my calm, easy-to-handle horses. We will go horseback riding together.

I will travel to Sunriver today for lunch with several long-time friends. For years, long ago, we all met weekly to discuss our health, medicines, doctors, and “general doings.” We were in a long-running cancer survivor group that weekly drew 10 to 20 participants; it connected us family-like. Several years ago, I drifted away and stayed loosely in touch.

Earlier this week, a member of that cancer group was out shopping, and she spotted me in Jewelry. We immediately renewed a mutual closeness, and she invited me to join her and others from the group who planned to meet for lunch. Today is when that lunch will happen, and I’ll be there. It’s an exciting opportunity to reconnect with old friends.

Dear Friends: There could be a “more social me” peeking from deep inside. Diana

Untitled

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Yesterday evening, the (waning) Harvest Moon was gorgeous again shortly after rising in the east; its bright light guided me home. On arriving home and going outside with a camera, I saw the moon very high in the sky, too distantly to suit my “artistic vision.” I will instead plan to capture October’s fullest moon. It will be another supermoon, but a special one that will rise nearer to the Earth and thus appear bigger. I will add a tripod to my capturing equipment.

Yesterday, too, while at work, I discovered myself more comfortable in my sales role and connecting better with coworkers and customers. To some extent, selling is a “personality game.” I’m a new kid on the block, so to speak, in jewelry sales, and I’ve wondered how to hold my own among seasoned product experts. Finally, I am growing more confident in my sales style, which might attract new customers who will purchase from me.

Jewelry sales resemble a consulting role. I’m learning to ask questions that help me understand a buyer’s preferences and also provide openings for me to suggest alternate options from my perspective.

Today, a coworker will be here with a camera to photoshoot my equines and me. It’s her vision and plan; I’ll simply do as she asks.

Dear Friends: My sales job connects me more to this area’s unique culture. Diana

Golden Harvest

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Yesterday evening, today’s header photo was my most clear capture of September’s (always) fabulous Harvest Moon. Ever since childhood, the full September moon has been my favorite. Its brightness lights the path and powerfully signals a transition to significantly different weather. In darkening fall evenings, the Harvest Moon’s brightness encourages us to imagine late harvests, the old way with horse-drawn equipment.

After working late at my part-time job and driving home, I planned to photograph the moon but became discouraged. The large globe was barely visible and busy, dodging massive dark clouds.

I’ve played with moon photography for years but am still a novice at turning sky images into art. Yesterday evening, with art on my mind, I wished to capture the globe and earth objects, with the moon as top layer.

That top layer sometimes disappeared and an inviting empty space became an inspiring image.

This year’s Harvest Moon is also a Supermoon. That’s because it’s closer to Earth and appears slightly larger and brighter than usual.

These photos aren’t my mind’s perfect imaginings, but they satisfy. They capture splendid visual elements of the active moon and sky and earthly items. Another lovely aspect is that they touch on the moon’s emotional significance.

Dear Friends: Transition, reflection, and celebration as summer turns into autumn. Diana

Planning Ahead

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Yesterday was a day off from my part-time job, a tiring day that kept me busy. I cleaned the house, dragged the dry lot, handled laundry, dusted hardwood floors, and cared for critters. Soon after the dogs’ dinnertime, this household went beddy-bye.

Today is my back-to-work day. I’m scheduled for the closing shift and will get home late this evening when the September Moon is at its fullest. Then, I intend to take a camera to my property’s highest peak. I want to photograph the bright orb, showing a spread of tree branches framing its light. I anticipate the camera’s “moon setting” to clarify each component, making all visible in captures.

Here’s a sketch of an image I dream of capturing. Of course, it’s unmatchable, mostly because of my primitive eye and photography equipment and also because my shooting location will limit my opportunities. Yet, my goal is to capture the bright object way in space with what’s nearby, as in this arrangement.

That planned, not much around here ever happens easily and straightforwardly. Before I can be out shooting the moon, my equines must eat, and my Pimmy must accept her meds.

Over the next two months, Pimmy will receive quarter doses of Cushing’s medication and will graduate to half doses. At that time, she’ll receive another blood draw. If all looks well, she will be started on daily full-pill dosages.

The problems with providing the (one and only) Cushings medication are its odor and terrible taste. Equines can smell the medication and avoid allowing it in their mouths.

I remind myself not to borrow trouble by focusing on handling the baby steps. So far, I’m getting Pimmy to accept a daily quarter-pill buried in a drilled carrot. Next week, we will start working toward her accepting a daily half-pill. Maybe the carrot idea will keep working.

The point is to avoid worrying about getting her to accept a whole pill before its time comes.

Several years back, someone told me that the trouble of a horse coming to stay with you is that it stays for a l-o-n-g time. That’s true, and B-T-W, a donkey stays longer. However, there are worthwhile upsides to keeping the big animals. They offer fun and exercise, increase our attention and awareness of the surroundings, and by interacting with them, we become more self-enlightened.

Dear Friends: More again after my moon-capturing adventure this evening. Diana

Handling Biz

Monday, September 16, 2024

A mind sometimes plays tricks. Yesterday, planning to leave later in the afternoon for work to help close the store, I hurried through my morning routines (and, yes, Pimmy swallowed her meds). Returning to the house and checking my schedule, I saw that I wasn’t expected at work that day–nor today!

Regardless of my mind blip and why it occurred, an extra day of freedom feels delightful. Reflecting on yesterday morning, I remember feeling very tired and disliking going to work and being on the late shift. I’m thankful for double-checking the schedule. (Hey, brain! Applause to you for that mitzvah.)

Yesterday afternoon, I popped my puppy Chase into the SUV (to prevent his escaping the dog-fencing and trying to follow my vehicle). We accomplished a series of errands, and Chase behaved well and respectfully in the vehicle’s cargo while strangers loaded heavy items into it. Some of my findings about this mixed-breed puppy are highly likable, especially his responses to me and what I estimate is his potential.

I’ve long thought about agility training, which would be right up Chase’s alley. To be considered…

Dear Friends: Pimmy will try to wear and tolerate her new grazing muzzle today. Diana

Sights Ahead

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Last night, my donkey Pimmy carefully smelled and rejected every treat I offered. Although on a diet and hungry, she avoided the hidden pill. Pimmy must swallow one of those pills daily for the rest of her life. It’s a head-scratcher because she once enjoyed Fig Newtons and Little Debbies, but that was when nothing alien was buried inside. But we’ve come too far to give up, and I’ll try again this morning. She might find enticing a drilled carrot or drilled Brussels sprout.

One of my coworkers at the department store used to be a career military person, and in that role was a writer and photojournalist. She wants to come here and photograph my equines and me. She has some appealing, creative ideas for image captures, and soon we’ll “do a photoshoot.”

Environmentalists are aiming to initiate meat consumption reductions, especially among males who tend to consider “meat-eating as a manly thing.” Environmental considerations aside, I’d be happier if bovines weren’t living in crowded feed lots, having short lives, and winding up on plates, as steaks, etc. The environmentalists are tackling an enormous challenge. Meat production, animal killing, and meat eating have huge, nearly eternal cultural implications.

Dear Friends: Central Oregon’s now wonderful weather invites being outdoors. Diana

Steps Onward

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Slightly over a month ago, my donkey Pimmy was hospitalized for days because her liver was failing. I hadn’t recognized the signs that was happening. Now, I understand that livers are lovely because they can regenerate.

Yesterday, Pimmy had a post-hospital wellness check. Her blood analysis shows that her liver is recovering and in the high-normal range. She’s not out of the woods yet.

Pimmy went into the hospital with her weight way down because she had lost her appetite. Post-hospital, she has regained both appetite and weight. I learned yesterday that her “downweight” level was perfect for her. But we had to get her to eat again, accomplished that, and now she’s too heavy.

Pimmy is being started on a diet. She may eat only 6.5 pounds of hay daily; she also needs meds (and resists being mediated). The vet explained ways to “trick her” into taking them. So last evening, Hungry Pimmy got a little gain sprinkled with a powdered med and ate that mix. She also gobbled a “Little Debbie” (something or other) with a bad-tasting pill buried inside. That pill had been double-disguised–inserted into a gelatin capsule–to hide its smell.

If she takes the meds freely, that’ll be so nice. Now that her liver issue is more under control, we have begun medicating for her Cushing’s disease. That means Pimmy needs the awful-tasting pill daily and for the rest of her life. She also must stay at an appropriate weight.

I’ll be playing by ear to feed and medicate her appropriately. I hope to manage without reducing my outside part-time working hours or quitting altogether. On some evenings, I help to close the store, which turns a last feeding for the horses (and Pimmy) into a very late effort that needs handling quickly. Now, it includes both medication and calorie control.

Dear Friends: I hold close that “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Diana

Moonglows

Friday, September 13, 2024

Today’s header is the lovely waxing moon in last evening’s clear sky. The previous evening, I had tried to capture this eye-catching moon, but it was scudding upward in a wildly cloudy sky, and my cell phone’s camera wasn’t capable.

This capture from my big auto-focus camera uses its programmed “moon setting.”

I was surprised to find the setting accurately capturing a complex area arrangement in the dim evening light. It zeroed in on the distant waxing moon, identified a nearby leafy tree branch, and found my low-hanging ham radio line. (Typically, I’d edit out that radio line, but this trio clear-capture delights me.)

I’ll practice more in the upcoming evenings. Next week, shooting from a hill on my property, my camera will seek complex area arrangements with this month’s impressive and fullest moon.

I said yesterday that my blogs would start going out later in the mornings, but my lateness to publish yesterday brought my kind neighbors over to check on my welfare. Their visit encouraged me to think about my situation more thoroughly.

So, I am deciding not to feed the horses and exercise physically before writing and publishing my morning blogs. I have become reawakened by reconsidering what’s most important. If I happen to stumble over a rock or get stepped on by a horse, finding me sooner may beat discovering me later.

That helps to ensure that the lights of silvery moons will keep shining on my ambitions.

Dear Friends: Today, Pimmy visits the equine hospital for a check-up. Diana