Wednesday, June 28, 2023

This summer, while I worked in HD’s Garden Dept., the ease of obtaining plants encouraged me to create a home garden. I’ve gardened a bit in previous years but without real and lasting interest. This year, my efforts are more vigorous. Perhaps learning more about plants in HD’s garden environment lead me to a healthier respect for them.

This summer’s growing warmth and my care for the little garden are showing more hoped-for gains. Yesterday, my blooming butterfly and bee attractors, Lily of the Valley and Lavender, invited visitors. A couple of Monarchs fluttered long on the Lavender.

This capture doesn’t duplicate today’s header photo, it’s of another butterfly.

This unexpected, delightful sighting reveals my garden inviting Ladybugs! Here’s a little fella circling on the birdbath’s higher edge.

Wild birds and chipmunks are plentiful visitors; however, I shift now to a domestic bird, my Cockatoo, Peaches. Here and almost outside in a cage that fronts a flowered deck, he’s starting to play with a giant new toy constructed especially for him.

There’s never too much of Peaches, and here, he enjoys an orange during a break from destroying his toy.

Dear Friends: Simple appreciations keep our world beautiful and sustaining. Diana

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

I was watering a hanging basket of flowers when out popped a worried frog’s head. I would have liked to see more of the pretty creature, but appreciating its presence didn’t do more disturbing.

Moments later, another critter appeared, seeming completely relaxed and making me wonder if it could or would hunt. But western lizards are quick in action, and most likely, this dozer was at the ready.

Then there’s nature itself, providing beautiful sightings. It’s anybody’s guess as to how long this variety of Parmeliaceae lichen has lived and thrived on these branches as a plant life. It couldn’t be prettier.

By the way, these are lichen among a massive family of 2700 varieties that can flourish anywhere. They thrive in a multitude of climates ranging from the Artic to the Rainforest.

Dear Friends: Have a lovely day. Diana

Monday, June 26, 2023

Raven, a new addition to my “Dogs in the Aisles” file, is a one-and-one-half-year-old Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff). He weighs 140 lbs., is totally sweet, and is mega-ticklish. Yesterday, in HD’s Hardware Dept., this irresistible fellow and I became buddies. His person said that Raven’s twin sister also was somewhere in the store. I didn’t meet her but will someday spot those pups together and take a photograph.

Today’s WSJ has an interesting article explaining why more people in their 80s still are working. It reports that according to The Census Bureau, some 650K Americans over 80 were working last year. that’s about 18% more than a decade ago. Some are working because of inflation and the stock market’s volatility or they simply want to work.

The Journal suggests that the “fading pandemic made [some who took a break] feel more comfortable clocking in again.” Maybe, but it’s my perspective that the pandemic made it possible for elderlies to be hired. Younger workers receiving government aid and dropping out of the workforce encouraged employers to fill open positions by seeing applicants differently. Elderly job hunters, bringing work-oriented attitudes and background experience, filled a variety of openings.

Certainly, boredom among retirees who’ve not worked for a while can make them want to return to employment, but that’s not what has encouraged potential employers to select elderly applicants. What’s making a significant difference are needs to fill essential, open jobs. A lingering shortage of young workers encourages recruiters to select qualified elderly applicants.

Gray-haired workers from complex backgrounds and effectively performing in jobs are forcing management to change its styles. Chain managers must adapt to a wider variety of employees by adjusting styles of communicating, encouraging, and rewarding.

Essentially, today’s workplaces are evolving into much more interesting experiences.

Dear Friends: I’ll stay on the lookout for that Corso magnifique pair. Diana

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Today’s my last early-in to work for a few weeks. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be at HD in the afternoons and evenings. Changing hours will mean readjusting by shifting my daily routines earlier, including my hikes with dogs.

The header photo is of the dogs going all out an instant after I called for a direction reversal. In short bursts, Mitzvah can outrun Chase, but he’s bigger and stronger, has staying power, and catches up. Whereupon he enjoys rolling her around.

But she’s a Jack Russell mix, a tough little number. She does well at holding her own. If their playing seems too rough, I stop the action to give Mitzvah a break. Soon, however, she might tease and taunt, and he’s after her again.

Dear Friends: Have a wonderful day. Diana

Saturday, June 24, 2023

Pictured are Philadelphia fleabane, colorful little daisy wildflowers that can pop up almost anywhere with little encouragement. I’m very accustomed to little versions of it and was surprised to see these mature tall-stemmed blossoms, strikingly pink, thriving beside a canal.

Here’s a top view of common yarrow, a wildflower with feathery leaves, its flowers may be white, yellow, or pink. It blooms densely as small clusters at the tops of branches. This beautiful plant is adaptable and simple to maintain. It’s been around since time immemorial, and I’ve heard can be used to make tea.

Dear Friends: Another early day leaving for work. I’ll say hi again tomorrow. Diana

Friday, June 23, 2023

The header is a skyward image from my barn. Some enjoyable aspects of a little unkept property are wildflowers. No need to go searching for them, although I frequently do. My late afternoon walks with Chase and Mitzvah provide my mood adjustments. While the dogs are romping, I am studying wildflowers, their types, names, and soil preferences.

I have an iPhone app that’s named “Picture This.” When I photograph a plant, the app provides information about it. It says the flowers in my header photo are Sulphurflower Buckwheat, super-easy to take care of, and perfect for gardeners with brown thumbs. Annually, these grow wild on my place, pepping up space that otherwise isn’t much interesting.

Before I start preparing to go to work, here’s another skyward look from my barn. Now, about trees and cheatgrass, without flowers.

Dear Friends: Have a great day. Diana

House Chicken, Wellsummer, 13 years old

Thursday, June 22, 2023

I sent yesterday’s blog in the evening because my internet service was down from early on and through most of the day. Thanks to friends who checked in, asking if I were okay and not, as one suggested, flat out beneath a haybale. Occasional internet difficulties make it impossible to publish early, and usually, I text delays to friends. Yesterday’s down was extra frustrating and made me forget to text.

Besides the internet trist, my mind was caught up with my elderly dog, Ranger. Yesterday afternoon, we returned to the vet for a blood panel recheck. Ranger still had a fever and a too-low white cell count; however, to outside appearances, he’s regained some quality of life, is more alert, knows what’s going on, wags his tail, and is willing to eat. We brought home additional antibiotics, hoping for more healing signs of his so far unidentifiable infection.

Today is the last of three days off from my part-time job at HD. My first three days back will be early-ins, and afterward, for a couple of weeks, will be later-ins.

Dear Friends: Ahead, eats for the critters and broken fence post repairs for me. Diana

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

The future for my hound dog, Ranger, doesn’t seem rosy. On Monday night, his rising white cell count provided hope he could recover from infection, but by Tuesday morning the white cell counts had dropped again. Ranger came home with me yesterday morning and will return to the emergency clinic for a white cell recount this evening. If the result isn’t adequate, he’ll need reexamining at an ultra-specialized clinic.

I and others often comment sadness that our pets mostly don’t outlive us; but still, we are lucky to have their brief wonderfulness. After Ranger’s destructive puppyhood, he provided me with years of delightful companionship. In fact, remembering how appropriately Ranger transitioned has helped me decide to continue sticking with complicated young Chase.

Today’s header photo is a “puffball,” a weed wildflower (Yellow salsify). Sighting it put me in mind of time’s rapid passing. This puff brought to my mind feelings about much in my and Ranger’s twelve or thirteen years together; now they are memories from seasons past.

Dear Friends: Extra hugs for our pets; they give us so much of themselves. Diana

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

The header is my boy, Ranger, weeks ago, hurrying along during an outing. He might have picked up an infection because he soon appeared to be slowing, aging more rapidly, with less appetite, and mostly wanting to sleep. Yesterday, he refused to eat and was lethargic.

I felt he needed an examination and took him to the animal emergency hospital. I frequently looked into my vehicle’s back seat as he lay very still and barely breathing.

A veterinary workup revealed that Ranger’s white blood cell count was extremely low. The veterinarian estimated cancer or an unrecognizable infection. She was worried and recommended that he receive fluids and antibiotics through the night. His workup list was equal to everything an emergency patient at St. Charles might receive. I left the clinic with Ranger hospitalized there for expert treatment.

In the evening, his veterinarian called, saying Ranger had recovered and was well. The fluids and antibiotics augmenting his white cell count had helped his body combat infection. His x-rays didn’t reveal cancer but showed arthritis in his rear and an elbow. The veterinarian said he could go home but couldn’t rule out the possibility of cancer.

Fortunately, I am off work because he must be picked up before 7:30 this morning. This episode is my heads-up to watch Ranger even more closely.

My old fellow has entered the danger zone.

He’s been with me since he was four months old. Ranger had shown up at my place as a frightened stray puppy. This image from several years ago shows him in great shape from running alongside my horses on trails.

I have lovely memories of being on trails with both Ranger and Louie, dream team companions and long-time buddies.

Dear Friends: Doing my best to do what’s right for my pets often is challenging. Diana

Monday, June 18, 2023

Happy Juneteenth!

While tramping in a desert, I discovered this newly-opened, lovely plant. My phone app calls it a “spreading fleabane.” The phone formally identifies it as an Erigeron divergens, native to western North America, adding that it has highly variable forms. For example, it can produce one-to-multiple stems with over 100 flower heads. It blooms in pinks, yellows, and purples from early spring to late autumn. I’ll watch to see how this baby may grow!

I’m running late on this, yet another early-to-work day.

Dear Friends: What’s good about going in early is getting to leave early. Diana