Sunday, April 02, 2023

We didn’t get that huge snowstorm predicted through this weekend. Today’s midday is supposed to deliver several hours of rain and snow, hopefully, light and without big winds.

It’s my day off from work. My key goal is to finish The Hard Road Out. It has become, for me, a not-put-down-read. I learned of this book because Christianne Amanpour interviewed Park and Chai.

Jihyun Park, born and raised in North Korea, escaped that culture of lifelong starvation and social fear. Seh-Lynn Chai, a South Korean with cultural perceptions and expectations different from Park’s, wrote this biography. Actually, it’s two stories. One speaks to how these ladies managed to bridge cultural differences; the other is Park’s memories of growing up in North Korea, in a typical family, becoming educated, and only gradually recognizing that culture’s overarching abuse of its people.

Like many reared in Western cultures, I’m fascinated by the strangeness of other cultures. Particularly by North Korea’s pomp and circumstances, its total control by a Dictator, and stories about the nation’s inadequate financial and nutritional resources for the general population. In Park’s story, those elements all are non-fictional. Reading about her life is breath-catching, through her hardships and those of her family unit, and how the family was forced to survive.

This book provides insight into a complex foreign culture and also can tune readers into their national cultures. Indeed, almost all societies on the planet change continually in response to population and economic conditions. North Korea is an oddity, as confusing and scary as Park’s story tells.

Dear Friends: Hope you will read this one. Diana

Saturday, April 01, 2023

My farrier was here yesterday. For years he has arrived monthly from Mammoth to work on local horses. During the past year, he has planned to move to Central Oregon. His target date has been April 1, but he’s about to return to Mammoth. He explained that currently, in Mammoth, are twenty-five feet of snow blocking his living quarters. That’s the biggest snow Mammoth has ever experienced and prevents removing his belongings and moving.

Our challenge will be less in this area. There’s predicted snow starting today and falling through the weekend. Maybe we’ll receive lots, but surely not nearly what’s in Mammoth. Anyway here, my new battery-operated snowblower waits and is ready to start working at the push of a button.

Meanwhile, I’m off to work, in another, and thankfully, last such early-entry time for a week or so.

Dear Friends: Stay warm and have a good day. Diana

Friday, March 31, 2023

Today, I will enjoy being off from my part-time job. Also, I will be enjoying this last day of decent weather. Over the weekend, there’s to be a big snowstorm with bully winds that may gust to 40 mph.

Oh, where art thou, spring?

Nonetheless, I will keep preparing for nicer weather. I intend to add a structure near the barn that holds hanging flower baskets and provides color in that rather drab area. Another plan is to add a weatherproof bench near where those flowers will hang. Currently, that flower-supporting device and the bench are boxed and need assembly, tasks for today.

Although hanging flower baskets are increasingly available, the local climate remains too cold. Flowers won’t be able to survive outdoors in our area before genuine springtime arrives.

In the garden center where I work, the local lore is that our current shoppers are this area’s newest residents. Those are folks unfamiliar with our periodic faux springtimes. The warm weather spurts encourage new locals to purchase and plant. Nearly all residents in Central Oregon have personal stories of experiencing early planting failures.

In today’s early dimness, I am watching my trees responding to winds already in this area and having enough strength to move branches.

Dear Friends: I’d best start moving, and hopefully, accomplish all my plans for today. Diana

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Yesterday up close to my house, these deer were nibbling at the bird feeders. This photo captured the trio a heartbeat before it bounded away. The middle deer’s ears are turned back toward me, which lends action to this otherwise still-looking shot. The outcome is a pleasing scene that resembles artwork.

It is boosting my morning, as I must go to work, and yes, will spend today watering plants. Things will be improved, for now, I have safety glasses. Yesterday I didn’t explain, that as I watered on the previous day, a tall potted palm fell toward me and a protruding branch scratched my eye.

I didn’t report the incident, but will today. The scratch doesn’t seem serious but it still annoys me. It will be best to get the injury on record at HD, in case it should amount to more in the future.

Dear Friends: Time is crunching again; I must get going and soon on the road again. Diana

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Here’s another quick hello before I leave early for work. As a relief, last night didn’t bring new snow, so this morning needs no window scraping.

The weather impacts my work in the Garden Department without customers. At least, not enough of them to keep us all busy. As the department’s newest employee, I’m stuck with plant watering; it’s a one-person job.

The hose watering system is turned off, as it’s still cold enough for the pipes to freeze. So, I drag around the store’s one smallish portable waterer. To prevent leaving puddles on floors, I haul plants outside, drench them, and bring them back inside. That makes me be outside in the cold and also is b-o-r-i-n-g.

Garden customers will start arriving at the beginning of real spring. That could be in late April or mid-May. Meanwhile, I don’t enjoy the hours of watering plants and have begun wanting other work. I like being at HD, but I am uncertain how to go about altering my role at this point.

As usual, in order to move forward with a question, maybe a long-time employee will be informative. I would start creating a personal “road map” to my next steps.

Dear Friends: Now, it’s off to work for me. Diana

In the workshop with Peaches

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Peaches is residing in his new cage and appears to love being there. I’m disappointed because this cage isn’t smaller than the one it replaces. Anyway, it’s prettier and will be easier to clean. The structure is made of stainless steel and brightens the area where it sets. Soon I will have photos to post.

Right now, I’m off to work. This week all my workdays are requiring early entries. Bummer.

Dear Friends: More snow fell last night and this is a window-scraping morning. Diana

My neighbor, Johnny, and my 3 equines

Monday, March 27, 2023

Today, I’ll walk my equines down the street to a neighbor’s pasture, where they will graze all afternoon. That neighbor came into Home Depot yesterday, and we caught up with each other. My animals haven’t gone to his pasture for months because the neighborhood vehicle traffic is becoming too challenging for me.

Usually, as vehicles pass us my equines are unflappable. However, if one of those big animals should happen to spook, its quick hooves could endanger me. There are new factors limiting my walks with them on the street.

One is the increase in silent electric vehicles. They come from behind; suddenly I’m aware of one whizzing past. Another is the population explosion in this previously small community. New residents driving many of the passing cars have never seen a human walking with horses on the street.

In the old days, being out on the street with my horses felt comfortable and fun. The locals gave horses the right of way, and drivers slowed or stopped. While passing, they smiled and waved. I could hear car motors coming and would move my animals nearer one or another side of the street.

Anyway, my equines have been trapped in their dry lot for months. Today, I’ll take a deep breath and give them an overdue, well-deserved outing to pasture, by taking that walk.

Dear Friends: The improving weather soon also will be great for riding horses. Diana

Bacon for Breakfast

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Peaches’ new cage has arrived. It’s in a large, heavy box and unassembled. The effort to put together this stainless steel parrot cage seems daunting, but soon it’ll happen.

Peaches’ current cage has been his lifelong home. But, he’s the smallest type of Cockatoo, and his old cage doesn’t suit his size. It came with the bird. He easily gets around in it and loves all his space.

It’s me, who considers the cage too large, and oversized for my living room. It’s also too wide. I can’t move it through the hallway, and into other areas.

I’ve not replaced his original cage because of its great asset, as a very heavy structure with welds Peaches can’t break, and he’s both determined and capable of breaking them. He used to have a secondary cage with places wired together that were evidence of his destructive skills. Anyway, that other cage no longer belongs to Peaches. It’s long been the home of Gilbert, a rescued racing pigeon.

After assembling the new cage, I’ll move his old one onto an outside deck. It’ll become a secure bird-playing area in nice weather. What’s cool is that Gilbert’s smaller cage can be rolled outside and parked near Peaches’s cage. Companions!

I’ve not been able to find an appropriate cage locally, and the new one comes from an online source. I hope it turns out to be smaller, while also large enough for the very active Peaches. Also, hopefully, this cage will be easier to clean; the old one has been cumbersome to clean.

Dear Friends: Before and after photos soon will come. Diana

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Oh dear, snowing again. Yesterday’s snow action was on and off, but overnight lots fell. Outside this morning, it’s beautiful but not deep for snow-blowing. What has landed calls for windshield scraping. I’ll do that before leaving for my work in the Garden Department. Today, we will be overstaffed. Few live plant-oriented customers show up in snowy, buyer-limiting weather.

When we are overstaffed, necessary chores are dispatched early. And then, we start searching for tasks to keep us busy. The store’s long-timers tell me that customers will crowd us nonstop when our area’s spring weather calms.

I’m not much of a gardening person and thus fill quiet time at work by learning more about plants. While working in the store, we are allowed to use our personal phones, and I do lots of searching online for plant information. That can keep me busy and inform responses to potential questions.

Yesterday, I asked the store’s HR person for an org chart. Guess what, there isn’t one. However, she kindly wrote out one for me. The helpful reference raises questions. Why doesn’t a massive company like Home Depot routinely provide individual store org charts, employee handbooks, and, mostly, essential sales training?

Okay, I’m old school. I know the times have changed. So have the economy and businesses. Nonetheless, many workers’ needs haven’t changed at all. I’m just sayin’.

Dear Friends: That “org chart” will inform me more about who’s speaking with me. Diana

Friday, March 24, 2023

This little dog’s treats come in tiny bits torn from the cheese stick his person carries. He knew how to keep the heavenly bites flowing his way.

In a switch from little to super-size. This Great Dane, a 9-month-old puppy, was bigger than me.

Yesterday, my funniest dog sighting was a Border Collie. He was riding on a flatbed that his person was pushing.

A matched pair of therapy dogs. They help to ease their Vetran-person’s PSTD. Both pups are incredibly sweet.

And, for good measure, another cutie. A sleek Manchester Terrier.

Dear Friends: While at work, playing with dogs isn’t all I do, but I do lots of it! Diana