Thursday, November 03, 2022

DALL-E has hit it out of the park.

My three equines and I waded through the roadway’s melting snow to reach our friend’s pasture. I left the animals there and they spent the afternoon kicking aside snow and eating grass. For them, and me, this time of the year is wonderful because a deep freeze makes the grass dormant.

In summer, grasses are high in sugar. They tend to increase weight on “easy keeper” horses. Too much weight on an equine may initiate health issues. But after a wintery deep freeze, grass becomes dormant (non-sugary) and they may graze freely without gaining weight.

With my iPhone I took photos. The three were uncooperative, spread widely apart, and disinterested in encouragement to appear lively. The best capture shows Rosie in the foreground appearing heavier than she is.

Stunningly, AI can deliver an image that satisfies my imagination more than a photo. To me, AI often reveals more possibilities than a casual capture. In the future, competing with AI will force me to boost my photo game.

Dear Friends: Imagination aside, horses grazing freely are a natural, very pleasing sight. Diana

Wednesday, November 02, 2022

I’m running super late this morning, so my hello will be brief.

It’s snowing again as I write. This winter has begun abruptly, and my chickens might need a little more sheltering.

If the horses and I safely can walk a quarter-mile down the street, the horses may spend today in Bobby’s pasture. If we can’t get there today, then tomorrow. They’ll be delighted, will kick away snow and eat grass.

Off now, to care for chickens and horses!

Dear Friends: Throughout my years here, I’ve not seen so early a November snow. Diana

Tuesday, November 01, 2022

The NYT is asking for readers to write a brief essay describing what they’re grateful for having happened in 2022. Immediately, what I’m grateful for popped into my brain.

For me, it’s about the economy, stupid. No, not because of discomfort amid continuously rising interest rates and commodity prices. Not because of the seemingly out-of-control stock market’s gyrations. I’m grateful that many people are finding ways to avoid returning to full-time work, and that employers are struggling to find hires.

This year, hiring problems opened avenues for senior retirees, like me, to become viable employment candidates. In more economically settled times, interviewers typically viewed seniors as too old to hire. Not nowadays, because seniors know how to work. We show up and do it, and appreciate earning extra money in this difficult economy.

I’m grateful for having found employment in a busy supermarket.

It began early this year. I didn’t expect to be employed by a local feed store but did get hired to operate an electronic cash register. I knew nothing about cash registers, could only hope my brain would process and retain operating details. Happily, it did, and a reassurance of my memory capabilities was uplifting. Several months behind that register gave me the skills to search for higher-paying work in a grocery store.

Working has made me more understanding of economic ups and downs and their effect on the middle class. This knowledge guides me in navigating my personal world of finances. It also gives me insight into the realities and falsehoods of current politics.

The world is a rough place nowadays. Everything’s on the table, from the sustainably of environment and species to leadership issues and food supplies. Technologies leaping ahead might help to save much.

I’m grateful for finding a comfort zone by remaining active and in touch with others. Hopefully, those others and I represent what’s still a middle class.

Dear Friends: That’s what I’d choose to write about. Diana

Monday, October 31, 2022

Happy Halloween! While working at a register this morning, I anticipate lots of last-minute candy passing through. And turkeys, too, as the store starts initiating a special on turkeys. The birds are in short supply this year because of the bird flu epidemic causing heavy losses.

Another “big thing” is that our weather is about to change, and dramatically. Forecasted for tonight are rain and freezing, and for the next few days temps in the low double digits. That’s what drew me to today’s header photo, of my equine family in recent perfect weather.

Weather changes are happening rapidly. Typically November has a first heavy freeze, enough to kill grass growth. This year that might occur early, in the upcoming low-temp days. If so, my horses may go over to a neighbor’s pasture and graze to their hearts’ content. My “easy-keeper” horses don’t gain weight from dormant grass.

As for tonight, I don’t anticipate trick-or-treaters here in the town’s “country part.” This area isn’t inviting to costumed roamers. It has small acreages with homes set back, dark streets, and dogs out watching. Families with children often transport them to more dense housing enclaves with lit streets and safe door-knocking.

Dear Friends: Wishing you a fun Halloween and warmth in the upcoming days. Diana

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Remember this tiny guy? I adopted him last May on the spur of the moment. His rescuer said he was 8 weeks old, from a Warm Springs litter, and she’d seen both parents. He’d be a small dog, a Chiweenie.

Here’s that cutie several weeks later.

These days he’s turning 9 months old, and yesterday had his first visit to a veterinarian. He weighed in at 50 lbs., matching the weight of Ranger, my hound dog. His veterinarian says he’s primarily a Rottweiler-Shepherd mix, maybe has a little Lab, too.

For months, I’ve realized he’s no Chiweenie. In growing, he’s become heavy-boned, muscular, and has spring-loaded hindquarters. He loves to high-jump and before long might even clear five-foot fencing that has managed to contain him.

On the “keeper side,” he has an absolutely wonderful temperament. He loves everybody, doesn’t mind being scolded and gets along with my other dogs. This true mutt is here to stay.

He’s still a cutie with puppy-perfect markings. I haven’t a current photo but now he’s inoculated and will hike with me and his buddies. Ahead, pictures galore.

Dear Friends: Drawer’s luck: I got bamboozled and this puppy got a good home. Diana

Saturday, October 29, 2022

The header photo is of John Singer Sargent’s “Driving in Spain,” 1903. Today’s Washington Post carries a story featuring Sargent’s Spanish paintings. All are superb and today’s header is because I love driving horses. In it, Sargent has captured fun and excitement behind a set of reins.

Another exquisite Singer painting is “The Spanish Dancer,” 1879-1882. It can speak for itself.

In 1879, when Singer began painting this enthralling dancing picture, he was 23 years old and had just finished his artistic training in Paris. He worked on this painting several years before completing it.

Sargent’s travels in Spain are the subject of a current exhibition at the National Gallery of Art. It’s wonderful seeing some of these again and some for the first time.

Here’s a link to today’s article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/10/27/sargent-spain-manet-impressionism-roma/

Dear Friends: His greatness in capturing action and feelings lends to our imaginings. Diana

Thursday, October 28, 2022

Some people have mind-blowing wealth. The new British Prime Minister and his wife reportedly are worth about 800M. I think in dollars but maybe that number represents pounds; it hardly matters. The national news keeps us apprised of “wins” by our planet’s richest people. American newspapers tout Elon Musk as the world’s richest man. His activities often seem impulsive, but great money power enables great dreaming power.

I try not to overthink about the overly powerful too-rich. Especially these days, as everyone tries hard to get along with what they/we have.

My personal view comes from clerking in a price-cutting supermarket. I ask shoppers if their buying habits are changing in today’s tough economy. To a person, they say yes, and explain that they’re purchasing fewer impulse items, reading labels, looking for discounts, and at home preparing more from scratch.

In my six months working in that store, average purchase amounts have changed. Early on, shopper tallies averaged $200; lately, they average close to $100. There are exceptions: people on food stamps (there seem too many, receiving too much), those buying for their food cart, coffee shop, and restaurant businesses; and those from living areas far away stocking supplies for several weeks.

In front of my nose, prices rise. A large can of pumpkin, which used to cost $1 now costs $4. Lettuce and cabbage that used to be cheap aren’t anymore. Yesterday, egg prices began edging up.

Every day offers lessons about the economy and human behavior. For example, our store allows a 6-cent discount for each bag returning for reuse. Months ago, everybody complained about forgetting to bring their bags and willingly paid 5 cents for each new bag. These days, most are remembering to bring their own bags for discounts.

I could go on, but you get it.

I’ve begun shopping differently, too. I’m focusing more on needs over wants and striving for low purchase totals.

For we who aren’t among the richest people, perhaps our worries are less about “not having” than about trying to keep what we already do have.

Dear Friends: Survival lessons in today’s unpredictable world economy. Diana

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Several evenings ago, the sun’s setting over Central Oregon was spectacular. My new camera captured its progress with some pleasing outcomes, although it doesn’t yet have a highly-capable distance-reducing lens.

The header photo is my first shot. It captures a piece of Broken Top, an ancient spent volcano (my favorite profile in the range). It offered the clearest view from where I stood.

I began moving around to capture a wider view of the sky’s stunning colors.

Here are Central Oregon’s Cascades. From left to right, showing a bit of Mt. Bachelor, then Broken Top, and the South and Middle Sisters.

This tighter capture over Broken Top and the South Sister is arguably the best showpiece for reflecting the sky’s magnificent lighting.

It’s taken days of learning to download, copy, edit, and publish these photos.

My new camera is a mirrorless Panasonic Lumix, a brand with which I was completely unfamiliar. If instead, I had opted for a Canon, a brand I’ve used previously, maybe I’d have managed those processes more quickly. Partly why I chose a different brand was to experiment and expand my knowledge and capabilities. So far, so good.

Dear Friends: I was shooting from beside my barn; I enjoy those mountains all the time. Diana

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

I’m playing at last with my new camera. The header photo is a trial shot. I like it except for the background showing the dry lot that needed cleaning (since handled).

These trial photos have crisp details with plenty of potential for creative editing. To that end, I’ll be playing with Photoshop, the most complete photo editing package.

Also, I’m wowed by the new online creative packages, like DALL-E, that utilize AI to produce art on demand. I’ve used DALL-E to create several header photos for this blog. I’m also seeing it employed to illustrate newspaper article topics and major commercial advertisements.

This morning, I took too long to download photos and think about editing. It’s a workday and I’m running out of time. I’ve other photos and more will come.

Dear Friends: Learning a modern camera can be as confusing as learning Sanskrit. Diana

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

I’ve no need for a temperature gauge telling me the morning is very cold. Here at my computer, I’m wearing two sweaters and thick socks. A peek at the weather channel confirms, it’s a freezing 32 degrees.

Our Central Oregon autumn quickly is transitioning to winter. There’s snow in the mountains. A tad already has spit its way below, with more maybe arriving in the moisture predicted for this evening.

I have today off and plan mainly to work outside. This is D-day or time to finish what’s needed to keep my animals protected against the freezing cold. It might be appropriate to start blanketing Rosie, my oldest horse. But her coat is winter-thick and she’s holding her weight; those are very good. I’ll pause on blanketing, and instead observe Rosie’s weight and stability through the cold. Anytime she seems different from normal, on goes the blanket.

If any of my animals start appearing different from normal, I’ll quit my part-time job and stay home through the winter. My priorities are home and pets; I can choose to work again or not.

The good of working is that it strengthens my sense of participating in a larger world. Interacting with co-workers and customers tunes me to national and world news. I find that what’s happening anywhere isn’t distant and unrelated to my life. As an active participant in the whole, I’m encouraged to thread through larger areas of concern. I hope to make sense of them, to comprehend without necessarily judging.

Dear Friends: Again, I digress. Essentially it’s cold and ahead is homework. Diana