Saturday, August 14, 2021 —(In 8 days, August’s full “Sturgeon” moon will rise nearest to earth.)

The redness in this image is nothing close to a real-time view of the sun late yesterday. Then, the ball itself was perfectly-round and very bright red, made stunning by smoking from massive wildfires. My camera couldn’t pick up the sun’s brilliant color, but it captured some atmospheric reflections.

The smoke is heavier now. On opening a door this morning, a smoke smell greeted me. I’ll try again this afternoon with another camera to capture the fire-red ball.

That was one thing on my mind, from yesterday, and another has been a question from Kat A.. She’s a very bright reader who wonders why the number twelve is considered a perfect number. While blogging, I had mentioned that without giving a thought as to why. My mind had been on some other element of twelve.

Kat often encourages me to research more and to learn. I explored twelve and found myself on an interesting journey.

Actually, twelve isn’t a perfect number. Instead, it’s considered a sublime number, and only semi-perfect, because the sum of its factors, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, is greater than the number 12 itself. While twelve has a perfect number of divisors, by not adding up to twelve, they don’t create a perfect number.

Here’s the rationale for perfect, according to “number theory”. A perfect number is a positive integer that’s equal to the sum of its positive divisors, excluding the number itself. The known first five perfect numbers are 6, 28, 496, 8128, and 33550336.

A number is perfect if all of its factors, including 1, but excluding itself, perfectly add up to the same number a person begins with. For example, the number six is perfect, because its factors, 3, 2, and 1, all sum up to 6. Another example, is the number twenty-eight, also perfect, because 14, 7, 4, 2, and 1, add up to 28.

Only 50 total perfect numbers are known, despite a dedicated worldwide effort to computationally discover more. Perfect numbers are connected deeply to some of the greatest mathematical questions of our time.

Here’s another thought. In general, people consider the even numbers as very lucky. A long-standing common belief is that good luck comes in pairs and dates count too. For example, consider 12/12/12 (or December 12, 2012), anticipated as becoming a very lucky day.

For me, this bit of research touches on another and very non-mathmatical, inner sense. It helps me recognize an extent to which number logic satisfies a very human need to know of elements existing which absolutely are definable as balanced, logical, and perfect.

Dear Friends: These few numbers enable worldwide celebrations of an existence of perfection. Diana

Friday, August 13, 2021 —(In 9 days, August’s full “Sturgeon” moon will rise nearest to earth.)

It’s Friday the 13th! Oh poor number 13, generally considered unlucky because of Judas (guest #13 at the Last Supper).

What’s unlucky about Fridays that fall on the 13th? Well, they’re considered “paraskevidekatriaphobia”, or the days that bring severe financial losses.

Another big problem for the 13th is that it directly follows the number 12. Historically, the number twelve has been considered a perfect number by mathematicians and scientists. So, there’s dilemma over “Perfect vs. Most Awful”. Adding in financial disaster makes it a wonder that 13 has survived.

But, our world probably needs its commonly acknowledged villians. Our world also needs recognized offsets against indications of disaster.

The moon forever has been a key offset. Last night’s beautiful sliver was appealing, made people feel hopeful. In a few days this month’s fullest moon will become visible.

To avoid fretting about fearful dates, let’s look upward and focus on hope.

Dear Friends: The blurred inner curve suggests more moon to come, and soon it will. Diana

Thursday, August 12, 2021 —(In 10 days, August’s full “Sturgeon” moon will rise nearest to earth.)

Here’s a photo showing my new way of transporting all the equines to and from my neighbor’s pasture. We’re about to go across the street for their daily hour or so of grazing on my neighbor’s pasture.

For years, I’ve hand-led them there. Our travel begins by marching up a steep gravel road that crosses my property. The horses move fine with me, but not the donkey, who lags and forces heavy pulls on her lead rope. Upon reaching that hilltop, I’m worn out.

Unfortunately, there’s more with the donkey who dislikes traveling between two horses. She continually resists and leans against the lead rope. By the time we’re at John’s entry gate, I’ve little remaining energy.

It’s the same coming home. Donkey needs dragging across the street, and up the hill toward our own horse containment gate.

An option is to take the donkey separately. That would force multiple trips to and from John’s, a wearing idea.

A couple of weeks ago, and long having recognized that donkey needs exercise against her ever-increasing pot belly, I gambled. After hitching her to the Gater, I forced her to trot behind it. We began by circling in the dry lot for a mile, and after a week added a half-mile.

She usually argues but doesn’t win against the Gater. Sometimes even travels easily with it.

Donkeys have their own ways of processing. Don’t ask me, I just keep going with the flow. Bottom line, this method works for she’s losing weight.

That got me thinking about easing our travels to and from John’s.

After hitching to the Gater all three animals, with donkey between the horses, I drove very slowly up and over my hill and across the street to John’s gate. The horses moved correctly, and believe it or not, with Pimmy still resisting but unable to refuse.

This method of transporting for me works well. Daily, it shortens the time to get them to pasture and later home again. It eases my physical self, makes my mental self happier.

Oh, Pimmy! Those Gater experiences make me try to think more outside the box. We might stumble onto more successes. New experiences might reveal ahead some way of training you to pull a pony wagon.

Dear Friends: These activities take knowing-well participating animals, and ensuring their safety. Diana

Wednesday, August 11, 2021 —(In 11 days, August’s full “Sturgeon” moon will rise nearest to earth.)

The wonderful header photo is of Sunni trotting through the Conestoga Hills. My friend, Julie, is with me in the cart. We’re enjoying yesterday’s beautiful morning.

The trip to Conestoga was for more than just driving. That was a real-time opportunity to unload and reload the horse cart that I had modified. The changes altered how that cart unit fits into my horse trailer.

Julie’s husband, Dave, helped load and unload the cart. He offered good suggestions for improving the processes. After we assembled the art and hitched Sunni, Dave rode along, his first time in the cart.

We looped the neighborhood for a couple of miles before returning to our starting point. There, Julie climbed aboard and Sunni took us several more miles.

Conestoga Hills is a lovely development east of the city with quiet streets. There, the Gilberts have a home. Just down the road from their place is a BLM trailhead with miles of horse trails. They ride horseback there often, and several times I’ve joined them.

Conestoga’s local streets are perfect for driving a horse. Periodically, that will be my plan.

In a week or so, I hope to take Sunni’s sister, Rosie, and drive her there. A good way to introduce her to street driving somewhere other than our local neighborhood roads. Rosie is a fun driving horse, but slightly hyper-vigilant and less easygoing than Sunni. She will move nicely through quiet Conestoga streets.

Finally, a last capture by Julie. We love this pony.

Thanks to the Gilberts for helping with the cart and for riding along. From my driving perspective, it’s always more fun with a passenger along. Especially one who can appreciate and enjoy a fine horse doing its work.

Dear Friends: A fabulous way to enjoy the city, behind a horse through quiet neighborhoods. Diana

Tuesday, August 10, 2021 —(In 12 days, August’s full “Sturgeon” moon will rise nearest to earth.)

This is a quick “Good morning!” I’m about to go feed the horses. Afterwards I’ll load one and haul away for a driving adventure. Our destination is a semi-rural, east-of-the-city neighborhood.

Yesterday I did manage to get the horse cart loaded and secured in my horse trailer. The loading process needed a little re-engineering. My revised cart-stand needs minor modifications, but everything looks okay for later this morning. I’ll be able to unload, hitch, and drive my horse.

The horse will be dependable Sunni. Our passenger will be my long-time friend, Julie, another horse fancier. We going to drive in her neighborhood.

For me, this will be the beginning for driving in other local neighborhoods. Some areas nearby are paved and have relatively quiet streets. They’re older neighborhoods. A few boast small properties with horses and other large farm-associated pets. That will become a new way to adventure with my horses.

Right now I’m off to feed pets. Several famished, farmish-types impatiently await my appearance.

Dear Friends: Have a great day creating memories, choose an adventure and take pictures. Diana

Monday, August 09, 2021 —(In 13 days, August’s full “Sturgeon” moon will rise nearest to earth.)

For days I’ve been modifying a stand that supports the horse cart. The stand, created by a fabricator, couldn’t remain upright on its own. It had too-small wheels that couldn’t be moved easily-enough over gravel. I wanted an enlarged stand support, so it independently remains upright. I wanted on the stand larger wheels for rolling over gravel.

Experience has taught my lack of the abstracting skills needed to visualize end products. I just work step-by-step, deal with trial-and-error (do-and-re-do), and hope for desirable results. This time, winding up with something unattractive and a little difficult to work with, I didn’t take pictures. Anyway, it’ll probably need rebuilding, perhaps becoming more photo-worthy.

Today, I’ll use the revised stand and load the cart into my horse trailer. Renewed configurations call for a few different loading steps. But now, I can roll stand and cart over gravel to the trailer and into position for loading. My loading ramps need to accommodate the larger wheels. Once inside, the cart needs new ways of securing.

I’ve thought long about changing this stand, but last year during the pandemic didn’t bother bringing the cart from storage. Now starting again to drive the horses, I began on the stand. Plus, I’ve been motivated by a self-imposed deadline. My plan tomorrow to drive a horse east of town demands loading and hauling.

The current modifications might not work, and luckily, I’ve friends who do visualize effectively. Maybe they could offer bailout advice to help me rebuild better.

Dear Friends: My plan to drive tomorrow is seeming like, “Get me to the church on time!” Diana

Sunday, August 07, 2021 —(In 14 days, August’s full “Sturgeon” moon will rise nearest to earth.)

Ohmigosh, I’ve just “rediscovered” Nina Simone. A new album, “Nina Simone: The Monreux Years (Live)”, newly out this year, is an amazing compilation. Simone was/is one of the best-ever musicians! I listened to her live performances through most of yesterday, and more than once the entire album, even while working with my horses.

Thinking back, it’s funny how long it took me to appreciate Simone’s musicianship. For years now, I’ve been able to recognize her incredible talent, her superb training. She’s primarily a pianist, but also a singer. She has an unique voice and perfect pitch, her ear closely is tuned to all accompanying instruments and voices.

Simone was very political, intensely angry over social conditions for American Blacks. She grew up during the Harlem Renaissance, the period that produced works by James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, and other highly talented Black Americans. Those years introduced the music of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, and John Coltrane, among others. The Renaissance provided a baseline for Simone’s intellectual and highly creative approach to musicianship, and for amazing others, like Miles Davis.

If you’re a Simone fan, download “Monreux Years” to appreciate anew her piano, voice, and politics. Today, I’ll again listen, applaud, and enjoy her.

Dear Friends: Fine art thrills, it educates, enlightens, and intertwines as essential memories. Diana

Saturday, August 07, 2021 —(In 15 days, August’s full “Sturgeon” moon will rise nearest to earth.)

Rosie is twenty-five years old, she’s quick-moving, elegant, and a wonderful driving horse. She has a mind of her own, a good one and not dangerous, but she can be a lot of horse and will test a handler.

Even after I had been trained to drive Rosie, she seemed frightening. She’s also irresistible. Rosie is an experienced carriage horse. She visibly lights up in harness, carries herself like a pro, is a balanced quick mover and exudes energy.

She seemed frightening because I’d never before driven a horse. Her quick responsiveness called for a more experienced handler, so I dropped a dream of driving her. A couple of years later, someone suggested having Rosie’s younger sister, Sunni, trained to drive. Driving Sunni would familiarize me with the basics.

Sunni is agreeable, easy to get along with, and likes people. I decided to send her for training and a month later began learning to drive her. Handling Sunni seemed a piece of cake, which never changed. After bringing her home, driving her regularly, I became comfortable in various settings and on different terrains, totally enjoying this horse.

I wanted another go at driving Rosie, had a trainer refresh her, and began taking lessons. Rosie’s energy differs from Sunni and calls for more handling. Now, I was ready for the challenges.

The caption photo, of Rosie’s workout, is from my neighbor, Frank, and taken shortly after Rosie’s return from the trainer. I practiced driving her until I became courageous enough to leave the dry lot, when we begin working on neighborhood streets.

Sunni’s dependability and consistency taught me to drive. Rosie’s energy increased my perceptiveness and strengthened my handling skills.

Ever since I’ve routinely driven both horses. We’ve begun again this summer, and by now, both mares are showing increased strength over distances. After driving, their breathing sooner is achieving normal.

Driving requires mutual trust between horse and driver. It’s a wonderful sport, fun and thrilling.

Dear Friends: There are rewards from routinely interacting with more than one horse. Diana

Friday, August 06, 2021 —(In 16 days, August’s full “Sturgeon” moon will rise nearest to earth.)

Pimmy is a great pet. She loves above all else being with her horse buddies and receiving food treats. As for being with me, she’s gentle, kind, and smarter than any horse. As for myself, never near a live donkey before she arrived unexpectedly (long story), Pimmy’s the best.

My lead mare, Rosie, makes sure the younger mare, Sunni, knows who’s boss. Rosie refuses to let Sunni share her food, makes sure Sunni’s always a few feet away and undemanding. Sunni doesn’t care. Her middle-of-the-pack temperament allows Rosie to be herself. Despite space rules, the two are family and mutually groom one another.

Equine relationships are complex.

Enter Pimmy, not quite a horse but savvy. She’s wheedled her way close to both Rosie and Sunni. She eats Rosie’s food, eats Sunni’s food, and squeezes into shelter or horse trailer with them. When I take the horses into the forest to ride, Pimmy follows loosely and dependably, wears bells that reassure she’s behind us.

A donkey thinks. For example, Pimmy sees no reason to trot endlessly in circles, or be subjected to repeated commands to do one uninteresting thing or another. Basically, Pimmy’s not easily trainable, nor easily exercised. Proved by a pot belly from all the hay and grass she freely consumes.

Pimmy needs work.

The header photo is of Pimmy being exercised. Daily, she’s hitched to the Gater and forced to trot, circling the dry lot for one mile. She insists on resisting through that mile. Although I can’t exercise her on a rope, she doesn’t win against the Gater. After she’s accustomed to the mile and her resistance eased, I’ll extend her trotting distance. Hoping to reduce her belly fat.

Another hope is training Pimmy to drive. Someday, and surely very different from training a horse to drive.

Also, from yesterday, a beautiful sight.

Hay is very expensive this year. Farmers’ yields are very low because of this season’s crazy weather, wildfires, and drought conditions. My hay supplier doled portions to his customers. I felt lucky to get one, although less than desired. Fortunately, I’ve hoarded over previous years and have enough hay for my animals through the winter.

For next summer, it’ll be important to find multiple sources for hay. If the yields again are low, feeding large animals becomes a brand new ballgame.

Dear Friends: Ongoing routine rancher challenges, housing, feeding, and managing large animals. Diana

Thursday, August 05, 2021 —(In 17 days, August’s full “Sturgeon” moon will rise nearest to earth.)

I researched to identify this tiny green critter that I spotted in the garden. It’s most likely a Small Grass Emerald Moth. This photo catches it with the wings fully spread (its entire wingspan is 22-26 mm). When its wings are folded, the moth looks like a small leaf particle.

I thought I was spying an unusual bright green leaf and was looking closely, when suddenly it spread wings and lifted. A moth! It flew and landed nearby on a lava rock to rest. I had to use a zoom camera to enlarge and capture it, but truly, this photo does little justice to bright emerald wings with delicate patterns.

Nonetheless, it’s a find that’s worth sharing.

My little garden has produced many delights. Besides supporting flowers, damp environments attract wildlife. This frequent visitor spends lots of time under my small deck. It’s becoming less afraid of me.

I know from experience that wild bunnies aren’t tameable. A seriously frightened bunny can scream loud and sound like a human who’s under serious assault. Anyway, I’ve no interest in taming. Just seeing is enough.

Now I must be off to feed my horses. I’ll carry a camera to try recording more of the richness surrounding us all.

Dear Friends: Everything’s free in nature, and it’s all right in front of us to enjoy. Diana