Friday, December 29, 2023

My donkey, Pimmy, hopped into the horse trailer yesterday and traveled to her equine veterinarian, who found an abscessed hoof and some infected bone. Finally, Pimmy came home free from pain. Her hoof is bandaged and she’s on antibiotics.

I had help last evening to give Pimmy the antibiotic she was refusing. This morning, my neighbor will help to hold her still for two medications–a final dose of the painkiller and one of the antibiotic. Going forward, she’ll need only a twice-daily dose of antibiotic.

Starting today, I am scheduled to work in the afternoons and evenings through January 3rd. By then, the store will lack funding, until February, to cover a temp’s hours. I’ll use my January time off to focus on medicating Pimmy.

Yesterday, the young veterinarian who diagnosed and treated that sore hoof was smart, capable, articulate, and thoughtful. Kate Beardsley was with Pimmy and me; she had expressed confidence in this veterinarian’s capabilities. The Clinic is constructing a new branch for treating small animals. In the future, I will take all my critters there for exams and treatments.

Meanwhile, everything’s about Pimmy. She amazed everybody at the Clinic for being calm while being handled and examined. The staff said that most donkeys are difficult. I have known only Pimmy; she is a love. Our issue ahead will be our physical strength differences. Pimmy challenges my upper body strength by refusing to keep her head still and steady for medicating.

Dear Friends: Thanks to all for your support; we’ll keep doing our best. Diana

Thursday, December 27, 2023

The header photo, from years ago on an icy December day, captures my Walker Hound, Ranger, a lovable character, happily snorkeling in an irrigation canal. My dear Mr. Loyal…I so miss him!

Early this afternoon, Kate Beardsley is coming, and we plan to load my donkey, Pimmy, into the horse trailer. I will ask my neighbors, Frank and Annette, if they may be available. We might need a whole team to lift and load Pimmy.

Pimmy is going to visit a veterinarian for a diagnosis of leg pain. Right now, Pimmy still limps but at least ever so slightly. Painkiller makes her pain less noticeable and lets her move around more quickly. This painkiller, unfortunately, has troubling side effects and must be stopped. We hope a formal diagnosis will offer a prescribed treatment that keeps Pimmy pain-free and moving.

Donkies are not like horses; they often are tough numbers. Pimmy is special because she’s calm, sweet-tempered, and easy to handle. Plus, she loves her horses and is their constant companion! While my two mares often argue and compete with one another, each comfortably will allow Pimmy into her space.

Dear Friends: Please hold good thoughts today for Pimmy at the vet. Diana

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Yesterday, I worked all day and came home tired. My evening energy was adequate for feeding the critters before falling into bed. Today, I’m still tired.

I grant this is the time of year when it’s normal to feel tired. Now Christmas is over, these days are short, and the weather is glum. Now, we’re into an annual period of waiting, this time for 01 of 2024.

I try to imagine how to make 2024 different–perhaps make it more meaningful (aside from luckily winning the Lottery). For me, right now is too early to drum up doable resolutions, but their beginnings have begun swirling in my head.

Off the top, here are some biggies: (1) my animals’ and Pimmy’s wellness, (2) part-time working, (3) healthful self-caring, (4) financial awareness and learning, (5) property maintenance planning, and (6) relationship strengthening. Each resolution is complicated, requiring careful thinking and planning. Between now and the First, I’ll draft the elements needed to work toward achieving those goals.

I’m interrupted by the heating guys. They’re on their way here to check my furnace. More later.

Dear Friends: Just when I manage to “get going,” life interrupts. Diana

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Happy Afterward!

George and Anna were my hosts for Christmas dinner; they created a lovely and relaxing event. Their huge Aerdale/Poodle, very friendly, too-smart, and participating too, was the evening’s cuddle-bunny.

They’ve been together for twenty years, and we’ve all occasionally met at social events. I know Anna best because we horseback ride together (she’s a wonderful rider). Yesterday, I greeted getting to know George better.

He owns a long-haul trucking company and frequently is away from home. George is articulate about both management and labor elements in the trucking industry. And also, in regard to the sociology of trucking. Yes, he explains, there exists a real and meaningful sociology of driving among truckers.

To me, their home reflects “the real Bend.” Their property is way over on the east side and spacious, with a sky that’s wide and open. I stood, gazing around, and looking upward, and easily could understand why so many newcomers feel drawn to this city.

Now, this one sums the evening better than a thousand more words!

Dear Friends: Lots of love and cheer in their Eastside household. Diana

Monday, December 25, 2023

Merry, merry! Wishing you all an exciting gift-opening morning and a pleasant rest of the day enjoying your findings.

Here in Central Oregon, this Christmas Day will be balmy. A wonderful thing is that today represents a shift toward longer daylights.

Right now, big gifts for me are seeing my donkey, Pimmy, in less pain after several days of receiving painkillers and knowing the meds are working. She still limps but gets around better and now rests her pained hoof flat instead of keeping it tipped up.

I dislike that painkilling medication; it’s effective but has unwanted side effects. Pimmy needs its help until a veterinary evaluation pinpoints the source of her pain and offers ways to help.

More gifts that occur are greetings exchanged with friends, and in so many ways–hugs, cards, texts, and phone calls. My younger self considered such exchanges mundane, but today, our lives are more compartmentalized, and greetings seem more meaningful.

Dear Friends: Have a wonderful time through this Christmas Day. Diana

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Happy Christmas Eve!

Finally, at last, it’s here. Coming next are the bills. I’ve left all my earned money from working part-time there at the store.

Last spring, I was starting to dress and attend the wedding of my friend, Enrique, when I couldn’t find absolutely anything wearable for a special occasion. While carefully considering this, I understood that I was clueless about appropriate special clothing to shop for.

The problem is/was, I’m a horseperson.

Most horsepeople don’t shop. We spend our time outside–in the cold, rain, and/or snow; and otherwise, out sweating in the summer heat. We wear the oldest clothes, often with holes, and wear boots comfortable, with soles worn and caked with you-know-what. We fall in exhausted at bedtime, and maybe still wearing the rags with holes we were in all day.

That’s the long and short of things–we’re busy, too preoccupied to go shopping for non-necessities. And, too, our social gatherings are beyond casual; we wear (clean) rags with holes. Our gatherings are not to judge but to swap stories, collaborate, and support one another.

After my aha moments of searching for something wearable for a special occasion, I began pushing myself toward working in retail sales, particularly clothing. I wished to learn about the world of contemporary fashion and maybe update my wardrobe.

I have learned and updated. So, my earned money stays where I earned it. I’m also relearning how to use a needle and thread. And I have knocked the dust off a long-disused sewing machine.

Tomorrow, I am planning to enjoy a Christmas dinner with my horsey friends. We will be dressed casually (and this time maybe minus clothing holes). As an aside, I feel pretty good knowing that if an occasion calls more for formality, I’m ready.

Dear Friends: This is my story of achieving a full-circle success this year. Diana

Saturday, December 23, 2023

This photo of me holding up a schedule gone amuck has gone viral in the company for which I work. Exactly as I punched the print button to get my weekly schedule, the printer went into malfunction. I desperately fiddled with the printer and couldn’t stop it. Meanwhile, those short pieces continued rolling out.

I radioed the store’s manager for assistance hoping she’d not find me guilty of mishandling the electronics. She arrived, glanced at the printed mass and that ongoing spitting out, and she laughed, couldn’t stop. I didn’t know why she wanted a photo and learned later that she had sent it to everyone.

The next day, I understood. Her photo had caused laughter throughout the organization. In other words, it had created a little “Christmas Cheer Among the Weary.”

I will be working all day today, but neither tomorrow nor Christmas Day. On Tuesday, when next I work, lines of customers will be wanting to return items. On that day and those following, I will be processing many, many returns.

Dear Friends: Have a wonderful day. Diana

Friday, December 22, 2023

On today’s date, two years ago, this header photo captured our local weather. This year’s winter, in comparison, has been balmy. The seasonal balm is welcome but worrisome because this is high desert territory. Its reservoirs annually need refills from abundant snow and rain to support the ever-growing population.

Through a relatively dry winter like this one, we with livestock worry about next spring’s hay crop. Unless hay is abundant, finding available bales becomes challenging and costly. Several recent relatively dry local winters have made it difficult to find and afford hay. As the financial stress of supporting large animals grows from shortages of hay and of property availability and affordability, one wonders how much longer we can manage to keep large-animal pets.

Yesterday morning, my donkey, Pimmy, received a full dose of painkiller. Nonetheless, she limped throughout the day but did have more appetite. Today’s plan has changed, as Kate’s veterinary team postponed its visit to her Equine Rescue. So, this morning, Pimmy needn’t be loaded and trailered for examination and treatment.

Meanwhile, Pimmy will receive daily doses of the painkiller and hopefully soon feel less or no pain.

I will have today off unless called in, and tomorrow will work through the day.

Dear Friends: Practicalities aside, the warmish winter feels wonderful to me! Diana

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Today, I will medicate my donkey, Pimmy by using a syringe. There’s no other choice in order to ease her foot pain. Pimmy’s appetite has fallen, and she’s not consuming enough painkilling powder by mouth. Our past experience with medicating by syringe has made my sweet donkey wary and intent on avoiding my nearness.

I will capture and medicate by getting her into the barn without a chance of escaping. She will follow the hungry horses inside this morning and I will do my thing. Later, I’ll come home from work at lunchtime, feed the horses, and see if Pimmy appears less painful. If the medication works and tomorrow makes her loadable, she’ll be transported to Kate’s for a vet visit. There, Pimmy will be radiographed, re-diagnosed, and receive meds.

Pimmy will be home, in an optimal solution, with ways to counter and control her lameness. Kate loves Pimmy and is a super resource for information, support, and backup. Happily, too, Kate’s equine rescue organization is not far from my place.

Our friend, Julie, will help load and transport Pimmy tomorrow morning.

Dear Friends: In this worrisome period, my donkey and I have a village! Diana

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Yesterday, my donkey, Pimmy, ate most of her painkiller-laced breakfast. At lunchtime, when I came home to feed the horses, Pimmy still moved pitifully. By evening, she was waiting for me at the gate with her painful hoof fully resting on the ground. A good sign, because that hoof previously has been held lifted. Still, however, she walked with a limp and maybe appearing less awful.

Today, more of the same. She’ll have breakfast in the barn, some sort of deliciousness laced with a painkiller. My weirdo donkey! She might or might not eat. Fingers crossed.

While at work, sometimes I’m asked to stay longer because of employees calling in. I’m willing as the store’s super busy, and I like the place. Besides, my work ethic won’t let me refuse. However, there’s a balancing act between working away from home and horse-keeping. The horses need feeding several times daily, and fortunately, mine have decent weights. If that changes, I’ll stop working away from home.

Dear Friends: Thanks to all who have fingers crossed for sweet Pimmy. Diana