Monday, August 29, 2020

Last evening, here on the east side of town and in our local Safeway, an active shooter murdered shoppers. That shooter, soon found dead in the store, apparently committed suicide. Everything about the event is heartbreaking, the same for every mass shooting, whether in our backyards or seemingly distant.

Ever-increasing episodes in public venues are alerting citizens and weighing our minds. Since the mid-1990s, mass murders have occurred in schools, crowded streets, and inside shopping destinations. It’s ugly and unfortunate that Americans today anticipate probably of similar incidents.

The critical sources of this violence are mental health and weapons availability issues. The world’s increasing population burdens public mental health providers. Getting large-scale mental health up to speed requires lengthy and complex processes. Those would begin with the almost impossible question, “What is “public mental health” anyway?”

Americans recognize that the most direct and immediate way to reduce incidents of mass shootings is to increase control over weapon sales. A tough job but likely more doable than addressing public mental health challenges. However, in the end, mental health issues are giants that cannot be ignored.

I’ll vote for anyone who’ll pledge to take on shooting issues, promise to work toward outlawing weapons sales and reduce current large ownerships.

Dear Friends: America must ensure public safety in social venues. Diana

Sunday, August 28, 2022

I could look forever at today’s header photo. The compelling image suggests meanings, evokes memories, and generates ideas.

This photo rouses imaginings about time, place, weather, and light. For me, it captures recall and lets me relive the magic of riding on horseback early in a morning or an evening.

It also captures my dream of creating images from my world, revealing time, place, weather, and light elements. Sislen’s photo demonstrates a magical way of seeing that conjures moods and reveals possibilities.

To fuel my ambitions, I have a brand new camera. It’s a complicated, compact, high-end engineering product designed to capture visions any user may wish. I am in awe of the learning curve needed to utilize this device’s offerings. Hopefully, the effort requiring time, study, and experimentation won’t overcome my wishing and willingness.

Here’s to moving ahead. I’ll post my first photos as soon as possible.

Dear Friends: Living teaches that where the eye goes, the heart may follow. Diana

Saturday, August 27, 2022

A former customer from when I sold chickens forwarded this sweet capture. Her hen has a new baby.

I’m offering it this morning as a quick hello and goodbye. I am scheduled very early to work and am having to clock-watch.

So, I’ll see you again tomorrow. That will be an early-to-work, too, but less so than today.

Dear Friends: We’re near summer’s end, so make this a great day. Diana

Friday, August 26, 2022

Rosie, now in her mid-twenties, has lived with me ten years. She’s what’s called a “lead mare type.” In other words, Rosie is a herd boss. At my place, she bosses her younger sister, Sunni (pronounced sunny) and their constant companion, standard donkey, Pimmy. It does seem that mostly Sunni and Pimmy allow Rosie the role of boss. Occasionally, one of those underlings successfully navigates the herd status to achieve her own intent. Rosie appears to understand.

She’s alert, very smart, and highly attuned to the environment. Rosie’s early years were tough-going. Her breeder-owner was a person capable with horses and often mentally devil-ridden. An outcome for Rosie was sometimes becoming hypertuned, anxious, and more bossy.

In beginning our partnership, I was new to horses and learned that Rosie would become my trainer. I found that Rosie will sense the slightest hint of anxiety and want to become “the decider” of what next happens. I learned to remain calm, soft-speaking, and how to behave as the lead mare to Rosie.

These days, Rosie seems less anxious overall. She’s dependable, fun, and well trained, an experienced riding and driving horse. She knows more than I ever may comprehend. Rosie is from a foundation line stretching back through generations to Justin Morgan’s Morgan, and she beautifully represents it.

Along the way, Rosie can be silly.

Dear Friends: Those teeth are a reminder to write about “Special’s Tooth”…next time. Diana

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Today’s header photo shows Chase and Ranger about to enter a canal. That waterway is large and active, and both dogs are swimmers. Ranger knows how to swim in this busy channel, but Chase is new to it. He must learn to assess water movements and navigate safely.

This central canal has sections where water flows relatively slowly or rapidly by design. These variations test a swimmer’s judgment and strength. My experienced dogs understand moving water and how to swim safely. New to the canal, Young Chase immediately sensed the challenges upon leaping into it. He elected to remain in calm water near the embankment with accessible exits. I watched that intelligent boy grasp solutions like an experienced swimmer.

My other young dog, Mitzvah, tiptoes to water and drinks but refuses to swim. On this day, they were introduced to an environment they’ll return to often. Chase’s familiarity with this canal is a crucial step in his development.

The entire area surrounding that waterway is pure desert. The dogs and I went walking, with them running ahead and sometimes following. Mitzvah and Chase held their own throughout our hike.

These “littles” are tough and willing learners.

Dear Friends: Preparing them all for autumn’s lovely months and outings. Diana

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

My puppy, Chase, is about to turn seven months old. He’s settling into a sweet, friendly fellow living within my pack of dogs. Chase has become stronger physically and is developing a distinctive personality. His maturing calls for some alone time with his human. I’m often too busy or preoccupied with miscellanea to pause and train him. But Chase needs my focus and attention to grow into a great and dependable buddy.

In today’s header photo, Chase is on a leash as my only companion. We’re returning from our first long walk together. During that walk, he initially seemed tentative and would pause and pull against the leash. Soon, however, he figured “it out” and adapted, becoming an easy-to-lead companion.

That sunny afternoon, we strolled for about a mile; it was too warm to go farther. Besides teaching Chase that he’s special, he showed me that he’s maturing. I was impressed and decided to trust him with more freedom inside the house.

That afternoon, Chase hung out alone with me. He didn’t drag around his findings, ignored my laundry and my shoes, and didn’t chew on electrical wires. He suddenly seems to have transitioned from all “teeth, nails, and awful” to a Mr. Charming.

I was convinced enough and avoided confining Chase to a kennel through the night. For the first time, he was left free to sleep where he chose. In the morning, I awoke and found him curled on a pillow near my bed.

“Good boy, Chase!” We’re making it through your puppyhood! A miracle of miracles.

Dear Friends: I can see us sailing more smoothly into our future together. Diana

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

The dragonflies abound on hot summer days, attracting with bright eyes and gossamer wings. I captured some of this one’s energy but too little of its colors.

I have ordered a new camera against my strong sense that today’s economics require saving and not spending. I hope it’s significantly smaller, lighter-weight, and takes equally good pictures as my dependable and too-heavy camera.

In the old days, camera stores ordinary were many and local. A buyer could look, hold, try out, and select a camera with accessories that felt suitable. Today, I live in a small city in the middle of Oregon and must go online to sort through a decent variety of high-end cameras.

For a non-professional photographer, newer camera technology is confusing. Camera reviews don’t help me because they require understanding many complex elements that I don’t enjoy dealing with. I am a pointer and shooter but wish for all the greatness. I grasp when a photo is good; it’s clean, balanced, and tells a story.

I will play with the new camera. I can decide to keep it or seek one more suitable to my needs and shooting style. Perhaps modern technology will encourage me to alter my needs and style. Experimenting has a way of doing that.

Dear Friends: Every sort of change brings challenges and opportunities. Diana

Monday, August 22, 2022

In today’s header photo, thirteen-year-old Poppy eats from a haybag, while on her back a hen is almost roosting. Not visible in the scene is a twin situation at the haybag’s opposite side. There, Poppy’s sister Breeze munches as a different hen perches on her back. Last evening, I tried in nearly total darkness with my iPhone to capture that whole scene, but failed. Except for this image which conveys part of the story.

My twin Dwarf Goats and many chickens live together comfortably. Often, goats greet my visits to the coop with one or more hens hanging out on their backs. My appearance upsets the arrangements by exciting both goats and chickens. They anticipate food, and especially, treats, treats, treats.

Goat and chicken relationships have their practicalities. A chicken finds and removes insects from the host’s hairy carcass and accurately plucks matter from its ride’s eye-corners. My goats don’t seem even to notice those activities.

Another advantage to the goats is that they love to consume chicken feed. To a goat, corn is candy.

Dear Friends: So cool, the critters, both together and separately. Diana

Sunday, August 21, 2022

I am reading a novel, The Book of Form and Emptiness, by Ruth Ozeki. This work is a candidate for this year’s Booker Prize, a literary award for the best novel written in English. Ozeki has published several books, but this is my first time reading her. She teaches writing, and her style is modern, excellent, and precise.

This work of fiction is impacting me. It heightens my perceptions of how the past, present, and future interact and influence. It has me focusing on humanity’s inner and outer lives and thinking more about “being human.” I’m about a quarter of the way in, so the jury still is out, but so far, so good and even excellent.

With Ozeki’s work offering ways to reconsider being human, time passes more quickly as I perform work behind my cash register in a busy supermarket.

She is an American-Canadian author, filmmaker, and Zen Buddhist priest. Her writing is highly visual. To me, it’s like seeing a movie. Her Zen philosophy doesn’t slow the flow but imbues the story’s potential. Especially if readers are thoughtful.

This story essentially tackles issues of life and death. It does so with insight, warmth, and humor. It also incorporates the book itself as a character and with a perspective. All that works!

Dear Friends: It’s a novel that’s lovely, tender, and has a Zen way. Diana

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Recently, I saw a piece on public television about retirees owning homes, living alone, and wanting companionship, money, or other things. They’re accepting as renters other retirees. I like the idea of teaming with another retiree, but having always lived alone I wonder about being flexible enough to share my home.

Some retirees on the television episode had always lived alone and resisted seeking renters. The current economic environment requiring more money has pushed them to allow renters. They spoke of discovering that they enjoy having company.

Yesterday, I went to Costco. An employee greeting shoppers was someone I’ve know casually for years (I used to be employed in Costco). Our mutual love for animals keeps us chatting. This time, she surprised me by wondering if I want a roommate. She was serious and explained. Although hesitating, I could see two-way advantages. Like me, she’s post-retirement and still working. She needs somewhere to live; I could use help with animals and property. We will meet again and discuss space sharing.

Dear Friends: I must be off to work, for today my starting time is early. Diana