Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Yesterday, the mobile veterinarian, Tyler, at first wondered if laminitis were causing Pimmy’s lameness. On discovering only one front hoof painful, he focused on another possibility.

Pimmy’s hoof bottoms had been too tightly packed for my pitiful strength with a hoof knife. Tyler, digging into the painful hoof, found an embedded rock and infection beneath it.

That probably had been building up and causing pain for a while. Animals are amazing in that they’re stoic, and can “suck it up” long before a human sees anything unusual. That happened with Pimmy. One morning, upon seeing her, boom! She severely was limping with a front hoof too painful for support.

Regardless, Pimmy remained stoic, managing to hobble to the hay doles and eat. She even dodged a little faux kicking by her cool weather-inspired horse buddies.

Pimmy isn’t limping anymore. Tyler has packed her hoof with a “drawing medicine” and bandaged it. I’m instructed to re-medicate and re-bandage on Wednesday and Friday. He said that on Wednesday, the old dressing will come off damp, but by Friday should be dry, indicating a recovered hoof.

For years, Pimmy and my horses have been a tight trio. Pimmy is lovely and the only donkey I’ve known. Tyler at first approached Pimmy gingerly, in case she proved uncooperative and difficult to handle as donkeys often are. He was delighted to find an easy-peasy patient.

Small thanks to me for this donkey’s trusting nature. Instead, many kudos to Pimmy’s first humans, our kind friends in Eugene.

Dear Friends: Last night, unworried about Pimmy, I slept well. Diana

Monday, September 26, 2022

Early today, I’ll contact Bend Equine, a medical facility, and request a “farm call.” A veterinarian needs to come and examine Pimmy, my donkey.

Last week something happened that causes her to limp severely. One of the horses might have kicked her. That seems unlikely after the trio’s many years of healthy togetherness. Nonetheless, accidents occur.

I can’t find an outer sign of injury except for seeing her difficulties in moving around. It’s evident that Pimmy doesn’t set the hoof of her injured leg flatly on the ground. She struggles to move with the injured leg on its tiptoe.

I search for another outward sign of injury. She’s not bothered when my hands are moving up and down the injured leg, nor bothered when I am pressuring the injured leg’s hoof-bottom.

I hoped she’d improve but don’t see that happening. This weekend, I tried to find a mobile equine veterinarian who was working, without luck. Today, I’ll have someone competent come to examine her.

It’s sad seeing my usually tough donkey with problems. Maybe she did get caught by an accidental kick. This cooling weather makes horses exuberant, and periodically, they’re running about and kicking out.

Dear Friends: More ahead when I know why her leg hurts. Diana    

Sunday, September 25, 2022

Yesterday, there seemed fewer than usual customers in the supermarket where I’m a cashier. Sure, plenty arrived to keep we workers busy, but the overall volume was less than “Saturday as usual.” Maybe today the store will be double slammed.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. One could guess that most would-be Saturday shoppers were outside enjoying the fall weather. Today’s news carries stories about would-be campers, without campsite reservations, fighting with those having reservations. Apparently, “open first-come-first-served” campground spots can be reserved, and yesterday, forest area supervisors had their hands full.

Today is Sunday, usually busy with grocery shoppers, pushing full baskets in long lines for checking out. On average Sundays, cash registers ring non-stop from start to end. Today will turn into a real “whop-to-do,” if those who chose to play yesterday show up today for their groceries.

I can’t help mentioning inflation. Even in my cut-rate supermarket workplace, some loaves of bread now ring up in the neighborhood of $6 each. I’m noticing, too, more sales of do-it-yourself products, like those for baking bread.

It’s time to search for and dust off our long-stashed bread-making machines.

Dear Friends: “All politics (and [my insertion] economics) is local.” Diana     

Friday, September 24, 2022

Yesterday, I needed a little therapy and decided to roam Costco. My excuse was to replenish my dwindling supply of dog biscuits. My real reason was from a weird bit of restlessness making me want to wander in a big store.

Feeling “housebound” can be unsettling. My flooring person has stashed around tools and a large supply of vinyl flooring. He’s a friend, working on his own time and sometimes disappearing for periods. I get it, that’s our deal.

I’ve begun sleeping in the guest bedroom. Like most other spaces, it’s crammed with “stuff” needing removal from the floorer’s work areas. In disarray, I must search for items. No longer are comfortable areas for sitting, reading, and dozing.

Sometimes I need to wander. Not out walking through the streets, alone or with an animal companion, but roaming among other wanderers.    

As things turned out, Costco was a good call. I spotted the Pharmacy Department and managed to receive both a Covid booster and a flu shot. That wasn’t a conscious part of yesterday’s plan but was a key goal.

Exiting Costco with dog biscuits and a couple of on-sale items set me back a hundred dollars. That’s almost a non-issue in a store that easily can set one back hundreds of dollars. Best and accidentally, I received those boosters.

Dear Friends: That wander dissolved nervous energy and solved a need. Diana

Friday, September 23, 2022

Today, I will take Ranger, my aging hound dog, to the veterinarian who last week assessed my mini-Aussie, Louie. She was observant, knowledgeable, and supportive, agreeing that Louie, in old age, had fallen ill and was suffering. She helped me say goodbye to my brave and loyal little buddy.

Ranger, too, is aging. He needs an updated health baseline. My recent experience with Louie’s health issues alerted me to be more aware of the aging process. Ranger’s face now shows some gray and he’s also a bit stiffer and slower.

Twelve years ago, as a little lost puppy, he appeared on my doorstep. I advertised but nobody responded. Meanwhile, the puppy made it clear that I was “his person.” That’s never changed.

I always preferred working-type dogs, especially herding breeds. I never estimated hound-types as being smart, but Ranger changed my attitude. He’s been a devoted companion, dependable outdoors buddy, and is plenty smart. I’ve appreciated that he has what’s called “a cold nose,” referring to hunting types, uninterested in seeking or chasing the wild game.

For years, along with Louie, Ranger ran alongside me on horseback and over all sorts of terrain. On all trails, straight-arrow Ranger ran in the lead, and always, upon losing sight of me, he quickly backtracked and made sure my horse was following.

Dear Friends: Ahead, is watching over his senior years. Diana

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Each morning, I write a blog and try to publish it as close as possible to 8:00. For some irritating reason, my writing platform, Word Press, often dies around that time. After writing a blog on the WP site, it stalls and I’m unable to save and publish. I’ve tried many ways and failed to get a stalled WP up again and running. If the problem is that WP is a too-busy site, that’s not good.

Today, I’m taking a different approach and drafting my blog using a Word platform. I’ll save my draft before logging onto WP. Maybe, quickly, I can paste and publish before the site again fails.

Contacting a live site representative for help is like pulling teeth. Most internet sites refer questions about problems to topic lists with user questions and expert answers. Those rarely answer my questions.  

One alternative is to change my writing platform. I have loved Word Press, but earlier this year, the “stalling problems” had me beginning to do that. Before completing the switch, I installed a new computer which seemed to help. Recently, when WP began acting up again, I installed another new computer. This has allowed publishing until the same site problems recurred.

I will discover if this drafting method can work as I hope on the WP site. If all goes well, it’s a happy good morning to you all.

Dear Friends: The “Cloud” is just that, beautiful and often fuzzy. Diana     

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

I was asked to work yesterday (my day off) after scheduled employees called in, declaring themselves unavailable. This busy supermarket is well managed and pays a decent wage but copes with the same personnel problems commonly haunting businesses today.

I might be from a generation that can’t understand today’s workers’ attitudes and behaviors. Or maybe it’s just me, self-blindsided by my early life experiences. Throughout my high school years, I knew finding a job was essential. My family didn’t push for post-high school education, which left no alternatives for my next steps.

I managed to find my way by gaining higher education and a career in large corporate environments. After finally retiring, I enjoyed several unworking years, finally responding to a nagging need to find some paying work. So, I re-began, and at the bottom, spending years serving samples in the local Costco Store. Since then, after learning to operate an electronic cash register, I became an employable cashier.

In a busy store, cashiering both is fast and physically challenging work. It requires talking, processing merchandise, searching for product codes, entering data, and handling money. This part-time job alerts me to the importance of dependable front-line workers. And my store can’t find enough of them.

I’m surprised to discover myself enjoying this work, and can’t help wondering how, today, people are deciding not to work. Or how they may be so casual as to not show up for work, or how they simply can quit shortly after being hired. I haven’t suitable answers.

Perhaps I’m from the wrong generation to be questioning attitudes today. A key attitude of mine is to work; it’s ingrained in who I am. Surprises me, too, for until recently this idea never entered my mind.

There’s tons more to consider and learn about this topic. I’d really like to understand better. Right now, there’s no time to elaborate, for today, I must work in that supermarket.

Dear Friends: Could it be that generations are ingrained differently? Diana

Monday, September 19, 2022

Yesterday, our local weather turned cold. I wore a heavy jacket while feeding my outside critters, and later, while going to work. The day stayed gloomy, and in parts of the city, rainy. I was surprised to see more grocery shoppers in summer shorts and t-shirts than in long sleeves and jackets.

It was a typical Sunday in the store, busy all day. We cashiers worked nonstop. I was at the tail end of coping for days-long with a still-sore rib and an attack of ferocious cold. Halfway through my shift, I began feeling the physical tiredness that suggests overdoing. I welcomed the workday end.

Adding to my discomfort was mental re-processing of bidding farewell to a beloved pet. My mini-Aussie, Louie, a larger-than-life twenty-five-pounder, was a big part of what had become my new life here in Central Oregon. I adopted him soon after following my dream of acquiring an outside-the-city property and learning to ride on horseback. Louie became integral to my new world.

So did a hound dog puppy that one morning showed up on our rural street. Lost and crying, he crawled to me on his belly, and I popped him into my car. That instant I became his person, and in the twelve years since, Ranger’s focus on pleasing me hasn’t diminished.

He has lost some hearing. Occasional noticeable hints suggest his loss might be significant. I won’t make the mistake I might have with Louie, of ignoring the signs of aging. Louie proved again, how well dogs cover what’s wrong and make problems unnoticeable by casual human attention. This week, Ranger will be assessed by the veterinarian who attended to Louie. She was observant, compassionate, and intelligent, and worked comfortably with me.

I have today off with a couple of things needing my attention. Afterward, I’ll gather the dogs and a camera. It’s a good day for finding a pretty outback and having a fall ramble.

Dear Friends: Thanks for caring about Louie and me, and today’s a new page. Diana

Sunday, September 18, 2022

The header photo captures Louie, in my arms and riding back to a trailhead.

He had lived a while with me, and the picture is from his first time following my horse on a trail. He was hesitant starting out but with encouragement came along, but only slowly trailing. While guiding my horse, I knew that Louie was following because a bell was attached to his collar.

This outing had several riders, all aware that Louie was a novice follower and carefully remaining aware of the newbie. For about a mile all went well. At some point, as we riders chatted, I suddenly realized, No Bell! I stopped my horse, and looking around didn’t see Louie. I yelled, “Does anyone hear a bell?”

We all stopped, looking around, hearing nothing, and not seeing Louie. One rider, Linda Hanson, reacted quickly, by turning her mule and thundering backward on the trail. The rest of us followed and shortly came upon Linda. She was standing on the ground and holding my little fellow. She’d discovered Louie fast asleep next to a pile of brush and twigs. Linda handed him to me, and Louie, still half-asleep, returned to the trailhead in my arms.

That was the only time Louie wasn’t a perfect trail partner. From then on, Louie faithfully has followed my horse paths everywhere. Months later, a young hound dog puppy showed up at my house. I advertised and nobody claimed the pup. He became “Ranger.”

For years afterward, Louie and Ranger followed my horse on trails. We rode everywhere, in mountains and forests, scaled heights, and crossed waterways. The dogs were constant companions.

Louie wasn’t easy. He was so cute that people always wanted to pet him. His marble eyes could stink-look at would-be petters and frighten them backward. In truth, anyone unafraid of Louie’s stink-eye became his great friend.

Unfortunately, yesterday happened, and I had to say goodbye to Louie. Soon after turning thirteen years old, he noticeably began failing. My awareness was sudden; there isn’t any telling how long his problems weren’t noticeable.

I wish to remember that the little guy was bigger than life. Louie filled a hole in my heart and losing him feels awful. I’d love to repeat with my two trail buddies many past activities and adventures.

Ranger is turning twelve years old. He has lost some hearing and I’m keeping an eye on his aging process. Like Louie, he will cover his problems well, for so long.

This ending is a reminder that some of us connect deeply to our pets. We allow ourselves to participate fully in a two-way commitment. That’s a miracle of true companionship.

Dear Louie, RIP. Love, Diana

September 17, 2022

Chilly morning, this one, and beautiful besides. The horses, frisky with hunger, are calmed by an early feeding.

It’s back-to-work for me. My three days off involved fighting a severe cold. Probably for having an immune system already compromised by a cracked rib. Speaking of which, for the first time since the accident, I finally could sleep while on my left side. Can’t be pain free while on my right side, but any sign of progress pleases.

The person replacing my carpeting with vinyl tiles will be here today. After tiling most of the downstairs area, he is about to re-floor the master bedroom. Yesterday, I emptied that room of most of the books and odd junk. I’ll need his help to move a couple of pieces too heavy for me alone.

It feels as if months have passed since this flooring project began. Now, I’m astonished that the main floors are nearly complete, after which remains only a loft area. I’ve happily ousted most of my oversized furniture one way or another. Ahead, I will opt for minimalist furnishings.

Ah, we learn as we grow, with changing a never-ending process.

Dear Friends: Enjoy this day. Diana