Saturday, February 12, 2022

^{(Moon phase is Waxing Crescent; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

Lisa and I met as I checked her out in my work of cashiering. She spoke of having a large aviary that houses many finches and canaries, some of which are exotic. She invited me to visit, and yesterday on a beautiful morning, I grabbed a camera, revved my vintage Jeep, and headed to Bear Creek Road. I had to drive way east to find her acreage and even farther than I imagined Bear Creek to stretch.

The country out there is beautiful. So is Lisa’s aviary. Almost indescribable were my surprise and joy upon accepting her invitation to enter a stand-alone wooden structure. I’ve been aware of spatial arrangements and orientations relative to energy flow, known as Feng Shui, and in Lisa’s aviary, found myself precisely in such an environment.

The spacious, gorgeous interior has colorful plants and creative lighting.

Each side of a center walkway features several large aviaries. Flitting around in some are colorful busy finches and in others bright and equally-busy singing canaries.

These birds are feeding from a chicken-feeder trough which Lisa purchases from our store. I like this capture lots.

She can open windows in each aviary in warm weather to allow birds outside freedom. The external aviaries receive lots of natural light and are populated with feeders, plants, and trees. She opened some windows, and birds happily took flight and resettled outside.

If indeed those small birds do much settling. They’re busy, hopping, feeding, bathing, and delightfully picturing health and wellness. Here are some of the adorable tiny Japanese Quail that populate the aviary floors.

Lisa is an avid horseperson. After losing a beloved horse, she began creating her aviary. Over about three years, she turned loss and sadness into creativity. Inside her structure, she loves watching birds and hearing canaries sing. She works on a center table and has a sink.

The comfortable seating allows relaxation among the birds. A pellet stove offsets cold weather, and if she wishes, a sound system lets her listen to music.

My photos don’t do justice to this unique environment. We discussed my returning and learning more about the aviary’s back story and development. I’d enjoy writing an article detailing more and better Lisa’s outstanding achievement.

By the way, and equally important, she’s working with an adopted young dog, Mitzi. She and this energetic pup are being schooled in agility. Mitzi arrived to Lisa from Mexico via the wonderful Street Dog Rescue organization.

I want to add that none of these photos have been edited or trimmed at all. There’s simply not a spot unworthy of capture and enjoyment in Lisa’s Zen Aviary.

Dear Friends: This reawakening to beauty fueled my energy through the day. Diana

Friday, February 11, 2022

^{(Moon phase is Waxing Crescent; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

Recently, a customer checking out at my register bought a length of half-pipe made of lightweight metal. When I asked what it was designed for, she said it’s a long feeder for numerous chickens. She intended to hang it in her finch aviary.

She held up the scooped channel and showed me some hanging brackets. Hung correctly, it would allow her birds to feed collectively. Its depth would limit seed spilling.

How many finches? She said, “I have over eighty; some are exotic.”

Well, there it happens. A bird-person meets another bird-person.

Today, I’ll visit her place before going to work. I will see her aviary, meet her birds, and take pictures. If I capture a cool aviary showing the feeder and birds, I’ll request permission from the customer and my managers to submit the photo to our store’s home office.

Each company store has a lunchroom with a video setup. A wall shows a continuously rolling display of photos highlighting various stores and taken by employees. No photos are showing that represent Bend’s store. If I capture an image of the chicken trough purchased from our store, hung with finches perching and feeding, that might fit the bill.

Dear Friends: This morning, I’ll be perched and trying to see creatively. Diana

Thursday, February 10, 2022

^{(Moon phase is Waxing Crescent; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

Right now, temperatures in the sixties and seventies are creating wonderful warm days. We in the Northwest love this weather but worry about inadequate moisture. Our water bills are rising along with the ever-increasing prices and growing scarcity of agricultural products. I must locate enough grass hay this summer to feed my equines for another year and afford it, hopefully.

Worries aside, this is horseback riding weather. Friends who ride ask me to join them, but my work schedule interferes with a freedom to play, at least, playing outdoors. Otherwise, it’s fun working at the job of caring for and selling baby chickens.

Yesterday, a woman entered the store leading a hound dog. I stared at him, an exact duplicate of my hound, Ranger, even an identical spotted neck and legs. She said that her dog is eleven years old, and so is my Ranger. She said that someone in her family got him in trade as a pup for a six-pack of beer.

Ranger’s story is similar. He showed up on my street as a whimpering months’ old stray. In response to my advertisement of a lost puppy, a woman called. She said he was from a litter her husband had handed out in front of a local supermarket. Maybe, but I’d never return a found animal to such people. No one else called, and so “Ranger” became mine.

I chatted with the customer about our hound dogs. To me, besides looking precisely alike, it appears they’re also very similar in temperament, dependability, and devotion. We concluded that once upon a time, these two likely were littermates. Lucky pups, both.

Dear Friends: Last evening, I hugged my Ranger extra. Diana

Wednesday, February 09, 2022

^{(Moon phase is Waxing Crescent; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

My heritage turkey hens, finally released from confinement, are doing well. At first, both turkeys followed me closely, were curious about everything they saw, and stayed near. I roamed the coop as the original flock ignored us.

These are beautiful heritage turkeys, about seven months old, and very sweet. They tolerate being petted and picked up. Each probably weighs fifteen-to-twenty pounds. I couldn’t lift one unless assisted by an adrenaline rush.

Also newly released were the turkeys’ two buddy chickens. They’re Rhode Island Reds, eastern versions. Their colors vary from our western darker-Reds. This capture after release shows the newbies, one gray and the other a mottled-red.

I left the coop for several hours to attend zoom meetings at work and returned to find all birds getting along. There were periodic conflicts between my big Cuckoo-Maran Rooster and the gray Red he wanted to woo. Facing him and fighting mightily, she repeatedly deflected his attentions. Good going, Rhode Island Red!

As a note, while selling chicks at work, I’ve learned that Reds highly are popular. Many keeping them have opinions, saying they’re great layers of beautiful eggs, and often like me, seeing them as slightly stand-offish and a little too-smart.

It’s all fun!

Dear Friends: Our chick sales will continue through September! I’ll learn lots. Diana

Tuesday, February 08, 2022

_{(Moon phase is Waxing Crescent; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

Three weeks have passed since I adopted two hen turkeys and their two buddy chickens. They’ve been kenneled inside the larger chicken area to acquaint all the birds. My twin dwarf goats living among the chickens now also know the newbies. Today, I will release the turkeys and their chicken mates into the larger flock and goats.

I will observe the integration process, hoping all goes well. I’ll also enlarge a couple of the “in and out” openings to feed areas,” providing access for big turkeys while keeping them too small for goats.

I’ll leave the integration fencing and weather protection that have accommodated the new birds. The setup will house my brooder babies when they’re fully feathered and ready to join the outside flock. That way, they’ll meet the larger fowl and goat community over several weeks.

So, today’s a big one at Eight Pines Ranch. It’s about freeing the new birds and seeing if they’ve integrated well among the existing flock. It’s a teaching day, for reassurance that my little baby chicks can follow the same process.

Dear Friends: The babies are growing quickly and need a larger brooder. Diana

Monday, February 06, 2022

_{(Moon phase is Waxing Crescent; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

I’m to help open the store today so this will be quick.

Yesterday, my first day as the store’s “chicken lady” went well. I was alone for an hour before the store opened and remembered how to clean brooders and care for chicks from my one day of being trained.

I enjoyed a new role that makes it okay to move around in a larger area. Part of my job now is assisting our Animal Health Specialist. That lets me walk isles, observe shelves, and rearrange items moved around by customers. I chatted with people curious about chickens, cared for our chicks, and straightened shelved stock.

Back home, my petite Pepita chick working hard to get around in leg braces just couldn’t make it. Losing her was heartbreaking, but I’d try again. She taught me more about infant birds.

Now, I must hurry to get dressed and go feed large animals. On my next day off, I’ll open a gate and let my new turkeys and chickens integrate with the larger flock. I’m hoping for success.

Dear Friends: The inspirations for new events are our hopes for success. Diana

Sunday, February 05, 2022

_{(Moon phase is Waxing Crescent; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

My tiny chicken is days old and has lots of heart. She appears to have a condition called “splatters.” She has a useless left leg, and its toes are limp. She gets around by pulling with her right leg and dragging her left.

I’m trying to normalize her useless leg by following directions from the internet. Last night, I cut a thin strip of vet wrap several inches long, wrapped some of the fabric around each leg, and allowed a body’s width of space between the legs. That could let her good leg support the other.

Her efforts to stand and hop can strengthen the needy leg. This tyke tries hard, but progress comes with difficulty. I watch her move while braced and understanding more, I can improve that wrap brace.

Baby chicks grow quickly. Daily wrapping and her efforts to stand and move should improve the leg within days. It’ll be best for this baby to wind up standing and moving normally. It’ll be okay if she winds up with a forever limp. Most important is having both legs gain enough strength for lifelong support.

Today at work, I’ll begin my new “chicken lady” role. Maybe I’ll take Pepita with me and help her stand and hop at times.

Dear Friends: A tiny brave one, so motivated to manage her body and live. Diana

Saturday, February 05, 2022

_{(Moon phase is Waxing Crescent; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

Yesterday, my early go-to-work day, shadowing a young man familiar with the store’s chick-care routine, turned out to be fun for me. He showed a series of steps for cleaning brooders, re-stocking chick water and feed, and taking care of a back-room chick area. After those training basics, I was on my own.

I had no trouble finding ways to stay busy in the store’s brooder areas. I cleaned baby chicks with clogged vents and talked with customers looking or ready to buy. I listened to people’s stories about their past chicken experiences and shared some of mine. I captured baby chicks, packaged them, and explained products supportive of infant and adult chicken care to those wanting to know.

My past months of working behind a cash register helped. Many customers purchasing chicken care products shared their chicken experiences and learning. Their stories hiked my arsenal of possibilities and solutions.

My next-door neighbor once said that sometimes, I “think more with my heart than with my head,” which yesterday proved true. I brought home four days-old chicks. Three came from the back-room sick tank, all weak from being shipped in crowded conditions. One has a broken leg and two seeming to recover. My fourth chick is the lone healthy remainder of a breed that sold-out.

The three that will survive are company for the real-problem hen. She has a strong will to live despite a leg that appears broken, useless, and only slightly thicker than dental floss. Maybe she has the condition called “straddle leg.” Whatever, I hope saving her is possible.

Dear Friends: This new role must avoid falling for the weakest and leftovers. Diana

Friday, February 04, 2022

_{(Moon phase is Waxing Crescent; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

Hi, as a brief hello. Today, I must be at work by seven a.m., too early for my ease. This obligation forces me to rethink morning schedules and rearrange morning chores. My focus is on getting started, getting done, and getting to work.

The change is because I’ll be responsible for the store’s baby chickens in an upcoming role. The chicks must be solid and healthy-looking with clean quarters before eight a.m., when customers begin arriving. Today, I’ll shadow someone experienced in the role and learn to perform in it.

Changes don’t come easily. A seven o’clock arrival at work means early to bed the evening before and an earlier start the following day. Our clocks on standard time require feeding large animals in darkness before leaving for work.

The good things ahead are a more exciting role at work and leaving work earlier. The late afternoons will allow care for my large animals in daylight.

I’ll get a handle on needed adjustments.

Dear Friends: Each day should have challenges and inspire learning. Diana

Thursday, February 03, 2022

_{(Moon phase is Waxing Crescent; February’s “Snow Moon” rises fullest on 16th.)}

The natural light was spectacular late yesterday afternoon, particularly on the trees. As I walked north to gather my horses from a neighbor’s pasture, the trees ahead were alight. They seemed otherworldly. My heart raced.

Lately, I’ve been busy, haven’t bothered to carry a camera and seek photo ops. Yesterday’s spectacular highlights made me whip out my cellphone. The trees were magnificent. I snapped and snapped, pointing north to capture lights and memories.

In the distance high atop a Ponderosa, unmoving and captured by the light, perched a bird of prey, too distant for my cellphone. I repeatedly looked to confirm that sight was a bird, and likely the area’s young Red-Tailed Hawk, overseeing the pasture and my grazing horses.

On arriving home with my horses, I saw the sun setting west behind the Cascades, its ambient light glowing with colors that emphasized the range of peaks. Ah! But my hands were busy with lead ropes and otherwise helpless.

Long story short, beautiful lights and sights had me wishing for a handy and better camera. The evening’s surprises and sightings have encouraged me to carry one routinely again. And I promise to do so.

Dear Friends: I wished mightily for a capable camera to capture a light-bathed hawk. Diana