Sunday, December 05, 2021 (December’s fullest moon [“Cold Moon”] rises on the 18th.)

Yesterday, Pimmy marched. She carried eleven-year-old Abby Gilbert. Joining them were Abby’s Aunt Darcy, and other Gilberts. Abby’s Grandma, Julie, texted to my workplace of their fun in the Parade. She said there were a great many onlookers, Pimmy’s troupe was popular with everybody, and our donkey had been willing, easy, a pleasure.

That wonderful news topped a busy morning that had Susie, Julie, and me readying Pimmy.

The donkey didn’t like being separated from her horses, and often wiggled from our piecing together a costume. Well, not “we” so much as our Susie. There to help, logical, organized, and patient, Susie figured how to fit and secure bits of fabric, creating an eye-catching look.

Julie brought her horse rig and worried that Pimmy might not load into a strange trailer. But true to herself, the donkey on spotting a treat leaped inside. I had time before going to work to accompany Julie’s rig downtown. I intended to help unload and settle Pimmy, but wasn’t needed for Pimmy cooperated nicely.

I disliked having to work, and missing the Parade. On the other hand there was the wonderful joy of a community of friends, coming together to help keep a promise to young Abby. That she’d ride Pimmy, with them both decorated, through downtown in the special march.

Dear Friends: Kids, animals, and events, all much fun, satisfying and rewarding. Diana

Saturday, December 04, 2021 (December’s fullest moon [“Cold Moon”] rises on the 18th.)

Today I’m not writing much, for having to ready Pimmy for the Christmas Parade. Details were in yesterday’s blog.

It’s about 5:30 a.m. now, and I’m on my way outside to feed the equines.

If you’re attending the Parade, look for Pimmy. Our donkey be led by Julie Gilbert (I have to go to my work in the feed store). Pimmy’s rider will be Julie’s granddaughter, eleven-year-old Abby.

Our Parade entry is #72. On Pimmy will be a placard showing that number.

So exciting, we’ve done lots of planning toward this event!

Dear Friends: Have a wonderful day. Diana

Friday, December 03, 2021 (December’s fullest moon [“Cold Moon”] rises on the 18th.)

‘Tis the day before a long-lingering deadline: Bend’s 2021 Christmas Parade.

Tomorrow at 6 a.m., I’ll hit the ground running by hurrying out to feed horses. And among them my donkey, Pimmy. Soon as they devour their hay, Pimmy will be separated for readying to march in the Parade.

Readying a donkey requires harder work than needed for grooming a horse. Pimmy enjoys rolling, and does so lots, in all sorts of messiness she happens upon. Of course, horses roll, too, but making Pimmy harder to groom is her coat. That’s a nice description, her covering as “a coat”. More realistically, it’s totally “Bear Hair”, its top-layer captures debris, and under-layers absorb all else.

Thankfully, Susie will be helping to get Pimmy ready. That bear hair needs mucho currying and brushing to rid top-level debris and underlying dust layers. Believe me dear readers, that a normal friendly pat on Pimmy’s topside causes wheezing and sneezing.

Pimmy couldn’t care less.

While Susie’s clearing the difficult coat, I’ll be pulling together the found parts of Pimmy’s old Christmas costume. When we begin to arrange them on our donkey, we’ll hope to transform her into “a Christmas gift”.

Our efforts consider other elements, too. One is that eleven-year-old Abby Gilbert will ride Pimmy in the Parade. Also, that Parade onlookers will be stepping up and giving Pimmy pats.

Yes! Our package must be Christmas Pretty and Dust-Cloud-Free!

Dear Friends: Worrying goals may consume and dull imaginings for beyond. Diana

Thursday, December 02, 2021 (December’s fullest moon [“Cold Moon”] rises on the 18th.)

Today, Word Press offers congratulations for my having written, over the past 723 days, 723 blogs. I’m chuckling, because before beginning a relationship with Word Press, already I’d written at least 723 blogs. In the old days, those went via gmail. My mailing list grew, eventually became too cumbersome for gmail to handle.

Word Press offers a cool platform. Its “internet engine” consists of algorithms, moving blogs around and tagging blog-topics to searchers’ word-queries. Generating such associations attracts readers to bloggers.

As for having written many hundreds of blogs, the practice began from a “problem of myself”. I was aging, living on a rocky property alone, except for having horses. In a time before modern smart watches that can recognize if a wearer falls, I feared tripping accidentally, maybe breaking a hip. In the worst scenario, nobody else would know, my horses might starve. Writing daily became a quick way to tell friends, “Hello, all’s well.”

Soon it seemed that writing, “Hi, I’m okay,” couldn’t keep folks bothering to open and read daily sends. They had to be more interesting, and the notes began to evolve, eventually becoming small essays about various interests, those of observing, to recognize and feel, experiencing affections, facing challenges, and surprisingly, unending lessons and learning.

Blogging consistently is practicing, to improve one’s explorations, explanations, and editing skills. Gradually creative processes reveal an unexpected bonus, that of introducing more of oneself to one. Tall achievements.

I owe worlds of thanks to friends and family who read my blogs, and likely suffer through some, but get in touch if a morning message doesn’t show up. That kindness makes me feel safer, for knowing that if needed, help’s available for my animals and me.

Dear Friends: This one’s for you, and sends much love! Diana

Wednesday, December 01, 2021 (December’s fullest moon [“Cold Moon”] rises on the 18th.)

I’ve begun introducing the new dog individually to members of my pack. The eldest, Louie, is thirteen years old, the next, Ranger, is twelve years old, and the youngest Miles and Osix, both are nine years old. All joined me during their puppy-hoods.

My mini-Aussie, Louie, the smallest, was first to meet little Mitzvah one-on-one. She loved him, was all flirty and having fun. He flirted a bit before wandering away. So far, so good.

Next introduced one-on-one, the pack’s biggest dog, Miles, kept a distance from Mitzvah. She seemed neither interested in him or frightened, she ignored him. More, so-far-so-good.

Today, my other large dog, hound Ranger, will meet Mitzvah. That timid fellow seems fascinated by her. Their introduction should go well.

The most-worrying introduction involves my Border Collie-mix, Osix. Until now, as the pack’s one female, small-to-medium in size, she often dominates the bigger boys. Osix isn’t particularly pleased with our new puppy. They’ll meet, but maybe days after the boys have interacted often with Mitzvah.

This isn’t my first time introducing a new dog. A few years ago, my pack numbered six. One that became integrated was Lil’ Bit, a female larger than Mitzvah and smaller than Osix. She weighed fifteen pounds and let nobody boss her around. There came also a big German Shepherd, Kinny. I worried that he might fight with the boys. But Kinny was a gentle soul, happy in the pack.

Lil’ Bit made me want another small dog. She was inquisitive, brave, easy to take anywhere, and above all, a wonderful therapy dog. When my elderly sister was ailing, Lil’ Bit would leap onto the hospital bed, licking my sister’s face, making her laugh. Always eager for our visits, my sister became very sad when Lil’ Bit passed away.

Mitzvah is a tinier package but like Lil’ Bit. She’s curious, brave, has a mind of her own, and is very affectionate. She’d be a great therapy dog, that might become a goal.

Dear Friends: This little ball of energy is re-energizing my mind. Diana

Tuesday, November 30, 2021 (December’s fullest moon [“Cold Moon”] rises on the 18th.)

It’s officially confirmed that we’re participating in next Saturday’s Christmas Parade. “We” are my donkey, Pimmy and her young rider, Abby, accompanied by Abby’s extended family, “the Gilberts”.

This little city’s Annual Christmas Parade is a wingding. Many residents love animals. They’ll be marching with favorite pets, of amazing assorted varieties. Besides animals, named groups will march, there will be highly-decorated vehicles, large special Christmas floats, and marching individuals all decorated-up. The Parade will wind through downtown streets crowded with young and old viewers.

In this horsey community, the Parade always entices lots of riders.

In Parades, Pimmy often has been a lone marching donkey. She’s great fun, a willing companion, and always a hit with viewers.

That day I will be working at my part-time job. The Gilberts will be leading our team in the Parade.

Leading Pimmy and Abby will be Abby’s granddad, Dave. Abby’s grandma, Julie, will tote a muck fork (or hand it off to Abby’s dad, Matt). In past parades we’ve not carried a muck fork, but this one wants for each animal a designated mucker. If a need arises, receptacles aplenty will be handy.

My wonderful, very capable friend, Susie, has volunteered to join on Saturday morning to help clean and costume. We’ll finish most of the work before the Gilberts arrive bringing their horse rig. Ms Pimmy, all dressed-up, must willingly step into a strange trailer, and alone without one of “her mares” as company. We’ll entice her with treats. For them, she’ll usually do anything.

That’s the plan, we’re all excited. Well, except for Pimmy.

Dear Friends: A fun season with multi-colored lights, and an exciting Big Parade. Diana

Monday, November 29, 2021 (December’s fullest moon [“Cold Moon”] rises on the 18th.)

My new pup has a name, “Mitzvah”. The name pleasantly suggests good-mood and transition. It suggests more, too, I’ll explain later.

She’s quick as a wink, dashes in big circles, is curious about everything and very smart. She learns quickly, follows off-leash, listens to recalls. In this country-like setting her tinyness worries, so I keep her close and watch for raptors.

For years, I’ve faced similar worries during my neighborhood walks with Cockatoo Peaches. Riding on my shoulders and sometimes on my head, he’s a bright-white little fellow. He might represent a grabbable feast, and continually, I peer overhead for raptors.

His positions keep Peaches handy, and quickly, he could be shifted, made less visible. A bigger challenge is an off-leash tiny puppy, running and vulnerable. Matzvah loves to dash, but musn’t have many free-ranging opportunities.

Her tinyness brings more challenges. Only slowly may she be allowed freely among my bigger dogs, to be certain they don’t see her as a toy or chase-able object. There’s also the problem of my long working hours, and not wanting her left home, crated. I’m thinking of how to make everything work, for she’s a keeper.

Her name is a donation from my forever friend, Jan, who lives in Kansas City. Yesterday, during our lengthy catch-up on video, the puppy joined and we toyed with name-ideas. Later, Jan texted a powerful message. She felt the puppy is a blessing, or a mitzvah in my life, and I’m doing a mitzvah by providing the pup a forever home. That insight hits the spot, and so, we’ve a “Mitzvah”.

Dear Friends: When we are feeling love, the kinds of persons we are is revealed. Diana

Sunday, November 28, 2021 (December’s fullest moon [“Cold Moon”] rises on the 18th.)

The picture is of my brand-new mutt. She’s not yet named, at least by me, and I’m rolling around ideas. She’s about the size of a minute, maybe weighs 5-6 lbs., is quick as a wink.

I adopted her from a customer at the feed & tack store where I work at a cash register. I watched the lady enter with two leashed tiny dogs. They wore jackets and were very cute. As she showed them toys, the more active (my) tiny dog was super excited over each. If they’d come through my register, I’d play for a bit with the dogs.

The trio came and I gave the pups cookies, oohed and aawaed. The lady said the quieter dog was seven years old, and the active one just one year old. She had just rescued the active pup and intended to make her available for adoption.

I leaped, and long story short, found myself with a tiny lap dog.

That occurred early in my workday. The store manager, Bobby, happened to be nearby, and like us all, jaw-dropped. I asked him if I could kennel the dog through my shift in the store’s grooming area. He laughed, said yes.

(I consider that as payback for my having relinquished marching with Pimmy in the upcoming Christmas Parade, and instead agreeing to work on Parade Day in the store.)

The back story is that I’ve wanted another little dog after losing my Lil’ Bit several years ago. The pandemic scooped up most of the easily-adoptable dogs, made it challenging to find a “right one”. I’m not into finding a “designer dog”, cute as most are. I keep an eye on “Street Dog Rescue”, a good organization that rescues dogs from other countries, but haven’t been comfortable to select from a website’s multiple photos.

Suddenly, into my life walks a customer with two cute pooches.

I didn’t ask from what situation my dog had been rescued. The lady said she has all the necessary shots except for rabies. I’ll learn if she’s been spayed while we’re in for a rabies vax.

My dogs and birds went nuts when the newbie came inside. The dogs were curious and pushy while Peaches screamed his head off. The pup went into a crate with a new cushy pillow. For awhile she worried, finally eating well. At bedtime she slept and quietly through the night.

The photo from her outing very early today hints at her cuteness. My coworkers and I estimated that she’s a mix of Jack Russell, poodle, and more.

Dear Friends: I’ve often hoped for my “next dog” to simply just show up. Diana

Saturday, November 27, 2021 (December’s fullest moon [“Cold Moon”] rises on the 18th.)

Next week will be held the City’s Annual Christmas Parade. My donkey, Pimmy, will be costumed and marching, ridden by my friends’ granddaughter. Those friends will lead Pimmy. I’ll be absent for having to work at my part-time job. Bums me out in a way, but I’m happy we figured out how to keep Pimmy and her designated rider in the Parade lineup.

My nonworking days will be busy before the Parade with finding and piecing together Pimmy’s Christmas costume. It’s an original, designed by my artist friend Janet, with help from her creative daughters. Janet has made many costumes, ranks Pimmy’s as one of her best.

So does the public. A couple years ago, in a charitable effort, Janet and I hosted a “Holiday shoot” in her husband’s parking lot (his carpentry shop is on a busy corner). Folks driving by were attracted by our costumed donkey. Many stopped for photos of their kids on Pimmy’s back. We charged for pictures and donated to St. Jude’s.

Janet is busy this season and can’t help me re-costume Pimmy. Her eldest daughter is expecting and also moving into a new home. Janet is anxious and involved.

On the “marching day”, I’ll be free until noon. That leaves me the morning hours to ready Pimmy, and to help my friends load her into their trailer for heading downtown. They’ll march a mile or so, winding through closed-off streets, being cheered by lots of watchers.

This year Pimmy won’t wear cute socks. They tend to slide down, drag on the ground. My friends shouldn’t need to keep pausing and readjusting.

As she’s being re-costumed, I’ll take photos.

My Pimmy, always a sweet pet, often more dog-like than horse-like. She’s also a community treasure.

Dear Friends: Forwarding Thanksgiving’s energy ahead toward Christmas. Diana

Friday, November 26, 2021 (December’s fullest moon [“Cold Moon”] rises on the 18th.)

Thanksgiving dinner with friends, a warm friendly event. Afterwards arriving home, to friendly greetings from lights newly hung. Next going to feed horses, and enjoying lights hanging on the barn. A very pleasant day.

Except, it’s too warm during this holiday. Just before Thanksgivings, this area usually experiences at least one very deep freeze or a snowing. Those deep colds make grasses freeze, lose their sugars, and then my equines may graze for hours on pasture grasses. This year’s warmth makes me wonder if grasses now are enough de-sugared for my animals.

Regardless of whether individuals love or hate them, winter freezes and snow absolutely are necessary. Our current warmth and lack of snow creates huge worries. A key concern is that reduced melt-offs inadequately will replenish water supplies. Already, irrigation costs have increased with access to water decreased.

Warmth also is a notion. We have “feelings of warmth”, meaningful and enticing. A shared sense of being together, a warmth in gathering, unites folks.

Dear Friends: Wisdom grows, in events that encourage a reconsideration of potential. Diana