Saturday, May 29, 2021   (June’s fullest moon [the “Strawberry”] rises in 25 days, on the 24th.)

The finished workbench! Has wheels and supports for shelving. Not beautiful, but a personal win.

It’s been many years since I fooled with carpentry. Going back in time to play with these tools is because of Covid-19. Recently my area has become less restricted, and I am fully vaccinated, but hanging around the house still seems a good idea. Especially if it’s possible to find interests offering fun and satisfaction.

Heaven knows, most of us have dabbled to find stay-at-home motivations. I think about the many pets that were adopted during Covid’s most restrictive period. Now, with restrictions being lessened, adopters are returning pets because, “There’s no longer time to take care of them.”

Maybe my days of sawing and hammering will be short. One reason may be the astronomical price of lumber with today’s mega-homebuilding activities. Back in the pre-Covid days, my worktable components would have cost far less, and I sought the cheapest materials. Even if one decides to bite the bullet and shell out for a key tool, good luck finding it in stock somewhere.

No wonder online sellers are doing blockbusting-well. A computer enables access to seemingly endless stock. There’s no wasting gas and time, no being among crowds, no seeking likely-unavailable items. One merely clicks and awaits delivery.

Dear Friends: The media are correct, everyday activities are forever altered and more expensive. Diana

Friday, May 28, 2021   (June’s fullest moon [the “Strawberry”] rises in 26 days, on the 24th.)

Working in my “she-shop”, I’m building a workbench, large to accommodate several heavy carpentry tools that need “bolting-down”. The daunting cost of lumber these days forces me to work with pressed fiberboard, heavier and less easy than using natural wood, but cheaper.

I cut the fiberboard into pieces to support a tabletop, and using prefabbed metal links connected the pieces into a back and sides. After managing to heave a 2×4 fiberboard panel onto the top, everything took on a “table look”.

Just in time, too, for my friends dropped by to help initiate the she-shop. My workbench shell became a buffet of sorts and we had a jolly time helped by cold beer. The next day, I returned to my work and recognized a serious stumble of not having planned ahead. Plus, not having asked my she-shop guests (who know all about component building) for ideas to complete the workbench.

That large table top needed support for holding heavy tools. The cavernous inside could accommodate internal shelving but also needed support. I knew nothing about creating supports, meaning that so far my efforts were only a beginning. I hurried to building suppliers for “how-to books”, which they no longer carry!

My brain doesn’t conceptualize as a builder’s should. I wasted hours just experimenting and wondering and didn’t ask for help. I just fiddled and fooled, because life teaches that never giving up finally creates a sensible idea. So true, for finally my workbench top does have adequate support. An inner shelf nearly is complete. Today I might finish the bench, and even bolt-down the on-top tools.

Another learning journey, this one has taught better how to start constructing. I need to sketch an idea and ask someone more experienced to look it over for do-ability.

After this long weekend shop work will go on hold. Warming weather calls for more focus on getting my horses and me into shape for riding and driving. It’s fun though, to anticipate how the shop’s tools and stored materials will ease improvement-making around barn and home.

Dear Friends: We pluggers who usually learn the hard way know to never give up! Diana

Friday, May 28, 2021   (A new full moon [June’s “Strawberry”] rises in 27 days, on the 24th.)

This magnificent bird was watching me and muttering regularly, and I wondered about it.

Ravens communicate constantly. So, was this a parent reassuring its offspring, or an adult communicating with a mate, or maybe itself an offspring asking for food? It’s hard to peer high at a treetop and identify an adult or fledgling.

Parent birds constantly remain busy hunting food for their babies, so this likely is an offspring. Its (relatively) soft, thrice-repeated rumbling calls actively are announcing location and hunger.

Ravens are incredibly smart and fascinating. I love hearing and seeing them. Ravens are active in my airspace year-around, and so to me, “these are mine”. The pictured Raven, active in my neighborhood, if an adult probably during its babyhood drank from my horses’ watering troughs.

Every summer, parents bring the babies to drink before leaving the kids and flying away. While they hunt, the disciplined youngsters remain perched on or near the troughs, staying put patiently. Like all children when a parent returns these scramble for food.

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Throughout the year, and especially in summers, local resident Ravens are very visible. At least once or twice, I write describing their antics. Today’s header shot reminds me of this picture, a favorite from a summer past. This probably is a juvenile, loudly and insistently communicating from deeply within its body.

Ravens are family oriented, great parents. I’ve watched them teaching babies about wind currents, practicing by circling higher or lower as they would while hunting. I’ve seen them furiously chase, torment, and completely intimidate larger predatory birds. It’s been a gift, living in proximity to Ravens. Birds with astonishing intelligence, high social orientation, and innumerous, constant vocal variations.

Dear Friends: “Quoth the Raven, Nevermore!” Poe’s dark cast over an inquisitive bright species. Diana

Thursday, May 27, 2021   (June’s full Strawberry Moon rises in 28 days, on the 24th.)

Last night’s pink Super Moon, scheduled to rise after nine p.m., sent us Moon Chasers out on the road to hunt a viewing place. The moon was to rise later than usual, and already the evening was semi-dark. Susie, who’s in charge of the driving and technical details, was prepared, knew exactly where the moon would rise. We hoped to capture it’s earliest visibility.

Using a compass to navigate, Susie pulled into a couple of potential viewing spots and assessed their viewability based on her hiking and biking experience. She drove away from a couple of spots, and finally, we wound up maybe 30 miles east of town.

Our viewing spot was way out, with Susie’s car parked on a remote dirt road and pointing directly toward the unimpeded, distant horizon. We sat waiting, surrounded by flatland and low brush. The only ambience was a lone juniper.

The terrain tilted upward, and for us this caused the moonrise to occur several minutes later than scheduled. We already were out of the car and pointing cameras, to begin shooting at first sight of an emerging beautiful light.

Of course, this Flower Super Moon, circling very close to Earth, was visible throughout the city. We chose to sight it from the boonies to increase our joy. After chasing moonrises to photograph them, we know the increased excitement of anticipating changes in the horizon. It’s sheer fun to sight barely above the line of horizon, a major moon’s earliest appearance.

Isn’t this incredible!

Photographers in action.

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And wearing our Moon Chaser red jackets!

Dear Friends: Farewell to 2021’s last special Super Moon, and ahead, many beautiful full moons. Diana

Wednesday, May 26, 2021  (Tonight’s rising Super “Flower” Moon will appear at its fullest.)

The dogs and I headed west toward the Cascade Mountains. Besides wanting to play in a bit of forest, I had a checklist. It included exploring whether inner roads are clear to drive in and be among forest trees, allowing the dogs to play freely, checking early for wild mushrooms, and mostly, gathering fallen sticks potentially strong enough to, (1) become perches for Peaches and (2) withstand a parrot’s destructive beak.

It’s too cold and early for mushrooms, I accomplished everything else. The dogs played while I moseyed around. It’s the earliest I’ve entered a high-mountain forest, finding its condition wild with jumbled fallen branches. I carefully stepped and slowly.

There were angled impedances to duck under or step over.

The wild barking of excited dogs shattered the silence, but afterward, I could hear sounds from winds pushing against treetops. Sometimes winds made slender trees bend slightly and groan.

Searching for sticks strong enough for Peaches wasn’t easy. Mostly, I found those seeming best-suited to hold up against the bird’s attacks partly buried in dirt. I pulled out and examined several that hosted tiny funji and insects. Best to leave those in the forest.

Some sights had me wondering, what causes this?

The grounds were covered with wild strawberries, ground mosses, and molding woods.

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Babies always attract, even when it happens they’re Ponderosas and Manzanitas.

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There’s adult beauty, too. Blooming Manzanitas and sunshine lighting-up Ponderosas and firs

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A key ingredient, dogs having fun.

Dear Friends: Inside a natural forest, you’ll find one of the most wonderful places imaginable. Diana

Tuesday, May 25, 2021  (Tomorrow early, a total lunar eclipse, and later, the Super “Flower” Moonrise)

We’re in the Ochocos, local mountains, having paused where often I’ve ridden horseback. Osix races back to where I’m lagging. I’m strolling and gulping-in the gorgeous setting. Ahead are the others.

This brief stop gives the dogs a break from riding in the SUV. The Ochocos are surprising me by popping up many pleasant memories from past years. The dogs and I are en route to Oregon’s Painted Hills. They’re about an hour away, on just this side of Mitchell, a tiny tourist community.

Many times, while driving toward the more Eastern Oregon, I’ve glimpsed the Painted Hills but always have been in a hurry. I’ve passed its turnoff road that gobbles six out-of-the-way miles, one way. This time, I’m giving myself a take-it-easy day away from ranching. I’m carrying a camera.

I’m astonished by a sheer natural beauty of those Painted Hills. These are one of three units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. This particular geologic unit covers over 3,000 acres, has designated driving roads taking tourists to various viewpoints, offers hiking trails, and carefully insists that no vehicle, person, or dog disturbs any of the landscape.

In this ancient fossil site, if one accidentally happens to spot an undiscovered fossil, pocketing it is an illegal theft. Tourist instructions are to photograph and report any spotted fossil to area supervisors. In fact, lifting and taking anything, rocks, plants, or animals, is against the law.

Dogs must be on leashes, and so, my four slept in the SUV.

I drove over every road absorbing colors and views. Even my wordy self can’t describe accurately the awe simply of being among those hills. Their sheer beauty, completely natural and widespread.

Viewing from an overlook site.

My zoom camera doesn’t excellently capture distant scenes, but effectively records sectional close-ups. In this large shot, colors that show appear muted.

A close-up from the same area reveals the striking vibrancy.

A few more outstanding captures.

More fun with a high-zoom camera, a hiker captured from hundreds of yards below.

Before leaving the area, we made a looky-lou quick trip through Mitchell. I’ll return someday and walk through it with a camera.

On our way home one more stop, and again, in the Ochocos where sublime greenery covers.

Dear Friends: Increasing wildfires that devastate urgently call on us to protect still-natural areas. Diana

Monday, May 24, 2021  (In 2 days May’s Super “Flower” Moon will rise fullest to Earth + a total eclipse!)

This morning has a still-gloomy sky overhead offering more rain. Like yesterday, when for most of the afternoon, I was in my she-shop sorting through a jumbled accumulation of nuts and bolts and periodically hearing rain on the metal roof. That rain provided background sounds, until finally, I decided to listen to music.

After cranking up a wi-fi speaker, consulting my phone’s listings, and considering the moody atmosphere, I selected “Billie Holiday’s Greatest Hits”. To my surprise hearing her songs became a magical experience.

It was years since last I’d heard Billie. I had preferred her recordings from the time near her death from a drug overdose in her fifties. I thought her older, smoky voice communicated with unique beauty, life, experience, and wisdom. I considered her earlier 1930s and early 40s voice a bit too sweet and charming. Yesterday, in astonishment, I wondered what my younger self could have been thinking!

Young Billie’s sounds were new experiences. That incredible songstress perfectly communicated life’s flirty romances, deep love, fun feelings, and the sadness of loss. With incredible musicianship and a unique style of singing (slightly behind the beat), she intelligently articulated and perfectly shaded each word.

I felt deeply “into Billie” when the album ended, and before I could select more music, the wi-fi did it. A sudden woman’s voice emanating powerfully from the speaker compelled me to listen, and within a heartbeat, I recognized Nina Simone, another absolutely-genius musician.

I stood, outwardly sorting, but internally focused on biographies and times of those women, and of myself. The impact of listening reminded me of the prominence of music in a recent outstanding French film, “Portrait of a Woman on Fire”. Listening and hearing brought the reopening of old memories and of feeling connections.

Dear Friends: Experiencing music, at its best, is all-encompassing and deeply emotional. Diana

Sunday, May 23, 2021  (In 3 days May’s Super “Flower” Moon will rise fullest to Earth + a total eclipse!)

May 26 will be a remarkable day of astronomic events. First, a total lunar eclipse starts early that morning (1:45 a.m., PDT) and concludes at 6:00 a.m. Griffith Observatory (Los Angeles) will broadcast online the total eclipse starting at 1:45 a.m. The maximum eclipse is at 4:19 a.m., and totality ends when the moon emerges from shadow, at 4:26.

In a total lunar eclipse the moon passes completely into the earth’s shadow. The moon doesn’t completely darken as the sun has residue that causes a dim-glowing. The eclipse should be visible in Southern California to the naked eye.

Unless you’re eager to venture outside and look at the eclipse in real time, Griffith’s steam is a great alternative. You could watch (along with me) in PJs, while hanging out with a laptop, and dipping early into a popcorn breakfast. On Tuesday, I will post a link to Griffith’s online streaming.

The next total eclipse will be next May. In 2022, the new eclipse again will be made visible to everybody through Griffith’s streaming.

Later in this coming Wednesday, this final full Super Moon will rise, occurring very late that evening. Nonetheless your moon-chasers, Susie and I, are prepared. We want to go land a good spot to see and photograph that rising. So far, our previous Super Moon-rise chasings have rewarded our efforts with sightings that exhilarated and photos that excited.

Beginning today Central Oregon’s weather should improve. We’ve strong-jawed it through days of gloomy rain, hail, and near-freezing temperatures. Before those upcoming moon events, Central Oregon’s residents will be busy, replacing or trying to encourage new life from half-frozen plants.

Dear Friends: Space-X has many pre-sold future space ride tickets costing $200k or $250k. Am wondering what more gets tossed in for an additional $50k. Diana

Saturday, May 22, 2021  (4 days before May’s Super “Flower” Moon rises fullest to Earth + total eclipse!)

With an outside temperature close to freezing and the inside temp only a bit warmer, thanks to a Mr. Buddy Heater, Dale, Susie, and I initiated the newly refigured Eight Pines She-Shed.

This initiation was planned as a simultaneous way of celebrating summer’s arrival. But Nature played one of her tricks and continuous heavy rain backdropped our beer popping, snacking, and story-swapping. Mr. Buddy thankfully offset the chill and we ignored the rooftop’s intruding racket.

There’s installed a little red cooler, found it at Bi-Mart for about $30. It holds up to six cans, of whatever, and also, is portable, chills contents either plugged into a wall or vehicle battery. Next week, it’s capability will be tested on a road trip to Oregon’s Painted Desert.

In the photo behind RedBox, a couple of stained glass windows are long-ago gifts from a friend in California. In the shed remains a little hay, but otherwise, it’s interior adornments are a chop saw, table saw, belt sander, drill press, and assorted hand tools.

You’d think that the mix of hay and tools along with rain pounding against the shed, would discourage anyone from being inside. For sure, our outerwear stayed on as we huddled around Mr. Buddy, but Susie and Dale are intrepid adventurers, troopers, and great friends. I loved that they were on board to make She-Shed’s beginning fun and memorable.

Speaking of Mr. Buddy, and fortunately, Dale knew how to change a propane cylinder, and even better, how to restart the heating.

As to photography, I took it easy, and Susie recorded the event. Here Dale and I are hanging out beside a new “goldish” birdbath that earlier Susie had helped to assemble.

A side-note, the evening wasn’t to be a test of friendship. All afternoon, I anticipated the ever-increasing rain to discourage Susie and Dale from coming. Not those two entrepreneurs! Susie bicycled to She-Shed through rain, and Dale arrived in a pickup, so she and bike would get home safely and dry.

Thank you both, for the evening of wonderment and fun among bare bones inside a metal construct.

Dear Friends: Finding oneself with a huge, empty, unplanned space begins a journey of discovery. Diana

Friday, May 21, 2021  (5 days before May’s Super “Flower” Moon rises fullest to Earth + total eclipse!)

Another gloomy day, this time with rain and hail. Bundled in long johns and sweaters, having finished Disney Channel’s “Whales” series, I began reading Simard’s book, and oh, what a grand experience!

Suzanne Simard is Professor of Forest and Conservation Sciences at University of British Columbia. She’s a PhD in Forest Sciences from Oregon State University. Her research interests are ecology, forestry, mycorrhizae, mycorrhizal networks, and silviculture. She’s written several books, is a highly respected authority.

My pre-retirement life offered minimal exposure to the worlds of insects, soils, and plants. After retiring to Oregon and acquiring a horse, I began participating in the natural outdoors, was forced to learn about terrains and footing. More experienced riding companions’ field observations made me interested in ecology. Eventually, I began honing my observation skills, wanting more to understand natural environments. Thus began my own steep, learning-curve journey.

Skipping forward, last summer my friend Dave introduced me to mushroom hunting, showed where to find edible plants, enthusiastically described fungi ecology, and loaned me books. Eye-openers! Who knew the importance of mushrooms and spores, or knew of a huge interconnected world beneath the soil, and that plants actively shared nutrients and information.

Well, Suzanne Simard is who first knew, researched, and figured it out. She taught everybody that natural forests are high-communicating, efficient ecosystems. Her work has changed how foresters perform their work. This book, her newest, explains her journey toward learning and communicating new information.

Simard combines autobiography and research. She grew up in Canada’s backwoods, in a family that logged, and absorbed forest understanding prior to being employed by the Forest Service. Her early forest-related tasks were puzzling, and for example, why couldn’t newly-planted trees simply take root and thrive? By combining her most youthful observations with later forest service experiences, she began questioning the Service’s traditional teachings.

She’s a very readable, superb, and informative writer. I’ve enthusiastically joined onto her journey, am eager to know how she continues developing questions, searches for logical answers, and becomes convinced her findings are viable. Ahead, too, I want to learn how she manages to sway old, long-time foresters, from their traditions and beliefs, and gets them to understand and accept new ways to view and manage forests.

This book is perfect for readers with outdoors experience, and equally so for those whose toes never touch the outdoors. Simard’s eye-opening quest for forest understanding introduces a world larger and more intelligent than anybody ever realized. A forest simply awes!

Dear Friends: By design, the worlds of Forests, Oceans, Insects, and Plants are self-sustaining. So, what’s technology got to do with it? Diana