Saturday, June 12, 2021   (June’s full [“Strawberry”] moon rises in 12 days, on the 24th.)

The header photo, from the Oregon HIstorical Society Research Library, shows Nancy Wak Wak, a Nez Pierce, on an Appaloosa in 1937.

After visiting my friend Noell’s Appy babies this week, and hearing about her breeding program, I wanted to know more about Appaloosas. To my surprise, the breed is tied very closely to Oregon’s history.

The first documented reports of horses in Oregon are from Lewis and Clark, who recorded having seen spotted horses, similar to today’s Appaloosas, among the Nez Perce Tribe. The Nez Pierce, with winter quarters in Eastern Oregon’s Wallowa Valley, originally bred these horses in the mid-to-late eighteenth century, from varieties of Spanish horses traded into the Northwest. The Nez Perce valued equine intelligence, temperament, sure-footedness, endurance, and speed.

The Nez Perce area, at the time of Lewis and Clark, was approximately 17,000,000 acres, covering parts of Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. Their tribal horses had to negotiate treacherous trails, from Oregon’s winter quarters, through the Rockies, to summer encampments on the Plains. The horses had to be fast enough for a hunter to catch a bison, and smooth-gaited enough in full-gallop for a hunter to fire accurately.

The original Nez Pierce Appys almost disappeared after the 1875 Nez Perce War, when the U.S. military confiscated the Tribe’s herds. A few of the breed survived, and in the 1930s, eastern Oregon horse breeders began working to revive the Nez Pierce Appaloosa.

The modern Appaloosa is a distinctive and valued American breed. Today’s Nez Perce Tribal members and non-tribal horse ranchers continue to re-develop the breed’s prized traits. It’s a history that makes more significant little Asher, Noell’s month-old colt.

He’s spoken for and after weaning will go to Texas. There he’ll become a foundation stallion in a young Appaloosa breeding program.

There’s an annual Chief Joseph Trail Ride that starts in Joseph, Oregon. It’s one of the longest-running historic rides (about one hundred miles) in the United States. The Appaloosa Horse Club began hosting it in 1965, it retraces the 1877 route of Chief Joseph and his people, fleeing capture by the U.S. Cavalry. Every rider participating in this annual event must be on an Appaloosa.

This powerful painting from 1982 is by Howard Terpning, entitled, “Chief Joseph Rides to Surrender”.

Dear Friends: In America’s cultural history, Appaloosas have been intertwined and essential. Diana

Friday, June 11, 2021   (June’s full [“Strawberry”] moon rises in 13 days, on the 24th.)

The Oregon Cascades, from far left, Broken Top, followed by South Sister and Middle and North Sisters. An unencumbered panorama, it’s the view from my friend Noell’s Desert Spirit Appaloosa Horse Ranch, which faces west and sets high. My somewhat limited camera skills easily captured this mountain string.

I visited Noell’s to see the spring babies now ranging from two weeks to a month old. Some were born with spots, some without. Noell DNA tests every foal to reveal which will shed its solid color for a new coat that’s spotted, and which will regrow solid-colors. The DNA data ensures that regardless of color it’s a foundation Appaloosa.

Regardless of how eventually their coats might be colored, these babies are adorable.

A bit of history. Last year, Noell lost her beloved elderly mare, April, who had been bred by, doted on, and ridden by Noell’s mother, who long ago passed away suddenly. For Noell, loosing April (a maiden mare) was nearly sad as when she lost her own mom. Now in a renewal of sorts, Noell intends to keep the two new fillies, but couldn’t bring herself to re-use the name April. She’s excited though and eager to train, play with, and ride them.

This baby like her mom will be white, and DNA says she’ll keep her lovely dark front and legs.

Noell’s other chosen little one will grow to maturity in her current solid color, a lovely coat of rich chestnut.

This is a month-old, solid-dark colt, his topside already reaches to my shoulder. He’s bold and friendly, and after weaning will go to Texas where he’ll help to found an Appaloosa breeding program.

One who loves horses, and is among a bunch of them on a beautiful afternoon under a fabulous sky, struggles to depart empty-handed. A solution is to capture memories, and to plan periodic returns to see them growing and learning.

Dear Friends: Mama horses are protective, and among the babies I moved slowly and carefully. Diana

Thursday, June 10, 2021   (June’s full [“Strawberry”] moon rises in 14 days, on the 24th.)

Summer is rising, sun’s out and rain’s gone. At least for today.

My friend, Noell, raises and trains horses. Her special interest is the Appaloosa, a wonderful all-purpose breed. An Appaloosa usually sports a delightful spotty pattern, although some are solid-colored. Recently on her ranch were born new babies, two fillies and a colt. Today, I’ll visit her ranch and meet the little ones.

Noell and became friends shortly after I obtained my first horses. Over the years, we’ve ridden together and shared horse-and-family stories. Last year and about the same time, each of us suffered a family loss. We got together several times to work through grief.

She’s helped me understand ways to train my horses, and last year, I asked Noell to train my mares to go into a two-horse straight-in trailer. They had been used to entering a big wide horse trailer and refused to go into one little and more narrow. Patient and consistent Noell accomplished our goal in short order.

I’ve been eager to visit these leggy babies and learn about plans for their futures. And to take pictures! There’s nothing cuter than a baby of any kind. Foals are fun just to watch. And because an experienced “horse eye” can see a baby’s potential for athleticism and performance in its very-apparent early structure.

My plans for this visit have been on hold through our chilly wet weather. They’ll be realized on this beautiful day.

Dear Friends: This breed’s strength, capacity, and loyalty, have ingrained Appaloosas in history. Diana

Wednesday, June 09, 2021   (June’s full [“Strawberry”] moon rises in 15 days, on the 24th.)

This should be the last day of rains. Yesterday brought downpours, great for plants but not me. I’ve fought the restlessness from staying inside through a chilly week by binging on streaming media.

Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and warmer. I’ll start on two projects.

One is preparing the horses to drive. They’ll begin exercising on long-lines to get into shape. Driving will require shoes for them, and hopefully, our farrier will have them. He’s mentioned that material shortages and process-glitches make it difficult to obtain horseshoes. Regardless, exercising on lines is good for horses, and anyway, I can ride them. Driving is a bonus.

Another project is constructing a portable chicken coop that’s on wheels. My chicks are growing like weeds, now fluffy-feathered, and could use more space. A portable coop will substitute as a brooder and house the chicks until they’re fully feathered, ready for the great outdoors.

When it’s appropriate, I’ll roll their brooder to the outdoors chicken coop, where it’ll set allowing safe interacting with the adult hen (Welsummer) and twin dwarf goats. Once all are comfortable together, I’ll free the chicks.

In a few weeks, hopefully of good weather, I’ll achieve this summer’s key goals: horses in good physical condition for riding and driving, and a cute flock of chicks that roam with an elderly hen and two goats.

Dear Friends: I’ve been on the fence about driving horses this season, but desire wins over doubts. Diana

Tuesday, June 08, 2021   (June’s full [“Strawberry”] moon rises in 16 days, on the 24th.)

It’s the weather, stupid!

Last week our local temps reached the hottest high-nineties in recent memory. One just kept wiping away streaming sweat even while sitting around. This week it’s the opposite. Local temps are averaging in the low sixties. We’re bucking chilly winds, sometimes rain. This week returns us to coats and hats weather.

And it’s June, stupid!

My cousin writes that Southern California’s temps are hanging steadily in the rather comfortable eighties. Why, oh why, won’t Central Oregon’s weather settle?

Of course, there’s always logic to weather patterns. Nearby and to our west, a long string of mountains affect incoming weather. The west also sends our rains and winds. The incoming weather meets those ranging slopes and heights and becomes interrupted or strengthened.

It’s said that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Years ago, I moved here from Southern California, which (arguably) has one season. My move to Central Oregon occurred just prior to winter’s onset, and quickly, my wardrobe had to expand and include coats, hats, boots. I’ve learned how to enjoy and cope with seasonal changes.

Nonetheless, one hopes to avoid changes with great amounts of fluctuation, but that’s not reality. Try an experiment, by putting hope into one hand and climate change into the other hand. Watch to see which gains prominence.

Today’s header photo is a visual for a 2012 documentary video, “Ice Chasing”. I know of storm chasing, and sometimes with a friend chase full-moon risings. But ice chasing is a “bigger fish” that documents clearly the Earth’s changes from climate fluctuations. Here’s a link to its brief trailer: https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/chasing-ice-2012/

From childhood:

Pease pudding hot
Pease pudding cold
Pease pudding in the pot
Nine days old

Some like it hot
Some like it cold
Some like it in the pot
Nine days old

Pease pudding hot
Pease pudding cold
Pease pudding in the pot
Nine days old

Some like it hot
Some like it cold
Some like it in the pot
Nine days old

Dear Friends: Unavoidables like weather and aging, force absorbing changes one day at a time. Diana

Monday, June 07, 2021   (June’s full [“Strawberry”] moon rises in 17 days, on the 24th.)

On a chilly afternoon, Elliott brought his family over for a kids “horse day”. His little girls love horses, and they, April (9) and Zoey (7), on the day before had celebrated Zoey’s birthday.

In honor of this visit, Zoey wore her special “horse t-shirt” .

The girls were all over all the equines. Here, they say hello to lead mare, Rosie, who made sure we didn’t leave her out of the mix.

These parents enjoyed the horses as much as the children. Elliott has excellent camera skills, most of the following photos are from his phone-camera.

Right away the children were comfortable with the animals. They loved the horses, Rosie and Sunni, and maybe mostly, Pimmy. Elliott’s black and white photo captures their sheer joy.

Our plan was to seat on Pimmy both girls and go walking in this quiet neighborhood. We began by seating Zoey in front and April behind.

Since the plan included leaving the fenced area, it seemed a good idea to take Sunni, too. She’d be led with Pimmy following comfortably. Zoey was very at ease on Pimmy’s back and didn’t mind riding by herself. April was delighted to move onto big pony Sunni’s back.

When Rosie noticed that we were leaving without her, she hurried to join us. So, we all went walking. Each adult managed a lead rope with the kids riding happily. Our little parade navigated out onto the street and strolled there for a third-of-a-mile before returning.

We got back to our starting point feeling thrilled. The chldren with their rides, the adults with the kids’ sheer delight, and we all with the well-behaved animals.

This year and hopefully so, both kids might start riding lessons. They’d gobble every minute!

A note about my friend Elliott, a highly-skilled craftsman and outdoorsman. He loves (among many activities) annual outings with his friends for days of snoeshoeing and ice-camping in freshly-built igloos. This was my first-time meeting his family, each one a love and a great sport.

And here’s proof that the work of keeping equines is offset by the rewards of having them.

Dear Friends: Some of these photos will appear in a “Pimmy Calendar” planned for 2022. Diana

Sunday, June 06, 2021   (June’s full [“Strawberry”] moon rises in 18 days, on the 24th.)

Recently my plumber, installing a new frost-free hydrant, asked if I had a few feet of scrap 4×4, to stabilize the upright pipe part. I looked around and found all my unused leftovers gone, except for one piece of 6×6 halfway stuck into the ground. “That works,” said the plumber, adding, “Good that you didn’t have to go out and buy a post, considering today’s lumber costs.”

During property repairs, pieces of scrap wood commonly are needed.

A couple weeks ago, I discovered, knocked over, a tall “no parking” sign, one that long had guarded the shoulder alongside my property. The sign, of eight or ten feet of non-rotten post, clearly had been broken-off violently. I didn’t see any signs in the dirt of tire tracks, and took photos to submit to authorities.

Who are the authorities? The County? The City? Oregon Department of Transportation? And would any care about an old county sign?

The current local news was reporting a high-speed police chase through this and neighboring communities. That drunken or drug-sodden driver had caused a string of damages throughout the chase. That might have been why the broken sign, but oddly, no tire tracks.

As a side note, the spot where that sign stood for years isn’t where a sensible driver would park.

A couple of weeks passed, no indication of outside interest in the broken sign. Meanwhile, my interest had grown, and so I returned for a closer look. Extending from its broken base was a long piece of 4×4 treated lumber in good condition. I went away wondering, how prosecutable would be removing an ineffective “no parking” sign?

Soon and remembering the plumber, I bit the bullet and drove my Gater to the sign. It wasn’t much trouble ripping away a few clinging base-wood threads, but I was challenged to heft the twice-as-tall-as-me post onto the Gater bed. As I worked, a nagging worry was of road-passers perceiving a heist.

Anyway it’s done. There’s a salvaged 4×4 stored on my Ranchero, to assist a future repair.

Dear Friends: Skyrocketing prices may affect everyday behavior in ways that’ll surprise. Diana

Saturday, June 05, 2021   (June’s full [“Strawberry”] moon rises in 19 days, on the 24th.)

Netflix has added “Downton Abbey”. I’ve several times watched the series on PBS but for some reason always have missed seeing its Episode One. Not important, as one easily picks up the core issue: Save the family’s vast fortune by getting Lady Mary married, and very soon, to some mega-wealthy suitor.

I had tuned-in to Netflix, planning to re-watch for an upteenth time my most favorite Netflix series, the Spanish-produced, “Velvet”. On noticing Downton on Netflix’s roster, I paused to see its episode one and how it sets up the plot for that wildly popular series. Well, I got hooked and binge-watched the first three episodes, finally reluctantly turning off television and going to bed. Tonight, I’ll resume the series.

Downton has everything, good writing, excellent acting, wonderful costumes, and “vintage all things” related to turn-of-the-century British wealth. In a large role is the great actress Maggie Smith, who doesn’t disappoint.

The series with an “Upstairs-Downstairs” theme has a large cast of very individualized characters. It’s set in the era of significant social change, being altered by technology following the industrial revolution.

If you haven’t watched this all-sensory delight do yourself a favor, tune into Downton. If you have seen it, and even more than once, tune in again. The series has been off the air long enough to become almost a whole new experience.

Dear Friends: Very complex characters, alternately likable and unlikable, like the humans we know. Diana

Friday, June 04, 2021   (June’s full moon [“Strawberry”] rises in 20 days, on the 24th.)

My friend Elliott asked to bring his daughters in a few days to visit my equines. His girls are seven and ten years old. I warned, Be careful about exposing little girls to horses.” He understood and laughed.

A few summers ago, my former coworker, Judy, brought her grandchildren to visit my equines. The kids rode on donkey, Pimmy, petted the horses, and met Peaches, the Cockatoo. Judy says they’re still excited about that visit. Her grandson still treasures a “Peaches’ feather” which he took home to share the excitement.

The grandkids and Judy.

Always, Pimmy is a star.

For several Easters, in a local Catholic Church’s Easter parades, Pimmy marched as a stand-in for Virgin Mary’s donkey. Between parades, Pimmy kept up with the Bomke kids, experienced riders.

Pimmy has appeared in several of Bend’s Annual Pet Parades. She’s always a hit with kids, they just love her.

A young and very good rider, Josie Lauman, liked to practice expanding her skills on willing Pimmy.

My friends, Dave and Julie Gilbert, brought their granddaughter to meet Pimmy. She rode and had a great time, but I can’t recall where the photos are stored. While I keep looking, this one will say it all, “Kid Julie With Pimmy”.

I’m looking forward to meeting Elliott’s daughters. They’re perfect ages for a first-time meeting with equines. I’ll have a camera handy.

Dear Friends: As events occur they’re fun, and later, photos make them even more so. Diana

Thursday, June 03, 2021   (June’s fullest moon [“Strawberry”] rises in 21 days, on the 24th.)

I planned to describe last night’s storm, an incredible thundering and downpouring, sudden and on the heels of a blisteringly hot day. Even just sitting around I wiped dripping sweat that threatened to invade my eyes. Several times, I went out to give hay to the horses, they also drooping in the heat. Mostly, I sat fiddling and trying to repair a bicycle tire, and sweating.

Anyway, you get the drift. That storm turned the stale heat to hot humidity. Today is dawning cooler.

I’m being sidetracked by current events in women’s sports.

Yesterday, Namoi Osaka, a tennis world champion and highest-earning woman in sports, refused to participate in after-match interviews at the French Open. She accepted a huge fine as penalty and then dropped out of the Open. Today, other women athletes who’ve not spoken up before, or have without having been listened to, are telling their stories.

They tell about being coached by men who are accustomed to coaching men and don’t understand what happens to women’s bodies and minds when forced to lose weight, while exercising and performing to their fullest capacities. Along with unexpected physical changes, women athletes may feel depressed. There’s not enough space to write all the details, but an added link sums many problems.

This story will continue to grow. Another big emerging issue is whether to allow transgender women to participate in women’s sports. Plus, the ongoing story that top women athletes earn less than top male athletes. The attached article notes that Osaka, the highest-paid woman athlete lags behind fourteen men.

From the referenced link: “…the tennis legend Billie Jean King [writes], ‘In our day, without the press, nobody would have known who we are or what we thought. But for a young player like Ms. Osaka, the traditional media is no longer necessary for the world to know who she is and what she thinks.'”

Women’s sports have gained in traction, for example women’s basketball increasingly rivals men’s sports in popularity. We’ve heard about controversial “routine medical exams” that young women athletes have been forced to undergo. We understand why many women athletes leave top training camps for more understanding and supportive environments.

These stories reflect the growing controversies about today’s women working outside the home. Remember, these norms didn’t exist prior to the sixties when birth control became available. Today’s women participants in careers and sports venues, and today’s social and religious issues vis a vis birth control, all will be on the line soon. America’s now conservative Supreme Court’s upcoming schedule includes reconsidering legal birth control.

Last night’s storm symbolizes today’s social storms. Storming not only about women in America, but also dissidents in Russia, controversial leaders in South American, Arabic, and African countries, and about anticipated technologies like fossil vs. electrical fuel, and human paid-passengers into space.

Dear Friends: While watching the news and waiting, we wipe sweat from our brows. Diana