Tuesday, February 09, 2021 (40 days until First Day of Spring)
My new toys are up and running, after having received and installed various auxiliary parts. Today’s header photo is of a flicker high in a treetop. It’s from my 70sx zoom camera, with me about fifty yards away. The eye viewer helps to stabilize shots, yet there’s a little camera shake. I tried three times to capture the entire bird, finally successful in an instant before it flew.
From a distance, here are “the girls” grazing in a neighbor’s pasture.
I continued to check capture possibilities over distances. Here, the camera is zeroed-in to capture individualities. As usual, Pimmy’s whole cute self is irresistible.
I love bluebirds–beautiful, quick and fun. This season. many are hanging by my barn.
Like, whole flocks of them.
Finally, because this is so cool, a tree-scape.
An apparatus arrived that should enable better camera stabilization during high zooming. Stabilizing is the challenge, for even a slight push of the capture button adds a little shake. A new controller that I’ll try out today adds a separate handheld device which helps with focus and remotely captures images.
Dear Friends: A step forward will be, on snowshoes, out tramping with camera. Diana
Monday, February 08, 2021 (42 days until First Day of Spring)
While stumbling around on the internet I happened across what makes today special. February 8 is “Opera Day”. That strikes a old cord within me from years ago when I was a huge opera fan. Many Saturdays, I reserved time to listen to the Met’s live broadcasts, and in those days I owned bunches of live opera recordings on LPs. In Kansas City where I lived, tickets for good seats at concerts back then were cheap. I attended performances by classical artists and learned the joy of experiencing in real time the capabilities of the human voice.
I’m still an opera fan although now out of date. I too rarely take time to concentrate on lovely song stories told by great artists. Anyway, this morning, fiddling around on the topic of opera, I pulled up some of my favorite artists in great performances. For awhile, I was lost in music.
So, this is a good day for sharing opera. Maybe something universal appealing and beautifully performed but not too lengthy. I discovered everything wished for captured in this video, a recording session with wonderful musicians performing famous music. From the opera, Lakmé, by the French composer Delibes, this song is entitled, Duo des fleurs (Flower Duet). The singers are soprano, Sabine Devieilhe, and mezzo soprano, Marianne Crebassaof.
Sorry to say, I’m not yet set up to transfer photos from my new camera to the computer. Believe me, I’ve fiddled with ways to make a transfer all this morning, but am forced now to toss in the towel as this is a at-work day at Costco.
What’s most irritating is that yesterday the photos did transfer, maybe today I’m too anxious and that’s the problem. Anyway, this will be settled tomorrow because there’s a transfer cable on its way to me. The cable allows a direct connection between two hardware elements, enabling data exchanges. No more will I be scrambling to download photos using bluetooth and wifi! Nevermore, I can hope…but as usual, must nod to a caveat.
A forced partial-learning occurs while attempting to do new things, even in failing. This business of transferring by using new ways begins another “new to me” that in the near future I’ll have to know “how to do”. That’s ahead and not so worrisome because recently I learned to use a complex computer system, and did all right. Chalking-up a yea for having faced a challenge.
I could spin off into the mysteries and joys of learning, but haven’t time this morning. You know and I know that it’s a major topic with me and will pop up another day.
Dear Friends: Have a wonderful day by making it a point to learn something new. Diana
Today I’m writing on a new computer and feeling slightly awkward because of improved technology over my several years with another computer. This new machine has a more responsive and intelligent keyboard, it has larger keys spaced slightly more apart. My fingers keep slipping and sliding.
There’s more that’s new. Yesterday my zoom camera arrived. I took it outside to practice shooting and think we’ll become good friends. Today’s header photo from that camera is a quickie, snapped from faraway of standing snow. It was intended as a toss-away, but something about the image is attractive, somehow reminding me of shallow water. I didn’t adjust or alter it, so there, a work of art capture.
While busy with the new computer and camera, I totally neglected my phone. This morning its battery is dead, and too bad, It holds more pictures from yesterday that I hoped to share, but can’t until the phone again is up and running.
Dear Friends: Just a quickie while working through a transition, have a great day. Diana
Friday, February 05, 2021 (43 days before the first day of spring)
Recently, I reduced my at-work days to two weekly. This requires a reorientation to freedom in daytimes. That seems easy, but after six months of absence from routine household and property work, returning things to order means catching up to points past.
I’m wrapping my head around what needs attention, am astonished by all the “ignored messy”, while dashing into or out of the house. My key focus has been caring for animals, leaving most everything else untouched. The exceptions are in key spots, like cleaning the kitchen counter where food is prepared, and organizing the master bathroom so as to hasten myself off to the job.
Working nearly full time was a grand experiment, an way to escape frequent solitude. My working team, re-beginning after months of being laid off, required me to work five days weekly. After months of self-isolating, I looked forward to the workplace.
Starting again was fun, sometimes stressful. The problems were that horses need hay and someone keeping a watch over then, and dogs need to be inside during rain and extreme cold, or outside in improved weather. Wanting to be in two places at once began overcoming the fun of working and got me rethinking my commitment.
So, today’s my second of being home, free from the job another few days. Yesterday, like a kid in hardly recognizable surroundings, I organized some but mostly loafed around. Ahead, I’ll take my dogs out for runs, walk the streets with Peaches on my shoulder, and lead my dwarf goats on strolls through the neighborhood. The horses, meanwhile, will graze at a neighbor’s place, until it’s warm and time to get them into condition for summer’s riding and driving.
Dear Friends: Freedom and planning encourage eagerness for spring’s arrival. Diana
Thursday, February 04, 2021 (in 45 days, spring will arrive)
My computer has neared the ending of its rope. It’s taken its processor this entire early morning to settle enough to allow me onto my blog site. Meanwhile, I used my cell phone to order a new computer which will arrive sometime tomorrow.
In tomorrow’s early morning, I’ll attempt with my now-computer to send a hello, at least.
So, here’s today’s “at-least-hello”. Am glad finally, to be getting something going.
Thanks for hanging-in with me. It’ll be fun working on a new computer with faster, more accurate processing.
Dear Friends: Coming two (forced) new items: a camera and a laptop; and, wow! Diana
Wednesday, February 03, 2021 (In 46 days, the first day of spring)
This computer is a bear today, won’t open nor run properly. This happens when an update continues to process, but more likely, now is about time to replace this unit, beginning its third year of service. Experience teaches that a processor on the road to “slow and undependable” might have a failing hard drive.
Getting started today has gobbled too much time and I must go to work. So here are photos from the other day during practice with my 40sx zoom camera.
The header photo is one of the local plentiful mountain bluebirds. These are pretty little birds that I love, but aren’t particularly bright. Sometimes they nest in my barn and are dedicated parents, fun to see working hard to help their babies grow and fly.
Here’s a terrific bird shot. This robin landed very briefly in one of my pines and I almost missed it.
Robin, in an Eight Pines Ranch pine tree
These days, pine trees aren’t where this Robin and its buddies mostly hang out. Instead, they’re flocking to junipers, loaded now with ripe berries, and happily becoming drunkards.
Dwarf goats are cute and irresistible. Here’s Poppy, in a goat trance, while happily rubbing her butt against a log.
Poppy
And Poppy’s twin sister, Breeze, pretty and sweet.
Breeze
These goat twins are entering their eleventh year. They’re affectionate and smart, and would enjoy pulling a little wagon. It’s a dream I’ve not given up on.
Finally, these are my last surviving hens also entering their eleventh year and hanging-in pretty well. Chickens need buddies, and so finally, after one of these gals goes, the other will spend her last days as my inside-house hen.
Littletail and Wellsummer
These are good captures by my 40sx, but many shots failed. This camera lacks an eye-viewer to help brace it, which makes handling too shaky to control focus. Otherwise, it’s a fine camera, useful in many situations. I’ll keep practicing.
Dear Friends: It’s fun out around the barn, and usually, includes new learning. Diana
Tuesday, February 02, 2021 (47 days until the first day of spring)
It’s interesting how pieces come together. Yesterday, I began reading Maya Angelo’s book, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Didn’t know what made me pick this one from a stack of waiting books, but I began reading. For many years, “Caged Bird” has been well known, well read by a worldwide audience. Many years ago, I already should have opened it.
In the middle of last night, I awakened and crawled from bed to let the dogs outside. While waiting to bring them inside, I checked my email, recognizing yet again, that February is Black History Month. Evidently, my motivation for picking up Angelo’s book was from thoughts being processed at some deep level.
I don’t practice diving into black history, beyond my experience during our modern era’s early beginnings, and the ongoing work to desegregate American schools and our public places. Like most Americans, I followed protests, standoffs, abuses, and changing politics; and like most, was impressed by MLK’s impact. His dreams, words, and activism–driving social and institutional changes, way too long in happening.
I know the wonderful writings by classic black writers, have pursued works by James Baldwin, Eldridge Cleaver, and Zora Neal Thurston. In recent years, Zadie Smith has caught my attention, and so have other young black writers, producing interesting, creative work.
Recently, a black writer has got to me big time–Isabelle Wilkerson, whose two books are fascinating. Her first, The Warmth of Other Suns, tracks the history, rules, and very-slowly-shifting status of Southern American Slavery. Her most recent, Caste, addresses social positioning among people, worldwide, and explores attitudes supporting social class variances, as granted by birthright, financial accumulation, and political power.
Wilkerson reintroduces our American deep south and its Jim Crow rules. She reintroduces the Untouchables in India, Nazis in Germany. She increases our awareness of the economic and political history driving hundreds of years of American slavery. Basically, she forces readers to reconsider many of the attitudes we learned growing up, regardless of where we might have lived.
Finally, little mystery about my subconscious nod to Black History Month, and choosing Angelo’s book. Most of us know of Angelo’s life and work, and surely, her famous book offers learning and inspiration.
Dear Friends: If you’ve read “Caged Bird”, please share your reading experience. Diana
Monday, February 01, 2021 (48 days until the first day of spring)
Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has written a book, “The Moment of Lift” (2019), subtitled, “How Empowering Women Changes the World”. Gates for twenty years has traveled the world in the roles of philanthropist and businesswoman. She recognizes that millions of women wish to be treated as equal citizens.
In parts of the world, women are denied many rights and privileges. They can’t decide whether, when, and whom to marry; or go to school; or earn an income; or spend their own money; or shape their budget; or start a business; or get a loan; or own property; or divorce a husband; or see a doctor; or run for office; or ride a bike; or drive a car; or go to college; or study computers; or find investors.
Modern parts of the world have allowed women to make strides toward equally, to achieve recognition as intelligent, capable of creativity and usefulness in business, science, and sociology. Their elevated status evolved upon access to contraceptives. Once becoming less tied to household management, women became more free to participate in social and business activities. Their skills and contributions are an outcome of more rights and privileges.
Gates’ journey as a public advocate began by speaking to women about family planning. Her sessions on this topic revealed it alone wasn’t enough, for many more women’s issues flowed into family planning. The basic issue against women’s taking a place equal to men, is a lack of achieved rights as individuals.
This book explains women Gates has met and their situations. She has encouraged them to engage and become active influencers of local social and political situations. At its core, Gates’ journey toward equality is very personal. Gates says her sense of equality was enabled by a little pill she took daily. That allowed her to choose herself if and when to have children.
American politics increasingly have given voice and power to many who would erase hard-earned essential women’s rights. Gates is a woman with wealth and position power who speaks out unafraid, and with experience and authority.
Gender inequality is about as old as human existence. More equality than ever has been achieved during society’s last forty or fifty years, but only in some parts of the world. Unfortunately, even where equality has progressed, it’s still very vulnerable.
This is my first Sunday in weeks not to rush for an early start at work. I’ve reduced my working days to three weekly and am eager to explore what’s “out there” and fun to learn about, or to get doing.
For one thing, hat-off to my high school friend, Stephanie. She suggested trying my hand at knitting with a knitting board. Like me, she’s stumbled with needles, before discovering that a fixed board made knitting easy. Now, on one she turns out lovely pieces.
Stephanie knits on a circular loom, maybe similar to the one below. She loves it and my research suggests this loom can knit anything, straight or curving, and all sizes.
KB Afghan Loom
I found the curves daunting, and moreover, also the videos showing how to use this style loom. Stephanie insisted I keep trying, and so, I watched more videos. My eyes and brain couldn’t track with the yarn wrappings, and etc., that create knitting.
In the past, I’ve tried working with needles, sometimes making progress, but never getting the hang of them. My needle pieces dazzled with stitches dropped and reversed. Honestly, needling bored me.
After failing to grasp loom videos, I turned to reading bunches of reviews about knitting on different style looms. Many reviewers swore by a straight version that looked easiest, and so I plunged.
KB All-n-One Loom
To my uneducated self, unpackaging this loom was discouraging. I set it aside and tried to forget, but maybe January’s Full Wolf Moon urged me on. Long story short, I watched and re-watched many more videos. Finally, something clicked in and I began wrapping yarn around little posts.
Today, forgive this poor photo, but here’s the exciting start of a double-knitted wool scarf.
Dear Friends: We’re all creative, if we keep exploring, trying, and believing. Diana
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