Saturday, March 06, 2021 (15 days until the First Day of Spring)

Yesterday was a beautiful warm day. I took the horses over to my neighbor’s pasture and was walking home when another neighbor driving past paused for a catch-up chat. We observed noticeable changes in this neighborhood. More vehicle traffic, new homes being built, more residents moving in. Until recently, this had been an ignored part of town. Likely, the changes will upgrade our neighborhood and be financially beneficial, but we long-timers liked our old space and its social arrangements. Alas, everything changes.

Including the weather. As we talked, I stood outside his car wearing a light sweater without winter outerwear. He mentioned that nighttime would bring rain and snow. I looked at the sky, blue, beautiful, and unlikely to change. As proof, he held up a cellphone showing a weather alert. When we said goodbye, I continued toward home, my thoughts on physical and social changes, and weather forgotten.

So, this morning, there’s snow, okay. I’m surprised without being surprised, and even happy. The new snow gives my horses more days on pasture. Our rapidly warming weather was producing green grass, too high in sugar and not good for horses lacking exercise. Until this snow, my biggest challenge was acclimating myself toward becoming more physical after a lazy winter. The horses need exercising. I must hold their ropes, lounge and long-line them, to rebuild their strength (and mine) for an active summer.

Their extra days on pasture also give me extra time to chill out.

Dear Friends: Best to play with what’s coming up rather than making work of it. Diana

Friday, March 05, 2021 (16 days before the First Day of Spring)

Today is my mother’s birthday. Throughout my childhood, March 5 was one of a year’s important days. Mom has been gone now many years, but she was influential and mysterious, personal characteristics still living in my heart.

It’s almost impossible to understand enough about our parents because times constantly change. My mom grew up in a social period when most women had to depend on support by men, and when men hoped to seek out and offer support to women of beauty. My mom was a beautiful woman, confident as to her impact. In old pictures, she’s wearing designer clothing, open-toed shoes, with hair arrangements resembling those of the most popular movie stars. In her generation, women and men found movies a huge source of entertainment, along with vinyl recordings and radio.

My father died while young in a highway accident. That forced mom out of a primary role as homemaker and mother. She knew next to nothing about managing money and functioning independently. There were years of trials and tribulations, but with some help, she wound up owning popular beer bars in two army towns. She was a pretty woman tending bar, and young soldiers crowding the places made her affluent.

Lives change over time, and ultimately, sometimes mom had more money than other times. In periods forcing her to struggle, she did her fighting and decision-making mostly internally. As a result, her choices could be difficult to understand. To me she always seemed a mystery, and I loved her dearly.

My life’s trials and tribulations have taught how little stays the same. I’ve had to rethink situations, alter views, change approaches, and try hard to adapt to whatever life offers at any given moments. Now, I’m less confused about mom, for I know what it means and feels like, having to reprocess oneself on the spur of a moment, or with a little luck, over a stretch of time.

I remember being six or seven years old and asking mom for money, to go to the drugstore (in those days a safe walk for kids) and buy her a gift. A dollar or two had me taking home to her a big jar of Woodbury Face Cream. Always, she was kind and appreciative.

It’s again her birthday. Happy Birthday, Mom!

Dear Friends: Understanding others is a whole-life journey, we first must learn how to see. Diana

Thursday, March 04, 2021 (17 days before the First Day of Spring)

Here’s a rascal that for days has hammered at one or more spots on my roof, working periodically in short bursts. The noise demands attention, but my position on the ground prevents a spotting of the working bird. Sometimes, like above, it’s perched, pausing, and planning a next destructive attack. This flicker hasn’t worked consistently enough to break through my roof (far as I can tell). Years ago its ancestor did so successfully.

The most casual watchers can spot this woodpecker easily. The bird is gorgeous in flight and at rest. Maybe it’s the most destructive to homes among the woodpecker varieties. Contractors tell horror stories about their attempts to eradicate these nuisance birds. I understand frustrations about flickers but side with the birds. I’m always happy when they appear heralding the new spring, like the one that in seventeen days will be official.

I will wrap this up and hurry to lead my horses down the road to pasture before leaving for work. First though, here’s a fun capture. This bird, at the very top of a high tree, might be a yellow-bellied flycatcher, or a common western warbler. Whatever, I’ll be on the lookout for more of this cutie.

Dear Friends: I’m preparing a canvas, will attempt to paint a charming neighborhood bird. Diana

Wednesday, March 03, 2021 (Now, 18 days before the First Day of Spring.)

The horses brought us new friends, a neighbor, Nancy, and her granddaughter, Stella. Just enjoy seeing that little girl’s smile! Nancy says that Stella’s future will include riding lessons and a pony.

They happened to be driving by as my horsey trio and I walked on the street toward a neighbor’s pasture where the horses would spend that day’s gorgeous spring preview. Nancy slowed her car so Stella could enjoy seeing the animals, and I invited them to meet us at the pasture gate.

My donkey, Pimmy, is a dream pet, good natured, gentle, and just plain cute. She’s a popular sight, has been costumed and photographed, marched in parades, stood-in as Virgin Mary’s ride for religious ceremonies. Nowadays, she’s a show-stopper for many who pass the pasture where she and her horse buddies graze.

So, no surprise when Nancy slowed and explained how she enjoys driving by and seeing the horses. I loved that she and Stella were delighted at a real-time opportunity to meet Pimmy. Stella, a happy courageous child, didn’t hesitate to sit on Pimmy’s back. Her smiles said it all.

Here’s my favorite photo. Shot from a cool angle and even without a full Pimmy, it captures adventure, joy, and fun.

Not much goes together as well as kids and equines! Even those of us beyond a physical child stage find while around equines how quickly they reveal our long-held inner kids.

Pimmy is a star, as is the whole trio. Its herd leader, Rosie, kept an eye on Pimmy during the photoshoot and relaxed when Pimmy rejoined the family. All quickly got busy attending to their most serious business.

Dear Friends: Precious moments, of letting loose and playing, nourishes your inner child. Diana

Tuesday, March 02, 2021 (19 days before the First Day of Spring)

Today’s header photo is a capture from late yesterday taken by my friend, Susie. I’m leading my equines home after another day in which they grazed and hung out in a kind neighbor’s pasture.

Yesterday was warm and very pleasant, real shirtsleeve weather. In an afternoon of working outside and doing barn-related chores, I didn’t wear a jacket. Later while collecting the horses, I noticed in the pasture a dark green underlayer that hints at new grass. Because young grass is very sugary, the horses won’t be allowed to nibble pasture grass for hours at a stretch. Sweet summer grass are no-no’s for horses that tend to gain weight. My horses are very “easy keepers” and their weights aren’t affected by less-nutritional winter grass.

In a week or two they’ll come off pasture until sometime around next Thanksgiving. Meantime, they’ll have jobs. I’ll start getting them into condition for riding and driving, after first adjusting myself to the activity of conditioning them. It’ll be okay when we’re in action, but after being dormant for months, I’m not eager to be out daily and working the horses. Annually, my attitude brightens as we regain strength.

Dear Friends: Getting up and moving renews our senses and spirits and strengthens our goals. Diana

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Monday, March 01, 2021 (20 days before First Day of Spring)

One of my postings years ago offered an idea that still seems great. It’s that by finding a small relaxed herd and hanging out with the cows a bit, one will begin feeling more mellow. I love imagining this, it seems so possible.

I’m often in a space of high mental energy and near-anxiety. Escaping this means finding ways to chill out and relax. My key solution is being around animals, the sorts most of us have, dogs, cats, horses, and for some of us, birds. I’m lucky to have nice horses.

Animal interactions force us to work at thinking in the animal’s world. This activity eases us from our own worlds.

Hanging out with cows is a notion that would be worlds away from my life. Except it’s a secondary experience, and something that seems real, could be beneficial.

Years ago, I taught creative writing to adults. Many had families and long working experience, but had realized the value of re-entering college and completing their degrees. One of the most memorable stories that a student submitted was from a man, who while a young boy had received the gift of a baby heifer. His paper told of growing up with the animal and providing her full care. He spoke eloquently of a poignant close relationship that existed between them.

His pet became tuned to his needs. Sometimes finding the cow laying in her stall, he’d snuggle against her, his head resting on her belly, and fall asleep. The animal wouldn’t move until he awoke. The details of their mutual sensitivity and closeness opened for me new possibilities in relationships between humans and large animals.

I’ve since believed that herd animals are capable of offering much more than often realized. In struggling to explore my artistic side, I must remember to find relaxing periods. Interacting with my animals helps.

Now, as today’s header photos re-trigger that student’s essay, I’m starting to think of finding few peaceful-looking bovines, and for awhile hanging out with them.

Dear Friends: Communications that teach us about others also teach us about ourselves. Diana

Sunday, February 28, 2021 (21 days until the First Day of Spring)

It’s no great picture of a raptor, but it’s a miracle that my zoom camera captured it soaring way overhead. The hawk was one of hunting pair that eventually drifted lower, but my camera couldn’t again find one or both in the unclouded sky. The Zoom has limits that frustrate but not enough to dwell on, because it can make pleasing captures.

With the dogs loaded into my Jeep, we went to a natural space on Bend’s east side and hiked several miles. I planned to photograph relatively simple scenes, searching for one that whole or in parts could become a model for painting in pastels or oils. These are candidates.

I’m no natural artist, but viewing art works does teach that truth and beauty are in the eye of the beholder. As I seek my own version of truth and beauty, hold on, for the ride could become wild.

My dogs are wonderful hiking companions, always nearby, or returning frequently for a reassurance that I’m tracking along. On this outing, I didn’t intend to take photos of the dogs, but in the end it’s impossible to resist their presence and sheer fun.

I’m committed to move forward. There’s a web site in creation and a plan to explore my artistic side. To answer a reader’s question, I hope to coordinate the website and blog to work together seamlessly (both on the Word Press platform). There should be no need to renew blog subscriptions. I’m hoping a companion website may provide more for folks to enjoy. Stay tuned.

Dear Friends: Describing what one is learning may turn into a way of teaching others. Diana

Saturday, February 27, 2021 (22 days before the First Day of Spring)

Yesterday, I ordered from Word Press a new webpage, for Eight Pines Ranch, and began designing it. Its intended logo, above, is the Ranch sign that my friend, Susie, created and surprised me with months ago.

For some reason, my ordering of a new page made Word Press turn me into an unknown this morning. It tossed me off this daily blog site. All today’s early hours were needed to negotiate a return to this page. Now, most of my thoughts are anger at my blog host, but railing at an uncaring platform is useless.

About the Eight Pines web page, it’s a shot in the dark and still ill-defined. I’ve been wanting an Eight Pines website, and sometimes, just moving ahead with an idea tends to work out fuzzy details. Word Press, when it’s working right, is easy to use. It’s suggestions and templates can reduce designing and creating efforts. That’s cool, for after an initial web page becomes a reality, initial designs may be reworked and elaborated.

Currently, I’ve a couple of ideas for the website’s content. One is to make it a writing platform for my daily blogs, and another is to use it for displaying creative arts, and not necessarily my creations, for I enjoy obscure and interesting pieces from news sources and the internet, and want to make them more available to readers. I will admit to wishing to be more creative in my personal writing and photography. I’ll explore this vis-à-vis the website.

So, I’m introducing my hoped-for transition. All will depend on the page’s being on a friendly, appropriate platform, and having clearly defined objectives and goals.

Dear Friends: My body shows signs of aging, but my dreams not at all. Diana

Friday, February 26, 2021 (24 days until the First Day of Spring)

I’ve wondered why the powerful draw that keeps me reading Carl Sagan’s monumental 1980 book, Cosmos. Sagan was an American astronomer who created Cosmos as the script for his 1980s-era television series of the same name. I hadn’t ever read from cover to cover the the beautifully illustrated book, but immediately dug it out after seeing the Mars Rover descend and land.

Sagan published other astrological books prior to Cosmos, a work fine in its time that made him famous. Technology continued to evolve and soon outdated Sagan’s book and television series. Before dying in 1996, Sagan didn’t actually update Cosmos, but published a sequel in 1994, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space.

Last week and awestruck, I watched as Mars Rover descended to the surface of Mars and landed exactly on the target spot! The immensity of that accomplishment, and renewed appreciation of high capabilities in human intelligence combined with computer technology, made me want more knowledge.

My skills in this modern techie world are at a level of simplest “armchair activities” with science and computers. I can’t move forward to learn more how Rover got to Mars and landed perfectly. First, I must renew old high school learning about key historical astrological activities. I had to study accomplishments by key (Western) individuals: Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galilei, and Newton, and eventually, forgot all, except for Galilei. He discovered that the earth isn’t the center of the Universe and so challenged social norms that the Pope went after him. A fascinating bit of social history.

Sagan’s Cosmos lays out from early times the sequence of astrological successes. For example, 2,200 years ago in Alexandria, an astrologer-poet-musician, Eratosthenes, experimented with sticks and figured out that the earth isn’t flat, but curved. Moreover, those sticks enabled him to become first to estimate correctly the kilometers of earth’s circumference, and its distance from the moon.

It feels wise to start way back and refresh all that history, before attempting to move forward to try and grasp modern astrological concepts.

Dear Friends: Backing up and making mental corrections will realign us to new possibilities. Diana

Thursday February 25, 2021 (25 days until the First Day of Spring)

I went adventuring with my camera, shooting reasonable sightings, using various settings, randomly selected from the choice wheel. To my surprise, the only difference easily visible among the settings was a panoramic capture, a quick street view shot that unfortunately isn’t post-worthy. I’ll take another panorama, one more interesting for posting.

On this setting, and now I can’t remember which, the capture brought a little more detail of the most interesting profile in our local Cascade Range.

From far away, my camera shot treetops. They weren’t accidents, just illustrating the camera’s settings.

Pointing at treetops turned up one of my favorite birds, not a clear capture but a fun sighting. These active little guys are all over the place. Usually moving in flocks, they prefer heavy clumps of brush and love dashing from one to another.

These photos summarize my recent explorations with a camera that offers more than I understand to tap. I’ll keep trying and believing in practice making perfect.

Dear Friends: Regardless of expertise, there’s a potential for humor in whatever we do. Diana