Thursday, December 31, 2020 (New Year’s Eve!)

The New Year’s Bug bit. It got me working hard, ridding the garage of items that still work and are useful, but haven’t been used, searched for, nor remembered, say, for some three years. Boom, boom, and boom! Cleaning up, emptying out.

Here’s why, my garage had become overcrowded and even unsafe. A narrow path that took me from garage door to house door involved having to dodge stored items. That was too much, but really came to a head at Christmastime, because my electric garage door failed to close. I desperately called on my neighbor, Frank, for help. He got the door closed, but clearly, too little space was available for exploring and examining the problem, much less fixing it.

Fast forward to “Finally, all’s done”. As of yesterday, the garage has empty space and a door that works properly.

The act of discarding made me think about the difficulty of deciding to rid oneself of things that could still be useful. A concern is that, often after discarding an item, I’ve discovered a new need for it, and then purchased an exact duplicate. There’s also the nagging sense of waste that’s compounded by recalling past discarding sessions. Disvalue and waste make me shudder. Also, is personal history, in that each item of current disinterest once was important, somehow representing me then. Shrug, oh well: One just quits thinking and starts tossing.

Anyway, that space cleaning made my head need clearing. In a fun project, I delivered several “Advent Coffee Calendars” to friends wanting them.

Happy New Year, ya’ll!

Dear Friends: I so appreciate you! Thanks for your company through this complex year. Diana

Wednesday, December 30, 2020 (After another day the year turns.)

Google Arts provides daily a different museum image when I open a new tab. Today’s image (above) hangs in the National Museum of Asian Art. I didn’t know this artist nor could guess the era in which “Woman Writing” was created. A little research revealed the existence of many lovely pieces by Miyagawa.

This painting returned to me memories of an outstanding Chinese film, “Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace” (2018), on streaming channels.

This series stars the excellent actress, Zhou Xun, as Ruyi. It chronicles her marriage to Qianlong Emperor, from her rise as Step Empress to become full Empress. Although she’s his favorite, the road upward is paved with treachery. She begins as the emperor’s consort, and quickly learns to navigate the Royal Court’s treacherous politics, before she moves up in the ranks.

The Court is a highly competitive environment. Upon becoming Empress, Ruyi must survive numerous conspiracies that arise against her from those wanting to replace her. The Emperor Qianlong (Wallace Huo) also must survive related conspiracies. Together the two mature and change. Eventually, the pressures of the Royal Court overcome their long relationship, which erodes even when Ruyi is able to overcome the challenges.

The long series (71 episodes) is satisfying. Zhou Xun is excellent in the title role. She becomes wise, proud, and decisive. She proves herself capable of doing what’s necessary to keep herself alive, and to protect those she loves.

The series, directed by Wang Jun, is gorgeous to watch. Besides the capable cast, he employs outstanding cinematography, superb period costumes, and an eye-candy pallet of colors. He knits together these elements for a captivating telling of this tale throughout its episodes.

The thoughtful writing of Miyagawa’s “Woman” reminded me of Ruji. She and the Emperor each write often, and gracefully, using carefully-pointed brushes, and enjoying the process.

Dear Friends: I’ve written before about Ruji, and now reminded will re-watch the series. Diana

Tuesday, December 29, 2020 (2 more days….)

Just a couple of days, but who’s counting? Well, me, I am.

For a month I’ve stared at the cover of Gary Larson’s “The Far Side 2021 Off-The-Wall Calendar“, a fat desktop with tear-off cartoons–daily absurdities from Larson’s weird humor. He drew ridiculous and wildly popular “The Far Side” cartoons for fifteen years (1980-1995), before leaving cartooning and pursuing other interests.

This calendar isn’t of new Larson cartoons but of his vintage work. It happens that the days and dates of 2021 are exact matches to the days and dates of 1999. This “new calendar” is a reissue of The Far Side Theme-A-Month 1999 Off-The-Wall Calendar, but updated with post-1999 holidays.

Long ago as a young woman, I worked in a giant corporation. Its staid and conservative environment triggered my rebellious side. Along with many others, I felt a kinship to Larson but really zeroed-in on his work with this cartoon, still one of my all-time favorites.

I reflect that, if I could have seemed more sheep-like, my career could have reached a greater height. But my mind, wanting to fly and create, perhaps like Larson’s, kept me slightly off-the-wall.

I’m not peeking ahead at the January 1st cartoon, hoping to enjoy a surprise. Maybe that first cartoon and those in days following will remind me (now with delight) of a “past me”. Oh! how mightily I struggled to appear to conform!

Dear Friends: George Booth, in “The New York Magazine”), always, too, was spot-on. Diana

Monday, December 28, 2020 (3 days until….)

A little past 4 a.m. and I’m sipping a cup of Java Love #14, by the Rodgers Family. Rodgers make wonderful coffees and this season put out a Coffee Advent Calendar. It landed on our Costco’s shelves, no surprise, as typically this Costco carries several Rodgers’ varieties. When I use a Keurig, Rodgers pods are favs, but in recent months, my morning cups are from a countertop Bunn. It brews whole pots quickly and well.

Anyway, I bought several of the Rodgers’ Advents, to give away and to drink myself. Each calendar contains twelve packages of finely ground coffee, measured for brewing eight-cup pots. Each coffee is different and labeled with its name. This morning, I’m drinking a Java Love #14.

One day long ago, on coffee duty at work, and bored, I began reading coffee package labels. All the coffees in our Costco are labeled as made from Arabica beans. But the beans for Folgers and those of instant coffees aren’t identified. I did some research and learned that Folgers and the instants are of Robusta beans. They’re less expensive, taste more rugged, because they grow at lower terrain levels. Robusta beans were used in all our early coffees. And Folgers, et al, remain very popular.

The Arabica beans are more expensive, they must be grown in terrains very high and complicated, and they taste smoother, more flavorful. The Arabicas dramatically changed our coffee tastes. My casual education suggests that the Peets folks were early to gather this, they brewed and popularized Arabica beans. Their success educated other companies, and ergo, finally Starbucks was born. We began to access with ease and pleasure new coffee varieties.

The Advent Calendar has been a fun way to sample and to learn. Beforehand, I knew one won’t go wrong with a Rogers coffee, but have zeroed in on a couple of varieties new to me, and delicious enough to brew regularly. Plus, ongoing drinking practice while going through a couple more Calendars will make me an expert on coffee tastes.

One day, again, I’ll find myself assigned to sell coffee. Can’t wait!

Dear Friends: Very simple experiences may teach us and become of high-value. Diana

Sunday, December 27, 2020 (4 days more of this year)

Today and tomorrow are my early-leaving, full-working days. With my blog page up and ready, I’ll take a break and toss on coveralls, before going outside to feed the large animals. I’ll invite a dog along for company. That’ll make leaving the house messy, as the dogs compete noisily to go, but it’s too early for all their noises out there. It’s also too dark to keep track of their whereabouts. Out in early morning or late evening winter darkness, I’m a chicken. An alert companion ensures that we’re alone.

* * * * * * *

Now, I’m again inside and the dogs have settled. At the earliest light, I’ll walk the horses to my neighbor’s pasture and leave them all day. I’ll be bringing them home not very late, but in darkness. Won’t it be wonderful when the days become longer!

My kind neighbor, Frank, helped me yesterday. Something had gone wrong with my garage door, which wouldn’t close. Apparently, a controlling wire was askew. Of course, it’s a Christmas-time happening…a repair needed exactly when nobody’s available. That gaping door would have prevented my working these days until a repairperson could be reached. Fortunately, Frank allowed me to interrupt his morning, and he knew how to close the door. Thank you, Frank, and yet again!

How ever could we do without others?

Meanwhile, it’s time to close this and go to move the horses.

Dear Friends: Early morning commitments force attention to time, and I’m learning. Diana

Saturday, December 26, 2020 Hail to a New Year in 5 days!

What will I be doing on New Year’s Eve? Well, I’ll be home with my animals, maybe sipping a little wine and anticipating a midnight racket–sudden noises that frighten my dogs, turning them into cover-seekers. My long-ago Cattle Dog, Cassie, always disappeared at midnights, on July 4th and December 31, by hiding in the bathtub, a choice understandable only to her.

Without making much noise myself, but celebrating with the entire world, I’ll hail the ending of this complicated, difficult year. And for sure not a second-place celebration, I’ll cheer the near-finish of our country’s destructive Republican-led administration. I will count eagerly the days until January 20, when Biden, et al, officially will become America’s leaders.

New Year’s Day will be great for celebrating twice. In the early morning, by taking the dogs to the country and letting them run happily. In the early afternoon, if weather permits, by riding horseback, or otherwise, leading my equines and walking through our streets.

Through 2020, I’ve held two fervent wishes. One became realized upon Joe Biden’s election. My other huge-want actually has two parts, (1) a real solution and (2) an efficient process, for stopping the virus that cripples our social-physical opportunities and the world’s economy.

Dear Friends: Let’s think and hope bigger, about a world larger than we once imagined. Diana

Christmas Day, 2020 (7 days until 2021)

For yesterday’s Christmas Eve afternoon, my neighbor and friend, Susie, and I, had planned a Happy Holidays event. We’d stroll with the horses and greet neighborhood friends.

We did for a bit and met neighbors with their little sweet dog.

Soon though, Susie and I became sidetracked. We decided to leave the horses in a neighbor’s pasture. Before we left, I had the heavy job of chopping ice in a trough.

Susie is a founder of and employee of HeliLadder [www.heliladder.com]. I needed her ladder expertise to analyze how to use my new Little Giant Ladder, needed to reach and adjust a bedroom ceiling fixture. After understanding the ladder’s components, Susie climbed it and fixed the fixture.

Meanwhile, I stared at a treadmill. It had stood, unused, in my bedroom for years and swallowing valuable space. “Susie, could we somehow manage to remove this treadmill from the house?” Now, I’ll add that Susie, along with her whole family, is an athlete.

Without hesitating she grabbed the treadmill, wrested it into an appropriate direction, but found it too wide to move through the bedroom door. By now into the project, I went to search the garage for a dolly while Susie removed the bedroom door from its hinges. The dolly was small, but we managed to get the treadmill onto it. We then wiggled that bulk through the too-narrow doorway, pushed it along a carpeted hallway, and then out the front door. Once outside, we paused beside it.

Where to now? Just leave it here?

Really, never had it seemed that my old treadmill could be standing outside. We considered options and I remembered an old trailer down by the barn, standing empty and large enough to accommodate the machine. Our challenge would be hefting the treadmill, somehow, from the dolly and onto the trailer.

We piled into my Jeep and (in another long story) managed to hitch the trailer, which amazingly still had working lights. We hauled the trailer up to the house and paused to plan how to tackle the transfer. Together we pushed and twisted, trying to make appropriate the treadmill’s weight and position, so we could shove it into the trailer. We did succeed.

What next to do about this on a Christmas Eve afternoon? Susie contacted the city recycling center, discovered it was open, and would be for another hour. Off we went in Jeep, hauling trailer. A worker at the Center kindly helped unload the machine, and also, took our picture.

Susie offered to help with ranch chores, and so, we moved hay! Numerous bales in storage needed relocating to be nearer the horses. Susie’s strength made the process efficient and quick. Now, beside the horse area is a hay supply, ready for feeding in the upcoming, colder winter weeks.

While at the barn, we strung colorful Christmas lights. They’re happy, and best, visible from inside my house.

Susie had driven her car and gave me a lift to the horses. She watched them coming in from far pasture and captured their sheer beauty.

We had been stoked by having accomplished heavy work, particularly the treadmill’s moving and disposing. While t’was impressive “girl strength”, still and amazingly, we could tackle and overcome that seemingly-impossible challenge.

What especially touches me is Susie’s generosity, and especially on a Christmas Eve afternoon, in lending her brain and strength. I can’t imagine any gifts lovelier or more welcome. Thank you, my friend!

(Plus, a shout-out of hearty thanks, to California and Linda (another special, forever friend), for today’s blog title!)

Dear Friends: Hope your yesterday was wonderful, and today, your Christmas Merry! Diana

Thursday, December 24, 2020 (7 days more of 2020)

Christmas Eve! Central Oregon today will be lovely, as was yesterday, and especially around my place because the Gilberts visited. They brought their 10-year-old granddaughter, Abby, who was eager to meet (and maybe ride) Pimmy.

Ride Abby did. Dave lifted her onto Pimmy’s back. Abby settled into the” sweet spot”, and although an inexperienced rider, she sat straight and easy–a natural. Dave led Pimmy as we headed off to a neighbor’s pasture, a quarter mile away, to leave the horses all afternoon.

Julie had charge of Sunni’s lead rope (and for a photo Rosie’s, too). We continued and I led with always vigilant Rosie, ready to alert and protect her herd.

• 

• 

This trip was fun, more than my usual journeys with the equines, because each moves differently. Almost always Rosie steps slightly ahead; Sunni is accommodating and will adjust; but Pimmy is a problem–always reluctant to step-it-up without encouragement. In our travels from home to pasture and back again, I’m tugging constantly at Pimmy. What keeps me in this game is telling myself that she keeps me strong.

My camera captured from way high a young hawk. Even through distance the bird disliked my attention. It flew away but not far. I couldn’t capture it again but kept an eye on it. The hawk moved several times, at one point was chased by smaller birds and soon it’s mate (or a parent) appeared. It took me time to figure out the kind of hawk. To my best guess, a beautiful young Red Tailed.

Dear Friends: Simple circumstances with happy kids and animals are great fun. Diana

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 (8 days to wait….)

Planets are nearby and in sight, and today will add another star, Pimmy. My friends, the Gilberts, are bringing their granddaughter to meet, feed carrots to, and ride her (above, nosing for treats). It’s too bad I lack tack that fits her unique (mostly too-fat) shape, for in the past, children have saddled, bridled, and ridden Pimmy. Small donkey-happy people should have opportunities to experience the full Monty.

I’ve a job, too, for the bigger Gilberts. I’ll ask their help to haul over to my neighbor, John, a case of Bud Light, his drink. (I wondered, aloud to John, Who, in Bend, Oregon! drinks Bud Light?) Anyway, the horses are thanking him for letting them hang out in his pasture. And, far back on a Costco shelf, his beer was waiting.

Being a manager is kind of cool, and in that spirit I’m allowing myself days off from work. The short December daylights rob me of sight needed to care for my large animals. After several days of working inside from eight to five, I felt the disheartening burden of a midwinter sense of nearly-constant darkness.

Today will revive my pleasure of being more in natural light. I look forward to this, while yet, my sadness from too little light clues as to why early humans created megaliths, like Stonehenge, to represent such as calendars and clocks.

Dear Friends: Human creativity can offset the dimming of natural light in winters. Diana

Tuesday, December 22, 2020 (9 days left in 2020)

Throughout my fifteen years living in Central Oregon, there’s not been a winter like this–so warm! Yesterday, early in this Christmas week, our noonday outside was what’s considered “shirtsleeve”. Last evening, I was feeding horses in a wind that had kicked up. The thing is, working in wind isn’t pleasant, but that one was not wintery-cold.

Today will be my third in a row of having to be at work for eight hours. Of course, that again kills daylight time before and after work. Darkness prevents my walking the horses early to a neighbor’s pasture. An option worth considering might be going late in to work.

Writing this morning clues me as to feeling empty-headed, tired, and grumpy. I’ll be kind and spare readers and myself. Tomorrow will be different. As a welcome day off, it’ll point my head in another direction by providing both daylight and quality time for attending to homestead matters.

Dear Friends: Among the Laws of Compensation: “Up periods” precede “dive bombs”. Diana