Steps

Tuesday, December 01, 2020 (Only 30 days more of this high-stress year.)

This time of year and right now comes an annual moon that blows me away always. Last evening was no exception as the bright clear moon guided my drive home. It transformed my mind to a world of Shakespeare, of Romeo and Juliet, its light hypnotic and guiding. Finally, from my driveway, the best shot on my iPhone isn’t nearly good enough. But friends, you see this moon in real time and understand, too, its capacity to mesmerize. Best, this wonderful moon will glow above us all week.

Later, I stood near the barn watching that bright clear moon lighting my house. My iPhone couldn’t capture the moon’s circular clarity but could capture its glow. The resulting photo, a mood study, is pleasing. Although a too-quick glance may question its peacefulness.

It turns out that I needn’t work for a third straight day of managing the food demo organization at Costco. The full time manager is cutting short her vacation, and so today will begin my weekend. Sighting that new moon eased my brain, so full of computer systems and reporting needs. Later, a good night’s sleep dismissed work-related residue.

This and tomorrow morning, my horses will graze at my neighbor’s. Both afternoons, I’ll ride horseback through the neighborhood. If by myself, I’ll ride one horse and pony another to exercise both.

Speaking of exercise, yesterday after innumerable hurries across Costco’s length, from my office in the back to the store’s front computer room, I probably took the 10,000 steps in a five mile walk. I noticed that the fitbits were on sale, so bought one. Starting Thursday at work, it’ll count my steps. If I wear it today and tomorrow, it’ll count a horse’s steps as my own. The instrument counts in association to one’s arm movements, and while on horseback arms are guiding and constantly in motion.

Dear Friends: A collapse of my brain for two whole days incredibly is welcome. Diana

Circle of Warmth

Monday, November 30, 2020 (Only 31 days before the world bids adieu to 2020.)

Yesterday morning and proud to say, my clock-in time at work was 8:05. Earlier, I fed horses and goats (hens were roosting), walked the horses across the street so they could graze all day on a neighbor’s pasture, fed the dogs, birds, aquarium fish, and Max the cat. And got to work enough on time for a self-congratulatory moment. Today, I’ll try fifteen minutes earlier to tackle morning chores and improve my time-in.

A lovely note from my Cousin Mary has me congratulating us. Mary and I are first cousins and close friends with much in common. It’s genetic because we didn’t grow up together. I evolved in the Midwest, she in “the L.A. scene” (Hollywood High graduate). We first met and connected sometime in the 90s when I lived in Los Angeles. She and her husband Freddy invited me into their family circle, and almost immediately, we were soulmates, and remain close now across new miles that separate us.

Mary reads my blogs and writes in response to a recent one. She describes once owning a facial salon located next door to a jewelry shop. The blog that struck her memory cord had my photo of a frost-highlighted leaf, pretty enough to bejewel a necklace. She writes that, years ago, her jeweler-neighbor brought in some leaf jewelry. She loved those pieces and bought several for herself and as gifts to others.

She began thinking back and wondering where now those pieces might be. After searching and finding, she sent these pictures.

Good matches to my frosted-lead photo, and here’s a reminder.

It’s fun that besides our shared family history we have similar imaginations and tastes. Thanks to my dear Cousin Mary, for who you are and for keeping in touch.

Dear Friends: Family connections, real or faux, may amaze, it’s about communicating. Diana

Up & At It

Sunday, November 29, 2020 (In 32 days, the world bids 2020 adieu.)

I’m early up and ready to hurry, to arrive at work by 8 a.m. Today and for two more days, I’ll be managing the local Costco’s food demo organization. Showing up there at an early hour will follow my earlier big rushing to care for the horses and smaller critters. In this morning’s pitch darkness, and accompanied by Miles, my Border Collie, I’ll go outside to feed horses. They might finish early enough to be walked over to a neighbor’s and left to graze all day. Otherwise, I’ll rush home at midday and replenish their hay.

Friends ask why I do this. Well, no particular reason, but workplace challenges in these Covid-19 days are interesting. Daily changes to old norms keep brains and bodies active. Another way Costco is fun, customers become friends. In this Costco, the only one for miles around, workers get to know shoppers and enjoy swapping ideas and observations with them. Maybe best, long-time, dear friends also show up, like Julie yesterday, and we’ve catch up opportunities.

Perhaps the bottom line is that as a retiree, unlike in my career days, I’ve choices about whether or not to work. Having a choice changes everything, makes an option a nonbinding agreement.

There, a few good reasons for having a job.

Dear Friends: It’s past five, time to toss on dungarees and “Get Out of Dodge”. Diana

Homebody

Saturday, November 28, 2020 (Finally, in 33 days this stressful year will end.)

On the ground a little leaf, outlined in frost and pretty as anything, captured my imagination. Just spotting the leaf and seeing this photo have me wishing beyond my capabilities to recreate in silversmith. My wistful thinking sees the image transformed, from a pebble-based reality into a jewel that sparkles off a necklace.

That’s how art is born. One zeroes in on an object, transforms it into a personal vision, and communicates in a manner commonly understood (e.g., written or visual arts), to create a symbolic reality. For example, take my dream necklace.

The necklace would have a purpose, to symbolize Oregon’s high desert country, its complex natural beauties. The necklace’s first jewel, my sparkling aspen leaf, would be followed by others representing red juniper berries, intricate pine cones, glassy obsidian, delicate thunder eggs, wild mushrooms, and so much more abounding in this region of mountains, rivers, forests, seasons, and history.

This thread of thought leads to a recognition of having found “my place in space”. This home area lends to a sense of happiness and productivity, and encourages outings of the dreamer within.

Dear Friends: This Covid-19 year has forced us into more fully self-understanding. Diana

A Happy Thanksgiving

Friday, November 27, 2020

Yesterday, my neighbor Susie and I saddled up and rode through the neighborhood, stopping at the homes of folks we know well. Some were at home and others away for the holiday. If you reside in the neighborhood, are reading this and missed us, we stopped by to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Susie and I made a stop at her home where her son, Ian, was working on a car. He snapped today’s header photo, as well as this very cool close up of Susie and Sunni.

It turned out that Ian likes horses, has a yearning to ride. He loves the idea of horse camping and is onto something, for horse camping is great fun. Here, Ian is on Sunni and about to have a riding lesson.

Susie and I continued our ride by slow-walking for about three miles on the neighborhood’s paved streets. We said hello to folks who were out strolling, and returned waves to passengers in the few passing vehicles. We felt deeply satisfied that the horses couldn’t have cooperated better.

Back at Eight Pines Ranch, we practiced loading the horses into my small straight-in horse trailer. Sorry to say, I’ve been too busy at work or the weather too awful to load them into the vehicle regularly, and accustom them to its small size. Yesterday to our surprise, both horses entered, stood quietly, appeared comfortable. Unloading turned into something else with a bit of backwards scrambling. That was a learning experience, and next time around I’ll smooth their exits.

Here again, we’re happy campers.

Dear Friends: Our neighborhood horseback ride, celebrating the holiday increased its fun. Diana

Thankfully!

Thursday, November 26, 2020, Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving, all! May this holiday celebrate our renewed national optimism, mark the onset of an enlightened national path forward, cope intelligently with feared potential illnesses and an uncertain economy, and conclude our worrisome years of national politics that suppress the middle class.

Thanks to America’s transition toward more normality in leadership, I’m sleeping better. I’m a single person who works in a shopper-congested big box store. Today, it makes sense to follow national guidelines by self-isolating. I’ve prepared for and am comfortable with this decision.

Happily this afternoon, I can look forward to “A Thanksgiving Grand Teaming”. My neighbor, Susie, and I are planning to link up wearing masks. On horseback, we will mosey through neighborhood streets.

Folks are asking about Pimmy’s return home following her overnight in a distant stall to recover from a dental procedure. The next morning she was awake, recognized me, followed willingly to the horse trailer. But contrary to my expectation that she’d gladly jump inside, she balked, absolutely refused to load. I tried hard to load her while pushing aside my gnawing anxiety of being late to my workplace. Finally, I called a friend, asked her to bring a carrot, and stood waiting for a treat that might tempt Pimmy. Knowing help was en route probably relaxed me some. For suddenly, that donkey leaped into the trailer! Yes, she’s home.

Dear Friends: They instantly sense a handler’s tension and react opposite to what’s asked. Diana

Light & Contrast

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Last evening on finishing my work at the barn, on turning leave I saw a wonderful spot of light through the junipers. From the moon, which was softly-shaped and three-quarters, one of my favorite moon shapes. I think of this moon shape as “huggable” and fun to play with.

So, I did, first by creating a close-up.

That early evening light was cloudy and emphasized the moon’s soft shape. Clouds moonlight, and junipers created a scene surrealistic and begging for a photo.

The next photo, a mood breaker but on a similar thread, captures another interesting contrast. It’s my friend Anna’s big jumping horse, a gorgeous fellow standing over 16 hands. Here, he’s recovering from dental work, not standing upright but still a giant, and above the peak of my very puffy hat.

Dear Friends: It never fails that a picture is worth more than a thousand words. Diana

Oh, What A Day!

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

I took my equines to a ranch on the eastside where a veterinarian and a dental specialist would float their teeth. For those unfamiliar with horses, they have teeth that constantly grow. Equines are built to live in the wild, to forage across rough terrains having small rock fragments, non-grass particles that keep chewing teeth in check. Domestic horses eating clean food and grazing on cared for pastures have teeth that grow long and uneven. The teeth become “hooky” and cannot cut and grind food adequately. The floating is adjusting teeth levels, removing hooks, and checking for broken, loose, and diseased teeth.

So, that’s floating, and the modern method is by using power tools. The tools are designed to reach far into a horse’s mouth, to grind, saw, and rinse. The process begins with an anesthetic, making a horse drowsy, and just enough, for the dentist to keep open its mouth, diagnose the teeth, avoid getting bit, and even-out the bite.

For each horse the process, in which they remain on their feet, takes about an hour. Afterwards, the animal needs time, about forty-five minutes to an hour, to recover from anesthetic. In a drugged state, it responds to a handler enough to move groggily to a safe place where it hangs out until awakening.

Yesterday, we arrived on time but the appointments had been backed up by the late arrival of a first appointment, because that horse refused to load into a trailer for the trip. I got there to find several horses still ahead of mine. I decided to wait, and long story short, Sunni and Rosie got done first. While they recovered, Pimmy had a turn with the dentist.

A donkey differs many ways from a horse. The small-dose anesthetic given Pimmy made her too sleepy to stand and move without assistance. Her teeth needed work, and the dentist did a good job. But afterwards, Pimmy couldn’t walk out of the stall. We were patient, finally managed to get her into the open, but she remained too sleepy to walk.

Long story short, I waited with Pimmy over two hours, until finally, she could, if forced, take steps as I insisted, urged with a lead rope. Although she improved, no way could she have made the small leap that takes her into my horse trailer. Meanwhile,, Rosie and Sunni were loaded and awake and willing to drowse in the trailer while I tried to awaken Pimmy. Finally, I gave up, had to leave her there to recover in a stall. This morning, I’ll return for her before I must be at work.

The veterinarian, whom I consider experienced and competent, insisted Pimmy’s dose had been very small, but in reality he overdosed. Over Pimmy’s years with me, her teeth several times have been floated. In my experience she does recover less rapidly than the horses, but slower by minutes, not hours.

Next year, in preparing Pimmy for floating, the veterinarian and I will plan for her dosage. I will opt for a series of tiny injections while we observe and evaluate her responses. Yesterday, Pimmy’s sleepiness proved incredibly stressful for her, the horses, and me. Worse to me is knowing that when finally she awoke, alone in an unfamiliar stall and among strange horses, Pimmy must have been bewildered, felt deserted.

On another note, here are the ranch’s Aussies, “people dogs” and good companions to my wait.

Dear Friends: I must hurry to retrieve what’ll be a very very pitiful little buddy. Diana

New Day

Monday, November 23, 2020

One goodness from being outside early to feed horses is witnessing the early light. The sky so beautiful you want to reach and try to touch it. One of my early childhood memories is of my habitual staring up at clouds and wondering about them. I try now to imagine what then might have been on my young mind. Guessing is impossible after a lengthy blank, but clues to those early feelings might be in my wishes to capture a morning sky.

This day will be our “horse dental day”. Soon I’ll load all the horses and travel east to visit a mobile equine dentist. Once their teeth are done, worries about handling annual “big things”, may for awhile be set aside.

I’m running short on time, have been distracted by trying to capture a lower interest rate on my mortgage. The work to support a refinance has scooped up hours–all about finding, copying and sending documents.

Just briefly, my supervisory training at work is done. Starting tomorrow, my daily working hours will be shorter, except for two days weekly that the lead supervisor will be off, Sundays and Mondays. On those days I’ll be in charge, working full time. My regular days off will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays. At least, and hopefully, going forward will prove less stressful than the last couple of weeks. It’s been a personal test, learning a computer reporting system and having to perform reasonably well.

Dear Friends: It’s become my life lesson, that personal testing is the ongoing challenge. Diana

Where Next?

Sunday, November 22, 2020

At my workplace things are changing equally fast to everything beyond it. Recently, I was promoted to supervisor of the food-demo department in our local Costco. We had resumed showing foods after the Covid-19 layoffs and worked five days weekly, were allowed off on Sundays and Mondays. Beginning next Tuesday, however, we’ll leap from five to seven days of food demonstrations.

Some key questions still in the air are like, where may our tables be set up inside the store, and daily, how many demos may we be allowed? We need more personnel and right now have stiff competition from WinCo, a cost-cutting grocery that’s hiring and newly about to open.

I’m at the bottom of line management, haven’t a sense of why or who makes the decisions, or what my organization’s future may look like. There were times long ago when even small organizational changes caused great discomfort to many of us working in large institutions. I always disliked changes.

Apparently these days, it’s different and I’m able to roll with the times. I’ve accepted an inevitability of constant change. Besides our current confusions in workplaces, we vividly are aware of abounding and huge changes, politically, socially, and economically. We could tag onto this, most all “grouping type” words.

The anxieties of our younger population are understandable in this always changing world. It’s reasonable nowadays to want to seek a small safe, unchanging spot. One way that makes sense and achieves a sense of security is to slide under a weighted blanket (which by the way are selling like hotcakes).

Dear Friends: This passing period of Covid-19 has changed forever our known world. Diana