Thursday, June 25, 2020

I plan to ride again on the beautiful trail my horses crossed yesterday, a path clear and easy to follow but seemingly little used. It took us over a huge and impressive rocky ridge, a bit scary for one concerned about a lurking cougar, or a coyote angry at dogs wandering near its den. All else was good, tall grasses for horses to nibble, bunches of wildflowers colorful and in full bloom, and feelings of sheer joy in riding high!

The main trail has side-trails that go higher and toward the ridge-top. I didn’t explore by taking them. It seemed wise on this first trip to stay on the main trail, managing my three equines and three dogs (Osix earlier disappeared and returned to the trailhead). This first pass would reveal any trail interferences or touchy spots.

Once long ago, while riding near a massive rocky rise, a riding companion and I experienced an almost-cougar event. Our horses were moseying toward the ridge when suddenly both went into full alarm mode. Their heads shot up, necks shifting and wide-eye staring. Against the reins, my mare’s dancing body turned, every tense muscle.”Maybe a cougar!” said the other rider. Our horses started to spring away. No alternative, horses and riders turned and took off.

I’ll never know if a cat had been present. Since then, I’m wary when riding near big rocky conformations. One thing I’m certain of is that my horse will let me know if anything seems seriously amiss.

I once had a situation while on horseback between my dog and a coyote. My elderly Cattle Dog was following when the coyote appeared from nowhere. It gave a gap and went after my dog. She dodged and managed to keep away from the aggressive pursuer. I helped by turning my horse toward the coyote to interrupt its lunges. This continued for awhile until finally the coyote gave up. What stays in my mind are memories of its relentless focus and determination.

Someone later explained that coyotes can be aggressive around a nearby den with pups. That long ago episode with my Cattle Dog occurred somewhere in an area near where yesterday my dogs followed the horses.

We did cross that ridge safely, and happily, and we’ll return to try some of its offshooting trails.

Dear Friends: The photo is of our very protective donkey following us on horse trails. Diana

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Central Oregon’s outdoor temperature yesterday shot up and created heat that became nearly unbearable. I loaded the horses early and saddled to ride ‘neath a threatened sun. While on the trail, we felt that ball become more blistering. Once home and after caring for the horses, my dogs and I crashed a couple of hours.

I awoke to see slouching dogs, limp sacks of grain beside or partially hanging from furniture. The scene might have been funny had I not felt confused on awakening, seeing myself fully dressed in riding clothes and uncertain whether the clock indicated a morning or evening hour. In these longest days of the year, estimating time is difficult. While outside making a final check on my large animals, it’s odd to experience broad daylight at nine p.m. But that’s a staying memory, it pops-up on the calendar’s opposite side, a memory at winter equinox’s short days, cold darkness, miserable nine p.m.’s.

After rousing, showering, donning clothing not infused with trail dust, I forced myself to trudge outside, did a little cleaning and organizing. This whole week will match yesterday’s heat. I must become better at tolerating the weather and accomplishing normal stuff. To this end, I’ll continue to load horses and dogs early and travel quickly to nearby trails. This process always consumes three to four hours, so we’ll be coming home in heat.

Meeting this intense weather challenge has much relationship to conditions of mind over matter.

Having been confronted and just about whipped by intense heat, I’m preparing to combat this while exercising animals and working on the property. That’ll mean setting goals to accomplish much as possible between 6 and 8 a.m., before loading animals in the rig. Achieving efficiency means thinking clearly, moving with purpose. In hot weather, it includes having handy cooling drinks and snacks.

I’ll think of how to rearrange routine objectives and tasks into time slots that may offset intense heat. For sure, accomplishing is a product of planning. A friend of mine once had an employee who enjoyed saying, “Plan your work and work your plan!” His oft-repeated words made my eyes roll, “Okay, enough already!” So many years later, in my head he’s a prophet and his phrase my mantra.

Dear Friends: Adapting to change arises from careful planning, in a cool head. Diana

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

I hiked with friends, my surrogate family, Dave and Julie Gilbert. We met over on the east side of town, early, before the day warmed much with our combined seven dogs, plus cameras and iPhones. The Gilberts were about to introduce me to one of their favorite, little-known BLM areas for good hiking and horseback riding.

That place turned out to be as beautiful and inviting as the Gilberts had promised.

We hiked slowly, frequently pausing to admire and discuss the area’s many features. My guides are lifelong hikers who’ve lived and trekked through Europe, Alaska, Colorado, and more places. Years ago they relocated to Bend, and being great explorers became familiar with most of Bend’s nooks and crannies. They are fellow horseback riders and kindly have introduced me to some of their favorite places.

Before yesterday, Dave has been introducing me to the exciting world of hunting wild mushrooms. His wealth of knowledge comes from having experienced and survived many adventures in the great outdoors. He’s currently a volunteer with Bend’s High Desert Museum, writes for its newsletter and lectures on (among other topics) Central Oregon’s moths and butterflies. He and Julie are lifelong partners. They’ve shared many of those adventures and are generous with their knowledge. Julie and I share a love for riding horseback and experiencing fine literature.

The little BLM area they showed me has hills and valleys that abound with desert plants. My phone app identified some plants as Sulphur flowers, Butterballs, and Common wooly sunflowers. The landscape is well-punctuated with impressive Rock formations beckoning viewers to climb and explore. In this area something Dave loves is “one” of his “very favorite” trees.

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The Gilberts typically are rapid walkers but yesterday moved slowly while pointing out and explaining the area’s features. We had fun just moseying along those couple of miles, sharing many experiences and ideas, and enjoying our happy dogs.

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Dear Friends: It doesn’t get better than absorbing the great outdoors with friends. Diana

Monday, June 22, 2020

I’m excited! My friend Stephanie is coming for a visit, and this time for sure as she has a ticket and arrival schedule. We’ve been “best friends” since high school, but have not for years sat together talking. We’ve shared through FB, messaging, and phone calls, but have lots more catching-up to do.

Her story is fascinating. After marrying a Native American, she spent her adult life on the Navajo Reservation, and at times in Arizona cities. Her husband and children, all high achievers, attained success in their chosen fields and gained prominence and respect. Her grandchildren, bright, creative, and energetic, are following in their parents’ footsteps. And her young great-grandchildren are of the same mold.

I’m eager for as many details of her story as she’s willing to share. I hope she’ll enjoy being with me and also will like this Central Oregon environment, to which I’ll introduce her. Stephanie won’t find that my having horses are a new experience. Her family are horse savvy–great riders and athletes. Most of her kids and grandkids are expert barrel racers and ropers, high-ranking and well-known in rodeo circuits.

I applaud her many successes. As a wife and mom she ingrained into her family, her own high focus, energy, and innate political savvy. Although a product of all-white Burbank (and part-time Florida), she integrated successfully into a very complex Native American culture. Today, still bright, savvy, enthusiastic, and a great encourager, she understands much about loving and collaborating.

Welcome soon, Steph! We’ve ahead much catching-up, exploring ideas, and laughing together.

Dear Friends: It takes nearly a lifetime to realize this, but living long has its rewards. Diana

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Sunday, June 21, 2020 Father’s Day

This will be short, for today I’ll going horseback riding with dear friends who seriously target early haul-outs to beat the heat. They’ve a right plan, for now, at 5 a.m. it’s very warm outside.

Yesterday, while tramping with my dogs in the forest, I spotted this beautiful caterpillar, a big, fat, very colorful variety. In this morning’s hurry and trying to identify its type, the closest I come is that it’s a Monarch butterfly or a Pandora moth. Not long ago, Central Oregon had a huge infestation of Pandoras, and maybe this is one. A Monarch would be likely, too, as now is their season and they’re plentiful.

This has pushed me to seek a resource for identifying caterpillars, butterflies, and moths. A book is on its way. What on earth or from among the stars is happening in my old lady’s brain? Why’s it taking on such as mushrooms, caterpillars, and King Philip’s War? Could anyone so much as venture a guess as to what’s maybe ahead?

I’ll keep you posted.

Dear Friends: Today’s horseback ride with mushroomer-friends will be brain-tickling. Diana

Saturday, June 20, 2020 Summer Solstice

The year’s longest day begins slightly murky, but soon summertime light and warmth will arrive. While nodding to this, I’ll add that the past months have seemed a lifetime. Unquestionably, 2020 is the strangest year. Locally, it’s about our weather and how to stay safe while out and about. Alternatively, we’re aware vividly that nationally, everything social, political, and economic seems on-the-edge. Like Mr. Wiley Fox, in air above a bottomless chasm about to fall and his legs hard-pumping.

Something representing this day that’s actually cool is Stonehenge, the 5,000-year-old stone circle perched on an otherwise barren English hill. It’s a site spiritually significant to Britain’s approximately 50K worshipping pagans. At summer solstice, thousands of them gather there to worship. The massive stones, set in a circle by ancient miracles of human labor, are arranged so that on each longest day, the sun will rise directly behind a “heel stone”. In that single day, the miracle of ancient engineering will channel sunlight into and through the stone circle’s center. This year, Stonehenge is closed against worries about public health concerns, and instead, new age technology will provide live-streaming. We who’ve visited Stonehenge know it’s unlikely that remote access will satisfy true believers.

As to the summer solstice, I love longer hours of natural daylight. Today as usual I’ll tramp with my dogs in a forest or horseback ride near to home. For sure, abundant light delights, but I’m forced into a new reality, there’s too little of me to hike and ride in a single day.

Dear Friends: Happy Summer! Wear a mask, go outside, celebrate and have fun. Diana

Friday, June 19, 2020

Yesterday, hunting mushrooms in the Deschutes National Forest, a sudden-learning epiphany stretched beyond me and illuminated something about all humankind.

This season’s cool weather and plentiful moisture provides wild mushrooms aplenty. My few times searching for edible mushrooms have yielded enough to satisfy my needs. In earlier visits and during light drizzles, seeing men carrying big buckets and walking deeply through the forest made me wonder if some folks hunt mushrooms full-time, for example, professional chefs or maybe others who sell fresh mushrooms to restaurants?

Yesterday, the common area seemed picked clean. Although mushrooms grow everywhere, many little ground holes were evidence of harvesting. I wandered with the dogs, happy they were having fun, but not discovering identifiable, safely-edible mushrooms. After nearly an hour, my thoughts turned to heading home.

Then, a possible mushroom, young, nearly hidden. I dug and yes, there it was, young and delicious. Immediately pepping up, I resumed walking while staring at the ground. After a long while and just before deciding again to give up, another mushroom! This one too old and squishy, but still it spiked my energy. Wanting to escape this unyielding area, I changed direction and walked toward parts unknown.

On finding a healthy mushroom, my spirits leaped. Surely, others were around. After lots of walking and staring at the ground, I saw another mushroom. Now, the three good ‘rooms in my bag suggested better hunting in this area, and, finally, the searching earned rewards. It’s not that mushrooms always are easy to spot, but they often have a noticeable presence. My bag did fill, and maybe because my seeing had become better-trained.

My point is that, assuming hunters had stripped the area, I’d often been ready to give up and go home. But each spotting of a mushroom, whether healthy or soggy, renewed my enthusiasm for searching. There was a pattern in that part of my brain, recognizing too few wins to continue searching, wanted to quit. Another part of my brain spiked at each find and pushed me to keep looking ahead.

In my long-ago working-past, during periods of job-hunting, without quick responses from recruiters and no relevant help-wanted ads in the newspaper, I’d feel like dropping out. Any suggestion of a possible interview renewed my optimism, energy, and enthusiasm.

Dear Friends: Even very simple encouragements can keep us focused and moving. Diana

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Today will be warm and not highly windy, so I’ve a double schedule. This morning, I’ll drive to high grounds and hunt for mushrooms. This afternoon, I’ll gather the horses and ride. Those heavy plans might exhaust but make me happy.

Mushrooming is a sport with phases–hunting, preparing, devouring–enjoyable. Odd for me because until recently mushrooms were interesting only if specified in a recipe. Well, I did long-ago happily discover that a grilled portabella on a bun substitutes excellently as a burger. Maybe mushrooming pleases so since I’m seeking porcinis, easy to recognize and harvest, they resemble meaty portabellas.

Horseback outings are lovely. This summer, after several years of hitching and driving my horses, I’m again riding. This shift has forced me to re-learn how to tack-up securely, maintain in-saddle balance over varying terrains, manage a horse under saddle, another being ponied, our loyal donkey loosely following her horses, and my pack of eager dogs. Lots of work with technical issues, but special feelings arise when in a saddle, riding in open large areas. There occurs a wonderful multi-species reliving of history with adventure, discovery, and close communicating relationships.

Today, It’ll all happen.

Dear Friends: Wish me the luck to accomplish everything and enjoy every moment. Diana

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

The dogs and I spent much of yesterday wandering in forest above 5,000 ft. and searching for wild porcini mushrooms. This damp weather invites mushroomers to their sources so my pickings were on the slim side. I did bag enough to share with interested neighbors, and for my dinner, I sauteed in ghee rough-chopped mushrooms, tossed in pre-cooked chicken chunks, added some of Bill’s home-grown cilantro and mustard greens, and Oh My! chowed-down. Every bite was worth every step in the searching!

(With another thanks to my friend Dave for introducing me to the sport of mushrooming.)

Speaking of learning from friends, not long ago while descending the long driveway to check my mailbox, I found near it a used book without packaging or a note. Looking carefully, I saw on its spine a “thriftbooks. com” sticker and immediately knew who’d left it for me. Not long ago while out walking and meeting a distant neighbor, we paused to chat and somehow got onto the topic of books. It turned out she’s an avid reader and suggested I check out thriftbooks’ huge library of used books. It discounts and ships for less than other sources. My waiting-stack of reading materials is too-large and I forgot about thriftbooks.

Upon the gift of that book, I texted a thanks to my neighbor and went online to thriftbooks.com. Surprisingly, lots there interested me. Among its offerings were previously published books by Jill Lepore, one of my favorite writers and an expert on cultural and political histories. I’ve searched for her back-books, she’s popular on Amazon and still expensive. Thriftbooks made used versions of her books easily affordable, I purchased several.

It’s difficult to wait for packages beyond Amazon’s two-day shipping, but finally thriftbooks arrived. Delighted, I grabbed a book from atop the stack and began reading.

Lepore’s 1998 book, The Name of War, details events surrounding the “bloodiest war in America history” (in 1675), between a group of Algonquian Indians and their Puritan New Englander neighbors. I’m in total-learning mode to that event, called “King Philip’s War”, and especially challenging in today’s enlightenment by #metoo and Black Lives Matter. It’s no distant matter to visualize those 17th Century living conditions and social struggles among skins and cultures: in those times primarily Native Americans and early American settlers.

In one sense society has come a long way, in another sense very little way.

Dear Friends: More later, just wanted to explain this reading, how it came to be. Diana

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

(A note on yesterday’s blog: I was running late and borrowed from a free source an image of mushrooms. I titled it “Porcinis”. That photo wasn’t of porcinis. An alert reader caught my error and wondered if I correctly can recognize wild porcinis. Yes! I consume them, too, and haven’t fallen ill. Thank you, reader! Most photos are from my camera, but occasionally with exceptions and I’ll be more careful. BTW, today’s header photo (also from a free source) is accurate.)

Today, I’ll meet up with my long time friend, Dave, who’s also my mushrooming mentor. He can identify many species and rate their safety as food. Some food-safe mushrooms, like porcinis and morels, are easy for novices like me to identify. Among other easily-recognizable species, and with Dave’s help, I wish to know those “unmistakable shapes” that are edible.

Yesterday in a rain, the dogs and went into forested country for a long hike. As we ambled along a road, they were in dog heaven, noses pointed into cracks, crevices, and ground holes.

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It’s been years since I’ve wanted to be in the forested west side. Those recent mushrooming experiences have revived feelings of health and happiness by “just being” in Nature’s Heart. I wished to be outside with my dogs among trees in the rain.

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Dear Friends: A perfect day’s adventure may be pretty close to the front door. Diana