Sunday, April 26, 2020, Corvid-19 Lockdown Day #39

A bonus from reading major newspapers is encouragement from insight into the semi-isolations of others. It’s somewhat comforting that in these stressful times nobody struggles alone. Stories from reader-contributors show that most of us cope constantly with such pressures as “what next to do”, depressed feelings, aloneness, and hours of Netflix (and other-streaming) boredoms.

Our readings suggest ideas for indoor activities that might draw interest and keep us busy. For instance, and a surprise to me, is a widespread popularity of baking. As an ex-Costco insider, I know the great angst over gluten and that popular diets like Keto and Caveman ex-out certain ingredients. But now, with lots of folks baking in today’s households with fewer than traditional numbers of family, who eats the stuff?

What’s behind the endless public media posts showing folks worried about gaining weight? To be honest, me, too, while sitting before a television and struggling against endless snacking. It’s that munching is a way I can manage to stay awake and watching. Many times, I’ve jerked from a doze to discover a missing big segment of whatever’s streaming. I dream of snacks, but not baked goods. The snack I most miss is popcorn, which my dieting choice excludes. I want to avoid cooking-work and dirty pans so the pre-popped varieties taste just fine. But they’re very salty or not worth a splurge without butter and etc. Besides, for heaven’s sake, popcorn is calorific in the quantities that keep me awake and watching.

Most of us have dabbled with other indoors suggestions: knitting, sewing, reading, Zooming, and taking online lessons. They’re okay for short periods but usually don’t stretch well through each and every day. Right now, it’s an appropriate time, I’ve decided, to learn more about a key topic in our current existence: viruses.

I’m reading to know where they originate, how they evolve, ways they may spread, their incredible abilities to survive and mutate. It turns out that understanding more causes depression, too, for we humans aren’t nearly prepared to combat new viruses.

In their natural state, viruses utilize wild animals as hosts–such animals can live and deal with them. But increasing human population and industrial innovations have and are destroying much of earth’s natural environment. As wild habitats become fewer or are lost, tough viruses survive by finding and transferring to other accommodating hosts, like humans.

Anyway, starting now, I’ll do my bit and become one-hundred-percent vegan. Hello popcorn!

Dear Friends: This invasion will continue a long while, and likely, another will follow. Diana

Saturday, April 25, 2020, Corvid-19 Lockdown Day #38

In these strange times we’re stalked by a disease, unseeable, unpredictable, and too-little understood. This is clear in Netflix’s one-season Series, “Pandemic: How to prevent an outbreak”. The brand-new series, released last January, predates America’s official recognition of Coronavirus. It focuses on multiple worldwide pandemics of flu viruses and their impacts on societies worldwide.

A pandemic flu virus brings severe illness, disrupts societies, causes medical upheavals, and forces exhaustion and frustration upon front-line responders. The Netflix series details research, scientific and intensive, to discover a one-injection cure for all flu viruses. Ideally, an injection could be as effective as standard vaccinations that control measles and chickenpox, and would eliminate flues.

Viruses start in animal carriers, apparently. The avian flu began in birds, probably in China, before being transmitted worldwide to humans. In fighting that spread of bird flu, humans killed millions of birds, and videos of this are gruesome. Our current struggle isn’t against a flu virus, but instead a coronavirus. This one also began in an animal, most likely a bat, and in China where a diseased animal wound up for sale in a live-animal food market. The one or more humans who consumed that animal started the current pandemic.

Among what we’re learning is understanding that there are other coronaviruses, that another “new one” will infect humans in the near future. Our medical professionals and scientists know too little about coronaviruses, they’re scrambling for information and solutions. We’re learning that incredible numbers of people die quickly in the current Corvid-19 pandemic. We’re learning the necessity of staying apart, and practicing how to accomplish this to avoid infecting each other.

The Netflix Series dealing with flu viruses is much like our experience amid Corvid-19. Watching it is worthwhile and enlightening. The series introduces us to key players in the scientific/medical and research-funding community. They’re all is worth knowing about as we go forward, because before long, there will be more virus outbreaks. Those now involved with searches for scientific solutions will be communicating with and informing us.

Dear Friends: Ongoing semi-confinement, while wearing and depressing, is essential. Diana

Friday, April 24, 2020, Corvid-19 Lockdown Day #37

I donned a mask and went to Safeway, looked lovingly at bananas and salad fixings, and found cheap bread for the goats and chickens, and for Peaches, perfectly-colored bananas. Ah, shopping pleasantries! I needed nothing but those loaves, bananas, and a brief escape from the house. At the grocery, employees guarding the entrance periodically allowed a few waiting shoppers to proceed inside. This particular store is one of Safeway’s busiest, and always previously has been crowded. Yesterday though, we shoppers seemed a sparse bunch.

Most folks wore masks, including the store’s employees. The masked shoppers gave one another as much passing space as possible in the aisles. Those without masks seemed unconcerned, less thoughtful and careful. To my relief while in that store, no sounds of sneezing. Getting through checkout was slow as ever, but not from long lines. It’s because of needs to sanitize, and to give folks bringing bags enough time to bag their groceries. Loading my purchases into used bags was more difficult than it’s seemed in the normal-past, while I’ve waited for a store employee to bag-’em-up.

I flashed to Costco and it’s speed-edge during checkouts. Employees quick-load merchandise into boxes or directly into carts and move shoppers quickly. Leaving there, I’ve happily pushed a loaded cart to my car, and there arranged buys into empty boxes and bags. This process eases the final unloading and arranging.

Yesterday’s outing felt good. I enjoyed looking at merchandise, reading labels, making choices. Yet, I must acknowledge that there were/are “what if?” worries in the back of my mind. Now, I’ll start counting the days, staying home for at least two weeks, and hoping for no hint of a physical change that might imply coronavirus.

I’m in the opinion lot against re-opening too soon our typical social venues. This period of social distancing has proved to be an economic killer, it’s also proved Corvid-19 as a population killer. The more I learn, the more I’m convinced we’ll be forced into some kind of new normal. Since around 2KY, killer viruses have more frequently appeared. Our world’s scientific coping and resolution speed lags. Humans need more time to contain this virus, and oncoming others, loosened by increasing overpopulation and environmental destruction.

Dear Friends: It’s a dire warning for the long haul, we must embrace realistic options. Diana

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Thursday, April 23, 2020 (Corvid-19 Lockdown Day #36)

The dogs and I hiked by a big canal in a downpour, fairly light but steady. That rain was unexpected despite the day’s overcast, for my place was dry as the dogs leaped into the Jeep. But out there beside the canal, my big camera quickly became very wet. I zipped it into my jacket to hang in dead weight throughout our hike. Happily, my waterproof cell phone camera worked acceptably.

Most striking about our walk were the colors. Their dampness stood them out, each appearing distinctive, intense. Various shades of green stood out against other shades lighter and darker.

Thin and wispy plants appeared distinctive even among thicker branches and tree trunks. I felt total delight upon spotting early sand lilies, in full-bloom.

Heavily imprinted rocks always draw my attention, their interesting flora and fauna worthy of study. Yesterday, those rocks with heaviest imprinteur and rain-wet were even more beautiful.

Here’s a juniper that surprised me as maybe one of the biggest and healthiest anywhere. At least, to my eyes. It was impossible to capture a photo of the tree in its entirety. But you’ll sense its majesty.

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This outing was wonderful, too, for the dogs. Possibly, my hike’s every mile equates to three-to-five miles of their running and playing. The only problem comes from having long-coated dogs with coats that capture twigs and brush. They carry the debris home, and yesterday’s wet coats held those tangles extra tight.

Dear Friends: Stamina and bravery out in the elements can bring learning and delight. Diana

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 — Corvid-19 Lockdown Day #35

Yesterday delivered two very different mood-sets.

In the afternoon, while riding horseback on Sunni, I smiled every minute. We covered the three mile loop that in previous summers was our driving route. The streets are paved and Sunni has no shoes, so she had to stay at a walk. She self-selected the gravelled roadside, wide enough mostly to accommodate us, and ignored the few passing vehicles.

Some folks were walking by themselves. We tagged and chatted from opposite sides of the roads, meeting neighbors, some new to the area and others who’ve lived here long. We passed folks working on their properties who waved and said they’re missing my horse and me passing by. I said we’ll soon start driving again.

Sunni is a lovely mare, easy-going, cooperative. Riding her is a happy experience. I’ve ridden little after she was trained to drive. But we’re in a strange period of self-isolation. It’s put driving on hold and returned me to a saddle. But driving is a sport that’s fun for horse and driver alike and we’ll return to it soon.

Late in the evening, while watching Amanpour & Company, my mood became dark upon suddenly comprehending more clearly the huge scope of Corvid-19. Christianne interviewed Dr. Dennis Carroll who was behind the Netflix show “Pandemic” which predicted the current viral situation.

Carroll points out that the earth’s exploding population has delivered environmental havoc. Today the earth’s population is 8 billion; up from one hundred years ago when it numbered a mere 2 billion. There also a corresponding increase in wealth in which more people seek animal protein, causing chaos in the animal industry management and supply chain. This enormous influx of people and animals that causes environmental impact also loosens viruses heretofore less threatening.

Dr. Carroll is a zooquarium or all-animal expert who studies all species. His perspective like that of other scientists is that a vaccine is our most important goal against Corvid-19, and that’s at least is 12 to 18 months away. Medicine that would alleviate the illness is a step forward, but inadequate unless we know possibilities of immunity after recovering from the disease.

These viruses are living organisms. I want to learn more and understand their dangers today, and how society’s future may evolve. Scientists have concluded that Corvid-19 didn’t escape from a scientific laboratory. They believe it’s from a bat that bit an animal destined for a Chinese live-animal market–an animal consumed by one or more humans.

Once my food supply has becomes low and needs an infusion, I intend to “go vegan”. It will be my little way to encourage altering agri-business to help the environment.

Dear Friends: For the long, tough row ahead, we must be aware, fit, and adaptable. Diana

Tuesday, April 21, 2020, Corvid-19 Lockdown Day #34

I was planning to capture yesterday afternoon’s beautiful clouds when Sunni strode into the scene. Clouds sometimes are compelling but a horse is always. I decided against going for a close-up of Broken Top and its unusual cloud cover, and opted instead for a bigger photo with Sunni. Right then, Rosie drifted in and paused on Sunni’s right side. That might have been another good photo op, if my lens hadn’t blurred slightly the two horses.

Throughout the sky, those afternoon clouds were soft, fluffy, and captivating. Some low and partially covering the Cascades. They made the mountains almost magical. All afternoon, I planned to retreat with camera to a recently cleared high spot on my property. Earlier, after removing heavy low tree limbs, I discovered a different, surprisingly pleasant view of the mountains. Later, the seemingly unending work of clearing piles of tree branches tired me out. So today, I’ll hike to that spot for photo-taking.

This morning the clouds dawned still beautiful. The entire sky looked as if Renoir had created it. If the clouds hold steady, my first goal will be to fulfill that photo mission. My next will be to saddle and ride a horse through my recently cleared areas. We’ll continue down the street toward a local outback with a dirt road, appropriate footing for a barefoot horse, that stretches for a good distance beneath high-power lines.

Dear Friends: It’s beautiful outside, a wonderful spring day. Diana

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Monday, April 20, 2020, Corvid-19 Lockdown Day #33

I’ve spent a bunch of days, during this semi-isolation, trimming trees on my property. It’s an effective and satisfying way to be in a private space, physically active and less confined. Today this process is near an end. I’ve tackled the most offending trees with low-hanging and tangled limbs, and am doing a final clean-up.

The cleaning-up has required lopping greenery from big branches, hauling the lops to a burn-ready pile, and sawing logs into pieces for transporting. In early to mid-May, our local landfill will grant a period of free dumping for yard debris. Instead of burning my discards, they’ll go there for recycling.

Ending the trimming makes me wonder what else might keep me outside and active. I began trimming branches with the secondary wish of riding horseback without fears of being knocked off by low-hanging branches. It’s interesting how a project expands as one works on it. Trimming opened space and light enough to let me really visualize a riding trail around my property’s perimeter.

That will be the next project. A riding path will require digging up and moving rocks, at least those that are diggable and moveable as many are solid bedrock. Those bedrocked might keep the pathway too bumpy for driving a horse while in a vehicle, but that’s to be discovered.

Thinking about horses brings another vision, of them grazing on newly accessible areas. This possibility may develop. For improving even a small area usually creates a desire to improve adjoining areas. There are many reasons for creating more of a horse property, because in fact, this is a horse property. For years, long neglected trees and big rocks have hindered horse access and safe usage.

Dear Friends: Environmental circumstances push us into efforts we might rather avoid. Diana

Sunday, April 19, 2020….Corvid-19 Lockdown Day #32

My little pack dogs are controversial even out here on four acres. Their noise rockets through space and lands against nearby buttes that return the sounds. Some neighbors don’t like dogs but are otherwise nice people, who in the past have threatened to turn me into the County, for keeping noisy dogs, and they did. At first, worries about this were consuming, but eventually, I realized that a property that houses horses, goats, and chickens doesn’t top of the County’s list of targets to “get rid of your dogs”.

Over time and at least on the surface, neighbors have accepted dog noises from my place. This is worthy of respect, because for example, my worst-offending dog has high-pitched, insistent barks that when she’s worried may be continuous. That her noise carries far became clear last winter when I could hear her calling me home, as I was a quarter-mile away where my horses were grazing on a neighboring pasture. My hat’s off in respect and gratitude to tolerating neighbors.

This week a wonderful note landed in my “glad jar”, from a neighbor living about a half-mile away who’s a fellow blogger. Her note says, “As for your pups, I LOVE it when I hear them singing! It’s one of the neighborhood’s alternative communication systems!” Oh, Jill, thank you!

Another neighborhood friend and I are exchanging some of the humorous takes on mask-making that arise in this period of lockdown. It’s really very cool, that humans can turn uncomfortable and often serious events into humorous cartoons, videos, and writings. Humor is the brain’s wonderful self-deprecating element that helps us cope better singularly and as groups.

That noisy dog, now eight years old, arrived here as an eight-week old puppy. She’s highly alert and the pack’s best spotter of everything that happens down at the street and on the property. Her presence and alertness please me. Our experiences because she’s noisy makes me thankful that we aren’t residents in the city itself where police may be required to respond to noise complaints.

Dear Friends: In this long haul through the Corvid-19 phase, let’s keep a bright side up. Diana

Saturday, April 18, 2020 Corvid-19 Lockdown Day #31

We’re ending our first month of semi-isolation and about to enter a second month. It’s been a long stretch, but of continuing importance to we who try to stay put until scientists and medical experts assert that it’s safe to venture into public places. We follow Dr. Fauci and Governor Cuomo who are teaching much about the virus, its danger and challenges in trying to manage it. We’re clear that even now, months after first hints of a CoronaVirus leaked into the United States, it remains a potent dangerous killer.

The Corvid-19 virus is the latest in a too-recent string of highly aggressive worldwide killers, and all have been coronavirus versions. In 2002-2004, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or outbreak of SARs-Cov-2, first was identified in China. Next came the Ebola Virus Disease, 2013-2016, which originated in West Africa. There currently is an outbreak in Congo, of of Kivu Virus, with earliest human infections diagnosed in 2018. Another, the Zika Virus Epidemic, 2015-2016, originated in Uganda.

The scientists who study coronaviruses and have discovered their most primitive forms have determined that they’re natural living elements and not laboratory manufactures.

We’ve heard lots about and worried over those widespread disease outbreaks. Unlike Corvid-19, our population wasn’t touched very much before disease-stopping vaccines became available. The current outbreak of Corvid-19 is different. It’s more virile, threatening, and difficult to counter scientifically with solutions. This outbreak has touched us deeply, forced us to hide and protect ourselves. Moreover, it has forced upon us a deeper understanding of what it means to “lead effectively and communicate honestly”.

Meanwhile, we’re in for at least another month or two of waiting and hoping for a safe return to interactivity.

Dear Friends: These viruses demand repairs to a world-wide deteriorating environment. Diana

Friday, April 17, 2020

Corv-19, Lockdown Day #30

One of my jars had a single note, a “glad”, from yesterday. At midday I was spreading hay for the horses when my dogs launched into their worst chorus–loud and aggressive. The other animals and I recognize that they’re usually heralding an intrusion, maybe deer, a stray dog, people passing on the street or (most awful) approaching the house.

I looked up to see a white vehicle pausing on the hilltop beside my house. Before I could get away from the horses, that car continued downhill toward the dry lot. Now, I saw a Cadillac–funny enough, for far as I know, no Cadillac ever has entered my property. But I knew that one, belonging to my neighbor, John, from across the street. His Cad stopped at the dry lot (I should have taken a photo!). John was bringing a bag of carrots for the horses and stepped out to talk. For a few glad minutes we caught up with one another.

This first month of social distancing has kept us close to our individual little baliwicks. It prevents the serendipitous meetings and small talk we used to enjoy. At least, my next-door neighbors exercise their dogs on the next-door pasture, they holler over and wave hello. These days, that’s a big deal. But across the street, John and his wife Patti have disappeared behind their fences. I was touched and pleased that he stopped by, thinking about my horses which he loves, and to say hello.

Well, one glad is a biggie, and maybe fortunately, the day didn’t have unglads. I stayed busy (Okay, I’m still cutting tree limbs!) and the hours passed. Maybe it’s that just okay isn’t enough, a little variety is nice even if some seems less welcome.

Anyway, thanks to John for giving a boost that day. As I begin today, I’ll focus on trying to build in variety.

BTW, see how beautifully those teeny pink phlox can cover ground if allowed to thrive and spread.

Dear Friends: Day 30 may only be a start in our learning ways to adjust. Diana