Grumbles

Friday, December 06, 2024

In our hemisphere, the annual day of least daylight is the winter solstice, which occurs every December 21 or 22. This year, the 21st will bring our shortest daylight. I am already feeding my horses in darkness, around 4:30 p.m., and soon will in earlier darkness, around 4:00 p.m. We who must care for large animals feel stressed in these darkest days of the year.

Aside from having to work in too little light, December’s freezing cold also affects my fingers. Although gloved, my fingers can start feeling frozen and too painful to cooperate. There’s an infrared heater in my barn for thawing fingers, but rapid thawing pains, too.

I’m accustomed to wintertime discomforts, which helps me cope. I am wrapping my head around being in darkness with frozen fingers until the 21st. Then, darkness and freezing will continue, but daylight will increase gradually and noticeably.

January brings lighter days but might introduce very stressful weather. Last year, Central Oregon enjoyed relatively mild weather until the New Year, when everything changed dramatically and brought great cold, blasting winds, snow, and freezing temperatures. None of those eased until just before the Summer Solstice arrived.

Dear Friends: Today’s header image is the hoar frost at my barn. Diana

Old English “Hoar”

My Border Collie-X, Osix, in a recent outing

Thursday, December 05, 2024

Yesterday, Central Oregon was covered in hoarfrost. The beautiful and delicate ice crystals were on all surfaces, from grass, leaves, and trees to fence posts and wire fabric. This whole area looked magical. I took pictures without effectively capturing the delicate white gleaming on feathers, weeds, and knobs. Today is dawning and cold enough again for new ice-imaging opportunities.

I borrowed this image of a Canadian brush with hoarfrost from the internet.

Hoarfrost is delicate enough to coat spiderwebs, enhancing their intricacies. Here’s an example from the Science Photo Library.

Another, of hoarfrost covering trees, from the Science Photo Library.

My attachment to hoarfrost is deep because I lived for many years in Kansas City. That area hosted annual thick coatings of ice–on everything, everywhere. The freezing and lasting winter weather created gleaming structures, thickly coated roads, and shining trees.

Beauty was everywhere but treacherous underfoot or beneath a vehicle’s wheels. Oh, how I remember those days. This image, soon after an ice storm in Kansas City, was my “old winter world.”

Today, I am happier, seeing and enjoying hoarfrost! I understand that “hoar” comes from Old English, meaning “showing signs of old age,” referring to the frost’s white, hair-like appearance.

Dear Friends: Today, I will try again to capture images with bright sparkling. Diana

Dawkins-Struck

Wednesday, December 04, 2024

I am still roiled by America’s election results and the President-elect’s nominees for key leadership roles. I will become a turtle, withdrawing into my shell and focusing on the physically nearby. I will let the world turn as it may and hope for minimally noticeable impacts where I live, here in mountainous Central Oregon.

I’ve been taking more time to sit quietly and read books–a related topic because all are authored by Richard Dawkins. Dawkins is a prominent British evolutionary biologist and ethologist who’s made significant contributions to science. He has unique, learned, and outspoken views on the meaning of life.

I discovered Dawkins recently, for the first time, by following a newspaper suggestion and reading his latest book, The Genetic Book of the Dead (subtitled A Darwinian Reverie). Dawkins’ perspectives awed me. I obtained several of his previous books, finding his views consistent. His research and learning are built upon Darwin’s theories and provide logical and reasonable ways to comprehend the living world.

Reading Dawkins has me rethinking and reconsidering the meanings of reality and life. His work melds well with my lifetime of learning. Going forward (while inside my turtle shell and somewhat insulated from the larger political and social affairs), I will continue reading Dawkins and reworking how I might wish to view current and future events.

Another note on coffee beans: I’m enjoying some El Salvadorian coffee this morning.

Dear Friends: Dawkins is very woke and not everybody’s cup of tea. Diana

Sampling The World

Tuesday, December 03, 2024

I began this day by grinding coffee beans for a French Press. The Yeimini Coffee I ordered arrived as whole beans. I didn’t expect that, but I did grind to accommodate a French Press, which wants rough grinds. To me, the rougher grounds seemed easier to press.

The output was a surprise, weaker than I expected. I’m accustomed to strong-tasting coffee and like that, but regardless, this regional coffee is smooth and drinkable. To its credit, and as its bag suggests, I found that a cup without cream offers distinctive flavors and hints of flowers. I will learn to adjust bean strengths to my preference.

I discovered this coffee by searching online for a consensus of “best coffee” and found an answer—that from Yeimini (coffee’s historical birthplace). Today, while sipping and assessing this coffee, I couldn’t help but reflect on the internet and the potential of AI.

I’d never even dreamed of having a pound of coffee beans from the Middle East. Ordering one suggested my widening perspective. It’s because of continual access to online information in general and pointed learning from AI. Those available flows are similarly affecting many individuals. More widely, they are revolutionizing communications, connecting people across geographical boundaries, and fostering global communities.

Dear Friends: This thread began while sipping coffee and fiddling with the internet. Diana

Beany

Monday, December 02, 2024

I’ve searched for equipment to make coffee each morning, hoping for faster, hotter, and possibly tastier javas. That’s guided me to acquire an electrical, quick pour-over coffeemaker that works well and several nonelectrical pour-over varieties. I’ve used them all, and each produces an adequately satisfying cup of coffee. The pour-overs commonly instruct users to make coffee from rough-ground grains.

I’m busy, so I avoid grinding by using preground coffee. I prefer beans that have been single-sourced from mountainous South America. I’ve learned that coffee beans have many varieties of complex flavors, from factors like growing terrains and processing methods. To me, South American beans are high quality and consistently satisfying.

Learning can be a game-changer; I began exploring the world of coffee beans for a commonly acknowledged “best” bean. The consensus is that the best beans are grown in Africa, and at the top are Ethiopian beans. I have gathered that Ethiopia is considered “the birthplace of coffee” and that its beans offer many flavors, described as bright and floral or rich and complex with “fruity acidity and delicate sweetness.”

I’m in, and finally, a pound of Ethiopian coffee has arrived. Its packaging recommends using a French Press, which works for me. Tomorrow morning, I will discover if African beans produce a comparable or better cup of coffee than South American beans.

Dear Friends: I love how a “little learning” opens avenues to more learning. Diana

Coping

Sunday, December 01, 2024

The outside temperature is thirty degrees F., which is freezing. I don’t look forward to being in it and feeding my horses, but shortly, I will.

After my late shift last night, I’m due early at work today. The department store’s closing hours are extended, and yesterday, I fed my horses close to midnight. My working schedule through December will be a scramble of being available when most needed.

Last year, I made it through these holidays. I worked unpredictable hours at my outside job and handled critical needs at home. Repeating that might be easier because I’m now a more seasoned employee who knows the ropes, players, and routines.

In rising to the outside work challenges, I am trying to offset a tendency to let things slide. I am practicing becoming more efficient by working from daily “must-do” lists and multitasking.

Ahead will be more, but now, I’ll go outside and feed my horses this very brisk morning.

Dear Friends, The beings’ capacities to learn and adjust are remarkable. Diana

Affects

Saturday, November 30, 2024

Yesterday was Black Friday. Working in my part-time department store sales position probably logged me some 40,000 or more steps. The store was so busy that we, working, barely took breaks and later went home exhausted. All is good toward the store’s goals.

Before leaving for work today, I will search for ideas for a “shoe keeper” that suits a designated space. I have notions, tools, and (primitive) woodworking skills; I want a design that’s easy and quick to produce. I feel like doing some woodworking; a shoe keeper is a worthwhile objective.

The news these days, increasingly to me, is a jumble of concerning affairs. Maybe the physicality of woodworking is an acceptable alternative to worrying about world affairs. That might be why I lean toward the physicality of performing work on my home and property and toward my outside work in a busy role.

In the short term, remaining active at home despite less daylight and doing sales for Christmas will keep me hopping to care for property and animals, meet my part-time employers’s needs, and play with woodworking.

Dear Friends: World affairs aside, Christmas rush-shopping starts now. Diana

Moving On

Friday, November 29, 2024

Today is post-Thanksgiving and Black Friday, the annual hottest sales day. The department store where I work part-time opened today at 6:00 a.m., four hours earlier than usual. Luckily, I wasn’t assigned to work mega-early, but I will work this afternoon in my old stomping grounds, the Jewelry Department.

My Thanksgiving Day was pleasant. Free from my outside job, I handled some property needs before joining friends. In my transition toward becoming a vegan, I opted for salad and soup. Those were plenty satisfying and supported my program.

I have chosen against making a sudden complete shift to veganism. My freezer has stored foods that aren’t vegan and that I don’t want to trash. I’m totally ready to go vegan, but with groceries nowadays so expensive, wasteful tossing feels sinful.

Dear Friends: Enjoy shopping today, and soon again, the Christmas sales. Diana

Turkey Day

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

It’s cold and windy here in Central Oregon after a couple of snow-like dustings earlier in the week. Today promises to be lovely.

The header photo salutes my two hen turkeys: delightful, smart, and affectionate birds. I’ll never again cook or eat turkey. It’s hastening my transition to veganism (except for eggs from my well-treated chickens–also delightful and chicken-smart with less affection toward me.)

Todday, I will make time to relax, doing lots of whatever feels simply good–preparing to be mentally alert and quick tomorrow in my part-time job. The store has called colleagues to clock in by 5:30 a.m. It’s about early Black Friday’s retail rush.

A year of working in a large department store has taught me much about the retail business. I’ll learn more during tomorrow’s intense shopping hours as consumers search for bargains in one or more retail establishments and how situational pressures may affect behaviors, choices, and decisions.

Behaviors under pressure won’t be limited to customers. We who interact with them must remain accommodating, flexible, and quick.

Dear Friends: Again, I have digressed from the point: Happy Thanksgiving! Diana

Holidays

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Happy Pre-Thanksgiving Day!

In my part-time job, while checking out customers, I’ve listened to various threads from individuals about how they are cooking and generally preparing for tomorrow. One threat concerns rushing as the holiday draws near; another leans toward planning: for example, collecting the most significant items a month ahead and picking up bits and pieces before Thanksgiving Day.

My collective memory of cooking for Thanksgiving starts with thinking. I’d dwell on potential needs for items and the cooking effort. Mostly, just before the holiday, I’d rush out while still empty-handed and try to collect everything. Over the years, I learned a less stressful mode of being a satisfied dinner guest, not a host.

I have begun rethinking that history and find my perspective shifting. This year, my part-time work has introduced me to coworkers and customers who, like me, are without a family or at least none nearby. We share interests and enjoy conversations, and a holiday potluck might be appealing.

If a potluck happens and I elect to cook something, I’d best borrow a page from my wisest informants by planning ahead. I would acquire “big things” early, collect incidentals afterward, and cook segmentally instead of all at once.

Dear Friends: Learning and evolving nudge for changing perspectives. Diana