Thursday, November 28, 2019

Thanksgiving Day and bunches of this season’s first snow. About eight inches (and higher drifts) fell on my neighborhood in a 24-hour stretch. Yesterday morning, wearing short boots that lacked cleats, I waded down to feed the horses, dragging my feet through deep snow and lifting freezing clouds of it to my ankles and inside my boots. Later, upon returning to the barn to release horses, I wore knee-high and cleated boots.

This snow weighed heavy on my mood. I needed to snow-blow paths and my driveway, but doing so would mean having to start the darned machines for a first time this year. In my experience, it’s taken visits from repairman Mike to get them going. In this weather, he’d probably already be too busy.

I decided to stop worrying and just chill out.

I hunkered into an easy chair for a long visit with thousands of episodes of “The Good Wife”. Sometime later, Miles’ barking aroused me from a doze. He continued muttering and I let him out before returning to Hulu. When Peaches began screaming, clearly something unusual was happening. I went to Peaches’ window. Way over by the driveway, Miles stood barking, but oddly, wagging his tail in a friendly way. That seem odd, so I entered the garage and peered through a window.

A bundled-up person who could only have been my neighbor, Frank, was snow-blowing my parking area! I grabbed a jacket, went outside. He’d cleared my long driveway!

Frank laughed, said he was out snow-blowing anyway. He pointed over to where our neighbor was driving a plow and clearing our roadway and said, “It’s what neighbors do!”

That’s when I got moving, bundled-up, and then uncovered my newest snowblower, stored as Mike directed–it’s gas tank full and with preservative. The electric starter (as anticipated) didn’t kick-in the motor. I tried and tried, and anyway, shuffled my feet downhill to the barn where stood waiting an ancient Craftsman Snowblower. This machine, after passing through several families, years ago came to me. It’s reasonably dependable, and yesterday didn’t fail, started right up.

Once you start snowblowing, it becomes addictive. An instant success, it creates channels of cleared snow and makes walking much easier. Mine blew its way around the barn and over to the horses, and then uphill to the house and on around the acreage, creating passages in several directions. Instant gratification and fun! Thanks to Frank, for clearing snow and helping me get going. And thanks to another snow-clearing neighbor for snow-plowing our county road and making it passable.

Next, we’ll be visited by a County snow-plow. It’ll re-clear and create berm-piles at the ends of residential driveways. Afterwards, few of us will be able to exit properties without first snow-blowing through those berms.

Anyway, about an hour after the initial failed starts, my newest snowblower did manage to snort up and slowly rumble itself into an idle. Will point it to a berm!

Dear Friends: Wishing you a Thanksgiving of friendship, love, and warmth! Diana

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

This photo shows Pimmy right after she entered the barn at dinnertime. It was early evening but already darkening with snow high-blowing and flying from the east. I was wearing a child’s waterproof hat and sporting a headlamp and snow goggles. Fresh snow highlighted the fuzzy coats of my horses. They had rushed into their stalls and were diving their noses into mounds of sweet-smelling hay.

My day had a steep downside and also some nice upsides. The downside of course was the sudden death of my mama goat, Sego Lily. Now, she needed removing to a final resting spot. Although small, she proved to heavy for me to lift into a vehicle.

For that early morning, my friend, Buzz (an Apple Products expert), and I had pre-arranged to meet over coffee. He listened and clarified much that still confused me about managing my new Apple Watch, Phone, and iPad. It seems they occasionally exhibit “spot malfunctions”. Buzz nods and says that’s normal among the trio, for “it’s learning” my movements and habits. Without other possibilities, I’ll adopt Buzz’s perspective.

While driving home, I phoned my neighbor, Frank, wondering if he could help help me lift Sego Lily and set her into my Jeep. Frank was beyond wonderful, willing to help and also to drive Sego and me in his truck to the landfill. (I had found they’d accept her.) Frank easily lifted Sego Lily into his truck and quickly we were on our way. Me with mixed tears, from the sadness of losing her–and relief (my property is rock-based, undiggable) for knowing an alternate destination.

Sego Lily’s twins seem to be coping. They’re eating, butting each other around, and seem normal. As the day darkens, I’m not out there, able to watch as they retire to the goat house and snuggle for warmth. I suspect they miss another.

Dear Friends: Thanks for your kind thoughts, easing my loss of this family member. Diana

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The biggest things on the minds of Costco customers yesterday were the approaching high winds and deep snow. Maybe that’s why the store was jam-packed and everybody trying to get their turkey fixings before Nature lands. The snow is supposed to start around noon today and by this evening accumulating quite a bit. By some shoppers’ estimates, Central Oregon will have up to four-feet of snow by Thanksgiving Day.

Even as folks shopped, I could hear some occasionally on their phones talking with family members or friends who were to visit over the holiday. Some now were begging off in fear of problems while traveling in predicted weather.

I didn’t give the prospect of deep snow much thought before arriving home to discover my old mama goat, Sego Lily, forever sleeping. I’d known for maybe 10 days that she’d been refusing to eat and was giving up. But her weight remained good and I had hopes she’d recover, kept encouraging her to eat soaked wheat bread. She went only once for the soft bread (a favorite) and with gusto, but afterwards showed only brief interest before turning away. Yesterday, I didn’t anticipate finding that she’d given up.

Suddenly it hit me that the impending winds, chill, and snow are realities. If Sego Lily had not slipped away before the incoming frigid weather, I’d have worried every minute about her condition throughout deep freezes and stormings.

There’s no telling Sego Lily’s actual age. She had been rescued back in time from a goat herd, and later with her newborn daughters came to live with me. She was here for ten years (the current age of her twins). Maybe Sego had reached fifteen, an average lifespan for an African Dwarf Goat.

Through the trio’s years here, together and separately, the animals have been sweet and smart, fun and funny.

Sego’s passing arrives right on the heels of my having lost a sister which I’m still processing. And Sego Lily’s twins are processing their loss, both totally aware and very anxious as their mom was removed. They reminded me of years before, and my elderly Tennessee Walking Horse, Lisa, and her daughter, Special. The two horses had never been separated. At 36 years of age Lisa gave up and Special, like the twins, totally felt that loss.

Right now that’s about it for bondings and lettings go.

Dear Friends: Just a pet goat, but you understand. Diana

Monday, November 25, 2019

Today will be another one working at Costco. If shoppers seem as harried and lost among the aisles as yesterday, It’ll be another get-out-of my-way doozy. We sample-servers, surrounded by people pushing kids in shopping carts and wanting to eat right now, try to keep ourselves politely responding to demands of, “How long before it’s ready!”

“About the twelfth of never!” I mutter to myself.

I’ll fast-forward to this evening. It’s on my calendar to watch a newly-released video, “College Behind Bars”, by award-winning film-maker, Lynn Novak (executive producer Ken Burns). It will air on PBS and I’m adding a video preview link below.

About a month ago Novak’s film came to my attention in a New York Times story covering the experiences of several long-time, hard-core prisoners, incarcerated for years in various state prisons. This small group had studied for several years under the auspices of Baird College, an elite state school that had initiated a reach-out program. Mostly, those prisoners had committed violent crimes, and before enrolling in the college course weren’t candidates for eventual parole. None had a glimmering of what formal education might be about. They enrolled reluctantly, and over much time and with hard work, began to view differently the larger world. Along with this, their perceptions of the prison world enlarged.

The NYT article highlighted this Bard Initiative prison team, how it began to learn, and eventually how diligently it worked. The prison team’s accomplishments came to public notice after it won a scholarly formal debate against the opposing team from Harvard.

The wonder of the team’s educational journey is how the prisoners became changed by higher education. In becoming better-learned, they grew more articulate, more able to think in abstract spheres. For the few Baird Initiative participants with opportunities for parole, their releases from prison now included real possibilities for productive employment.

“College Behind Bars” is a four-part documentary shot over a period of four years. It follows men and women learning while incarcerated in various New York State maximum and medium security prisons. It records a process of meaningful rehabilitation for those living behind bars and underscores the transformative power of higher education.

The film also raises serious questions by giving we viewers more insight into our existing criminal justice system and how the system routinely handles prisoners. We become aware that there’s almost a complete lack of redemptive opportunities. We wonder, for the few opportunities that do become available: Which prisoners get to participate and how are they chosen?

Here’s a link to a six-minute preview: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/college-behind-bars/#watch

Dear Friends: I hope you’ll watch with me, or save the link for viewing later. Diana

Sunday, November 24, 2019

This week’s weather information suggests that we might see snow. This area typically experiences a deep freeze and snow just before Thanksgiving. These days, climate change data suggest that weather ahead is more of a guessing game, but hopefully, we’ll have a serious freeze. That would kill the grass (sprouting greens remain apparent) and then horses could graze for hours without gaining weight.

My former easily-accessible neighbor used to let my horses graze on his dormant pasture, but he’s sold his property and moved away. I’ve not met the new owners, don’t know if they have horses, or how they intend to use their hay field in winter. Sometime ago in mid-summer, I arranged with another neighbor whose property is farther away, for my horses to graze on his unused pasture. When a freeze gets closer or actually occurs, I’ll trek over and remind him of our discussion back in the summer, hoping he’s still okay with allowing my horses on his property.

If a freeze is near that wasn’t apparent yesterday. The late afternoon temperature approached 60-degrees. I spent a couple of hours in shirtsleeves out exercising the horses. They were lazy, but at least willing to slow-trot and nowhere near breaking into a sweat. Right now, we’re re-starting their exercise program. They’ll get more into it as long as spots of favorable weather keep interrupting approaching winter.

Before working the horses, I managed to get myself out and over to the gym after long being absent from the place. It felt a bit awkward to re-enter. I recalled my old routines, but now those won’t work and I couldn’t prefigure a new workout. My best choice was to conduct activities most comfortable and highest on my list–the treadmill and a stretching machine. From there I’d use various equipment and decide on a routine.

The treadmill and stretching machine (done right) can consume an entire hour and cut deeply into available exercising time. An hour-and-a-half or two hours at the gym seems too much. Walks on my home treadmill before leaving for the gym would shorten strength-work time. An option is to break up a routine by doing pieces in each visit. I’ll attempt to do that using the “RBG Workout Book” as a guide. For sure, RBG’s efficiency doesn’t let her over-spend time at the gym.

By the way, she’s again hospitalized. Her many fans keep hoping for her the strength and wellness to keep going. She’s an impressive individual, a beacon for everybody.

Dear Friends: Today, at work, I’ll think about exercising horses and myself. Diana

Saturday, November 23, 2019

I’ve been preoccupied following my sister’s death, and so, missed the deadline to order a ticket allowing my donkey Pimmy to march in the Bend Christmas Parade. I’ll explore whether the Parade’s overseers will issue a late ticket. Standing by is Pimmy’s great costume from last year, designed and fitted by talented friends, Janet and her daughters.

Last December, new snow fell on the Parade morning and I decided against driving a vehicle, so Pimmy didn’t march. Soon afterwards, Janet and her family helped to set up a photo booth where we’d collect money for charity. Pimmy and her costume attracted many who stopped with kids for photos with the cute donkey. I enjoy taking pictures but found tiring the work of sorting through and distributing them. This year, the Parade hopefully on a day without snow would be fun enough.

I’m chagrined to have missed the ticketing deadline, but other things, too, dropped by the wayside. My horses need regular exercising but won’t be pulling any vehicles before spring, and getting myself out and working with them fell off. Before yesterday, their exercisings were all but forgotten, but suddenly it seemed, accumulated self-guilt began urging my lazy side to get busy.

One excuse for pausing horse exercise in chilly weather has been that faux-leather harnessing becomes stiff. Yesterday, I avoided working with cold harness by deciding not to long-line (IMHO the best way to exercise a horse). Instead, I opted to lounge (having a horse trot in circles at the end of a 30′ rope), which requires neither harness nor bridle, is easier and more boring. Yes, feeling a little bored and more than a little happy, I stood in a dusty area, again working the horses.

Earlier this week I participated with other area horsey folks to reactivate our local-area driving club. We set early spring dates for hosting some fun carriage/cart drives. We’ll explore possible locations for sponsoring driver-training clinics, and will plan to enter nearby driving events and competitions.

Maybe in yesterday’s early afternoon, my motivation came from that driving club meeting. Maybe that’s what got me groping my way out of an easy chair, and then, heading for the barn for a rope, halter, and horse.

Dear Friends: Goals committed to, in support of a group’s efforts, are very energizing. Diana

Friday, November 22, 2019

Last evening, horse folks who enjoy carriage and cart driving met to revitalize the Driving Enthusiasts of Central Oregon (DECO). Most were from Central Oregon–Madras, Sisters, Bend–and joined by a couple from Wilsonville. The group created some starter-plans for casual and competitive activities that’ll begin next spring and continue into summer. I’m looking forward to driving with other drivers, and will help by facilitating informally the group’s planning and communications.

That scheduled meeting forced me from a chair where I’d spent the day’s hours watching television and following the proceedings of the House of Representatives’ Intelligence Committee. I’m less interested in competition between the sides than fascinated by the process, especially the high-quality of witnesses from the Intelligence Community. They are highly-educated, trained to write notes detailing just about everything that occurs while they perform as representatives/liaisons between ours and other governments. Their notes and memories help them articulate with seeming accuracy past communications, between individuals and among meeting attendees.

While leaning back in my chair and watching with my feet propped up, I sipped hot tea. The dogs love being inside for long stretches and happily hung around, each in his or her favorite spot.

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Today, no more televised proceedings. We household members will resume our normal activities. I’ll be out exercising horses while the dogs watch our surroundings in their noisiness. Maybe best, there are no more pressing needs to ask Peaches to quiet down please.

Dear Friends: The House processes have been instructional and worthwhile. Diana

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Even in darkness, my iPhone manages to capture good photos. Above is my barn in late yesterday’s cloudy dark evening. I wanted to test the phone in darkness. What a surprise at how much light and detail it captured. Moreover, to ease downloading this photo, I set “quality” to “below medium” which didn’t diminish the outcome.

The small barn sets at the bottom of an almost-steep hill and is my target destination multiple times daily as I walk downwards to care for large animals. Adjacent to the barn is a dry lot for my three equines. Another adjacent pen houses my three pigmy goats and four elderly hens.

The winter time change confuses routines. The animals use natural light to anticipate my feeding visits. Summer feedings always occur during daylight. In the now shorter-light days, I always arrive very late from their perspectives.

These evenings my final trips down a dark rocky path require a headlight and flashlight. The horses waiting in their feeding stalls have finished their basic hay rations and will be released to the dry lot where extra hay waits. Afterwards, I clean and restock the barn for the next morning’s feeding. Then I start my uphill journey.

Again, practicing with my camera, I pointed it toward my house. As with the barn photo, the phone delivered a surprisingly pleasing night shot.

This photo reveals welcoming lights, my steep upward path, and also Louie, who’s blue merle coat is invisible in darkness. He’s inside the fence and anticipating an uphill run alongside me.

Less light always makes the months of winter hardest. Of course, there’s also more wind, rain, and sooner or later, snow falls. My new camera might make this season a bit lighter and more fun.

Dear Friends: Thanks for coming along, up and down the hill, and for the ride. Diana

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Aside from going outside to feed the large animals, I sat inside and transfixed while watching the reality television show: “Impeachment”. It’s not possible to find a taped series with a more complex, fascinating script and actors as on-point.

I felt guilty yesterday for not going outside to exercise the horses, but staying inside appealed beyond televised offerings. The day from early on increasingly grew more cloudy, until finally, a small rain kindly began to assuage my guilt feelings. Yep, a good decision to stay inside.

That evening while outside and feeding, I stood looking upward, captured by the sky’s busyness. The roiling clouds obscured the entire Cascade Mountains. The only visible peak belonged to Bend’s nearby 1,000-ft. Pilot Butte–a reassuring mound, encircled by a mile-long hiking trail that helps local athletes stay in condition.

The sky offered more. Waves of overhead geese were flying northward. I stood staring before remembering the iPhone in my pocket. I grabbed it and managed to catch portions of moving flocks.

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These pictures aren’t great, but after long having wanted to capture geese in flight, these are pleasing. Usually, I’m staring, listening, and transfixed by the wonderful birds, forgetting about my camera until too late. Geese simply are beautiful with great energy. They’re forever bonded and as magnificent while moving through the sky as on the ground.

Finally, while returning to the house and playing with my headlight, I illuminated trees against the night sky. The juniper berries appeared highlighted by raindrops. Remembering having enrolled in an art course, I reached for my camera.

It’s no wonder that while perusing today’s newspapers, my eye caught a photo in the Washington Post of an in-blossom Japanese, a breath-catcher and another of Nature’s lovely gifts.

Dear Friends: We pause while everything surrounding us remains in motion. Diana

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

After two straight days at Costco in my sample-serving role, now is welcome freedom from crowds of shoppers. This week before Thanksgiving, many shoppers hurry through aisles and stare down at long lists on cell phones or their large writing tablets. They’re pushing big carts heavy with turkeys, Christmas items, and articles of clothing.

If I didn’t work in the place, I’d also be a harried Costco shopper. But while working and watching carts pass, seeing what’s new or on sale, I can grab an item or two later before hurrying out the door. Occasionally, I do go and push a cart loaded with needed and impulse items, but prefer avoiding heavy shopping.

Time passes, and now glancing over my collected and saved items, I realize that a time may come when it’s appropriate to decide what ultimately may happen to them. My musing goes beyond collectibles and reaches toward larger items like furniture and appliances. I wonder if the cheap and utilitarian now may appeal more than the eye-catching and expensive. Frankly, I might be satisfied in an Ikea-furnished and collectibles-free environment.

My physical world isn’t ready to adapt to my mental world but something’s happening beyond pushing emptier shopping carts. Like, I’m re-exploring my roots. I’ve enrolled in an art course. To me, art is a step way back in time, to myself as a striving and dedicated artist with basic talent. In those days, I was timid and fearful, an individual who internalized my feelings and ideas. My best expressions were my pencil and pen drawings. It’s fun, recalling that in those days my favorite drawing subjects were horses!

As I matured and learned to articulate my thoughts and feelings, those early artistic efforts slowly began evaporating. At work and in school, replacing pencil lines with word lines served me well, and continues to do so.

It’ll be an experiment, this renewed attempt to create art. It should be more fun than shopping.

Dear Friends: It’s art baby-steps, and also, now modeled by “real-time horses”! Diana