Wednesday, August 30, 2023

This evening, moon-chasing friends Susie and I will be chasing the Earth’s current and larger-than-usual Super Blue Moon. We will be waiting in darkness on the city’s desert side to witness the very first moments of gorgeous moonrise. This rare and beautiful moon should produce magnificent and thrilling first lights.

Much information is easily available about blue moons, which aren’t really blue, and here I will skip those details. They’re interesting, though, and more understanding of them increases the beauty of seeing this moon.

What’s not so easily understood is all the excitement a moon’s first light can generate. Susie and I have often waited in dusk or full darkness to see a moon’s first rise. The light-breaking experience is a phenomenon that has thrilled humans since time immemorial. To me, it’s about a dawning light bringing together a new day and renewed hope. That strong sense of a “newness of it all” has drawn us to many rising moons.

As it will this evening. Susie’s technical bent will have determined our best-sighting location and will have rise-timing down pat. I’ll carry a camera for adding pictures tomorrow.

Dear Friends: Just beyond the city lights, a genuine light show can delight you. Diana

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

This day off from my outside job should be productive at home. Gustavo will arrive to complete the “broken fence posts” project. He also will install a pole light beside the house. Mike Holmes will be here, too, and will wire a starter button onto the tractor. What’s not finishable today could be re-addressed tomorrow, also a day off for me.

Pimmy’s infected hoof doesn’t seem to be improving. She’s still moving painfully. I’ve soaked and re-medicated the hoof and replaced its dressings, and by now, she shouldn’t feel much pain, if any. She is receiving half-doses of a pain medication that tends to be hard on an equine’s system. She can’t be hauled to Bend Equine because entering the trailer requires her to jump and put weight on the sore front hoof. So, a vet will come here Thursday morning and reassess the hoof.

It’s almost seven a.m., and Gustavo is on his way here. I must run out, feed animals, and be there to help organize him.

Dear Friends: Sightings of our current fabulous moon generate refreshed hope. Diana

Monday, August 28, 2023

I worked a late shift yesterday and left the store in darkness. Except that the sky was alight with an almost full moon. Did you see that moon! If so, keep watching, and if not, start watching. The Globe will become full, and in just a few more evenings, rise as a Super Blue Moon. Unfortunately, it’s destined to be Earth’s last Blue Moon until another 14 years pass.

Early this morning the almost full moon was a single visible object in the smoke-filled and overwhelmingly hazy air. To the west of us and nearby, there’s a wildfire blazing. For miles around, its heavy smoke has created unhealthy air.

Right now, we need this Super Blue Moon! Despite what’s happening with the Earth’s increasingly concerning social environment, our dependable little planet routinely and dependably does its stuff. Since time immemorial, that steadfastly behaving moon has offered its watchers inspiration and optimism.

Dear Friends: Enormous issues right now: climate, weapons control, and diversity. Diana

Sunday, August 27, 2023

Yesterday, I went out to purchase tiny baby diapers for newborns. They’re for protecting my donkey’s injured hoof–bandage-like–after it’s been soaked and medicated. I was shopping in a supermarket where I know some of its cashiers, and as anticipated got teased about being pregnant.

I’ve learned that covering a hoof with a diaper and taping it to dress an injury is easier than working with cotton. With cotton, one unrolls, cuts, and holds together its ends while simultaneously unrolling stocky tape and wrapping it around the cotton. Whoever got the notion of using a diaper instead deserves accolades.

Yesterday afternoon while Pimmy walked she looked better. She was putting more weight on the sad hoof, which in several days should be fine again. Nonetheless, that hoof has allowed for abscessing, and I must find out why. Hopefully, it’s a treatable condition.

Now’s the time to revisit my old standbys: broken fence posts, leaks in the septic system, and etc.

Dear Friends: Yes, and, at least, I’m not pregnant. Diana

Saturday, August 26, 2023

The equine veterinarian who came yesterday to examine Pimmy’s hoof described the donkey as a “perfect patient.” No surprise to me, for otherwise, I’d have stayed home instead of being away at work during the vet’s “farm call.”

As I suspected, Pimmy’s foot was abscessed. The vet said the abscess was very deep, and opening it released more fluid than is typical. Pimmy has lived with me for many years without any visible hoof problems until now because this abscess is her second in two years. Perhaps Pimmy has contracted a hoof disease and become more vulnerable to abscesses.

Those who’ve not had equines probably know very little about hoofs. They are actually very sensitive and complex structures. When I began with horses, I visualized hooves about the same as wooden blocks. In something less than a heartbeat, however, I learned that the health of its hooves either makes or breaks an animal.

Pimmy’s veterinarian said the abscess was located very close to the hoof’s “white line” and that Pimmy might have a “white line disease.” I’m unfamiliar with this disease and will research it. I hope a disease isn’t an underlying problem but, if so, that it’s treatable.

Meanwhile, the sore hoof is medicated and wrapped, and she’s receiving painkillers. Last night, she hobbled more willingly to feedings, and she had an appetite. Over the next few days, I will soak her hoof, re-medicate, and re-wrap it until she’s walking normally again.

If anybody wonders, Pimmy is about twenty years old. Generally, a donkey that’s well-cared for can live for around forty years.

Dear Friends: Thanks for sharing my distress and concerns for a sweet pet. Diana

Friday, August 25, 2023

The day before yesterday, I saw my donkey, Pimmy, limping badly and unable to tolerate weight on her right front foot. Immediately, I grasped the potential problem, grabbed a hoof pick, and began cleaning the painful foot. She didn’t flinch at the pick’s pressure and my digging, probably because I’m not strong enough to force a pick deeply enough into the hoof.

A year ago, I discovered Pimmy limping and behaving exactly the same as now, with a front hoof indicating lots of pain. That evening, back then, an equine veterinarian examined Pimmy’s hoof and discovered an embedded pebble causing an abscess. He eliminated the pebble, stuffed the cavity with medicine, and taped her foot. Immediately, the hoof could handle Pimmy’s weight, and she could navigate easily.

So, this time, understanding what might be wrong, I called Bend Equine, but no veterinarian would be available before the next day when Pimmy’s pain could be extreme.

Yesterday early, while nearing the barn to feed my equines, I saw a truck and trailer entering my property and stopping. A stranger emerged and ran toward me, pointing to my limping donkey. He explained he’s a farrier and wanted to help Pimmy. He enjoys seeing her when passing my place.

I thanked him, explained the abscess problem, and said the vet would arrive later in the day.

Later while coming home from work, I learned that an emergency at the Bend Equine clinic had prevented a veterinarian from coming to Pimmy. I found at work that my phone’s battery was dead, and arriving home saw poor Pimmy still in deep pain.

I raced to Bend Equine, through heavy afternoon traffic and delays at construction sites, arriving there just before it closed. Everybody there was apologetic and promised that a veterinarian would arrive to examine Pimmy first thing this morning. I left there with Butte Power, a painkiller, and an hour after dosing Pimmy, saw her appetite returning. I won’t “butte her” this morning so the veterinarian can assess her au naturally.

Today, I’ll be at work and have a charged phone. I’ll call at midday to learn the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery plan.

Dear Friends: Hopefully, it’s nothing worse than what I’m anticipating. Diana

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Yesterday, I was in a clean-up mood and running around looking for a “quickie mop.” I’m referring to a simple stick topped by a sponge and a squeegee. Home Depot doesn’t carry the small item, that’s no surprise. I went down the hill to Lowe’s and found that mop type, and only a few of them. Maybe small mops are scarce because many others, too, are in clean-up moods.

Could be, “Tis’ the season.” Or maybe there are shortages because of supply-side issues.

Anyway, I brought home that mop and roared through the “bird room.” First, clearing the floor beneath Gilber’s cage of dropped seeds and shaken feathers and dander. Gilbert, a pigeon, is an easy bird; but his frequent wing spreads and body shakes release and float lots of feathers and dander into the surroundings.

Next, I turned my attention to Cockatoo Peaches. His always-messy area seemed worse than usual.

Peaches is a Citreon Cockatoo, the smallest of the Cockatoos; he’s about the size of a Raven. Size doesn’t matter because he’s as noisy as any giant Cockatoo. Peaches constantly is talking, screaming, or singing, and making his presence known. Honestly, he sometimes makes me forget he’s only a bird and we have conversations.

Peaches tosses most of his food onto his cage floor. And lots of it onto my floor. I overfeed the guy because he weighs only 11 grams. I figure he needs lots to eat. However, he wastes nearly everything offered in his dish, and afterward, works intently at “pulling and “killing” the empty food vessel. I’ve had to do some clever anchoring to keep the dish put, which so far is working.

After scolding both birds for being untidy, and after cleaning up from them, I felt happier.

I’ve tried out many types of mops and for my purpose, a stick, sponge, and squeegee style works best. By the way, a day or two earlier while also at Lowe’s, I picked up a small rolling bucket that accommodated nicely my frequent sponge dippings.

Dear Friends: Next week, another appointment with birds, mop, and bucket. Diana

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Today, I woke up early, in a mood for horseback riding. The outside air remains smoky but is cooler and nice enough for an outing with my trail-types. They’ve been hanging out in heat and smoke conditions and eagerly will start moving again.

My riding partner today, Gabby, is a horse-loving and long-time friend. We’d not seen each other for long after she graduated from college and moved in with her boyfriend. Recently, they showed up to shop in Home Depot, and we met again. Gabby is a skilled rider and will remind whichever horse she’s on to behave with good manners.

Yesterday, I shopped at Lowe’s, which carries the smaller stuff for homes, and I picked up a rolling mop bucket. Besides, while there, I caught up with my friend, Debbie. We used to work together at Wilco, and she taught me how to stock merchandise and organize shelves. Now, she’s a part-timer in Lowe’s Garden Department. I went there and laughed at her apparent presence. Debbie’s savvy understanding of retail has that area cleaner and better organized.

Debbie often inspires me. She doesn’t hang around thinking and reflecting on what she understands and can accomplish, and won’t accommodate interferences to cleanliness and organization. Her retail savvy and energy often inspires others to work better. Including me, at least until my mind again goes drifting; I just can’t help it.

Dear Friends: Today will be fun, catching up with Gabby’s evolvement. Diana

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

I made it through a late shift in my part-time job and then stopped to shop at an all-night supermarket en route home. I will be off today and tomorrow from my outside job. Time off from there barely dents my workload, for at home, much needs attention ahead of fall’s arrival.

My handyman, Gustavo, has disappeared. He probably found work that more suits his skills as one who specializes in working with concrete. He did a good job here, and his methods of repairing introduced me to new ways to address other property needs.

One of the best was how he bypassed the hard labor of digging out a broken fence post and its concrete base. Instead, he installed a new post beside each broken one which supported the wobbly posts and re-established the fence’s strength. I’ll adopt his method in strengthening other needy posts.

It’s a little kid’s way: watching, learning, and doing.

Yesterday evening, a coworker from Freight introduced himself and spoke of watching and learning at the Home Depot. He made me remember how I disliked locating the correct spots for returned items and restocking them. Now I enjoy that work because it illuminates the complex organization of thousands of items. To elaborate, each HD location stocks some 30-40 thousand items.

Always at heart, we’re little kids.

Dear Friends: Now, off to find what I can accomplish today at home. Diana

Monday, August 21, 2023

Today, many of our Central Oregon residents feel glad they moved from and are living away from California. Yesterday, Southern CA suffered frightening hurricane weather– even in Mar Vista, on LA’s west side, where for many years I lived. I loved and often miss the California I knew way back when. Unfortunately, overpopulation and political maneuvering have changed the state. Over the years, considering living there has become less appealing.

That hurricane apparently is moving north and toward Idaho, skipping Oregon. Probably though, it’s what’s cooling this morning’s local weather. Outside, it appears hazy and uninviting with smoke-filled air, but no local disaster warnings exist.

Our little city worries its residents. Its rapid growth resembles what happened in old Southern California. Everywhere here, one sees housing construction, traffic congestion, and possibly ahead and nearby, new resort destinations. There’s much more that is concerning. One could go on–you get the drift.

I snuggle back into my little world here on what used to be undesirable Eastside property. I liked it back when we living here were hayseeds to the local Westsiders. Now, our larger property spaces are becoming very appealing; but that’s beside my point about snuggling.

Some reassurance comes from focusing closely on one’s “little life” instead of “bigger world problems.” Today, I’ll go into that murky air and feed my horses and chickens. Afterward, I’ll handle others of my house and property needs. This afternoon, I’ll go to my part-time job and sell tools and hardware to those constructing new buildings and others wishing to improve their homes and properties.

Dear Friends: Like Scarlett, “Fiddle-dee-dee, I’ll worry about it tomorrow.” Diana