Friday, July 21, 2023

Yesterday, I rode Sunni behind Julie Gilbert’s horse, Ducky, and her mixed Collie, Nick. Julie was showing me one of her routine trail loops. At the same time, I was renewing my self-confidence on horseback. For months, I had been avoiding riding after a loose saddle made me tumble from Sunni’s back. That fall was hard, giving me a cracked rib and reducing my riding confidence.

For many years, horseback rides have provided me with bunches of fun. I didn’t want that loose-saddle tumble to permanently dent my riding. Although cautious, I wanted to ride again and the next time with a companion. Julie became that companion, and following her on horseback renewed my in-saddle confidence. Sunni also helped, for she’s well-trained and responds willingly to a rider.

We rode in a territory with a large active large canal running through. I recognized that Nick understood the canal; he repeatedly leaped in and exited it safely. I plan to ride in that area while training my young dog, Chase, to run alongside a horse. The canal is swift and deep, with a busy center that a water-loving dog should avoid. Later yesterday, to introduce Chase to the waterway, I hiked with my dogs in the area. All of them frequently dipped but stayed near the embankment and exited the water easily.

Chase is ready for more training and will love running on trails.

Dear Friends: His on-trail training will begin next week. Diana

Thursday, July 20, 2023

This hello will be brief; I must prepare for a very early horseback ride. My horses will be shocked to see me bringing their breakfast as today dawns. Enjoy, girls; this is a one-off.

A note about Peaches. His potential adopter didn’t contact me yesterday. Adopting might have seemed too big a commitment. Parrots have potentially l-o-n-g lifespans. His journey will continue with me, which is good because I love him. Eventually, I will connect with parrot groups to seek serious bird people and start the process of transferring my fine buddy to a fine person.

The next time I plan to ride horseback, I will take Chase. He’ll be a great trail dog. He’s strong, needs lots of exercise, and will love running with a horse. He’ll wear an e-collar our first time out to ensure appropriate distancing from my horse. He might not need reminding, but just to be sure.

Dear Friends: It’s beautiful outside, ya’all; have a great day. Diana

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

I love Peaches, an 18-year-old Cockatoo who’s lived with me for six years. The bird is smart and fun; he talks, sings, and dances, and yes, is a frequent screamer. His screams often express the pure joy of being alive or warn of spotting something different and potentially worrying.

Peaches’ two giant parrot cages in different parts of the house are situated beside big windows. He has lots of visibility to the outside and is an alert watchbird. He barks with the dogs, howls with the fire engines, and alarms me to anything unusual occurring.

Recently, a friend, Trish, and I happened to meet again after several years. She used to work with a veterinarian who routinely trimmed Peaches’ feathers and nails. Trish knows Peaches, loves him, and has expressed an interest in adopting him. The timing seems appropriate for such a possibility.

Parrots are species that live long with good care and reach their seventies. I’m highly aware that Peaches, still a young bird, will need a new, younger person than me to care for him, at least to his middle age. Maybe Trish is that person. Later, at some point, Peaches might need yet another caretaker to help him reach old age.

Young pets are challenging and Peaches hasn’t been an exception. Over our years together, he’s mellowed into an increasingly enjoyable and trusting buddy. A new person would experience the best of his growing years, and maybe I’ll feel envious, but also glad for having been a healthy part of his life journey.

Dear Friends: Serendipitous, isn’t it that many events just work out? Diana

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Captured! The culprit was just outside my door, eating the garden flowers. After quickly retreating from me, she turned and casually ambled away.

I am unhappy that this small city’s rapid population expansion has caused the loss of a full one-half of its (previously normal) Mule Deer population. That’s another disagreeable change, unavoidable (apparently), and occurring rapidly.

One of my resident Garder Snakes had babies. I found a tiny infant inside the house and tried to catch the quick being but couldn’t. I hope it can find a path to the outside deck and survive.

That’s all this morning. I’m running late after transporting my housemate to the bus stop so she can visit Salem. We talked about how much fun bus traveling used to be. She’s looking forward to this travel adventure.

Dear Friends: Be nice to wildlife and be grateful it still exists. Diana

Monday, July 17, 2023

Yesterday, in the hot weather, I was outside and trying to weed but barely progressing because Miles kept close, repeatedly dropping his ball at my feet. The intense heat slowing my physical efforts had me wanting to resist stooping, picking up, and tossing the ball. His inherent Border Collie persistence consistently overwhelmed my resisting attempts. Good dog!

Yesterday, for the first time in my part-time job, I was assigned to the store’s closing hours of three to eight p.m. After combating the heat and doing that weeding, in preparing for working at my job, I decided to pep my spirits by wearing a favorite, long-unused bracelet adorned with pretty stones.

I’m discovering the uplifting qualities of wearing some sort of “spirit item.”

Halfway through my shift, I glanced at the bracelet and saw missing one of its turquoise stones, leaving a potentially unfixable gap. For a while, I mentally kicked myself for wearing that bracelet to work where my hands and arms often move rapidly. Before long, however, I managed to put the situation into a better perspective. After all, it’s just a bracelet, maybe repairable, and it had lifted my spirits about going to a workplace after my earlier tiring day.

The other reminder from Miles was patience. I paused to think through the “bracelet event,” and that reduced my self-anger about the situation.

Going forward, similar to Miles and his ball, I will be persistent and identify for each key activity at least one spark that adds pleasure to getting up and going out.

Dear Friends: It’s good to self-reflect and refresh life’s little things. Diana

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Today’s header photo’s foreground sports a flowering object that’s actually my dog, Mitzvah. She’s stepping very shallowly, as usual, into the water. Mitzvah loves water sources, tiptoes into them, and her feet are about as wet as she’s willing to go.

But, true to her Jack Russell/Poodle heritages, she’s actually a pretty tough little being.

Not long ago, Mitzvah’s strong puppy companion, Chase, bumped her completely into the canal. Mitzvah took her fate in stride and climbed out on the bank opposite from where I was hiking. She tracked me by running on that bank, and as I realized later, seeking a thin strip of waterway. On finding one she leaped successfully to my side. Her courage and smarts were impressive.

Another dog that prefers to tiptoe in is my Border Collie mix, Osix.

Osix will step in more boldly than Mitzvah will, but like the smaller dog, won’t dunk.

Yesterday, while my dogs and I were hiking, we bumped into our friend, Julie Gilbert, hiking with her three dogs. One of them is Nick, a full litter brother to Osix. Julie said that Nick loves water and repeatedly enters and exits the stream. We noted that swimming, or not, is the single way in which these two behave differently; otherwise, they’re similarly quirky and unique.

As to pets’ individualities, we learn their ways and manage to love them all.

Dear Friends: My hikes will happen earlier, as HD has me working afternoon hours. Diana

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Today’s a day off, and starting tomorrow, my working hours at HD will be in the late afternoons and early evenings. At home, with my days full of animal and property care, I’ll be busy before clocking in for late shifts and will come home exhausted. Soon, however, HD’s ever-changing schedules will have me working earlier.

Yesterday, I mused about how to pep up my appearance, and a reader sent advice (Thank you, Dear Reader!), suggesting against messing with hair coloring and instead upping my clothing choices. Clothing does suggest attitudes and feelings about oneself.

That advice smoothed my path. I carefully re-examined my new articles of clothing from Stitch Fix, took a deep breath, and chose a pretty top that I had intended to wear only with a skirt (if ever again I wear a skirt). Combining that nice top with my work-a-day jeans became a noticeable touch and reflected my good mood.

A sensible way of moving to indicate some sort of personal change is by consistently touching up here and there. Gradual changes that may please are at best unsurprising.

Dear Friends: Have a wonderful day. Diana

Friday, July 14, 2023

Back to work today. A coworker called to let me know this day will be important because the “company suits” will visit and tour our store. So, what shall I be wearing on this occasion: those jeans or these jeans?

Actually, a little confession about something I’m considering. Recently, I purchased some hair coloring. Yes, after a lifelong of swearing not to, maybe I’ll color my hair. My interest in doing this sparked while my friend Julie Gilbert was speaking about how nicely one of our mutual acquaintances has upped her appearance.

But deeper, I don’t much care if I appear old because I am. On the other hand, I don’t much like what my mirror typically reflects. These thoughts are opposing and confusing.

Now they’re weighing in and favoring hair coloring. I’m in no hurry. Maybe it’s possible to make change occur very gradually and barely noticeably. My reasons are complex, seeming less about my appearance than about how I feel.

Recently, I received a box of clothing from Stitch Fix, an online site that asks what types of clothing one prefers and uses responses to select and send packages of wearables. All the sent choices are returnable.

My new clothing items fit and were likable but not what I’d have selected off the racks. After considering everything, I decided to keep all the articles and start upgrading my wardrobe. And, similar to coloring my hair, making a change slowly and barely noticeably.

I can say exactly why. Maybe it’s about wanting to the fun of feeling a little different. Time will tell if I’m dreaming or capable of moving forward courageously to make some changes. Meanwhile, it’s fun to consider possibilities.

Dear Friends: Changes might occur, but still in the workplace it’ll be jeans. Diana

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Yesterday, the season’s first Sego Lillies popped up at my place. It’s exciting to spot them and especially this summer after their non-appearance last year. This photo is not-so-good, an evening shot lacking adequate details of these beauties. In this morning’s brightness, I’ll capture new images.

My friend Julie Gilbert and I got together yesterday and looked at a single-family home. It’s a manufactured home on this community’s far east side. It’s located on 18 mostly-wooded acres, and its sale price is nearly a million dollars. Today’s market continues to discourage dreams of selling high and buying low.

It also discourages most first-time middle-class buyers. Most won’t qualify for million-dollar loans and also wouldn’t want to assume overly burdensome mortgages through many years. Today’s skyrocketing home-buying market changes how young people are planning their futures. Without adequate work opportunities supporting today’s higher living costs, more young people choose not to marry and have children.

Another trend is toward tiny homes. That may encourage home buying without particularly supporting family living.

So, no means of supporting home buying and family life influences today’s potential workers. Many chose to work fewer hours or somehow not work at all. Businesses having trouble filling jobs must deal with supply chain and product availability issues.

My part-time work keeps me among the public and acutely aware of this puzzle. Yesterday, our quick look at a million-dollar manufactured home for sale drives these points: populations are greater, resources are shorter, social choices are different, and maybe forever.

Dear Friends: These are global issues greatly challenging all economies. Diana

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Yesterday afternoon, my dogs and I walked along our favorite trail alongside a canal. The group played happily, as usual, although my puppy, Chase, seemed a little different to me, in good ways. Despite his enormous energy, he might have been bugging his running companions a bit less than usual, and most noticeably, when we bumped into other people walking with four or five dogs, Chase didn’t react aggressively. Maybe routinely walking in a public place encourages his willingness to socialize.

I’m off from work for a couple of days, will leash Chase and take him to a dog-friendly shopping place. Not HD, in case he becomes a handful; maybe to Lowe’s, where it doesn’t matter how anybody in the store perceives my dog’s behavior. If Chase can’t behave in a cool manner in our first venture, his future routine will include “routine shopping” with me.

Calming this Rottweiler/Shepherd puppy’s tendencies to be aggressive has consumed much of my time and energy. I’m encouraged to keep working with him upon noticing his improving behaviors in our trail walks. I hope that ongoing training will reduce his worries upon meeting other male dogs, and accustom him to being around lots of humans.

Dear Friends: Like everything worthwhile, my impulsive adoptee needs TLC. Diana