Saturday, July 01, 2023

That’s my house-hen, “Wellsummer.” She’s thirteen-years-old, and outside enjoying the nice weather. This last surviving hen from my first flock continues doing well and, although eating less, keeps good weight and spirit.

This week at HD, I’ve worked in the afternoons from 4-8. It’s been very tiring after having handled all sorts of work at home before showing up at HD. This month’s schedule has me at HD during the afternoon and evening hours. I will think about readjusting my activities during the morning hours at home to save energy for my obligations at HD.

We’re more than halfway through this year, and now I’m imagining the daylights becoming shorter. Right now, after spending late hours at HD, I’m arriving home with enough light to care for my animals’ needs. Soon, I’ll be strapping on a headlight before joining the critters. Meanwhile, may we have continuing nice weather. Last fall, our winter arrived early, and with such snow and vengeance, I quit my outside job.

That actually worked out well when HD became my next workplace. It’s been fun learning about gardens, tools, hardware, and shelf stocking while interacting with customers (and often, too, their dogs).

Now, about my Zoom camera. I’ve finally worked through its bugs and can resume a favorite and too-long neglected activity. Today, I will carry the camera outside and look for wild bird-photo ops. Stay tuned for (hopefully) some beauts.

Dear Friends: Meanwhile, my sweet elderly hen nicely fills a “bird gap.” Diana

Friday, June 30, 2023

I’m following analyses of The Wagner Group’s leader’s recent march on Moscow. The extremely complex situation obviously stressed Putin. Although he still appears to be in charge, he’s embarrassed and stressed. There’s no telling what an intensely focused, threatened (and I’ll add crazy) individual might decide to do.

There’s a long history between the head of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and Russia’s President Putin. They grew up together on the same St. Petersburg streets, very ambitious individuals and long-time collaborators. They have a history of teaming that’s complicated and which recently culminated in Prigozhin’s march on Moscow. That apparently caused Putin’s sudden disappearance.

Prigozhin, after quickly quitting his march, was exiled to Belarus, a country where Putin stores nuclear weapons under the protection of its leader, Lukashenko (a puppet to Putin). Prigozhin’s exile is creating a trio of stressed and perhaps failing leaders with a cache of nuclear weapons.

Has this happened accidentally or because of a plot among that leadership trio? Were Prigozhin’s moves a decision to rebel, as analyses suggest, or a way of becoming more threatening to Ukraine and the world?

Even remotely, like here in Central Oregon, what happens in the battle for Ukraine feels close. Any threat of releasing a nuclear weapon frightens. It ties everybody, everywhere, near to what’s essentially a world battle.

Dear Friends: My rant comes on the heels of America’s increasing shift to the right. Diana

Thursday, June 29, 2023

I couldn’t resist posting this photo of my wonderful friend, Ranger, in his prime. He showed up on my doorstep years ago, a lost four-month-old puppy. Now, he’s an old guy with a gray muzzle and arthritis.

For the past couple of weeks, he’s taken twice-daily antibiotics to fight a sudden and unidentifiable infection. It’s causing a persistent fever and reducing his white blood cell count. His meds have made Ranger peppier and happier. Next week, he’ll receive another CBC to re-assess his fever status and low white blood count; these are conditions that suggest leukemia.

Yesterday, I hiked with my 60x zoom camera to refresh myself on using it. I’ve been carrying only an iPhone, which captures decent images, but now I want better accuracy and more details. All my new photos are disappointing because the camera wasn’t set correctly. Nonetheless, that was a start and sends me to re-read the instrument’s instruction book.

Dear Friends: Today’s ins and outs are later at HD, so I’ll hike early with the pups. Diana

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

This summer, while I worked in HD’s Garden Dept., the ease of obtaining plants encouraged me to create a home garden. I’ve gardened a bit in previous years but without real and lasting interest. This year, my efforts are more vigorous. Perhaps learning more about plants in HD’s garden environment lead me to a healthier respect for them.

This summer’s growing warmth and my care for the little garden are showing more hoped-for gains. Yesterday, my blooming butterfly and bee attractors, Lily of the Valley and Lavender, invited visitors. A couple of Monarchs fluttered long on the Lavender.

This capture doesn’t duplicate today’s header photo, it’s of another butterfly.

This unexpected, delightful sighting reveals my garden inviting Ladybugs! Here’s a little fella circling on the birdbath’s higher edge.

Wild birds and chipmunks are plentiful visitors; however, I shift now to a domestic bird, my Cockatoo, Peaches. Here and almost outside in a cage that fronts a flowered deck, he’s starting to play with a giant new toy constructed especially for him.

There’s never too much of Peaches, and here, he enjoys an orange during a break from destroying his toy.

Dear Friends: Simple appreciations keep our world beautiful and sustaining. Diana

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

I was watering a hanging basket of flowers when out popped a worried frog’s head. I would have liked to see more of the pretty creature, but appreciating its presence didn’t do more disturbing.

Moments later, another critter appeared, seeming completely relaxed and making me wonder if it could or would hunt. But western lizards are quick in action, and most likely, this dozer was at the ready.

Then there’s nature itself, providing beautiful sightings. It’s anybody’s guess as to how long this variety of Parmeliaceae lichen has lived and thrived on these branches as a plant life. It couldn’t be prettier.

By the way, these are lichen among a massive family of 2700 varieties that can flourish anywhere. They thrive in a multitude of climates ranging from the Artic to the Rainforest.

Dear Friends: Have a lovely day. Diana

Monday, June 26, 2023

Raven, a new addition to my “Dogs in the Aisles” file, is a one-and-one-half-year-old Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff). He weighs 140 lbs., is totally sweet, and is mega-ticklish. Yesterday, in HD’s Hardware Dept., this irresistible fellow and I became buddies. His person said that Raven’s twin sister also was somewhere in the store. I didn’t meet her but will someday spot those pups together and take a photograph.

Today’s WSJ has an interesting article explaining why more people in their 80s still are working. It reports that according to The Census Bureau, some 650K Americans over 80 were working last year. that’s about 18% more than a decade ago. Some are working because of inflation and the stock market’s volatility or they simply want to work.

The Journal suggests that the “fading pandemic made [some who took a break] feel more comfortable clocking in again.” Maybe, but it’s my perspective that the pandemic made it possible for elderlies to be hired. Younger workers receiving government aid and dropping out of the workforce encouraged employers to fill open positions by seeing applicants differently. Elderly job hunters, bringing work-oriented attitudes and background experience, filled a variety of openings.

Certainly, boredom among retirees who’ve not worked for a while can make them want to return to employment, but that’s not what has encouraged potential employers to select elderly applicants. What’s making a significant difference are needs to fill essential, open jobs. A lingering shortage of young workers encourages recruiters to select qualified elderly applicants.

Gray-haired workers from complex backgrounds and effectively performing in jobs are forcing management to change its styles. Chain managers must adapt to a wider variety of employees by adjusting styles of communicating, encouraging, and rewarding.

Essentially, today’s workplaces are evolving into much more interesting experiences.

Dear Friends: I’ll stay on the lookout for that Corso magnifique pair. Diana

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Today’s my last early-in to work for a few weeks. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be at HD in the afternoons and evenings. Changing hours will mean readjusting by shifting my daily routines earlier, including my hikes with dogs.

The header photo is of the dogs going all out an instant after I called for a direction reversal. In short bursts, Mitzvah can outrun Chase, but he’s bigger and stronger, has staying power, and catches up. Whereupon he enjoys rolling her around.

But she’s a Jack Russell mix, a tough little number. She does well at holding her own. If their playing seems too rough, I stop the action to give Mitzvah a break. Soon, however, she might tease and taunt, and he’s after her again.

Dear Friends: Have a wonderful day. Diana

Saturday, June 24, 2023

Pictured are Philadelphia fleabane, colorful little daisy wildflowers that can pop up almost anywhere with little encouragement. I’m very accustomed to little versions of it and was surprised to see these mature tall-stemmed blossoms, strikingly pink, thriving beside a canal.

Here’s a top view of common yarrow, a wildflower with feathery leaves, its flowers may be white, yellow, or pink. It blooms densely as small clusters at the tops of branches. This beautiful plant is adaptable and simple to maintain. It’s been around since time immemorial, and I’ve heard can be used to make tea.

Dear Friends: Another early day leaving for work. I’ll say hi again tomorrow. Diana

Friday, June 23, 2023

The header is a skyward image from my barn. Some enjoyable aspects of a little unkept property are wildflowers. No need to go searching for them, although I frequently do. My late afternoon walks with Chase and Mitzvah provide my mood adjustments. While the dogs are romping, I am studying wildflowers, their types, names, and soil preferences.

I have an iPhone app that’s named “Picture This.” When I photograph a plant, the app provides information about it. It says the flowers in my header photo are Sulphurflower Buckwheat, super-easy to take care of, and perfect for gardeners with brown thumbs. Annually, these grow wild on my place, pepping up space that otherwise isn’t much interesting.

Before I start preparing to go to work, here’s another skyward look from my barn. Now, about trees and cheatgrass, without flowers.

Dear Friends: Have a great day. Diana

House Chicken, Wellsummer, 13 years old

Thursday, June 22, 2023

I sent yesterday’s blog in the evening because my internet service was down from early on and through most of the day. Thanks to friends who checked in, asking if I were okay and not, as one suggested, flat out beneath a haybale. Occasional internet difficulties make it impossible to publish early, and usually, I text delays to friends. Yesterday’s down was extra frustrating and made me forget to text.

Besides the internet trist, my mind was caught up with my elderly dog, Ranger. Yesterday afternoon, we returned to the vet for a blood panel recheck. Ranger still had a fever and a too-low white cell count; however, to outside appearances, he’s regained some quality of life, is more alert, knows what’s going on, wags his tail, and is willing to eat. We brought home additional antibiotics, hoping for more healing signs of his so far unidentifiable infection.

Today is the last of three days off from my part-time job at HD. My first three days back will be early-ins, and afterward, for a couple of weeks, will be later-ins.

Dear Friends: Ahead, eats for the critters and broken fence post repairs for me. Diana