Saturday, May 06 2023

It’s early, and I should be preparing for work and to clock in by seven a.m. But instead, I will play hooky, because later this morning my manager, Enrique, is getting married, and I am planning to attend that wedding.

Enrique is a good manager. He’s fun, even loveable, and highly organized after having worked at HD for many years. He and his wife, Krystal, have an adorable four-year-old. She will be their flower girl at this, their second wedding, and this time In The Church.

Enrique and Krystal have large families with relatives arriving from distant places. There will be many witnesses. I told Enrique I’d like to attend and received an official invitation. He said he’d “look in another direction” when I call in sick on his wedding day.

I will use the excuse of a painful “turned ankle.” Years ago, that occurred when I stepped incorrectly off a curb and landed my foot awkwardly. Today’s faux episode won’t be as dramatic, so tomorrow, I “can work” as scheduled.

Working at HD has introduced me to many likable folks. The workplace is fun as well as challenging.

Today, I will witness a marriage. I will wish Enrique, lovely Krystal, and their adorable “flower daughter,” all the best ahead.

Dear Friends: I prefer being truthful, but occasionally a situation calls for fibbing. Diana

Another Method

Friday, May 05, 2023

Rain today, more expected tomorrow, and temperatures are reasonable. This weather is perfect for plants. Unfortunately, water and warmth aren’t enough because gardens have enemies.

Mine has cutworms! I never gave my own garden a thought about them before finding my Rhubard plant sawed to its very bottom. While hoping it’ll regrow, I thought about a recent HD customer who was seeking a remedy for cutworms, and I helped her. We both disliked pesticides and critter-killing poisons, and together, read labels, evaluated possibilities, and finally, googled for information. We learned online that homemade dish soap solutions will kill cutworms without harming plants. She left the store without buying, opting for a holistic solution.

Yesterday, remembering that customer, I googled to find an easy formula. I chose one calling for a couple of tablespoons of Dawn, and a couple more with vegetable oil, with all mixed into a gallon of water. Those simple and handy ingredients let me create a solution. I filled a spray bottle and marched to my garden.

I sprayed and sprayed, from the plant tops to their bottoms and underneath their leaves. I felt resolute, but deeper thoughts were mixed. I wondered if the solution really could eliminate pests without being unhealthy for plants. I remained firm because worries won’t alter the bottom line, an outcome of healthy plants, or none.

Going forward, I will repeat that process daily. After watering, I’ll wait for the plant bodies dry and then spray the solution. I’m figuring on finding three possible outcomes: (1) bugs disappear; (2) plants sag; or (3) nothing changes, and all was for naught.

Dear Friends: One can’t know unless one tries, and each attempt notches new learning. Diana

Thursday, May 04, 2023

This day is an early-to-work, meaning I will clock in at seven and leave at noon. These hours in the store will be welcome as I need supplies, and being at work makes shopping convenient. Years of never-ending seeking and acquiring teach us to appreciate “convenience.”

Yesterday, I had a dental appointment for a process I always fear, teeth cleaning. I have a new dentist and explained that my receding gums make teeth cleaning painful, especially the “rapid water” method. Hygienists prefer using that fast technique to process more clients.

My dentist listened and arranged for his hygienist to use the instrument-reducing technique. She proved to be kind and capable; the process was painless and felt perfect. She is my go-to in the future. At last, after years of seemingly unavoidable mouth-nerve pain, I won’t dread dental appointments.

It’s five a.m. and a heavy rain is falling. It means a soggy start for me, as soon I will be outside feeding the horses.

Dear Friends: My garden Irises have begun to bloom, and this rain is welcome. Diana

Wednesday, May 03, 2023

Business is booming in Home Depot’s Garden Department. A store representative called yesterday wondering if I would work on some off-scheduled days. “Of course,” I said, without hesitating on a non-brainer. The fact is, I’m watering a garden and flowers here at home and might as well be doing the same there and being paid.

The national newspapers address how rising interest rates reduce sales and profits and impact workers. One way companies tighten up against falling profits is by reducing job opportunities. We part-timers at HD faced reduced working hours but weren’t laid off. HD’s business is picking up, and its re-staffing is rapid and smooth.

I have a dental appointment to precede an upcoming root canal appointment. Long ago, I received a root canal that is now beginning to collapse, something I never knew could happen. Apparently, an old canal filling can dissipate over time, making the tooth sensitive to pressure. I assumed a new cavity was behind my growing tooth sensitivity, but no, instead, the canal needs refilling.

There’s always something! And now I must be off to prepare for the dental appointment.

Dear Friends: We can’t escape the larger economic conditions, but understanding helps us cope. Diana

Tuesday, May 02, 2023

It’s a rainy and chilly day, and perhaps Central Oregon’s “last freeze” before the real spring arrives. Those accustomed to this area know not to plant anything before mid-May. Nonetheless, I might set a bit of Rosemary into my gardening area and, so to speak, “test the waters.” Hoping it’ll survive and thrive.

My Rhubarb plants were coming up nicely before one appeared ravaged. I first thought because of deer, but its damaged leaves didn’t quite look dear-damaged. Then, I remembered seeing young bunnies running on my property this year because my cat, Maxwell, hasn’t been outside. He’s inside because the baby-bunny season is beginning, and Max is an expert hunter.

It appears that new babies are finding my little garden. And like roaming deer, wild bunnies will enjoy Rhubard leaves. I intend to set a little fence around the Rhubard, which will regenerate. The beautiful ornamental plant regrows rapidly. A fence might take care of the bunnies but can’t hold back roaming deer. I’ll address that problem (not sure how) after finding signs of deer chews on my garden plants.

Now, I’ll be off to address today’s needs. Besides taking care of things on the property, I will haul my horse rig over for a tune-up. That’ll ready it for taking my horses across town, next week, to an equine dentist.

Dear Friends: I doubt wild critters will dine on spiky Rosemary, but of course, that’s not guaranteed. Diana

Monday, May 01, 2023

This May Day begins a new month. This day also represents a bill-pay time for most of us. Although we are coping with a less-than-robust economy, our money obligations don’t change. Ah, May Day, it’s also a signal of calling for help.

Appropriately, too, the Feds are currently attempting differently to manage the larger economy. Nonetheless, a final shape resembles guesswork. The Feds are attempting to avoid repeating this nation’s 2008 economic crash, a painful time that hit everybody hard. It took years to recover from that giant economic failure. Besides being lengthy, recovering was complex and costly.

That period introduced indelible learning. Now, the economy introduces a new “May Day” for big banks failing in the heart of money-land, Silicon Valley. Americans feeling the pinches may give thanks to housing shortages, preventing home equity values from dropping suddenly and significantly. It’s cautious to add, at least, not yet.

Most of us aren’t economists. We roll with the punches and hope for the best.

Deart Friends: Let’s hope younger generations get a handle on managing larger economics. Diana

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Today begins another string of days off from work. However, Home Depot’s Garden Department is booming, and my scheduled hours will increase soon, but not until after this week. This weather is great for being home and working to improve the property and establish a garden.

This spring especially is welcome after the very long and cold winter. Last winter began in early October with a faux draft horse kick, an early surprise of deep freeze and snow. Similar weather continued with little easing until the middle of this month, mere days ago.

Yesterday, a retiree new to Bend entered the Garden Department. I was watering plants when she asked for help locating a product. As we chatted, she described her pony (about the size of my Sunni, pictured above) and that she’s mobile, has a horse trailer. She asked me about this area’s horse community and trails.

Of course, one has no need for wandering imagination to gather the upshot. We have plans to meet with our ponies and ride horseback together.

My equine dental appointment has been reset to the end of next week. That’s a relief on this gorgeous day which offers opportunities more inviting.

Dear Friends: May your day be beautiful, and filled with spring wonders. Diana

Saturday, April 29., 2023

Yesterday, and another trial of leaving for work with the puppy, Chase, contained in a fenced area with my other dogs. Later, he still was enclosed there when I came home. My efforts to prevent him from escaping appear to be paying off, but regardless, it’s still a worry whether his containment will be lasting, but I am hopeful.

Today, I will turn my attention to tomorrow’s equine dental appointment. I must haul my horses and donkey across town for routine care by a mobile equine dentist. For a stretch of time, Chase kept me preoccupied in trying to prevent his fence-climbing. Those activities interfered with my readying the horse rig for tomorrow’s haul.

It’s been unused during the freezing months. So, I’ll start the truck’s motor, check its tires, fill it with gasoline, and load tomorrow’s necessary equipment. The dentist will sedate the animals for their dental work. While re-awakening, each might need to be blanketed, even in this warm weather. In particular, Pimmy, slower-arousing than a horse, and might need blanketing.

Once they’re all awake enough to step into the trailer and stand, we’ll come home. Tomorrow should take care of the horses’ dental needs until next year, and for Pimmy, another two years.

Dear Friends: Next, I will resume clearing the grounds and preparing spaces for gardening. Diana

Friday, April 28, 2023

Today’s high will be in the eighties! Maybe spring has arrived, but I’m cautious after living for years in Central Oregon. Experience teaches us to anticipate at least one more freeze. So a casual rule is to avoid in-ground planting before mid-May.

I am bringing home plants, setting them outside in the daylight, and moving them inside in the evening. Besides my caution regarding more freezing weather, I’ve been too busy to garden. Recently, all my energies have been dedicated to keeping corralled my puppy, Chase, a talented escape artist.

I added fence fabric in the dogs’ common area to heighten several hundred feet of fencing. The added material sets low and covers the top rail. That’s to hinder Chase from grasping the rail and hauling himself over it to freedom.

Yesterday, I saw him examine closely the fence’s changes and not attempt to escape. So, I decided to leave him in the big yard while I was away at work. It helped to see Chase remain relaxed when my Jeep’s noisy motor started. I’d be away less than four hours and concerned about his safety.

Later, on arriving home, I saw Chase, still fenced and among the other dogs, running to greet me.

Dear Friends: I hope his behavior is the same today, and he’s still fenced on my arrival home. Diana

Thursday, April 27, 2023

I’m scheduled today to work for three-and-one-half hours. What? Who designed this?

After next week, my hours will increase to the typical twenty-per-week for Home Depot’s part-timers. Spring’s finally arriving with customers starting to flow into the Garden Department, where I work.

Interestingly, I gather that starting now, and throughout the summer months, Garden will be the store’s highest grossing department. Tools usually is highest grossing. That shift lets my brain create fun mental images with “flowers overcoming tools.”

Considering that shift takes me to related larger social issues. For example, Washington State’s Governor has just signed a law forbidding future sales of AK-15 automatic weapons. Today, new reporting reveals that in the last month Washington State’s gun sellers processed a typical year’s worth of sales. So, the upcoming change-law has people gunning-up ahead of its starting date.

Okay, now my thoughts are shifting to children’s lives. Normally, we equate children to flowers, but these days’ children are becoming easy victims to older children wielding automatic weapons. In the old days of social teaching, weapons violence was associated to world wars and large plans for things like, “butter vs. guns.” Now, we need workable plans for something like, “flowers vs. guns.” What will be the solutions?

Dear Friends: As often, I’m stuck with images that ought to mesh, but don’t, and somehow won’t. Diana