Sunday, April 16, 2023

Locally, the pre-spring weather has been sensational. Shirt-sleeve days outside handling routine chores and cleaning up any overwinter neglect.

I’m in the process of changing my tools. The replacements are battery-operated instead of gas- and electric-powered. I love easy-to-operate battery tools. They work immediately on pushing a starter button, are light in weight, and operate correctly at any distance from a traditional power source.

All this follows my years of being confused by gas engines and string-starters, having to haul too-heavy tools, and being confined to working within lengths of electrical wires. Of course, changeovers are expensive. Something similar that’s being forced on everybody is developing technology that pushes us to anticipate needing battery-operated vehicles.

We’ll likely enjoy battery-operated vehicles as well as small tools. The huge downside, however, will be the disposal of batteries used and/or outdated which is a serious ecological problem. Think of plastic, its convenience and its understood environmental impact. Battery disposals may be a bad-to-worst eventually!

This morning, I happily was spouting the pluses of having battery-operated tools, and just see where that drifted. Oy vey.

Dear Friends: On this early springlike and beautiful day, enjoy being outside. Diana

Saturday, April 15, 2023

Here’s America’s most disliked day, our annual taxes-are-due date. It seems that forever I’ve been tuned to April 15. The obsession began after I completed high school and accepted my first paying work. Similarly, every working American becomes hostage to this date’s expectations.

My annual rant might be less angry if Americans could become more fairly taxed. This country needs a wholly revised and updated tax code. A new, well-written code capable of forcing fair payments from this nation’s wealthy and super-wealthy. Those with wealth have been getting off easy by escaping having to pay their actual shares of the nation’s tax burden.

Here’s one example. We’re now learning that Donald Trump has filed an income statement to The Court. News media analyzing Trump’s documents find he’s less wealthy than he proclaims. Of course, many Americans already think so and aren’t surprised by this news. What is surprising is that, finally, Trump has been forced to reveal something. For years, he’s escaped having to show details about his wealth and the taxes he has (or hasn’t) paid. Trump even escaped revealing his wealth and taxes throughout his political campaign and his time as this nation’s President!

We read the news, so Trump is an easy example of privileged wealth. Similarly, many of the most wealthy successfully escape revealing their wealth status. As a result, they get away with less tax burden than their fair shares.

Dear Friends: We’ll pay our taxes, this date will pass, and soon, real spring will arrive. Diana

Friday, April 14, 2023

I feel a wave of relief after finding a primary care physician who could accept a new patient. Last year my primary care doctor retired, almost suddenly and with short notice. I searched unsuccessfully for a provider who could take on a new patient. Truthfully, I had requirements, preferring a female provider experienced in treating patients with histories of leukemia and breast cancer. Those are in my history and in remission.

While initially undergoing treatment for breast cancer and facing a mastectomy, I had concerns about living with only one breast. My male surgeon, while considerate, couldn’t put to rest my most fundamental issues. I searched for and found an experienced woman surgeon. She better satisfied my concerns over the pros and cons of my upcoming surgery. As it turned out, she needed to perform a lumpectomy.

That process made me prefer discussing certain women’s issues with another woman.

Long story short, this city’s explosive growth has pressured its medical community and overwhelmed the doctors. The providing communities can’t find enough available physicians to meet medical needs. Unable to find an available physician, my choice would be a nurse-practitioner, or a physician’s assistant. I’m uncomfortable about a PA but not am not with an experienced nurse-practitioner. However, the available P-A’s are only a couple of years beyond graduating from training.

I was about to start searching the Portland area for a physician. I couldn’t believe my luck, to discover an available M.D. who treats cancer patients in this community; and a woman, BTW.

Dear Friends: Luckily, my Medicare plan is a type that lets me self-refer for medical care. Diana

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Here’s another morning, early to work, or more appropriately, another too-early clock-in, at 6 a.m.

Yesterday, while going through an aisle, I heard distinctively Husky sounds. I went to meet the dog, an adorable fuzzy and super friendly small-to-medium pooch. He had lots of hair and talked on, sounding exactly like a Husky. Seeing him, you’d never guess correctly, that he’s a Husky-Pomeranian. He sports one parent’s coat and the other’s voice.

Now, I must prepare to leave. After today, I will enjoy having another two days off.

Dear Friends: Now early, my pigeon, Gilbert, is cooing softly, relaxing sounds. Diana

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

I must aim for a 6 a.m. arrival at work. This morning, I lagged too much and find myself lacking time for thinking and writing.

The header photo is of Janice as she tries to crush the Russian Thistle loaded in a trailer. We had teamed to pull those weeds from along the roadside. She did a fine crushing job, which let us double the load inside the trailer. Actually, we hauled a couple of crushed weed loads to the Dump. That overdue clearing has begun the spring cleaning for this property.

Now, the time has become too short; I must go.

Dear Friends: Have a great day. Diana

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

One printed-out schedule shows me reporting to work today, and another printed days later has me off today. Good, because today I must stay home and try to find someone available and capable of repairing a broken fence.

I spent yesterday attempting to patch a fence section after my mare, Rosie, kicked it apart. Unfortunately, her kick left twisted and broken wires exactly where the horses mostly hang out. Broken wires can cause injuries. I always try making repairs myself, and yesterday did so; however, I can’t fix what I can’t outsmart, that instead requires sheer physical strength.

Always, fences and horses are an iffy and necessary combination. Over time and after facing many fencing issues, I’ve learned how to repair many horse-caused damages myself. A problem with keeping horses is that their restless energies stress structures and other property components.

Dear Friends: They’re the stuff of life, the daily surprises and problems. Diana

Monday, April 10, 2023

I spent much of yesterday watering plants. Watering has become my job and isn’t my preferred work. However, the pay is good, and so, all’s fair. My at-work job attunes me highly to the arriving spring. I have today off, and it’s a damp morning after a light rain, perfect for starting to weed and clean the property.

Usually, it’s well into summer before I pay attention to the grounds. Many other needs interrupt, like fences that need repairing, horses that need exercising, dogs that need outings, and vehicles that need attention. Thanks to my newly heightened awareness, now this property won’t be sidelined long. That makes sense, too, for confronting initial grounds needs early in the spring will make those appearing in midsummer easier to address.

It’s too early to plant anything but not to start turning some earth where plants later might go in. I’d enjoy seeing flowering plants near the barn. Today, my tasks will include finding an appropriate spot and turning some earth.

Dear Friends: Maybe my tasks related to watering plants will prove excellent experiences. Diana

Sunday, April 08, 2023

Happy Easter, or in other words, happy spring. Well, almost here in Central Oregon. I know from experience that our spring is just around the corner, but could wait for mid-May to happen. I’ll take spring anytime it finally gets here.

Meanwhile, today’s header photo is one of my favorite memories with Peaches. Some time ago, we were walking and came across this beautiful short-horn bull. On seeing Peaches, he stood perfectly still, watching the bird. Peaches was intent on him, too. I was fascinated by the stillness of each and how intently they stared back and forth. The bull had seen many birds but surely none like Peaches. For Peaches, a bovine sighting was new, especially one staring at him.

Later, I learned that this bull had been hand-raised and was a gentle fellow. By the way, notice the white marks on the bull’s forehead. They are crossing, with each going from a horn to an eye. Those whites are natural and the only off-markings in his otherwise solid color. What a stunning guy.

Finally, at Home Depot, the Garden Department has received fresh, cool spring plants. I’m tempted to bring home fragrant lavender and thyme, but I self-caution. It’s too soon because more spring plants will arrive, and so will better gardening weather. My manager at work, Enrique, promises that in under two weeks, plants will inundate our department, making us crazy busy with customers.

Dear Friends: The “Bird & Bull” would be an excellent name for a pub. Diana

Saturday, April 08, 2023

I made a toy for my Cockatoo, Peaches. He is destructive, and buying finished toys is expensive. My bird begins destroying a toy from the moment it’s hung in his condo. He can dispatch in an instant. My pocketbook feels this, as parrot toys cost anywhere (more or less) from $30 to $50. So, Peaches will begin playing with homemade hanging toys.

After bringing home a long pine board and cutting it into various lengths, I drilled a large hole in the center of each piece for assembling and hanging. Then, I painted each with food coloring and when all were dry, assembled the toy.

All its components, including construction tools, were costly; however, what’s not wood is reusable. Creating this toy was quick and generated ideas for other designs.

Here’s an idea:

Of course, Peaches is my ultimate instructor. He’ll show me which designs best draw his attention, and wistfully, too, I may discover that some designs may take him longer to destroy.

Dear Friends: This has been a time-out for the bird. Diana

Friday, April 07, 2023

This header from my Pixel camera is the result of a very distant shot. It’s a fairly good capture of Ravens perched very high in a tall dead tree. They were attending to each other and might have been an adult with a juvenile or a courting couple. The pair stayed on those branches for quite a while and their interactions fascinated me.

Ravens are incredibly smart. I never tire of hearing and sighting them. Yesterday’s sighting was a nudge, reminding me to carry a better camera. If my phone could have captured more feather details, it would have created a super bird photo, IMHO.

This will be my last day off from work this week. Having done all my needed shopping and running around, today I will turn my attention to photography. Roaming with a tripod and fine camera will refresh my image-sensing skills.

Closer to the subjects, my Pixel captured well the equines happily grazing on a neighbor’s pasture.

Dear Friends: Have a great day. Diana