Tuesday, October 11, 2022

A homicide in my Los Serranos neighborhood! Early that morning in Los Serranos, a dead man was discovered. The police were hunting for his killer.

I was composing a blog, as sirens, one after another, had me guessing that somewhere must be a big fire. My assumption held, even on spotting police cars posted around when I left for work. When my neighbor, Frank, called to check on me, I learned that our neighborhood was in lockdown.

Frank is a sleuth. He had gone online, figured out where the homicide probably occurred, and maybe correctly identified the victim. Frank researched that person, discovering colorful hints of some of the individual’s activities.

Frank was close, whether or not he correctly identified the murdered person. Later, the news identified the man who had been shot and described him as being in real estate. What grabbed my imagination was learning that he owned the nearby township of Millican.

Millican always has interested me. It’s an unincorporated community on Bend’s eastern edge, and now a ghost town with a population of fifty. It long ago was a viable town, and in recent years has been listed for sale.

Often I have imagined, what it might be like to own an entire town? That one. And could an essentially deserted area like Millican be revitalized? To what end and how so?

Now I understand that someone in real estate had purchased Millican. Moreover, that owner was a nearby neighbor. Maybe I’d have looked him up, to ask about Millican’s potential and his plans.

Once again, the Millican territory captures my imagination. I’m wondering about its future. While disliking what makes it again on my mind, I enjoy knowing that someone could visualize its potential.

Dear Friends: An explosion in a neighborhood that’s generally very quiet. Diana

Monday, October 10, 2022

I love seeing cute Chipmunks running, hunting, and representing a summer of bounty. They’re sheer fun, but actually working hard, seeking baby food and building stores of winter-eats. this one is active on my ranch in this waning summer. It’s healthy-looking, alert, and only slightly cautious of me nearby with a camera.

Starting today, I will photograph with my newest camera. Success, following an hour of collaborating with a remote technical expert. Our complicated process was to identify a driver my computer needed to enable downloads from the camera.

Now, for the first time, I downloaded and viewed practice pictures from the camera on my laptop. All the shots are random but crisp and pleasing like this closeup of young carnations.

For the capture, my camera was set to focus automatically. If instead, I had manually focused, the outcome might reveal more background details. Continuing practice will teach me to tap into the camera’s potential.

Thus, my journey starts, toward maximizing this combo of a new camera and laptop. My photos tend generally to be good, but updated equipment offers a potential only dreamed of until now.

Dear Friends: Moving forward to learn, with hope and confidence. Diana

Sunday, October 09, 2022

Yesterday, I didn’t do anything on a growing list of to-do’s. Instead, my flooring person, Leroy, unexpectedly showed up to re-set my day. He finished changing the master bedroom’s flooring. That leaves only the guest bedroom to change from carpeting to vinyl.

The dogs and I had been sleeping in the guest bedroom. Yesterday was time to move back into the master.

What a mess! Items from the master bedroom stacked hurriedly around the house had me searching for them. I more or less had to refigure the master’s space. Meanwhile, Leroy started on the guest room, removing carpet to prepare the floor for vinyl.

My hardest job was making a smaller bed. Leroy had hauled off my old master bed frame. It was massive, years ago suiting my taste. Today, I prefer minimalistic furnishing. Leroy and I moved the guest bedroom bed over into the master’s space. Making the smaller bed meant also preparing for winter. To heat the bed, out came electrical cords and coverings. The home’s general disarray turned that bed into a big job.

By the time Leroy was leaving, the master bedroom had shaped up and changes were satisfying.

He’s planning to return today and work in the guest bedroom, probably completing it. Then all the downstairs floors will sport waterproof, impermeable, and Oh Joy!, dog-proof, vinyl.

What’s left for Leroy’s attention will be an upstairs loft. I have hope now of the whole house being done before freezing winter weather arrives.

My hard lesson learned: Living easier with multiple pets calls for engineered flooring.

Dear Friends: I can download pictures when my docking station arrives. Diana

Saturday, October 08, 2022

Today, I had issues with connecting to the internet. My complicated computer had some kind of glitch. Finally, I managed to connect through my phone to remote technical support. It’s incredibly reassuring to see moving across my screen a mouse that’s controlled by a technical expert. In my bit of computer world now all’s well again.

Ahead more is coming that’s new. A docking station on its way here will enable data downloads from external sources, like my new camera. That will let me view, analyze, and be creative with images. Last evening, I intended to photograph the full moon, only then realizing that my camera doesn’t have a built-in flash. I will order that component.

Step-by-step, the tools I’m assembling will enable more creativity with images. Hopefully, this will be a productive path. Maybe I’ll achieve a long-time goal, to combine seeing and dreaming.

Dear Friends: More ahead, and meanwhile enjoy this fine fall day. Diana

Friday, October 07, 2022

A brief good morning! Today is crowding in on me because of much that needs attention.

Our change to fall weather demands cleaning my barn, renewing horse-trough waters, and handling general property maintenance. Those are for tackling on this day off from my supermarket job.

Weeks ago while riding horseback, my saddle slipped. I fell off and cracked a rib. Finally, the injury has healed and I want to be in a saddle again. Today, there won’t be time, but tomorrow I will try to ride, that depends on how much I accomplish today. Otherwise, next week I’ll venture out on horseback.

There’s more on my list of “to-dos” for accomplishing while the weather’s nice. Once it feels too cold for working outdoors, my enthusiasm for doing will vanish.

Dear Friends: Have a good morning and enjoy this lovely fall day. Diana

Thursday, October 06, 2022

Today is the last of five days working until exhausted. The supermarket where I am a checker is shorthanded of employees. Those of us working constantly are busy and stressed. Ours is a price-cutting market that does a great job of keeping prices lower than other grocery stores. In today’s economy, our store daily seems busier.

Our market is part of a large chain. It’s one of the highest grossing stores.

I’m considering taking the coldest winter months off, maybe December through March. My dogs are inside-outside, which isn’t a problem in non-aggressive weather. While I’m at work, they can be outside, and when I’m home they’re inside. In extreme weather, they mostly should be inside, but not unsupervised for hours at a stretch.

I’m an hourly worker. Leaving temporarily might mean having to quit my job. That’s okay, for when I want to work again, there should be openings for my marketable skill of operating a cash register.

Thus, I’ve some flexibility now when tired and wanting a break. There’s also a safety net of future employment if I wish. Those make worthwhile my months-long effort in a busy retail environment to learn cash register operations.

Dear Friends: It’s about being in a larger world, meeting people, making friends. Diana

Wednesday, October 05, 2022

Sometimes, one casually sights something in passing that becomes an eye-opener. I vaguely recall seeing this injured tree without remembering its location.

Today, this photo is interesting enough, but also has symbology that could represent today’s world. Against the rubble of overcrowded populations, economic and political confusions, our human tendencies of optimism, discovery, and belief keep our faith in the known world viable and forward-moving. So it seems, although evidence suggests people must do much more and do it better.

Here’s another image that evokes similar imaginings. It contrasts a lost past to the doubtful present.

Long-time locals describe their growing-up days, when their grandfathers owned hundreds of acres, now just out of town, but back then located on way out country land. The family used to run hundreds of cattle there. Recently, the grandchildren sold the last few remaining acres to the city for a planned new subdivision.

As background, my work as a cashier in a local major supermarket gives me an ear to quick stories from passing customers. I am gaining a greater sense of this city’s “old days” when it was tiny. Everybody knew everybody and never dreamed it could grow as it has recently, and continues to do so.

Dear Friends: Representations of past and present are powerful reminders. Diana

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Yesterday, a customer checking out groceries in the supermarket where I work as a cashier said her family would be moving soon. When I asked where, she replied, “Lawton, Oklahoma.”

A shock of recognition flashed me into my own history. I said, “I grew up in Lawton!”

She was surprised, having not met anyone around here who knew of Lawton. She said her family is moving there where a home still is very affordable. I listened while remembering my childhood days.

I lived there from my fifth year to my fifteenth. I was not a happy child, so many of those years are blurry, but they have high points. I loved movies, especially Westerns, which Lawton’s two theaters constantly ran. A single nickel got me inside, to experience my favorite, Roy Rodgers, in action, and enjoyable others, like Wild Bill Elliott.

During those years, my family owned three separate businesses. The first, an old style tavern called “The Rag Mop Inn”; the next, a fruit and vegetable stand on the outskirts of town; and the third, a small grocery near downtown. I remember little about the Rag Mop, but as a child accompanied my stepfather in a pickup driving slowly through neighborhood streets and hawking fresh watermelons. We’d “plug” melons in order to demonstrate ripeness and sweetness.

My memories of the grocery store are clear because I was older, and we lived in an apartment behind it. It was near downtown which became my play area. I knew all the stores and their merchandise. In nearby neighborhoods, I knew all the alleyways, and upon finding an open garage would get into mischief.

Early today, I rummaged online for old photos of Lawton. Those available renewed many memories! I couldn’t find images of my Washington Grade School or what (in those days) was a newly-rebuilt Lawton High School. Maybe there are photos in my old scrapbook, now among items stacked and stored until my flooring change is complete. I’ll look for that scrapbook and will write again about Lawton.

Dear Friends: Those long-past years are so ingrained into the mature me. Diana

Monday, October 03, 2022

On a beautiful day, Peaches and I went walking. He’s so excited to receive invitations to go out with me. As far as he’s concerned, anywhere is fine. This time, we toured a bit of the neighborhood.

Actually, more than Peaches was on my mind. I carried a camera, wanting to photograph natural scenes and hoping for interesting images. You never know, but beyond any real-time glances, the most mundane-seeming captures may reveal unnoticed beauty and be fascinating.

This random shot turned out to have “the stuff.” Rich in detail and beauty, it draws attention.

Here’s another showing an interesting-looking path. It shows where we walked, and moreover, it reveals why we walked. That curving appeal drew us forward.

That outing was productive and enjoyable. My buddy Peaches had great fun.

I’m the one still having fun, in re-exploring photographs and considering their potential. I’m already planning for another expedition. With a good bird and ready camera.

Dear Friends: It’s possible to pursue dreams, even in our local neighborhoods. Diana

Saturday, October 02, 2020

Yesterday on this ranch, a “watermelon day.” Chickens were delighted; horses were in heaven with melon moisture streaming from their lips.

Watermelon days are fun, but require advance planning. First, I must wrap my head around dealing with a heavy melon. It’ll need hauling into a grocery cart, and then loaded into, and later from my vehicle. Finally at home, it needs cutting, which requires planning.

I pause and try recalling my childhood days of helping in my family’s small grocery store. Did we cut melons horizontally or longitudinally? I opt for longitudinal and and take a long anticipatory look at the melon’s center. I plunge my biggest butcher knife straight in, as much as my strength can push the knife. Afterward, I complete the cut by finessing.

I roll the melon and with my knife manipulate the initial cut until the fruit starts popping apart. (And here to myself, a reminder to video this someday.) Now, with two halves, both hopefully with bright red centers, I steal a few thirsty nibbles before slicing the halves into chunks. They’ll be set out for chickens and turkeys. A reserved chunk gets sliced into horse-size treats.

The melon is in pieces but its total weight unchanged. Besides being heavy, it needs organizing, for toting a hundred yards downhill to the barn area. All my critters are excited on seeing me and anticipating treats. There’s no time to waste deciding which to feed first. The horses are the most demanding with Rosie snorting and kicking the gate. Horses get first dibs.

I laugh at their sloppy drools. My hands are are full, but I wish for a camera to capture Pimmy’s slurps. I’d post an image on her Facebook page. Having reactivated her page has me focusing more on Pimmy. Next watermelon day, I’ll create a wished-for video.

Next, the chickens and turkeys. They’re ready! As large chunks are placed around, they dive in. Not just bird types, but also their goat buddies. Speaking of birds, the wild ones, on seeing me leave, zoom in for a crack of sheer deliciousness.

It’s a big job, “doing watermelons” and it’s rewarding. Before the changing season affects grocery supplies, I’ll tote another watermelon home. I’ll find a way to capture the action visually.

Dear Friends: Slurp, slurp, meaning lots of work and worth it! Diana