Virtual Brush Box

World Cup Wednesday. ESPN: The 2026 World Cup’s wildest warmup kits: The good, the bad and the ugly, Wright, Jun 18, 2026. Regardless of their list, I like the Netherlands lions. I also liked Argentina Superliga: 2026 Argentina National Team Home Pre-Match Jersey.

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Monty
Rosewood Stables
11 July 2026

You may notice a certain lack of Goldyness in the above photo. Arrived at the barn, only to discover that Goldy had borked his shoe. No problem, says Coach Deana, you can ride a different horse. Sure, because I’m so good about hopping on a new horse. I chose the sweet, adorable Monty, mainly by promising myself that all I had to do was get on and walk. Anything else would be extra. By the end of the lesson, I was able to ride supportively at a low crossrail. Go me. And Monty, of course.

Goldy was fine once the shoe was off and he was tucking into his morning hay.

Monty gets ridden by littles. So, I found that had to be firm about behaviors such as yanking on the reins or not staying straight. Conversely, I found myself offering support and sympathy, because ridden by littles. I do much better once I have a story in my head about a horse. [The Power of Narrative & A Change in Attitude]

As a pony, Monty rides like a big horse on the flat. As a little pony, he makes the jumps the small crossrails look bigger.

Monty is Chincoteague pony. Younger me would have been thrilled. Older me was pretty tickled.

Yes, the title is an intentional Monty Python reference. Monty? Monty Python? I crack myself up.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. WPBL: Introducing the First Four – Inspired by Legends.

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{Backstory. Each morning, people & horses go on team walk in the pasture. Current iteration is one-mile, unmounted, & off-lead.}

Even I run out of things to say about walking back and forth. Here’s one from the vaults to cool us all off.

Snow back in January 2025. [Winter Weather]

This was back when the the barn minion was on injured reserve & I was walking both horses. [Version 2.0]

Also back when liberty was still a work in progress. [Rodney’s Position in The Parade & Milton’s Position in The Parade]

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. Sun-ways. Solar panels between the tracks on a railroad.

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That moment when you are out in public and you realize you forgot to change your shoes. Yes, that is a white rug I am standing on with my muddy paws. [Book Stacks]

Onwards!
Katherine

Art of the outside world. Did you know about artist gloves? Covers two fingers & the back edge of the hand. The goal is to protect the drawing surface. Seems to be a digital thing, but also works for analog. I had no idea.

~~~

I call this – Don’t Quit Your Day Job.

Class #1
Acrylic Painting with Anthony Best
Shelby County Arts Council
9 July 2026

Looks way better in photo. The shading looks almost intentional. I assure you, it was not.

Instructor is redoing his website. For now, he recommends Facebook > Anthony Best >Picture Gallery. I have not looked. FB is not loading chez moi. It happens. Pages get too big. My system gets outdated. But I digress.

Box of Art. Husband is also taking the class. He went to Alabama Art Supply, showed them the supplies list, and said “Help.” They did an excellent job balancing quality, cost, and variety for two newbies.

Table at Start. No Table at Finish photo. I was halfway though cleanup before I remembered.

Start. Finish above.

Leftovers.

I signed up for this class thinking that messing with acrylics would be fun. I completely blanked that I had taken the same class with a different instructor last year. It’s even in the title!

[Walking In The Rain, Acrylic Class #4] with links to class 1 thru 3.

Other acrylic adventures

[Butterfly]

[Paint Mixing]

[Mixed Media Class #1,] Acrylics were one of many products we played with.

[Paint By Numbers] I suspect these were acrylics?

This is a fair amount to have done with acrylics and yet not to remember it at all. This says something about how poorly my brain retains art. Words? Sure. Art? Not so much.

Onwards!
Katherine

Words of the outside world. Truly baaaad sheep puns. My Shetland: Band Names and Album Covers

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<3💻<3

Writer: Hello Muse!

Muse: Hello. You’re in a good mood today.

Writer: Yes! I am! I had an script idea!

Muse: It’s worth three exclamation points?

Writer: Okay, the idea is two exclamation points at best, but it’s just so good to have an idea before I have a deadline staring me in the face.

Muse: Do tell.

Writer: I was having a conversation with a friend (turns around & waves hi) about Heated Rivalry, which I had to admit I started but did not read because the enemy-to-lovers trope is not my flavor of ice cream, and I prefer closed door romance, which this definitely is not.

Muse: Breathe.

Writer: Right. (clears throat) We got to talking about why there is so much ice hockey in romance novels, I mean, it’s almost as popular as football as a setting, which would make sense in Canada, or some northern US states, but I doubt it’s the second most popular sport in the US, by the way, Internet search says basketball then baseball.

Muse: Continue to breathe.

Writer: (does a few box breaths) So, I got to wondering what other sports have been used in the romance genre, and more importantly, which ones have not. What do you think of that idea?

Muse: I think you’ve left out a few steps.

Writer: (reviews conversation to date) Oh, right. The main idea is to set the story in a lesser known sport, maybe a sport that is popular in one place but less known in another, curling in the Caribbean, or cricket in the US, or a sport that is less well known everywhere, maybe because it is new, or maybe because it’s old but a few folks are keeping it alive. Something like that. I haven’t decided. Not only does the main character have all the issues with being a top competitor, but they also have to deal with a lack of respect.

Muse: (nods)

Writer: Of course, the love interest has never heard of this obscure thing. I see two different ways to go with this. If we are going for short & sweet, love interest is ignorant, possibly disparaging, hijinks ensue. Or, it we want a two-parter, the love interest has never heard of the sport, makes fun of it, gives it a try, and turns out to be really, really good at it, maybe better than the main character. Gives us endless possibilities for the third act breakup. You know The Powers That Be. They love it when I give them options. Plus this is me bringing them an idea before they ask.

Muse: (smiles, then nods)

Writer: Either way, love interest has a skill that ends up being crucial for the rising conflict, maybe they are a business type who saves the big fundraiser, because less popular is going to mean less money, or maybe they are graphic designer who makes the team, or club, or group of ragtag misfits a new kick-ass uniform that takes off as a popular item, both making money and helping get their name out.

Muse: I notice you have not mentioned gender for either side of the romance.

Writer: I think that will depend partially on the sport, partially on the intended audience, and mainly on what actors can be brought in.

Muse: You’ve put a lot of thought into this.

Writer: Yes, it’s great. (looks stricken) That’s not a problem is it?

Muse: What would be a problem?

Writer: That I had an idea without you? That’s our thing. I’m at my wit’s end. We talk. You dig me out of the hole. I. I. I didn’t mean to step on any toes. I was just so relieved to think of something. I wanted to share it with you.

Muse: Not a problem. Inspiration is not jealous. Is not poetry part of the divine?

Writer: Well, the Muses are Greek, and the Greek pantheon was not know for even tempers.

Muse: Each society sees us the way that makes sense to them. We’ve talked about this before. [Halloween]

Writer: (thinks back, nods)

Muse: It is the same with the individual. Inspiration is here between us. Inspiration is there between you and your friend. In each case, it is the touch of the finger of God that you perceive in a way that you can understand.

Writer: um. It suddenly got very philosophical in here.

Muse: Philosophy, like inspiration, is everywhere. Now go write your story.

(typing sounds)

<3💻<3

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. “The Photojournalism Archive Project was born out of a desire to preserve the work of Carol Guzy … four Pulitzer Prizes for her images … However, Carol decided that any efforts to preserve her work should also benefit her peers, so the Photojournalism Archive Project was born and a nonprofit established.” Carol Guzy: The Photojournalism Archive Project. Hat tip to M.

~~~

Book Stacks
Vernice Stoudenmire Library
Wilsonville AL USA

Taken & posted with permission.

Onwards!
Katherine

Horses of the outside world. U.S. Mint: Kentucky State Quarter. In virtual support of Stepping Stone Farm currently showing at the Lexington Junior Charity Horse Show.

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New Lessons

Boogie
Riding Lesson
Stepping Stone Farm
1 July 2026

Item. Hold is support, especially for a horse who is used to that line of communication. As with Goldy. “Goldy is happier when I ride him his way.” [The Goldy Touch]

Item. Every so often, I need to give an overall release. NOT fling the reins and collapse my body, which I am prone to do. I need to keep all the aids but relax for a stride or two. Let the horse move along on their own for a moment. Make sure I am not rigid or locked or fixated. Then, resume communication. They seem to enjoy &/or appreciate this.

Rocky
Driving Lesson
Stepping Stone Farm
1 July 2026

Big fancy.

Big ego. Is it arrogance if it’s justified?

Big fan of this horse. I’ve always had a soft spot for the arrogant b*stards.

Twice The Fun

Barn heading to Lexington the following week. Packed two lessons into one day. Wow, I thought I was tired after one lesson.

Interlude

Still nervous with the ASBs. As I was getting on Boogie, nerves tried to stage a last minute attack.

Nerves: eeeeeeeeekkk!
Me: Seriously? On this horse?
Nerves: Point taken.

Prior Lessons

I posted these lessons, but I was yammering about my lost pants, which I had put away in a safe location. Eye roll. [A Tale of Two Pants]

Riding

The discipline crossover is going well, although I have a tendency to start off sitting in the middle of the saddle. Once I scoot back, we’re good.

Bubba is 50% Sam, 50% Goldy.

“After months apart, it takes us about five strides for me to say, ‘Hi Sam, it’s me’ and for Sam to say, ‘Oh, you. Well, okay then.’” [The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly]

“To access Goldy’s inner jumper, the rider has to prove they are worthy.” [The Goldy Key]

Bubba needs to be encouraged but also to be convinced that you are going to do it right.

Driving

Boogie was cutting the turn, particular down at the pond end. I tried to straighten the horse, as one does. No. In a cart, job one is to get the wheels to go where want them to go. I got many plaudits for my improvement. No, not really. It was an easy fix once I understood the exercise.

The subtle body shifting that I was doing a previous lesson? Not a sausage. [Back in the Driver’s Seat]

Onwards!
Katherine