Virtual Brush Box

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.

~~~

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

World Cup Wednesday. Newsweek: World Cup Abbreviations Explained As Some Viewers Left Confused, Shoaib, Jun 15, 2026. Video is on an unrelated World Cup topic.

~~~

Lately, I’ve had occasion to tell this story several times, so I’m sharing it with you.

Years ago, I was competing at a side saddle show. Side saddle is closer to its fox hunting roots than regular hunters. In one class, we were asked to hand gallop. I was riding George, bless his heart. [What’s In A Name]

George was not fleet of foot. To achieve a hand gallop, I had to persuade him, strongly, with each stride. We got there. When they called for the halt, I simply stopped persuading. George immediate locked all four tires and achieved immobility. I sat and looked smug.

We won the class, the novice championship, and, if memory serves, grand champion. It was an all side saddle show, so it was not huge. Still, it was a good day.

In Other News

No hunter jumper lessons last week. We were being squashed flat under the heat dome.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. Never heard this wording. It was for a specific workshop, but I assume it is organization policy. “We leave it to you to choose the rate that is meaningful to you based on your income, wealth, and privilege status.” Minnesota Center for Book Arts: Animated Cards with Kelli Anderson. The workshop page has been taken down. Searching tells me it was February 2026. I did not ettend the workshop.

~~~

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

When I walk, my mind wanders.

Don’t get me wrong. There’s always conversation in my head. Apparently, the walk monologue does not include counting. Not to 5. Not even to 3. [Counting With Sound]

We do five laps in the morning. Laps four to five get a bit hazy. Some days I lose track as early as lap two.

After way too long, I have instituted a system. I use five pine cones, a bucket, and a barrel. The plastic bits are ring furniture, from back when we used such things. [Be Careful What You Train]

When I arrive at the corner, I take a pine cone from the overturned bucket and place it on the barrel. Wait for horses. Feed lap cookie. As we depart, I look back to check the number.

Last lap, I go thought the motions. Place pine cone number five on the counting barrel. Feed cookies. As I leave, remove pine cones to storage bucket to be ready for the next day.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. Climate.us. “Climate.gov was arguably the federal government’s most accessible, most comprehensive source of climate science information for the public … Climate.us is the nonprofit successor to Climate.gov. Climate.us: About.

~~~

Possibly the most useless piece of equipment in existence. There is no work-around. If the tine were bent the other way, or broken off, one could at least use the rest of the fork.

Mostly likely done while levering a large rubber mat out of the way. I did not feel it bend. I didn’t realized it was sproinged until I tried to shovel a pile.

All better.

Onwards!
Katherine

Art & Awareness of the outside world. Oceanic Society: 2026 Global Ocean Cleanup Art Competition Winners Announced, June 29, 2026. All entries & better picture of winner, The Guardian of Marine Litter by Fundação Tartaruga (Cabo Verde), OS: Art Competition Entries & Results. The winner had my vote.

~~~

Last month’s lettering post was a word instead of individual letters. [Skyscraper, Word Art]

I foresee a break from alphabets for a while. Therefore, a wrap up. Two that I had not posted & a list of the rest.

New Alphabets

Box Dent Alphabet

Egg Alphabet.

Made as a possible Easter post. White spaces are 50% of blue shape. Pink shapes are 25% of blue.

Previous Posts

[36 Days Of Type, scroll down]
[36 Days Of Type 2023]
[Square Alphabet]
[Two No and One Yes]
[Fractal Alphabet & Numbers]
[Square Flourishes]
[On Drawing The Alphabet, Colorwork A to Z, Art]

Onwards!
Katherine