Virtual Brush Box

Awareness of the outside world. “Research shows hyperactivity isn’t caused by sugar itself … in a meta-analysis in the 1990s, there was no impact … Sugary treats often appear at exciting social events … Expectancy bias is powerful, as it shapes what we see. YLE: Halloween candy: A smart guide for parents, Jetelina & Maisano, Oct 29, 2025.

~~~

Happy Halloween!

Elizabeth Moore Chocolates
Pelham AL USA

Process Notes

I never got the image I was aiming for. Turns out a dark subject on black paper in shadow is tricky. Not to mention one hand to hold the camera, one hand to hold the flashlight, and one hand to tap the focus.

The dramatic lighting comes from the light shining thru the red underside of the paper. Total accident while trying to get the light to go where I wanted. Not sure where the third set of teeth came from. That does make it kinda creepy.

Lesson. The eye can see things that the camera doesn’t. I posed exactly what I wanted. Dark shadows highlighting the skull. My phone camera did not cooperate. What you see is not what you get. It is not automatic. I tend to forget this, as it is automatic in bright daylight for subjects not moving too fast, i.e. snapshots. Edge cases – lighting, speed, size, and so on – require skills. And set up. And special equipment.

Upside. I got eat the subjects.

Previous eye vs camera post [Accidental Astronomy]

Food Photography [archives]

Onwards!
Katherine

Horses of the outside world. Nationals starts today. Feeling wistful. Not that I want to be there necessarily, but I’d like to be doing something. [Where I Am Not]

~~~

I feel the need to keep track of my lessons. File this for reference rather than for gripping narrative.

Recent Lessons

Saddle seat. Driving with Boogie. No media. Brought cones.

Hunt seat. Rained out.

Note to self. These are side quests. Entertaining certainly but side quests none the less. Must stay focused on main adventure.

Recap of October Lessons

Week of Wed the 1st. Preshow lesson. [Lovely Lesson & Small Whine],

Week of Monday the 6th. Show. [Trip to Tennessee, Show Report, Southeast Academy Championship 2025]

Week of Monday the 13th. Goldy. [New Ears For October]

Week of Monday the 20th. As above.

Week of Monday the 27th. Saddle seat at show, see top, no lessons. Hunt seat, TBD.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. Continue to be a human baseline for the Johns Hopkins COVID Long Study. Continue to be happy about that fact. [Rock On, Razzy]

~~~

Minor progress on Standardbred acquisition plan. [Activity Comes Before Progress, Horse Shopping]

Cleared first hurdle at one rescue.

Need to fill out required paperwork for two other rescues.

Media sent from members of an online group. The horses are up in Canada, but at least we are seeing photos and videos of actual horses.

I’m using the barn “we” here. All work has been done by other barn minion. We hope Standardbred will also be a riding horse, but his/her main job will be driving. So, our driver is on it.

Riding horse? I remain completely stymied. How to proceed. How to find sound sales horses. How to activate the horse distribution system. How to get on the good side of the horse distribution system. What is my quest. What is the airspeed of a coconut-laden swallow. But I digress.

Onwards!
Katherine

Eats of the outside world. Goldfish Crisps. Crossbreed of Goldfish crackers and potato chips. Dangerous levels of yum. Introduce yourself at your own risk.

~~~

Lake George NY, USA
September 2025

Garelick Farms®

“Garelick Farms, a subsidiary of Dairy Farmers of America, is a manufacturer of dairy products in the Northeastern United States.” Wiki: Garelick Farms.

First – unlabeled – multi-media menagerie post [Curious Cat Contemplates Carrots]

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. Saturday’s adventure. Magic City Classic: Parade Information. Cannot remember the last time I watched a parade IRL. “The country’s biggest HBCU rivalry game.” Magic City Classic.

~~~

With apologies to Didactylos, The Trailer Moves!

Dug trailer out of bushes.

Checked that it ran.

Put air in tires as needed.

Last time it went anywhere was Milton’s hotel stay in January. [Milton Arranges A Spa Stay]

Yes, should check more often. It is on my list of monthly tasks. Yet here we are.

We are good to go.

Onwards!
Katherine

Art of the outside world. artnet: Her Intricate Paper Cuttings Outsold Rembrandts. Who Was the Dutch Master Known as ‘Scissors Minerva’? White 2025. Hat tip to G.

~~~

Part Three. Putting it all together.

Start

Finish

For the warp strips on the woven piece, I sliced up a painting from final of the previous art classes. Didn’t like the painting. Seemed like as good a use as any. [Acrylic Class #4]

All of the rest of the paper is chopped up elements from the two previous mixed media classes. [Class #1, Class #2]

Onwards!
Katherine

No Kings, 18 October 2025. AL.com: ‘No Kings’ protest draws large crowd in Birmingham, Whites-Koditschek 2025. [New Equipment]

It may be tomorrow’s history. It may be a blip that disappears. This was what it was at this moment in time.

Older than I expected.

Whiter than I expected.

More American flags than I expected.

Many, many clever signs.

The majority of the signs were of the American History, Fighting Tyranny since 1776, variety.

Some signs were directed to the current incumbent.

Not NY or Chicago crowds, but more than I expected from Birmingham.

I overprepared. I deliberately chose mild, harmless clothing. I took my ID, left my wallet at home, and left my phone in the truck.

A blue protest hits different in a red state.

The speakers ran on. Addressing a crowd is like coaching in the warm up ring. Not the place for extensive theory.

Warm-up ring: Go you. Sit up. Good job.
Crowd: Go you. Action item! Good job.

One dude had a scarf over his face à la ICE, yet he was was wearing rally assistance safety vest. A statement was certainly being made, but I was unable to decipher it.

The scariest person there was a woman walking around with a large QR code on a sign, asking if people had “registered.” She would stop to let folks take a photo. There were no identifying marks on the sign or on her person. No mention of what group she was with. Yeah, right. I’m going to scan a random QR code. I think not.

My biggest danger was being under-prepared for sitting in the sun. Faint and swimmy-headed after. Tried to fix it with real food. Coke & salty potato chips were the answer.

Onwards!
Katherine