Virtual Brush Box

Awareness of the outside world. Several websites, such as Explore Fall, give updates on leaf color for the entire US. Old Farmer’s Almanac has an, “animated map showing the progression of fall colors,” OFA: 2025 Fall Foliage Map & Peak Leaf Color Guide. Others sites report by state or region.

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Zone 5a
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Last year’s leaf [Found Fall]

Onwards!
Katherine

Adventures from the outside world. Vicarious travel. Time & Miles: Across the Peninsula: Chasing a Dream on Icelandic Horses.

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Saddle Pad

Bamboo Lined Logo Quilted Saddle Pad
Freedman’s Harness

I like that it is slightly stiff. Less worry about folds or wrinkles under the saddle.

I like the feel of the padding, but that is probably a human thing.

I really like that is long enough for an ASB saddle.

I’ve put a small W on the upper left of logo to distinguish my pad from all the similar ones at the Stepping Stone Farm. Depending how long the writing lasts, I may need to embroider the letter. IRL the logo is closer to orange than yellow.

Belt

Ordered a belt so that the pad would not be alone on its voyage.

Unfortunately, I did not realize that belts were measured from the middle hole. Ordered the wrong size. Photo upon successful exchange.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. In honor of Yom Kippur. “Forgive yourself” by Rachel Alana Falconer. FB: Circle of Women, Instagram: nazynassim. Be sure to scroll down for the entire poem. If I find the original site, will post. Hat tip to E.

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Traces

Leather Traces
Winner’s Circle Horse Supply

ASB compatible traces to synchronize our cart with Stepping Stone Farm harness.

We could probably make our traces fit but I prefer not to jury rig safety gear.

We could use our tack. However, the padded biothane collar is just fine for CDE until the highest level, but would be unlovely in an ASB pleasure class.

And finally. This is gear that SSF knows. When everyone is circling to get two horses into the ring at a show, you want to keep things as simple as possible.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. Fix The News. “Each week, we find stories of progress from around the world.” FTN: About. Substack has a ‘Let’s see something first’ option.

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We knew Milton wasn’t a good racehorse. We didn’t realize how very much not good he was.

“In case you missed it, The Jockey Club launched a new Equineline report focused on off track Thoroughbreds … The report is free to horses with a T.I.P. number.” Hand Gallop: New OTTB Profile.

Milton has a T.I.P. number. [Providing Milton With Incentive]

He earned $1200. We knew this. The money had to come from barnmates, because …

Milton ran in three races.

Three-year-old year, 2011 – 10th out of 10.

Four-year-old year – 11th out of 11 & 11th out of 11.

Yes. Dead last in every race.

That’s kinda remarkable.

In the spirit of calling big men “Tiny” we thought about calling Milton “Speedy”.

🤣🤣🤣

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. Upworthy, “Upworthy is a media brand on a mission to share uplifting stories that foster positive connections — with the community, the world and our partners.” Up: About.

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That time of year.

When it is autumn at night but summer in the light.

When the horses have brought out their winter woollies but it gets up to 90o during the day.

When you are tempted to clip but don’t want to have to manage a clipped horse all winter.

When you muddle along until the thermometer gets itself back under control.

Onwards!
Katherine

Art of the outside world. World Famous Crochet Museum. Website is dated 2019. Trip Advisor has reviews dated 2025, TA:WFCM.

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Scheduling conflicts necessitate taking a break from art class posts. Back next week. [Acrylic Class #3]

Atlantic Coast Yarns, Shannon DK – 92% merino, 4% cashmere, 4% silk, #9753. Mostly because it looked pretty & felt nice.

Process Notes

Single crochet. Simple. Easy to work. Narrow band on right first. When this reached a good length to hold a cat in meatloaf position, turned & finished wider section going off to the left. No pattern.

Onwards!
Katherine

Back in the mists of time, my grandmother was recovering from surgery. History does not record the exact ailment. Or at least my 7-year-old self did not record. The bottom line was that she was fine, she was not leaking from important places, and she was supposed to stay seated as much as possible.

My grandmother hated to impose. She would never dream of asking another person to inconvenience themselves by getting up for her. Instead, she would wait until one of us stood up. Then she would say, “While you’re up …” Of course, we would do or fetch whatever.

In the short term, it became a thing. You had to be really sure you wanted to stand up because you knew you would be sent on a mission.

In the long term, it became a family joke. Person X would be comfortably seated, feet up on an ottoman, enjoying a good book. Person Y would turn to them and say, “While you’re up, dear ….”

Onwards!
Katherine