Virtual Brush Box

1000 Words

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Update [Magic Spells, Fiction Sketch]

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine

Riding, Pasture Life

Awareness of the outside world. World Postcard Day. Of related interest, Smithsonian: National Postal Museum Is Sharing Secrets from Around the World! Emery, 2015.
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Whenever I ride or walk around the field, I have to spend the first lap with my hand in the air. That way the spiderwebs glom onto my arm instead of my face. The perils of being in the lead. Unless the lead is a pony and you are on a horse. (You know who your are!)

Different web with occupant [here].

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine

Pasture Life

Awareness of the outside world. UN: International Translation Day. Translators have one of those thankless jobs. The better they are at the job, the less they are noticed. Kudos to them.
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This one was sturdier than the last batch. Still there a day later. [Mini Mushrooms]

Down The Rabbit Hole

“Only eight species of fungus commonly grow on horse manure.” Garden Guides: How to Identify Fungus That Grows on Horse Manure, Terry, 2017.

“Mushrooms growing in horse manure are typically toxic or psychoactive.” Fun in the Yard: What Kind Of Mushrooms Grow In Horse Manure, Thomas.

Science Daily
New antibiotic in mushroom that grows on horse dung
Date: November 7, 2014 Source: ETH Zurich
“Summary: A new protein with antibiotic properties has been found in a mushroom that grows on horse dung. Researchers are now exploring the various potential applications.”

Mushroom World: Mushroom Identification Basics

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine

Horsekeeping

Awareness of the outside world. Fat Bear Week starts today. Check out the contenders and cast your vote.
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Just when we thought Rodney’s footwear could not get any more absurd, I give you …

… socks.

When I took his boots off the day before, he had rubs on his right front heels. I think the fit changes as his feet grow/get trimmed. That would make sense.

Did we do this with Mathilda? Yes, we did. She was a geriatric mare with lameness issues. I don’t know what Rodney’s excuse is. [Fine]

Do the socks look ratty? Yes, they do. Using discarded husband sox. Therefore the sox have holes. Goal is to cushion the heels. Therefore, the holes are to the front.

Has Rodney achieved a fabulous retirement without the effort of stupendous career? Yes. Yes, he has.

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine

Riding

Awareness of the outside world. CNN: Race and ethnicity across the nation, Keefe, Wolfe and Hernandez, Aug. 12, 2021. Yes, Virginia, segregation is still a thing, de facto if no longer de jure. I think of NYC as multi-cultural rather than segregated, yet data shows that Manhattan is sliced in two right at the top of Central Park. I realize this is a surprise to no one. That sound is my optimistic delusions wilting in the glare of reality.

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Milton. Yay! Cheers for Milton! He was amazingly consistent. 100 miles in 49 rides in 59 days. They both missed the first day while indulging in a woe-fest recovering from their annual vetting. After that it was rain &/or mud days. He had stretches of 12 to 14 days in a row. Bravo! Milton even chose to pull his shoe hours before the blacksmith came. Waited in a stall. Got shod. Went right back to work the next day. Unlike some horses I could mention. But I digress. Milton was a star.

Rodney. Since Rodney’s feet cannot hang onto the workboots, we are back to letting him adjust after shoeing. Three days off and a light weekend. Sigh. [Shoeing Dilemma]

Tortoise Power! Corrected from previous. These two are definitely land animals.

Where are we virtually?

Milestone. Rodney.

Map. Close enough to the end that I stopped.

Data Dump – Milton

Tuesday, September 21 – .08 miles, ?? minutes. Yeah. He was that close.

Total distance – 100 miles
Total time – 44 hours
Total rides – 49 days
Total calendar – 59 days

Pace, time to go one mile – Milton 26:26 m/m, per VT results page

Data Dump – Rodney

Tuesday, September 21 – .91 miles, 29 minutes
Saturday, September 25 – 1.01 miles, 28 minutes
Sunday, September 26 – 1.67 mile, 54 minutes
Monday, September 27 – 1.62 miles, 44 minutes

Distance this week – 5 miles
Time this week – 2.5 hours
Rides this week – 4 days

Total distance – 91 miles
Total time – 42 hours.
Total rides – 47 days
Total calendar – 66 days

Pace, time to go one mile – 27:16 m/m, per VT results page

Numbers rounded off for ease of reporting. May not add up as given.

My Links
Last week [Waiting For Nicholas To Pass By, Virtual Tevis, 99 and 86 Miles, 59 Days]
[VT Archives]

Official Links
Tevis Cup: Virtual Tevis 2021
RunSignUp: 2021 Tevis Cup – Virtual Western States Trail – 100 Miles in 100 Days
RunSignUp: VT results

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine

Horsekeeping

Awareness of the outside world. A data point. “The Trump administration added about $7.8 trillion of today’s $28 trillion debt, and during his term, Congress voted to raise the debt ceiling three times.” Letters From An American: September 22, 2021. Richardson, Sep 23.
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Have I blanketed an unclipped horse? Yes, I have.

Is it 75o? Yes, it is.

In our – feeble – defense, this was during the undressing. The temps suddenly dropped below 50 during the nights last week. Rodney hates the cold and has an high tolerance for warming devices. He has been wearing the lighter blanket at night. This particular night was the last of this go-round. He will take a break as the nights get more seasonable and then return to pajamas for winter, such as it is down here. As a bonus for the rider, the blanket keeps his back loose and his attitude perky. [Piling on the Therapy]

Am I glad that Rodney has decided to wear blankets again? Yes, I am. [Blankets Are Back]

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine

Images

Awareness of the outside world. NASA.gov: NASA Releases Interactive Graphic Novel “First Woman”.
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In the spirit of yesterday’s participation post, a blank blog logo for you to embellish. [Announcing A New Feature]

Copy. Download. Print. Cast in clay. Whatever.

Fill. Color. Decorate. Fold into origami shapes. Whatever.

(Oooh. There’s an idea. I wonder if it’s been done? Of course it has. Origami Alphabet. But I digress.)

Return. I post. We admire.

No money. No prizes. For giggles only.

Remember to sign your work.

virtualbrushbox@gmail.com

Process Notes. Drew letters. Least I could do if I was asking you to be creative. Gridded. Maximized internal space. Inkscape/GIMP.

Project Inspiration

“For Mapping Manhattan, Becky Cooper gave out blank maps. People filled the silhouettes … The maps of Manhattan are the same but different.” [Letter Art: Invitation]

Color your heart out. Surprise me. Surprise us.

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine