One For You, One For Me, Blogger Gift Exchange, What Went Out

I’m Not Late, It Is Still The Christmas Season

Well, the gift was late, the post is not

 
Awareness of the outside world. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night … nor Christmas season nor massive online-shopping volume nor increased sick leave nor political machinations … stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. The Post Office is doing a decent job, for a 2020 definition of “swift”. Things I ordered are showing up eventually. This gift was mailed two weeks ago on the Monday before Christmas. It arrived one week later, on the Monday after Christmas. One week delivery during any Christmas season is a darn good feat. All lateness is my fault. Public props to our postal carrier for taking the time to put our packages up the driveway where they can’t be seen from the road, rather than leaving them at the mailbox, which is faster & easier.
~~~

To: Cruisen In Stilletos
From: Virtual Brush Box

Dear Giftee:

In my cover letter, I promised I’d explain in a blog post.

First, apologies, as above, for my lateness. I wish I could blame 2020. Alas, I only ordered one thing. It arrived promptly, I utter flopped on getting it in the mail. Buying gifts for others? I’m on it! Giving gifts to others? Here ya go! Packing and shipping? Ick to the ick. I displayed such an aversion to this activity that I am reconsidering signing up for next year.

Enough about my foibles.

Second, I either spent too much or not enough. By commercial value, over the spending suggestion. By outlay for this specific project, way under the limit. Three of four were things I had lying around the house. In my defense, I’ve ended up with some nice things lying around the house.

Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum by Dr. Seuss, Illustrated by Andrew Joyner (Penquin 2019). Who doesn’t like a book? I know you like horses. Who doesn’t like Dr. S (sort of)? A while back, I bought several copies – full price, from an indie bookstore – for a giveaway I never held. This is my copy. Still have a third one to give away. Maybe someday.

Field Notes. I love these. I love the size. I love the aesthetic. I love the materials. I have a quarterly subscription. I use them to take notes when I am out & about. I am neither out nor about. No notes to take. Subscription piling up. Hate to cancel. 😦 Give them away! 🙂

Spot On Braiding Wax. This was from your want list. Bought some for myself. Water has always worked well enough for me, but I’ll give it a try. At least I knew you would like one of the four.

I’ll braid again, maybe someday. [Firm Grip On Last Place]

Waxed Braiding Thread. While I was at it, I bought myself a roll of thread. I’m picky about what I braid with, but I’ll give this a try as well.

Breyer Stablemates. I’ve starting picking up a few here and there. Who knew that something so small could accumulate so fast. Didja notice I picked one that was braided? Didja? Huh? I’ll show myself out.

Finally, I’m sure you join me in thanking Alberta Equest for taking on Blogger Secret Santa 2020.

Aw, you’re too kind. Cruisen In Stilletos: 2020 Equestrian Blogger Secret Santa.

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott

An Omenous Moment

Images

 
Awareness of the outside world. “Let’s make this year great no matter what happens!” @sub.urbancreative, Alabama Photographer on Instagram.
~~~

Conjunction of Jupiter & Saturn
December 21, 2020

Imagine it is nighttime.

Imagine you are in a permanent power outage. [Zeta Report]

Imagine there is nothing on television for thousands of years.

Imagine the old dude by the fire is yapping – again – about how mammoths used to be so much bigger and youngsters used to be so much more respectful.

Staring at the dots in the sky and telling stories about them starts to seem appealing.

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott

Odd & Ends, Other People’s Thoughts

Words

 
Awareness of the outside world. The Scamperbeasts, @scamperbeasts.
~~~
Blogger explaining to non-horsey coworker about progress with trainer.

My horse is away at boarding school and he started doing advanced calculus without me today and I only know math up to addition and subtraction so I’m kind of amazed.

Cob Jockey: Pony’s First FLYING CHANGES!!!!

Does that mean our horses are home-schooled?
~~~

Researchers have found that it takes seven positive comments to override the impact of one negative comment.

“Are You Prepared *Not* To Win?”
by Melonie Kessler
USDF Connection
May/June 2020
p 60
~~~

Your mind is governed by three natural laws: 1. You are what you think. 2. Every thought causes a physical reaction. 3. Imagination is more powerful than knowledge. So be careful what you watch and listen to (even music and TV), and learn to replace worry, negative self-talk, jealousy, and judgment with goals solutions, gratitude, positive relationships, and mindfulness. – Laura King, performance and life coach, certified hypnotist, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming practitioner.

“Through The Levels”
by Jennifer O. Bryant
USDF Connection
May/June 2020
p 50
~~~
The Horse: Study Confirms Horses ‘Talk’ to Human Handlers, by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, 2016.

File this under No Shit. Although I was interested that the horses waited to get the human’s attention before communicating. ‘Hey, you. Yeah you, hooman. That bucket. Right over there.’ I wonder if they sometimes think we are slow.

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott

Intake Interview for a New Year

Come in! Come in! Make yourself at home.

Well, you are at home, aren’t you? It’s your year. Literally.

That’s what we’d like to talk with you about. The sort of year you are planning to be.

As you know, we had a difficult relationship with 2020. The exit interview was acrimonious. A lot of folks are happy to see you. They are primed to believe in you. You just need to run with it.

Frankly, you could redo 2019 and be wildly popular. Not that you are anybody’s copy. No, no, not at all. You are your own year. We recognize your unique position in the calendar. We’re just saying the bar is low for consumer satisfaction. Be an improvement on 2020 and people will adore you.

We’re thinking you could take this opportunity to go big. Why be a mere improvement, when you could be so much more? The time is ripe for something really special. Here’s a branding idea we want to run past you. We are quite excited about it,

2021
The Beloved Year

 
Gardens growing. Bumper harvests. Fewer hurricanes. Spontaneous peace breaking out. Food banks closing from lack of business.

We know it won’t be perfect. There’s a lot of pain in the world. January, specifically, is not looking good for us Covid-wise.

We choose to see this as giving you opportunity for upward movement.

Be a year that people will be sorry to see go. They will write the wrong date until April. That won’t happen for long this year, I can promise you.

Be the year that lives in memories with a golden glow. Forty years from now, comparison to you will be considered a compliment, ”Ah! that was proper twenty-twenty-one, that was!’

We want you to succeed. We’re rooting for you.

Welcome 2021.

Recap Week 2020 Fitness, Medal Medley

Fit To Ride, For The Record

Because I’m going to want to remember where I went.

 
Awareness of the outside world. Daily news briefs by Deborah Cox Richardson. If you’re strong enough.
~~~
“Does bling matter? You might as well ask if horse show ribbons matter. and that’s just plain heresy.” [Green Bay]

I’ll save you the counting. That’s 15 medals.
14 recognized walks
+ 2 DIY walks
+ 1 bonus bling for being in both races [Bee]
– 2 unarrived medals

Three virtual challenges. [Will Walk and Bike for Bling]

Locations
After the first few around the pasture, I decided to see the sights. Outside and away from other people was deemed okay. Aimed for a new park for each walk. Amazed at what I was able to find. 5k unless otherwise stated.

April
Pasture [La Jolla Shores, Medal] first virtual walk

May
Pasture [Green Bay, Medal] second virtual walk, fourth walk, first medal

June
Pasture [Flying Pig] weekend, Saturday
Pasture [Bear With Me] weekend, Sunday

July
Oak Meadow [Gaelic Gallop]

August
Birmingham Botanical Gardens [Calgary & Photos]

Wind Creek [Walk In The Woods & Mississippi River DIY Aug 29]

September
Aldridge Gardens [Dragon Within DIY & Art]

Hoover [Santa Fe] 3-in-1, Monday
Birmingham Zoo [Toronto Zoo] 3-in-1, Wednesday
Heardmont Park [Bronx Zoo] 3-in-1, Friday

Pasture [5th Avenue Mile]

Oak Meadow, return [Mississippi River DIY, Sept 29] inaugural weekly 5k if no bling walk

October
Montevallo Greenway [Queen Bee 4-Miler & Mississippi River DIY, Oct 20]

Orr Park & Greenway [Baltimore & Mississippi River DIY, Oct 27 ]

Chelsea Rec [Mississippi River DIY, Oct 28] 1 mile

Buck Creek Trail [Mississippi River DIY, Oct 30] 2 miles

November
Joe Tucker [LEJOG, Nov 4 & Photos]

Lake Cosby [LEJOG Nov 6] 2 km

Richard Wood Park, Thorsby [LEJOG Nov 13] feed store

Vulcan Trail [Magic City & LEJOG Nov 20]

Rotary Trail [LEJOG Nov 24]

Beeswax Creek [Peachtree] 10K

December
Railroad Park [Savannah Bridge & LEJOG Dec 5]

Lee Springs [LEJOG Dec 9]
Inverness corporate park [Melbourne & LEJOG Dec 10] redo
Hillsboro Trail. Lee Springs walk on part of this.
unnamed woods hike. Lee Springs walk on part of this. Update.

Inverness corporate park II [LEJOG Dec 17]

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott

Alternatively, The WABAC Machine Shows How To Win A Cocktail Party

I went two for two on beta readers telling me that the post drafted for today was confrontational. I didn’t see it that way, but that’s why one has beta readers. Since I couldn’t see the effect, I couldn’t change it nor accurately weigh the merits of letting it stand. This is unusual for me. Le mot juste is the closest thing I have to a superpower. So then I tried to figure out exactly what I wanted to say and why I wanted to say it. So then I ran out of energy. Here, have an evergreen.
~~~
Long ago in the deeps of time.

Party at a friend’s house. Chatting with a fellow I did not know. Host walks over. Says, “Oh, I see the two horse people have found each other.” Walks off.

We exchange looks and nods along the lines of ‘You? Yes. You? Yes.’

He was a large fellow, both tall and heavyset. His physique did not scream At Home In The Saddle. I figured he’d been on a horse once or twice. That counted as a horse person to muggles.

Him: What kind of riding do you do?

Me: Have you ever heard of three-day eventing?

Him: I’m a graduate-A Pony Clubber.

Game. Set. Match.

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott

Recap Week 2020 Horses, Lemonade Made

Riding Journal, Horsekeeping

Lucky enough to have a horse.

 
Awareness of the outside world. Sad that the roll-out is going slowly. Logistics are hard. Even I know this. Why weren’t folks running every-possible-contingency scenarios for the last nine months? Any progress is good. Faster would be better. CNN: US officials promised 20 million vaccinated against coronavirus by the end of the year. It’s going slower than that by Kaufman, Grayer, Murray and Kane, December 28, 2020.
~~~
It feels like this post should be longer. We had lots of time at home to fiddle with horses.


We did the Virtual Tevis. [Archives]


Both horses are getting better about walking around the pasture. Not completely at ease on their own yet. Together they do great. We can tack up our two horses and go for a pleasant ride. Almost like normal. [Finding the Lemonade, photo Tailgating]


They have become excellent travelers, at least for the short hauls we have been on so far. Load. Stand. Ship. Reload. Good boys. [Ready For Their Roadtrip Buddy Movie]


In an alternate, non-pandemic time-line, we would have done more of the small, local hunter and dressage shows that Milton & I did. Missing these is not breaking my heart. We might have hitched more. Then again, we were having trouble getting our driving ducks in row at the beginning of the year. [Weekly Check-In, photo Not From Around These Parts]


In this one, narrow, personal area, the year didn’t entirely suck pond water. We made some progress. We kept ourselves amused. Horses stayed healthy. I mean overall healthy. With these two, there are many prince and the pea moments. [Woe Is Us]


Everyone is ears up, hooves down. What more can we ask after this horrendous year? [Weekend Update]

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott