Virtual Brush Box

Why do I keep chugging along?

I’m not building a brand.

I’m not selling a book.

Most – not all, waves hi! – of the folks who read are people I know IRL. Waves hi! I admire people who build vibrant online communities. That does not appear to be my calling.

So why?

Years ago, I talked about how the blog keeps me from going batshit crazy. [Bright-Eyed, Bushy-Tailed, & Back to Blogging]

Still true. One of the ways is that I enjoy the puzzle of figuring out what to post each day. There is a mental click when the right idea fits into place. Yes, that for Thursday. That will work.

What to Post

Last month I talked about two types of posts. Monday thru Thursday posts are reacting to what is up with the horses. Friday thru Sunday are project posts. [Thinking About Posts]

Despite the different types, my approach is often the same.

I often go with what is timely or easy. Timely would be a recent horse show or art class. Easy would be a short comment, or maybe something I had written up and put aside for later.

I have many ideas that I would like to write up. For example, we have set up drainage to dump the water buckets in the barn. Drilled a hole in an old bucket. Attached a hose that leads out of the barn. Set it next to the horses’ water. Now we can dump buckets without having to walk them out of the barn. It’s great system. I’d love to do a post. I would to need to take photos and write it up. As another example, I have a host of non-fiction ideas for Saturday. These tend to slide down the list. Sometimes I run out of time. Sometimes I run out of energy. So, I go with what bubbles to the top.

I have to remind myself that this is not a official record, I can let things go. Gasp.

Another metric is if I have spent money, whether it be new horse supplies or an online lecture. Partly, I spent the money, so I’m gonna get my money’s worth, at least get a blog post out of it. Partly, I spent the money, so I had some level of interest in it, probably means there is enough to merit a post.

Finally, if I am choosing between two options, I ask myself what is the most entertaining? What are you going to want to come here and read?

As long as you are here and I am amused, I shall keep yelling into the abyss.

State of the Blog [Archives]

Onwards!
Katherine

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