Virtual Brush Box

Concerning Conflicts

Driving Thursday

In Which My Magnanimous Gesture Turns Out To Be An Empty One

Phase 1: We first discuss Greg’s driving schedule. NO conflicts. I send Coach Courtney, Stepping Stone Farm, a celebratory text.

3 organizations. 3 show schedules. No conflicts. #signfromtheuniverse

The three organizations were the two driving groups, AWWCC and MTCC, & the saddle seat folks.

Phase 2: Coach Kate, Whip Hand Farm, decides our plans have been a wee bit ambitious. We pull back to more local/regional activities. Dates collide. I write my Selfless Wife post saying that it is Greg’s turn and I won’t show for three months [Conflicts].

Phase 3: Life-related logistics conspire against the various combined driving activities.

Result …

I’m going to a horse show! Since I have a truck now!! I can bring the second cart, meaning I can show both driving and riding. Snippy will be my chauffeur (or I will be his?). While Snippy is marvelous to drive, he doesn’t have Alvin’s auto-pilot. We have been doubling up on lessons to get acquainted.

Horse Show! Horse Show!

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

What Makes You, You? A Blog Hop.

Saddle Seat Wednesday

Thoughtful Equestrian posed the question What makes someone at the barn (or your trainer) think of you immediately? Since I have no one to ask around here, I turned to Coach Courtney at SSF.

Response:
“Whenever I see blue duct tape, I think of you.”
I bring my own halter, brushes, etc. Every item is marked.

(The stool is for bodywork and to keep my brush box above the reach of marking dogs. I decorated it with names of the SSF horses I have ridden.)

“Whenever I open my email, I think of you.”
I send her a lot of email. Sadly, this does not even include the ones I write and delete.
[This Is Not News]

“When ever we win cool stuff, I think of you.”
I love me some useful loot.

Duffel bag.

[Show Photos: UPHA Chapter 8, Cleveland, TN] 2013

Saddlepad.

[Sportin’ the Bling] 2014

Coatbag & backpack

[Banquet Photos] 2015

Technical Shirt

[ASHAG Awards 2015] 2016

Jacket

[Loving The Loot] 2016

Wooden Grooming Box

[ASHAA Banquet 2017]

I tell you, saddle seat is awesome about awards!

I would have expected:
Noise. Even Saddlebred people think I am loud. However, Reagan [Barnshine] says she can hear me when she’s in the ring. That’s good enough for me. People can turn around and stare at me all they want. I’ll keep cheering for my team.

A Pony-Club level of obsession with stable management.

Helmets.

So, what makes you, you?

Update: Another entry. Ambitious: Thoughtful Equestrian Blog Hop: What makes you, you? Color, photography, & sounds.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

De Milton Mobile

Title from De Chelonian Mobile, The Turtle Moves, in Small Gods by Terry Pratchett.

Milton had not been anywhere near the trailer in over 2 years. Walked right on. When I posted this on Instagram, I said it had been one year. I was wrong. Tempus Fugit.

The next step is to get Milton’s paperwork in order and head back to SSF for the various activities that require additional people, i.e. hitching and cowboying. Rodney might go for a spin as well.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Looking for Rodney’s Silver Lining

For future reference.

Mr. Sensitivity demonstrates the art of sleep-eating.

Every character flaw has a corresponding virtue.

I am forthright.
You are inconsiderate.
He is rude.

I am helpful.
You are pushy.
He has boundary issues.

I am easy-going.
You are unmotivated.
He is lazy.

Rodney is sensitive. Those of us who have to deal with his reactions might say over-sensitive. At some point this is going to be a virtue. Brilliance in dressage? A close communion that allows me to read this thoughts on cross-country? Maybe we will never show (shudder) but will achieve some non-competitive goal that currently eludes me?

Someday, I will look back and all of this will make sense. Or maybe the whole thing is a pointless waste of time.

Wow, that got darker than I intended. I’m trying to see the up side, really I am.

Onwards.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Letter Art: Watercolor

Liquitex Muted Pink Acrylic Watercolor Ink
Fabriano Watercolor Postcards
Princeton Neptune 1/4″ Dagger Brush
Sakura Pentouch White Extra Fine pen
Art card by Victoria Wilson, Instagram, Facebook, Etsy
Box art by Shantall Alam, Instagram, Facebook
#SketchBoxMARCH

Frankly, when I signed on for SketchBox, I expected more pens. Pens I can handle, kinda. Pastels & watercolors? Not so much. Although, having said that, I couldn’t find a way to incorporate this month’s pen. Bah! Artbug!

Lettering 2017

[Daylight Savings]
[Connect The Dots]
[Pen & Pastels] SketchBox February 2017
[NYC 2016]

Previous Lettering
[2016] [2015] [2014] [2013]

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

State of the Blog: Going Digital

More state of my writing than state of the blog. Previous State of the Blog posts [list].

The USDF Connection piece on Mr. Meredith [Announcer] was my first with the new digital recorder, pictured. Before this, I had been using cassette tapes. Sure they are Flintstones technology but I interview from home over the phone, so portability is not an issue. Plus, have you priced digital recorder$$$? I finally got to the point were the choice was buy more tapes or join the 21st century.

So far, I like it. I can save the files on my computer as backup. No more growing piles of cassettes. (The one interview I tape over will be the one interview I need. Paranoid? Moi?) No more skipping back and forth to confirm a quote. I can go directly to the exact location. Well, almost directly. Still adapting to the forward and reverse rates. It goes slow, medium, and then really, really fast. Also, I sometimes confuse long press with short press, causing me to turn off the machine or jump to different track, causing me to restart the track I’m on, causing me more opportunities to learn about those speed rates. However, the learning curve is flattening out. I overshot way less in my most recent transcription session.

Fear not. I still fly the old school flag. I still interview on a landline. I HATE cell phones for long calls, whether personal or paying. The delay plays havoc with my conversational rhythm. Getting folks relaxed and talking is what I do. Constantly stepping on someone’s sentences is not conducive to the correct atmosphere.

Public props to my IT dude for debugging the new system, mainly due to the age of the other components.

Bought with much helpful advice from Spy Pro Shop, which was an adventure in itself.
~~~
Speaking of USDF, I have a brag to share. A thank you note from the owner of Harbor Sweets [Other Writing: Sweet on Dressage].

Aw shucks, Ma’am, twern’t nothin.

But seriously folks. Just as it is easier to look good on a nice horse, it is easier to interview someone who is pleasant, chatty, and comes with a great narrative.
~~~
How about you, old school or early adopter?

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Art Friday: Portrait of Rodney

Artwork by Alyssa of Four Mares. No Money. When an unexpected vet bill zeroed out her horse show money, Well That is One Way to Start the Year, she offered to paint horse and pet portraits to build her fund back up. From an handful of links, she totally captured Rodney’s look. I suspect she is still taking commissions.

The framing was done by the brilliant Craig Zernik at Four Corners Gallery. While he was mostly working off the background colors, the resulting frame suits Rodney’s … um … range of emotions.

As I’ve said [Framed!], I have a slight framing addiction.

May I also say that as I write this, I am following updates on Presto, who is sadly a very sick foal, The $900 Facebook Pony: Say hello to Presto!!! As a result, I am wrapped up in the lives of two women I may never meet. The blogging world is both magnificent and weird.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott