Virtual Brush Box

Paper of the outside world. Georgia Tech: Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking.

~~~

At the end of year, I get stir crazy and start signing up for stuff. This year’s crop is the Alaska class that I already mentioned, a crochet project that you may hear about if I ever get started, and The Paper Year from Helen Hiebert Studios. The subscription includes monthly instructions for a paper project, zoom meetings, guest speakers, discussions and so on.

In honor of my new interest in all things paper, I decided to do a papercraft c.v., similar to the one I did for weaving. By this I mean paper manipulation, not paper used as a substrate for writing or drawing. [Weaving In and Out of My Life]

A while back, I went on an origami binge, bought paper, folded things, virtually attended an online conference, and then wandered away.

[Gary’s Star, Origami] 2022
[Origami Dragon, Paper Art] 2024

Plus many origami links in the outside world section.

Book making has been a thing for a while, including a marvelous workshop in Tuscaloosa through the UA Book Arts Program. I briefly entertained the thought of enrolling in their university classes, but it didn’t pan out.

Bookmaking at Makebhm last year.

[Quick Books, Book Making Class #1]
[Preparing The Parts, Book Making Class #2]
[Two Covers, Bookmaking Class #3]
[Finished Books, Bookmaking Class #4]

I took a class for making an art journal, which I misconstrued as constructing the journal rather than filling a blank book, thereby making it into an art journal. Still, was a fun class. [Journal Workshop] 2024

A paper class in the style of Matisse, [In Which I Try Painting With Scissors] 2020

A letter cutout. Most of the rest of the various alphabet letters were photographs or computer designs. [Text Art: Z is for Zebra] 2015

In the past, there were paper activities that did not make the blog. Back then, I was trying to stay on topic. Trying to keep posts at least vaguely horse related. Unlike now, where I simply fling whatever I want into a post, as today. [Countdown] 2012

The photo at the top is the from a pre-blog era papermaking class at the local art museum. I saved the first piece of paper I made as a memento, thinking it would be the beginning of a long line of handmade paper. It wasn’t, or I should say, hasn’t been yet.

The rest has been fiddling with paper. Making and decorating trip journals. Cutting up a stack of postcards in an attempt to make a 3-D version of the image. And so on. As far as paper crafts go, I am definitely an amateur, even a dilettante, which I don’t mean in a bad way.

Merriam-Webster defines dilettante as “a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge” MW: dilettante. Sure, I’ll accept that. I have a little bit of interest in a lot of things, vide origami above. Call me a dabbler if that is a less judgemental term.

At least I got a blog post out of it.

Onwards!
Katherine

🖥️ 🏴󠁵󠁳󠁡󠁫󠁿 🖥️

I slammed the apartment door, dropped my bags on the entry table, and announced, “I’m moving to Alaska.”

From the living room, a voice said, “No, you’re not.”

Me: Yes I am. I’m tired of lights and noise and people. I want live off the grid and be at one with the vastness of nature. Al-Can Highway here I come.

Roommate: You’d go spare in a day.

I walked into the living room and flumfed down into a chair by the window.

Roommate: Bad day at work?

I turned to watch taxicabs play race-to-the-stoplight. After a while I realized the room was silent. Was I supposed to be saying something? I turned back the room.

Roommate: I rest my case. Your idea of a soothing activity is to watch traffic. You are the most on-grid person I know. You do something with computers that I do not understand.

I opened my mouth. They held up their hand.

Roommate: You’ve explained many times. I still don’t understand.

They got up. Went to the kitchen. Returned with a half full bag of polvorones. Handed me the cookies.

Roommate: You convinced your college to recognize esports as a varsity sport. Your idea of fun is to get together a raiding party with your new best friends in the Czech Republic or Rio. (waved hand at wall) You make digital art that half the art world adores and the other half thinks is a sign of the downfall of civilization. You would never survive without broadband, a robust electrical system, and taco shops that are open at 2 am (gestured at bag of Mexican cookies).

Me: You’re right. Of course. But I like to think about it.

Roommate: No harm in that.

Me: Do you every get tired of playing amateur psychologist and talking me down from the trees?

Roommate: Nah. Your energy is part of your charm. You’re like one of those sled dogs who lives to pull and has a hissy fit if they are not chosen for the team (paused in thought). Now that I could see you doing. Going to Alaska as a sled dog.

Me: Hmmm.

Roommate: I know that look. You’re thinking of new video installation.

Me: What if you could? What if you could run the Iditarod as a sled dog? Not as a person in a dog suit but behaving the way a real dog would. You would get rewarded the closer you are to maintaining actual dog behavior. We could do this with all kinds of animals in all kinds of different situations. We’d get animal behaviorists involved. That would be one of the selling points. People could have the experience of thinking like an animal (paused to stare into space for a moment). Is this a good idea or rife with the potential to be horrifying?

Roommate: Why not both?

Me: I would have to go to Alaska. To do research.

Roommate: Now, that I could see you doing.

🖥️ 🏴󠁵󠁳󠁡󠁫󠁿 🖥️

Inspiration

Currently ettending UChicago Graham School, Alaska: Indigenous, Russian, American.

How do I write a story set in a place I’ve never been?

The native traditions have so many cool stories. They would be fun to riff from. How do I use the ideas without cultural appropriation?

Onwards!
Katherine

Photography of the outside world. Natural History Museum: Ice Bed.

~~~

Southern Ice
Coosa River
Alabama USA
January 2025

Ice\Water
Coosa River
Alabama USA
January 2025

Behind The Lens

Project explanation. [Photo Safari The First], [Quarry, Photography, Things]

Onwards!
Katherine

Horses of the outside world. Wired: Cave Paintings Showed True Colors of Stone Age Horses. A new study of prehistoric horse DNA suggests that spotted horses roamed ancient Europe, and that early artists may have been reproducing what they saw rather than creating imaginary creatures. Balter, ScienceNOW 2011.

~~~

Diego
Stepping Stone Farm
January 2025

Show coming up. Time to get out to the barn.

Riding

Note that I am in the big ring at the start of the lesson. When one is uncertain, one can opt to start or even ride the entire lesson in the small covered arena, termed the round pen, shown in front of Diego’s ears in the photo. I haven’t ridden in the big ring since … scratches head .. my last lesson with Optimus? I figured if I was going to a show the next weekend, I should begin as I mean to go on.

Driving

The next day I went back for a driving lesson. Ears photo taken standing next to Diego before getting in the cart. Jog cart sits low. All you see is tailpipe.

Outro

This was not quite the same as my usual waffling and then jamming in a last minute lesson. Winter Tournament had two more shows, one in town, one farther away. I had always planned to go to the in-town show, in February. Then the cold snap rearranged the schedule and the local one was being held next.

One other between-show lesson. Rocky, back in December. Brought my emotional support husband and rode a new horse in the round pen. Media did not turn out. The rest of the time was holidays & ridiculous cold.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. If you have a long day and you go to bed at 6:30 pm, is waking up at 3 am insomnia or a full night’s sleep? Asking for a friend.

~~~

MLK Day 5K Drum Run Birmingham AL
Birmingham, Alabama USA
Saturday 18 January 2025

Clock Time – 55:09.7 minutes
Gun Time – 54.08.6 minutes
Strava time – 54:10 minutes
Pace based on Strava time – 3:43 mph

Place – 339 of 377
Division Place, Female 60 to 69 – 16th of 21
Division Place, Female – 193 of 218

Various Thoughts

As before, love this 5K. Drummers of various styles are staged around the course. Just as the sound of one fades, you pick up the next.

Maybe I like drums because it is a beat that even the tone deaf can follow.

Nervous beforehand, but probably a bleedover from the show later &/or concern about logistics. I don’t have a lot occasions when I have to be at this place at that time. Even with lessons, I waft out in the morning when the barn is not busy and have my lesson whenever I fit into the schedule.

Back to the 5K.

The eternal dilemma. Dress warm for the start and carry the coat at the end, or dress for the end and be cold at the beginning. I split the difference and wore a light coat.

To echo one of the screens on the advertising truck,

Thank you to the drumlines!

Also, props to my driver. Husband drove me to the 5K, back home to let out the horses and the dog, then off to the show. I probably could have gotten myself home after the show. Really glad I didn’t have to.

Logistics

Yes, I chose the walk over the show. Last year, I chose the show over the 5K. But I really, really like this walk. I finally decided that there was only one Drum Run each year but there were other shows on the schedule. Gasp! [Month of the Dragon]

Wait.

Hmm.

The 5K is in the morning. I could probably get to the show in time for the driving class, although I hate to princess in at the last moment. OTOH, Academy Driving has First Year Drivers split off into their own class. The horse would be hitched & in the ring for the other driver. All I would need to do is get in & drive around a few times.

Do I really want to spend all that money to trot twice around the ring in each direction? Why is this even a question?

Coach Courtney kept me entered in the Masters class, just in case. I wasn’t sure how well I would ride after walking three miles, but I figured I could probably struggle thru one class.

Part 3

After the show, came home and took the horses for their daily walk. I are an Ironman, or least, an Aluminumperson.

Previous Posts

[Moseying to the Music, Walk Report, MLK Day 5K Drum Run 2023]
[Traipsing With A Tempo, Walk Report, MLK Day 5K Drum Run] 2022
[Percussion in the Pasture, Virtual MLK Day 5K Drum Run, Walk Report] 2021
[Strolling To A Soundtrack, Walk Report, MLK Day Drum Run 2020]

Update, pro photo for 2025. [Feet On The Street, Drum Run Photo, Fitness]

Onwards!
Katherine

Alabama Winter Tournament Association, 2024-2025 #2
Heathermoor Farm
Leeds, AL USA
Saturday 18 January 2025

Both classes with Diego. Yup, he rides & drives. What a star.

14. Masters Pleasure 50+ – 1st of 1
27. Academy Driving – 1st of 1

Thank you to the Mullins family for the debonair Diego. Thank you to Couch Courtney and the entire Stepping Stone Farm crew.

Previous show [The Winter Blues You Want, Show Report AWTA 2024-2025 #1]

Riding

We had a bit of a hard time going around the indoor ring because Diego had NEVER, EVER seen the doors to the outside, or, oh heavens, the windows into the viewing lounge, despite having been in three classes already that morning. Well, maybe? Some horses would think the ring looks different when they are in it by themselves. OTOH, some horses use spooking as an excuse for not putting forth effort. Hoof to forehead, I can’t possibly work under these conditions. I think he buffaloed me.

We made a complete hash out of our first canter transition. Took me several tries. Coach James thought I let him get into my head. I think it was the opposite. Canter is usually my strong suit. I’m so used to it working that when it didn’t, I sort of sat there and said, Wait? What? Tiredness may have made me a bit casual. Canter transition the second way was flawless, although we downshifted to trot early. I tried to regroup for a stride or two, then declared victory and lined up.

Driving

When making turns in a ring, one must completely finish the first corner by the time one gets to C, i.e. crosses the centerline. It’s easy to underturn, leaving too much work for the second corner. Particularly in a narrow ring. I am capable of a smooth, even turn.

Unfortunately, I can either steer or drive the horse. [Taking Turns see last comment]

Fortunately, Diego is wonderful and basically followed the cart tracks laid down by coach James when they warmed up. [AWTA #1]

Strangely, tricky maneuvers are easier at speed.

Coda

As always, when writing one leans on the bad moments learning opportunities for their narrative potential. There were many more good moments,

You did not misread the title. Part 1 is next. As with the previous show, I did not ride in the early classes. This time for a fun reason. More tomorrow.

Update. Photo updated. Originally posted directly from phone.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. “Find in yourself what is beautiful and special and hold that up to the light so that you can see it clearly, and (so) can everyone else.” Bluesky, John Scalzi, ‪@scalzi.com‬, January 13, 2025.

~~~

Read last week. Stayed with me. The author is citing an article from The Chronicle of the Horse.

“Instead, she recommends finding what you are comfortable doing and build from there. I found this advice validating because that’s been my approach as an adult who mainly works on my own with my horses. Start where you’re comfortable until it gets boring, then add on from there until you’re back where you left off.” Amateur At Large: Truthful Tuesday, January 14, 2025

To repeat,

Start where you’re comfortable until it gets boring.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot.

Berating myself hasn’t been working. Although, in my case, I don’t think it’s fear as much as hating myself for going nowhere. Why yes, I am familiar with the concept of toxic productivity. Why do you ask?

Start where you’re comfortable until it gets boring.

I think it is a more approachable way of saying grant yourself grace.

Original article (I assume), TCOTH: No, You Don’t Have To ‘Push Through Your Fear’ In Order To Get Over It, Edgette, January 10, 2025.

Onwards!
Katherine