Virtual Brush Box

Awareness of the outside world. “The deepest point in the entire river is in New Orleans near Algiers Point, where it dips to about 200 feet.” NOLA.com: How deep is the Mississippi River near New Orleans as salt water threatens? Walck, 2023. Algiers Point is where the river turns sharply in front of Jackson Square & the St. Louis cathedral.

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My entry for the 2024 Graceful Envelope Contest run by the The Washington Calligraphers Guild. Theme: Mapping the World’s Cities. WCG: 2024 Graceful Envelope Winners.

Legend

N.E.W. – Not happy contributing to the trope that Mardi Gras is all there it to New Orleans, but I needed the color variety.

O – Ironwork balconies

R.L.E.A.N. – Flags: Spain, France, US, state of Louisiana, city of New Orleans. For Spain & France, the colors are from the current flags. It was not easy to find which version of the flag flew during the years in question. I was looking for colors, not a deep-dive history lesson.

S – Beignets & coffee at Café Du Monde.

Flair pens were not the best choice of media, but they – you may be sensing a theme – had the colors I needed.

Contest Info

2024 theme: Mapping the World’s Cities

The world’s great cities have distinctive landmarks, cultures, histories, cuisines, or geography that are said to put each town “on the map.” There is even a tradition of depicting such characteristics on actual maps. Your challenge is to pick a city and consider what contributes to its unique character. For example, what makes New York bustling, Paris romantic, Tokyo energetic, and Sydney beautiful? Then—using artistry, lettering and the integration of postage stamps—create some sort of map on your Graceful Envelope that captures the spirit of the city of your choice.

Graceful Envelope Contest

I give myself 0/10 for artistry, a middle grade for lettering, and 10/10 for integration. Stamp? River? New Orleans? Nailed it. As for artistry/lettering, my ideas often exceed my ability to execute.

Philately Links

USPS: Postal Service To Honor Mighty Mississippi on Forever Stamps, 2022

Stamps post [Meandering Through Minnesota, Virtually] 2022

Previous Envelopes

[Fan Mail, The Graceful Envelope Contest 2023, Graphic Art]

[The Graceful Envelope Contest 2022, with contest relevant links]

Finishing With A Furry Photo Bomb

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. When I was young, my grandmother once told me not to wish my life away. I try not to, but August is grinding me down. Per usual. Stressing about work. No legit reason, just my brain gnawing on itself. Milton’s Gotcha Day was Friday. Rodney’s is tomorrow. The AEC start on Tuesday, and I am once again not there, nor anywhere near ever getting there. The 31st is a bad anniversary. Anyway. I hate August. The planned post was a casualty of the month. Here is one from the vaults. Welcome Roaming Reader. [Gotcha Days]

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Stabled at Atrium, a clothing store in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Courtesy of Roaming Reader, taken in 2019.

More vicarious travel from the peripatetic Roaming Reader [archives]

Onwards!
Katherine

Photography of the outside world. BBC: Badgers, birds and bridges star in photo exhibition.

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Cahaba Valley Creek, also known as Bishop Creek
City of Pelham Park AL USA
August 2024

Technical Details

Reflection, f/11, 1/125 sec., 18.0 mm, ISO 100. Manual mode & auto-focus. Post production: resized, border, & watermark. No cropping.

Border colors. Gray for project, yellow for Nikon. [Photo Safari The First], [Quarry, Photography, Things]

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. New website, Stepping Stone Farm.

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SSF Assistant Trainer James Huguley, front, rides Mr. Bubbles in Open Roadster Under Saddle on Sunday night at the World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

It’s always interesting to see the top of any endeavor. This is what everyone is aiming for.

It’s always fun to see friends in that crowd.

The Deciding Factor

I was undecided on buying the livestream this year. It’s expensive and I get tired of watching other people ride. OTOH, the universe is not filling my calendar with chances for my own riding to shine.

Yes. No. Yes. No.

Then, the Friday before the show, I was called to stand with a friend who was having a truly terrible day. Afterwards, I was done in. Click, click, click. We are go for livestream. I needed some up after that much down.

Helmet Watch, So Far

One helmet in Amateur Roadster Pony Over 50 Inches to 52 Inches, one in Amateur Ladies Roadster to Bike. Different drivers. Amateur means adult, so was not required.

Five out of 20 in Hunter Under Saddle. Seemed like declining numbers, but 2022 was 5 out of 18, so about the same. Perhaps the helmet entries weren’t on the livestream as much this year. At least one helmet placed, but many of the ribbons were not shown. [Cheering The Championships]

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. A friend posted an amusing political meme. Too amusing to be true? Alas, yes. A brief Internet search showed that person X probably never said that, much as I might wish they did. It has never been easier to spread nonsense. HOWEVER, it has also never been easier to check.

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New cart. Yay! [Milton Gets Wheels]

New cart has different attachment points than our harness. Boo!

The barn’s ace mechanic took out two resident flattop bolts. Replaced them with eyelet bolts. While the steel clashes with the wood & brass aesthetic of the cart, it gives us a way to attach the traces with quick releases. Yay!

Above, new bolt. Original attachment on side of shaft. Below, cart with bolt location indicated. Did same on other side.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. “Heat related illnesses and death are largely preventable with proper planning, education, and action. Heat.gov serves as the premier source of heat and health information for the nation to reduce the health, economic, and infrastructural impacts of extreme heat.” HEAT.gov, National Integrated Heat Health Information System

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We are putting what passes for work with the horses on pause until we stop having heat alerts.

True. A short, quiet stroll in the shade is not going stress anyone.

Meh. We’re not in any hurry. We’re not going anywhere. We’re not getting ready for anything.

Morning walks will continue.

Onwards!
Katherine

Awareness of the outside world. Power outage over the weekend. Amazing how ingrained it is to reach for a light switch even when you know there is no power.

We’re fine. 16 hours overnight. In present configuration, no one’s health or welfare is dependent on electricity. Other than the self-generated kind.

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You know you are a barn owner when this sight brings you joy.

In days of yore, we would fill the barn for the year, but we ran into consistency and quality issues. We kept having to find new hay growers. Now, we leave it to the folks at the feed store to source nice hay.

A luxury for two horses that would be a lot harder with 20.

Bien manger.

Onwards!
Katherine