From Carpet Herd to the Very Top

First, thanks to reader AC for suggesting a name for my unusual PAS. Shadow it is!

I have been a subscriber to The Chronicle of the Horse since I had my own little half Arab, Indy, and was learning dressage way back in the early 1980s.

 In winter, the magazine always names "of the year" awards - horse, horseman, and so on. 

I was reading the January, 2023 yearbook issue about the new Show Hunter Person of the Year, Nick Haness. The introductory paragraph to the article caught my eye.

Nick Haness & Only Always

When Nick Haness was 8, he had a miniature horse barn in his room. Each of the stalls was labeled with the name of its occupant, and he had a tiny whiteboard where he wrote down their schedules.

"I basically had a makeshift training program with 100 Breyer horses and saddles and little riders," he said. "It feels like that was just yesterday..."

Mollie Bailey, The Chronicle of the Horse, January, 2023

Photo from same article

Sounds a lot like my carpet herd stable, Pawnee Stables! 

Congratulations, Nick, on being named Show Hunter Person of the Year. And I hope that somewhere, you still have that carpet herd and barn tucked away.

PASs Enlightened & More

Going through my files, I found some pictures of the two PASs (my oddity dapple grey and my normal dapple grey) undergoing the light test. And what I found was intriguing.  

This is my normal, run of the mill PAS with the light coming through its body as it does on non-chalky models.

And this is my oddity:

Most of the light is blocked, the usual for a base coat chalky. As for a model made from chalky plastic, I don't know how they respond and would have to do some research, but my guess is that chalky plastic would block some if not all of the light from coming through.

Susan Young sent a photo of her similar PAS's ears. This is a case where I wish I could see her model in person.

This is not what my oddity's ears look like. BUT... often his ears LOOK like this in photos. They are very, very difficult to photograph true.

This picture is the most accurate I could get - see how the ears look thick and rough instead of smooth? 

 

Another picture of those ears - I took a lot of photos and never did quite capture them accurately.

Aside from the smooth-looking ears, Sue's horse looks very much like mine. It is very possible that the ears are similar, too, and that she had the same difficulty I had in trying to photograph them accurately.

I'm going to email her and see if she has time to shine a light through Grenendere and get a photo of the results. She's a very busy lady so we shall see. My guess is that most of the light will be blocked just as it was for mine. I'll let you know what I find out.

(I really need to give his poor hrse a name. Any suggestions?)

Not Being Sighted Leads to Seeing

This is not my usual sort of post and has nothing to do with horses. Tomorrow we will get back to ponies. 

As part of the celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday, my friend Kathy and I went to my old school and read to a couple of classrooms on Friday. We had a lot of fun together and afterward decided to go get lunch before I returned her to her own school.

Kathy was giving me some information I did not need to have as we made our plans and I was a little puzzled. Suddenly, she stopped mid sentence and said, "Oh, my goodness! I forgot you could see!"

We both laughed and then went on making our plans, this time with her remembering that I was sighted and how that affected our plans a bit.

I've been mulling that over in my mind ever since. It reminded me of when Kathy was the 2015 Indiana Teacher of the Year and had just been named one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year. CBS Evening News sent Chip Reid to Indiana to do a story on her and during that interview, he asked her if there was an advantage to being blind as a teacher. 

Listen to what she says:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/teacher-who-is-blind-sees-students-for-who-they-really-are/

Did you catch it? Kathy finds that not being sighted is an advantage as she teaches and allows her to better connect with her students. Why? Because she can't see them to judge them.

But there is another lesson that I see, too, one that is meaningful to me right now  - how adversity can be a strength.

I've had some health challenges lately, ones that can even pop up suddenly and wipe me out for hours at a time, changing my plans for the day. I've been frustrated, I've felt sick, I've had to back out of doing things that I said I would, and I've even been a little scared once or twice.

I'm doing a lot of thinking on how I can turn my own adversity, as Kathy did, into a positive. Her forgetting that I was sighted helped me realize that I had changed how I perceived myself, with far too much emphasis on the "I don't feel well" aspect. Yes, I have some health challenges, but there is far more to me than that. And looking back, I can see that I have begun to let feeling ill overshadow much of what I do. That is not what I want.

Coming to that realization is a good first step in changing that adversity into a strength.

Paging Chalky Experts - Part 2

Earlier this week, I wrote a blog entry about my unusual Proud Arabian Stallion and asked readers if they could tell me anything about him. Long time hobbyist and tack maker Susan Bensema Young stepped up to the plate and, with her permission, I share her thoughts.

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Here is Gren (Grenendere), veteran of nearly 50 years in my herd [47].  The necklace is a childhood survival;  didn’t all Arabs have such things?  I, who read King of the Wind,… :)  and who was also influenced by Breyer, come to think of it.

The noticable white spot on his off hind hip (point of butt) is from an unfortunate falling accident  :(   while the strange smeary streaks on his off hindquarter are “original factory finish.”  He came that way.  Who knows under what conditions these horses were made...

Your near-chalky reminds me very much of my own Dapple Grey PAS, Grenendere.  (nicknamed Gren.)  He came into my life “sometime before July 4, 1976” (according to his card) and has the same very detailed surface, dense spots, beautiful shading and poorly cleaned mold lines as yours.  He’s got the drying-rack dirt marks on his soles.  His finish is somewhat thick-feeling and he looks a lot like a chalky, although I’ve never considered him one.  This is probably because I don’t like chalkies!  I would be disappointed if he turned out to be one!  So let’s say I’m looking at him with eyes that don’t want to see a chalky….  He’s turning pretty yellow these days, but it gives him a beautiful richness of color.

Just like yours, he has lovely pink ears.  AND nose.  They haven’t faded.  They aren’t that strong to begin with, but they’re definitely there.  He has nothing unusual under his tail;  in fact, I’d never looked at a PAS from that angle.  How odd.

At the same time I acquired him, back in the mid-to-late 70s, I acquired a Dapple Grey PAM.  I named her Darlene.  At the time she was all the rage, a great catch for a collector.  In the fullness of time she left my hands.  It would be 40+ years before I saw her again,…  what are the odds?,…  when Christina Pilz, a childhood friend from Boulder, asked me to sell her carpet herd.  I took delivery of boxes of models (this was 2021) and lo and behold, one was a Dapple Grey PAM named Darlene.  Chris said she’d gotten her from me, — which I'd forgotten all about.

But this Darlene was the most obvious, in-your-face Chalky I’d ever seen!  She was thick, pale, flat and ugly, with few spots and rudimentary shading.  I sell my OFs through dealer Margaret Loesch (GreyWoodsCat on eBay) and Margaret hadn’t known what chalkies were.  Well I was able to show her!   Three of Chris’s horses were challkies — + an Appaloosa Running Stallion & a Clyde Foal — and they all went, I believe, for premium prices.  I’ve never liked chalkies and I was rather turned off by Darlene.  And surprised.  Was my memory really that bad?  Apparently it was.

My knowledge of what causes chalkiness is completely self-taught and probably totally wrong.  I’ve noticed, across decades of warm-water reshaping to straighten legs, that if you boil them too hot or too long, the paint ‘cooks' and turns chalky.  (And never goes back.)  Perhaps (here goes pure speculation!) they just got too hot somewhere in the factory.  Perhaps these dapple grey Stallions only experienced borderline conditions — maybe only a few moments of too hot — maybe poorly cooled before painting.  An amateur’s explanation,…  Perhaps whatever materials produced the effect — a kind of paint? — were only used in small portion for them.  Hobby mythology explains that the scarcity of oil in the 70s caused Breyer to use less-than-satisfactory paint.  From the looks of these mares, they also used less-than-satisfactory painting skill!

I have pictures but not time now to process them.  Here’s one unprocessed:  Darlene is on the left.  The PAM on the right is also Christina’s, named (appropriately enough) ‘Christina.’  Didn’t they make some beautiful dapple greys back then,…!  and almost certainly, this darker mare is older than Darlene.  I have a face-on picture and neither one has pink at all.

I know this is a rabbit-hole.  Thank you for reading.

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Thanks for sharing, Sue - that's a fun habit hole to go down! In the next day or so, I will put the photos of Gren and my PAS together and take a closer look. 

Stay 'tooned!

On the Run

I'm writing this morning and feeling better but not 100% yet. Those TIA symptoms coupled with the migraines are still causing trouble. I've started having tremors in my hands and I can't hit the correct keys when typing  - it is a mess. And if it happens when I am sewing, my fingers turn into pincushions, I stab myself so much. I've had a lot more testing done with a neurologist and they still don't know what is causing all this. 

(Bragging rights for having the Russell Viper Venom Screen as one of my tests, right? My kids thought I was kidding them when I told them about that test, but I'd anticipated their response and had taken a photo of the orders from the doctor to show them.)

Anyway! 

This week is Dr. Seuss's birthday and many schools celebrate with a week of literacy. I've been asked to go into two schools and read to a couple of classrooms.

Wednesday (before I got so sick with that migraine) I went to Teacher Daughter Lisa's school so Pepper could listen to students in her classroom read to her. (Pay no attention to that tennis ball!)

Afterward Lisa taught her students about what a guide dog does and let them ask questions about Pepper.

Today, I am going back to the school where I used to teach. Another teacher, my friend Kathy, is coming with me and we will read together. Kathy transcribed the book Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein into braille, and she will read while I hold the book and point out things of note on the pages. 

Kathy, her guide Nacho, and me, ready to go to a speaking engagement. We do a lot of teaching together, even though I am now retired. (She taught high school but is now in administration and is responsible for the training and support of teachers new to the corporation.)

Pepper being read to last May by a second grade class that had written poems about dogs. Kathy and I brought Nacho, Tate, and Pepper in so the dogs could hear their poems.

Kathy and I taught together many times when I was still in the classroom, and now we have fun going back into schools together. When we bring Pepper and Nacho or Tate, it is even more fun!

So, I'm a bit on the run today and don't have as much time as usual to write. But (fingers crossed) I won't get another migraine like that last one for a while and the blog won't be interrupted like that again.

Stay 'tooned!

Not Today

 

Not feeling well this morning. Sorry. Enjoy the cartoon.

Saving the Beebe Ranch

Recently I received a message from John Giusti, one of the board members of The Misty of Chincoteague Foundation. He'd been sent the press release below and passed it on to those of us on the board alerting us to the fact that a developer wanted to buy the Beebe ranch and develop it into housing units. 

John asked that our board meet and consider helping The Museum of Chincoteague Island (which is not connected to The Misty of Chincoteague Foundation) save and preserve the Beebes' former home and the place where Misty lived.

We have that meeting scheduled and will be discussing doing what we can to help. $625,000 is needed to do so. 

If you'd like to help, here is a news brief from Liz Cory, president of The Misty of Chincoteague Foundation:

How many of you remember the Misty of Chincoteague books? Marguerite Henry wrote a wonderful collection of children's stories, and today, the site of her most famous book is under threat of being redeveloped and turned into housing units. A Chincoteague museum is trying to save the Beebe Ranch, and they need our help. If you can, please help preserve Misty's legacy by making a gift to the local museum so they can save the property. The press release is here: https://mailchi.mp/c1663e03070d/press-release-museum-of-chincoteague-island-sets-goal-to-save-the-beebe-ranch?e=856d73180d

Thank you!

And here is the longer, official press release from The Misty of Chincoteague Museum:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Museum of Chincoteague Island Sets Goal to Save the Beebe Ranch Your Help is Needed to Preserve, Collect and Protect This Important Piece of Chincoteague Island History Chincoteague Island, VA - February 24, 2023: Chincoteague is fortunate to have visitors come from around the world to enjoy the untampered seashore, amazing wildlife, and quaint historical downtown. Many of those visitors also come because of “Misty of Chincoteague” a book published in 1947 by Marguerite Henry that inspired millions. “Misty of Chincoteague” tells the against the odds story of siblings Paul and Maureen Beebe. Two children that lived on the farm with their grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Beebe. The charming story centers on the children’s desire to buy the wild pony of their dreams and the challenges they faced to make that dream a reality. It is a heartwarming tale that made the Beebe family, Misty, and the Beebe Ranch a beloved part of the literary world. After 100 years, the Beebe family need to move on and sell the famous Beebe Ranch. What faces our community now are two choices; sell the property or save the property! The mission of the Museum of Chincoteague Island is to preserve, collect and protect the history of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. It is with this mission in mind, that we would like to ask the public to join us to save the Beebe Ranch. If we can raise the funds in what can only be called a colossal, grassroots effort, we can preserve the ranch for future generations, keep a treasured part of Chincoteague intact and support the mission of the museum to protect our history, making the Beebe Ranch officially an extension of the museum. We have been given one month to make this happen. This cannot be done without you! We are asking you to consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Museum of Chincoteague (noting that your donation is to help “Save the Beebe Ranch”). Our goal is $625,000. If we are not successful in raising our goal, the donor will be able to decide if they would like their donation returned. Whether you are able to donate a little or a larger sum, share on social media, or tell a friend, every action can help make this dream a reality. Donations can be made through the Museum of Chincoteague Island website or by mailing a check to PO Box 352 Chincoteague Island, VA, 23336. For further information, please feel free to call the museum directly at 757-336-6117. Museum of Chincoteague Island Physical: 7125 Maddox Boulevard, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 Mailing: PO Box 352 Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 www.ChincoteagueMuseum.com #### About Museum of Chincoteague Island  The mission of the Museum of Chincoteague is to collect and preserve the material culture that reflects the historical progression of the life on Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. We display and interpret those objects to enhance the understanding of various experiences and events from the Town’s past by preserving objects of significance, along with proper documenting of their history and acquisition, for the use of future generations in understanding the history of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. Media Contact: Name: Cindy Faith Title: Executive Director Phone: 757-336-66117 Email address: museumofci@gmail.com -------------------------------------------------------- If you are able to help, thank you. Can't help financially at this time but still interested in preserving the Beebe ranch? Spread the word! Thank you.