Pulling Weeds

One of my roommates at BreyerFest this year brought up the fact that their father was witness to a very significant historical event - and that what he remembers had little relationship to what the "official history" actually remembers.

I’ve been trying to keep that in mind, as I’ve been lurking around the model horse ‘net for the past week. ("Best BreyerFest Ever?" That’s not how I’m going to remember it.) I’m still not quite ready to talk about it. But I will, eventually; as a historian of sorts, I feel like it’s my duty to file the dissent.

For the time being, I’ll just continue pulling weeds. Both the literal and metaphorical kind.

As promised, here’s my other treasure from the CHIN:

A test color Shetland Pony, in Five-Gaiter Sorrel. She was purchased from Linda Walter, the former editor of The Model Horse Shower’s Journal and Grand Dame of the Model Horsedom who just happened to be down the hall from us in the 300 wing of the CHIN. She was still in the process of unpacking when I entered her room Wednesday afternoon, and that little beauty had only just been set upon her sales table.

I picked her up, turning her over and over in my hands. A Marney test color, here! You just don’t see them at BreyerFest all that often anymore. You occasionally find things that could be or might be, but this one couldn’t have come with a better provenance. 

"I take it she’s coming home with you?" Linda said.

"Yeah, I think so."

She was a gift to Linda from Marney, in the early 1970s; I should have asked if it was before or after the release of the #23 Matte Bay in 1973, but that didn’t occur to me until a couple of days - and a couple of meltdowns - later.

I won't disclose the price, other than to say it was very reasonable. I did not feel the need to dicker, even though the option was offered.