A Berry Merry Hearth's Warming · 1:08am May 12th, 2014
Obviously, this was supposed to have been published around Christmas time. It wasn't, because I got involved in other things and couldn't quite find the right voice for the story. But one of the things it's about is motherhood, and today is Mother's Day, so I finished it. It takes place after A Foal's First Words and overlaps 36: So It Begins.
Pre-read a long, long time ago by metallusionismagic (like, mid-December).
Excelsior is a common name for wood shavings used for packing. They’re also called wood wool—although in the US wood wool is usually only applied to the finest shavings.
Carrot Top: In the show, the carrot farm is often shown behind and above Sweet Apple Acres. We know it’s the carrot farm because of the giant carrot on top. Since the pony often known as Carrot Top is officially called Golden Harvest, I surmise that she could have gotten her fan name from either the location of the farm (on top of a hill), or the giant carrot on the roof.
Carrots are a cold-weather crop, and as long as you can keep the ground from freezing, they don’t have to be harvested when the snow falls. Burying the garden in mulch usually protects the carrots well enough that they can be plucked from the garden and eaten all winter long.
The breeching strap goes across the rump of the horse (usually), and is there so the horse can stop the wagon.
On a traditional four-wheeled wagon, the frame attaches to the body on the bolsters. The front axle is attached by the oustide hounds to the slider bar, which is underneath the frame. It turns when the front wheels do. The center bar of the frame on some wagons is called the coupling pole.
A [Welch] gambo is a type of single-axle flatbed cart with removable sideboards.
Pastel Unicorn Dolls are a reference to Marigold the Unicorn—they're the MLP-style ponies that Phoebe plays with. If you haven't read it, you should.
Caulks are studs for horseshoes.
Pokey Pierce has been officially named "Pinprick," but I stuck with the old name since he figures into several stories in the Pony Planet world. Also, Dr. Hooves is now officially Dr. Hooves (until Hasbro changes it again), and Sparkler is the fan name for Amethyst Star.
I looked over a list of flowers that could be made into wine, since I figured if you could make dandilion wine, you ought to be able to make daisy wine. It was a very long list, and as near as I can tell, you can make wine out of pretty much any flower. Every flower I could think of was on the list. So, why clover? It's ubiquitous, IRL horses like it, and it's probably free, something that a down-on-her-luck mare like Berry Punch would see as a huge advantage.
The Prancing Pony is of course the inn in Lord of the Rings.
Coltz II Stallions is a pun on Boyz II Men.
I couldn't find any suitable cover art. But this is cute.
Now I'm going to call my mother. If you haven't done that yet today, you ought to.
Um... is the story not up yet? I can't seem to find it...
EDITING SKILLS DEPLOYED: Story's up now! Hooray!
Same here. No story, but I did read the linked two.
--Spade
2102881
It's up now.
Only way I can link the blog on a new story is publish the blog while the story's in the approval queue, or stand by the computer until I get the happy story approval e-mail.
2103160
No worries. It showed up shortly after I posted. Nice story, and sorry for crying wolf.
-- Spade
I heard somewhere that she got her name because her mane/tail are ginger and wild, like American comedian Carrot Top.
la.guestofaguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/carrot-top-1.jpg
2103249
Yes, that's the correct explanation for the fan name. I was thinking from a worldbuilding point of view--we presume the Ponyvillians aren't familiar with the comedian. I think I've used that explanation in A Gift from Celestia (although you may not have seen that chapter yet).
2103280
No, I suppose they wouldn't know who Carrot Top the human is.
...OR WOULD THEY?!?!!!
*DUN DUN DUUUUUUN*
...no.
2103311
Agreed.
I cooked dinner for my mom
2103420
If I could cook without setting things on fire, I might try that some time.
2103430 lol