Phil van truer

The Stock Horse and the Stable Cat

May 18, 2024


Literature & Art

Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written, the author has created a delightful experience to teach a simple lesson about happiness. It is an example that a friend is sometimes all we need to shift our perspective about a situation from unfavourable to positive. Centered around a conversation between a seasoned stable cat and a faithful stock horse, the reader is reminded that there is “good to be found in everything, if we only take the time to look for it.”


This sweet little book is a wonderful companion to keep bedside, place on your desk or gift to a special friend.


The Stock Horse and the Stable Cat is written and illustrated by By Phil Van Trueren and is  available for purchase at Stoic Simple Press.




Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.


Also in Essays of Legacy, Heritage and Continuum of Care

CULTIVATED FORM: Floral Expression in Luxury
CULTIVATED FORM: Floral Expression in Luxury

June 02, 2026

Flowers have long been associated with presentation, yet their role extends far beyond decoration. Across experiences as varied as Art in Bloom exhibitions throughout the United States, Japan's cherished cherry blossom festivals, and the celebrated floral displays of Claridge's in London, floriculture helps shape atmosphere, meaning, and human connection through living materials. At the intersection of intrinsic luxury and agriculture, flowers remain one of the most enduring expressions of how the cultivated world enriches art, hospitality, and cultural tradition.

Read More

THE HUMAN HAND AS CONTINUITY
THE HUMAN HAND AS CONTINUITY

January 08, 2026

In an automated age, artisans as creators remain essential to the continuity of heritage-rooted enterprises. Their work operates at three critical points: within product development, where heritage standards align with customer needs; within provenance, where land, process, and method are made intelligible without dilution; and within symbols, where marks and visual systems preserve identity across generations. By exercising disciplined judgment rather than replicating formula, artisans give technology context and restraint—allowing legacy to adapt and evolve without compromise.

Read More

THE MOST GENEROUS  GIFT: Passing Legacy Through Heirlooms
THE MOST GENEROUS GIFT: Passing Legacy Through Heirlooms

November 27, 2025

In a world that often equates value with price, this invites a deeper understanding of worth—found in heirlooms passed between generations and the stories entrusted to them. Legacy is revealed not as possession, but as continuity, and generosity not as transaction, but as an enduring act of stewardship.

Read More