Look who's been hard at work in the palace kitchens!

Yes, the Grand Duchess Sonja has been hard at work in the palace kitchens today, supervising this year’s batch of authentic Dresdner Stollen, to be dispatched to troops near and far in the coming weeks. I can assure you that it’s as good as it looks, and I’ll need to do some extra bicycling to stay trim during the coming Christmas season.

On a different note, Zichenau’s 80-figure Ermland Garde zu Fuß regiment is almost finished. The two steps remaining are the silver musket barrels/bayonets and the brass/bronze hoops that hold the musket barrels to the wooden stocks. Hopefully, by this time tomorrow they’ll be all done. Photos will follow right here.

From left to right: Major Paulo Biscotti, General Phillip de Latté, and Colonel Franz von Gherkin

In the meantime, I finished undercoating, and painting the faces of the Zichenauer general staff. Gentlemen, meet Major Biscotti, General de Latté, and Colonel von Gherkin. The Major is on loan to Zichenau from the Venetian army, General de Latté is, as you know already, a mercenary-adventurer from France, who is the sometimes lover of Zichenau’s Princess Antonia. Currently, though, he has been linked to Princess Valerie of Pillau-Zerbst as well. Finally, we have Colonel von Gherkin, from an obscure Austro-German family, known for their prolific cabbage farming.

I'm taking a small breather by painting these three miniatures, so I don't lose my "painting mojo"! Besides, Zichenau's growing forces need a few commanding officers. I'll next embark on the 30-figure Spencer Smith cavalry regiment, waiting patiently over on the painting desk -- Zichenau's Garde zu Pferd. Please see previous postings for uniform particulars, and stay tuned right here for further painting developments.

Presenting the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere!!!

Here they are, with the rearmost nine figures still drying, three squadrons of the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere, now in the service of the Grand Duchy of Stollen. And now, it's onto that artillery!

Taking Stock Part II: The (As Yet) Unpainted but Planned OOB. . .

Two companies of Reichsarmee grenadiers painted back in 2017 or 2018. Minden Austrians of course. A lovely early autumn day here in the grand duchy. Bright sunshine and a light breeze with cool temperatures will make for some very pleasant late afternoon lawn mowing in a little while. But first a bit more discussion of painting plans for the future. Last time, I looked back at the various and sundry units, support troops, and civilians that I've managed to paint in the last 17 years as the Grand Duchy of Stollen project has developed. So today, let's look into the seemingly bottomless Drawer 'o' Lead to my left for a clue to the new direction. Be forewarned, it's not going to be a quick job getting everything painted and based, but there we are. The following plans are based on the pile of unpainted figures already here. Any future purchases will be limited to small things that might be needed to fill out the envisioned units (the odd few officers mounted o

Having a "No Day". . .

F or the almost 20 years that she lived in Mexico, one of my late mother's Irish friends frequently mentioned having a "No Day." A day with no social obligations, chores, tasks, or other work that interfered with whatever personal interests took one's fancy on the day in question. Since today -- a gray and chilly Saturday -- is Mom's birthday, the Grand Duchess is out with friends, and the Young Master is ensconced on the sofa in the TV room with a cold, yours truly is taking his own such No Day. I think Mom would approve of my decision to make the world go away, as the old Eddie Arnold song intoned, even if only for a little while. So, I will spend Saturday afternoon focused on that first squadron and small regimental staff of Eureka Saxon cuirassiers. These have stood waiting untouched over on the painting table for almost three weeks while we skied and otherwise gadded about with snowy, winter outdoor activities. I hope to share a painting update Sunday a

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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