Now and then, you need to have a party. . .

An 18th century print of German Christmas festivities, that made an appearance here on the Grand Duchy of Stollen blog last December.

I think the Grand Duchess and I needed a party. After some solider painting midday, followed by some swiffering and a stint with the vaccuum cleaner by yours truly, last night's event certainly fit the bill. It was small, but lively and, dare I say, jolly.

It was an interesting and varied group. Our guestlist included people from Chile, Italy, Sri Lanka, Minnesota, New York City, and Kenya. Two of our guests were of the Jewish and Islamic faiths plus a bunch of us lapsed Christians. One of our guests is a native Spanish speaker, another grew up speaking Swahili, and another Italian. Oh, ad the latter is married a guy who speaks fluent Noo Yawkese! Among us, we had an anthropologist, a musician, a sociologist, an engineer, a linguist, and someone from the medical field, who is now working on his Ph.D. Whew!

German Christmas music (Viennese boys' choir, etc.) provided the soundtrack to an evening of good food, excellent company and conversation, and copious amounts of wine. . . topped off by the German feuerzangenbowle courtesy of the Grand Duchess. It was a delightful way to unwind and ring in the Christmas and holiday season. And do you know what? I want to do it again very soon.

Here is another old-fashioned Christmas postcard featuring old Saint Nick in the more familiar red robes, though he is a long way from the 1940s Coca-Cola Santa Claus that so many of us know.

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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

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