Happy Thanksgiving Day 2018!

An 18th century table laid out for the evening meal.

Very quiet here at The Grand Duchy of Stollen in recent weeks what with the onslaught of daily life, but hopefully some time in the hobby chair during the long weekend. In the meantime, allow me to wish any U.S. visitors who drop by, wherever you might find yourselves in the world, a Happy Thanksgiving.

The Grand Duchess and Young Master are busily preparing the final dishes upstairs in the kitchen. The Young Master and I whipped up the pumpkin pie and one of our planned side dishes yesterday afternoon. In fact, my small, freckled partner in crime did just about everything with only minimal assistance from yours truly and did it very well. The pie and casserole ought to be extra good this year as a result.

I am now off to shower and shave before dressing for dinner and placing a couple of calls to family elsewhere. Enjoy the day everyone, and don't overdo it too much. Remember, we've got to leave some room for pie and coffee later. The BEST part of any holiday meal in my humble view.

-- Stokes

P.S.

Is anyone else having trouble with Blogger refusing to allow you to comment on others' blogs? I've been having the problem for about two weeks now, and it simply refreshes the page without posting the comment I have typed into the little window. The comment itself seems to disappear into thin air. Grrrrr. . . Any suggestions?

P.P.S. (Friday)
As predicted, the pumpkin pie and greenbean casserole (loaded with french cut greenbeans and artichoke hearts) were spectacular this year. And all thanks to the culinary efforts of the nine-year old Young Master. As probably all parents are prone to feel, it seems we have discovered yet another talent. Or at least an activity that seems to give Paul pleasure. Maybe another celebrity chef in the making?

I complimented him again on the dishes he helped with as we cleared the table yesterday evening, and he answered,

"Hey, Dad! I'm a special kid." To which The Grand Duchess and I replied almost simultaneously,

"You are a wonderful kid!" He is reading or coloring in his room at the moment until we manage to pull our clothes on (it's 8:50am here at the moment) to visit our favorite local quick and greasy for a post-Thanksgiving family breakfast.

The Young Master just after we put his pumpkin pie into the oven on Wednesday afternoon. He is a whiz in the kitchen.

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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