Happy Feast of Stephen!

A thoroughly charming and thought provoking title.

Or, Happy Boxing Day if you prefer. I hope your Christmas Day was happy and surrounded by friends and loved ones. Or maybe quiet and calm? Whichever you prefer.

Today, the wonderful Grand Duchess (assisted by Young Master Paul) will prepare and bake her annual Dresdner Stollen! I cannot wait (something of an understatement). In the meantime, a large piece of chilled pumpkin pie with fresh coffee for breakfast in a few moments I think.

Yesterday was a toy soldier Christmas for yours truly and included the title above, a lovely large format book on German armies from roughly 1740-1945, featuring mostly previously unpublished Herbert Knoetel watercolors, and a small box of Minden Miniatures (various French Staff figures and some Austrian dragoons). The Grand Duchess tells me that some Hessian infantry are on the way once they are back in stock.

I felt like a child again for a few hours yesterday, but the best part was spending Christmas with my wife and son, watching them open gifts, and not having to venture out the front door to go anywhere. Although we did enjoy a nice, long mid-afternoon walked around the absolutely quiet neighborhood given our unseasonably warm weather here in Mid-Michigan at the moment. Usually, we have snow on the ground by this point. Still, it was a special day.

Today, the forthcoming stollen as I say (wife and son are preparing the dough in German overhead in the kitchen right now), more idle time for daydreaming, more watching the cats enjoy their Christmas catnip mice, more pleasure derived from seeing The Young Master happily engaged in play or reading new books, more good food, more quiet Christmas music, and some delicious leftovers for dinner by candlelight. I might even be able to find an hour or so for some additional brushwork on those 14 Bosniaks. Christmas contentment. Ahhhh. . .

-- Stokes

Comments

Simon said…

Those A Gentleman’s War rules are a great read. Very humorous, the melee rules seem a bit clunky though.

10:11 AM

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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