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Happy Feast of Stephen!!!

 

By Christmas Morning 2020 (yesterday), it was clear that Santa Claus/Father Christmas and the reindeer had indeed made a quick stop at our house sometime in the night.  Now, call me superstitious, but I strongly suspect that ol' Saint Nick is anxious about stepping on the scale today.

 

A lovely, relaxed Christmas Day yesterday here The Grand Duchy of Stollen all things considered.  A fire on the hearth, quiet German carols in the background along with other festive music throughout the day, far too much good food to enjoy, delightful company of The Grand Duchess and Young Master, Christmas crackers and charades, and so forth.  

And of course a few gifts.  Highlights include some Fife& Drum Hessian musketeers and grenadiers given to me by The Young Master, and (Surprise, surprise!) Minden Prussian musketeers given to The Young Master by yours truly.  A toy soldier Christmas indeed. 

It reminds me of the time that my sister and I each gave the other a copy of the album Parallel Lines by Blondie (remember them?) for Christmas of 1979.  Goodness, gracious does that seem like a thousand years ago!  In a number of ways, it might as well be. 

Anyway, it looks very much like The Young Master will learn to paint figures in early 2021 as we work together to prepare his 32+ figures for their tabletop debut.  I've already suggested a few of the Prussian garrison regiments to him given their relative simplicity (lots and lots of dark blue) which he can manage while ol' Dad assists with some of the smaller detailing, fleshtone, and a few of the finer points for example.

As for our planned Guilford Courthouse game, we've decided, by mutual agreement, that we'll set up the table today and play the actual tabletop battle tomorrow (Sunday).  This will allow us time for a more relaxed approach to the day today.  Who knows?  I might even be able to find time for some more brushwork on those nine Minden Austrian horse grenadiers and dragoon regimental staff at some point.

-- Stokes

Comments

Der Alte Fritz said…
I would suggest starting the Young Master with acrylic paints rather than oils- acrylic dries faster and YMP won’t have to wait overnight to apply the next color.
12:25 AM
WSTKS-FM Worldwide said…
Yep, I've got the bottles Citadel paint all lined up and warming on the figurative stovetop. We talked about it yesterday while looking at a new book of his on Austrian and Prussian uniforms of the period. Basecoating and blocking in basic colors should go pretty quickly between the two of us.

Best Regards,

Stokes
8:58 AM
Whiskers said…
Sounds idyllic.
When the young master has mastered painting, I have dozens of tiny models for a commission...
Enjoy Guildford Courthouse, stay safe, isolated in the wargame room and have an enjoyable new year in the Grand Duchy.
Best wishes to the Duchess and the Young Master too.
9:21 AM
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