Stollen Central Is on the Move. . .

The Grand Duchess and I signed the papers to buy a house late yesterday afternoon! Our closing date is in mid-March, and we will move just after April 1^st.

The house is not, of course, the one pictured here, but it is what is known in the real estate industry as (a German) Craftsman style house, and it does have a bit of the same fachwerk exterior as this example -- though not to the point of appearing tacky. The house is actually rather unique, and it’s very fitting that my wife (a professor or German language and literature) will live in it. We have referred to it as “the German house” for several months.

Here’s a brief rundown on the house. It was built in the mid-1920s, and has had all sorts of recent renovation work done inside and out (new kitchen redone bathrooms, refinished oak floors, etc.). Lovely front and back yards, three car garage, gardening shed, plus a large rodadendron shrub, which the Grand Duchess took as a sign! There are also two living rooms, a working fireplace, lots of very pretty woodwork everywhere, exposed beams in the ceilings, several bedrooms, a massive attic, and (perhaps most importantly) a finished basement!

In a nutshell, it’s more space than we’ll ever need really, even after we start a small family. And all at an unbelievable price. Finally, we will be just three blocks from campus, in one of Bloomington’s historical districts -- right smack in the middle of what we term “the university faculty ghetto.”

So how does all of this incredible news fit with wargaming? Well, there is the fantastic basement I mentioned above. It’s already completely carpeted, lighted, and paneled with plenty of power outlets and telephone jacks, just waiting for Stollen Central to move into it. The space has already been divided into half a dozen large rooms, so for the time being my home office and wargaming/radio room will go there. The Grand Duchess will have an adjacent room for her bicycle workshop. In any case, I’ll finally be able to set-up that 5’x7’, or perhaps a 6’x8’ gaming table I’ve always dreamed of. No more games on the floor! Designing and building this table and refinishing a dresser will be my big summer afternoon projects.

Needless to say, Sonja and I are excited, pleased, happy, and just about any other favorable adjectives you might think of. Neither of us ever thought we’d actually get this house, although it was one of the first we viewed last summer. Fortunately, our real estate agent really went to work for us. She was instrumental in helping us negotiate with the sellers once we made our initial offer. The Grand Duchess and I have been terribly pleased with the help we’ve had. So, if any of you ever move to Central Illinois, I’d be happy to refer the name of our agent to you.

Ok, now it’s back to that second batch of Spencer Smith cavalry and “the wargaming project”. My special thanks to those of you who have sent me your thoughts and reflections so far. Sound the charge men!

P.S.

Jeff, I'll post that Rosca de Reyes recipe you have requested later this weekend.