Snow Comes to the Grand Duchy of Stollen!!!

"A quarter past seven, and all is well!" comes the cry from a city watchman, making his rounds and passing beneath the palace windows. It has been snowing outside for about 90 minutes in capital city of Krankenstadt! The street and sidewalks outside the palace are covered with about 1"+, making it a quietly beautiful evening, and the Greater Zwischen River, which flows through the center of town, is almost frozen over. Winter has arrived in the Grand Duchy of Stollen.

In honor of the first appreciable snowfall of the season, the Grand Duke Irwin-Amadeus II has decided at the last minute to accept an invitation from to his Aunt Agatha for a lengthy pre-Christmas weekend in the country, a day's journey north of the city. What brand of madness, confusion, or case of mistaken connubial intentions might ensue during the weekend? Watch this space in coming days to find out! In the meantime, the Grand Duke has asked his man-servant Hives to pack a case and order a carriage and team to prepare for an early departure tomorrow, after breakfast.

Comments

Bluebear Jeff said…

The big question is whether or not Hives will pack the lobster costume.

-- Jeff

8:15 PM

Here's an RSM Painting Update

Here's a picture illustrating my (S-L-O-W) progress with the second company of Stollen's Leib (Grand Duchess Sonja's Own) Grenadiers. You can see I'm doing things a bit differently this time, altering the painting process to keep it interesting basically. This evening, I'll do the white gaiters and, if that goes reasonably quickly, and time allows, the red breeches. Still lots to do, but I like the way these fine fellows are shaping up along side the completed 1st company that's standing in formation just off camera, to the left here. Until tonight then!

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!

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...

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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