A New Member of the Family. . . Meet Gunnlaug-Elvis!

Exciting times are upon us here at Stollen Central! We have decided that we are ready to adopt a new kitten and have found Gunnlaug-Elvis at a local pet shelter. She will come home with us in about ten days after she reaches the eight-week mark, but the lady I've spoken with on the telephone e-mailed us a few photographs this morning. Look at that face! Can you believe that the shelter has a hard time finding homes for black cats? As I remarked to my wife, "Is it still the Middle Ages??!!"

As to our kitten's name, well, Gunnlaug is an old Norwegian female name that you just don't come across too much these days, and the Elvis part comes from the police officer character "Geir-Elvis" in the wonderful Norwegian-American television dramedy collaboration called Lillyhammer, which stars Little Steven Van Zandt (yep, Bruce Springsteen's guitarist), who is the show's star and one of its creators.

The program defies easy description, but basically it involves a member of the Sicilian mafia, who becomes an informer to the police. Put into a witness protection program, he is relocated from New York City to Lillehammer, Norway where problems and comedic misadventures ensue as the Italian-American mobster attempts to fit into Norwegian society. The first season of the program is available on Netflix, and I urge you to check it out if it sounds appealing.

Anyway, that's an extremely round-about way of explaining how our new cat has the name Gunnlaug-Elvis. We'll simply call her "Gunn."

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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