"Von Tschatschke? I say, von Tschatschke? Wake up, old man!"

"Von Tschatschke? Wake up! There's a considerable lot happening on the battlefield, old fruit bowl. Take a look at the central part of the table. Much maneuvering has happened while you've been sleeping it off," chortled General de Latte as he helped himself to another round of his host's best brandy.

From his side of the table, von Tschatschke rubbed his temple and tried to focus his bleary eyes. How long had he been out? "Is it true, de Latte?" he asked through the fog, "It looks like my lone gun and crew are within 31 inches of your Flickenhoffer Fusiliers."

"Indeed, old passion fruit," said de Latte with a polite chuckle as he checked his watch and replaced it in his waistcoat pocket, "however it looks like my cavalry is almost within place around Eispicke Village."

General von Tschatschke, his wits once more about him, retorted, "Yes, but my newly based Jaeger zu Fuss in Eispicke Village are within just a few inches of the flank of your engineer battalion. It doesn't look good for them, old mango! Now where is my tobacco?" He looked around the room. "I know I saw it here somewhere."

"Ha, ha! The front ranks of my own Irish Grenzers are within four to seven inches of your cuirassier regiment," answered de Latte with considerable excitement adding, "and roughly a third of the Ermland Garde are within seven to twelve inches of their front as well, old papaya. Get out of that, old plum!" Von Tschatschke frowned, adjusted his monocle, and peered at the tabletop.

"And just look at that, von Tschatschke!" exclaimed de Latte. "Another one of my regiments has been affixed to multiple bases. That should help speed things along. Don't you agree? And try you inner coat pocket, old apricot. You'll find your tobacco pouch there I think."

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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