Christmas Eve Skiing. . .

Merry Christmas everyone! We managed to hit a local trail just around the corner from the house for about 90 minutes midday today (Christmas Eve 2022) before returning home for hot chocolate by the fire, hot showers, dinner preparations, and dressing for dinner before the meal itself about 5:30pm.

Cold, fresh powder meant a nice glide today even as we broke trail, and I could have continued skiing for hours easily. We have a Boxing Day jaunt planned about 20 minutes south of Lansing at Burchfield Park where there are extensive ski trails through the woods along the Grand River. Glorious! And they might have a chance to groom before we get there.

Can't wait!

-- Stokes

Comments

tradgardmastare said…

Terrific photo of you and yours! Enjoy the skiing and Merry Christmas!
I look forward to following the adventures of the Duchy of Stollen in the coming year.
Alan Tradgardland

2:54 AM

The 18th century? What's the Fascination?

Hessian musketeers by All the King's Men Toy Soldiers of Snellville, Georgia, U.S.A. Just a quick post post today, but I thought the above question might be interesting food for thought. Obviously, there is an array of possible periods, theaters, and conflicts that might catch our eyes. But what is it about the era 1700-1799 -- either real, or imagined? Is it the commanders and politics? The fairly straightforward tactics? The myriad of uniforms and flags? The variety and scope of the conflicts? The patchwork of various and sundry petty states, (at least in Central Europe)? I'm very interested to learn your thoughts. Don't be a lurker! Please leave a comment -- or even two or three. Have a nice day everyone!

An Early July Hussar Update. . .

Marginally neater in appearance with green bases, girths, and ivory horse markings added, but I need to neaten up some hooves now before moving onto the rest of the tack. W here in the world did June go? While I still ponder the answer to that question, how about a quick painting update on the first batch of 14 Minden Austrian hussars and Nadasdy? Good. I'm glad we are of a like mind. Still on the sloppy side, but I've managed to move things along, painting the green bases, white (ivory) horse markings, and beginning the miles and miles of tack adorning the various horses. I always like to begin with the girths spanning the horses' ribs which helped hold the saddles in place. Even with the figures mounted individually on temporary painting bases, these can be kind of tricky to access, but there we are. I've also used various Army Painter washes (Mid-Brown and Strong Tone) as well as their Speed Paint (Grim Black) to make the manes and tails of the horses a bit m...

And a few more photos. . .

Ok, here are a few of the 2nd Musketeer regiment in process during late-July and August. Enjoy!

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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