It's Easter Weekend in the Grand Duchy. . .

"You mean a clue to the new direction?" Extra points if you recognize which 1964 film that line comes from.

Well, things have ground to a standstill the last few weeks here in the Grand Duchy of Stollen what with a conference out of town two weeks ago, foot surgery for the Grand Duchess last Friday, her envisioned six-week recovery on the chaise in the library, plus the usual end-of-semester song and dance.

There is also the matter of several academic projects with colleagues that have recently fallen into my lap. Should've thought a bit more about those before jumping into the deep end of the pool with all the other kids. What was I thinking? No rest for the wicked as the saying goes.

But, it's sunny outside this weekend, I plan to begin leaf and stick clean-up with an inaugural mow for the 2023 mowing season to suck up smaller debris, and we have a nice dinner to look forward to for Easter Sunday, prepared (purchased) by yours truly at the supermarket yesterday (Friday) evening.

We've also got some eggs to dye later today. And of course, the Easter Bunny -- one Ernst P. Haase. Have you met? -- may drop by late tonight after everyone is in bed asleep, with baskets full of goodies.

Otherwise, painting plans for the 135-140 or so soldiers, outlined in late December or January right here, continue just as soon as I can return to the painting table. But after that, it's back to a large unit of infantry, I think. And we can thank/blame David of the wonderfully long running Not by Appointment blog for providing the inspiration, indeed urgency behind the envisioned unit.

Yes, it's another regiment of the Reichsarmee, which wears pretty typical Prussian-style uniforms with red facings and turnbacks. This time, the Kreisinfanterieregiment Pfalz-Zweibrücken. A pretty poor body of troops by all accounts (E Class morale). But the flags!

This particular unit has long been on my radar screen for years and added to the (planned) painting list. So, while I will stay the course and forge ahead with the existing plans for 2023 (independent companies of generic jaegers, frei-corps, croats, and etc), this particular infantry regiment will be next in the queue. Probably not before Fall 2023, or possibly December and into 2024. Then, it will be time to get back to the cavalry for a bit (Ha, ha!) I think, since there is more than enough of it in the drawer of lead to my immediate left.

But in the meantime, The Grand Duchess awaits and yard work outdoors beckons. Ladies and gentlemen, to the rakes and lawn & leaf bags!

-- Stokes

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!

Taking Stock Part II: The (As Yet) Unpainted but Planned OOB. . .

Two companies of Reichsarmee grenadiers painted back in 2017 or 2018. Minden Austrians of course. A lovely early autumn day here in the grand duchy. Bright sunshine and a light breeze with cool temperatures will make for some very pleasant late afternoon lawn mowing in a little while. But first a bit more discussion of painting plans for the future. Last time, I looked back at the various and sundry units, support troops, and civilians that I've managed to paint in the last 17 years as the Grand Duchy of Stollen project has developed. So today, let's look into the seemingly bottomless Drawer 'o' Lead to my left for a clue to the new direction. Be forewarned, it's not going to be a quick job getting everything painted and based, but there we are. The following plans are based on the pile of unpainted figures already here. Any future purchases will be limited to small things that might be needed to fill out the envisioned units (the odd few officers mounted o

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 a

Simon said…

A Hard Days Night

2:23 PM

David Morfitt said…

You sound very busy indeed! But I will enjoy seeing those flags with your troops later in the year/beginning of the next perhaps. And there are yet more attractive Reichsarmee flags still to come... :-)

Hope all goes well; good luck!

All the best,

David.

7:53 PM

WSTKS-FM Worldwide said…

Thank you, men! And we have a winner. A very funny scene, although the sequence with Ringo and the unnamed boy walking through the park talking about life and people is priceless.

Kind Regards,

Stokes

7:39 AM

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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