Just back from a week five hours north in Ontario on what was to have been a skiing excursion. Not a typical winter up there so far thanks to an El Nino year, global warming, and whatever else Mother Nature decided not to do this year, so it was an odd week of sitting on our hands, with some hiking and limited sightseeing since much is closed for the winter season in the area in and around Sault Saint Marie on the Canadian side.
The area we had hoped to ski -- Stokely Creek Lodge -- had lots of snow on the ground a month ago. with many trails groomed and open for skiing, but warmer temperatures and lots of rain put paid to that in the 10 days or so before we journeyed north on December 27th. Lots of dirty piles of snow, or pure ice here and there, but nothing remotely skiable on the trails themselves.
Back down here in Mid-Michigan, the ski trail situation has been equally disappointing thus far. Most years that we have been here, there is usually at leas six or eight inches of snow already hanging around on the ground, or falling by this point with plenty of opportunity for skiing at half a dozen nearby areas five to 30 minutes from home. Sigh. So, back home again today as planned.
Ok, Stokes. But what about the wargaming and related hobby activities?
Well, 2023, it has to be said, was an off year where hobby activities were concerned. I did manage to achieve about two thirds of my modest painting aims for 2023. Once the autumn semester/term kicked in last September, however, any available free time became a rare commodity. I am co-editing a journal with a colleague, which eats into a lot of evening and weekend time especially as we readied a a couple of issues -- one regular, and one special edition -- for the fall and again in December reading through submissions, communicating with contributors, asking for revisions or clarifications, editing their submissions in some cases, ensuring our preferred citation style has been followed and making any necessary corrections, writing an introduction for the special issue, laying out the journal pages, mentoring graduate student helpers, and so forth.
Whew!
With all of that in mind, and since I have an important review happening in 2024, painting plans for the coming year remain modest. I will stay the course with plans made a year ago, though, and continue with the 30 Eureka Saxon cuirassiers, perhaps followed by another 30 cavalry after that and, if time presents itself, another unit of 60+ line infantry, or two smaller composite 30-figure battalions of grenadiers if the mood strikes me.
There are many of these elite types in my compartmentalized plastic boxes, and it seems a shame not to paint them to join the two composite battalions of grenadiers painted and based back in 2018 or '19. You know. A perfect excuse to include some troops with less commonly seen facing colors on the cuffs and lapels where the latter exist. We'll see when we get there. I have quite a bit in the Drawer 'o' Lead to my left to keep me busy for the foreseeable future in any case, so I'll keep plugging away as and when time permits.
By the way, the Grand Duchess gave me a wonderful 28mm 18th century coach and team by Black Hussar Miniatures for Christmas, which will provide a different and fun challenge to paint when I need a break from the usual units of 25-30mm fighting men (or 1/56 scale in Minden Miniatures parlance). Other hobby-related gifts included an Osprey title on Napoleon's camp followers, two books of hex paper, and a couple of other book titles that have yet to come. More on those when they arrive. But back to 2023 in retrospect for a moment.
At the gaming table last year, things were more frustrating as the Young Master and I had planned a few different opportunities to push the lead around for the summer and fall months with figures and terrain were all set and ready to go on more than one occasion. Sadly, the cruel hand of fate intervened, and more pressing domestic issues got in the way each time. It made better sense to put everything carefully away for another day to avoid accidents and damaged units or scenery rather than leave everything in situ. The marauding Grand Ducal felines Gunnlaug and Onyx have a history of petty theft, and, love 'em though I do, the pair cannot be trusted where figures and scenery are concerned. A table laden with figures, houses, terrain, and such is unsafe in the longer term. Grrr.
On the hobby writing front, there was also a related article that was to have been an outgrowth of these planned games, a discussion of the rules we have developed during the last few years. But that piece did not happen either. As I say, 2023 was kind of a wet noodle year here in Zum Stollenkeller. And that is putting it mildly. Too many irons in the fire already.
My above tale of woe notwithstanding, I am happy to see that, for many bloggerati out there, the painting and gaming gods were kind in 2023. Well done, everyone! An intriguing mix of colorful periods, related research, painting, figure sizes and scales, scratch-building of scenery, shows attended, games played, and so forth. It was fun to take an hour or so this (Tuesday) evening, to see what you have been up to and have accomplished in your own hobby activities.
Even though Blogger still refuses to allow me to leave comments in many instances, rest assured, I do still drop in to read about what everyone has been up to. Indeed, enjoying others' brushwork and after action game reports does help one keep the ol' chin up and moving forward, albeit at a snail's pace, when things slow down on the home front as life keeps throwing obstacles in the way. Blogging, in an odd 21st century way, strikes me as similar, in some ways, to a physical club that meets for gaming and related chat one or more times each month. A very pleasant sense of community in other words.
To wrap up this long, rambling post, I will drop by here again in a few days, once I have had a chance to catch my breath and return to the painting table. Looking very forward to a bit more brushwork on those 30 Eureka figures and their mounts, with possibly a progress photograph of two to share here. My only (hobby) resolution for 2024 is to find a small bit of joy in each day, and 30- 60 minutes of figure painting seems like a nice way to do that. Even I ought to be able to squeeze that into the schedule.
In the meantime, kind regards and Happy 2024 everyone!
-- Stokes
Comments
As for the lack of progress, don't sweat it, it's just life and really all about the planning, anticipation and journey. Getting there is nice but you'll soon decide you want to be somewhere else and set off again.
Happy New Year - have 366 happy days!