Updating & Future Plans ?

Well, at some point, awhile back, I did say that I wasn’t sure how much painting I was going to be able to get done in the next couple of weeks . . .

Man, was I right!

I haven’t painted or posted in about a week. I started a long rambling update yesterday. Instead I’ll just hit the highlights and get back into the groove of writing and painting!

Last week was a long one for both of us. We were both still sick and everything seemed to take a lot longer than usual. We were due at Arrowcraft, in Gatlinburg, to be the visiting artists at their Jewelry Focus’ Open House Saturday and Sunday.

Jeannie was back in her shop so Pat went in Friday. Around noon Laurel called from Arrowcraft, to make sure that we were okay. I was in the middle of finishing up the pieces that we were taking. It took me a couple of minutes to understand that she was calling because they expected us there Friday and Saturday!

Talk about embarrassing. Fortunately she was laughing and understanding. (I still can’t believe that I wrote down the wrong dates!)

I stayed up late finishing the assembling and pricing. Made it to bed by 3 AM. The alarm went off at 7. Yeah, another long night followed by a long day. I was barely able to speak while we were there. That made demonstrating and interacting with the public kind of difficult!

I wasn’t able to prepare any food. I wish I had. Their spread was spectacular and a lot of fun! Great folks practicing great hospitality. It was really good to get to spend some time with Ken again. Craig and Laurel and I had some good talks too.

Most of the demonstrating fell to Pat. She did a great job. Fortunately some of the customers that expected us Friday came back on Saturday to meet us. And our favorite collector came to pick out her Christmas presents! Pat made her a pair of oxidized shield earrings with a nice 5 millimeter citrine to go with her new amber pendant. (She doesn’t suspect a thing about the special rhyolite pendant that her husband choose to surprise her with!)

Since I could barely speak we stayed home Sunday. Pat mainly spent it writing and reading. After I ran errands and did the shopping I was done. Totally. No energy for painting. I cooked a small standing rib roast, roasted a squash and diced beets. (It was good too!) Then I took to the couch and watched movies.

Pat went to Jeanie’s this Monday and left me with orders to take it easy. I did. Same thing today. Lots of napping and coughing and hacking.

So that pretty much brings us somewhat up to date. Except that as part of my resting regime I’ve been spending a lot of time online mainly browsing some great SYW Imagi-Nations sites and TMP. Pretty cool and exciting stuff.

I really am excited to be working on my Ral Partha AElves. I am determined to finish them in time for our Game Day in June too! I had been thinking that after them I might begin work on my own 17th or 18th century Imagi-Nations. I may have changed my mind . . .

I read a couple of after action reports about games using the Colonial Adventures rules. Which lead me to http://www.askari-minis.com/ beautiful 28 mm figures.

I’ve played, and enjoyed, plenty of TSATF games. But I have to admit that these rules have some really interesting ideas in them. (And I’m beginning to wonder about trying them for future games using my Ral Partha Aelves against the barbaric orcs!) I’ve always wanted to do the French Foreign Legion, in their classic blue uniforms. (Maybe because my Uncle Ely served in the Legion?) These figures are beautiful! The ranges seem to be complete and through.

Legionairres and Saphis and Tirailleurs, and Zouaves??? Oh my!!!

I wonder if I can limit myself to buying a unit or two at a time and painting them before I buy the next . . .

Yeah, I have to admit I really am thinking about it!

Isn't that part of the Fun ???