Winter Has Come

We woke up to a town covered in white today, and after walking the dog I had to sweep the sidewalk, the front door stairs, and the back door stairs (and a passage through the yard to the garage) and spread somme road salt to avoid risking any unnecessary injuries.

I snapped a couple of pics when daylight arrived.

The rest of the photos were taken at about 16:15 when the decoration light chains lit up.

The Sun actually peeked under the cloud cover just before going down.

Christmas Wars: Copplestone Snow Goon #3 - and Yet Another Deco Tree

I have had this finished a couple of days, but the weekend did not leave much time for hobby stuff (buying presents and spending some quality time with the family was prioritised). We also got Whambushed by an Elf on disco rollers when visiting the mall 'Rosengårdcentret' in Odense, which was a bummer (I usually survive Whamageddon. but not this time).

I think some of the 'snow', for instance on the side of the carrot, is actually casting artifacts that should have been filed away; I remember pondering about it when prepping this particular mini.

Christmas Wars: Copplestone Snow Goon #2 - and Another Deco Tree

I managed to finish the second Copplestone Snow Goon today, and also got the base on another cheap decoration tree done.

Shortly from now, this angry fella' will be joining his brother in the display on the sideboard.

I hope to finish the third and last of the Copplestone Snowmen tomorrow, but I also have to get winter tires for the Land Speeder and pick up Lea (and Anna) from Grammar School and drop her off at Lidl in Ringe for her after-school job there (she works seven hours a week on avarage), so I do not know if I shall be able to get enough painting time in.

Christmas Wars: Copplestone Snow Goon #1

As promised, I am painting winter/x-massy stuff to go on display on the sideboard with our  small 'light houses'.

I have never painted snowmen before, so I am learning on the go, and the next ones will be painted with slightly different palettes and techniques - I even may go back and change this pain(t)job.

I should be able to snap some pics of the updated display a little later today, unless we are not binging Cloak & Dagger when Anna and Marianne returns from Faaborg Church where Anna is participating in the Faaborg-Midtfyn Music School Christmas Concert (she has taken up playing the Clarsach this autumn). Sadly Lea and I could not attend, as Lea was at a crochet class in Ringe, and I had to stay home to tend to the Molly and Bella (and walk Molly).

In addition, there's only room for two persons in the car when the Clarsach gets transported. I shall have to settle for her practice sessions until next time.

For now, here is the first Deranged Mutant Killer Snow Goon from other angles:

Lighting up the Premises

It is once more that time of the year, and I have purchased 45 metres of string lights for edging the front lawn. Alongside the string on the front of the house, it sets the mood nicely during the evening hours and before sunrise (1600-0000, and 0530-0815).

More Snowflakes

The collection slowly grows.

I am going to print all 25 from this series, then start experimenting with smaller versions of the nicest ones, before printing some icicles to hang from the inside top of the living room windows.

3D printing is FUN!

3D Printed: Deco Snowflakes

I have started printing snowflakes to decorate the windows (I think). When I have enough, I think I shall try my luck with some icicles.

The files are from Thingiverse, there is a lot of different designs to choose from-

3D-Printed: Christmas Decorations

Some prints of the Thingiverse Christmas Tree in 'silky' gold and silver PLA, and one in transparent, with a battery-driven tea-light inside. I am having fun with the printer!

Celebratiing Midwinter

La Chandeleur, Candlemass, or as we say in Denmark Kyndelmisse or Kjørmes. One of my Facebook friends posted about the French tradition of eating crêpes on La Chandeleur, and I was planning to whip up some batter and bake some for dessert - but then I somehow came across an article about the tradition here on Funen - Eating heavy pancakes with æbleflæsk ('applebacon' is the best word I can think of).

A sucker for history and old traditions, of course I had to find a recipe and serve this dish for my family!

Thus, today's menu was pumpkin soup with creme fraiche, and kjørmespandekager med æbleflæsk.

Anna took over baking the pancakes, so I had plenty time to take a couple of photos, and see to the 'applebacon'.

I really like this dish - the pancake batter contains cinnamon, which complements the apples, and the acid and lard of the 'applebacon' balance each other nicely.

It is a heavy dish, though, better not served on a hot day - but on a winter's evening like today: Great!

If I had had a nice cold dark beer, it would have topped up the experience, but I shall just have to remember that for the next time!

Our 'Christmas Diorama'

I promised to show the little 'Christmas Scene' for which I originally started panting Santa and his assistant - and if I am to do that while it is still somewhat current, I think I have to do it today.

It lacks snow, I know - I'll work on that for next year....

It's Christmas!

It was Christmas Eve yesterday, and due to Family Business, I have nothing to show for it, other than a couple of photos of our tree.

Well, I also have some pics of my wife and kids... and mother-in-law, but the latter I shall spare you for. Again, shortly before my wife drove her home (220 km), she and I had differences, this time she wanted to let me know that it is not necessary to have 'all those electronics', and that 'then she didn't want to hear about us having trouble getting the ends to meet'-

My wife currently drives over 200 km each way to help her get wooden pellets into her shed/stoker room and get them loaded, twice to thrice a month, which costs us the equivalent of £120 extra a month in gasoline (not counting the wear on the car), and I really think she should get rid of her house (she lost her husband (may he rest in peace) about 2 months ago, and he used to do ALL the practical chores/work around the house - she doesn't even have a drivers' license, even though her husband was a driving instructor) and find a place that she can manage herself without being depending on my wife helping her out. Am I being unreasonable? We are not rich, we have a house, kids, and a car to take care of, and I really think it is up to her to arrange herself in a way as to not depend on others to get by.

Do not get me wrong - of course my wife should help out her mother with BIG issues - but everyday issues like making the heating work, really is something that should run seamlessly without outside interference, I think?

Christmas Wars: Santa's Assistant - With Snow, but Without Lipstick!

Time ran out for me on this, so I did not quite get it to the point I wanted to.

Julia was late this morning (if you know my language, you will get her name), so she forgot to put her lipstick on, and I think she grabbed the wrong pair of silk stockings, as thes eare light grey instead of white or red (or even green).

I like the way her hair turned out, it was:

1. Citadel Desert Yellow
2. Coat d'Arms Buff
3. Army Painter Skeleton Bone

I thin I could have gotten away with another highlight - shall experiment on my next blond mini!

All in all. I like how she turned out, and she is now joining Santa in our winter/Christmas scene on the sideboard, of which I promise to post a photo either later today or tomorrow. No snow landscape though - I think I shall make a mat out of painter felt, then upgrade it with some Woodland Scenics snow later this winter!

MERRY CHISTMAS, HAPPY CHANNUKAH,

and whatever festival YOUR culture/religion is celebrating right now (sorry, I am too ignorant to know them all - I celebrate 'Christmas'  more in line with the original Norse Jól, anyway, without any particular religious meaning).

Christmas Wars: Santa - Now With Snow!

I have now poked the Snow-Tex around on Santa's base, and I think the finish is OK,

It is not quite the effect I was looking for (I wanted sparkling 'postcard' snow), but I may be able to achieve an enhanced result by drybrushing some clear varnish over the Snow-Tex.

I do have a feeling, that I could create a similar compound myself - the Snow-Tex feels and looks very much like 'gloop', which is a mix of paint, sand, and PVA glue (the Snow-Tex even could be only white paint and sand), and if I keep using this stuff for winter bases, I think I should experiment with beach sand and white emulsion paint.

I have all but finished Santa's assistant, and I hope to be able to post pics of her tomorrow morning (before I start bringing in The Tree), and of the small Christmas Village Scene we have on our sideboard.

Attack of the Snow Goons

With my North Star order arriving earlier today, I also got these shady characters. I have no idea what I am going to use them for, just now, but I expect to paint them up during this winter, one at a time, in between painting other stuff (and then I might think of game involving a plot to destroy Christmas and Santa fighting the good fight to save the holidays - we shall have to see about that).

This is not all, though. I may post the rest of the stuff I got later this evening, if I can find the time and energy for it. Right now I am going back to the prepping station to continue cleaning up St Nick and Assistant (I hope to get filler on their bases later today, and be able to prime them tomorrow).

More December - This Time of the Fun Kind

Although I am almost in a stupor, hobby-wise, my suppliers are not, and the orders I made a while ago, before succumbing to workplace stress, are now being delivered.

I saw my GP yesterday, and got sick leave, for now until and including December 19th, which means that I now have at least a fortnight to focus on all the positive things in life - and afterwards I decided yesterday that I simply WILL NOT let my ailment ruin my family and hobby life.

As on cue, my North Star order arrived this morning, and allthough I cannot keep my focus for more than about 10 minutes at a time before having to rest my head, I am determined to get St. Nick and his luvverly assistant prepped and painted before Christmas. It may take me the rest of the day to get them cleaned up and started basing, but I shall not give in to the urge to just sit idle and do nothing but watch some braindead tv-shows all day!!!

In a few moments. I am going to take a long walk with Molly, my fantastic dog (1/4 Golden Retriever, 3/4 Yellow Labrador), who can always be trusted to comfort and support when needed, and afterwards I am going to pull out the needle files and start getting these two great Mark Copplestone sculpts ready for some brushwork.

I got more minis with this order, but I shall post about those when I have to pause in between prepping these minis.

That, and I need to get some scenic snow....