And in an instant it's gone.

You may think I'm referencing the end of the year or the decade for that matter but no it's about my painting goal. Upon awakening on Sunday the 29th of December 2019 I was ahead of my purchases to painted models by 131 figures. A trip to the local Hobby store just to see what paints they had ended with me buying two boxes of Perrys ACW. It was a good deal. How could I resist? How could I forget the two hundred unpainted 15mm ACW figures I already had? Out of sight out of mind as the saying goes. Then an order I had placed from Warfare Miniatures arrived driving up the total. I had anticipated this an managed to paint almost enough to compensate. Still the year end number was in the black but 100 plus would have looked better than the 27 I ended up with.

I started this post on the 30th of December, now we're already three days into the new year. Since I'm starting with I clean slate I placed an order for some Empress Vietnam War figures taking advantage of the sale Age of Glory was running. I also wanted to get to painting them while I was still excited about the period and not caught by some other  shiny thing.

An advantage of keeping track of things is that at the end of the year when others are wondering where the year went you can look at the records and see what was done.

• 31 games played
• 334 figures painted
• 1,045 Miles ridden on my bikes
• 1 Grand daughter born

Another fun filled year in the books.

Vietnam game.

First of the Vietnam collection.

Waiting for the light.

Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY

Week one.

Thanks for reading.

What I did last Summer.

 With the start of school I'm reminded of how often our first assignment was to write about what we did during the break from school. As adults our summers don't contain the long break for summer and for some Summer is a busy time for work.

As September began I started to think about The Pledge from TMP and realized I hadn't painted anything in three months. A bit depressing but I started looking at what I had done and saw that despite being busy at work the Summer had been filled with activities though not all gaming related ones.

Our two year old niece had a baby sister in July so the niece came to visit us for a week while Mom, Dad and little sister got acquainted. We had forgotten had labor intensive a small child was but also managed some fun times with her. She did enjoy playing with the horses from my Civil War Playset.

Next came a ten day visit of my daughters dog. Another break in the routine but one that gives plenty of opportunities for hiking.

A day at the beach offered  some scenario inspiration.

Last of the big adventure was a seventy five mile ride around New York City. It was the last year for Transportation Alternatives NYC Century Ride. Always a fun ride I wasn't in shape for the whole event but squeezed out a good ride. It's fun to see the city from the seat of a bike and to take a more relaxed pace through some areas not usually seen. 

While painting miniatures was not an activity I did much of I was able to get a few games in.

Flint & Feather 

Lord of the Rings

A Gentleman's War Skirmish.

Chainmail Bikini in the Scottish Highlands.

I guess I lose points for turning this in late but hey it was fun and that's what counts in a Hobby.

Something for everyone.

With the first nice weekend forecasted and no obligations it was time to get out and do stuff. An impromptu trip down to Pennsylvania put us on the Delaware Canal Tow Path starting in Washington Crossing and riding up the New Jersey side to Lambertville over to New Hope and back down to the start. We did a quick tour of the museum and watched the video before heading out. Not a huge site but informative enough.

Heron along the canal

One of several buildings at the park.

The trusty stead with the bridge crossing the Delaware from PA to NJ.

Monument.

Looking out over the river.

Unable to stay over night because every hotel was booked or way above our price range we headed back home after an excellent dinner at 55 Main in Flemington.

After knocking out a quick hike Sunday morning I took advantage of the weather to try my hand at casting. An ad hoc set up got me rolling but I had some mixed results. 

The setup.

Varied results.

The final keepers

Back to the melting pot.

A fun filled and productive weekend had by all.

https://www.traillink.com/trail/delaware-and-raritan-canal-state-park-trail/

https://www.fodc.org/visit-the-canal/towpath-trail/

https://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/

From beginning to end.

This time of year keeps me busy with work,vacation and exercise. I haven't been getting much painting done or playing done however last weekend I was able to do something I've wanted to do for awhile now but always seemed too pressed for time to do.

I live on the western shores of the Hudson river and ride my bicycle for exercise. Normally I'm with a group or trying to get the ride in before work. Surprisingly this past weekend on day with a poor forecast for outside activities I found myself with a changing weather pattern and route.

The Weather channel called for rain to start in about an hour and I felt like I had just enough time to get a quick ride in. I planned on going out for about 15 miles and headed to a local off road path. The sun was peeping through when I saw the marker on the side of the path, the writing blurred a little and not photogenic.

Within these woods, in the early morning hours of September 22, 1780, American General Benedict Arnold and British Major John André plotted the surrender of the American fortress at West Point. While attempting to return to British lines, André was captured by American soldiers. He was tried, convicted and hanged as a spy at Tappan on October 2, 1780. Arnold escaped capture and joined the British army.

I decided here that I should ride down to Tappan where the story continues.

Had things been planned better my wife could have met me and we would have had lunch in this fine restaurant. 

Looking to see this to it's conclusion I went over to Andre Ave. and up the hill to the Andre Monument

I ride past these sites and others often but rarely stop to enjoy them. This type of ride needs to be put into the rotation more often.

When I got home I saw this article in my feed. Some coincidence!
https://allthingsliberty.com/2018/08/the-death-and-resurrection-of-major-john-andre/

Obligatory events and terrain

We jumped a plane to Copenhagen and after a red hot dog started to explore the city. First of the musts was a drink at Mikkeller and Friends. The next was bike riding with a visit to the Little Mermaid and the Fort. I love it when the location of these things work out. The timing was perfect to see the changing of the Guard.

Beer Geek Breakfast Stout

                                     

                               Biking around the Harbor.

The Changing of the Guard.

                               

                   The Star Fort.

My dinner companions thought this was a unique way to present the food.
I thought this would be a cool as ground cover for a wargames table.

I noticed we must be near the border of
The Duchy of Tradgardland