"Freedom Series Models Are Ugly..."

 At least, that's what my brother said recently.  Well, maybe not those exact words, but pretty close.  He did call them ugly and he did specifically mention the Freedom / Classic scale.  I, of course, contradicted him and he showed me pictures of what he was basing his opinion on...

Well, yeah.  Based on one model I can see where he thought they all looked like that and I told him as much so he showed me another example...

I told him those were special editions and that some people collect that sort of thing and he said "nobody collects those" and maintained that Freedom Series models were ugly.  So I had to counter with one I have in my collection...

I told him I don't really collect this size model, but that I had several in my collection.  I also told him I don't collect the decorator ones like High Tide and Cupcake, but there were plenty of people who do.  He didn't believe me, I don't think, which is fine.

And remember a couple of weeks ago when I did that post about things coming into my collection and then just disappearing...?  Apparently that has happened again.  Not a model this time, but model-related.  I had finally gotten around to unpacking my Eclipse and the rider doll I got as well.  I know where Eclipse is, but I seemed to have misplaced the doll and her accessories.  I remember bringing the package into the house, but I don't remember what I did with it after that.  Good grief, I'm too young to be this forgetful!  Unfortunately, it's something I've suffered from for many years.  Let's hope the doll and her accessories are as easy to locate as the polo tack.  <sigh>

Well, I know today is Monday and not my "usual" upload day of Wednesday, but I just had an overwhelming urge to blog and my brother provided the perfect opportunity for it.  Today I am back at work after my Thanksgiving vacation.  I think I'd mentioned we had Thursday and Friday off so I took the rest of the week off.  I didn't do anything exciting.  None of the stuff I wanted to get done got done, but that's par for the course with me.  My Thanksgiving was pretty decent.  Lots of yummy food.  My family is just my brother, my mom and myself.  We used to invite friends over who had nowhere else to go, but for whatever reason we don't anymore.  I imagine my mom's current condition has a lot to do with that.  Oh well.  Anyway, I hope everyone else had a nice holiday.  Until next time!

Glossy Grey Belgian -- Test Run...

 Wow.  I'm just blogging all over the place this week, aren't I, but I had to blog about the new Breyer test piece!

Exclusively for Breyer Collector Club members!  Breyer test run models are initial decos painted up to see how a particular color might look on a particular sculpture.  Or, they may be created to test out a painting technique or new colorway.  Not all test run models are used, and they may vary over time as different painting techniques are developed and tested.  Each model has a fixed price and interested members enter a random draw for the ability to purchase the test piece.

Everyone loves the Belgian...hahaha.  I just LOVE <heavy sarcasm> when people say "everyone".  How do they know "everyone" loves the Belgian?  I don't.  I don't dislike it, but I don't "love" it.  Sculpted by Chris Hess, this stout stallion was one of the very first draft horses in the Breyer lineup.  This Belgian test model is painted as a shaded light grey, with subtle golden highlights in his mane and tail and a sweet little snip on his nose.  Based on the painting techniques used to create this model, he likely dates from either the late 1990s or early 2000s.

As a HQ-used test model, the Glossy Grey Belgian does have some small flaws from being handled over the years.  He has a few small black marks on his body, mostly concentrated on his off-side barrel/hip.  There is also one small spot of missing paint on his back right hoof.  See gallery for details.  I think this is the first time Breyer has pointed out flaws and actually included photos of the flaws.  I know people have commented in the past about flaws on previous models, but I don't remember there ever being pictures of them and I don't remember if they even acknowledged any flaws until very recently where they would say that there "might" be damage.

This piece is priced at $1000 and comes with a certificate of authenticity.  The price on this is higher than all of the previous ones.  I wonder if the price increase will apply to all test runs going forward or they decided to add the extra $150 because it's a bigger model.  If it's the former, people are likely going to complain, but there's still going to be plenty of people who will enter to win.  A lot of people like "Bubble Butt".  If they're adding the extra cost because of the slightly larger size, well, that isn't much better.  I don't think the slightly larger size constitutes that much of a price increase.  Oh well.  It's a neat model, for sure, but I won't be entering to win.

Okay.  That's it for now, I guess.  Don't hold me to that, though.  hahahaha.

I want to cry...

 If only I'd checked Facebook sooner.  If only I'd checked Blab sooner.  If only, if only, if only...

For anyone who has been around for awhile and paying attention to what I've blogged about, you'll know I've been looking for the 2017 (I think) web special Acadia on the Valegro mold.  I've checked Ebay periodically as well as MH$P but nobody has any for sale or they have him for well over twice his original price and I'm not willing to spend upwards of $400 for one.  Anyway, I saw a post on Facebook from Breyer about a Black Friday sneak peek so I  decided to look and see if there was anything I would be interested in.  And that's where the wanting to cry comes in...

WAAAAAAAAAAAA!  They had some for sale!!!!!!!  But they were already sold out by the time I found out about the Pre-Black Friday sale.  The sale started at 8am my time, but I didn't find out about it until 9am.  WAAAAAA!  I seriously want to throw an epic temper tantrum right now.  hahaha.  Is Acadia going to be my Achilles Heel?  The obtainable "grail" that I can't obtain unless I am willing to sell a kidney?  <stomps foot> <pouts>  I really, seriously want to cry right now.  I'm not just saying it.  Yeah, pathetic, I know.  It's just a hunk of plastic, but dagnabbit, I WANT IT!  

There's a couple of other things in the sale that are tempting...Kentucky on the San Domnigo mold for $30, for one.  Then there's the Stablemate Riding Camp set, but it's only $3 less than the regular price so that's not really anything to get excited about.  Oh well.

I will probably not be blogging next week.  I do about 90% of it on my work computer since it's the most convenient and I'm off work all next week so I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Til next time!

Some models...

 I'm hoping it's "safe" to post a vlog without worry that Breyer is going to hit us with something today.  It seems like all too often I will post one and then Breyer will release something.  hahaha.  But I'm going to go ahead and post a blog.  Not a very interesting one, but one nonetheless.  After that intro, I bet you're just dying to read the rest, aren't you?  hahaha.

So, when I still worked in a physical office building (up until March 2020), I had several models on my desk.  I didn't share my desk with anyone, so I had stuff all over it.  Models, Pusheen plush, various little knick knacks and trinkets.  When we were initially sent into Work From Home mode, it was only supposed to be for 2-3 weeks.  Well, those 2-3 weeks have stretched on to almost 8 months with no specific return to office date yet.  My company is building a new office complex and we won't be moving back into an office until that is complete and we will move into that one rather than the old one.  Anyway, since it was only supposed to be 2-3 weeks, I left a lot of my stuff on my desk.  All of my models and all of my Pusheen plush and just pretty much everything.  I only took with me the work-related stuff I knew I would need for that time.  In May, it looked like we would start returning to work.  We had "mission critical" employees already there that never left and that was wave 0 and 1.  May would be wave 2 and would include people who had volunteered to be part of it and managers.  Only a couple of people would be allowed per unit in wave 2 and I was not in that wave.  Wave 2 lasted about a month and then the office shut down again, sending everyone except Mission Critical people back home.

Bear with me, I'm getting to the point...hahaha...

In July, I think it was, we were told we would not be returning to the current office, but rather to the new one after the first of the year.  So that left what to do about our personal things at our desks.  We were told two different things at different times.  They kept going back and forth on what was going to happen.  One scenario was that we would be allowed to come in and pack up our stuff ourselves and the other was that Corporate Real Estate (CRE) would be doing it for us and moving everything to the new building.  The 2nd scenario concerned me because of my models.  If CRE packs up my desk, they're not likely going to take care to ensure my models don't get broken or scratched because they wouldn't know how easily damaged cellulose acetate could be if handled improperly.  And with all the desks they were having to pack up, they probably would just toss stuff in a box anyway.  So, I expressed my concern to my manager in May, I think, and initially he didn't seem to be too concerned about it.  But then in June I did again and he offered to pack up my desktop and I could come pick it up.  Obviously, I jumped at the opportunity and we scheduled a day for me to come by the office.  Not only did he pack up my models, but he also packed my Pusheen plush and did his best to use the plush to cushion the models.  It was really considerate. He put the models in a plastic In Box tray then put that in a paper shopping bag.   Well, for the past 6 months or so, everything has remained in the bag he packed them in...until today!

The 2 Djangos aren't the only Stablemates I had at my desk, but they're the two I grabbed this morning because they were both right there when I went to get The Pie, who is the only larger model I had at my desk.  I struggled with whether or not I wanted to take her home back in March.  The way she was situated on my office desk, it was like she was watching over me and I liked looking up and seeing her there.  But I ended up not taking her home because I knew I wouldn't have a place to put her where I'd have the same feeling.  Heck, my first week of working at home I was working on two TV tray tables in the living room!  

So, now I have the Pie home, but I STILL don't have a place to put her...

That is the top tier of one of my cat trees.  hahaha.  I can't leave her there, though, since one of my kitties spends a lot of time in that top tier.  Finding room for the two Stablemates was a little easier, though...

If only it was as easy for me to find room for the big guys.  I don't remember if those are my only two on that mold.  If it is, they can stay there, but I will need to check ID Your Breyer to make sure.  I know I don't have the copper filigree one.  There's enough room to add others around it if I find I have others on the mold, but I know they haven't used it a whole lot yet.

Okay, well, that's it for now, I guess.  Til next time!

Festive Filigrees Stablemates...

 Annnnnd once again, Breyer is going after our wallets.  hahaha.  Introducting Festive Filigrees Stablemates Limited Edition Holiday Blind Bag...

                          
Tis the season for festivities - and filigrees!  Breyer's 2020 holiday blind bags feature four fabulous Stablemates, each sporting a filigree finish.  Unwrap your gift to find one of these four festive surprises:

Mini Connemara Mare in green filigree

Mini Gypsy Vanner in silver filigree

Mini Smart Chic Olena in red filigree

Lipizzaner in florentine (gold filigree)

I think this is the first time they have done a decorator on Stablemates like this.  Holiday decorators, I mean.  I like the silver filigree, but not the Brishen mold.  I wish they had put the silver on the Croi because I kind of like the Croi mold but not the green color...

or even the red or gold would've made me happier than the green.  It's just so...green.  hahaha.  But Breyer didn't ask me my opinion when they were deciding which color to put on most mold.  hahaha.  I won't be ordering any.  Since it's a blind bag, you could get two of the same ones and I don't like any of them enough to spend the money on them.  Oh well.  I'm sure there's plenty of people who will be buying them.  That's what I like about the hobby...there's something for everyone.  You know what I would like to see?  A lady Phase in silver filigree.  Or San Domingo in red.  Or vise versa.

Boy howdy...it's Tuesday and I've already blogged twice.  I hope to be back tomorrow with my regular / not-so-regular Wednesday post.  Til next time!

La Molina & Masella -- A Winter Decorator Web Special...

Whoooooo doggy. Breyer is hitting us again.  Haven't we had enough the past month?  Apparently not because we are not being offered a chance to win a decorator pair!

Winter is the perfect time to cozy up with family and this flashy mare and foal set will surely add some winter-inspired flair to your herd!

In Spain's Pyrenees Mountains, the names La Molina and Masella are synonymous with skiing and amazing winter scenery.  La Molina has a stunning silver filigree coat, and her foal Masella sports blue filigree.  Both are completed by a high gloss finish, which takes their coloring to the next level!  Each has "Collector Club 2020" on their belly.  If you already own our 2018 Winter Web Special, Benasque, then you'll want to scoop up the rest of this filigree family!

La Molina & Masella are limited to 450 pieces, which is a larger run than the usual 300 (350?).  The time to enter is just a couple of days, from today until Wednesday.  I know I've said before that I don't collect decorators, but I DO collect this type because it resembles a more realistic pattern of flea-bitten grey or leopard appy.  Anyway, so I will be entering for a chance to win the pair.  I'm not fond of the price, but since it's Traditional scale, it's not horrible.  If it was Classic, then I would think long and hard.  I actually like the vibrant blue of Masella and I don't have any other models with this color.  I hope it's as vibrant in person as the photos make it to be. 

Oh, by the way...I found the missing polo tack set buried in another drawer.  Yay!

Til next time!

Bonus Post --- Stablemate Club...

 This will be short and "sweet".  Hahahaha.  I believe I mentioned in an earlier blog post that I was going to re-join the Stablemate Club after being out of it for about 3 years, I think it's been.  My decision to re-join was based on the first model that was revealed...

Well, the silhouettes of the other 5 molds have been revealed and now I am definitely going to re-join!

I can't see all of the one to the far right so I don't know who that is, but I do know that the two in the background are molds I actively conga and I'm super happy they're using the G2 Appaloosa mold.  It's been awhile since they've used it as a stand-alone.  And I've been a fan of the Django since it first premiered in the SMC.  I think that was the first year.  I don't have any on the Croi mold yet so that will be neat.  They're also changing the packaging for 2021.  I think this will be the 4th generation of packaging.  hahaha.  There will also be a 7th model option for purchase, which I don't know if they've done before.  It will be interesting to see who they use for the Gambler's Choice.  Hopefully it won't be on the G2 Appy or the Django.  That would suck.  I still don't have the copper dapple chase piece from the blind bags.  I'm not one who has to have all the variations of a model, but when they're different colors, that's different from a variation.

Luckily I have until December 31st to join because I still need to renew my Collector Club membership since you have to be in that before you can join any of the extra clubs.  What a way to get more of my money, eh, Breyer?  hahahaha.  Anyway, I don't feel like buying both today and will probably wait until next month.  Good thing the SMC isn't a club with a certain number of slots available like the Vintage Club is.

Our weather is cooling down here in the desert and I'm very happy about that, but with it comes the chill and the feeling that you just can't get warm.  That doesn't happen constantly, but enough that it can be annoying.  My bedroom can be a little on the chilly side and I have to snuggle under a blanket, but then it sometimes warms up during the night and I get too hot so off goes the blanket.  hahaha.

Okay.  I guess that is it for now.  Til next time!

Hotel California --- Model Horse Style...

 And, with a twist.  The line "You can check out any time you like, but you can't never leave" should be changed to "You can check in any time you like, but you'll never be seen again!"  hahahaha.  

I have no idea how many (Breyer) dolls I have.  I have a "doll drawer" so I know I have the vet doll and from this picture I know I have a Classic size doll and the rider doll from the Western Riding set with the pinto San Domingo...                            

I *think* I have the polo player, too, but I don't remember.  I know I have the grey polo horse so it would make sense that I have the player, too, since I have the tack set, but I have no photographic evidence of such.  I also want to say I have another one or two dolls, but I also don't remember.  And I don't know where ANY of these dolls are.  I know where the dogs are, but not the dolls.  Nor do I know of where the tack is for the Western doll.  I know where the horse is, but not the doll or tack.  hahaha.

But it's the tack that has brought about this post.  Just a few weeks ago, I posted a blog about Eccentric Uncle Bob trying to saddle Freddie.  And now the saddle set is missing.  I  have a drawer near my desk that I've started putting my accessories and dolls in...

I see one of the polo wraps, but that's it.  So, where the heck did an entire Polo tack set go?  Oh, and where is the doll that red hunt coat belongs to?  Okay.  They belong to the smallest of the 3 dolls in the top picture, but she's still missing even though I have her hunt coat and saddle/saddle pad, which is visible in the above photo.  The saddle pad, I mean.  I bought her to use as a young rider.  

So where are these things?  And how could I lose something so quickly that I just had a few weeks ago?  Hotel California, I tell you.  You can check in anytime you want, but you'll never bee seen again.  hahaha.

I got my copy of Just About Horses a couple of days ago.  I finally looked at it last night, but it didn't hold my interest long enough to do much more than read a few lines of an article here and there.  I looked at all the pictures, but as a magazine it didn't initially spark my interest enough to read an entire article.  It's a shame, really, because I used to love reading it from cover to cover the moment I got it.  I still miss it arriving more frequently than once a year.  You'd think that since it only comes once a year I would be excited to read it, but no.  Maybe I was just too distracted, although I don't know by what.  I will give it a couple of days then look at it again.  There were a couple of articles that looked like they might be interesting.  We'll see.

I am participating in Secret Santa on Blab and I'm off to a good start, I think.  I tried to do it before, but the model I bought on ebay never showed up and then I ended up in the hospital for 3 days so I wasn't able to fulfill my  part.  I felt bad and I notified the person in charge, but I still ended up on the "naughty list" and was unable to participate in any further swaps.  Well, this year I decided to email the girl in charge and ask for another chance.  She gave it to me.  Yay.  I took a chance on ebay again and this time, the model showed up.  I was relieved.  The thing that got me about the other time is that the person who was selling the model was on Blab and was someone I'd spoken to / interacted with quite a bit and she turned into a witch about the whole thing.  I filed complaints everywhere I could because the model was never delivered, but because it was marked as delivered, both PayPal and Ebay ruled against me.  I'm grateful that nowadays, they often take a picture of your package when they deliver it.  It would've helped back then because I would've been able to see if it had actually been delivered.  Anyway, so I got the model already and everything else can be acquired locally.  I need to do that soon so I can mail the box off in the next couple of weeks so it arrives before Christmas.  I do tend procrastinate, though.  hahaha.  We have a deadline for when the box should be mailed and I will make it, but my goal is to mail it well ahead of that time.  And I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited to get my box full of goodies.  My family (brother, mother and myself) doesn't exchange gifts anymore so if I get something at Christmas it's something I bought myself.

Well, I think that's it for now.  Til next time.