Stablemate Club Bonus Model...

I guess I was lying yesterday when I said I'd "see" you next year because here we are again...courtesy of Breyer, of course.

 Meet Leti and Addie!

This pair of rambunctious foals will be our bonus model offering for the 2021 Stablemates Club, and they couldn't be a sweeter pair!  Leti, a bay sabino Clydesdale filly, is the perfect match for our mini Clydesdale Stallion Atticus, and little palomino appaloosa Addie will be a wonderful companion piece for your Dahlia gambler's choice model!  Both foals are finished with a coat of gloss for that extra "wow" factor.  This pair will be available to purchase at the end of the year alongside our final 2021 release!

Every Stablemates Club model comes packaged in a bright and bold "hat box."  These small wonders are hand-crafted with great detail and their decorations share the finesse of their larger Traditional-scale counterparts!

Is it just me or do these foals seem awfully big next to their respective parents?  I guess it would depend on the age of the foal, but they still seem awfully big.  I don't really care for the poses and the head of Addie seems a bit large for her body.  I don't know.  Maybe I'm being too critical.  I like the coloring of Leti, but I don't think I'm going to buy the foals.  I don't collect foals anyway so it's not that big of a deal and fortunately you don't have to buy the 7th model to stay in the club.  Of course, it's the last model released so even if it WAS required, with it being the last one that's no big deal.  

We're still waiting on the new sculpt, model #6 so unless Breyer releases that today, I will "see" you next year and won't be lying this time.  hahaha.  Happy New Year, Everyone!  Til next time!

Nothing to see here...Not much anyway... lol

Hey there, Everyone.  How are you doing?  I hope everyone had a good Christmas and got everything you wanted (or deserved lol).  Next on the calendar is New Year's Eve / Day.

Speaking of which, now is the time when many bloggers post their Year In Review.  You won't see that here.  Many of those people are focusing on how the virus has changed how they participate in the hobby or how it's impacted their hobby life.  I'm not going to do that.  To be honest, the virus has not impacted me at all or my family.  We haven't changed anything about our daily lives and that seems to annoy a lot of people and I've been verbally attacked by people I thought were friends.  I haven't done anything exciting enough anyway to do a yearly recap.  I bought some horses...don't remember which months...I attended my first and probably last Breyerfest (Breyermess), albeit virtually and that's why it's likely to be the only one I "attend"...and I went to Las Vegas, which is totally non-related to the hobby.  I entered a few times for web specials, but didn't win anything and I lost out, again, on getting Acadia when Breyer had a surprise Pre-Black Friday Sale where they had some available.  So nothing worth doing a whole post about.

So...onto the next.  Breyer has released the pictures of models 5 and 6 for the Stablemate Club:

Raider on the Seabiscuit mold...

And Hendrik on the Django mold...

Raider is "okay", but I am totally loving Hendrik!  That color is so caramel-y and yummy looking.  I can't wait to get him!  So now we know what 5 of them look like...

The new sculpt is still unknown as is the optional 7th model.  It will be exciting to see what those two look like.  And apparently Atticus is a split run of glossy and matte.  I'm hoping to get the glossy one because I think he looks a lot better in gloss.  The matte version is just too "flat" and kind of weird-looking to me...

On a non-model note, but still horse related, I have an "indirect connection" to Totilas"

I know her dad more than her, but I remember her when she was just a child...like 4 or 5 years old.  She rides / competes for  Schockemohle in Germany.  I am a bit surprised, though, that she was allowed to ride him.  Or maybe she's only sitting on him, I don't know.  She certainly never competed on him and judging from the picture of her, this is a fairly recent one.  I don't know how recent, but fairly recent.  She's only lived in Germany for about 4 or 5 years now and she looks pretty mature in this photo.  I think she's 26 now?  Anyway, so I know someone who got to at least sit on Totilas.  Yeah, not really something worth going around and bragging about since I didn't know her super well.  That's why I put indirect connection in quotes.  hahaha.

So, back to models.  Recently I was looking at ebay to potentially add to my g2 Appaloosa conga.  I found a couple of models.  Also, I need to add to my Django conga, which is much smaller.  But I didn't buy any of them.  I started asking myself "why?".    What's the point?  I don't show.  All of my models just sit on shelves (or in their boxes) and collect dust.  I would like to get into photo showing again, but I don't know if I will.  But part of the problem with my way of thinking is dangerous.  The "what's the point" part.  If I allow myself to think that then that could lead to me not buying anymore models at all and then what?  Yes, I'm getting too deep here.  Should I just restrict myself to "models going forward" as in brand new ones and not worry about filling in my congas?  But some of my congas are small because they haven't been around for very long such as Django, Chrome, Dungaree, Walking TB... ones that have been released in the past couple of years.  I don't know.  I guess I need to think on it some, huh?   And I haven't given up on Acadia or Rocket.  Someone on Blab recently had a Rocket up for sale, but I didn't find out about it in time.

Well, I guess that is it for now.  Probably the next time I "see" you will be next year.  LOL.  I always liked saying that to my co-workers when leaving the office:  "See you next year."  Who knew that one day that would actually be true?  That I wouldn't see them, other than virtually, for a year.  Because we aren't supposed to move into our new office until June 2021 and by then it will have been over a year.  Anyway, until next time...

Christmas Offering from Breyer...

 Well, it’s that time of year again.  The day where Breyer releases a special model on Christmas Day.  I remember one year where they released several models, both horse and non-horse, throughout the day.  I didn’t buy any of them and I haven’t bought enough any since then.  None of them have really appealed to me and this year was no different.

Introducing...Jol...

With a name that means “Christmas” in Icelandic, feisty Icelandic horse Jol is a beautiful homage to the colors of the holiday season and the joys of winter.  Captured in an energetic tolt, this Collector Club exclusive features delicate snowflakes on his sides, as well as glitter detailing and a glossy finish.

Jol comes in three festive colors.  Which color you’ll receive will be a surprise, but each will have you shouting Merry Christmas!

Warning: Members on the naughty list may receive one of 12 pieces of “coal”, a high gloss, solid black model.

Knowing there was a possibility I might want the model, I went ahead and logged into my PayPal since I tend to forget the password and I wanted to make sure there’d be no problem should I want to hit that “buy” button.  But unless they release more offerings throughout the day, my bank account is safe for another year.  While I like the vibrancy of the colors, I don’t collect the mold and the deco-ness doesn’t appeal to me.  If it had been more of a florentine style, without the big snowflakes, just the tiny ones, I might’ve actually decided to buy one, but...

Of course, on Blab people were guessing what the model might be.  Someone said fairly early on that it might be a clear ware, and they were correct, and someone on the second page guessed it would be an Icelandic.  I would’ve been happier had it been a moose or deer/reindeer,, like some of the other guesses but that’s quite okay.  Reception on him has been about 50/50...a lot of people like him, but a lot don’t, either because of the price or that he’s a decorator.  Obviously, a lot of people are hoping they’re on the “naughty list” and will get the solid black one and the clear one seems to be the most popular color with the teal one coming in second.  If I were buying one, I’m not sure which I would prefer most.    I suppose I would be happy with any of them but if I had to pick one as my favorite, I guess I’d go with the teal one.  Maybe.  Hahaha.

Well, with today being Christmas Day, I am enjoying my annual tradition of the annual 24 hour marathon of A Christmas Story.  I don’t watch all 24 hours, but I do have it on my tv for the whole 24 hours.  I don’t know how many times I’ve seen it over the years, but I have to see it all the way through at least once.  I don’t know why this is my favorite Christmas movie, but it is.  Hahaha.

I hope Santa was good to you this year.  Til next time...

**update** apparently they’ve sold out already.  That was quick.

More Fun Fotos!

Yes, I know I've done posts in the past of other peoples' photos and showing them off, but sometimes the creativity really astounds me and when I see photos that I like, I want to share them.  There's no harm in that, right?  So, let's get on with it!

What attracts my attention to a particular photo that makes me want to share it?  Much of the time, it's the little details such as background scenery or the addition of other animals.  See the nose sticking out over the stall door in the top photo?  And the perfectly blurred out background in the second...

breyerscs

equusinpiration

Then there's the added realism of the scene.  The cowboy holding his lariat while it snows around him.  Even though that's a full-sized house in the background, it's far enough away that it looks like it's in-scale.  And what about the sweet photo of the girl getting up close and personal with her horse...

equusinspiration

greenstables_photo

Again, the background looks to be in scale, although it isn't.  Another thing that gets my attention is the unusual photo.  An angle you don't ordinarily see...

greenstables_photo

greenstables_photo

As a photographer myself, I'm always on the lookout for different angles.  Stuff you don't see everyday or the uncommon angle / position.  I've never really seen them in the model photography world, so when I came across this collector's IG, I was immediately pulled in.

Instagram can be quite a source of inspiration where model horses are concerned.  Well, not just model horses, but a lot of things, but this is model horse-related.  There's a gal who has a G2 Appaloosa conga and on her shelves are little tags that contain the color, where the model came from like a play set or shadow box, and the mold number.  It's really creative and I wish I had the ability to do that, but since my congas are now scattered, that would be difficult...

gesenponies

I conga this mold, as I've probably mentioned before, and she has a lot that I don't have.  Like, all of the ones in this photo.  hahahaha.  

We finally got a picture of the new Stablemate Club boxes.  I don't know how the box is closed, though.  I thought maybe it was the "nesting" type boxes used in the 70s where there's two halves of the box and one fit entirely over the other or if it's got a flap of some sort...

I guess we'll find out when Atticus arrives, huh?

Well, I guess that is it for now.  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and the next day is Christmas.  I'm sure a lot of people will be glued to their computers on Friday to see what Breyer has in store for us for a Christmas surprise.  I don't think I've seen any advertising from them saying to make sure to tune in for a special surprise, but maybe they didn't do that in the past either.  I don't remember.  We don't really do Christmas around here anymore.  We have a nice dinner, but we don't exchange gifts so it won't be a big deal if I'm on my iPad mini refreshing the Breyer website every hour.  But anyway, I hope everyone has a great Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate.  Til next time!

Stablemate Club Gambler’s Choice...WOW...

 I am very glad they didn’t release the Gambler’s Choice in the G2 Appaloosa or Django because I conga those molds and I haven’t developed a real big liking yet for the Connemara mare.  I like her, but maybe not enough to conga her.  So that being said, I will be happy to get any of the four, although of varying degrees...

Meet....Darling Dahlia!  Dahlia is the 2021 Gambler’s Choice model, created on the new mini Connemara mare mold.  The Traditional sized Connemara Mare, sculpted by Sarah Minkiewicz-Breunig, has won so many hearts since her debut in 2014 and now her Stablemates scale version wraps all of that big energy into a little package.  This little spitfire comes in four fantastic colors...

The two I am hoping for are the two in the middle with the pantaloons being third and “Glossy Ocean Blue” blue being least favorite, but I won’t be bummed at all if I get that one.  At least I don’t feel the need to have all four.  If it had been on the G2 Appy or Django, I think I would’ve been in trouble.  Hahahaha.

So, we got the Appy reveal on Friday, the Gambler’s Choice today...does that mean we will get another reveal on Tuesday?  Boy am I glad I decided to sign up for the SMC again.

I am expected a package of fun from Breyer on Tuesday.  Will it actually get here on time?  I guess we will have to wait and see.  Last time I checked the tracker it was on time, but the first time the tracking registered, it said Monday so it’s already been delayed once.  I just checked again and it’s still scheduled for Tuesday so fingers crossed.  I am looking forward to “playing” with my new goodies.  I had a 50% off coupon for two of them so that’s why I bought it.  I was reluctant to pay full price just for something for “play use”.

Okay, well, I guess that is it for now.  I hope everyone is having a great weekend.  I did the weekly grocery shopping this morning and took some cat food to a coworker friend because her van wouldn’t start and she was concerned about running out before her order from Chewy arrived.  She said she would reimburse me, but it was such a nominal amount, I told her to just pay it forward when she could.

Til next time!

Oooo la-la! 2021 Stablemate Club Reveal!

 I was on Facebook just now and saw Breyer had posted a photo of one of the 2021 SMC models.  We already know what the molds are, just not the colors.  Well, we know the colors on two of them now.  We’ve known the Clydesdale and now we know what the G2 Appaloosa model looks like and boy am I glad I signed up again!

Meet Tobias...

The paint job is reminiscent of Ferris from the Breyer Collector Event Sweet Home Chicago on the Appaloosa Performance Horse...

Don’t you think?  Tobias has at least two front white socks as opposed to Ferris’ same-side socks, but that’s okay.  They don’t need to make them identical.  Tobias looks like he might be a bay appy while Ferris is a chestnut appy.  I loosely conga the APH but I don’t really like Ferris one way or other.  If someone gave me one or offered one at a really, really good price I would take it, but I’ve never sought one out on the secondary market.

My phone arrived just before 2pm and I’ve already got it set up and I’m quite happy with the size.  Maybe I will take a picture showing the size difference and share it in my next post.  We shall see.  Hahaha.

Til next time!

NEW FOR 2021!

 Breyer has released some of the new models for 2021.  It's only the Traditionals so we still have Classics and Stablemates to wait for, but that's okay.  

So, without further ado...

This appaloosa looks a lot like the CC Shuffle from Breyerfest a few years ago, but the blanket pattern is different and it has a darker mane and tail than the CC Shuffle.  I think I may have to get it.  We shall see.

I don't collect the mold or unicorns so this is an easy pass.

It says this is a new sculpture, but isn't this Georg and Oak?  Maybe they mean as a Regular Run it's new.  I like him in this color, but not sure if I'll get him or not...

This one I'm super excited for.  He was on the cover of the 2020 issue of Just About Horses and a lot of people, me included, went nuts over him.  Not every cover horse has ended up as an actual model so I'm glad to see this one has.  I can't wait to get him.  I don't really conga the Geronimo mold.  I thought I was going to, but I guess I decided not to without making the actual decision, if that makes any sense.

This is an interesting pair.  They used the Forever Sage mold, which is supposed to be a Mustang, so that's accurate, but then a TB foal.  hahaha.

So, which are your favorites?  Any of them MUST haves?

As a side note, my new phone is supposed to be here by 8:00pm tonight, but at last check, it's at the sorting facility in the next city over so it's not likely it will make it to the facility in my city and be put on a truck for delivery today.  Good thing I didn't have to pay for next day delivery.  hahaha.  

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

Stablemate Club's Cassidy and Totilas...

 I know I've probably mentioned a time or two that I haven't been in the Stablemate Club for a couple of years.  I was an "Originating Member" and was in the club for 2 or 3 years before deciding not to renew because I wasn't really liking many of the models that were being released and while I never had a problem selling the ones I didn't like, it seemed like I was selling more than I was keeping and figured what was the purpose of that?  I could just buy the ones I wanted on the secondary market.  But I didn't even do that until Corbin was released.  Actually, I decided that after seeing him on the cover of the 2019 issue of Just About Horses with Grayson...

I just HAD to have him so I set out in search of one and added him to my alarmingly rapidly growing Stablemate Collection.  Seriously.  My Stablemates are growing out of control!  hahahaha.  But I got one...And I would LOVE to show you a photo of it, but for some reason my iPhone 8 doesn't always play nicely and send photos when I ask it to.  I guess you will just have to trust me that I have a Corbin.  hahaha.  I believe I still need Grayson, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Just as an aside...I think I'm going to switch back to Android.  Between this phone chiming randomly and the photo issue, I don't really like it.  I use Cricket so I don't have a huge option of phones or services.  I've had an iPhone before and went back to Android and while I like Apple now more than I did the last time, I am quickly being reminded why I've used Android for as long as I have.  Well, that and the fact that Android phones are generally less expensive.  And I've never had this issue with an Android phone so maybe I'll treat myself to a new phone for Christmas.  I don't really want to spend the money on a new one, not that it will be super expensive, but at least I know that when I take a picture with my phone and email it to myself, it will arrive.  Also, I tried updating the blog from my iPhone so I could put the picture of Corbin in and it showed it on my phone, but it's still not appearing in this blog post so I think I'm about over it.  hahahaha.  We will see.  I have enjoyed the LG Stylo and the 6 has a 6.8" screen, which I like.  I like bigger phones.  Okay.  So I'm impulsive that way.  I bought the Android phone.  hahaha.  Merry Christmas to me.  I also had to get a case to go with it.

Back to the plastic ponies!  Anyway, when I saw the reveal of Cassidy, I knew I had to have her, so I did get her from a Blabber who has several memberships because of the Gambler's Choice and I finally unboxed her yesterday...Except I can't upload a photo because my phone is holding it hostage, just like the Corbin one.  This is ridiculous!  I can't even say anything about the packaging because there's no photo for reference.  GRRRRRRR.  Well, I will try to update from my phone again and insert the photos from there, but if that doesn't work, I don't know what I'm going to do.  Well, not take anymore pictures with my cell phone until I get the new one, that's for sure!  At least Android uploads to Google photos and I can access them through there, but Apple doesn't play nicely with Google Photos.  But back to the SM Club.  After being away for a couple of years, I have re-joined it and I'm looking forward to seeing the new packaging they mentioned in an email.  I think this will be the 3rd generation of packaging?  Or is it 4th?  I forget.  I think the original was blue satin bags, right?  And then it went to the yellow window boxes like the Traditional sized models.  So we will see what the new packaging looks like sometime in February, I'm guessing. 

Yesterday word came out that the great Dressage stallion Totilas had passed due to complications from colic at the age of 20 in Frankfurt, Germany.  I imagine not everyone considered "great" and that's okay.  He was the first to score above 90 in dressage competition with his longtime rider, Edward Gal.  Together, the pair held three world records and won three gold medals at the 2010 World Equestrian Games as well as team and individual gold at the 2009 European Championships.  The pair broke the world freestyle record at Olympia in 2009 with 92.3% - a feat which stood for four years until bettered by Valegro and Charlotte Dujardin.  He was officially retired in 2015 after being diagnosed with inflammation of the coronet band.  With his amazing presence and extravagant movement, Totilas touched the hearts of people far beyond the sport of dressage.  He spent his retirement years hacking out at Gestut Schafhof and "fulfilling his stud duties".  Something I found out is that he wasn't 100% pure Dutch Warmblood but rather was a Trakehner, which is a Prussian breed, on his sire's side.  I'm not sure the of the ins and outs of how a horse is allowed to be registered as a KWPN, but that's okay.  Hahaha.  Anyway, when I first saw the sneak peeks of his model, I knew he would be a new conga for me...

This photo is from Amazon as I don't have easy access to my Totilas mini-conga.  I don't have all of them because they've used the mold for a Breyer Collector Event Big Easy Bash (Zydeco) and as the 2019 Breyerfest Volunteer Model (Man of the Hour) as well as other, too-expensive-for-me models.  Maybe one day I'll own Man of the Hour, but who knows?  I'm not going to get into a whole big thing about grails and costs and stuff like that.  hahaha.  I think I've already covered that subject a time or two.  Anyway, back to Totilas.  At 17.2hh and "solid" (aside from markings) black, he checked all of my boxes for horses: BIG and beautifully black...

I really hope Breyer continues to make models on this mold long into the future.

Well, I think that's it for now.  I was going to unbox some more stablemates, but I can't get to them right now.  Maybe next week?  Til next time!

**Update** My photos finally arrived at my inbox several hours later...

The little shipping box with the horse silhouettes all over it is what I was trying to talk about before, but couldn't because I didn't have the photo to use for a reference.  I like that it's a miniature version of the Traditional-sized shipping boxes.  I hope that stays.

Oh well.  I am still switching back to Android.  hahaha.

Freed Ponies and Barn Building...

So, hopefully this won't be all over the place.  I am listening to our company's year-end meeting and I imagine I will have to pay *some* attention.  hahaha.  But sometimes it's hard to formulate your thoughts when someone is talking in your ear.  Actually...I can hang my headset on one of my monitors and I can still hear the talking and not have it in my ear.  No.  That's not going to work because now I can also hear the TV in the other room, which is distracting.  Oh well.  It was worth a shot.  So anyway, I apologize in advance if this seems to be a bit confusing.  This meeting is supposed to last an hour and that cuts into my blogging time.  hahahaha.  Priorities, right?

As I've mentioned before, I have a space problem and I have a bunch of models still in their boxes as a result of that.  But I get distracted easily.  I don't think I have ADD or anything like that, but only because I've never been tested, but I do get easily distracted and I get bored quite easily, too.  But it's due to the easy distraction that I ended up unboxing some of my Stablemates...annnnnnd trying to find places for them.  Even being as small as they are, finding room for multiple ones at one time can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you conga certain molds and want to keep them together.  That can take us back to the space issue.  I've got "healthy" congas of several SM molds, all in one spot.  But then I get another member of the conga and that's when the distractions come in.  There's only so far I'm willing or able to move from my desk, so instead of getting up and taking the new conga member to the shelves where the others are, I find room for them on the shelves above my desk and sometimes that requires re-arranging of other things on that shelf...

Please ignore that dust bunnies that are playing with the Traditional models.  We won't talk about my lack of dusting skills.  hahaha.  Anyway, in this picture I have a *strong* conga, the start of two congas (I have 2 others) and a mold that will be a conga when more colors come out.  It was a new sculpt so it's the first of its kind...here he is with an early conga...

Can I just say I wish the Valegro SM looked more like his Traditional counterpart?  Pose-wise, I mean.  One of the reasons why I like TR Valegro is the pose.

I also unboxed a couple of other SMs...

Anaya is actually the oldest of the unboxed and comes from 2017 Breyerfest.  I wish I'd remembered how neat-looking she was.  She is easily one of my favorite SM models ever and I have a healthy conga of the mold, but I really like the color.  I'm not a super huge fan of the G4 Reining Mold and I would've preferred the Grullo Pinto, but the appaloosa was my 2nd choice.  I also have have the Grullo stallion from the Mystery Foal Surprise.  It's doubtful that number will increase.  But I guess you never know.  If it's part of a set or they release one on a color I just can't resist, who am I to say it won't grow?   Let's have a nice close-up of Anaya...

Remember when I mentioned I get easily distracted earlier?  While typing this, I moved Anaya a bit more so I could see more of her.  hahaha.  I just really like her.

But that's not all...I also finally unbagged my Breyermess Stablemate 4 Pack...finally....it only took 5 months of them sitting in a cardboard box on the breakfast bar in the kitchen...

The walking TB is only I look forward to increasing my conga.  I obviously have Jersey, but I thought I had the Stable Surprise one as well.  I probably do, I just don't know where I put it.  And I thought I had Greyson.  Again, I don't know where he is, though.  Ugh.  Hotel California, I tell you.  Except I don't live in California so maybe Hotel Arizona?  Hahaha.  I also need a Brass Hat, if I don't have that one already.  All the others that have been released on this mold are unicorns and I don't collect those so there's no problem with not having those and I already know I don't have them.  The Croi Damsha / Connemara Mare is starting to grow on me, but I don't know if I will pursue a conga on that one.  We will have to see.

In addition to all of these Stablemates, I also unboxed some of the big guys, finally.  I have a lot more to do, but refer back to the space issue comment above...

Of the three, Truly Unsurpassed has been boxed the longest.  Oliver is the only one who has found a permanent spot.  I think I need more shelves.  Not only that, but I need a place to put those shelves.  Did I mention I'm running out of room?  Hahaha.  And if I haven't mentioned it before, I need to get out that piece of fabric I bought on Amazon so I can take more decent photos and not have to lay them on a pillow case.  <sigh>  I have boxed models all over the place.  And loose ones, too.  I'm such a bad hobbyist.  Hahahaha.

Okay.  So...somehow I came across this group on Facebook called Bridle Tree Barn Raising Challenge.  It's described as "An open community group event to customize model horse barns" in December.  I guess prizes will be awarded.  I don't have a barn.  I've always wanted one, but I don't have one.  I will refer back to the 2nd paragraph above as to why I don't have one.  hahaha.  So I live vicariously through other peoples' barns and this group is awesome.  Lots of tips and tricks and inspiration.  The barns range from tiny 1:144 scale to Traditional 1:9 scale...

Homemade to store bought...

And from a variety of makers.  Some people are making their own accessories while others are buying them from miniature stores and train stores...

Some people are *just* making arena walls, but one person did something a little bit different and decided to do a "horse box", which is an enclosed trailer and vehicle, kind of like an RV.  They're more common in the UK and seldom seen here...

The creativity of these people is really just amazing and I look forward to seeing what others come up with.  Even though the challenge is only officially for December, a lot of people are saying they're going to continue into the new year so hopefully this group will stay open for that.

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