I want to talk...

 

Have you ever suddenly gotten the desire to talk to someone about a specific subject until you are blue in the face, but lack having anyone to talk to?  That’s where I am right now...I spent a lot of time today looking at models and model-sized dolls on Instagram and it led me to almost a physical need to chat with someone on the subject.  But...sadly...I have no one.  Not really.  I only really have two friends in the hobby.  Both are married and live in different states.  One has children and a lot going on right now and the other travels a lot with her husband.  Last I heard they were in Alabama.  She doesn’t have her own cell phone so the only time we can chat is when she’s on her computer and we can send messages via Facebook.  The one with kids, we’re not really a chat all the time type of friends.  We exchange private messages on Blab.    And the thing of it is, I don’t even have anything specific I want to talk about...I just want to talk about model horses.  When you literally have nothing to do but lie in bed for 24 hours, it’s not hard to get lonely and want to talk.

I can always come here to talk or get things off my mind, but it’s not the same since it’s one-sided.  Mostly.  Some people respond, but it might be days later rather than real-time and that’s what I am needing.  So then what?  How do I rectify the problem?  It’s not like it’s a new one.  I’ve never really had any friends in the hobby who were interested in talking about models as much as I can sometimes.  I’m not saying I want to talk about them ALL the time, but sometimes something exciting happens and you have to get it out.  I can remember back in the 90s I had gone to a live show in Oceanside, California with a local hobbyist who was also sort of a friend.  On the drive home I was still riding high from a great trip and wanted to talk about it and the show and she basically told me to be quiet.  That she needed silence for a little while.  Needless to say, that took the wind out of my sails.  Maybe sometimes I do talk about one subject a little too much, but when you rarely have anyone to talk to about that subject you tend to go on a bit.  Lol.  Bottom line...I need more hobby friends I can chat horses with.

Yeah, I suppose I am feeling sorry for myself and this post doesn’t serve any purpose.  I probably shouldn’t even post it but I’m going to because this is “real life” and I’m hoping to find that perhaps others struggle with the same or similar issues and can find comfort in knowing you aren’t the only one.

Til next time...

Third test run of 2021...

 From the Breyer website:

Exclusive for Breyer Collector Club Members!  This unique model was created during the process of developing our portrait model of Dressage superstar Buckeye!  The Saddle Mule (also known as Brown Sunshine #484), was sculpted by Bonnie Shields and was first released in 1996.  This test run is painted as a leopard/near-leopard Appaloosa with speckling, dynamic shading and, of course, lots of spots!  Appaloosa spots in mules are often “skewed” and appear a bit different than the Appaloosa patterns found in horses - they are typically very loud with larger spots.

He is priced at $1,350!!!!!

The website says he’s in pretty good condition with just a couple of rubs on the body and ear tips so I imagine the price reflects that.  

Price aside, he’s pretty neat-looking and it I had a money tree I might consider entering for it.

I do have the money to pay for him should I win him, but considering I’m not willing to pay the current second hand prices of Crane, I’m not going to spend three times as much on a model I only sort of like.  I have Buckeye because I wanted to get the saddle pack that was released about the same time...did I get it? I don’t remember lol...

Unfortunately I didn’t win a Crane and, as already mentioned, the second hand prices are astronomical.  I didn’t think Emerson was that popular of a model.  Hopefully I will get pulled from the wait list, although I never have.  Oh well.  I will add him to my grail list with Acadia.

Well, that’s it for now.  Til next time!

Introducing Crane....Birds of a Feather series...

 

From Breyer:  The third release in our Birds of a Feather series features the crane.  Refined and long-legged, the crane can appear to be motionless and disappear into the background while it waits, yet moves in a flash when its dinner swims near.  In flight, these graceful birds are easy to spot with their impressive wingspans and long legs trailing behind them.

Elegant and watchful, “Crane” appears as serene as his feathered namesake.  Designed by Sommer Prosser, this Thoroughbred’s softly shaded chalky coat features light dappling and warm cream shading on his tail.  His coloring and proudly arched neck gives him a distinctly Crane-like air.

So...what can I say?  No model since Acadia have I wanted so much.  When Acadia was released, I signed up for three additional accounts for a total of four and didn’t win...do I want to do that again or just take my chances with the one?  Entry rules only say one per person not one per household or address.  I did ask for extra entries on Blab, but who knows how that will go?  

Crane is gorgeous, in my opinion and I’m glad he’s not some funky peacock color or something.  He’s the coloring of a regular horse.  I have to laugh at part of their description of him...”proudly arched neck”?  Where is an arched neck on this model, proud or otherwise?  Lol.

Well, regardless...wish me luck on winning him.  Til next time...

Ohhhh phooey...and then...

 Hiya.  Long time, no see, huh?  I apologize for my extended absence.  Without going into too many details, I was admitted to the hospital in mid-March with what turned out to be multiple infections after coming down with a nasty flu the week before.  After 4 days I was supposed to be released but after 4 days of being in bed I found myself being talked into going to a rehab center, where I still am.  I won’t go into that as it’s a long story and I am still typing one handed.  But I can do it well enough to start blogging again.

I have missed a whole lot in the hobby world over the past few weeks such as surprise web releases and the biggie, True Blue Breyer...

I really dislike all the virtual stuff going on but since this has an Australian theme and I’ll likely never go there, I decided to enter for the chance at a ticket.  I felt guilty for potentially taking a spot away from an Australian hobbyist, but then I saw it was an online event.  Plus, I HAD to have the celebration model...

So I, and likely hundreds more, entered.  Unfortunately,  I didn’t win and people are already selling theirs for a crazy amount on the secondary market.  Grrrr.  Oh well.  There was also a Classic series web special that I missed out on because it sold out long before I heard about it, which led me to the reason for this blog post.

  First, I will explain the title.  I ordered from Amazon and set the shipping address to the rehab center because I was buying them to cheer me up.  They were supposed to arrive today and I got notification that it had been delivered, but when I opened the email the photo showed my front door...well, phooey...what a bummer.  While I was calling Amazon all sorts of names, someone came into my room with a box...yay!  I knew right away what it was and all was right again.  

So...I got the new Pintos and Palominos Gift Set...

and three Horse Foal Surprise sets...

I got family 13 and 15 so I’m not real sure why I showing a photo of the one I DIDNT get.  Lol.  I want both so I will buy them on the secondary market or trade with someone down the road when I am able to get to the post office in a reasonable amount of time.

Well, if you have stuck around during my hiatus, I certainly appreciate it.  I hope everyone is doing well and til next time.

On temporary hiatus...

 Hello.  Due to sudden and unforeseen medical problems, I am unable to update my blog right now.  Good news is I am on the downward slide and will be returning soon.  Thank you for your anticipated understanding and I look forward to reconnection with you soon.

*photo because every post needs one lol*

Ohhhhh so tempting...

 Exclusively for Collector Club Members... Denim, the first test fun of 2021...

Exclusively for Breyer Collector Club members!  Breyer test fun 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.

Lady Phase is a fan favorite model.  First introduced in 1976, she's 45 this year!!  In 2013, Lady Phase donned a denim blue pinto coat and was a BreyerFest special edition of 800 named Twill...

This piece was a test created in solid denim with a glossy coat - the option not selected!  She does not have any white markings and is in excellent condition overall with some minor wear...

I hesitate to list the price here.  I think it's the highest any test run has been put at and I don't know if it's because she's in better shape than all of the others or because Breyer seems to be increasing the prices.  The first SEVERAL test pieces were $800 and then the last one was, what, $1000?  I tried looking it up but I couldn't find the information.  I don't even remember what mold it was.  Aside from the Wedgewood Stud Spider, this is the only model I've had the slightest interest in entering for because I conga this mold (and the Stud Spider).  This model is $1,100!  And while I really like Lady Phase, I don't think I will risk entering for it.  The driver side window on my car needs to be fixed and if I'm not willing to pay the $800 for that, I have no business paying $1100 for a piece of plastic.  My brother says he can get it fixed for a lot less than that and thinks I should "when" (I say "if") we get that $1400 stimulus check and I probably will.  It's inconvenient having to open my door every time I go through a drive-thru (bank/fast food/whatever).

I don't know.  I kind of like the solid Twill more than the paint one.  Kind of.  I like the gloss, which is unusual for me.  I'm more of a matte person, but some models do look better in gloss.  Too bad they hadn't gone with the gloss when they made Twill.  I definitely like the face better on the test run.  I'm not a huge fan of a lot of white.  A solid "white" (grey...don't get me started!) is fine, but I'm talking like paints.  I don't like a lot of white on paints and only a little color.  I prefer it the other way around or an equal amount.  I'm also not a big fan of a lot of white on the face or for the white to come down on the sides like that.  Oh well.  I'm also more of a fan of the short-tailed LP.  She looks unbalanced to me with the long tail, for some reason.  Anyway, I was gifted the Twill by some Blabbers back in 2013.  It was my very first PIF and I hadn't even signed up for it.  The PIF thread, I mean.  So it was quite a surprise when it arrived.  But I digress...

I am supposed to go back to Las Vegas next month for sort of a "redo" of my September trip, but the past few days I haven't really been feeling it.  I am not feeling any excitement about it.  But then I have brief spurts of "Yeah.  Let's go!! ("let's" is a relative term since I'd be going alone and that implies other people going with me).

Back to the test piece.  I think I know of at least one person who will be entering for it.  hahaha.  She's the only one I know who loves the mold more than I do!

Okay.  I guess that's it for now.  Till next time!

Appaloosa Performance Horse...

Several months ago, I sort of asked for advice on how to make my blog reach more audiences and one of the suggestions was to establish an upload "schedule" so people would know when to expect a post.  Initially, I took that advice and decided Wednesday was a good day to post.  I don't know why I picked Wednesday other than maybe because it's in the middle of the week and I usually blog during the "work week" since it's easiest on my desktop while at work.  There've obviously been times when I've uploaded on other days because something interesting happened or a model was released or Breyerfest stuff, but there've been times when I've had something non-urgent / non-exciting I wanted to post about, but waited until my usual upload day because that was the day I "established".  But I think I'm not going to do that anymore.  What I mean is, if something catches my interest on Sunday or Monday, then I'm going to blog about it then and not wait until Wednesday.  And if I have nothing worth blogging about come Wednesday, I'm giving myself permission to not force it and trying to come up with something just because it's Wednesday.  So basically, I'm going to blog whenever the "need" hits me.

This actually stems from something I saw on Breyer's Facebook page, not just a random thing...

I was swept away by a feeling of model horse nostalgia.  I don't think I ever owned the whole set, but I do remember having that bridle at some point.  Whether it was because a friend had it and gave it to me when she gave me all of her models, or because the bridle was a stand-alone purchase.  It was a LONG time ago...like, the early 1980s...so I don't remember.  But I'm pretty sure I didn't have the doll.  I did, however, have the model.  Not my original one, but a re-purchase.  

Okay, I'm "stupid".  The set-up on the Breyer Facebook page is from a couple of different sets and not the gift set.  The gift set did include a doll and a bridle, but a fuzzy bareback pad instead of the regular saddle...  I could go back and change my post, but this is real life, folks.  hahahaha.  

And that's why I remember the bridle.  I know I had the bareback pad and I remember having the doll because the wire in one of her legs...something happened and the leg wouldn't bend anymore.  It's funny, though, because I don't remember having the gift set box, but I remember having the individual components.  

I'm a huge fan of the APH.  I have...The original APH, Chief of Fourmile, Diamondot Buccaneer (the original I bought in 1996, which is one of the few that survived The Great Purge of the 1990s)...I also have the Indian Pony #1706 from 2013-2015.  They haven't made a whole lot on this mold so it shouldn't be hard to get a mostly-complete conga aside from the super special models like auction models and from Sweet Home Chicago, but looking at the models in IDYB, I don't want all of them.  I will, maybe, get #41009 - leopard appy and #1140 - Foundation Appaloosa.

Hahahaha.  Looks like I goofed again.  I actually HAVE #1140...

And there's no reason for me to not know that I have him.  Why?  Because he and 3 of his friends are sitting on a shelf just a foot above my desk where I work.  The only one not there is Chief of Fourmile.  hahahaha.  Oh good grief.  <insert big arse eye roll>.  Well, hopefully you can laugh along with me and not think how dumb I am and never want to read my blog again.  I still want #41009, though.  Not a whole lot were made of that one was made either...like 500 each of 3 different colors (black leopard, alabaster / red roan) from Horses International.  I would prefer the leopard appy but will be happy with any of the 3.  But Breyer needs to use this mold more often.  That would make me happy.  I know they probably think they need to keep coming up with new molds, but please show some love for the vintage-y ones like the APH.

So, some of you may have noticed the different background.  I had boughten a cloth a few months ago from Amazon to use, but I haven't unboxed that (no judgement, please lol).  This "cloth" is actually a fleece hooded blanket from my Winter 2018 Pusheen subscription box...

It's not very thick, but it's actually pretty warm.  I've used it in the office when I still worked in the office.  It's easy to set up and it will stay put thanks to the hood because I can just "toss" it over the back of my computer monitor.  The only drawback is making sure there's no wrinkles.  Well, as few wrinkles as possible.  I have to "double" it over the monitor so no light comes through, which makes footing a little difficult and whatever I'm shooting doesn't always like to stay upright, but that's okay.  I'm pretty patient.  And it is convenient.  I don't know why I didn't think to use it before.  One of these days I'll get out the cloth I bought for this purpose, though.  Maybe.  hahaha.

Okay.  I guess I've bored you long enough so I will go for now.  Til next time!