Dog Days of Summer

We spent Labor Day weekend visiting my younger daughter, now in her 4th year of Veterinary School at Cornell, in Ithaca, NY. The weather was gorgeous the entire weekend. Like the rest of the Northeast, they have had a moderate drought this summer, so we didn't do any real hiking this visit. We did visit several of the many wineries/vineyards around Cayuga Lake, as well as the lake itself.

Sheldrake Point Winery is located right on the lake. Like almost all of the wineries, it is dog friendly, so Rory, Annie, and Annie accompanied my wife, my daughter and me on our visits. After enjoying tasting a variety of wines (and buying a few bottles to take home with us), we headed to the lake with the dogs. Despite visits to this winery in the past, we hadn't thought to ask about a place for the dogs to swim. Duh!  Turns out a walk of about 30 yards is all that is needed. 

Our Synchronized Swimming Team; I understand that they are going for a Golden medal!

The dock in the background belongs to the winery, and boat borne wine tours dock at it and discharge their passengers there for a visit. That eliminates the need for any designated drivers!

The path behind us leads directly to the winery. 

A dog walks into a bar...

uh, make that TWO dogs walk into a bar.

No, no make that THREE dogs walk into a bar!

They realize they are the only dogs wearing collars. 

 One dog says to the others, "My gosh, I think we are in a Stray Bar!"

With thanks to our friends at Swedish Hill Winery. We had a great visit, and came back with a generous supply of their fine wines! I especially like Riesling, dry or semi-dry, which is the standout wine grape of the Finger Lakes region, and all of their three varieties of same were excellent. 

Zoe, Rory, and Annie pose at Thirsty Owl Winery, with part of their vineyards and Cayuga Lake in the background. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and we came away with a selection of their wines as well. 

About 1/2 mile walk from The Thirsty Owl is another spot on the lake where the dogs could swim. As soon as they saw the lake front, they eagerly did so. Indeed, they wound up swimming in the lake twice each day!

The owl atop this dock is probably both a reference to the Thirsty Owl, and an attempt to dissuade gulls from sitting (etc) upon it!

The Crystal Lake Cafe at Americana Vineyards. Americana is easily the most dog friendly place that we've ever been. The staff there all seem to love dogs, and give them treats. The owner regularly greets us and makes sure the dogs have fresh water to drink, and then schmoozes with the dogs and us. He's taken pictures of them that  have appeared on the winery's website several times. Their own mascots were a pair of Chocolate Labs, Max and Ruby. Sadly, both died of old age in the past year or two, and while he plans to get another dog(s), he isn't quite ready to so so yet. We know that feeling!

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The Cafe serves excellent, freshly prepared food - we wound up having an early dinner there both days. On different days we had 2 different Flat bread Pizzas, Vegetable Quesadillas, Corn Fritters, Spinach and Cheese dip, and an over the top gourmet "grilled cheese sandwich", fresh salads, and hand cut fries. Of course to go with that we had to have some of their wines, including a Dry Riesling for me, Cabernet Franc for Jan, and a Cayuga White wine slushie for Kristie. 

    Best of all, the dogs can be with us while we eat outside. They were happy to soak up even more attention from the staff and clients! As Wine Club members there, we also get free wine tastings year round, and a 15% discount on meals at the Cafe. Definitely a good deal!

Although they have great deserts at the Cafe at Americana, after dinner we drove a few miles along the lake to Cayuga Lake Creamery. This place is always busy, even in the winter. Their ice cream is great (I had peach and Jan had salted caramel). In addition to all the treats available for humans, they also have a "Doggie Bowl" for $1.50 - soft serve vanilla in a cup with a dog biscuit on top. All three dogs love ice cream, but seldom get it. What the heck, it was their vacation too, so they shared one!

The last weekend in August we attended a dinner/birthday party for our friend Chad, given by his husband, Bob, at their beautiful house in Sherman, CT (named for Roger Sherman of New Milford, CT. He was a signatory to the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and co-author of the Connecticut Compromise). Bob, who was previously a vice president for marketing for Seiko in the USA, is also the breeder whose dogs have enriched our lives - Cricket, Piper, Rory, and Zoe - only our first and last Goldens came from elsewhere, and the first was before we had met Bob, and the last was during a time when Bob had no dogs available and Rory sorely needed canine company! Above are some of the 6 week old puppies from 2 recent litters of  Overlook Golden Retrievers.  They were on hand for all of us to hold, cuddle and play with, all of the guests being dog lovers and most of them owners of at least one of Bob's dogs. Supposedly we we were helping "socialize" the puppies. I think it was rather the other way around, myself, assisted by Bob's delectable but potent Margaritas!

New Caaanites

     Back about 3 months ago, a huge, heavy package arrived on my doorstep via the USPS. My friend and Band of Brothers 2nd edition co-author Ken Baggaley had emailed me that something was on the way without revealing much more. The contents wound up being a complete Ancient Canaanite army!

Pride of place goes to the TEN chariots, of course - these will need some epoxy/super glue to reattach some of the crew figures, but aside from that, some minor enhancements,  a coat of "Magic Wash",  and finishing the bases in a style similar to my Egyptians, they are pretty much ready to roll!

Another view of the Chariot arm; I have no idea what manufacturer(s) these come from. 

The chariot on the right with the armored horses looks a bit like a Mitanni one

Some shields will need to be reapplied as well - shipping is tough on figures, even though these were quite well packed.

These guys look a bit Celtic to me...

I like the striped designs on the cabs of these chariots.

Once again some spears, bows, and shields will need to be glued back in place.

Rear view of the Chariot Cavalcade.

Top down view.

There was plenty of infantry in the box, too. Some medium infantry archers. 

Once again some bows (included) to reattach, but otherwise just needing minor upgrades to be table ready.

Medium Infantry 2 handed axe guys!

Adding some shading to the folds of their robes will really make these figures pop, I think.

Heavy infantry Spearmen. They need spears and some reattached shields, but still 90% ready to march. These look to be the elites of this army.

You can see some broad strips engaged on their "kilts"; I think painting those on (white, yellow, or red?) and some black lining on the armor will snazz them up some, too. 

Some lightly armored spearmen. Not sure if they have shields. 

There is some detail on the webbing that magic wash or even some dry brushing will bring out nicely, I think.

Light infantry slingers - the way they are reaching into their pouches for sling stones makes them look almost like they have baseball mitts!

Just some magic wash and maybe some yellow slashes on the headbands for these chaps, I think.

Some more lightly armed spearmen - "Bow fodder"?

"What has it got in its nasty, little, pocketetses?"

"But wait, there's more!" some additional figures of the same style.
On census, these are enough figures for another unit of 12 heavy spearmnen, plus 3 slingers and a spearman.

and a second bag, mostly painted. these turned out to be 9 painted figures that look like early mounted archers, or perhaps chariot crew. I may have to look for some small horses for them. 

And a third, likewise mostly painted: 9 painted axemen similar to the other unit depicted, plus 5 command figures - 2 standards, 2 drummers, one trumpeter. More than enough for a second unit. 

and finally a 4th; looks like "Philistines" (Peleset) in this one.

These turned out to be 10 archers and 8 shield bearers/spear or javelin men/chariot drivers. All are "debased", smallish figures, so clearly intended to ride in chariots. They may require some consideration. 

All told, that's 10 chariots, 6 infantry units, and enough figures for several more. Once they are spruced up a bit, they can take the field as enemies or allies to my Egyptians. My enthusiastic thanks again to you, Ken, for your generosity!  Look for them on a battlefield in Palestine before long! Incidentally, my wife is from New Canaan, CT, and we were married in the Congregational Church there 34 years ago last week, so NEW Canaanites are a very suitable addition ton the collection!.

Scotts Greys - 2nd (Royal North British) Dragoons

    This famous British cavalry unit traces its origins back to 1678, three  independent troops of Scots dragoons being raised at that time, which were amalgamated in 1881, forming the Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons.  They were numbered as the 4th Regiment of Dragoons in 1694, by which time they were already riding grey horses. They were renamed the Royal North British Dragoons in 1707, "North British" being seen as a replacement terminology for "Scotland" The regiment was already being referred to as the Scots Greys by then, regardless of official nomenclature!

The Regiment was renumbered the 2nd Dragoons in 1713, as part of an arrangement unifying the English and Scottish armies. They took part in the War of the Spanish Succession extensively, fighting at the battles of Schellenberg (1704), Blenheim (1704), Elixheim (1705), Ramillies (1706), Oudenarde (1708), and Malplaquet (1709).

The regiment returned to Scotland and participated in the suppression of the First Jacobite Rebellion, and then remained on home duty policing Scotland until the War of the Austrian succession. They fought at Dettingen (1743), capturing the standard of the Maison du Roi in the process! They also participated in the battles of Fontenoy (1745), Rocoux (1746), and Lauffeld (1747), all British defeats. With the end of the War, the Greys returned to home duty.

They fought in Europe again during the Seven years war, including the battles of Bergen (1759), Minden (1759), Warburg (1760), Villinghausen (1761), and Wilhelmsthal (1762). With the end of the Seven Years War in 1763, the 2nd (Royal North British) Dragoons returned to home service. It took no part in the American Revolutionary War.

   During the French Revolutionary Wars, the regiment served only in the campaign of 1793 - 1794 in Flanders, fighting at the Battle of Tournai (1794) before returning home. It then took no further part in the Revolutionary or Napoleonic Wars... until 1815. At the Battle of Waterloo, as part of the Union Brigade, the Scots Greys of course took place in one of the most famous cavalry charges in history, capturing an Eagle of the 45th Ligne in the process.

The mottos of the Regiment included "Second to None", a reference to their numbering, and the fact that it turned out that they were in fact the oldest regiment of British Dragoons, despite being assigned the second place when the English and Scottish armies were united to form the British army. 

  The unit returned home yet again until the Crimean war, where it participated in the Charge of the Heavy Brigade at the battle of Balaclava (1854),  which was rather more successful than the ill fated Charge of the Light Brigade! The Greys returned home again in 1857. In 1877, the regiment was re-titled as the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys). The regiment next fought as a whole in the 2nd Boer War (1899), by then wearing khaki (ugh!). They underwent their final name change in 1971, when they were amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales Dragoon Guards) to form the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys).

Aside from the grey horses (which are perhaps a bit dark as painted here), the other unique thing about the appearance of the regiment was their headgear. In the earlier years, the regiment wore a miter cap much like that of the Grenadiers of the time. It is said that distinction was conferred by Queen Anne after the Battle of Ramillies (1706), but this has never been fully confirmed. 

The change to a bearskin cap started in 1768. By the Napoleonic Wars, the cap had a red cloth patch on the back bearing the white horse of Hanover upon it. 

The cords on the bearskin were yellow at the time of Waterloo, although it seems the regiment wore their oilskin covers over the bearskins that day... not that I am going to paint them that way!

"Scotland Forever!"    This shot is certainly reminiscent of Lady Butler's famous painting of the Greys charge at Waterloo, isn't it? The animation of these 28mm Old Glory figures adds to that impression. 

Like other British cavalry units of the Napoleonic Wars, the horse furniture was natural leather. In later years, the Greys had the nicknames of "The Bird Catchers" (from their capture of the 45e Ligne's Eagle), and the rather odd "Bubbly Jocks", evidently a Scots term for male turkeys!

You will note the still missing standard. However, I am happy to announce that the wayward flags have at last turned up, There will thus be a reprise of the three Dragoon regiments I painted in August before too long, in order to show off said flags at last!