A project for my daughter

Over the last few weeks I've been working on a project for my daughter.
As of today I've finished it.  My idea for the project was to paint some figures and give my daughter some encouragement and strength.  I know it's sappy but I'm a dad and I guess that's what we do. Right?

Anyway, below are the Dark Sword Miniatures I've painted for her and the diorama I put together for her. 

The Dark Sword Miniatures are nice sculpts. They have some great detail for 28mm.  They were all painted with Artist acrylics.

The Rogue

The Wizard

The Knight

Under each figure I wrote what I thought are the strengths for each character.

The diorama. I'm going to wrap this and give it to her for Christmas.

Thanks Santa Clause!!!

For the last several years I've been a part of Chris Stoesen's Santa Clause event. You are assigned a random person who has a blog, you do a little research on what they working on and paint up a few figures, terrain etc and mail it to them for Christmas. It's a lot fun and challenges (at least for me) you to paint outside your normal ranges, periods and so on.  So this year my Santa Clause sent me some wonderfully painted 25mm Romans and the fortifications they are working on. It's a very nice piece and will look great on the gaming table.

Santa Clause Arrived!

Golly old Saint Nick visited the Cina Household this weekend and left my daughter a bunch of new things but he also deposited some new gaming stuff for me and some wonderful crocheting items for wife and her many sewing projects.

My secret Santa left me 3 wonderfully painted 28mm Pulp style figures which will go nicely with my growing group.  Eventually I will have to settle on a set of rules and get them all out on the table for a game.

Also Santa delivered 2 new Osprey books on the Thirty Years War, which is a new direction the group is taking and will be running a few games in 2017.

My last item which isn't related at all to gaming but will provide hours of entertainment is the Blue Ray box set of Mel Brooks films!!!  While I can probably recite all of these films by heart they are still fun to watch!

Merry Christmas everyone!!! I hope you all had a happy holiday and were able to enjoy with your loved ones.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

From Kathy, Charlotte and I we want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!  May you all enjoy a peaceful day with family and friends!!

Santa Clause 2015!

This is the second year I've participated in Chris Stoesen's Santa Clause. It has been fun finding out what to paint for the person chosen for me and waiting to see what is received.  

This year Santa delivered some wonderfully painted 10mm Ancients to face my Romans.  As an added bonus Santa also delivered some gifts for my wife and daughter.  They were very humbled by the generosity of Santa and they thank him.  I also thank Santa for the wonderful gift and for thinking of my family.

My daughter was very intrigued that the chocolate she received could not be bought here in the states.  She actually took a moment and said that maybe she shouldn't open the box because it was special.  I told her it would be okay to enjoy it and to remember that it was given in kindness.

Thank you again to Santa!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

From my family to you and yours,

Merry Christmas!!!

The Santa Clause 2015

Ho Ho Ho!!! Merry Christmas!!!!

Okay not yet but Chris Stoesen over at his blog The Santa Clause 2015 is looking for people to participate in this years secret Santa among our fellow wargamers.  I did it for the first time last year and it was a lot of fun.

I copied over the rules for you to read but you will need to go to Chris' blog and let him know you are interested.

Rule number 1:

To enter you need to either have a blog or be a regular follower of this blog (or Ian's) already. This is to give confidence to all involved that everyone will follow through to the end. If you have a blog and don't follow this one it's OK to join in. (I would still appreciate it if you did follow)

Rule number 2:

The idea is that each person involved buys a figure or figures to the value of less than £5 and paints them up to fit in with what the target blogger wargames or collects. Best would be some kind of command for the bigger scales but maybe a unit or two of such as 6mm or a building or... you get the idea.

Rule number 3:

Please try to send out your items so that they will arrive by December 20th in plenty of time for the big day. I will send out who you have on September 30th.

Rule number 4:

Please post on your blog about your participation. The more we can get on board, the more fun for all of us.

Rule number 5:

This is not intended to be a cheap alternative to Ian's Secret SantaTM. Instead it is a great opportunity to send and receive something that will be special BECAUSE it's a one off from a fellow blogger. Not that you have to limit yourself to something useful, feel free to paint up something that will just sit aside the painting desk or study etc and just give pleasure.

War Gaming Christmas Present

My wife and daughter bought me the best war gaming gift ever for Christmas.  How lucky could one guy get?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

From my family to yours: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I love this poem, I hope you will enjoy it too.