Happy 250 USA

 

Happy 2026 and Americas 250 Birthday!

                      Happy New Year America!

From Declaration to Constitution, it all started in 1776

July 4, 1776  

Colonies declare their independence from Great Britain

October 17, 1777

General Burgoyne surrendered his army to the Americans under Arnold and Gates at Saratoga N.Y. As the greatest British defeat to this date, the victory guaranteed a French Alliance in the here-to-fore “English-Colonial Affair.”

November 1777

The Articles of Confederation establishes the first “official’ gov’t of the United States of America. The Articles stress the independence of the individual states and severely limits the powers of the central gov’t.

Winter 1777-78

Valley Forge, General’s Washington and von Steuben create the first “professional” American Army.

October 19, 1781

General Cornwallis surrenders his army to General Washington at Yorktown Virginia. Final straw that breaks the British will to continue the war. Peace negotiations begin in earnest.

1782-83

Peace of Paris, Great Britain grants the colonies their independence and all the territory from the East Coast to the Mississippi River, apart from Florida and the Gulf Coast which is given to Spain.

1785

Land Ordinance of 1785 (Township Act) established the township method of surveying and selling the lands of the Northwest Territories. A portion of each township is set aside to establish public schools.

September 1786-January 1787

Shays Rebellion demonstrated the need for a strong central gov’t. The inability/unwillingness of the states to assist one another in critical situations such as rebellions or natural disasters under the Articles of Confederation is undeniably demonstrated.

1787

Northwest Ordinance divides Northwestern territory into five smaller territories, established the format for accepting new states into the Union-60,000 settlers, a written state constitution and a representative/Republican form of gov’t. Slavery is also prohibited in the Northwest Territories.

May 25, 1787

Delegates from twelve states meet in Philadelphia to “revise the Articles of Confederation'' so as to provide unity, order and prosperity for the nation. This will become the Constitutional Convention.

May 30, 1787

The delegates decide to replace the weak “League of Friendship” of the Articles of Confederation with a strong, Federal, form of gov’t.

May-December 1787

Compromise! After many heated discussions the delegates create the United States Constitution, establishing three branches of gov’t, Legislative, Judicial and Executive. The Great Compromise established a two-house legislature: the Senate will be based on state equality with each having two senators, while the number of House seats will be based on the population of each state. The Slavery is defined and legalized in the Three-Fifths Compromise. Slave states will be allowed to count their slaves as Three-Fifths human for population numbers for the allocation of congressional representation.  This will give slave states a greater say in presidential elections through the Electoral College then the number of voters have in free states.

March-May 1788

Publication of the “Federalist Papers” to promote ratification of the United States Constitution. Written by John Jay, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the papers are instrumental in swaying much public opinion to favor the ratification.

December 1787-July 1788

Ratification! Two-thirds (nine) of the states were required for passage of the US. Constitution. On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify while New York became the ninth on July 26, 1788.  The Bill of Rights was not initially part of the U.S Constitution, it was not added until December 15, 1791.

April 6, 1789

George Washington is unanimously chosen to become the first President of the United States, taking the oath of office on April 30.

Merry Christmas one and all.

May your toy soldiers always deliver (Sgt. Preston is the largest toy soldier I have ever made), and your dice never fail in the New Year.

Rick

He Knows When You Are Sleeping

  

Better get to bed as Santa Claus is on his way...Merry Christmas Everyone!

Happy Halloween '25 for the "Ladies of the Night"

 

On this special night of all Hallow Eve some powerful ladies want to say hello.

Some have even left the comfort of their "sleeping" quarters to drop by.

Like Baroness Gudrun Halsbitt,... 

Others have dropped by after a quick flight, like Witch Bella Sensual...

Vampirella and "Spike,"...

Witch Baba Yaba...

Heks Valeska Skogridder,

Succuss Captain Mimi Rouge and Peppy and

Vampire Countess Lucrecia Cruentus, Queen Vladcaedes Sanguinarius and Princess Valdamina Sanguinarius wish you all the most "Special of Halloweens." Sleep tight tonight, HA, HAA, HAAA.

Happy 249th Birthday

Who would have thought that our Revolution would form the basis for the powerful country we have 249 years later.

Happy 4th of July USA!

Deserts are ready-homemade Cherry, Apple and Blueberry Pies

It's Always Time For Painting Nutcrackers

My wife loves Nutcrackers, so I decided to paint a few more for next Christmas for her.

These are simple wood pieces that I paint for her Nutcracker tree that we have every year. All our Christmas trees have themes-in Christmas'24 we had nine decorated trees. Therri loves Christmas, so we have between 8 and 15 decorated trees every year. Check here for some of our Christmas Decorations of past years-

Holidays at Therri & Rick's: Christmas

Here are three of the five Nutcrackers I painted this month.

CHeck here for more of our Nutcrackers including my 6ft Sgt. Preston that I made:

Holidays at Therri & Rick's: Nutcrackers

Christmas is Nutcracker Season

                          Christmas and Nutcrackers are a staple at our house. So, it's time to ready the largest "Nutcracker/Toy Soldier I have ever made, Sgt. Preston (AKA Rudolf Rasendale II-incognito). 

                                       

In 2017 Therri challenged me to make a six-foot tall nutcracker toy soldier.

I started with some plastic drainpipes and a hollow concrete foundation tube

First coats of paint, it was summer and 100+f (38 c) degrees in the shade.

                                              Now for a nice Victorian mustache.

                                                       Be honest... how do I look?

                                                                    Much better.

                           We are getting there, hat, jacket, pants, even boots.
                                             

                                      Hair, by my chinny, chin, chin and head.

                                             You can never have enough gold bling.

                                                       Just a little tuck here,

                                                          and of course, here.

                                                          Finishing touches.

Sgt. Preston is six feet (1.83 m) tall, not counting his feather. It took less the two weeks to finish him, while his components pieces and decorations cost less $100. He is the commander of our army of Nutcrackers, we have over 400 ranging in size from 12.5mm (1/2 inch) to life size Sgt. Preston.

                                         

See here for some of our Nutcracker collection:

Holidays at Therri & Rick's: The Nutcrackers Christmas

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving 2024.

May your day be full of love, 

family remembrances of those no longer with us

and good food.

Thank You Veterans

 As Veterans Day comes to a close this year, I want to thank all the veterans living and dead who have protected our Nation. Below are just some of the family and friends who have served since Armistice Day/Veterans Day has been celebrated.

Dad (on the left) and Uncle Pete-WWII

Brother Mike (on the left) and Louie M. Purple Heart-Vietnam

Nephew William (on the right) 22 years' service, Bronze Star-Gulf Wars.

My son Thomas-Gulf War, War on Terrorism.

God Bless our Country and the Men and Women who protected/protect us.

Our Witches Wish You a Wickedly Wonderful Halloween

                                             

As it nears Midnight, "the Witching Hour," our witches have gathered, Heks Valeska Skogridder, 

 Busty Bella Sensual

 Crone Baba Yaba

Steampunk Victoria Harley

Mistress Rosa Haxamastare

Water Master Ellia Sjøheks

and the most powerful of them all, Scarlet Witch, wish you a great all Hallows Eve Day of "Trick or Treating."

All are plastic, except for Bella Sensual and Victoria Harley who are metal pieces. I painted them all within the last 24 years.