Breyer's November Stablemate Surprises & a Recipe

Yesterday Breyer dropped a notice that their fourth annual November Stablemate gambler's choice/blind bags would be available today at 2:00 PM EST to Collectors Club members.

This year's offering is the mini Clydesdale (squee!!) in four colors. (I want that blue! And the red! Although the gold and silver are nice, too!) Like last year, the 2021 web specials are in blind bags.

Last year Breyer offered Festive Filigrees. I really wanted the Darwin (the Lippizaner) and actually ended up with all four. (All photos from Breyer.)

The 2019 assortment was Starry Skies, a gambler's choice of four unicorns with stars. Unicorns are not my cuppa hot chocolate so I did not order any.

The very first Stablemate holiday web special came in 2018, the Fruitcake Fillies. (I love that name!) They were cute, but like the 2019 Starry Skies, I did not like these enough to order any of them.

This year it's a favorite vintage mold that's been shrunk down to Stablemate size - I'm going to be happy no matter which colors I get!

Today's recipe is a legacy from my mother. I don't know where she got it, but it's another holiday staple since my childhood. This candy hardens quickly so move fast after you've added the nuts and vanilla.

Spiced Nuts

Mix 1 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 cup evaporated milk, and 2 tablespoons of water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir constantly until it reaches soft ball stage. 

Quickly stir in 1/2 cup pecans and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool. (Parchment might work - I've never tried it, though.) 

If you or your family are like me and mine, spiced nuts won't last long around your house so I double the recipe.

New Ponies!

Breyer's 70th Anniversary may be a tough year on my pocketbook. (I doubt that I am alone in that!) The evidence is on my craft table.

Not only does it have my NaMoPaiMo project and supplies, but some models that are out as I prepare for my first live show of the year and several new models as well. I put the new ones there until I could get them photographed, tagged, entered into my database, and then finally, put on the shelves.

 The 70th Anniversary  Indian Pony is STUNNING! This sweet mare is one of my favorite molds.

 Surprise! I bought a new mold! But who could resist this gorgeous Hamilton in palomino?

My 2019 Vintage Club freebies, Stablemates Misty and Stormy, have arrived. (I wonder why Breyer did not give Stormy her own blue ribbon?)

Yep, another new mold - Carter, Breyer's first web special of 2020. Photos do not do his color justice.

I saw this sweet Cantering Welsh Pony listed on eBay for only $8. I did not have this piece in chestnut, and this girl, although a little yellowed, is lovely.

Breyer made their annual Christmas blanket in red, green, and black. Unfortunately this black one is a duplicate for me, so I will see if I can trade it for a green one.

Finally, a new clinky (and a non Breyer) - Lone Star, a special run for Lone Star Live in 2002. He has nice detail.

If this is just a taste of what Breyer will be offering this year, then I can hardly wait to see what else is coming for collectors!

Christmas Candy - Breyer's Christmas Web Special

There were some horses under the tree for me Christmas Day, but I forgot to get the photos off of Lisa's phone before she went home, so I'll post them when I get them.

In the meantime, I had set an alarm for 11:00 AM to remind me to check Breyer's web site for its Christmas web special. When it rang, I logged into my Collectors Club account and up popped Christmas Candy!

Photo credit to Breyer.

Some people had predicted that we might get a candy striped Zebra, and they were right. At $135 the cost was a little pricey, but I really liked it and so I bought one. Colors are shipped randomly, so with 500 of each color I should be able to buy others second hand. 

There are only twelve of "licorice coal," the black Zebra, and while I think that that is a clever idea and lots of fun for collectors, I honestly hope I don't get that piece because I love the striped colors. My preference is for red, green, gold, and blue in that order, but I will be happy with whatever arrives in my mailbox.

I checked social media late last night and I was surprised that there seemed to be a lot of folks who didn't like it and had chosen to not order one. Some mentioned cost, while others simply said they did not care for the mold that had been chosen.  

With a horse whose favorite treat is candy canes, and grandchildren who save their own candy canes from Santa to give to her, how could I pass up Christmas Candy?