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Carc Central Community => News and Events => Topic started by: Decar on December 16, 2017, 06:48:38 AM

Title: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 16, 2017, 06:48:38 AM
Seasons greetings everyone!
I can now say it's official Christmas in our household because the 3-top festive criteria have been met:

While we're at home enjoying the festivities with family, I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to start some shenanigans.
 An opportunity to share your family traditions and some photographs.  There's also a chance for me to raid my cupboards (which is becoming increasingly difficult) for some contest prizes  or maybe some forum merits ;)

Here's what I'd like to know:

1) What are your Top Festive Criteria (like I listed above)?
2) Share a photograph of where you most frequently play board games
3) Share a photograph of your favourite Carcassonne Tile and Meeple
4) Share a photograph of you playing a board game with the the people you play with the most
5) Share a photograph of you playing your favourite boardgame in action
6) Share a photograph of a festive meeple
7) Share a photograph of where you read Carcassonne Central the most

:red-meeple: :red-meeple:MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL :red-meeple: :red-meeple:
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 16, 2017, 06:48:57 AM
Duplicate for easy quoting:

1) What are your Top Festive Criteria?
2) Share a photograph of where you most frequently play board games
3) Share a photograph of your favourite Carcassonne Tile and Meeple
4) Share a photograph of you playing a board game with the the people you play with the most
5) Share a photograph of you playing your favourite boardgame in action
6) Share a photograph of a festive meeple
7) Share a photograph of where you read Carcassonne Central the most
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: franks on December 16, 2017, 01:20:58 PM
Decar,
Happy Holidays! Nice idea. I'm off work the week between Christmas and New Years. I hope to put together more during that time, sooner if possible  :red-meeple: :green-meeple:

I can start with #1: What are your Top Festive Criteria.

Simple: Food, food and food! More specifically Christmas baking.

My Aunts, Mom and wife all prepare incredible edibles for the holidays! These are mostly regional specialties of our south Italian origins.

Below is my contribution for my wife during the holidays. I make her a special Bread Pudding using Italian Panettone, (Prepared Soft Cake). More specifically I prefer a more plain Pandoro, (golden bread or bread of gold) and would rather add my own little extras like raisins. I might also add a little nutmeg to the egg and milk mixture. Set in the oven to bake (about 30 minutes and your done)! Serve with a little Maple syrup for a Canadian flavour.

(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/2c/c7/9f/2cc79fdc7b0831bafd4e49d4e9a2302e.jpg)
Picture from last year. This looks a little dry but was enjoyed  :D

(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/95/80/10/958010959c1cd3b62bd2abc6e68b4dcd.jpg)
This is the prepared cake I bought this year, in front of our Christmas Tree - (fake tree, sadly this year. We usually go to the near by mountains for a live tree but little time to make that happen).
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: aenima on December 17, 2017, 12:08:11 AM
Italan cake? ahahahah :D
well, his name is PANDORO and seriusly, in all my life, I never called it a "cake"... it's more like a... mmmmmh.... let me see on google translate..... a dessert? no..... damn! I think the only translation correct is a cake!  :o
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Rosco on December 17, 2017, 01:11:25 AM
What else would you call it? It is a cake.   It is not bread, or biscuit, or gateaux or tart, or torte, or flan. Definitely a cake and it looks good too

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk

Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Vinçon on December 17, 2017, 03:55:15 AM
Here in Spain we call it Panettone and it has been quite a trend for some years!
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 17, 2017, 06:59:55 AM
I absolutely love Panettone. It's cake as far as I'm concerned. Hot or cold. With or without butter. Peel or no peel. It's wonderful!

Great to hear you enjoy it too and have been putting your own spin on it!
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: dirk2112 on December 17, 2017, 12:59:22 PM
1) What are your Top Festive Criteria (like I listed above)?



We also like to drive around a see the really big holiday displays in the neighborhood.
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: franks on December 17, 2017, 01:47:28 PM
2) Share a photograph of where you most frequently play board games

My wife and I mostly play games at home in the comfort of of Dining Room area.

(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/41/43/01/414301dd948a43948135c81b9cbba6ac.jpg)

This is from today, Dec. 17. We are just setting up to play our 40th game of Grand Austria Hotel.
Coco is never far from the action sitting on our laps!
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 17, 2017, 01:50:46 PM
Coco's so sweet! Great photos everyone!  40 plays of grand austria hotel too. That's amazing!

Dirk for a second I thought that was the view from your window!
Great to see your fridge is prepared!
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: franks on December 17, 2017, 01:55:35 PM
dirk, that display is just awesome. I love the detail in the diorama!
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: dirk2112 on December 17, 2017, 02:01:53 PM
Quote from: franks on December 17, 2017, 01:55:35 PM
dirk, that display is just awesome. I love the detail in the diorama!

That guy does a great job.   He does a lot of local scenes.  One day I hope to go to the world's largest train display in Hamburg

Coco is super cute.  My wife wants a dog sooo bad, but I really don't want more responsibility.  I know I would end up taking care of it.
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: danisthirty on December 17, 2017, 03:20:57 PM
What a fun idea for a new topic Decar, thanks! :(y)

Quote from: Decar on December 16, 2017, 06:48:38 AM
1) What are your Top Festive Criteria (like I listed above)?

Christmas is always an exciting time in our house, and this year has been particularly special as it is our first in our new home!

(http://www.dan.tehill.net/DanXmas1.jpg) (http://www.dan.tehill.net/DanXmas4.jpg)

Our build up to Christmas always begins on the 1st December when Robbie the Elf shows up; bringing the kids an advent calendar each and getting up to mischief most mornings between then and Christmas Eve when he leaves them both a box filled mostly with chocolates and other little toys. Creating the scenes of havoc that he has caused every night after the kids have gone to bed is always fun ;)

(http://www.dan.tehill.net/DanXmas5.jpg)
(he doesn't usually arrive via the toilet but the kids thought it was hilarious that he did this year... and got toilet paper everywhere!)

We decorate the house (outside and in this year!) and have a couple of little traditions involving cakes and gingerbread houses.

(http://www.dan.tehill.net/DanXmas3.jpg) (http://www.dan.tehill.net/DanXmas2.jpg)

My personal favourite tradition is all the films we watch! Muppets Christmas Carol, Flint Street Nativity and Elf are my long-term favourites but our collection of Christmas films is certainly growing and I've already watched Jingle All The Way 3 times so far this year (because there's nothing more festive than seeing a giant Santa punching a tiny Santa in the face).
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Squiffything on December 18, 2017, 12:40:06 AM
Our main Christmas tradition is to have a day decorating the tree and the home as a family. Our girls are now 21 and 23 with one left home and a family of her own so for the first year it was just the youngest and her boyfriend and Sarah and I.  We all wear our elf hats, stick Christmas music on and spend the day together.

Once done it feels like Christmas and it reminds us all that we will never be too old not to do this.
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Xanderx12 on December 18, 2017, 08:17:48 AM
Quote
6) Share a photograph of a festive meeple

Yesterday was the presidential elections in Chile, and I could not stand the desire to take a commemorative photo (I had taken a photo in the ballot box, but it was illegal  C:-) )

I suppose that, after all, it could be considered a kind of "holiday", right?  :P
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Vinçon on December 18, 2017, 09:00:22 AM
That Christmas summer Sun looks wonderful!
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Squiffything on December 18, 2017, 09:01:02 AM
Excellent pics, Xanderx12 It most certainly is as long as your lot were voted in :)
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 18, 2017, 10:02:14 AM
Wonderful pictures everyone!

Dan's traditions involving cake and gingerbread seem right up my street  :(y)
I may have to forgo the Christmas Toilet-roll stealing Elf this year though!

As for XanderX's picture, I just hope there's no political message in your photo, with a dragon eating the party representatives.  :(y) :(y)
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Vinçon on December 18, 2017, 11:53:15 AM
Quote from: Decar on December 18, 2017, 10:02:14 AM
As for XanderX's picture, I just hope there's no political message in your photo, with a dragon eating the party representatives.  :(y) :(y)

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: glh510 on December 18, 2017, 01:23:22 PM
1) What are your Top Festive Criteria?

- Famous music from the Ore Mountains like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHLwAdxnCDc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHLwAdxnCDc)
- Christmas decorations with selfmade candles from my kids
- annual Christmas photo
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 18, 2017, 01:29:01 PM
Thanks for sharing glh...for a second I though you made candles out of your kids  :))

A very festive music too. I don't think we have much like that anymore here in the UK.

How long did it take you to put all those photos of your family together?
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: glh510 on December 18, 2017, 01:32:47 PM


Quote from: Decar on December 18, 2017, 01:29:01 PM

How long did it take you to put all those photos of your family together?

9 years in a row emoji code23]emoji code16]
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 19, 2017, 12:41:18 AM
I thought those kids were getting older...I couldn't quite work it out on my phone last night..much clearer now!
It's also impressive you've got a different festive jumper in each photo  :(y) :(y) ;D
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: franks on December 19, 2017, 09:38:17 AM
Found some time today to move onto the next Shenanigan!

3) Share a photograph of your favourite Carcassonne Tile and Meeple

(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/af/91/66/af916697c625b853ddd398f8eca29ca3.jpg)
For the standards sets my favourite is any single edge C tile and the double meeple.

Going to throw in an extra one in just for fun. These are for variants! I love the German Cathedrals and what they bring to the game. Also like my little metal meeple knights, (from an Indigogo campaign).

(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a0/e0/ce/a0e0ce64409c04e10cbb161a8f903911.jpg)
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: thodekey on December 19, 2017, 04:24:10 PM
1) What are your Top Festive Criteria?

Apart from the Christmas tree, the gifts for our beloved ones are the classic must haves for us.  And who better to watch over those gifts than the cutie-pie animals my girlfriend crocheted.  This year, the Sheep and the Donkey -let's call them totally random Blackie the Sheep & Dan the Donkey- got some extra company by Pip the Pinguin.

3) Share a photograph of your favourite Carcassonne Tile and Meeple

Here, Blackie and Pip are showing of my favorite Tile and Meeple of the moment.  That Dragon, well, that's some nice massive chunky piece of wood and that city over another city...only in Carcassonne something like that is possible.

6) Share a photograph of a festive meeple

Why limit myself to 1 meeple if Blackie the Sheep and Dan the Donkey could make the whole Christmas story complete?  Joseph and Mary, little Jesus in his crib, the shepherd, the white angel, the 3 wise men from the east who brought gold, myrrh and forgot the incense and...especially...that strange looking unidentified intruder from the west with a pint in his one hand and some scale model of himself in his other hand...well, seems KJW got his ideas right out of the Christmas story-book, if you ask me!

Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 19, 2017, 04:28:18 PM
Who'd have guessed: DanisDonkey  :o :o

That's some talented crochet and all round great photos :)
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: InTheDark on December 19, 2017, 08:16:20 PM
Quote from: Decar on December 16, 2017, 06:48:57 AM
3) Share a photograph of your favourite Carcassonne Tile and Meeple

(https://s26.postimg.cc/ni48gpk3d/prompt3.jpg)

Quote from: Decar on December 16, 2017, 06:48:57 AM
6) Share a photograph of a festive meeple

I don't have a picture for this :( but I think it would be cool if someone made a light up meeple for the top of a Christmas Tree!
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: thodekey on December 20, 2017, 12:22:48 AM
Quote from: Decar on December 19, 2017, 04:28:18 PM
Who'd have guessed: DanisDonkey  :o :o

That's some talented crochet and all round great photos :)

Thank you, Decar.

PS: No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.  ;) :D :blue-meeple:
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Squiffything on December 20, 2017, 12:31:56 AM
That Travelling Dan sure does get around and now what with his new found interest in time travel he has gone back in time to the nativity! Who'd have thunk it.

Lovely pics Thodekey and great work by your good lady :)
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 20, 2017, 02:19:59 AM
I missed franks photos. They're great. A well balanced tile makes the perfect Christmas Tree ornament.  I'm a fan of those indiegogo meeple too, though they dont get as much action as they deserve.

I'm not sure about that abbot on a labyrinth tile though...not many points :D
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 20, 2017, 01:38:36 PM
Here's some photos of our tree we managed to get up this afternoon:
(http://tehill.net/carcassonne/fun/xmas/20171220_172307.jpg)

We always try to amass an eclectic assortment of decorations; nor are we too fussed where everything sits.
Hopefully you can see a few interesting things.

Most of the decorations are ones we've collected over the years, or even from childhood.
But every year we try to collect one new decoration for the tree.
This year is was very apt:
(http://tehill.net/carcassonne/fun/xmas/20171220_171914.jpg)
The owl on the left was our decoration for 2011, we got it in the National Museum of the American Indian in NY City.
The mushroom was from ikea!

Speaking of Christmas Tree Decorations, we often go for ones with character.  This is Steve the Squirrel:
(http://tehill.net/carcassonne/fun/xmas/20171220_171851.jpg)

We have quite a lot of decorations from ikea, maybe you can spot a few more on the tree, however I like this pair sat above our fire-place:
(http://tehill.net/carcassonne/fun/xmas/20171220_172639.jpg)

I have no idea why we got this one, but he watches the tree non-the-less:
(http://tehill.net/carcassonne/fun/xmas/20171220_172339.jpg)

Finally, here my favourite Christmas decoration.
I remember buying this Christmas Duck (called Goosey btw) in Woolworths in the late 90s.
While I was at University, I received a phone call from my parents telling me that our dog had decided to attack Goosey, and eat one of his eyes.  It was ok though...my father had made an eye patch for him.  And there the story was complete...until
However, just a couple of years ago, I was frequenting a local charity shop when I stumbled across this fine specimen.
Who else would even consider buying a Christmas Duck missing an eye?
I'll tell you who, the owner of a similarly sight-impaired duck!
Needless to say, this pair come out every year and take pride of place in our Christmas display.  Goosey and Mrs Goosey:
(http://tehill.net/carcassonne/fun/xmas/20171220_172407.jpg)
PS: Thanks to Rich The Fish for collecting Roland Revenge's copy of Battle Line.

And finally this is where we play most of our games:
(http://tehill.net/carcassonne/fun/xmas/20171220_165425.jpg)

I hope you enjoyed this short jaunt through our Christmas Traditions  :D
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Squiffything on December 20, 2017, 01:56:31 PM
Tom I love it, thanks for sharing. The ducks are absolutely wonderful and the story behind them makes them even more special. As I said about our tree we have two thirds of the decs which have meaning to us and the remainder have been with us from our very first Christmas.

I'm an old sentimental git at heart and Christmas, to me, gives me the chance to let it all out and relax in the comfort of happiness with my family and friends. Threads like this one lets me know that being round here of an evening is with like minded sorts and makes the world feel good. Keep it up guys :)
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Chooselife on December 23, 2017, 01:52:00 AM
Good Morning All,

Not every point but here goes my Christmas photos:
1) What are your Top Festive Criteria (like I listed above)?
My top Festive Criteria have of course to do with food, this is the second time I organize family Christmas at our home but the first I'm responsible for the Cod (Mom usually handle it), so it's my first time de-salting it:
(https://i.imgur.com/JdgVINkm.jpg?1)
I'm hoping for the best.
Every year I also do a type of kneaded sweet bread but only on the 24th so I'll post tomorrow.
Not food related I also try to have our Christmas Tree fully decorated but with the help of the kids this was the first time I managed to use all the decorations, next year I will buy a few more:
(https://i.imgur.com/bsdwrXEl.jpg)

3) Share a photograph of your favorite Carcassonne Tile and Meeple / 6) Share a photograph of a festive meeple
If I have to choose one of each, it is the ones ever gifted to me, never used the tile and avoid to take the meeple out of my Carc Box as he is prone to mischief and hiding on strange related places:
(https://i.imgur.com/CSULZYIl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sFhekMSl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qdTYsTxl.jpg)

I'll try to come back tomorrow with a few more photos but if not possible MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL.
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: InTheDark on December 23, 2017, 02:19:37 AM
Quote from: Decar on December 20, 2017, 02:19:59 AM
I'm not sure about that abbot on a labyrinth tile though...not many points :D
It's actually a mayor :)!
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 23, 2017, 02:26:05 AM
Quote from: InTheDark on December 23, 2017, 02:19:37 AM
Quote from: Decar on December 20, 2017, 02:19:59 AM
I'm not sure about that abbot on a labyrinth tile though...not many points :D
It's actually a mayor :)!

That's weird because i distinctly remember scrolling back jo to check it was a mayor...saw the mayor..but wrote abbot anyway....doh.
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 23, 2017, 02:28:59 AM
Excellent photos chooselife!

Good luck preparing the cod!  (That's not something I thought I would be saying this Christmas)

Your tree is looking mighty good too.

I stupidly left my Maltesers advent calendar in work, so will have tl collect it next year.

I'm guessing your sweetbreads are a local dish and nothing like the sweetbreads you may find in the UK, which are something enitrely different!
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: wolnic on December 23, 2017, 08:02:34 AM
Quote from: Chooselife on December 23, 2017, 01:52:00 AM
... and avoid to take the meeple out of my Carc Box as he is prone to mischief and hiding on strange related places:

The new "Elf on the Shelf"?
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: dirk2112 on December 23, 2017, 05:20:29 PM
Our chinchillas like to hide in our Christmas tree.  One of them ate the strap on one of the gift bags.    ::)
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: InTheDark on December 23, 2017, 05:38:17 PM
Quote from: Decar on December 23, 2017, 02:26:05 AM
Quote from: InTheDark on December 23, 2017, 02:19:37 AM
Quote from: Decar on December 20, 2017, 02:19:59 AM
I'm not sure about that abbot on a labyrinth tile though...not many points :D
It's actually a mayor :)!

That's weird because i distinctly remember scrolling back jo to check it was a mayor...saw the mayor..but wrote abbot anyway....doh.
Everyone makes mistkaes :).
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 24, 2017, 02:55:10 AM
Haha, glad to see I'm not the only one with rodents in my tree  ;D ;D
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: franks on December 29, 2017, 11:18:24 AM
Update and maybe completed Shenanigans(?)

7) Share a photograph of where you read Carcassonne Central the most

I'll share 2 photos here. The first is our main entertainment and living room area. I spend more time on my laptop than the TV.
Where's Coco?

(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e7/5d/47/e75d47860826e06754652c27c6a5c4ed.jpg)

The second is our back converted bedroom/office. This walks out onto a deck with a south facing garden. It's cold and snowy at the moment but maybe not the white-out as it appears! This is where we sit when the luxury of time allows us during the day. The book case stores our 'upstairs games' or the ones we regularly play. The main collection is downstairs but that is for another post  >:D

(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/44/66/18/44661819f6d430883c42190bc9fbd136.jpg)

So I kind of bunched a couple of the Shenanigans together in previous photos but that will up to Decar to decide if those qualify  ;D

1) What are your Top Festive Criteria?
2) Share a photograph of where you most frequently play board games (combined with #4 & #5)
3) Share a photograph of your favourite Carcassonne Tile and Meeple (combined with #6)
4) Share a photograph of you playing a board game with the the people you play with the most
5) Share a photograph of you playing your favourite boardgame in action
6) Share a photograph of a festive meeple
7) Share a photograph of where you read Carcassonne Central the most

Hope everyone had a good Christmas and best wishes for the New Year  :white-meeple: :red-meeple: :green-meeple:
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: dirk2112 on December 29, 2017, 11:32:10 AM
I am not getting to all of these.  We already started cleaning up from Christmas.   This is the least eaten side of the gingerbread house.

This is my favorite meeple and tile (the grinch who won't share a road with the inner city scum).
Title: Re: 2017 - Seasonal Shenanigans
Post by: Decar on December 29, 2017, 03:40:38 PM
I'm just glad to see you have a dog bed in everyroom too franks...I was beginning to think we were the only ones.... also good to see such a well organized collection!

That's quite a gingerbread house too dirk!