KWHCoaster

#LEGO, what in the hell did you do to LEGO Builder???

I finally got around to assembling the #LEGO 41757 Botanical Garden and 42669 Beekeepers' House and Flower Garden sets over the last few evenings and they are magnificent! The Botanical Garden building is such an elegant looking structure. I really like how the Beekeepers' House and Flower Garden set is three modules that can be detached from the house. I also noticed that a number of the parts were PAB wall offerings over the last year. Now to see if I can combine them into a small diorama. #AFOL

#LEGO Bulk Storage While it is nice popping open a storage bin with hundreds of parts loose inside, it is an accident waiting to happen. Rather than risk having to clean up thousands of small parts, especially 1x1 studs/tiles, I've started compartmentalizing them. First a large resealable bag in the bottom with about 1/3 of the total. And the smaller ones with about 1/6 each. While it looks like wasted space, the bagged parts can be higher than the bin's rim so same number of bins needed. I've also pierced the bags so the air can be purged. And, when needed, you can just grab a small bag and take to the bench. #AFOL

It was mid-October '25 since my last #LEGO Store visit to the check out the PAB wall. Some nice foliage additions to the part inventory. Some nice tan and brown parts and some trans yellow tile dots. #AFOL

The #LEGO 40957 Spring Wreath is a nice addition to the #botanical sets I have on display. I opted to do the full floral configuration, but assembled everything so I can swap out the bow and six 6x5 leaves/flowers with the bunny and six Easter Eggs. The wreath's ring is completely different than the Christmas Wreath and Halloween Wreath. It is rigid, v.s. flexible/fragile, using part 6442144 to connect the eight segments. I'll likely grab another, just for all the floral parts, 287 of 747 (with 15 spares). I'd love to see a Summer and Autumn Wreath. #AFOL

A long overdue visit to the #LEGO Store after work to check out the PAB wall. But, also ended up getting a couple of sets that I'd been wanting. The Spring Wreath, like the other wreath sets, is great for foliage parts inventory. I've already started this set and is a nice swap out from the Christmas Wreath. I was really wanting the Friends Garden Restaurant as soon as I saw the announcement. Such a great looking set. I grabbed it soon as I saw it on the shelf. Those two, and the hour large PABs, got me a couple of freebies as well. 30701 Botanicals Field Flowers 40885 Creator Duck Family 40957 Spring Wreath 42691 Friends Garden Restaurant #AFOL

My favourite new #LEGO polybag/pouch in the newest batch I bought is the:

30721 Friends Flower Stand with Roses

for the nice selection of foliage parts., 22 of the 55 parts.

#AFOL

A new batch of #LEGO 2026 "polybags" at Dollarama. I had gone in for something else and then spotted these as I was heading out. Saw the Ninjago one first and then turned around and saw the rest. I don't mind these going to paper pouches as I usually get at least four of each and build one right away, which satisfies my curiosity.

- 30714 Creator 3in1 Orange Cat
- 30716 Creator Cute Easter Bunny
- 30719 CITY Go-Kart Racer
- 30721 Friends Flower Stand with Roses
- 30723 Ninjago Cole's Car
- 30735 Technic Hot Rod Car

My favourite is the Friends set, for the foliage parts. Followed by the Technic Hot Rod, looks great for a tiny Technic subject.

#AFOL

Always amazes me how incredibly lazy #YouTube suggestions are after watching something you don't normally watch. For whatever reason, it was suggested I watch a vid about using a carpenter's pencil. I did, it was interesting. Now my suggested videos looks like this... all #DIY

Some recently bought #LEGO Friends sets assembled. 42665 Friends Puppy Playground 42681 Friends Axolotl Adventure Boat 42692 Friends Ice Cream & Balloon Stand The 42681 Friends Axolotl Adventure Boat's island looks great! Great colour combinations. At only $12.99, I picked up four sets for the great parts. #AFOL #LEGOFriends

After a stop at the Dollarama to stock up on zipper seal bags of various sizes... Ahh, that is better.

#LEGO 80119 Galloping Horses Canvas set's paper pouch contents transferred to clear pouches.

#AFOL

My after work trip to the #LEGO Store to check out the PAB wall got nixed after leaving an bit later and then encountering a issue with the subway. So, I detoured to a store that carries LEGO and has deals on retiring/retired sets. Three retired sets and a free "Year of the Horse" gift with purchase over $80.

40779 2026 Year of the Horse (free)
42610 Friends Karaoke Music Party (no discount)
42617 Friends Farm Animal Sanctuary (45% off)
71485 DreamZzz Mateo and Z-Blob the Knight Battle Mech (12% off)

I already had the two Friends sets, but some dups are nice. The DreamZzz set's box shows it has paper pouches, so didn't bother opening it up.

#AFOL #LEGOFriends #DreamZzz #YearOfTheHorse2026

Nothing kills the excitement of the $130Cdn #LEGO 80119 Galloping Horses Canvas set than opening it up and not being able to peruse the contents of what I just bought. Unless I transfer to Ziploc bags, which I will do. I'll have to pay attention to the packaging and not bother opening a set when it shows paper pouch. Unlike the LEGO 60467 City Tow Truck. #AFOL

Wow, can't tell them apart. 😆 I mostly got this #LEGO #Technic 42161 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica set for the lime green Technic parts and panels, but I always build a set before parting it out. While skimming through the manual, I had to chuckle when I got to page 189. Maybe, if I squint?

#LEGO Mechanical clock. Would love to see LEGO release non-vehicle #Technic sets. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cLsIrptF8uk #AFOL

I was about to call it a day when #MeltBanana dropped their 2003 album "Cell-scape" on YouTube. So, I had to listen to that first. I discovered Melt-Banana several years ago when they opened for The Melvins and they stole the evening for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCmEeovFPbU

Another trip back home to see family and some more #LEGO finds while there.

- 41393 Friends Baking Competition (2019)
- 41479 Dreamzzz Zoey's Cat Motorcycle
- 42666 Friends Cat Birthday Party
- 42673 Friends Family Vacation Beach Resort (had to leave this behind to bring back next time)

The pharmacy near my parents' always has some great retired sets. I had to get the Baking Competition. The others are to be retired soon and were discounted at non-LEGO Store retailers. Mostly got the Dreamzzz sets to have the rims and tires.

While I don't typically use stickers in #LEGO sets, I still get annoyed when a loose sticker sheet gets wrinkled/creased.

It was nice to see the sticker sheets in two of the #BrickCraft sets have the sticker sheet taped inside the manual to protect them. Here is the #HelloKitty video arcade machine's sheet. I wish #LEGO would do this.

I found some interesting non-#LEGO in the checkout line at Winners, #BRICKCRAFT sets.

Three Christmas themed sets

- 72121 #Grinch Decoration
- 72341 #Snoopy Decoration
- 72353 How the Grinch Stole Christmas

And a #HelloKitty themed set
- 72421 Kuromi Arcade

They have a lot of interesting sets, particularly the "Bricktanicals": https://shopbrickcraft.com/collections/bricktanicals-flower-shop

I built the Snoopy set and the eyes and name plate are printed. Very pleased with the result.

Although I mainly picked up the discounted #LEGO 80117 Good Fortune for the parts, it is actually a very nice set. I think I'll be displaying this for a while before putting the parts into the inventory. All prints, no stickers.

#AFOL

There, that is better. The #LEGO 42652 Friendship Tree House Hangout is my first set with all, except for one, paper bags. Not a fan. I like opening my set and checking out the contents of the set, long before I get around to assembly.

So, I transferred everything into ziplock baggies. Another downside of the paper bags is you have to be extra careful to make sure you've gotten everything out. Especially the smaller internal paper bags. With the plastic bags, you can just hold them up to a light to see anything left behind.

#AFOL #LEGOFriends

The #LEGO 42181 Technic VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship LT81 was a fun build. Being Technic, it has some great play features and can actually withstand being played with and not lose random parts. With ten bags of parts, 1365 pieces, I spread the assembly over four nights.

The center spine serves as a handle for play with gears at your finger tips to operate landing gear and rotate the engines. And a lever to lower and grab the payload module that houses a rover. Designed for play whether right handed or left handed. The rover is articulated for steering via a top gear. The side panels for the wing engines can be opened tor reveal the engine details.

The LT81 has a side-by-side cockpit with seats, but no Minfigs. I'll have to see if my spare City Space Minifigs will fit inside.

I never apply stickers to parts I'll most likely repurpose, and there are big stickers, but I think it looks fine without them.

How big is the LT81? It is massive! A pic with the UP! House for a size comparison.

#AFOL #Technic #LEGOTechnic