Always Time for Tea Last Post 10/15 Team please send to the graveyard

[Joria]

GA reaches for her cup of Earl Grey, the consoler of all.  She recollects that days have been spent, perhaps wasted, but, who knows in the long run, as she joined a challenge about bees.  Never did like the little monsters, although they certainly produce such marvelous things.  And such team work!  Perhaps, God in His wisdom has given us such creatures as an example of how life should or could be lived, including the stings!  Well, as she reached for yet another biscuit, (cookie for those in the land of USA), she realized she had left all so alone and lonely.  Consuming the last delicious crumb, and savoring the final swallow of tea, she reached for her pen and once again, began to write with a promise of never deserting us all again........

[Joria]

Chapter 7- Our New Life Begins

We woke up so full of joy the next morning.  Our wedding was a huge success and spending the night in luxury was just the frosting on the wedding cake.  Paka had allowed me a little sleep in time while he went ahead and showered and ate his breakfast.  Even the leftovers from the wedding were delicious.  Of course, I had a nice cup of tea brewed in the elegant tea pot I had spotted.  Just a simple, but strong, English Breakfast seemed the right way to start what was going to be a busy day.  We sat across from one another as I munched on a sandwhich, planning the things we were going to do.

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A very sleepy and slightly embarrassed Nahlani stopped by to see if we needed anything, and of course, Paka couldn't resist the opportunity to tease her unmercifully.  She took it well and I just headed to the shower to get dressed and ready for our day.

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Paka and I split up with him mumbling something about 'romantic gifts'.  I knew he really wanted to check out everything that was around and for my part, I had a lot of snow globes to collect.  I still wasn't certain what ten items I would eventually leave behind and these were super easy to get, so why not?  As the day moved into evening there was one last thing I really wanted to do while I was here.  I never quite got over the chopsticks fiasco so headed to the booth where my friend, Don Lothario was dishing out something yummy.  Success!  I managed to down the ramen with gusto and perfect chopstick control.  Who knew you could eat with bits of wood that way?  Ah well, if the Chinese were clever enough to come up with tea, why not chopsticks?

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Paka and I finally met up in front of the vendors, and after we both had satisfied our appetites for food, we wandered off to one of my favorite fishing spots.  It had everything, good fishing, more snowglobes and a rest room!  Paka had other ideas that did not include fish though.  He shyly mumbled something about "love day" and offered me a love day gift!  Color me surprised!

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Of course it was perfect and perfectly romantic.  Now I knew why he had wanted to go off on his own.  He just wanted to surprise me.  Did I get a true sweetheart or what?

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I had a surprise of my own ready for him.  It seems great minds were definitely thinking alike.  He loved his gift as much as I did mine.  I think, for both of us, it was because we were thinking of offering our love to one another in still another way.  A wedding special to continue the love we were really starting to share and deepen.

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We looked at each other with that certain look, and not saying a word we both ran as fast as we could.  Both of us in sync for what and where we were going without a word being spoken.  But then, who needed words?

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I have to giggle when I think of what tourists might have said when they saw what was happening in that old telescope?  Ahhh, love knows no boundaries.  (Hmmm, wonder if there is a rocket ship somewhere? *giggles*)
   Well, all good things must eventually come to an end so we headed back to the honeymoon suite to pack up and head home.  Walking in on Paka in the bath, I finally discovered what I had suspected for quite some time.  I fell in love with a merman!

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I guess it wasn't too much of a shock.  He rarely showed his merperson self but it did lead to things I had to be very aware of.  With all the blessings being a merman comes with, it also comes with a deep need to stay hydrated.  Not just a shower, although that will do in an emergency, but more like a complete immersion in water.  As a matter of fact, he informed me, there could be nights when a pool is a perfect spot for sleeping!  Too broke for pools at the moment, he assured me he'd manage with our tub.
   I was really glad to see the "garden" was flourishing despite my time away for the wedding.  I could see it would need expanding in the near future but for now, it was what I needed.  So much work to max out gardening and a gardening career!

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Paka was still pretty unsure of what he wanted to do in life, besides swim a lot that is, but he got to work on his woodworking table hoping to make some things to spiffy up the place and maybe put some cash in our very thin pockets.  Weddings do cost a lot, you know.

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Well, there just might be something that might cost more.

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I couldn't wait!  I told Paka right away.  He was absolutely delighted.  His son was on his way!  (Of course, HE was convinced it was a son!  Me, I didn't know one way or the other.)  Must have been magic in that telescope because I am sure that is where and when it happened.  I don't think I'll tell the new one where he or she was conceived though.  *giggles*

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Well, I'm off for now.  See y'all later!.

[oshizu]

Oh, nooboo cliffhanger! Now that's just mean! LOL
You are so brave to marry a merfolk while not living in Sulani!
I notice that my P10 game has been spawning new vampires lately.
The game will, I hope, also spawn new merfolk eventually because my default ones, like your Paka, are elders in my game.
Looking forward to the nooboo reveal!

[Joria]

I've been noticing quite a few "new" merfolk lately when I did the Honey Money challenge. Beyond the natives of Sulani, of course.  I didn't know Paka was a merman when I married him, although she started to suspect.  Quite a look on her face when she discovered him in the tub and he is NOT an attractive mer like Uku is. Gets all weird and alien looking.

[oshizu]

Joria, how do you identify which ones are merfolk unless you see them swimming in Sulani?
I can only identify the three default ones, because I saw them in Youtube videos, haha. Otherwise, when my sims "Ask if mermaid," they never get an affirmative reply.
Having an heir living in or spending more time in Sulani will, I hope, cause new merpeople to spawn in later generations.

Thank you for explaining about Paka's appearance. When I saw your screenshot of him in the bathtub, I wondered if his skintone was the result of dehydration.

[Joria]

The only way I have found to find out if they are merfolk is catch them in the water.  When Sulani first came out I knew zip about any of it but I can Uku swimming at the gym where he turned to mer!  Other than that, when they are part of a household their "needs" icon is half fish tail, half human.  All the other mers I have seen have been really beautiful but Paka is a true exception.  Pasty blue/grey skin, blue lips, and not particularly attractive fins.  (sigh)  I keep checking other people I meet in hopes of getting a clue but so far, nothing.  Ask mermaid seldom gets you an answer.  Even when Darjeeling caught Paka as a mer and then asked him he gave the standard, "What makes you think that?" answer!  Duh, Paka, your tail is showing!

[reggikko]

I can't wait to see the offspring! Has playing a merperson been difficult? How often to they need to hydrate?

[Joria]

Chapter 8 - Nooboo Time?

As we settled in to our new life, things seemed to move very quickly.  Here I was, pregnant, and not really ready for it.  After all, I have a tea plantation to grow and prepare for.  Where would be the time for that?  Well, I guess we'd all just have to manage.  In the meantime, it was definitely time for a party.  Paka was becoming an adult just in time for the birth of our first child and whether he liked it or not, I was going to throw him a party!  He never even guessed why I was so absorbed in the phone out in the garden.

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All the gang was there, (but then most of them are almost always at our house!), with noisemakers and confetti galore.  He took a minute, gazing down at the cake I had made with such love, and making a wish.  I think the tears in his eyes were tears of joy, in any case, I hope so.  He smiled, blew out the candles and the celebration really began.

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This was the first party in our home and I must say it was a gold medal success!  Only 8 more of that requirement to go.  This time I had decided to go for the al fresco look, but I have to admit my friend, oshizu, certainly did a better job of it with hers!  Well, that's ok, things will move along as they often do.  Meanwhile a lot of cake was devored and a good time was had by all.

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Meanwhile, GA had taken matters into her own hands.  None of this not being prepared for when baby comes!  Even though our home was a bit small for our liking room had to be made and for this baby, it had to be as perfect as funds would allow.  Here's a peek at the room she made up for toddlers.  The bassinet would be in our room till our child was big enough to go into his or her own room.  I don't think anyone told her high chairs were not important, but, her heart was in the right place.  No hungry babies for her!

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Actually, I was pretty grateful.  Just as I was about to relax and maybe take a nap, I began to feel the first stages of labor.  Really?!  Does it always have to happen when you are already exhausted?

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I had decided to ignore it and just go get a nice cup of chamomile tea to relax me when things really began to roll along.  For some reason a bassinet appeared at my feet and I knew there was no ignoring it!  Funny though, there was a strange marking on the floor at me feet.  I had no idea what it meant and just huffed and puffed my way through the delivery of our newborn.

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And here he was!!  Assam Andrew.  Our son.  I cuddled and loved him immediately, (still ignoring those markings, mind you).

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Oh my!!  Color me surprised when of a sudden the markings disappeared and something else appeared, in the toddler room!  A second son!  No wonder I was so huge.  I really believe the markings were just an announcement of the multiple birth.  Good thing I guess because I was totally clueless!  Son number two was quickly and lovingly named, Jon Tom.

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I finally pulled myself together and with great care brought both the bassinets into our room.  Guess it's time for a change, and I don't mean diapers!  The gang was here of course.  I guess all the members of Tea Timers had gotten the word, not that it seemed to make a huge impression on them.  Still, it was nice to have their support as they rallied around us. 

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See?  Even GA was on the ball as the house make over began with the addition of another high chair. 

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Well, that was enough for one day.  It's time to savor a nice cup of my namesake tea, Darjeeling, and just relax.  Tomorrow is another day.

[Joria]

@reggikko:  You know I've not timed it and I really should.  Their needs just show a yellow warning saying you need to do something but it very quickly goes from, "needs to bathe" as normal Sims do to a red, warning.  If they don't hydrate they start to get very itchy and their skin peels which I think is your first, real warning.  I don't know if they can die from dehydration but it sure is uncomfortable for them, more so than just being dirty.  It takes a bit of a longer bath, or swimming laps before they are right again.  Other than being aware of the need for hydration they are no harder than any other spouse.

[oshizu]

Congrats on the twin boys!
Regarding the pink-and-blue crosshairs, I'm assuming that Dar didn't get a fertility massage? If she didn't, that would mean the crosshairs are caused by the On Ley Line trait.

I see now why you struggle with toddlers: you use highchairs! I know toddlers need less sleep when you have them nap in the highchairs, but I don't like using them.
It's easier to have them grab single servings from platters in the Baker's Cousin Display Case. Then they can sit and nosh anywhere.

Thanks for your info about marriage to a merfolk. I'll be curious to discover just how many hours in a day they need to spend rehydrating.

Yay, you're second gold-medal party in a row. We don't require gold medals, but the free swag is so helpful at the start!

[Shewolf13]

Congrats on twins! Love Paka and Darjeeling ^^ Highchairs are perfect decor for a family, but gameplay wise, they can be a nightmare, sadly. Loving the toddler room ^^

[Joria]

Pictures and toddler spam on the way.  I don't usually use high chairs, but since I'm really new at doing toddlers it seemed like a good place to start.  If you have your toddler ask for food there isn't as much of that put toddler in, take toddler out, put toddler in again nonsense and it keeps them in one place so you can quickly do something else.  After the first two days they were gone, as my independent boys were not happy with them.
  oshizu so the lines are from the ley line trait?  My sim did not doing anything for her pregnancy at all, otherwise we may have had twin girls.  I don't remember if I did ley line trait or not.  I think my lot traits were Private Home, (to avoid abductions), Homey, (because of the increase in cooking and mixology), and Good Soil because of her gardens.  I'll check when I go online today.
   My twins never napped, in high chair or otherwise.  They just kept so busy during the day and then crashed for the night after bedtime stories.  They would get tired of course, but when I tried to make them nap they would just go find something else to do so I let them do it.

[Joria]

Chapter 9 My Boys

Paka and I really loved our two sons.  It seemed the tasks involved with babies, even more than just one baby, wasn't all that daunting.  Sometimes we joined up and both cared for their needs, sometimes it was just whichever one was available to tend to whichever child needed something.  And sometimes, like today, we both just wanted to hold and hug our babies one last time before they aged up.

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Oh, how I was going to miss the sweet smell and warmth of their little bodies.  I wanted them to grow, of course, but nuzzling that little neck was just so wonderful.

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Just like his birth, our heir, Assam was the first to become a boy.  He looked so intelligent and ready for the world, studying my face as if it were for the first time.  I was delighted with his curly, auburn hair, just like mine.

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No holding this one back!  He squirmed and wiggled to get free so down he went for his first, wobbly steps.  He looked so earnest as he put his foot forward.

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What triumph on his face when he made it all the way to me!  As if he knew he could do it and would conquer the world!  Did I tell you his baby trait was Independent?  I'm probably going to have a handful with this one!

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I guess he thought he'd waited just about long enough.  The bassinet started rocking away and I knew I'd better go get my second son before he leapt out on his own.  Oh, I was going to miss this one.  He was so easy to care for!

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Unlike Assam, Jon Tom just clung and cuddled, a bit unsure of the new world and new things he was going to do.  He was Momma's boy, finding his security in my arms.  My little, Angelic child, hung on while his more independent brother went about exploring his new realm.

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I set him down with encouraging and reassuring words.  He looked straight at me, so trustingly, knowing I wasn't going to let him fall.

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Wheeee!  What happiness!  What joy when he made it all the way!  He took such delight in his accomplishments, and so did I.

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Just look at that sweet face.  Jon Tom was always the one to be happy and grateful for everything.  This one was going to be so easy and delightful to help grow up.

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Paka and I congratulated ourselves on a job well done, so far at least.  Oh, what an adventure it's going to be watching our twins grow up!

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I thanked Paka for allowing me to be the one to age them both up.  I know he really wanted more of a part in it, but I think he knew moms would really need those last few seconds of nooboo time before toddlers happened.  He was much wiser than I thought, and I was grateful.

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With the boys safely in their high chairs, munching away on their first grilled cheese, we knew we had done well.  Now the adventure really starts, and what is it going to mean for the tea plantation?  Only time will tell.

[Shewolf13]

Awww, loved this so much, Joria! You're descriptions are marvelous. And those boys are too cute!

[Joria]

Thank you, Shewolf!  Here's where we left off.....

Chapter 10 - Writing on the Wall

Paka and I were pretty content and congratulating ourselves with what we thought was going to be an easy breezy toddler hood.  Our boys were adorable for sure and look how sweet they are with their music and their sandwiches!

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Right.....what we didn't notice at first was our darling heir, Assam and his antics with food!  Was this the writing on the wall of how things were going to be?  Or should I say, food on the wall?

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I was beginning to get the impression that our independent child was planning on taking matters into his own hands.  Meanwhile, it was time to start getting things going and letting them know we love them, BUT, we ARE the benevolent bosses in the family.  Jon Tom was no problem.  He just lovingly reached up his arms as daddy moved in to let him down and to start our training.  Assam had stopped playing with his food and I hoped to get in some gardening while Paka took over.

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Of course, things don't always work out the way you intended, do they?  Oh well, I've plenty of time left for gardening once they are asleep.  So, first up, potty training!  For some reason this went well.  Both boys seemed to know this was a really necessary step for their growing up.  No more wet nappies for them!

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After a hard day of play they were completely exhausted.  The best part was kissing them good night, but it sure was a rather tight squeeze.  I knew I couldn't keep two active boys in such a little room.  Time to get a hold on GA and see what magic she can do.

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Meanwhile, Paka, the darling that he is, decided to throw me a birthday party!  Of course, it wouldn't count toward our future plans but it was sweet just the same.  I know you are wondering why I even bring it up.  Please notice the bucket of ice cream on the table.  Pretty, isn't it?  Ice cream always goes well with birthday cake, right?  Well, in this case, not so much.  You see, some of the members of the gang had been putting on some weight so I made a big batch of ice cream to help take it off.

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Wrong ice cream!!  I had accidentally made some Weight of the World ice cream instead of Taste of Diet!  Poor Nahlani gained pounds with every bite she took.  Despite all the celebration, I felt like the lowest slug in the garden when I saw her.  I just hope she forgives me.

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Just for a look-see, this is an overhead view of the party with sleeping boys.  I think GA is going to have her hand full with the remodel!  All those poverty stricken things to improve!

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Well, despite it all the party was a success for both me and Paka.  He completed one step on an aspiration, Nahlani did forgive me, (and asked for a different ice cream!), and I looked forward to the magic GA will do.  More tomorrow!