A Wesseldine's Night Dream - Closure

[oshizu]

A huge congratulations, Watcher, on guiding the evil Nana through her completion of those 66 fights and 666 whims. You are a paragon of persistence and patience

I'm thinking Moth will become a Garden Guru (moth = flame = Freelance Botanist's reward trait0 and Blossom will become a Magical Maestro (career = Floral Designer).
However, Port Promise isn't a great place to achieve six perfect plants. I had perfect plants devolve to Normal when the neighborhood footprint dropped from Green to Normal.
But then, I imagine the family will relocate once more when Satoru completes his Big Dream.
Haha, sorry for the terrible guesses for Moth and Blossom. *hangs head in shame

I vaguely remember you previously explaining why the family club has Work Out as a club activity. 
Comparing Satoru in the family protraits from this week and last week, he has really gained some muscle.

[GlazeyLady]

I’m so happy to be back reading the stories!

Huge congrats to Nana and watcher on the 66 fights won and 666 whims! I had pretty much figured I.would skip that Big Dream, but Nana is giving me courage! Maybe I won’t cross it off the list just yet.

I was guessing Outdoorsman for Moth because of the insects, but when he said he likes swimming but likes making more, I thought maybe Creative Artisan. That has Master Maker as one of the aspiration options, and it requires the insect farm. I thought Garden Guru for Blossom since you mentioned you don’t have Realm of Magic.

I’m really enjoying your story - thank you for sharing it with us!

[Granny Lawlor]

I’m so happy to be back reading the stories!

It's good to have you back - well done for putting together the first of 2022 challenges - I'll be trying to do some!

I was guessing Outdoorsman for Moth because of the insects, but when he said he likes swimming but likes making more, I thought maybe Creative Artisan. That has Master Maker as one of the aspiration options, and it requires the insect farm. I thought Garden Guru for Blossom since you mentioned you don’t have Realm of Magic.

Two for two - yay!
Blossom's Big Dream was going to become so obvious in the next installment but I'm glad it got guessed first.
Moth's Creative Artisan was chosen because moth's like wool and he's got a lot of knitting ahead of him! I did say it was tenuous.
Cobweb's BD is still open to conjecture but I think someone will get it soon.

[Granny Lawlor]

2.13-14: One Touch Of Nature

Year 2, Summer Week 1

Tania: I can’t believe it’s the twins birthday! They’ve done as much as they want to so lets have some cake.
Satoru: Moth first, of course!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Cobweb: And then Blossom’s. I’m so excited, my eyes are popping!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Satoru: I can’t believe you beat me again!
Puck: I’m just that good!
Satoru: Tania, I thought you were supposed to be helping me!
Tania: Mentoring! Not helping – there’s a difference.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Satoru: My last frog! It took me ages to find a Dirt Frog to breed. Right – off to market with you lot. We really don’t need a lot of frogs in the family inventory.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Blossom: It’s nice that you keep coming round after school.
Ervin: I like that we can enthuse about the outdoors together.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Blossom: These are my plants! All mine! Mum has cancelled the gardener. I like the yellow blossoms in between the paving too.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Ervin: I just came to see your garden…oh…er…that was nice!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Friday
Satoru: I did it! Level 10+. That last step was a surprise but I did it! Thanks to Puck & Tania and all that chess playing. Right, family – we’re moving!
Cobweb: To where?
Tania: To a better place for gardening and raising more babies!
Moth: More? Aren’t we enough?
Blossom: Oh brother! You know Mum always wanted a big family! Is it where I suggested?
Cobweb: Better internet?
Satoru: No, but definitely greener! With more space!
Tania: 2 Olde Mill Lane in Henford-on-Bagley

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Cobweb: It’s so peaceful here, knitting on the porch.
Blossom: My plants have never been so happy! And I’m expecting to top my manual labourer’s job tomorrow.
Cobweb: Rather you than me. I’m very happy weaving my little stories.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Year 2, Week 15, day 1
Progress:

Puck – Mischief Maker: Retail perks 8

Tania – Family Matters: Aspirations – Big Happy Family 2/4, Super Parent 3/4; Career Style Influencer maxed; Have babies/toddlers 2/3

Cobweb (teen) - ?: Artistic Prodigy; A in school; Postcards 3/6; Aspirations Lady of The Knits 2

Satoru – Eco-Warrier: Make up collection Frogs complete; Career Civic Planner maxed; skills - Fabrication 8, Handiness 6, Gardening 5, Fizzing 1; Eco-oriented upgrades 7/10

Moth (teen) – Creative Artisan: Artistic Prodigy; Scouts Arts & Crafts badge; Items made & gifted – 9/15 (Ervin, M Scott, N Sakai, A Trivedi, Mia, Nell, S Sweeney, M Watson, T Watson; Aspiration: Lord of Knits 2/4

Blossom (teen) – Garden Guru: Aspiration – Rumbunctious Scamp; planted 10 plants; Manual Labourer maxed; Aspiration – Freelance Botanist 3; Unique plants from grafting 1/9; Achieved - Splice of Life; Skills - Gardening 7, Logic 3, Handiness 1; Bought Super Green Thumb; Perfect  plants 1/6 (pear)

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Notes

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin” Troilus and Cressida

Congratulations to @GlazeyLady  for working out the Big Dreams for Moth & Blossom. It’s fairly obvious from Cobweb’s current task what she’s dreaming of…

I like knitting in the rocking chair as a hobby for children as it builds motor and knitting skills plus builds emotional control for them and during the teen period.

Puck is working in her retail store every school day, swiping stuff on the way there and back. It’s another long grind but she’ll get there – like mother (Nana), like daughter.

I’d forgotten that Satoru would need one extra level of the Civic Planner career to top it but moving on a Friday evening works well to give the teens a bit of time to explore over the weekend.

I’ve put the fence an extra tile back from the plants around Blossom’s garden. The rest of the family still go talking to the plants but I’ve not spotted any of them tending the plants through the fence. I hope one tile is enough…

[GlazeyLady]

Knitting on the porch - how lovely! I didn't realize that knitting builds emotional control - going to have to get some kids doing that.

Is Cobweb going to be an Author? She collected postcards, mentioned weaving her stories, and is working on knitting - another creative skill.

[Granny Lawlor]

Knitting on the porch - how lovely! I didn't realize that knitting builds emotional control - going to have to get some kids doing that.

Is Cobweb going to be an Author? She collected postcards, mentioned weaving her stories, and is working on knitting - another creative skill.

Yep - weaving stories seemed fitting for someone called Cobweb

[oshizu]

Hmmm, let's see. The third child will probably do Rancherino.  Just a wild guess.

Love the new house with its wide back porch. Bedrooms on the second floor, I suspect.
The stone tiles on the garden floor, placed amongst the yellow blossoms, are also a lovely touch.

The whole household is doing really great!

[Granny Lawlor]

2.15: Gives Us Note

Year 2, Summer Week 3

Satoru: I know all those windmills and solar panels don’t look great on the back of the roof but it’s nice to have some power.
Tania: They’re playing our song again.
Satoru: Ah…it’s so peaceful here. Sitting out on the porch, listening to the radio.
Tania: It might not be peaceful for much longer.
Satoru: How come?
Tania: You know that thing we did…
Satoru: Well – that’s just the icing on the cake!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Nell: I just had to get away. Did you hear?
Tania: Hear what? We’re pretty cut off out here.
Nell: Dirk’s been making a fool of himself with some island flibbertygibbet! I’m so mortified!
Tania: You’ve got nothing to worry about. He’s just making headlines. Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. Do you want to feel the baby?
Nell: Ah yes! There’s more than one way to make headlines! Do you think I should?

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Satoru: Boy & Girl twins again! I can’t believe how fertile we are!
Tania: Girl & Boy twins this time. Mustardseed – my little Star – first.
Satoru: Then Indiana. We could call him Indie but… well, I like both.
Star: Up down up down
Indiana: Whee

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Tania: Wow Nell! I know you asked but you & Dirk didn’t waste any time. Dirk is the father, isn’t he?
Nell: Of course! My Public wouldn’t stand for anything else.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Cobweb: I’ve been begging and begging Riverview, Dragon Valley and Littlehaven to send me postcards. I even got another penpal in Champs Les Sims and begged them too.
Puck: So they finally sent some?
Cobweb: They’ve sent loads – they were just hiding behind the others in my stack!
Watcher (hums innocently)
Puck: So blow out your candles already! We had to buy sugar especially for your cake.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Grim Gnome: Tell me again why we’re on the move?
Bunny Gnome: We just felt like it.
Swim Gnome: But it’s not Harvestfest.
Alien Gnome: Just keep planting mushrooms and leaving seed packets
Naked Gnome: I’m very confused.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Tania: Honey – why don’t you come and play chess?
Satoru: I’ve just got this one candle left to sell.
Tania: But you’ve sold all 20 that you made plus the ones before that. I thought you only wanted to sell 12
Satoru: Well, I couldn’t remember how many I’d put out in the first sale – I just need to make sure…
Watcher (more humming)
Tania: Come on – leave the last one. I’m going to beat you at chess again!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Year 2, Week 16, day 1
Progress:

Puck – Mischief Maker: Retail perks 9

Tania – Family Matters: Aspirations – Big Happy Family 2/4, Super Parent 3/4; babies/toddlers 3/3

Cobweb (young adult) - Author: Postcards 6/6; Aspirations Lady of The Knits 2/4

Satoru – Eco-Warrier: Skills - Fabrication 10, Handiness 7, Gardening 6, Fizzing 1; Eco-oriented upgrades 10/10; Sold - Candles 28/12, fizz 0/12

Moth (teen) – Creative Artisan: Items made & gifted – 11/15 (G. Linn, Regina); Aspiration: Lord of Knits 2/4

Blossom (teen) – Garden Guru: Aspiration – Freelance Botanist maxed; Unique plants from grafting 5/9; Achieved - Splice of Life, Harvested Interest; Skills - Gardening 10, Logic 6, Handiness 2; Perfect plants 3/6 (pear, basil, apple)

Star (toddler) - ?
Indiana (toddler) – Rancherino: Off-the-Grid & Simple Living Lot traits set at birth.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Notes

“Out of his self-drawing web, 'a gives us note” Henry VIII

@oshizu quite rightly foretold after our move to HoB that Indiana would dream of being a Rancherino. His name comes from the Indian Changeling Boy – a non-speaking part in A Midsummer Night’s Dream – who is, never-the-less, crucial to the story. Titania claims she is caring for him after his mother died in childbirth. Oberon claims he is a prince that Titania kidnapped. These plotlines are unlikely to impact on his country lifestyle!

Don’t be misled by MuSTARdseed’s short name – she will not be a Superstar. Her destiny lies in her full name.

Having heard that Dirk was playing away in the Islands and despite now having 4 grandchildren, Nell phoned to ask Tania if she should have another child to take control of her public image. I do like the new “influencing other households” gameplay although it does need a bit of tweaking. Polly once asked if she should try for a baby when I knew that she was in a house of 8.

Having 3 stacks of postcards in Cobwebs inventory falsely led me to think they were each from different locations. I will undoubtedly make similar mistakes in the future!

Is there an easy way to keep track of what you sell in Yard Sales? I know I should’ve been more observant in looking at what Satoru put out for sale but then they just kept disappearing with no notice. Rookie error! I reckon he’s actually sold about 28!

[Granny Lawlor]

2.16: What Is Past Is Prologue

Year 2, Summer Week 4

Moth: How nice to see you again
Kourtney: Well, I have to come when you order something
Moth: You are the cutest delivery girl I have ever met!
Kourtney: Are you sure you’ve not forgotten anything, this time?
Moth: Let’s memorialize this special moment with a photo! Hey, look! We’ve both got hazel eyes. Yours are beautiful!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Star: Dance with Star!
Tania: Oh yes, baby girl, I can dance!
Indiana: Dada too!
Satoru: Look at me shimmy!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Moth: I can’t believe we both graduated from high school at the same time!
Kourtney: I know, right! What are the odds?
Watcher: (Don’t look at me!)
Moth: We must be MFEO
Kourtney: What?
Moth: You know – Made For Each Other!
Kourtney: That is so lame, but kinda sweet. But I’m still delivering groceries…
Moth: I’ve signed on as apprentice to Dad – I’m going to be a master craftsman one day!
Kourtney: Do you want to go on a date?
Moth: Great! Um you’re still in your delivery outfit. Can I see your party outfit?
Kourtney: Sure, why not!
Moth: And while you’re agreeing to stuff, will you marry me?
Kourtney: Wow, yes – YES!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Kourtney: I’m loving this date!
Moth: Well…my grandad – you know – Theo – he told me that somewhere around here is…
Kourtney: Where are we going?
Moth: Here it is – right where he said!
Kourtney: Oh my!
Moth: Well, do you wanna – you know…?

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Kourtney: Mmm – that was lovely!
Moth: Yes! It was! And the funny thing is that we were seen by that woman with the purply grey hair. You should’ve seen the look on her face!
Kourney: Ah! Well, that’s it then!
Moth: What?
Kourtney: I keep forgetting that you’re new to the neighbourhood. People around here have certain attitudes…and I kinda agree with them.
Moth: We’re engaged! We’re all good!
Kourtney: We’re more than engaged! We’ve bonded. Till death us do part – the whole shebang!
Moth: Well, in that case!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Kourtney: Go and get your stuff and you can move into my house in the village centre.
Moth: I’d love to but I’ll need to keep working at Mum & Dad’s for a while. I’m still apprenticed to Dad. When I’ve become a Master craftsman – then I can move properly with you and set up my own shop.
Kourtney: That’s not ideal but I think we can make it work.

Back at Olde Mill Lane
Tania: So you’re married, I hear?
Moth: What? How? Yes!
Tania: You can’t do much around here without everyone knowing! Congratulations, love, she’ll do just fine!

Puck: It’s time!
Blossom: All the grandparents are here
Satoru: But my camera’s bust – argh!

Watcher: And just like that – with no photo – the toddler’s aged up!
Blossom: And so did Ervin – hubba, hubba!
Tania: You be careful, young lady! You need to catch up with your brother’s news!

Watcher: Here endeth the 2nd year

Year 3, Week 1, day 1
Progress:

Puck – Mischief Maker: Retail perks 9

Tania – Family Matters: Aspirations – Big Happy Family 3/4, Super Parent maxed

Cobweb (young adult) - Author: Postcards 6/6; Aspirations Lady of The Knits 2/4

Satoru – Eco-Warrier: Juice six-packs sold 12/12; Skills - Handiness 9, Gardening 6, Fizzing 3

Moth (young adult) – Creative Artisan: Items made & gifted – 15/15 (I. Templeton, Agnes Crump, M. Shibata); Aspiration: Lord of Knits 2/4; Freelance Crafting gigs 1/25; Skills Handiness 5, Fabrication 7, Knitting 10; Marketable trait bought; Unique, Crafted & In house – furniture 3/15 (armchair, dining chair, bookshelf), décor 2/15 (rug, dragon); married to Kourtney Ojeda

Blossom (young adult) – Garden Guru: Aspiration – Freelance Botanist maxed; Unique plants from grafting 5/9; Achieved - Splice of Life, Harvested Interest; Skills - Gardening 10, Logic 6, Handiness 2; Perfect plants 3/6 (pear, basil, apple)

Star (child) - ?: Top-notch toddler
Indiana (child) – Rancherino: Top-notch toddler

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Notes

“What is past is prologue.” The Tempest

I did not age up Kourtney. Moth invited her round so that we could age her up using his cake but she was already a young adult!

Tania knew Moth’s big news straight away because she topped her Super Parent aspiration at the point he got home! However, having grown up in a village myself, everyone really does know most things about their neighbours before too long.

I’m so annoyed that I forgot to get photos of the birthday party. The whole family were there and trying to get everyone together, the twins and Ervin all aged up on one cake (Simple Living – argh!). I was too distracted.

Star & Indiana are both top-notch toddlers. Indiana only needed to be a Happy Toddler. Star only needed to max Imagination…

Genetically, both Moth and Blossom have their mother’s hair whilst both Star and Indiana have their father’s hair. Star has the same hazel eyes that Moth inherited whilst Indiana’s eyes favour his father, if not his unknown paternal grandfather! Blossom’s eyes are Satoru’s colouring but Tania’s shaping. All-in-all a rather lovely family!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

No progress for Puck lately. If she worked the store overnight Blossom missed her plants maturing/fruiting and the toddlers got in a state if she worked during the day. However, with Star & Indiana going to school in the New Year, we're going to be working with Puck a lot. And I mean A LOT! There may not be another chapter until she's done! Just as well I'm playing on long!

[oshizu]

I'm so sorry I missed commenting on your previous update. I was off trying to achieve my perfect genetics thingy.
Satoru's done with his yard sales, but (for future reference) what I did was move all but the required merchandise out of my Eco Warrior's personal inventory.
That way, when she had no more candles or juice packs in her inventory or on the vendor table, she knew she'd sold enough.
With the Eco Lifestyle vendor table, she was actually able to place all 12 candles on the table at once, so she just did consecutive yard sales until they were all gone.
I was surprised at how much some of the juice packs made from expensive flowers sold for.

Congrats on all the BD progress, Moth's marriage, and the many birthdays.
How wonderful that Tania and Satoru each have a set of twins with their hair color!
For Mustardseed, I vaguely recall a Biblical saying regarding faith.  Will Star become a cult founder?

How are the Freelance Crafter gigs going for you?  The juicing gigs worked fine for me. I thought they would be faster than candles, haha.
As for Puck's store, Blossom's plants will mature and be harvestable as long as y'all return home before 5 am.
Also, you can build a residential area at Puck's store with a play area for Tania/toddlers and a workshop for Satoru/Moth.
That way, everybody stays productive, though Puck might need family help in the shop.

Good luck with Puck's shop.
I've been trying to think of ways to get a YA Mischief Maker into my dynasty, lol.

[Granny Lawlor]

For Mustardseed, I vaguely recall a Biblical saying regarding faith.  Will Star become a cult founder?

That would've been a good idea, especially since I have many times lead the actions for a children's song on that parable! (Luke 17:6 is embedded in my brain!)
Nope though! A much more down to earth reference...

How are the Freelance Crafter gigs going for you?  The juicing gigs worked fine for me. I thought they would be faster than candles, haha.

Glitchy - very glitchy. I was trying to be clever and queue up sending candles to the client whilst doing the last one. They all disappeared and Moth had to cancel the gig! Once he's done his 20 candles for master maker, I'll move onto fizzing. At least he can get on with other stuff.

[Granny Lawlor]

3.1-2: Death, A Necessary End

Year 1, Autumn Week 1

Sunday
Star: Are we there yet?
Tania: Yes! Hi Granny & Grandad!
Indiana: Great Granny & Grandad look old!
Satoru: Sh! They are old but you don’t need to say it out loud!
Cobweb: Hey Araya, Chaya! I see you went for matching hairstyles.
Ar/Ch-aya: Yep! No-one knows who’s who. Lol!
Tania: Wow! Jung looks so like Uncle Demi. Angela?
Angela: No!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Indiana: How many more relatives are we visiting today?
Satoru: Mum and sis have been asking us over for ages so I thought we should make some time!
Star: If you’d told us they were on Sulani, we’d have come sooner! Let’s hit the beach!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Moth: Oh little Omari! I wish I could be with you all the time!
Kourtney: How are you doing? Wow – you got him to sleep!
Moth: So – just how many children did you want, sweetheart? (waggling eyebrows)

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Indiana: I’m glad the chicks like my practicing. No-one else does.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Blossom: Come on Snapdragon – I know you’re magnificent just like these other 5 plants were. But they’re all perfect now and you can be too!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Moth: Kourtney! You look….imminent! Let’s go back to yours – asap!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Star: Pfft
Blossom: Hi Ervin – thanks for coming for Star & Indiana's  birthday. Let’s find somewhere quieter…
Ervin: Good plan!

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Watcher: In between all these milestones, there have been a bucket load of sadness. We lost Theo first, then Polly. Nana’s mum was next so poor Puck lost 3 grandparents in a row. I think she lost Nana’s father too but she wasn’t close to him. Suffering so much loss herself could explain why, when Gavin Richards gave up his ghost in her shop, Puck calmly closed the till and got on with restocking while Grim did his thing.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

I also have to tell you that Tania lost her father – yes the infamous Dirk Dreamer passed away, leaving Nell as a single mother of Cortez, Maura & Kasem.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Year 3, Week 3, day 1
Progress:

Puck – Mischief Maker: Retail perks 11

Tania – Family Matters: Aspirations – Big Happy Family 3/4  with just one more grandchild needed

Cobweb - Author: Aspirations Lady of The Knits 2/4, Bestselling Author 3/4; Skills maxed – Writing, Cooking, Fitness; Traits bought – Speed Reader, Creative Visionary; Books of Life written & bound 0/5

Satoru – Eco-Warrior – Completed: Skills maxed - Handiness, Gardening, Fizzing

Moth – Creative Artisan: Aspiration: Master Maker 3/4, Lord of Knits 2/4; Freelance Crafting gigs 5/25; Skills Handiness 6, Fabrication 10; Unique, Crafted & In house – furniture 11/15 (Lamps table/floor, tables end/dining, outdoor chair, dresser, single bed, kids bed), décor 2/15; married to Kourtney Ojeda who is caring for their 3 children (Omari, Katie, Drew)

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Blossom – Garden Guru: Unique plants from grafting 8/9; Skills - Logic maxed, Handiness 8; Perfect plants 6/6 (snapdragon, grape, bonsai)

Star (teen) - ?: Artistic Prodigy

Indiana (teen) – Rancherino: Artistic Prodigy, Rumbunctious Scamp

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Notes

“Death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.” Julius Ceasar

Quite a bit of progress despite concentrating on Puck. Although only 2 more perks, they do speed up the point gathering so…

Blossom is nearly ready to move out and Cobweb is not far behind. Moth and Kourtney are very happy to keep making babies but his freelance gigs are glitchy. He’s doing really well in other ways.

Satoru could move out to prepare a place for Tania when she’s ready, but…where to? Where’s your favourite retirement location?

We won’t talk about losing Polly and Theo. Even playing on long, they had to go sometime…sniff!

[oshizu]

Rest in peace, Polly and Theo.
Losing one's founders is always tough.  *grabs a box of tissues

Awesome news about Puck's shop!
The entire household is ready for a big shake-up soon, I see.  Great job, Watcher.

As for Star, I shall give a weak guess of Foodie, since mustard seeds are used as a spice in South Asia.
As for the best retirement location, I enjoy keeping moved-out relatives close to other family.

I actually really enjoyed fizzing. If I hadn't been so focused on moving my Eco Warrior out ASAP, I might have made extras for the family to savor.  LOL!

[GlazeyLady]

Losing the founders always seems like a key point in the Dynasty - so sad to lose them, but also important to the whole circle of life concept.

I really enjoyed the pics of all the family members together. The very encouraging plant talk made me laugh.

I'll throw out a guess of Superstar for Star - just because of her name.

[Granny Lawlor]

As for Star, I shall give a weak guess of Foodie, since mustard seeds are used as a spice in South Asia.

Correct! I'm going for low-tech, low-travel dreams for gen 4.

It's funny that I'd only ever considered Foodie for Mustardseed but the Biblical ref suggesting Cult Founder and Star suggesting Superstar are really obvious too. I must have blinkers on!

Now - are you ready for some ch-ch-changes?