Bewitched Berries Epilogue: An Embarrassment of...Berries [Completed 14 Mar '23]

[oshizu]

1.2: He Was Berry, Berry Good


Week 2, Sunday (Spring)
Today, I want to craft new merch but can't afford a woodworking table.
So I spend the day at my vendor table.
Just before midnight, I max Charisma and decide I've sold enough for today ($21k).
Brytani makes little magical progress today but it's too late a Magical Realm visit.



Monday
Mojito: We finally fence in our garden and I create a space for my new woodworking table.
Though I should be learning woodworking, tomorrow's the GeekCon!
(And this means that the Humor & Hijinks Festival comes next week.)

At the Magical Realm, Brytani studies with the sages while I learn Logic.


Before departing, Brytani checks the Casters Alley shops.
We'd save so much time by simply buying a Death Flower, but no luck.
Also, we're hoping to eventually have a complete collection of magic tomes.



Tuesday
Exactly a week's passed since we planted eight Dragonfruit and one cowberry.
Today, we have a mature Cowplant and harvestable Dragonfruit plants. Yay!
Not sure exactly how the Great Soil lot trait works, but our garden's thriving!


We travel to GeekCon as soon as it opens and I run over to the rocket ship.
I'll definitely have time for 5 space missions today!
Can you spot Brytani over by the public restrooms?
She's dying to try out the gaming rigs but she's diligently practicing magic.


At first, I was worried that Brytani might not have a flair for magic.
But, dang, was I ever wrong!
While I'm exploring space, she practices magic until she reaches the Adept rank.
Then, she duels and defeats both (Acolyte) Gemma Charm and her (Adept) brother Darrel.



Wednesday
Last night, I learned the camping mascot schematic at Granite Falls.
I've sold off our high-end frogs and I'm officially done with the vendor table.
From now on, I'll be selling camping mascots via Plopsy.
Though failing to haggle better prices, my 80 Dragonfruit bring in lots of cash.
We've reached $50,600, but we might as well wait until our birthday.



Thursday
Brytani: Are we, um, like on a date?
Mojito: Nope. Our romantic relationship hasn't changed since the day we met.
And stop switching to the Romance channel.
We're only here to watch the TV Season Premiere!

Brytani: We have nearly $80,000 now. Why can't we buy our own TV?
Mojito: Because we can't. We're the founders; we got things to do!



Friday
Brytani: Remind me again why we're wearing these costumes.
Mojito: I scheduled a holiday today so we could skip school and wearing costumes is part of the holiday.
Brytani: It's not some secret fantasy where you're an interstellar smuggler, getting massaged by Aayla Secura?
Mojito; Hey, have you been reading my diary?


Brytani: I was going to play hard to get but you don't pursue me.
Mojito: That's because I'm a good boy. In fact, I'm berry, berry good!
Brytani: Whatever. I'll do what I have to do and ask you on a date.
Now that we've had our first kiss, will you please be my boyfriend?



Saturday
We get up early to "Golden Pulse" our top-end cash crops.
We've got a perfect Dragonfruit to submit to the Finchwick Fair's Garden Competition.
Maybe we should arrive early so I can bribe the Mayor?
Do we even care about the Fair prizes?


At 8 am sharp, Brytani and I receive our birthday notices.
We're not sure when we should age up. We're leaning toward 6 am tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Brytani is helping me with the rocket ship I started building yesterday.
I'll need to reach Sixam to get alien crystals for that Xenopetrium element.


When the rocket ship is built, I immediately start installing the wormhole generator.
Is it a safety risk if I don't complete all the lower-level upgrades first?


At Finchwick, I enter the Garden Competition and Brytani sells our produce.
We spot Simeon Silversweater the Sage, looking oh-so-undeniably cottage core.
It's a flattering look for him, don't you agree?


At the Romance Festival, Brytani checks the garden planters for flowers we don't have.
And I consult the Romance Guru about my relationship with Brytani.
I wonder if the Romance Guru says the same thing to everysim?


Vendor: No, you can't just buy the Romance Festival tee-shirt.
Mojito: But I don't want to wear it now. I want to take it home for our family wardrobe.
Vendor: Nope, you buy it and wear it, or you don't buy it.
Mojito: What if I don't want your dumb tee-shirt as part of my Everyday Outfit?
Vendor: Boo hoo! Ask me if I care.


Brytani: While Mojito's arguing with the swag vendor, I consult the Romance Guru.
How perfect! Mojito will be my one true love and we'll grow old together!


Mojito: I was never able to meet and bribe the mayor, but I win 1st place anyway.
Besides a Flirty Treat recipe and a 1st place ribbon, I also win a Blue Polka Dot Blouse.
Brytani: At the Romance Festival, I took one for the team and wore the Festival Tee.
When I change my wardrobe, I look around for Mojito's polka dot blouse but don't find it.
(Turns out it's a hen outfit.)


Brytani: I need to bake our birthday cakes for tomorrow, but my Fun is so slow I can't cook.
Mojito: Um, I might be able to help with that.

Brytani: Oooooh, I see what you mean now! You are good!
Mojito: I'm not just good, Brytani. In fact, I'm berry, berry good!



Week 3, Sunday
Mojito: We don't want to wait until the last minute to age up to young adults.
So we both blow our candles out by 7 am.
Outdoor-loving, vegetarian Brytani randomizes her 3rd trait and gets Family-Oriented.
Wow, that's perfect!


After we sort out the garden, we have $137,728.
That's pretty good considering all that we achieved and purchased this past week!
It's also time for me to join the workforce as a Scientist.
Oh, and one last thing…


Mojito: *gets down on one knee
Brytani: Ooooh, sparkles! You're proposing for real?
Mojito: Actually, I am. Will you marry me, Brytani?
Brytani: Does this mean no more bunk beds?
Mojito: Is that a yes?


Mojito: Be sure to tune in next time when we start our Not So Berry Legacy for real! *winks



Generation 1 (Mint) Progress

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

*Career: Scientist 3
*Skills: Logic 8, Mischief 0
*Aspiration: Chief of Mischief 0/4
*Bonus aspiration: StrangerVille Mystery 0/4
*Element collection: 14/16

NOTES
*Great Soil lot trait: I'm seeing conflicting descriptions of this trait online.
  All authors agree that it increases Gardening skill gain (apparently by 1.5x).
  Some claim it makes crops grow faster, but others say it boosts plant quality.
  Well, which is it?

*Starting as a teen: Mojito gained two extra weeks by starting as a teen, rags-to-riches style.
  But he'll be completing StrangerVille Mystery as a bonus aspiration.
  We're hoping that balances the fact that he's already Level 8 Logic and close to completing his Element collection.

*Element collection: Thanks to the Crystal Crown, we can buy crystal by phone.
  This makes elements one of the easiest collections in the game.
  Check out Carl's Element Collecting Guide to know which crystal/metal produces which element.
  And "practice analysis" on the Chemical Analyzer among the other usual strats to get crystals.

[Rhoxi]

Everything in this chapter is just too darn cute! Looking forward to the wedding and some very berry nooboo(s?).

[oshizu]

Everything in this chapter is just too darn cute! Looking forward to the wedding and some very berry nooboo(s?).

Thank you! Brytani is such an adorable sim!
As for the wedding, I'm feeling anxious about trying the new wedding ceremony event.
I guess I should create a copy save and do some play-testing in that file first.
But I am, of course, impatient as always to bring in the next generation, so I better start practicing!

[oshizu]

Bewitched Berries 1.3: But When He Was Bad…


Week 3, Sunday (Spring)
Mojito: I want us to get married with a beautiful wedding.
But I have a new job and need six scientific breakthroughs by tomorrow.
I do have a plan that you might like…


Brytani: I love that we're marrying today at La Coppia Serena.
And we can look over this venue where we'll be hosting our Vow Renewal Ceremony on Saturday.
That gives us almost a week to ask folks to be part of our ceremony and to invite guests!


Brytani: No more bunk beds!
Mojito: Are you okay with adding to our household so soon?
Brytani: Are you serious? I'm family-oriented. I can't wait!
Mojito: Neither can I. (Well, the trying part, anyway.)


Mojito: Let's play chess, Brytani. You might as well try to max Logic, too.
Brytani: Yes, being able to mentor Logic is always helpful! Hey, you maxed Logic!
Mojito: I did! It's time I go work on my Mischief now.



Monday
Mojito: There's some weird stuff happening in StrangerVille.
Before my first day of work, I go to consult Erwin Pries, a conspiracy theorist.
He advises me to get more info from local scientists and military personnel.


While I'm there, I ask Erwin if he'd officiate our upcoming ceremony.
He seems really thrilled at the chance.
I'm not going to stress over what he'll wear to the event.


I'd rather Brytani not become mischievous, you know?
So, after work, I invite over Morgan Fyres and ask to join the Renegades Club.
Then I invite all the Renegades to the Humor & Hijinks Festival.
Of course, we join The Pranksters.


I go to insult that mermaid and discover she already dislikes me.
Bess Sterling is also close to disliking me for some unknown reason.
Oh well, now I have two sims to pick on until I max Mischief.
Not surprisingly, The Pranksters win tonight!



Tuesday
I'm not sure why I even bother having Watcher join me at work!
It's just one boring task after another!
In hindsight, I wish I'd bought Connections after all!
Might as well stay late tonight and try to earn a promotion!


After work, I visit StrangerVille's bar to socialize with some Military types.
It's Alien Night and I make good progress toward becoming Chief of Mischief, too!
Might as well go clog two more drains elsewhere.
Sadly, my career keeps me too busy to let me get up to much serious mischief.



Wednesday
Brytani: Mojito leaves for work alone today which, frankly, he should've done yesterday as well.
Before leaving for work, he invites over Morgyn and Kiyoshi for me to befriend.
(whispers: Please don't tell Mojito but I find both Mojito and Kiyoshi "very attractive."
However, I find Morgyn and Darrel Charm "extremely attractive.")
Watcher (also whispers): Seriously? Darrel Charm?


Around noon, I give birth to girl/boy twins, both spellcasters.
Mojito and I had decided on names together beforehand.
He wants a female heir, which means Naomi will become the Rose (Gen2) heir.
And her brother Darcey (with an "e") will be the Rose cadet.


Based on the Rose theme, our twins are named after two famous varieties of red roses.
Our daughter's named after the Red Naomi, a hybrid tea rose created in Holland.
Its Dutch breeder is an admirer of supermodel Naomi Campbell.
Our son's named after the Darcey, an English garden rose created by the breeder David Austin.
His namesake is Dame Darcey Bussel, a former Principal of the Royal Ballet.



Thursday
Mojito: After work, I fly my rocket ship to Sixam for the very first time.
Yes! I find a Jet crystal that might give me a Plumbobus element.
And I also come across several alien crystals and alien metals.


Back home, I send the relevant crystals and metals to the Geo Council.
Then, I Troll teh Forums until I max Mischief and become Chief of Mischief.
Who has time for mischief these days? I'm a family man!



Friday
Brytani: The twins age up to toddlers this afternoon.
They share my pink hair and brown eyes, with Mojito's double-lidded eyes and pointy ears.
Since they're the Rose generation, though, I switch their hair and eyes to a red shade.


Mojito: I'm best off going to work alone!
With help from Negotiate Bonus and the Wishing Well, I'm now a Level 6 Scientist!
After work, I check the mail to find my two missing elements: Plumbobus and Xenopetrium.
My element collection is complete!


Brytani: Apparently, popcorn is the lazy parents' new solution to feeding toddlers.
Once it's popped, popcorn stays fresh in its popper until a toddler comes and grabs a serving.
Not a nutritious meal for sure, but it's definitely convenient.
How do you feel about popcorn for dinner, Darcey?



Saturday
Mojito: Our Vow Renewal Ceremony officially starts at 2 pm but doesn't get underway until 3.
We'd asked Iris Ito (Kiyoshi's daughter with Dina Caliente) to be our Flower Pal.
All she does, though, is mince down the aisle as if she's constipated.
No basket of flower petals nor petal tossing.  Too bad.


I'd asked my best friend Kiyoshi Ito to be my Sim of Honor.
Since Brytani has no parents, Kiyoshi is walking her down the aisle.
Somehow, Brytani has managed to lose the bouquet she was holding minutes ago.
Once Brytani and Kiyoshi reach the arch, Kiyoshi won't move away from the front of the arch.


It takes us forever to figure out how to persuade Kiyoshi to sit down.
By the time we're finally renewing our vows, our Officiant Erwin Pries is doing the "full bladder walk.'
It's fine. Erwin wasn't actually doing anything there at the wedding arch.


After renewing our vows, our Spousal Kiss goes very badly.
We bump heads twice before we finally connect for a kiss.
Remind me to tell my kids not to bother with a Spousal Kiss when they marry.
It's simply humiliating and not funny at all.


Brytani visited Tartosa yesterday to pick out this wedding cake.
Look at its mint-colored flowers!
Gah! Our guests are so rude!
They start grabbing slices of cake before I can even share a slice with Brytani!


Our guests ignore us completely when we start the first dance.
By this time, we're too exhausted to care.
We've had to micromanage every minute of our Vow Renewal Ceremony.


Soon after we start the first dance, the six-hour event ends and our guests begin leaving.
We've been so busy micro-managing our ceremony, we hardly socialized with our guests..
Despite all our difficulties, though, Brytani and I don't regret renewing our vows here.
In an empty wedding venue, we end our first dance with a flourish.




Gen1 (Mint) Progress:
Mojito (Founder): YA
*Career: Scientist 6
✔️Skills: Logic 10, Mischief 10
✔️Aspiration: Chief of Mischief
*Bonus aspiration: StrangerVille Mystery 0/4
✔️Element collection: 16/16

Gen2 (Rose) Progress
Born: Week 3, Wed (Age: Toddler)
Naomi (Heir?) - Independent
Darcey (Cadet?) - Charmer


NOTES
*Read to a child for 2 hours: I must be doing something wrong.
  It took Mojito nearly 5 hours to complete that "read for 2 hours" task.
  On the plus side, the twins both maxed Imagination. *rolls eyes

*La Coppia Serena:
  I'd already followed MarianT's tip about deleting the 2nd arch and aisle.
  After this ceremony, I restored the indoor wedding room.
  The outdoor wedding area is lovelier, but it's farther from the entrance.
  My sims planned a very simple wedding yet couldn't complete it in 6 hours.
  And, yes, I first did a practice run in a copy of my NSB file.
  My practice Vow Renewal Ceremony lasted 6.5 hours.
  Armed with more experience, my "official" ceremony lasted 7.5 hours, lol.
  It's probably best to split the ceremony and reception into two separate events.

*Wedding vs. Vow Renewal:
  I'm curious to see if the Officiant and Flower Pal work in a wedding ceremony.
  Either my game's glitched or the Vow Renewal doesn't require an Officiant and Flower Pal.
  That would explain why neither of them functioned properly.

[Rhoxi]

Interesting to hear about your wedding struggles - sounds like it takes some time to figure it out. Let's hope future weddings go more smoothly! Still, very beautiful.

[Granny Lawlor]

Congratulations on Mojito & Brytani's wedding. The photo's looked lovely even if it took a long time.

My memory's of real-life weddings in which I've been a significant player (bride & mother ot bride twice) is that nothing goes quite to plan and, although it takes many hours, it goes by in a flash. On the other hand, when not a significant player, everything seems to take ages! Lol!

[oshizu]

Interesting to hear about your wedding struggles - sounds like it takes some time to figure it out. Let's hope future weddings go more smoothly! Still, very beautiful.

I was too impatient to meet Gen2, so my sims married right away and what you're seeing is actually a Vow Renewal Ceremony.
I'll try a Wedding Ceremony for Gen2 and, hopefully, the Officiant and Flower Pal will do their parts. 
I do wish the event would require less micro-managing, but rather fun nonetheless.

[oshizu]

Bewitched Berries 1.4: He Was Even Better

"There Was a Little Girl," a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882):
  There was a little girl, who had a little curl
       Right in the middle of her forehead,
   When she was good, she was very, very good,
       But when she was bad, she was horrid.


Week 4, Sunday (Spring)
Mojito: We discover today that popcorn doesn't always fill our twins' hunger.
It's okay.  I wouldn't want to live only on popcorn, either!

By Sunday night, our charmer Darcey has maxed all his toddler skills.
Off to the tent you go, Darcey!  Nothing left for you but sleeping.


Though Naomi is independent, it takes her two more hours to max her skills.
What was Darcey's secret?
More importantly, what will do they do for the next five days until their birthday?



Monday
On a whim, I wish at The Well this morning, receiving a full promotion to Scientist 7.
I don't need more breakthroughs now, since I don't expect another promotion today.
But I 'd like to get my breakthroughs done with, anyway.
Tonight, I'd like to start looking into the StrangerVille Mystery.


Erwin: Thanks for inviting me along to examine The Secret Lab's sealed door.
But why is Morgan here?  Isn't your good friend Kiyoshi an adventurous sim?
Mojito: Yeah, I know. But I get jealous because my wife finds him Very Attractive.
Erwin: I see.


Erwin: Aren't you worried about your wife and me?
Mojito: Nah. She thinks you're "Basic Looking."
Erwin: Gee thanks. Hey, why don't you make a team of only your homeboys?
Mojito: I'm considering that, too. I want to meet that local prepper real soon.


I need to gather more evidence regarding The Secret Lab!
It's not enough to explore The Secret Lab and the StrangerVille Archives.
Hmmm, I could learn programming to hack computers or I could visit local homes.
Maybe tomorrow.



Tuesday
Dylan: So what can I do for you.  Is this a social call?
Mojito: Yes and no.  I have been wanting to meet you, Dylan.
But I'm also here to search for evidence about the Secret Lab.
Your wife isn't the only townsperson affected by this town's strange happenings.

Bingo! I'll visit the other townfolks' homes this evening.


Brytani: Before leaving for work, Mojito asks me to pack up all our stuff.
As the toddlers snooze, I get busy stashing our garden and emptying storage boxes.
When I sell crops out of Darcey's inventory, we complete the Rosebud achievement.
Not sure how we managed that so quickly but Mojito IS materialistic, you know.


Brytani: Oh, I thought we would be remodeling but we've moved!
Mojito: How do you like our new home, Brytani?
When we wed, I promised that we'd live in a grand mansion someday.
Brytani: And that someday's today. I can scarcely believe it! We're nearly Mansion Barons!


Mojito: So, I'm trying to form a team of four. Kiyoshi, you in?
Kiyoshi: You know it! Who's our fourth member? Brytani?
Mojito: Um, no, she's pregnant. I was hoping for George Cahill but he passed away.
Erwin: To cover our bases, I think the fourth member should a Scientist or a Military person.


Aidan: Sure, I remember you. I went to every one of your yard sales. What's up?
Mojito: I'm trying to get to the bottom of StrangerVille's problem.
I figure since you're a Scientist like me, you'd be interested.
Aidan: Well, my hands are kinda tied, but I can serve in a consulting capacity.


Mojito: Look, I've compiled all the necessary evidence into this dossier, Aidan.
What next?
Aidan; Normally, you'd have to go the Curio Shop to buy the Keycard.
But I'll give you mine. If anybody asks, you didn't get this from me.



Wednesday
Brytani: I'm eating for two now and my due date is Friday.
I'm so thrilled that I discuss family expansion with my two closest friends.
Morgan replies that she and her husband, Sergio Romeo, are thinking about it.
But Kiyoshi and his wife Dina don't want a second child at this time. Too bad!



Thursday
Brytani: Naomi, Darcey, and I really love the new house!
Sure, it takes longer to get from one place to another.
But we're surrounded by comfort and luxury!
Mojito's such a great provider but we hardly spend time together lately.


Mojito: I return from work to find purple vines growing out of the shower for the third day in a row.
In its current state, this town's much too dangerous a place to raise our growing family!



Friday
I'm a Level 9 Mad Scientist now, but I won't be maxing my career today.
And since my Scientist buddy Aidan has mailed me a part to complete my  Hazmat Suit, I'm taking family leave.
I guess I should stick around the house until the twins' birthday.
Maybe a quick visit to Sixam until then?


On Sixam, I spot a half dozen aliens but avoid greeting them.
I have no desire to be abducted, thank you very much.
But why are they all wearing the Berry-exclusive hair colors?
Watcher, please make them stop!


When the twins age up, we keep the rose theme for Naomi since she'll be the heir.
Darcey doesn't need to be covered in red, though, so we dress him in my minty-hues.
They're both adorable.
Aaaaand, I have time to slip away to The Secret Lab for several hours.


Just as I discover the infection's source, I must go home.
Brytani gives birth to a spellcaster girl.
We name her Ambridge, after a variety of modern rose.
We're hoping Ambridge will inherit her mother's coloring and looks.


Mojito (on the phone): Bella, please. I don't have time for this.
I'm in the middle of crafting vaccines that could save an entire town.
Look, I'm not that starry-eyed teen you took advantage of years ago.
I'm married with kids now.  Um, just like yourself.


I test one of my experimental vaccines on Dylan's wife, Jessie.
What a blessing that my Brytani has never gotten infected.



Saturday
The town is crawling with the Infected today!
Erwin is terrified, running off once I've vaccinated him.
But I chase him down and finally persuade him to join me.


Against ominous skies, Naomi and Darcey innocently work on their scout badges.
They're unaware that their father and his team are leaving for a life-or-death struggle.
This town's very destiny lies in our hands!


I head out to The Secret Lab, along with Erwin, Kiyoshi, and Aidan.
The whole thing is over quicker than we expected.
(I didn't even bother making and bringing extra vaccines.)
If you wish to solve the StrangerVille Mystery for yourself, do NOT click the spoiler.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Kiyoshi: Hey, thank you for inviting us out to dinner at this ritzy restaurant!
Mojito: I wish I could do more to show my gratitude to the three of you. Maybe a home party?

Naomi (redhead): Uncle Erwin, can you please tell us the whoe story again?
About how you and Uncles Kiyoshi and Aidan helped Papa make our town safe again?
Darcey (mint hair): Papa, how does it feel to be The Hero of StrangerVille?




Progress: End of Week 4

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Mojito (Founder)
Age: YA (11 days to Adult)
Traits: Vegetarian, Materialistic, Jealous
*Career: Scientist 9/10
✔️Skills: Logic 10, Mischief 10
✔️Aspiration: Chief of Mischief
✔️Element collection: 16/16
✔️Bonus aspiration: StrangerVille Mystery

Brytani (Founder's Spouse)
Age:  YA (17 days to Adult)
Traits: Vegetarian, Loves the Outdoors, Family-Oriented

Naomi (Gen2 heir)
Age; Child (12 days to Teen)
Traits: Independent/Top-Notch Toddler; Hot-Headed (Romantic, Snob)

Darcey (Gen2 cadet)
Age; Child (12 days to Teen)
Traits: Charmer/Top-Notch Toddler; Cheerful

Ambridge (Gen2 cadet)
Age: Nooboo (1 day to Toddler)

NOTES
*The Mint Victorian:
  This is a "Mint renovation" of my 30x20 Green & Brown Victorian lot that's uploaded to the Community Gallery.
  Besides recoloring the exterior, interior, and furnishings, I've rearranged the build to fit into the 40x30 Plateau Place.
  Without early age-ups, it's not that worthwhile living in a Micro House. *sighs

*Evicting elders: Since this is not a HoF-bound challenge, I occasionally go into Manage Worlds evict housed elders living without younger sims.
  This prevents them from dying on a lot and taking all their furnishings with them.
  It's such a hassle to replace the stripped home by finding and downloading the original lot from the Gallery.  UGH.

*Three children: Not sure about the wisdom of having a third child.
  But the twins look a lot like Mojito, so I'm hoping Ambridge will favor Brytani.

[Magpie2012]

I can't wait to see more 😍

[Rhoxi]

Oh wow, what a lovely house! And you built it yourself too. Thanks for spoiler tagging the Strangerville mystery solution. I haven't done it yet, but am planning to use that aspiration in my dynasty. Ambridge is a great name. Never heard of it before, but I love it!

[oshizu]

I can't wait to see more 😍

@Magpie2012
Thanks, friend.  What have you been up to lately?

[oshizu]

Oh wow, what a lovely house! And you built it yourself too. Thanks for spoiler tagging the Strangerville mystery solution. I haven't done it yet, but am planning to use that aspiration in my dynasty. Ambridge is a great name. Never heard of it before, but I love it!

The other homes in StrangerVille's Shady Acres neighborhood are all large Victorian homes, so I recycled one of the houses I'd built for my Power of 10 Dynasty.
It's smaller than the other two premade houses but at least in the same style.
Personally, though, I prefer playing my sims in one-story homes. 

I'd never heard of the name Ambridge, either, until I started googling rose images.
The Ambridge rose is such a lovely color that I decided to just use its name for my sim, lol.

[Granny Lawlor]

Oh wow, what a lovely house! And you built it yourself too. Thanks for spoiler tagging the Strangerville mystery solution. I haven't done it yet, but am planning to use that aspiration in my dynasty. Ambridge is a great name. Never heard of it before, but I love it!

The other homes in StrangerVille's Shady Acres neighborhood are all large Victorian homes, so I recycled one of the houses I'd built for my Power of 10 Dynasty.
It's smaller than the other two premade houses but at least in the same style.
Personally, though, I prefer playing my sims in one-story homes. 

I'd never heard of the name Ambridge, either, until I started googling rose images.
The Ambridge rose is such a lovely color that I decided to just use its name for my sim, lol.

If Ambridge is an English named rose, it will refer to the fictional village which is the setting for a long-running radio soap called The Archers. The Archers are a farming family. It's on BBC radio 4 on weekdays with an omnibus version on Sunday. The current characters are grandchildren of the originals and it's a British institution.

[oshizu]

Granny Lawlor
Thank you for the cultural background.
Yes, Ambridge is an English rose first bred in 1990 by the illustrious English breeder David Austin (also breeder of the Darcey Russel rose).

[oshizu]

1.5: Raising Ambridge


Week 5, Sunday (Summer)
Mojito: The twins work hard on their scout badges today.
While I do space missions in search of a UFO plant, Brytani crafts garden planters and pots.
Ambridge becomes a green-haired toddler with my eyes and pointy ears, but Brytani's eye color.
She won't be a mini-Brytani after all, but I do switch her hair color to pink.


Darcey (right): Since we've earned our last Scout badge, we just coast until our birthday, right?
Naomi (left): Doubt it. Our birthday isn't for another 10 days.
Darcey: You mean the Thursday after next? Are you kidding me?
Naomi (sighs): We might as well do all four aspirations.



Monday
Mojito: I know Kiyoshi already shot Brytani down once when she tried to discuss expanding his family.
But Kiyoshi and I stared down death together, so I try asking him this morning.
If he and Dina have a son, I wouldn't mind aging him up early for Naomi or Ambridge.


Brytani: Now that we've moved to a regular residence, skilling is much slower.
In fact, Ambridge is learning skills at a snail's pace.
Or maybe our micro house has spoiled me for toddler skilling?
I don't regret having Ambridge, though. She's the cutest!



Tuesday
Mojito: The twins are late for school again. We really have to keep an eye on them.
If they're chatting, they'll completely ignore the notice that it's time for school.
But what can we do?  It's definitely a "Watcher problem"!


I've reached the top of my career!
Pretty sure I'll never go back to The Lab again.
But there are a few things I want to do before I quit.


Like upgrade my Wormhole Generator to take the whole family to Sixam.
And I also want to be able to mix tested Age-Away Serums.



Wednesday
Before school, Naomi makes her third school friend and completes her fourth aspiration.
That's Bryan Ito, son of Kiyoshi and Dina.
We didn't even know they had a son the same age as our twins.
Neither Bryan nor Iris (our former Flower Pal) look at all like their mother Dina.


I finally get my last scientific breakthrough and can craft an untested Age-Away Serum.
But I only have one more Xenopetrium element, so I decide to clone that untested serum.
As you know, I must test three untested serums before I can make a tested version.


Morgan Romeo successfully ages down with my untested serum, but Kiyoshi does not (twice).
My third test subject is Watcher's favorite, Erwin.
He's the whole reason I bother with Age-Away Serums.
When I first met Erwin, I tried to give him a Potion of Rejuvenation, but could not.
Was it because he'd been working the Curio Shop at the time?

Anyway, my third untested Age-Away Serum ages Erwin down to a Day 1 young adult.
(And FYI, I'm able to give him a Potion of Rejuvenation today, too, but I of course don't.)


Mojito: Kiyoshi, this is to thank you for your help last week.
Kiyoshi: No thanks. I've already tried two of those, but I'm still 4 days to Adult.
Mojito: Try this one. It's a tested serum. I know it's going to work.
Kiyoshi: Oh, it worked!
Mojito: Great! Now I need to invite Aidan over, so I can thank him, too.


What a shock to see little Ambridge discussing conspiracy theories with Erwin.
She also talks to him about StrangerVille.
I can't see our Rose ever wanting to live in a bunker, but maybe Ambridge…
Oh, you didn't hear?  Erwin has been living at Old Penelope ever since George Cahill passed.



Thursday
We're just waiting for the twins to come home from school so we can leave for our vacation.
You can tell Brytani hasn't been focused enough on teaching Ambridge.
But, between the two of us, Ambridge should max all her skills by Sunday afternoon (I hope).


Later at Selvadorada
Naomi: Why are we doing homework on vacation?
After our vacation, we only have four more days of school.  I bet we never have to go back!
Darcey: Let's just finish quickly so we can go exploring.
You know if we stay home we'll get stuck playing with our doctor sets.


Naomi: Did we come here so you could become an Archaeologist, Papa?
Mojito: Not at all. We're just here to enjoy the local culture.
It's fun to get away from StrangerVille now and then, isn't it?
Naomi: It is, Papa! Let's visit all the vacation world! Papa! Please say yes!


Brytani: I was so excited when Mojito maxed his career and bought me my own laptop.
I'd wrongly assumed that it would be my turn to join a professional career.
Actually, though, I only need to reach Level 3 Writing so I can write excuse notes for the kids.
I don't mind.



Friday
Mojito: So what do you think, Darcey? Selvadorado's cool, right?
Clean fresh air, tropical jungle, just you and me fishing without the girls.
Darcey: But isn't the fishing better in Sulani, Papa?
Mojito: You got me there, son. But visiting Selvadorado spawns new sims.
That's the real reason we came here this time instead of Sulani.


Darcey: Look other there, Papa! Dogs! Have you ever thought of getting a dog?
Mojito: But who would take care of it?  A dog needs feeding, brushing, walking, and bathing.
It also needs playtime with its owners. Could you take on all that responsibility?
Darcey: Um, may I think about it more before I answer your question?


Ambridge ambles downstairs for some watching and talking.
The vacation has been really great for her.
With so few distractions, Brytani and I can really focus on Ambridge.
(Her pink hair keeps switching to red, so I've made her blond for now.)


Mojito: Ambridge maxes her last skill while dancing at the Cantina.
We're ready to leave Selvadorado behind and vacation elsewhere tomorrow.
I mean, look!  For crying out loud, our bartender is that merman Paka'a from Sulani!
Go back to Sulani, you fake local! Sheesh!


Mojito: I want to grant Naomi her every heart's desire.
So, as soon as we arrive home, we leave immediately on another vacation.
Late at night, we arrive at Villa Vigna in southern Tartosa.


The children are exhausted and go straight to bed.
On the other hand, I offer my wife Brytani some, ah, adult entertainment.



Saturday
We hire a vegetarian caterer so we'll have more time to enjoy our vacation.


I also check the weather forecast.
The weather today and tomorrow is going to be perfect: sunny and hot.




Gallery Download
*Bahia dell'Amore (40x20): "Tartosa Beach" by Simstanie.
  Slightly edited to enhance my sims' fun and pleasure.

Progress: End of Week 5

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Mojito (Founder) - YA (4 days to Adult)
Traits: Vegetarian, Materialistic, Jealous
All requirements completed on Tuesday, Week 5
✔️Career: Scientist
✔️Skills: Logic 10, Mischief 10
✔️Aspiration: Chief of Mischief
✔️Element collection: 16/16
✔️Bonus aspiration: StrangerVille Mystery

Brytani (Founder's Spouse) - YA (10 days to Adult)

Naomi (Gen2 heir) - Child (5 days to Teen)
Traits: Independent/Top-Notch Toddler; Hot-Headed (Romantic, Snob)
Skill: Charisma 4/10

Darcey (Gen2 cadet) - Child (5 days to Teen)
Traits: Charmer/Top-Notch Toddler; Cheerful

Ambridge (Gen2 cadet - Toddler (1 day to Child)
Traits: Independent/Top-Notch Toddler

NOTES
*Wonderful Whims mod: Removed during the first day of this episode.
  I was having problems with my sims' personal inventory, which I hope are fixed now.

*Rule Tweak #1:
  With two exceptions, I'm strictly following the NSB's original rules.
  I'm adding a "Bonus" aspiration, skill, and/or collection to the founder and each heir's requirements.

*Rule Tweak #2:
  My game always glitches with the Detective career, so I will be replacing that career.
  Instead my Gen8 heir will join an equally time-consuming career, probably Food Critic (since the Gen8 heir will have the Foodie trait).