#tedhi

And here’s my new royal family. Originally, I was going to use that O’Connell family from Dragon Valley. But while I was checking out EA worlds for sims to move here, I stopped in Hidden Springs. And since it came with a royal family of sorts, I grabbed them. But you guys know me. I can never leave well enough alone. So I took one of the little sims who came with this town- Katniss Everdeen, who is the little dark-haired sim - and gave her an elderly mom – who was also the mother of the current king. In my town history, her 2nd child, Katniss, was the result of an “indiscretion” during her late husband’s last years, with a guardsman. Anyway, since I only needed the old lady to establish family-ties, I killed her. Yes, I did! And since the old bag hated her daughter-in-law and daughter (only liked her son and grandson), she died from ranting. Seemed appropriate.  It was either that, or the blunt force trauma option, since I figured the 2 other females in this happy family were tossing coins to see who’d get to do the deed.

Oh! And I also grabbed that Runaway princess from Hidden Springs. She once again “ran away,” but she took her tiara with her this time. But she’s still incognito, because Quavo the Slaver sold her some new-fangled eyeglasses – guaranteed to be the perfect disguise! Of course, insisting that everyone address her by her title, might give her away, but she doesn’t think so. Her father’s subjects aren’t that bright. Peasants, doncha know. 

And finally, I moved in one of my all-time favorite sims. This is actually the self-sim of my friend Tedhi – who created the lovely Vintage Champs Les Sims world. I have taken this little sim to all the EA worlds – and quite a few custom worlds. So, here she is again, with her BFF, Marley. In this world, she’s inherited the local smithy – which was a community lot that I changed into a residential. I’ve also given her a horse, since witches can’t use their brooms in roadless worlds. (Dumb, dumb, dumb!) 

For anyone wondering what I’ve been up to the last couple of weeks -- despite work, work and even more work:

I have started furnishing @franglishetchocolat‘s absolutely awesome Sim State University! I have the Student Union and basically all other community lots almost ready and figured, it was time to take on the Greek houses next.

Modded Stairs, a Very Pretty World, and Fun Let's Players Who Use Mods

So, I didn't know there was a teleport version of Gosik and Inge Jones' Cottage Half Landing Stairs that's on TSR on Simlogical. That is awesome. Yes, excited about stairs. I first learned about these neat stairs to begin with when I downloaded some lots for Vintage Champs les Sims from @franglishetchocolat​ (aka Tedhi on YouTube, picture below is theirs from this post), which is a gorgeous world with lots of amazing details, would absolutely recommend, 100%. Tedhi's YouTube channel with let's plays in Vintage Champs les Sims is HERE.

But then I learned about the teleport version of the stairs by watching @anitmb​ YouTube channel. A super talented modder doing let's plays using mods? Theirs and other people's? Yes, please! Ani's YouTube channel is HERE. Both of their channels are a great way for me to be able see practical applications of mods in game, and would definitely recommend them for anyone else interested. Love it, and really appreciate them for making these videos for us. <3 But the stairs though.

After rewatching several of Tedhi’s videos over on YouTube, I decided that yes, this town does need a hotel. Because, as everyone knows, going on vacation to a tiny village that no one has ever heard of – that is also out in the middle of simgoddess samkat only knows where – is just what all right-minded sims do! So I deleted some lots and placed some new ones.

So, this is my hotel – based on Tedhi’s – with the caretaker’s house - that she shared with us (Thank you!) - to the left. In my town history, that Jacquet family from TS2 Bluewater Village has returned to their hometown after a colossal fail in starting a new life, in the new world. They lost their bakery, their home, and most of their money. About the only thing they didn’t lose was the clothes on their backs. I have also resurrected the husband Yves, since he was the only one in that family who could actually cook. Anyway, I decided to age Yves and Denise to elder-status, and kept Gilbert as a teen. (One of those late-in-life rugrats!) Yves is a nice guy, but his wife and son are both a piece of work, thinking that they’re better than everyone else in this village. And no, neither has any friends.

Anyway this is the ground floor of the hotel. In the basement, I kept it pretty much the same as Tedhi had it – with a pool and a hottub. About the only thing I did down there, was add a small bump-out for a sauna room over by where she has her bathrooms.

Then, since I bulldozed Tricou Potions to plunk down the house where the Jacquets now live, I had to build a new elixir shop. Mostly because 1) I have a witch who lives in this village and 2) most of my villagers are still a bit suspicious of new-fangled medicine. Especially when the town doctor is a guy they grew up with and who shares clinic space with the town vet.

So – since the shop is owned and run by the Tricou family – I decided to put it up on the hill, by their house in what is the “old” village. This is a tiny, tiny lot, so I kinda crammed stuff in.

Anyway, here’s the inside, as you enter the shop.

Downstairs is where I placed all the potion-making equipment, While up in the attic, there’s that Ravensclaw – or whatever the heck it’s called – podium and that table with that magic ball on it that sims can use to read their fortunes.

Then, because I needed a bookstore, I built this tiny shop on another skinny, little lot. Maybe 8x20? Or 10x20. Still, small. And since all it has inside are books, I didn’t bother to take any pics. 

So, I took the week off from Cladbridge-on-Stowe to play-test my friend’s new revision of her lovely world, Vintage Champs Les Sims. And if you guys thought her original version was pretty, you’re in for a real treat with this version.

When Tedhi introduced this version to us, she mentioned that she’s been having her priest test it, by walking. WALKING! Hello, Tedhi! If God wanted us to walk, He wouldn’t have invented CARS!!!!

And since my sims are even lazier than their simgoddess, I generously provided transportation. Yes, I did! In 2 forms, no less!

So here’s the temporary home of River McIrish, her trusty canine friend, Daisy, and her brand new horse, Alpo. I’ve played River before – many, many years ago – in a Lifetime Wish challenge. She wanted to be a master thief and viola! Granted by her ever-generous simgoddess. (What can I say? I’m a peach!)

I decided to do the horse bit, because – even though I’ve had Pets ever since it 1st came out - none of my sims has ever gone horseback riding. And this from a person who has owned and ridden horses in RL.

Exploring this world from atop a horse is a joy. So many pretty things to see. 

River rode to almost all the lots on her side of the river, ending up on a beach lot, before going back home. (She’s a coward and afraid of the dark. Weird for a thief, I know, but I like giving my sims challenges to overcome, when playing LTW challenges).

Anyway, the next day, I had her drive her jeep across the river. I figured she’d drive it to all the lots, but not genius. No, running from lot to lot was more her speed. Obviously she is not as much like her glorious simgoddess as I hoped. 

She ended up on this spot, and I was able to snap a picture of PotatoBalladSims’ distant French terrain – without the Eiffel Tower – that I promised Tedhi I would try out. Not sure that I care for it, but at least now you can see how it looks at night.

After a busy day exploring, she was tuckered out and crashed with Daisy.

I also explored this world with just Alpo – no rider. And OMG! That horse moves! He preferred the trails over the roads, so I got to see lots of pretty scenery – which I didn’t take any pics of (sorry!) because he ran so fast! Crazy horse. We pretty much covered the entire world and he never ran into any issues. Did meet lots of wild horses- who he tried to bite, but no routing issues.