Victorian Population Challenge 3/10/22

 Sub Farm #1 Godwin:  Current household members are: Silas & Matilda (Gen 2 Heir/Wife - adults), Adolph (Gen 3 Heir - adult), Lucius (Gen 3 - teen), Emil (Gen 3 - teen), Addie (Gen 3 - teen), Milo (Gen 3 - child), and Patricia (Gen 3 - baby).  Amelia moved to the girls' home.  The family expanded the farm just before the beginning of Spring to add three more fruit trees (I'm only allowing a max of 6 fruit trees and 24 plots on sub farms), so their farm is now at its most productive.  Adolph is still on the hunt for a wife, though there isn't currently room in the household for her until Lucius moves out.  Matilda continues to make quilts, which will become even easier now that she's past her childbearing years, and all three teens have jobs to bring in extra cash as well.  Household bank balance is $28,226/$50,000.

Sub Farm #2 Godwin:  Current household members are: Oliver & Louise (Gen 2 - adults), Quentin (Gen 3 Heir - teen), Charlotte (Gen 3 - child), Elizabeth (Gen 3 - child), Violet (Gen 3 - child), Annabelle (Gen 3 - child), and Cordelia (Gen 3 - child).  This family continues to eke out a living by fishing mostly.  I've discovered, however, that Quentin is a much better fisherman than his father, and so Oliver has been taking him along most days.  They're just one bed short now, so that's progress I guess.  One advantage to the slow time glitch is that plants mature faster, meaning that they've been able to harvest fruit trees several times already and the strawberries have already been harvested as well.  They'll be selling the peppers and eggplants when they come in, so that'll be some much-needed income also.  Hopefully they'll be able to afford some ladybug houses and a crafting station of some sort for Louise by the end of Summer.  Household bank balance is $168/$50,000.

Sub Farm #3 Hayward:  Current household members are: Noah & Grace (Gen 2 Heir/Wife - adults), Abraham & Amelia (Gen 3 Heir/Wife - adults), Ezra (Gen 3 - teen), Maxwell (Gen 3 - teen), Robin (Gen 3 - child), and Camilla (Gen 3 - toddler).  Solomon moved to the workhouse, which allowed Abraham and Amelia (good omen that she has the same name as his grandmother?) to get married.  There isn't room for a baby yet, but once Ezra moves out, they'll get right on it.  By then Grace will be too old to conceive, so there won't be any overlap in generations.  Amelia will make the most of her pregnancy free time to work on flower arranging alongside her mother-in-law.  Household bank balance is $37,980/$50,000.

That's it for today.  Happy Simming!

Victorian Population Challenge 3/9/22

 Spring is winding down for Victoria's Peak, which means it's time for another update.

Poor #1 Stanbury:  Current household members are: Raymond & Marie (Gen 2 - adults), Ginevra (Gen 3 - child), and Norman (Gen 3 Heir - toddler).  Marie is pregnant with their third child.  This household has been infected with the slow time glitch, which is a blessing for the challenge, but maybe a curse for Marie?  Seems like she waited a long time to get married so she wouldn't have to have too many kids, but now she'll likely pop out at least four I'd say.  At least they got their heir already, so they don't have to worry about that.  Household bank balance is $659/$50,000.

Poor #2 Vacant

Poor #3 Baldwin:  Current household members are: Hart & Josie (Gen 2 Heir/Wife - adults), Lucy (Gen 3 - child), August (Gen 3 Heir - toddler), and Honey (Gen 3 - baby).  Josie is pregnant with baby #4.  Hart has been struggling for that next promotion.  He's nearly gained the skills needed, but he still needs several friends, so it might be a while before that happens.  Josie is helping as much as she can with her pottery.  Household bank balance is $37,329/$50,000.

Poor #4 Hopkins:  Current household members are: Henry & Alice (Gen 2 - adults), Adelaide (Gen 3 - teen), Herman (Gen 3 Heir - teen), Julian (Gen 3 - child), Rose (Gen 3 - child), and Derek (Gen 3 - toddler).  Alice is pregnant with her sixth (and probably last) baby.  Henry continues to be a mediocre provider, however Adelaide brought in quite a tidy sum between that quilt she picked up and the $800 she got from a chance card at work.  Incidentally, since the rules don't say what to do with items sims purchase from sim-owned businesses, I've just been lumping those in with the fish and dug up treasures rule of only keeping $500 per day.  I check everyone's inventory when I enter the household, add up everything they've acquired since last time, let them keep or sell up to $500, and make them give away the rest.  I've also been letting them sell the genie lamp and then buy something for $500 (which remains in inventory or is given away) to offset the gain.  Household bank balance is $4423/$50,000.

Tomorrow we begin the long haul that is the Subsistence Farmers.  There are 10 now!!  Guess Sub Farmers have more game than Poor lol.  Happy Simming!

Victorian Population Challenge 2/22/22

 Trade #1 Hopkins:  Current household members are: Elsie (Gen 1 Founder - elder), Nathaniel & Johanna (Gen 2 Heir/Wife - adults), Leila (Gen 3 - teen), Eve (Gen 3 - child), Olivia (Gen 3 - child), and Elsa (Gen 3 - child).  They lost Simon over the Winter at age 76 and, consequently, Johanna is now pregnant with their fifth child, who they are hoping will be their heir.  As sad as Simon's death was, his life insurance money was a huge boost to the family's finances, providing dowries for all the girls and bringing them to nearly a third of what they need to level up to Professional.  Elsie looks likely to live into her 80's, so she'll be around a while longer.  Household bank balance is $31,939/$100,000.

Trade #2 Whitlock:  Current household members are: Liam & Chastity (Gen 2 Heir/Wife - adults), Tia (Gen 3 - teen), Siobhan (Gen 3 - child), Oliver (Gen 3 Heir - child), Owen (Gen 3 - child), and Brendan (Gen 3 - toddler).  Chastity is expecting baby #6.  Founder Luther died at the age of 72.  While his life insurance provided the shop with a full range of stock, since then they've had trouble keeping up, as their customer base is not really built up yet.  Liam may need to do some fishing this Spring to supplement the income from the business, which is barely covering stocking costs at the moment.  Household bank balance is $2/$100,000.

Trade #3 Stanbury:  Current household members are: Thomas & Joy (Gen 2 Heir/Wife - adults), Robert (Gen 3 Heir - teen), Damon (Gen 3 - child), Toby (Gen 3 - child), James (Gen 3 - child), and Sarah (Gen 3 - toddler).  Joy is pregnant with baby #6.  Faith passed away at the age of 72 which is what allowed the Stanbury family to level up to Trade from Poor.  Their shop is a housewares shop, more or less.  They sell the things Joy sews, plus a few other rugs/curtains from Buy mode.  They are fairly stable financially at the moment, but Joy is having a terrible time keeping up with everything.  Since all the older kids are boys, she has absolutely no help around the house, which means little to no time sewing.  Once the current baby is born, she'll have a little breather, as there won't be room for another until Damon leaves home.  Maybe then she'll have a chance to build up some stock for the shop.  Household bank balance is $3433/$100,000.

And that's it for the Winter update!  As Victoria's Peak transitions into Spring, the farmers will have a lot more to keep them busy and I believe we might have a couple more families moving up to Trade.  See you in a week or so for the Spring update.  Until then, Happy Simming!

Victorian Population Challenge 2/21/22

 Sub Farm #4 Hayward:  Current household members are: Levi & Elizabeth (Gen 2 - adults), James (Gen 3 Heir - adult), Anna (Gen 3 - teen), Moses (Gen 3 - teen), Matthew (Gen 3 - child), and Caleb (Gen 3 - child).  John moved to the workhouse and Elizabeth is pregnant with their 7th child.  James is still looking for a wife.  His best prospect is Bess Hopkins, but that has not progressed to anything more than friendship at this point and she does have other options, so we'll see what happens there.  Both teens have jobs to bring in extra cash and Liz has been working on her pottery as well.  Household bank balance is $5517/$50,000.

Sub Farm #5 Godwin:  Current household members are: Emory & Caroline (Gen 2 - adults), Louise (Gen 3 - teen), Georgianna (Gen 3 - child), Hardy (Gen 3 Heir - child), Emmett (Gen 3 - child), and Joan (Gen 3 - toddler).  Grace moved to the girls' home and Caroline is expecting baby #7.  The family saved up enough for a toy bench this winter and Caroline has been making good use of it, earning her bronze badge in toymaking.  Things have been made easier for her with, first Grace, and now Louise being able to help out with the younger children and the housework.  Still, I'm sure everyone is looking forward to Spring when Emory can get out to do the planting and the other kids can go out to play without freezing.  Household bank balance is $3494/$50,000.

Sub Farm #6 Hayward:  Current household members are: Curtis & Charlotte (Gen 2 - adults), Victoria (Gen 3 - child), Justine (Gen 3 - child), and Ruby (Gen 3 - toddler).  Charlotte is expecting the couple's fourth child.  Still no heir for this family, but they sure are helping to balance out the boy/girl ratio.  They've done well through the Winter.  Curtis was able to fish enough to keep everyone fed and Charlotte made pottery for extra income.  The girls are able to help out enough around the house that Charlotte is able to stay fairly well rested even with a toddler to care for.  Household bank balance is $5652/$50,0000.

Sub Farm #7 Godwin:  Current household members are: Finn & Violet (Gen 2 - adults), Declan (Gen 3 Heir - child), Greta (Gen 3 - toddler), and Hazel (Gen 3 - baby).  Violet is pregnant with baby #4.  This family has made it through their first Winter and Finn is looking forward to getting those crops in the ground come Spring.  Violet works on sewing when she gets a chance and since they've already got their heir locked in, it's just a matter of plugging away financially until they hit their target.  Household bank balance is $4908/$50,000.

Sub Farm #8 Hayward:  Current household members are: Julian & Esme (Gen 2 - adults) and Saul (Gen 3 Heir - toddler).  Esme is pregnant with their second child.  They bought a flower bench so that Esme could make flower arrangements over the Winter and it's worked out well.  She was able to utilize her "not too many babies to care for" time to earn a bronze badge.  Household bank balance is $4918/$50,000.

And that's it for the subsistence farmers!  Up next will be the trade families.  Happy Simming!

Victorian Population Challenge 2/20/22

 Sub Farm #1 Godwin:  Current household members are: Silas and Matilda (Gen 2 Heir/Wife - adults), Adolph (Gen 3 Heir - adult), Amelia (Gen 3 - teen), Lucius (Gen 3 - child), Emil (Gen 3 - child), Addie (Gen 3 - child), and Milo (Gen 3 - baby).  The family lost Jasper over the winter at age 72.  Now that Adolph is an adult, he's on the hunt for a wife, but no prospects have presented themselves yet.  As Winter winds down, it'll soon be time for the Spring planting, which will keep everyone busy for a while and hopefully keep the kids from fighting constantly.  Matilda earned her gold sewing badge and is able to crank out 3 or 4 quilts a day for extra income and Amelia has a teen job which brings in a little as well.  Household bank balance is: $21,967/$50,000.

Sub Farm #2 Godwin:  Current household members are: Oliver & Louise (Gen 2 - adults), Quentin (Gen 3 Heir - child), Charlotte (Gen 3 - child), Elizabeth (Gen 3 - child), Violet (Gen 3 - toddler), and Annabelle (Gen 3 - baby).  Louise is pregnant with baby #6.  Since this lot has the slow time glitch which makes pregnancy about half as long as normal, this family has really multiplied over the winter.  Their finances, however, have not.  Without any steady income over the winter and so many cribs/beds to buy, they're still very poor.  Oliver goes out fishing every day, not for food, but for money to buy beds.  As it is, twins Charlotte and Elizabeth must share a bed and take turns sleeping.  I don't know what they would have done if the pond had frozen over.  Although digging for treasure is allowed, I've been trying to avoid that because it's a terribly easy way to make money.  Household bank balance is: $140/$50,000.

Sub Farm #3 Hayward:  Current household members are: Noah & Grace (Gen 2 Heir/Wife - adults), Abraham (Gen 3 Heir - adult), Solomon (Gen 3 - teen), Ezra (Gen 3 - child), Maxwell (Gen 3 - child), and Robin (Gen 3 - baby).  Amelia passed away at the age of 72 (allowing room for Robin, the first girl, to be born) and Eli moved out to the workhouse to begin his adult life (allowing Grace to become pregnant with baby #7).  Abraham is in the market for a wife, but his best prospect - Amelia Godwin - is still a teen, so he'll have to wait a while.  Grace has brought in a decent sum of money over the winter with her flower arrangements (she has a silver badge).  Household bank balance is: $33,496/$50,000.

More sub farms to come still.  Until tomorrow, Happy Simming!

Victorian Population Challenge 2/19/22

 Finally, we have come back to the VPC!  As the residents of Victoria's Peak approach the end of another brutal winter, it's time for an update.

Poor #1 Stanbury: Though this is still the Stanbury family, it's not the exact same Stanbury family because Thomas and Joy ranked up to Trade and Thomas' brother moved in here.  Current household members are: Raymond & Marie (Gen 2 - adults).  This is a newlywed couple and Marie is expecting their first child.  Raymond has been living in the workhouse for quite some time and Marie (formerly Hopkins) was in the girls' home for even longer, but they finally connected with each other.  Hopefully an heir will be born right away, as Marie doesn't have too many childbearing years left.  In fact, I was on the verge of deciding she was too old to be viable marriage material when this romance happened.  Household bank balance is $398/$50,000.

Poor #2 Vacant

Poor #3 Baldwin:  Current household members are: Hart & Josie (Gen 2 Heir/Wife - adults), and Lucy (Gen 3 - toddler).  Josie is pregnant with baby #2.  Hart has earned a promotion or two over the winter and Josie has taken up pottery for supplemental income.  No heir just yet, but Josie is very young and has plenty of childbearing years ahead of her, so it's only a matter of time.  Household bank balance is $34,005/$50,000.

Poor #4 Hopkins:  Current household members are: Henry & Alice (Gen 2 - adults), Adelaide (Gen 3 - child), Herman (Gen 3 Heir - child), Julian (Gen 3 - toddler), and Rose (Gen 3 - baby).  Alice had some trouble getting pregnant for the fifth time (who wouldn't?), but she is now expecting again.  Despite unlimited earning in the Military career, Henry isn't keen on skilling, so he hasn't earned a promotion in quite a while.  He does, however, make a fairly good wage and so was able to buy a toy bench so that Alice can make some money in her "spare" (lol) time.  You know, when she's not changing diapers, cooking, cleaning, or trying not to starve to death in her perpetual state of pregnancy.  Household bank balance is $2731/$50,000.

That's it for today.  Tomorrow we'll begin the long haul that is the Subsistence Farmers.  Happy Simming!

Harmony 2/1/22

 Last in this round is Foxworth Crane.  He's the twin brother of Nicholas, has a younger brother Spike and several older siblings he's not close with.  Fox has recently moved to a farm on the outskirts of town, where he'll be farming as a cover for his less than legal activities.  He will grow some "special" herbs in his greenhouse and then pass them on to Spike to sell in town.  Their brother Nick would not approve, so they'll keep it a secret from him.

Tomorrow I'll be focused on writing the story and then I'll decide whether or not to play another round.  Happy Simming!