Changing Seasons. Winter II, part 1

Winter II, part 1 “Come on, buster. It’s bed-time.” Mason was doing the “I’m not tired!” routine, which was a total giveaway for “I’m exhausted!” Lachlan hugged his son and stroked his hair.
“It’s all right, little man. It’s all right.” They were actually all sleeping upstairs now! The four children’s cots were tucked into the odd-shaped room on the right of the landing, and Lachlan and Marianna had the one straight ahead. This was better, did feel like progress. He didn’t feel like such a total failure any more. Children into bed, and then he and Marianna both knew they were tired. None of this “I’m not tired” nonsense for them! They were both heading for their bed as soon as possible! “What next?” Lachlan asked Marianna.
“What next for today or what next in the house?”
“Both,” Lachlan said briskly. “What do you think we need to do next to the house and I’ll start thinking about how to do it, and what needs doing today? What would you like?” Marianna looked pleased that he was asking her what she would like.
“I’d like to get this table smartened up,” she said. “But – there is something I think we really need – come with me and I’ll show you.” “It’s this let’s-fall-down-the-stairs gap. I mean, at the moment, they’re staying in their cots and in their bedroom. They’ve got each other to talk to and we’re usually up first anyway. But this isn’t safe now they’re sleeping upstairs.”
“You’re right. We need stair banisters too, I think. I can do quick but not very elegant, or elegant and slow. Which do you want?”
“Quick, I think. You can make me elegant later.”
“Quick it is, then.” Both fireplaces were now fenced off, and even with the shutters open, the room was warm and cosy once the fires were lit.
“Ten more minutes and then it’s bedtime,” Lachlan said to his tribe.
He didn’t feel like such a failure round his children anymore, didn’t feel like he couldn’t work out what to do. Marianna was in the workshop, and he was here with four children and he didn’t feel panicked. Bed for the children, supper for himself and Marianna – and now meals with her didn’t feel like a stand-off, but were pleasant, companionable times. And tomorrow would be another day they’d face together. Lachlan had borrowed his landing railing idea from Marcus and Annette’s farm! Quick, cheap and effective, and the landing was now much safer.
“You know what?” Annette said. “If we walled off this space and put a window in, it’d make a bedroom. By next winter, the children will be out of their cots and into beds. They won’t all fit in that other room, unless we buy bunk beds.” “I need to go to Minnie’s, to drop off that stuff for her daughter’s gallery. Who do you want me to take? Taylor? Harper went last time.”
“Good choice. And I’ll take Mason with me to the library later. Fletcher went last time.” “Pretty!” said Taylor, gazing at the new stuff on the shelves. Christmas! Lachlan did a double-take. Last year it hadn’t featured at all. “You’ve got Christmas things!” He hadn’t meant it to sound accusing, but it almost did. “Just a few little things. I know none of you have got much money, but I figured stocking these wouldn’t break my bank or yours. If there’s something you want me to put aside to give to Marianna, I’ll be right happy to do that for you. And I won’t breathe a word to her about it either. Have a closer look and see if there’s anything you think she’d really like. A tiny gift given with love is worth so much more than a big gift given without love, I always say. I remember when we were not long married and all the girls were still pre-school, and we were so hard up…” “I tried a couple of new things as well,” Lachlan said a bit diffidently, when Minnie had finished talking and given him a chance to show her his latest new ideas.
“I’ve done the repeats she asked for as well – they’re packaged up by the door.”
“I don’t think I’m going to give her the cat sculpture. My Susie, she just loves cats. I’m going to buy that from you for one of her Christmas presents. She’ll just love it. I’ll pass on the owl though – that’s kind of cute.” A present for Marianna. But what would she like? There was so much that they just plain needed: should he go for useful? He needed some advice. And he knew where to find it. Could be an early start tomorrow morning. He’d tell Marianna he was going scrap hunting. This time last year, when he’d sat in this building and talked to the ghost of a bossy school teacher, he’d wondered if he was going mad. Now it felt normal.
“I don’t know what to get her. I mean, me, I’d like useful, but I’m a man. I like practical things. Women are different in so many ways…”
“You’re learning,” Miss-Kirk-to-you said approvingly. “She wants to know if you see her, if you understand her and if you value her. But your budget is small, and there are things she needs, right?”
Lachlan nodded.
“Use a small part of it to buy her something that is solely to bring her joy. That will tell Marianna that you care about her heart, her soul, as well as her physical needs.” Clara very thoughtfully came down from the scaffolding for him, rather than making him climb up to her – or yell up from below.
“So that’s what Minnie’s got, more or less. What should I get for her?”
“The chocolates,” Clara said promptly. “They say ‘you are special’ way better than a candle or a plant in a pot.”
Well, she should know, Lachlan thought. Clara and Marianna got on well together, understood each other. Scary, really, to think that Marianna had a lot in common with Clara! “That whale is fun! Patience’s three will really enjoy playing with it. I’ll wrap it up – Minnie gave me some spare packaging – and I’ll give it to her when she next comes round.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I tell you what else I like. The way you’ve transformed this table.” “We’re going to need some more sandpaper though! What with the table, the new benching.”
“Do you think we should take those stools back to the school? We only really borrowed them for when Leo and Rafe and the girls came to stay. And that was six months ago.” “No. I think we should let me sand them, glue the wobbly leg back into place, tighten all the loose joints and then use them ourselves. Who’s going to need them in the school? Who has the oldest children?”
“Well, us, I guess…”
“So,” Lachlan went on, with a laugh in his voice, “logically, we are the rightful chair-users. And by the end of the summer, we will have four grown-up-child bottoms in need of four grown-up-child chairs. What do I see at this table? Aha! Chairs!”
Marianna laughed back at him, her eyes alive and sparkling like they used to be.
“Together you are strong,” Adelaide Kirk had said to him last year. And together they had made it through another year, made some progress in their life here. She’d been right. Patience had brought a Christmas present over for the children, which hadn’t been a surprise; and he’d made the whale toy for their children. And he wasn’t too surprised by the neat little yellow box with a present for Marianna in it. He knew that Marianna had made Patience a pair of earrings. Girls gave gifts to each other. It was what they did – gifts of time, of listening, of practical help. But there was one for him as well! Lachlan hadn’t actually felt as pleased and surprised as this for years. Not since before the children came… “And a Happy Christmas to you too! Open it carefully, when you do, because there’s something in there for you as well.” Lachlan headed for the workshop! He’d probably better start thinking about making something for Euan. There was still a week to go… “And here’s another small Happy Christmas present for you, darling.”
Lachlan’s real present to Marianna had been the new jeans and jumper that she was now wearing. The chocolates were a total surprise. “Chocolates? Christmas chocolates? Oh, Lachlan!” Marianna looked as if she couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry. Presumably that was a good sign…maybe? Or did she think it was a waste of money? “I wanted to give you something you didn’t absolutely need? To tell you that you’re special?”
He’d known how to do this when they were falling in love, but that landscape felt so far away, so long ago.
“Because you are. Special, I mean.” The little yellow candle on the table (that was what had been inside the little yellow box for Marianna!) flickered and danced as if it agreed with him. “This has been the best Christmas ever.” Marianna’s arms were around him.
“Really?” Lachlan was genuinely puzzled.
“Yes. Because it’s a new beginning for us both. We’ve got through the worst, Lachlan. There’s still further to go, but we’ve got through the worst.” Marianna was putting the last child to bed whilst Lachlan picked up the toys and put them in the new toybox. Blake and Marcus had made it, Clara had painted it and the toys had come from Old Tench and Minnie. The children had loved them – and the colouring books from Patience and Euan. And next year…Next year would be better yet.

The charming little Christmas gifts were made by Sandy at ATS3

This family and build is by AlphaFen. Want to try them for yourself? Link here:
https://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=9310543

Changing Seasons, Autumn II, part 3

autumn II, part 3 Hope was trying to decide if walking was a possibility or not. Barnabas did it – but Joy didn’t. As far as Hope was concerned, the jury was still out on whether it was a Good Thing or not. Joy was sticking with her blocks and her bottom firmly on the floor, thank you very much! It all looked a bit chancy, all this standing up and falling over stuff.
Barnabas couldn’t work out (a) why it was taking his sisters so long to learn to walk and (b) why the xylophone stick didn’t taste of anything much. And Patience? Getting out occasionally was making her so much happier. And tomorrow, Old Tench was taking her round some more of the horse country end of town. “Feeding time at the zoo,” Patience said with a laugh.
Barnabas was getting his last. He still had a tendency to throw his food everywhere if he thought he could get away with it. “I think it’s all the time he spent with Marcus as a baby,” Euan said darkly. “Have a great morning out, my lovely one. These wild animals can all go in the corral while I garden.” “This is Woodside Barns. Used ter belong to the Woodside family – they was horse breeders too, out of England. Kinda shows in the buildin’ style. They was into breedin’ show jumpers, whiles the Knight-Mayor stud was breedin’ racers, so they wasn’t competin’ against each other. Come up the road with me a ways an’ I’ll show you where all the glory was happenin’” “I thought the competitions were all over Newborough way?”
“Nope. They was right here too. Course, the Newborough stuff was bigger, but this was a real respectable place for an up-and-comin’ horse or jockey or stud to be seen.” “That’s Charles Woodside. Story has it, he was from some arry-stocratic family in England, an’ he fell in love with some farmer’s daughter, which didn’t suit his family none. Can’t remember if the trouble was because he did marry her or didn’t marry her, but anyway he got shipped off an’ ended up here eventually, settin’ up an’ runnin’ them stables.”
“So why the statue?”
“Cause he was the one as started all this off, ploughin’ all his profits into bringin’ the racin’ and the jumpin’ here.” “An’ that was where the jumpin’ happened. Time was, there’d be a crowd up there.” Old Tench pointed up at the seating. Patience looked down the length of the space, trying to imagine horses clearing the jumps, and the stands full of people, all cheering. Actually, just trying to imagine crowds of any sorts was a bit of a stretch these days. Old Tench had gone up and sat himself down on one of the few remaining benches.
“You sure get a good view from up here. Hey! There’s someone moseyin’ round the old Knight-Mayor stud. And it ain’t anyone from round here. Come on, young Patience. Let’s go chase this intruder off.” There was a horse! Patience couldn’t quite believe her eyes – and kept well back! Had they magicked the horse into being by talking about horses? And then an old guy appeared. He’s going to roast in those clothes, Patience thought, remembering how they’d felt when they first arrived. He must have come from quite a bit further north. Old Tench was definitely squaring up to the guy.
“Don’t believe as how we’ve met before. What’s bringin’ you down here? Name’s Tench.” There was no hint of Pleased to meet you, Patience noticed!
And then the scene changed completely. “Tench? Tom Tench? You ol’ son-of-a-gun, you still around?”
And a Old Tench peered at him, the stranger continued, “Artie. Artie Campbell. You can’t have forgotten me…”
And that was it. They were off, chatting, as they headed towards the house.
“Remember the time you, me an’ Bess Malton scared the livin’ daylights out’ve the bank manager, dressin’ up as ghosts and hauntin’ his garden…”
I think I’ll just head back home, Patience thought. This reunion could go on for quite a while… “So in the end, I just came away! I could tell it was Old School Reunion time. Made me think, though, how hard it must have been for Old Tench, with no-one here who shared his memories. I think that’s partly why he and Clara get on so well, because she’s read about things from his past. Well, that and the fact that they’re both very determined people!” This upstairs landing was the last awful bit of the house – and they were going to paint it soon! Patience couldn’t wait. “I’m not living up to my name here,” she thought. “I’ll have to re-christen myself Impatience!” “Wow!” Patience said as she came downstairs to the children already being fed, pancakes on the table…
“What’s all this in aid of?”
Euan looked at her as if she was slightly mad. “Ahem. It’s for you.”
“Me?”
“Happy birthday, darling!” “You wouldn’t think I could forget my own birthday, would you? But I’d totally lost track of the date. And of course, last year it got swamped by moving here, having triplets…we’ve never celebrated my birthday here.”
“There’s another little surprise for you later on this afternoon.” “You said you missed going out for a cup of tea…” Clara began.
“And Euan mentioned that it was your birthday – he asked us to pick up the flowers in Newborough,” Annette chimed in. "So we talked to Minnie and she arranged this. She’ll join us as soon as she’s finished cashing up – she said to start without her.” “I can’t quite believe this! What a fabulous surprise!” Annette smiled fondly at Patience as she poured the milk and the tea into the elegant cups and saucers. Clara was looking at Annette.
“How’s the finished house?”
“Lovely. Quite bare still, but lovely. Tell you what, though – I’m still whacked from all the work it was. Blake and Marcus can build the wine cellar without me!”
“I knew all that hole-digging was a bad idea. I’ll come and learn how to tread grapes though, if you like.” They sat there, chatting about nothing much, until the sun was setting and Annette had to head home to cook dinner. “Or Marcus will do it, and I don’t think I can stomach his cooking!”
“Clara, thank you. This was really special. It was more than just a cup of tea to me. A lot more.” “Aw shucks, it weren’t nothin’.” But Patience could see, in Clara’s eyes, something that hadn’t been there before. She’s beginning to feel like she belongs here, isn’t she, Patience thought. She’s beginning to feel like she’s found a home at last. “Thanks for having Barnabas, Annette! The girls – they’re no bother, we can get stuff done while they’re around: they’ll play nicely. But Barnabas! Turn your back and he’s in the wallpaper paste, or painting himself…The list is endless!”
“It’s no bother. As long as we keep the kitchen door shut, he can’t do anything bad because there’s nothing to wreck or to hurt himself on. And – well, I couldn’t resist that toybox that I found in the second-hand shop, but now Marcus can see that it’s being useful already!” Patience went in to pick up her son and admired Annette’s ingenious stairgate. They were going to have to think about something like that for themselves very soon. She’d seen Barnabas eying up the stairs. “Does Barnabas want a job?” Marcus asked as he climbed wearily out of the vat.
“One of the machines is playing up, we’ve had a bumper harvest, which is great, but we’re still doing everything by hand. We just can’t keep up! How do you think he’d be at treading grapes?”
“All too enthusiastic,” Patience said firmly. “Try Clara instead – she offered her services last week.”
“I might just have to do that! And put up with Blake winding her up and her winding Blake up. Never a dull moment round here!” “Here we are! Children in bed and decorating done. That was a clever idea of yours, Patience – to buy one roll of wallpaper and make this border. It looks much better than plain white walls.”
“Shame the perfect height for it was round all the windows and doors though! All that cutting…”
“But you were right about that. Hey, we should invite Artie Campbell round for a meal. Get to know him.”
“Another good idea, handsome! I wonder how he’s getting on? The house didn’t look that great…” “Well, this place ain’t what I was hoping for, horse. Gotta make sure that you’re okay though. You’re all I’ve got left now. I’ll get these weeds cleared as soon as I can. Hee hee; it was funny seeing old Tom Tench squaring up to me like a bantam rooster, ready for a fight. We’ll ride on down to his fishing hut, you and I, in a few days’ time. Need to tidy up here first though – get myself organised, like.” “Reckon I’d better get these weeds out of here. Wonder if that fridge works? Mind, Old Tom said he’d give me a hand fixing stuff ‘iffen I was needin’ it.’ What’s the walls papered with? “The racing papers and the racing sections. Heck, some of these go back years.” “I guess this could be a nice place to live. Need a lot of work though, and some money – and I got me a horse to feed too. Well, horse, you and me are going to have to find a way to make money.” “Stud fees, horse. Stud fees and maybe foals to train and sell. But to do that, you need a reputation. We’re going to have to get you back into training and enter some races. And do some winning. And I’m going to need to stay on your back. I’m getting a bit too old for falls now.” “I’ve finished making all the Christmas present shirts.” Patience nodded towards the neat pile. “But there’s probably enough fabric left to make one more – though it might have to be short-sleeved! Should I make one for Artie Campbell, do you think?” “I think that’s a brilliant idea. As long as you get mine made as well…”

Woodside Barns was made by Cyclone Sue at TSR

Artie Campbell and his house were made for me by LMC6254, ane they're available for download here:
https://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=9394755