Sunday, November 28, 2010

Twin Ridge Retirement Community


I've done it again.  I've spent the day building.  If you're following the story here, you'll know that Paul and Christy are nearing retirement.  Well, actually, they've already retired.   They, however, are not ready to move to a retirement home just yet, especially considering that Kenny is still a child and needs to get through TRU first.  Anyway, I had this idea of a retirement community in my mind, and although there are tons of amazing creators in the Sim Community, I didn't want to spend all that time trying to find exactly what I wanted.  So, I built it.


This is not a community lot, it is not a hotel, and it is not an apartment building.  Let me repeat, this is not an apartment building.  Although I enjoy playing the apartments, I wanted this to be a true community.  One where everyone who lives here contributes to the success of the home.


That, and I'm a bit of a control freak, so I wanted to be able to control all who live here at one time, and make it one "round" when I play it!  So, yes, there's a motive to my madness!


Okay, with that out of the way, a little about the home.  Obviously, it's pretty big.  In fact, there are 7 bedrooms upstairs.  I originally wanted 8, but then I got to thinking that there's a very small chance that I'll actually have 8 individuals, rather than at least one couple.  Also, I needed a bathroom upstairs!


So, I've had a bunch of pictures above of the outside.  Very little landscaping has been done.  I will focus on that more when I actually play the lot.  However, I thought it might be nice to allow the Seniors have a way to get downstairs from the second floor balconies.  Every bedroom has a door to the balcony above.  Let's go inside, shall we?


This is the entry.  I wanted a warm entry, yet somewhat formal too.  I didn't really care for the staircases that comes with Mansions and Garden SP.  Using those would have only allowed one way around the stairs, and I could just see the "traffic jam" that would have caused!


Going towards the right from the entry, we have a music room.  I left enough space so that it could really be turned into a hobby room.  Remove some of the furniture, and you could add a sewing machine, easel, whatever you'd like.


Down the hall is an exercise room.  Even the elderly should stay fit!  However, again, this is a place to, let's face it, put our older sims until "that day".  So, if you want to change that around to be something like a game room, like Chess Set, Mahjongg game, etc., this would be a great room for that as well.


The kitchen is next.  The "heart" of the home!  It's hard to tell in this picture, but there are two stoves, two refrigerators, and two mixers.  I think it would be a little difficult to believe that at any given time, only one sim would be hungry.  There's also a juicer and coffee maker.


Across from the kitchen is the dining area.  As you can see, I didn't do much decorating.  I made this place as simple as possible so that anyone who wants to change things up, they can.  I will say this though, the dining area is a little smaller than I had originally wanted.  But, really, they won't be spending that much time in there, hopefully!


Next we have the "library".  Between the dining area and library is two restrooms with two public toilets each.  Here we have a very narrow reading area, which again, I figure the sims will either read in their rooms or outside. 

Next to the library and across from the music room, we have the receiving room, or formal sitting room.  All of the furniture in this room is antique in style. 


Going upstairs, the bedrooms circle the stairs with the two bathrooms being at the top of the stairs.


I didn't take a bunch of pictures of the bedrooms.  I only took one picture of one of the bathrooms to give an idea of how they look.  Both are the same, with one being for women and one for men.  The bedrooms are not decorated at all.  I've wallpapered and placed flooring, but that's it, aside from doors and windows, of course.

Now the important part.  There are two items in the house that is considered CC.  They would be a recolor of stairs by Numenor and a recolor of the railing upstairs to match the stairs.  Obviously, I try to keep all CC at a minimum when I know I will be uploading for others to use.  The lot may be downloaded here.  The size of the file is 2.02 MB.  I'm sure that if it's an apartment that you want, it can be easily changed.  As usual, enjoy the home, do what you want with it.  Please give credit where credit is due, and don't upload as your own work.  Happy Simming!


Saturday, November 27, 2010

Carol Snyder-It's All About Nature


Well, I suppose it's my turn.  Carol here, third child of Paul and Christy Snyder, second born, second daughter.  I know.  "Say what"?!  I'm sure my sister Brittne quickly explained that she's really the first child because mom and dad adopted Andy.  It's an on-going thing between those two. Anyway, the above picture is a collage that my partner Rosemarie and I put together.  This is basically where I think dad left everyone on us.  We married, we adopted Aiden, we taught him to walk, he became a child.  So lets move along to the rest of our story, shall we?


Rosemarie and I spend most of our evenings working on our chosen passion.  She enjoys painting while I enjoy creating new patterns for clothes, or curtains.  I've not worked a day in my life, whereas Rosemarie was the Education Minister for a while.  She recently left her job, basically because we have more than enough simoleons to live out the rest of our days.

On Rosemarie's last day of work, I invited my parents and my youngest siblings that still live at home, over.  The two youngest didn't come over as they had school work and projects.

While dad blogged about his favorite hobby, sports, mom caught up with Aiden and enjoyed listening to his stories about school.


Rosemarie found her way over to dad eventually, like I knew she would and kept him in deep conversation for a little while.  I've known since TRU that my partner has had a crush on my father.  Mind you, I have never had any attraction to the opposite sex, whereas Rosemarie was the head cheerleader for all four years at TRU.  She dated many guys, mostly from the football team.  Her attraction to me confused her terribly and had a hard time accepting her love initially.  Eventually, she grew to accept our love.


One things for sure, she loves our son very much!  She had the pond in the back dug for him, she had a small playground installed for him, and I assure you, anytime Aiden wants a snack, be it cookies, cake, soda, etc., he gets it.  No matter if I say "No".


I'd been feeling lately like somethings been missing and tried to talk to Rosemarie about it.  She's always wanted a child of her own, and I know that was one of the things she had the hardest time with.  I started to research other options, once again.


Meanwhile, she continued her painting and eventually got into the Zone.


In a little corner of our bedroom, our diplomas, insect collections, and plaques for the Arts and Crafts hobby adorn the wall.


My little brother came home with Aiden one day from school.  It was really nice to see him as I have never been in the same childhood home with him.  It was especially nice for Aiden that particular day!


Aiden maxed out his fitness skill and.....


Became a teen!  What a great looking young man, no?


Meanwhile, I kept my gardens.  I had heard somewhere that the more you spray insecticide on your plants and trees, the happier they and you will be.  I didn't understand that....at the time....


Because the next thing I knew, I was what I'd only heard rumors about.  A Plantsim!


I had to remove the make up.  I took one look at myself in the mirror and realized that green and rainbow colors do not mix!


Rosemarie and Aiden, unfortunately did not take to my transition very well.  They would literally ignore me when I'd walk in the room.  I had no idea how to address this.  I spoke with mom, and if I was surprised over their accepting my being gay, I was even more so when she was ecstatic over my being a Plantsim!  "Paulie!!  We gotta go see the girls!  No, no, not at TRU, Carol and Rosie.  Wait til you see your little girl...."  That was what I heard when mom and I hung up!  I am so relieved that mom and dad are so understanding!


I wanted a family photo, so I dragged Rosemarie and Aiden out to the back patio.  I think all you have to do is look at this picture and you can see that my transition caused a huge rift in our household.



Aiden snuck out at night, thinking I didn't know.  He was picked up by his cousin, Adam.  I called Brittne to talk to her the next morning about it, but all she kept saying to me is "Wow, Carol, I suppose that Andy will want to be a Plantsim next and he'll say he did it first".  I really wish she'd let go of her childish grudges!


Aiden snuck back home, still believing I had no idea he was out.  He's been such a good kid, so I thought I'd let it go for a bit, and if his behavior continues, I'll talk to him about it.  After all, I don't require sleep anymore.


Then, Rosemarie surprised me.  I think what I took as anger and hurt from her, was really jealousy! 


My beautiful Rosie became a Plantsim right beside me!  Now she truly fits her nickname that mom has called her all these years!


Well, we did the only natural thing.  We sprouted babies!  (It's really funny watching this.  They shake their head like crazy and it looks like bugs are falling out of their hair!)


My little girl was born first, Basil.


And then Rosie had her little girl, Chamomile.  Yes, we purposely named them the way we did.


The difference between these little darlings as compared to raising Aiden, they do not require going to the potty, they already know how to walk, and they were able to talk right away!  Just like Rosie and I, all they require is sunlight, water and love!  So, we sat down and taught them our favorite nursery rhymes!


Aiden had no idea how to deal with all of the changes in our home.  He did what he thought was best and contacted the local Matchmaker and bought some plant potion.  He kept trying to get us to drink it, telling us it would make us feel so much better.  Rosie and I didn't know how to tell him that we feel better than we ever felt before!


So, one more family photo.  Aiden once again parked his butt on the back patio and forced a smile.  I did, however, catch him cooing to Basil the other day.  He won't fool me, I know he loves his little sisters!!  Well, that's it for now folks.  C'mon back when you need another dose of nature!


 Odd Pics Out:

Working outside in the garden makes one cold!
 

Can I get a collective "Ahh"? 



Friday, November 26, 2010

Snyder-Do: Catching up...Quick!


This is how we started out.  Just two of us.  I'm the second child to Paul and Christy Snyder.  First born though, Andy is adopted but he's older than me by a very small amount of time.  A bit of background, I'm not real sure what my family has shared with the rest of Sim Nation.  Mom and Dad wanted kids real bad, and rather than waiting for nature to take it's course, they called up Twin Ridge Social Services and adopted Andy.  They hadn't even hung up the phone when they found out they were pregnant with me.  I'm the first in a long line of daughters.  Brittne.  The darling man in the above picture with me is Armando Do.  We met at TRU and fell in love immediately.  Unfortunately, I started there before he did by one full semester, so I graduated a bit sooner than he. 


So, after graduation I spent my days trying to keep myself busy.  I entered a baking contest only to be set next to my dad.  That was stressful!  Thankfully, neither of us won!


Rather than hang around and share our self pity, I found a new hang out.  I met these nice sims, but as I said, I was just doing things to pass time until Armando could join me at our new home that was special built for us.  


I decided to work on my fitness, only to have heat stroke!  It was right about then that I decided I should take up different hobbies.


It was also right around then that Armando graduated and surprised me at another baking contest I joined!  Needless to say, I didn't stay!


Pretty soon, I started feeling a bit sick.  I didn't think I had the flu or anything, considering my middle was also growing!  Armando and I both want large families.  As I come from a family of 11 kids, it's only natural, however Armando is from an orphanage, and has the opposite upbringing.


My pregnancy seemed to fly by and I gave birth to our first set of twins!


Brody is Armando's look-a-like!  If we had pictures from his childhood I have no doubt this is what he would look like.


Rather than fill up our first report with a million pictures of our babies, I'm jumping right to how my boys look like now.  This is Brody as he looks today.


Our first born of the twins is Adam.  He has the Snyder look for sure!


But I'm really not sure where he gets his nose.  This must be from Armando's side somewhere.  Adam is one of those kids, though, that doesn't let that kind of thing bother him.  It's things like this that I wish mom and dad would get past their feelings about Armando and visit more.  They're missing so much!


Naturally, I became pregnant shortly after our boys were toddlers.  


And it's twins again!  This time we have girls!


Time flew by once again and we were celebrating the girls birthday.


Cheri on the right and Danielle on the left.  Our girls do everything together, just like their brothers before them.  This is a picture of the two celebrating another birthday!


Here's my Cheri as a child.  She's the tomboy of the girls.  She's the sweetest child I've ever met in my life.  Though, if anyone gives her sister Danielle a hard time, she's the first to come to Danielle's rescue.  Truth be told, Danielle's a good girl too, but she finds herself in more trouble than not!


And Danielle.  The female version of Armando and Brody!  There's no mistaking who the two take after!


This is a picture I found in the box that I wanted to include.  My boys before they became teens practicing for a concert together!


And my girls having a pillow fight their first weekend as children.


Oh yes, we are true to the Snyder name.  Once again, I found myself pregnant.  This one was a complete surprise.  No warning.


But, we didn't have twins again.  One little girl.  Erin.  Who, by the way, is spoiled by everyone in this house!  Armando and I both agreed that this will be our last child.  The house is starting to burst at the seams.  When I think about it, I wonder how mom and dad did it in that little house we grew up in!


Armando takes time with all of his children, but Erin is special to him.  He wanted to have more babies, but I told him I thought this should be it.  I don't want to be a rerun of my parents.  Not to mention, I think Andy has the family theme down pat..


Adam helped Erin transition to a toddler.  Of the boys, he's been the one to help out the most with his younger siblings.  Brody helps out too, but he's also studying to become a Chef one day, and Adam knows one day he will inherit this home, so he doesn't have to worry about making it "big" to have a nice home to bring his family up in.


Here you can see Erin's birthday celebration.  Armando and I have such good kids!  They get along so well and actually enjoy being with each other!


This picture was taken on the girls birthday, which is why they look so different.  But, sitting, is Cheri then Danielle.  Standing from left to right, Adam, Armando, me holding Erin, then Brody.


I don't know whether it's been mentioned, but Armando is in the music industry, hence the piano and violin.  He's been named "Rock God" for quite a while now.  I'm the head of the SCIA.  One of the issues my parents have with our relationship is that to them, Armando is not working in a "serious" career and I'm supporting the family.  However, Armando provides quite well!  I also seem to remember my dad not working for the longest time.  But, being the "good girl" that I am, I don't argue with them.  I simply hang up the phone.


I love this picture of Brody playing with the girls!  This picture was actually taken on Erin's birthday!  Adam was in the bathroom changing Erin's appearance while this picture was being taken.  Just another example of how the kids all get along so well!



Well, this is the end of our report.  It snowed last night, and I thought it looked so pretty, so I thought I'd include it here.  Til next time, folks!

Odd Pics out:

The boys room after a serious cluttering bout by yours truly!

What was that rule about "No girls in the bedroom"?!!