Hiatus
Thanks to those who have viewed and commented on this blog. I appreciate all the feedback, and it’s been fun. However, I teach college and this is finals time, so I have been swamped. After that I am going to be out of town and away from my computer for about 2.5 weeks… so I will not be able to do any updating until probably early-mid January. I am still going to play when I can, and I already have a bunch more screenshots to add — a lot has happened to the family… but I have not had a chance to post them and write about them. I hope to have things back up and running by mid-January, so for those who have been enjoying the blog, please check back then.
Thanks, and I apologize for the delay.
C
Chapter 12: Mayor of Sunset Valley
The family has settled down into its normal routine. Tammy is very busy as a state representative, but she starts becoming frustrated with the legislative branch. She has a long conversation with her old friend, Blair Wainwright, about just how hard it is to make an impact as one of a hundred representatives.
Talking politics with Blair
“It’s all well and good to propose and even help write legislation,” Tammy grumbles. “But there are a lot of things that need doing in this town, and it’s hard to address them by being in the legislature.”
Blair thinks about it for a minute, and then says, “Well there is a mayoral race this fall. Why don’t you run for mayor? That would get you into the executive branch.”
“Mayor, huh?” Tammy ponders. “I’d need to raise a lot of money.”
“I have some I can contribute, if you’re going to run,” Blair answers.
“Oh, I couldn’t ask my friends for money!” Tammy exclaims.
“You’d make a great mayor, Tam…. if you’re willing to run, I’ll write you a check right now.” (more…)
Chapter 11: Political Progress
As we saw last chapter, Tammy is well on her way to a bright political career. She’s a member of the town council already. She spends her time becoming active in environmental protection, making sure that the green parts of the neighborhood stay green, and protecting the area around Alderwood Manor from development. Her position pits her against the Landgraab machine several times, but she has great popular appeal and the voters like her. This of course, keeps Tammy pretty busy, but she still makes sure to find time to continue teaching her son to talk.
Ash learns political words from mommy
The work of the council keeps Tammy away from home most days, but Birch is fine with that. He never wanted a job, and he likes staying home and working the land. In fact, he eventually has a large garden with four rows of nice plants, of four plants each.
4x4 garden
Birch does get a little stir crazy though, so when Tammy is home in the afternoons or on days off, he takes the opportunity to explore. In the last chapter we saw how Tammy mentioned that there were ghosts at the cemetery, so Birch goes to check it out. He doesn’t find any ghosts, but he does find an odd looking plant with some flowers on it, and harvests one of the buds.
Harvesting death
He also notices that there are some fish in the pond right there at the cemetery, so he pulls out his portable fishing pole and sets to work. (more…)
Chapter 10: Mr. Mom
Author’s note #1: First, a brief apology for the long delay in getting this chapter up. I have screenshots for probably 4 chapters worth of material, but I’ve just been hammered by work the last week or so, and haven’t had time to do any writing. Hopefully I will get the next few chapters up quickly. And now, to the next one… “Mr. Mom.”
Our couple has now settled into a normal routine. Since Birch has never really taken to the idea of work, and Tammy likes politics and “schmoozing”, she has become the family’s “breadwinner,” and Birch stays home to take care of little Ash.
“I feel like Michael Keaton in the movie Mr. Mom,” Birch says to his son one morning. Ash smiles but doesn’t really understand.
Since he’s home every day, Birch spends a lot of time with Ash, which certainly improves their relationship. Each morning, after breakfast, Birch takes Ash outside and works on teaching him how to walk.
Teaching Ash to walk
Birch then lets Ash play outside while he works on the garden, which is turning out to be quite a project.
Growing the perfect garden... not quite yet
“Maybe I’m Old MacDonald with a Farm, instead of Mr. Mom,” Birch murmurs. (more…)
Chapter 9: A brace of birthdays
Finally, the days of Tamara’s maternity leave have ended. It’s Friday, and she has to head back into work after several weeks off for the baby.
Back to work
Tammy doesn’t actually mind it — she was getting ready to go a little stir crazy staying home with the baby every day — but she does wish she could have had one more day off… It’s a bit annoying to have to go into work for just one day before the weekend starts again.
Birch stays home with the baby, of course. Ash spends a lot of time sleeping, which gives Birch a chance to putter in the garden some more. This is important, after all, because it’s one of the family’s main sources of income.
Gardening while babysitting
Birch’s lettuce plant is coming along nicely, which should give him lots of greens to use in his Autumn Salad — one of his specialties. (more…)
The Alder Legacy 
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