Prologue:
The year is now year 62 SVT, ten years after the deadly tornado touched down and destroyed O'Leary's Farm as described in the prologue of story 39. There were only 6 adults plus Jillian who survived the devastation. They were rescued by 4 adults plus Jack who arrived by houseboat shortly after. Jack, who built the houseboat in Monkstown, was headed north to the mountains with his friends in search of treasure. They stopped to help the survivors and convinced them to travel north with them. Jack was so moved by the tears of the young girl who did not want to leave her grandma's cow and chickens behind, that he just wanted to hug and comfort her. Instead he spend half the night rounding up the chickens and getting them and the cow onboard the houseboat while she and the others slept.
The group traveled north and landed in a small valley on the east, or morning, side of the mountain. The survivors wanted to settle there and farm. Their settlement became the town of Morningside of story 39. The rescuers crossed the bridge they built over the small stream and traveled to the pass that lead up into the mountains. They established the town of Sunrise Mountain Mines of story 40. Jack and Jillian did not even know each other's name. They never met before the two groups parted in Morningside, but their eyes met across that small stream, and in that moment they shared a connection that neither one could forget. In the years that followed, they often wondered what might have been.
Jillian remained on the houseboat in Morningside hoping someday her rescuer would return from Sunrise Mountain and take her home to the farm. But Jack had responsibilities to his friends that came north with him, life was hard up in the harsh climate of the mountains. And besides, Jack had little faith in lasting relationships. But after years of seeing his 4 friends together and happy despite the daily struggles he reached the conclusion that what they had might just be worth the risk. He prepared them for his departure and began building a small houseboat big enough for two.
As the houseboat neared Morningside, Jack could see someone trout fishing on shore, she hurried off to let the others know a boat was coming. A small group including Jillian gathered. Jillian had a look on her face that lead her sister, Brean, to believe that the lone man on the deck was Jack. Brean motioned for the others to go back and leave Jillian there alone to greet him. Jack came ashore and at last they were face to face. They gazed at each other for only a moment before he opened his arms and she went to him without hesitation to be caught up in an embrace that was long overdue. Jillian was in his arms where she longed to be and Jack at last found the treasure he had been looking for.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyhyLvrZ0o8
Intro to O'Leary's Farm - Story 41
In year 62 SVT, Jack and Jillian are together at last. After they shared that long-awaited embrace he told her he had come to take her home, or they could stay in Morningside, or they could go up the mountain to Sunrise, or they could go anywhere she chose. Where ever they went, as long as they were together, it would be home. They boarded the houseboat and headed back to O'Leary's Farm. This is their story told by Jillian.
The Map is #685533008 Plains, Small, Fair, Disasters On, Adam and Eve
Mods enabled and load order:
Starting and Map Changing Mods: Call of Nature Soundtrack, Banished UI Maps, Banished UI Town Names, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, CC light Rain, New Flora Edit, Plain (Jose Rios), NewFloraEdit, New Trees, Adam and Eve
Tweak Mods: Better Fields, Hunting, Increased CC, Longer Living Orchards, 1:1 Alternative, Rock Respawn, Woodcutter +3
Major or Must Have Mods: An Empty Square, Fenceless Pasture, Nomad Sign Complete, Storage Crates v1, Jinxie Bitty Rabbit Hutch, Jinxie Bitty Village Set (beta), Kid Colonial Housing, Kid Colonial Resources, Kid Ghost Flowers, Kid Ghost Town Housing, Kid GrownHuntFish v1.1 (testing update), Kid Old Town, Kid Tiny, Kid Workplace v2, Black/White Cattle, Mini Warehouse, NMT3 Series Crops
Supporting Mods: Brussels Sprouts, Chicken Coop, Idle Small Fisherman, Kid Abandoned Places v1.1 (testing update), NMT3 Deco Crop, Kid Deco Plants, Kid House Boat, Kid New Pumps, Small Well
Greetings, weary traveler, it is always nice to welcome someone from Morningside or Sunrise Mountain Mines. As you know, I'm Jillian and my husband is Jack. One of us is sure to know your parents or grandparents and of course you've heard stories about O'Leary's Farm and the tornado and how Jack and I first met. Now you want to know what's happened since then. Let me make us a cup of coffee from those beans you brought from Morningside and I'll tell you all about it.
Coffee is warm and I'M SO READY to hear what's happened (=
hi,QUEEN. can you refresh my memory on what the new flora edit mod does? i tried a few things to get a flax that will work with KID's workplace tailor. the only way i get flax that works is the WW garden. thanks
@brads3 I guess you have other flax loaded too. I see no way out of this flax confusion.
New Flora Edit is New Flora without buildings. Only spawns and toolbar 'gather' buttons.
I have added RK's fallen branches for firewood.
New Flora Edit has so far worked in all my mods. If you have other mods loaded I can not
predict what happens. RK's flax looks like tany's but is quite different.
Just for safe-keeping, I post New Flora Edit here too.
Thanks
@kid1293 New Flora Edit was first released in Aspenglow story 35.
@brads3 the flax work's in all of Kid's mods, I have had no problem with NewFloraEdit or its flax. The branches for firewood are great.
must be nice. i have 2 or 3 types and tried NECORA's flax patch even. i will do more tests.
Chapter 1
Yes, weary traveler, some things are meant to be. I did not hesitate for a moment to accept Jack's proposal. We were married the next morning and after loading a few more supplies onto the small houseboat, we sailed away from Morningside with the morning tide. The tide was still high enough to cross over from the small stream to O'Leary's main river. We made landfall on the east side of the farm near what was once a fishing pier. We stood for a moment on deck and Jack gave me a hug before asking if I was sure this was where I wanted to be. I was sure. The events that happened here 10 years ago were traumatic but I did not want to leave the farm then, and I did not want to leave it now. Jack took my hand and we stepped off the boat and I knew we were home.
We spent the day surveying the area. Most of the damage and destruction I was seeing for the first time, and what I had seen before was now more weathered and deteriorated than it was back then. Little was said as we made our way around. We paused momentarily at Grandpa and Grandma's graves by the hedgerow. Grandma died during the tornado touchdown and Grandpa Shedric died a few years before from a weak heart. We moved on from the hedgerow to inspect their old barn, farmhouse, and animal shed. These buildings held a lot of good memories for me but I knew they would need to be torn down and rebuilt. The amount of work we had ahead of us was overwhelming.
Jack being an experienced builder inspected all the buildings, most were ruins and what was left of them could be added to the stockpile. The 2 barns were in bad shape but there were usable crates, barrels, and carts inside, some needed minor repairs. We would need more tools. The schoolhouse was in good shape and would only need minor repairs and a good cleaning when needed. What was left of the old O'Leary farmhouse was in bad shape but was stable and safe to use temporarily. Jack and I spend many nights camping out in that ruined farmhouse when we were just too tired to go back to the houseboat. We really got to know each other well sitting there late at night talking.
During the day we were busy gathering firewood and wild foods. The hedgerow was just as productive as I remembered it. Grandma's apple tree was still producing apples, and there were chestnuts, some flax, and plenty of branches for firewood. We always found time to laugh and enjoy each other's company. We were very happy and by the end of that first year we had a new home where the old farmhouse had been.
Chapter 2
In early spring of year 2 Jack took the time to do a little fishing from the tree that was down and extending out into the river. I was concerned because that tree had come down during the tornado but Jack said it was stable enough and he promised to be careful. Jack also did some hunting because we needed leather to make hide coats. I made the coats and continued to gather wild foods and branches. I picked more chestnuts and apples from the hedgerow. Whenever we chanced to meet during our busy day we would agree to meet later back at the barn. It was taking us awhile but we were gradually getting the barn emptied so it could be demolished and rebuilt.
Jack and I had our first serious disagreement in the late summer of year 3. We were overjoyed when we realized I was expecting our first child but suddenly Jack decided he wanted to take me back to Morningside where there were other womenfolk. I said I would not go, I did not want to leave here again. Grandma O'Leary had 3 sons with no one else but grandpa here. Jack knew I was as stubborn as he was. No more was said on the subject.
The old barn was demolished and so was the old animal shed. The old fences were added to the stockpile and Jack build a new fence by the house. Work on the new barn was very slow, I was not much help. Our son, Palmers, was born in late winter. The barn was finished shortly after.
Chapter 3
In spring of year 4, Hatti, the seed merchant, arrived from Morningside with a couple and their 13 year old daughter. They were one of the migrant families that stayed in Sunrise Mountain Mines. Jack remembered them and welcomed them to O'Leary's Farm. The daughter developed the same respiratory problem that Abrie and her daughter suffered from. The girl had been too sick to attend school so was uneducated like her parents. It was Abrie who suggested the family come here. My sister, Brean in Morningside, agreed. She sent along coffee beans and pastries. I did miss my sister and Abrie too, who was like a 2nd sister to me. Hatti gave the family some leftover squash seeds he had, and said a seed merchant from Newport would probably be up this way sooner or later. No guarantee he would have grain seeds we needed. Seeds were in high demand and hard to come by nowadays.
The new family starting planting the seeds right away and Jack started building a farmhouse for them. They helped empty out the abandoned barn near their new house so it could be rebuilt. The house and the bitty barn were soon complete. The squash plants had barely begun to sprout when rabbits came out of the wild and began nibbling off the new sprouts. Ronniel would chase them away but they would return along with others. Something would have to be done.
Chapter 4
Even after the squash was harvested more rabbits came out of the wild. Ronniel's solution to the problem was to catch the rabbits and keep them in a bitty rabbit hutch. We would have some leather for coats and rabbit meat. We looked forward to rabbit stew with wild onions, roots, and mushrooms. Ronniel also suggested we build a cleaning shed to remove the plant debris from the field to keep more rabbits from showing up in the field. His daughter, Jeralda's, health had improved and she would tend the rabbits. She would be close to home to watch over her new baby sister while her parents worked.
It would have been nice to have potatoes to add to that stew, but after the notice board was set up near the main stockpile and storage barn, we could see there were no potatoes in any of our storage barns or crates. We did gather quite a few wild oats which improved our overall health. We would need a lot of trade goods to acquire grain seeds and potato seeds, and a trading post. I went back to scavenging from the hedgerow for chestnuts and for more apples that we were out of.
Whenever we needed them, Jack and I, made tools and hide coats. It was always fun working together. We would sometimes take care of Ronniel and Mine's infant daughter, and our Palmers enjoyed having a playmate. Jack and I were very happy here after 4 years at O'Leary's Farm. We enjoyed each other's company and when not working together we often left messages for each other on the notice board. Life was good here.
Thank you for using my mods! Its really neat to them in action =) I love the backstory for the rabbit hutch and the way you've implemented the town hall notice board. Your O'Leary's Farm story is so very sweet and endearing =)
Thanks
@Jinxiewinxie , I am glad you like the story. Thank you for the fun mods, the deco rabbits really help the story along, and the message board too, useful and decorative. :)
You could totally take some of your source material and turn it into a romance novel. There's ways to self publish an e-book on Amazon really easily and simply (just google it a bit and you'll find your way) for Kindle readers and I bet if you made it like 150 or so pages and priced it at $5, you'd sell quite a bunch of 'em!
Thanks for vote of confidence and info, I will have to look into that and give it some thought. :)
Chapter 5
In spring of year 5 we cleared plant debris from the fields and removed most of the dead trees that remained after the tornado cut a path through our land. There were still several ruined structures but we did not have enough workers to scavenge for usable materials.
In late spring, we were very happy to welcome 2 families from Sunrise Mountain and Morningside. Hatti, the seed merchant, again dropped the families off here. My sister sent along a small sack of seeds for us in case we had a growhouse or planned to build one. She also sent more coffee beans and pastries and a small jug of maple syrup. I missed my sister very much. Jack said perhaps we could go for a visit before Palmers started school. It would not be this year, our second child was due in autumn. By then we had houses built for the newcomers and there were two other newborns in O'Leary's.
There was also a new trading post built and we stocked it with whatever surplus we could spare in the hopes of making a trade when a merchant came up from Newport.
It was nice having extra helping hands. One of them was now our regular hunter and we had a steady supply of venison and leather. There were more of us now to collect wild foods and branches for firewood.
We were disappointed in early winter when Robertie, the seed merchant, came from Newport. He only had sugar beet seeds. He would see what he could do to get the seeds we wanted, but would not take an order. He could not guarantee he could bring them. There had been colder and snowier weather in the highlands and the north, floods and tornadoes in the midlands, and drought in the south, not to mention pirates and lost cargo. There were food and seed shortages almost everywhere, enough for their needs but not much extra to spare. I was getting an idea.
Chapter 6
In spring of year 6 only one field was planted with squash even though both fields were clear of debris. A compost bin had been built, and Jack found it to be a good place to find earthworms to use as fishing bait. He was still fishing from the dead tree rather than having a fishing pier built. Last year the squash field produced 480 squashes compared to 256 the first year. I asked everyone to save the seeds before they cooked the squash and a seed collector's hut was built where I could sort and dry the seeds before putting them in a sack, just like Grandma used to do. Grandma called the seeds heirlooms. Surely the seed traders would be happy to get more seeds. I collected seeds from the wild roots and wild oat plants too. I soon had 4 sacks of seeds and we planned to ask the seed trader to give us 100 trade units for each sack. He would make a huge profit when he sold the seeds.
We built a growing house to plant the seed my sister sent from Morningside. Since we had a nice supply of wild oats on hand, we decided to plant potatoes to put into the cookpots with the rabbit meat. After a busy day I liked a meal that was cooked all in one pot. To insure that the growing house had a steady supply of compost, a special garden supplies market was built nearby. Compost, plant debris, and fertilizer could all be collected by a worker and stored close to where it was needed. The compost bin and growhouse workers would not have far to go to pick up what they needed.
Chapter 7
In early spring of year 7 a new house was being built near Kings and Lanetta's house. Their son Donner wanted to marry Ronniel and Mine's daughter Jeralda. They were both 16 so none of the parents objected to the match. Sadly, later in the year, the young couple just had their first child when Lanetta died in childbirth, she did not see her first grandchild. The family was devastated, more so because we had no cemetery. Lanetta was laid to rest in the front yard of the family home. Kings promised he would build and maintain a cemetery for the town.
Another house was built for the family of three that arrived from Newport. The town had grown a little too big for their liking and they did not like the warm weather and summer storms which seemed to be worse each year. They were headed north but decided to stay with us here. Their first child was just about to turn one when their second child was born in late summer, the same time that Jack and I had our first daughter, Dionna. O'Leary's farm had a population of 22, 12 adults and 10 children.
The newcomer, Talonzalo, had been a hunter back in Newport so their house was built by the hunting cabin and he took over as hunter. When Robertie, the seed merchant, returned in late autumn, he was happy to hear that the family settled here with us and he would let the folks back in Newport know on his return trip. Robertie only had oat seeds with him this trip and the cost of 4000 trade units was more than we could afford. Robertie was as disappointed as we were, he would have liked to have our sacks of seeds. He would gladly give us a trade value of 100 per sack in the future. Hopefully he would have some seeds we wanted on the next trip.
It snowed soon after he left. By then the cemetery had been staked out and a slate fence built around the area. As he promised, Kings would keep an eye on it for the town. By winter a gatherer's cabin and a bitty shed was built by the hunter's cabin and not far from there a forester stand was built. The two workplace would be ready and waiting when we had enough workers. Maybe next year.
Chapter 8
Our need for workers in early spring of year 8 forced us to have one worker for the cleaning shed who would then make the compost when there was enough plant debris. The growing house would stop production until we had a sufficient supply of compost for the worker to then move on to the growing house. Our food supply was good and would not suffer overmuch. We would have a few more laborers to gather wild oats and roots.
After clearing the land last autumn for the cemetery, another hedgerow was discovered. It was quite overgrown and in early spring we saw that it had a large number of chestnut and apple tree seedling sprouting. There would be chestnuts and apples to harvest this year and there were plenty of branches. We thought sometime in the future there would also be berries.
Robertie, the seed trader, returned but only had lettuce seeds. He didn't recommend them for seed gathering and trading. Lettuce seeds were not in high demand especially not by smaller towns because the keeping quality of lettuce was not good. He would keep an eye out for seeds that produced longer lasting produce that would store well. When asked, Robertie said he would gladly take seedling from fruit and nut trees. There was a high demand for seedlings and they would have a high trade value indeed. We built a potting shed and assigned one of our few workers to begin potting up the seedling immediately.
A family of 4 arrived from Newport after learning that the couple they knew settled here last year. The new family had a son with the same name as our Shedric, who was named after Grandpa O'Leary. As it turned out, the newcomers were relatives, descendants of Grandpa's brother who their daughter was named after. It's a small world.
By autumn we had a second trading post built so traders from Morningside, Sunrise Mountain Mines, and places farther north, could make port and trade with us. The seeds and seedlings we had so far may get us some much need wool for warm coats.
Rabbits everywhere. This is fun :)
:) ah ha, you spotted the cute little rabbits I scattered around the map. :) They are in their element with all the gardening. :)
Chapter 9
Year 9 began with a cold rainy spring that was not pleasant for anyone working outside. There were a few days with very high winds that brought down a lot of branches to be collected. We needed firewood but did not have many laborers to collect it. We would have to switch the compost worker back to the cleaning shed soon, although there was still some plant debris and compost in the garden supply shed. The shed was also a good place to store seeds and seedlings until the trader could pick them up. The shed was half way between trading posts and the trader worked first stocking one trading post and then the other. We were hoping to trade for wool soon.
It was still raining when Robertie, the seed merchant, returned with carrot seeds. He did not hesitate to make the trade. The carrot seeds cost only 2,500 trade units which was less than most other seeds. Carrots produced a lot of seeds and Robertie said he would take as many as we would have to trade. Carrots were easy to grow if the ground wasn't too rocky and they kept well over the winter months. We would have to wait until next spring to plant them.
It snowed in late autumn just before Bentony, the food merchant, arrived at the other trading post with carrots. Our food supply was good and we had just collected wild foods and roots. There were still plenty of mushrooms to gather. He only had 250 carrots and said he would have no trouble trading them at his next stop, someone always wanted carrots or carrot seeds. We would plant our carrot seeds next spring.
Chapter 10
Early spring of year 10 was cold and wet but our 2 farmers managed to get the squash and carrots planted on time. Despite our varied diet, our overall health was suffering. We built a bitty herbalist in a location we thought was convenient for most folks.
Hatti stopped by the east side trading post in spring. He had nothing to trade but brought greetings, coffee beans, and pastry from my sister and friends back in Morningside. He also brought 2 families from farther north where the winter had been extremely hash. They asked if they could stay.
We built a house for the family with 2 small children near the school. We were in need of coats so Mere went to work as tailor. The other couple had no skills other than fishing so a house was built for them by the fishing tree. Jack would work at restocking the west side trading post before returning to tool making. The new couple would take turns fishing. I was still gathering seeds for the traders, and the carrot harvest was completed before the house by the fishing tree.
Robertie only had spinach seeds this trip. We did not trade for them knowing the spinach would not store well and besides, we did not have a spare worker for another crop field at that time. One worker was taking turns working in the cleaning shed, the compost bin, and the growhouse. It would not be too many years before we had a new crop of educated workers. Our Palmers turned 7 in late winter and became the first student in the school I attended before the tornado struck O'Leary's Farm. The schoolhouse only needed minor repairs and a good cleaning. We wished we had spare workers to clear away the debris that remained from the buildings destroyed by the tornado.
Chapter 11
Our overall health had improved slightly but had dropped again by spring of year 11. We thought, to be on the safe side, we should build a doctor's house. We also hoped the fruit and nuts from the hedgerow would help. An apple a day should keep the doctor away, so they say. We had a nice variety of meats, venison, rabbit, and fish, and plenty of vegetable and wild foods. With more workers we could have a steady supply of plant debris, compost, and potatoes.
O'Leary's Farm got more workers in spring. A couple and their adult daughter came from the Sunrise Mountain Region and were dropped off at the trading post by Hatti, the seed merchant. He had no trade goods with him and was headed to Springfield hoping to get some. Another couple with an adult daughter and young child came up from the south. They were turned away from Smallville and decided not to stay in Newport, they would stay here. We build a house north of town for the family from the north and a house south of town for the family from the south. With extra workers we assigned a forester and gatherer and a compost worker. The family in the north house said they could fish if we decide to rebuilt the old fishing pier at the nearby point.
In late summer Antino, the general goods merchant, came down from the north with fish. He said he could probably get us some wool but he wasn't so sure about Brussels sprouts, cabbage, or wheat seeds. He would see what he could find. We would be ready if any of the river traders brought the seeds we wanted, we cleared a 10x12 field. We also moved the old cart and emptied the storage crates next to the carrot field so it could be enlarged next spring.
The new families brought O'Leary's Farm's population to 46, 24 adults, 4 students, and 18 young children.
Mod Note: Berries have been added to the hedgerow which can be found in the newly released update of Kid Abandoned Places.
Info and link to download can be found here: http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=2093.0
Which mod makes your crop fields so pretty? Is it Better Fields?
The crop field texture and 14 new crops are from Red's NMT3Series Crops mod:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=328
There is also Orchard mod: (not used in currant story)
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=418
Thank you!
Chapter 12
The carrot field was enlarged and ready to plant in early spring of year 12. We now had a worker for the cleaning shed, the compost bin, and the growing house. As usual, we gathered wild foods and branches.
A bitty church was built next to the growing house. We did not have a cleric but folks were free to stop by the church any time the felt the need.
The carrot harvest in the larger field increased from 480 carrots to 600. We still did not have grain seeds so the third crop field had not been planted. A new house was built close by for one of the adult girls who expressed an interest in farming. Antino, the general goods merchant, did not have grain seeds when he arrived that winter, but he did have cabbage and Brussels sprouts seeds, plus wool. We traded for the wool and the Brussels Sprouts seeds which would be planted the following spring in the big field.
Chapter 13
It was another dreary wet spring but the crops got planted just the same. Our seedlings and sacks of seeds allowed us to get the Brussels Sprouts seeds and helped provide seeds and seedlings for others who needed them. The new family that arrived from Newport agreed that many places did not have much variety in their diets because they could not get or could not afford seeds.
The new family had 2 young children. I was a bit disappointed that they were not older boys. We had 2 girls who were now adults and alone. I know what it was like seeing others together and happy while waiting for that special someone to come along. Jack was well worth the wait and we were very happy together. The new family brought the population of O'Leary's Farm to 51, 26 adults, and 25 students and young children to feed. Our education rate was only 8%.
In summer Robertie only had more Brussels Sprouts seed with him. He would try to get some of the other seeds we wanted, he really wanted to make a trade for our squash and carrot seeds and apple seedling. We cleared another crop field in anticipation. Our carrot and Brussels Sprouts crops did good this year.
We hoped Antino, the general goods merchant would return with wool. The tailor ran out and was now scavenging from Grandma's hedgerow. We wanted to be sure to have enough apples for the children. We did not get the wool, but Robertie returned in early winter with turnip seeds.
Mod Note: The seed collector and potting shed in yr 13 Early Spring picture are part of the newly released update to Kid GrowHuntFish mod found here with more info and link to download:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=2878.0
Chapter 14
In early spring of year 14 we began clearing a 12x12 area in anticipation of getting grain seeds. With more land being cleared for fields, we had less forest area nearby to gather branches for firewood. Our firewood supply was low and so was our supply of coats. The tailor would need to make some hide coats until we got more wool. A warm spell and spring rain had the turnips and other crops sprouting and doing well. We expected a good harvest that year.
In autumn Robertie brought our long-awaited wheat seeds. He was as happy getting our seedlings and sacks of seed as we were getting the wheat seeds. He assured us that he would take as many seeds and seedling as we could provide. Even without the wheat crop our food supply was higher than it had ever been. It was a good thing because we had so many children to feed. O'Leary's Farm had 26 adults and 26 children. Of those 26 children half were students and there was only room for one more in our tiny school. The town had 2 children about to reach school age but our Palmers, who was the first student, would be turning 11 and completing school in early winter. One of the children started school in winter and we hoped Palmers would finish before the second child turned 7.
Chapter 15
By spring of year 15 the wheat crop was coming up and doing well. The mother rabbit and babies we spotted nearby did not invade the field as we had feared. A mill and bitty shed were built in anticipation of the coming grain harvest. We built a small shelter and provided some hay for the rabbit family. They were quite tame and the children enjoying stopping to visit and play with them. The school teacher even brought the class over to see the baby rabbits. Some of the carrots intended for storage in the bitty shed went to feed the rabbits instead.
Jack and I spoke to the school teacher when Palmers turned 11 and did not finish his schooling. Our 3 children were all in school now and Jack and I talked about going to Morningside for a visit as soon as all 3 were out of school. The teacher said schooling was taking longer than expected because of the age differences of the children. In early autumn Cassandy turned 7 and became a laborer because there was not room in the classroom for another student. The town needed workers but the children needed an education in order to become better workers.
We continued to juggle jobs that needed doing between the workers. When the crops were harvested and the farmers could help with laborer chores, we assigned a worker to scavenge for usable materials from one of the remaining tornado ruins. Our main stockpile was short of materials and it made little sense to gather heavy items from farther away when we had some close by. We thought that location would be a good spot for a bakery when it was cleared, but without more workers that would take a long time.
Chapter 16
Palmers turned 12 before the new year began and he was still in school. Another child would turn 7 soon and would miss school. We built a new school behind Grandma's hedgerow and it was completed just in time for the new student. A second teacher left us with no laborers at all so again work stopped in the growhouse and one worker went from cleaning shed to compost bin. Our food supply was still very good with a nice variety. We would not need to gather much.
When the crops were harvest we had 2 workers scavenging at the abandoned site in town. We would get logs from the site so the forester could do other work until more logs were needed. The hedgerows and nearby branches were providing enough firewood. Palmers was still in school when he turned 13 in winter.
Chapter 17
In early spring of year 17 Jack went out on the fishing tree to do a little fishing and said that tree was no longer safe to fish from, a whole section broke off when he stepped on it. The tree was demolished and added to the burning pile and a new bitty fishing pier was built in its place. Jack also decided that what was left of the old fishing pier after the tornado no longer had any salvageable materials. Three of the ruined houses around town also were beyond salvage, the debris was cleared away. Our old houseboat was in good shape yet, Jack had been looking after it and had done a few minor repair. A family that came by but did not stay with us wanted to trade everything they had for the houseboat but Jack was not willing to part with it. We would need it for our trip to Morningside.
In late summer Palmers, age 13, finally finished school. Shedric was 11 and Dionna was 9, so our long awaited trip to Morningside was not that many years away. O'Leary's Farm had 17 students and 6 young children. We would soon have more educated workers.
We were taken by surprise by a heavy snow in late autumn. We not only lost 46% of our wheat crop but a portion of all the other crops as well. It was a good thing the Garden Supplies shed had plenty of compost and we could resume growing potatoes in the growhouse. Our crop loss would have little impact.
Chapter 18
We realized that part of our crop loss the previous autumn was due to the nearby storage units being filled to capacity and farmers had farther to go to store the harvest. We rectified the situation immediately by building a storage barn by the wheat field and mill.
In spring 5 migrants arrived from Newport and they caused quite a stir. The couple with a 2-year-old were expecting another child soon so a house was built for them. Before a second house could be built for the 30-year-man and his 7-year-old daughter, he moved in with 19-year-old Gretter. His daughter, Reillye, refused to move in with them so the second house was built close by. To make matters worse in summer Gretter gave birth to a baby girl.
The talk and speculation died down when Loria, the livestock merchant, arrived with 6 mountain sheep from the north. The meat would be a little tougher than normal mutton but we did need wool for warm coats. Since we had plenty of seeds, seedlings, and flax to trade, we took all 6 of the sheep. A pasture was cleared for them not far from our house. Palmers was now tailor and would begin making warm coats as soon as the sheep were sheared.
Jack was again working as blacksmith and it was nice having father and son working so close to home. I was working at the trading post, it was very easy work stocking it with seeds and seedlings. Our 2 younger children, Shedric age 11 and Dionna age 9, both attended the new school behind Grandma's hedgerow. There were 15 students in school at that time and Jack and I were looking forward to our 2 finishing their schooling so Jack and I could take a trip to Morningside to visit my sister and her family. Yes, weary traveler, we had been planning the trip for a very long time.
Like the new girl, Reillye, there were other adult children who wanted houses of their own. O'Leary's had 23 families but only 15 houses. We began building a few more houses. I hoped that Palmers would remain home with us for a while longer. In late winter I went to the pasture for him to check if there was any wool yet for warm coats, it was then the call rang out. Fire!
Chapter 19
The house that was on fire was the one that had only recently been built for the newcomer's daughter, Reillye. She was the first to run to the nearby water pump before others came to help extinguish the flames. Despite all the help the house was nothing more than an empty shell by the time the last flames were put out. Rebuilding began in early spring.
The crops were planted, and because the fields replace forest land we were a bit short of branches and firewood. A tiny chopper was built not far from the forester. We took some time to check some of our food production totals. Fishing from the bitty fishing pier was a bit better than from the old fishing tree and the hunter and gatherer near the forester were also doing well. We still had no wool for warm coats.
By early spring of year 19 Palmer was no longer the tailor and he was no longer living at home. As soon as he turned 15, he moved in with his school teacher who was already expecting their child. Of course there was talk. Their child was born in early spring, the same time that Jack and I had another son we named Cristen. I had so been looking forward to the trip to Morningside that Jack and I were planning when all 3 children finished school. In fact Jack and I spent a few nights on the houseboat last summer and fall. It was so romantic just the 2 of us listening to the waves on the shore and the sound of crickets and tree toads. Jack said we would still take the trip, there would be enough time between when Dionna finished school and Cristen started. We would take Cristen with us.
The crops were doing well that year, but for the 3rd year in a row we had an early snow and lost crops. We added another farmer to the wheat field to try to save what we could, it was Palmers who took the job. Next year both farmers would plant and harvest the wheat. We cleared another field next to the wheat field for the cabbage seeds that we traded for in autumn. Jack was again making tools and I was making warm coats with the first of our own wool. It was nice working close to home with Jack again and caring for the new baby. By the end of the year, Shedric turned 14, finished school, and was working at the trading post.
Chapter 20
At the end of year 19 scavengers had removed 63% of the usable resources from the ruined house. We decided to finish clearing away the rubble so the bakery could be built there. The scavengers could move on to the abandoned place next to the hospital.
In early spring the crops were again being planted. The farmer working the new field was planting cabbage. Despite the wheat that was lost last autumn the mill produced a fair amount of flour. We would have bread from the new bitty bakery soon.
In early summer we assigned a cleric to work in the church. Our overall happiness was a bit down mainly because Kings, who lost his wife so many years ago, and his daughter were still so unhappy. Hopefully the counseling of a cleric would help them. We planned to build a pub early next year, maybe a little fun and socializing would help.
Harvesting began in late summer and was nearly finished in Autumn, no lost wheat this year. Robertie brought enough potato seed so a field was being cleared to plant them next spring. The growhouse would grow beans instead of potatoes. Robertie said Smallville could use more potato seed also, most expeditions left Smallville with potatoes. More towns were getting seed and seedling now thanks to O'Leary's Farm.
i wonder if the disasters on affects happiness more too. those bannies sure did drop down far. i see you are still using the lilac and flowers mod. another old but very good mod.
This is the man and daughter who lost the wife/mother earlier on and became unhappy. I am just surprised that overall happiness is not lower because of these 2 when my population is not that big. And next year overall happiness is 5 stars so I am thinking individual happiness like these 2 do not have that much affect on overall happiness.
I do like the old New Trees mod for spring.
@brads3 you were the one who told me where to find those lilacs :) I have been using them every spring since then.
Chapter 21
The year began as every other, with the planting of crops and digging out seedlings and gathering seeds. The pub was completed and some of the wheat crop would be made into ale.
In early summer Dionna turned 13 and finished school. That meant that Jack and I could at last take a trip back to Morningside and Sunrise Mountain Mines to visit the old friends and family we left behind. Palmers said he and his wife would be happy to look after Cristan while we were gone but our baby was only 2 years old and we would take him with us.
We spent the night before leaving on the houseboat so when the river was high with the morning tide we could cross over to the small stream that would take us to Morningside. The gentle rocking of the houseboat lured Cristan off to sleep early and Jack and I stood on deck remembering leaving here all those years ago after the tornado. Jack said Grandma and Grandpa O'Leary would be so proud of what we accomplished here. Chestnut and apple tree seedlings from her favorite hedgerow were being delivered all over the world. Seeds from the carrots, turnips, squash, cabbage, potatoes, and wheat fields were being sacked and traded everywhere the river boats went. The small family farm settlement now had 66 happy and healthy citizens, 45 adults, 11 students, and 10 children with many more on the way.
As we watch the sun setting Jack and I again laughed together over how he spent half the night so long ago catching Grandma's chickens and getting that cow on board to surprise me. We remembered that parting in Morningside and agreed now that it was love at first sight. It took a while but he finally came for me and neither of us doubted for a minute that we were meant to be together and we would be happy until the end of time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DegVjPeZ1w
So, weary traveler, it was nice talking with you over morning coffee while waiting for the tide to come in. The whole town has turned out at the crack of dawn to wave us off. It is almost time to go, so this story must come to The End
Thanks for the story! It is sad to go :(
(well, I can read it again) :)
A few stories I was glad to finish, but others like this one it is sad to come to the end. :( But you've given me another one to look forward to doing next, thank you
@kid1293 :)
Jillian and Jack's story is so sweet, gives me the warm and fuzzies =) Hopefully you'll share a glimpse of them here and there in your future stories!
Thanks
@Jinxiewinxie I am glad you liked the stories. Jack and Jillian live happily ever after. They will probably be mentioned in a future story or 2, they have names that can be remembered. ;D
Can you help me find Kid New Pumps? Its listed as one of the mods used here but I can't find it properly I don't think. I did see Kid New Well v1.1 (http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=414) and it has a pump, is that the same?
@Jinxiewinxie yes, Kid New Pump is the same as the one in Kid New Well - the pump was released separate as a request I think. Maybe it is in the Kid New Well thread. Maybe
@kid1293 knows offhand where it is. The list of Kid Mods needs updating, there are a few of the latest mods not on the list.
Here it is separate (with source code)
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=1930.msg50897#msg50897
Thank you both! =)
Sorry, nothing new to add, just posting to arrange Trilogy stories in the correct order.
Quote from: Abandoned on May 16, 2019, 08:41:37 AM
Sorry, nothing new to add, just posting to arrange Trilogy stories in the correct order.
Awe, humbug! My heart skipped a beat when I saw new replies to these =)
Oh, sorry. I thought they may get read out of order so I rearranged. Maybe should have added - new story coming soon. :)
Sorry, nothing new is being added here. This post is being done to arrange stories back in number order. As you know, many of the stories are connected to the previous story or the following one and thus should follow one after the other. These stories are now being locked. Addition comments may be made on the thread for the featured mod itself, and comments on currant story and featured mods are always welcome. Thank you