Intro
This is the 51th story in the Smallville Series and the second part of a two-part mini-series featuring the newly released Railway mod by
@kid1293. Also featured is Kid's soon to be released Christmas Mod 2019 updated.
This story takes place west of Iron Ridge Railway part 1. A homestead existed here before Smallville when the loggers jammed the river, and the base camp and railroad tunnel were abandoned. One of the tunnel builders came west and made the homestead town his home. Years later, two of his grandsons went to that abandoned tunnel, founded the town of Iron Ridge, and built the railway. They are now returning to their hometown for the holidays by train in year 67 SVT. The train arrives in Holiday Hometown in year 7, the year they left Iron Ridge. The storyteller is the same, but she and other main characters are not physically on this map.
Map # 960419145 One River, Small, Fair, disasters Off, Small Exodus Easy (15 Families)
Mods enabled in 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, override Map (kid), New Flora Edit, Multiple Starts (Tikaszar)
Tweak Mods: Better Fields, Better Stockpiles, Bigger Wheelbarrows, Fishing Dock 25%, Hunting, Hunting Season, Increased CC, Leap of Faith, Longer Living Orchards, 1:1 Alternative, Rocks Respawn, Stop Burning Coal, Woodcutter +3
Major or Must Have Mods: An Empty Square, Fenceless Pasture, Map Scroll, Nomad Sign Complete, Storage Crates, Jinxie Bitty Chicken Coop, Kid Abandoned Places, Kid Alotofseed Trader, Kid More Houses, Kid Old Town, Kid Tiny, Kid Workplace Village, Kid Black/White Cattle
Supporting Mods: Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Christmas Mod 2019 (new update, testing), Colorful Little Houses, Greenhouse, Jinxie Festival Park, Jinxie Bitty Walls & Fences, Kid Bakery & Garden, Kid Market Carts (new, testing), Kid Railway (released but still testing), Nativity Chapel (new update, testing), Old Hunting Hut
We're finally on our way to my old hometown, weary traveler. It will take a while to get there. I'll tell you about Grandma and Grandpa and Holiday Hometown on the way.
Chapter 1
As you know, weary traveler, railroad loggers jammed the river and caused death and devastation all along the world's main river. My husband's grandfather never quite got over his part in the tragedy. He was one of those loggers but at the time was working on a railway tunnel some distance away. Yes, the Iron Ridge tunnel. The logging camp and tunnel project were abandoned and grandfather came west along the river until he came to a smaller river heading south. There was a settlement across that river, he built a small house for himself and then a bridge.
The settlement was made up of several family homesteads. One family lived in a large hunting cabin. Grandma's family were fishermen. A family was growing potatoes and another chestnuts in an orchard across the river. There were small homesteads with cows and chickens and a plot of oats. They gathered apples, chestnuts, berries, and branches from the hedgerow. There were even homesteads that had a few turkeys. Herdsmen tended flocks of sheep and a tailor made warm coats from leather and wool. There was a large storage barn, a stockpile, and a blacksmith to make needed iron tools.
The homesteaders did not consider themselves to be a town, just families living their lives like their parents and grandparents before them. But that was about to change.
Chapter 2
Grandfather was not only a logger, but a forester and a builder as well. He built a forester station and a greenhouse for seedling. He wanted to make up in some way for the damage he had done. He would build a trading post and hopefully his seedlings would get to where they were needed most.
Grandma lived with her parents just across the river by the fishing pier. They met and married and he built her a house and a chicken coop. They had turkeys and a small plot of oats. They soon had a son. Grandpa built a school and then a tiny town hall where the teacher could keep records. The people starting thinking of their homesteads as a town, their Hometown. Children were born, children grew up, some stayed around, and others moved a short distance away.
Grandma and Grandpa's son was now married and had 3 sons of his own, they lived close by. Those families that moved farther away returned to town after the crops were in to pick up supplies at the main storage barn before winter. More often than not an early snowstorm had them stranded in town for the holidays. Grandpa built a large boarding house to house stranded or visiting family members. The town was often referred to as their Holiday Hometown.
What Grandpa really wanted to build was a railway. He could not let go of the thought of what a railway train could do, bringing goods and families from one place to another. He told train stories to his son and grandsons and to anyone else who would listen.
Hello Abandoned. As usual a good story. I read all your stories and they are always wonderful. Can I ask? From where in the picture - 8 Forester and Grandpa's Greenhouse, Greenhouse building. I couldn't find him. What kind of mods he's in.
:) Thank you
@tuggistar. The greenhouse that I refer to as Grandpa's Greenhouse was in an old 106 mod by RedKetcup in Nov 0f 2014 - Decorative Items Pack v1.3 Beta. There was a request in July of 2015 for the Greenhouse to be released separate. The separate greenhouse produces seedling that can only be used for trade at the trading post. The separate greenhouse can be found thread under Suggestions & Mod Idea - Greenhouse by Red Ketchup here:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=962.0
It is one of the first mods I downloaded from this site and one of my favorites. I used it in my first Smallville story :)
Chapter 3
The trading post and a seed trader were built and one of the riverboat merchants left a small assortment of seeds, not enough for field planting but enough for small plots. Grandpa built a greenhouse for the cold sensitive pumpkin seeds. He'd already built a mill and a market cart that was storing grain brought from storage units farther away.
By winter a sunflower greenhouse was built along with a seed press to make oil, and a spice garden. Grandma was thrilled to have a bakery where she could make pumpkin pies for the holidays. It would be many years however before a pie would be baked. It was then that tragedy struck our Holiday Hometown.
Thank you Abandoned. Mods Greenhouse found.
:)
Chapter 4
There was an outbreak of diphtheria striking those living near the trading posts first. My husband Cleonellin's parents were the first to succumb to the disease. My parents, and the parents and little sister of his 2 best friends were next to parish. There was not a family in town that did not suffer a tragic loss. Despite losing their only son, Grandma and Grandpa did not hesitate to take us in. They packed up and moved into the old boarding house where there was room for all 6 of us children: their 3 grandsons, their 2 friends, and me. That's why we all called them Grandma and Grandpa. They were getting on in years but they took us in and raised us all as if we were their own. We were all so young.
A hospital and herbalist were build and the diseased claimed no more victims but the 6 of us and the other town children who lost a parent or sibling were hardest hit by the aftermath. The graveyard where parents and classmates were buried was next to our school. As we got older it was comforting to know they were close but at the time it was a devastating reminder.
To ease his own sorrow and ours, Grandpa did what he did best - he worked with wood. He built a workshop out behind the boarding house and began carving wooden toys. The first thing he made of course was a toy train. Every child in town got a train, a rocking horse, or a squirrel. I loved my squirrel. I remember Cleon holding his toy train and telling his brothers and friends that one day they would built Grandpa a real train.
Chapter 5
The year of the tragedy was a difficult one of adjustments. The toys helped the summer to pass and soon it was autumn. A small park where we could play was built not far from the school and the old boarding house. The park was decorated for Halloween and a warm snack stand made delicious baked apples for us to eat, and then it was back to school for all of us children. When winter came we built snowmen and had a rocking horse and sled in the park where we played. The boys treated me like a little sister, except for Cleon, he treated me a little different somehow. It was like having 4 brothers and Cleon. I liked Cleon best.
When not in school or playing, we helped Grandma and Grandpa. We had our chores and I learned to cook and bake from Grandma and the boys learned everything they could about building a railway. And as children always do, we all grew up. Cleon's older brother, Hilarion, was the first to marry. Like Grandpa he worked with wood, he was one of our town's woodcutters. His wife was a farmer living next to her parents. Cleon's younger brother and his 2 friends also married and moved out of the boarding house one by one. That just left Cleon and me but the others all visited often and came home for the holidays. We were all very thankful for all Grandma and Grandpa had done for us.
The young men decided it was time to repay them and time to fulfill Grandpa's dream of a railway. Cleon, his younger brother, their 2 friends and their families would retrace Grandpa's route and find that abandoned tunnel. Another couple would come along to help. They would settle there and build a train and railway back to here. Cleon's oldest brother who had 3 children would stay in Holiday Hometown near Grandma and Grandpa who were getting on in years and needed some help. He would also start work on the railway here. The men spend many hours going over railway plans and they decided to leave before the snow would fall. Grandpa said there were caves to shelter in along the way. The group should be able to make it around the mountains and find the abandoned tunnel by early spring.
Cleon asked me to go with him. We were married in the park in late autumn of year 60 SVT.
Chapter 6
As planned, we made it around the mountain in early spring and found that abandoned tunnel. We picked a good spot to settle and built up a small town we called Iron Ridge. We began laying tracks and digging tunnels through the 2 mountains that lay between Iron Ridge and our hometown. In the summer of our 4th year in Iron Ridge, Cleon's brother, Chann, and friend, Kareeman, finished digging the 2nd tunnel and came out on the Holiday Hometown side of the mountain. They had a wonderful holiday with Grandma and Grandpa, and returned to report on the progress made there on the railway.
Hometown's railway tracks lined up perfectly where the tunnel came through but those tracks were far from finished. A trestle bridge was built across the river and the tracks extended a good distance along the edge of town. The tracks were not finished and no turnaround was built, there was a lot of trees, rocks, and iron to be cleared. Work had begun on the passenger station which was finished in winter. The freight station, consisting of storage/market and a coal bin, was finished by early spring but the tiny coal mine that was built was a long way away and had no workers. There was a lot of work yet to be done in Holiday Hometown.
Meanwhile back in Iron Ridge, the tracks were finished, the engine was built and tested, as well as several freight cars and this passenger car we are now riding in, and then we were on our way ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5C3rlA5bZk
We're almost there, weary traveler. We'll be staying in the old boarding house with Grandma and Grandpa. I can't wait to see them, and I can't wait to get out of this dark tunnel.
Chapter 7
It was snowing heavily when the train emerged from the tunnel in autumn of year 7, small snowdrifts covered some parts of the track. There ahead was the trestle bridge that crossed the river to our hometown. When the train slowed, the men disconnected our passenger car which rolled a bit before coming to a halt in front of the rooming house where family and friends waited to greet us. The rest of the train continued on the short distance to the freight station.
There are no words to describe Grandpa's reaction to seeing his dream train brought to life. He had tears in his eyes as he hugged each of his grandson's and patted them heartily on their backs. Grandma and Grandpa were both overjoyed and a little overwhelmed meeting so many great grandchildren at the same time. Grandma had a big hug for each of them and milk and oat cookies waited back at the old boarding house. Grandpa gave them each their choice of toy like he did for all of us when we were young. The family reunion was a joyous event. We only wished our 2 dear friends with their families could have come along on this trip too, they were family too.
While we women saw to getting the children settled and began preparing a hot meal at the old boarding house, the men of course, caught up on the railway progress. They did not expect this much snow and cold so early in the season. The turnaround tracks were not laid yet and there was no supply of coal to get us back to Iron Ridge. Even if that were not the case, they debated the wisdom of returning while there was snow and ice on the tracks, especially with children on board. The children were exited at the thought of a long visit with Grandma and Grandpa. After lunch Grandpa and the children took a nice long nap.
Chapter 8
Thanksgiving Day dawned cold but sunny. There was a lot of cooking to be done for the Thanksgiving feast. The men had made wooden tables and set some up in the park itself and others in 2 rows nearby. Anyone who wanted to brave the cold could stop by for a meal anytime during the day. The townspeople were all family as far as Grandma and Grandpa were concerned.
The dinner was fantastic. There was roast turkey and chicken, oat bread stuffing, and home grown potatoes were mashed. There were Brussels sprouts and a sauce made from tart berries. For dessert there was a real treat, a surprise for Grandma. The womenfolk took turns working first at the pumpkin and sunflower greenhouses, and then at the seed press, the spice garden, and Grandma's bakery. Grandma had tears in her eyes when the pumpkin pies they baked were brought to the park.
We were all very thankful for all that we had and to be able to share this day with Grandma and Grandpa and friends and family. I must have said "Happy Thanksgiving" a million times that day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WqdBtEXoWo
Happy Thanksgiving! :) :) :)
:) :) :) Thank you
Chapter 9
It did not take us long to realize the toll raising all of us and the passing years have had on Grandma and Grandpa, or the amount of responsibility we had placed on Cleon's oldest brother and his family. It was surprising how much of the railway he had completed. Cleon and I decided we would make hometown our home, his brother Chann and his family decided to do the same. As soon as the turnaround was completed the 2 brothers would return to Iron Ridge to pack up our belongings. They would try to convince our 2 dear friends and their families in Iron Ridge to do the same. Completing the turnaround and mining for coal were year 8's first priorities.
One worker was assigned to the mine. Railway tracks were laid from there to the turnaround and then to the station's coal bin. A mine cart of coal would be easy to pull along the tracks and back. The coal bin worker would not have so far to go to fetch the coal. Sometime in the future the tracks could be extended from the turnaround to the west where a tunnel could be dug through the mountain.
Our oldest boy, Sharald, thought he would get out of starting school but no such luck. There was still room for a few more students. A new school was being built near the trading posts. A trade had just been made for apple seeds and the orchard was being planted. The school teacher planned to take the children on field trips next year. Our children from Iron Ridge had never seen farm animals or fruits and vegetables being grown. In spring of year 9, they were delighted to see the crops being planted and to be taken to the pastures and animal sheds to see the cows and chickens and sheep. Sharald really liked school.
Since it would take a few years for our new orchard to produce apple, we accepted apples from the food car in exchange for the coal needed to run the engine. We still only had one miner. We also discovered there were newly sprouted trees and many downed branches on the tracks that had to be cleared. It was summer before Cleon and his brother skillfully reconnected the passenger car to the rest of the train, navigated the turnaround, and headed back to Iron Ridge for our belongs.
Chapter 10
By autumn of year 9, Cleon and Chann returned home with news from Iron Ridge and with our belongings. Grandma and Grandpa did not want either of our families to move out of the old boarding house, instead each of us was given one of the side wings. We were all happy with the arrangement especially the grandparents and the children.
We were all delighted to hear that our friends, Kareeman and Mauriel, were now planning to move back to Hometown with their families. However, they had a lot to see to before then. They had in fact begun building another train even though they were still working on the abandoned tunnel. They would build a small passenger train for the trip home. They were teaching the young ones how to build and operate trains and lay tracks. They would need to build a bypass of tracks so 2 trains could pass each other, especially those going in opposite directions. We would also need to build such a bypass. The talk in Hometown that winter was all about future railway plans.
In early spring of year 10, we had a surprise visit from none other than Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Santa heard about Grandpa's toys and about our train. The world had gotten larger with more towns and more children to visit each year. The frequent trips back to the North Pole to reload his sleigh were making it more and more difficult for Santa to complete his round. Santa wondered if we would be willing to load up a few sleighs with toys for him to pick up on his rounds. He would provide the sleighs and elf workers to help. Santa also wondered if our train could in the future take toys to distant towns for him to pick up. We said yes a warehouse freight car could be built to serve such a purpose but a lot of tracks would have to be laid first.
While the men talked sleighs and trains, Mrs. Claus, Grandma, and us women talk about food and special holiday treats. The 2 little old ladies were so much alike wanting to keep everyone well fed. We already had chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and we kept a kettle of soup or stew hot for anyone who wanted a bowl. Mrs. Claus gave Grandma several holiday recipes and a few special plants to grow some of the needed ingredients. Mrs. Claus said elves work better when they have treats to eat, but don't give them mulled wine before Christmas, it puts them to sleep.
We were honored, and agreed to help Santa. We were so excited about Christmas coming that we put up the town Christmas tree early. We choose the perfect spot, in the center of the railway turnaround. We gathered around the tree and began to sing "Welcome Christmas" and then we saw him. The Grinch had come to stop Christmas from coming somehow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiOBwLLSpI4
What? No, that's not right. That another story entirely. As I was saying:
I love this!
@Goblin Girl nice to have you back and glad you are enjoying the story :)
A Holiday Hometown Challenge can be found here: http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3546.0
Note: new mod to be released here later added to map - override Christmas Clothes
Chapter 11
Shortly after Santa and Mrs. Claus left, 2 sleighs of elves arrived. There were 8 adults and 2 children bringing Holiday Hometown's population to 86, 43 adults, 23 students, and 20 children. Grandma had 2 more pairs of warm woolen mittens to knit for the children. We would need to build more houses. A small pasture was built for the reindeer. The elves brought several sacks of gifts for us. Like the elves, we all got a set of Christmas clothes just like Santa and Mrs. Claus were wearing when they visited. We were now full of Christmas spirit and began hanging Christmas wreaths around town. Yes, It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, we all agreed. The colorful elf houses added to the festive appearance of our Holiday town. More elves would arrive soon with the sleighs we were to fill with toys .
In the meantime we had a lot of work to do. Our workforce was still small but we could begin producing the ingredients that we would need for Mrs. Claus's recipes. We began by building a small greenhouse for the cocoa bean plants she brought us. With enough milk we could make hot chocolate. We ordered milk cows, and then bought 4 of the ones that Furmann, the general goods merchant brought. Charlow, the seed merchant, arrived at the same time with plum seeds; we would need plums for several recipes. A large greenhouse for oats was built by the mill so we would not run out of flour.
By spring of year 11, we had a pasture built for the cows and hoped we would have enough milk and eggs from the animal sheds for eggnog. The new orchard of plum trees was off to a good start. We build a sugar house and looked forward to sugarplums this Christmas.
Hi, here are the Christmas clothes :)
Have a good time :)
:) Christmas 2019 mod has been released. Find link to download here:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3548.0
Chapter 12
In spring of year 11, 11 more elves arrived. They brought 5 sleighs with them for us to fill, yes 5, and 5 more reindeer were added to the reindeer pasture. The children were having fun getting bits of sugar cane from the sugar house to feed to the reindeer. The elves said we only needed 500 toys in each sleigh because Santa needed room for other things too. We were happy to hear that.
More colorful houses were built around town that year and more Christmas decorations began to appear. We were amazes that summer when we had a 92F degree day and the snowman by the school did not melt. There must have been some magic in that old silk hat the children found and placed on the snowman's head.
By early spring of year 12 we had a grape house built and hoped the extra fruit would help improve our overall health. The herbs and herbalist did not seem to be doing the trick. The cold weather wasn't helping either and we had snow just after things had finally started to turn green. One of the sleighs had just been moved closer to the toy shop and Grandpa was out there making toys. He loved when the children stopped by the shop and he spent more time telling them train stories than he did making toys. He would need help and we would need to build more toy shops if we had any hope at all of filling those sleighs.
Both our schools were nearly full. Our education rate was rising, we did not want any children missing school. Another tiny school was built near the elves' housing.
Work began laying tracks again this year. A bypass would run from the trestle bridge to the turnaround. There were a lot of trees to cut and rock and iron to move. We frequently cleared branches from the track.
Cleon and I spent quite a bit of time going over inventory counts this year. Grandma always wanted to know how many apples we had, or how many eggs, how much of this or how much of that. She was pretty sharp for her age. We agreed we needed more spices so a small spice house was built next to the blacksmith. She reminded us that there were young couples that wanted houses of their own.
Chapter 13
As soon as the snow melted in early spring of year 13 work on track laying continued. Several new houses were being built and Grandma said the folks up by the mill should have a place where they could check inventory records too, as well as statics. We build a small gingerbread house to keep those records.
Grandma was still concerned with our overall health. We agreed a bigger variety of foods was needed. The pumpkin plants in the greenhouse were again being tended and the Bakery was now making herb bread. We collected more wild foods on each side of town so some would be available all around town. We again began exchanging coal for apples from the train food car.
We also collected branches for firewood so more logs would be saved for toymaking. We built 2 more toy shops. We began cut trees selectively from around town and along the railroad tracks. We did not want to run short of logs or firewood over the winter months.
Chapter 14
The weather outside was frightful that winter but despite the cold and snow the railway bypass was completed. We built a hot chocolate stand by the park and children who didn't want to drink their milk were now eagerly waiting for a mug of hot chocolate. The workers too enjoyed stopping by for a hot drink on a cold day.
In the summer they could stop at the newly built Yule tap for a cup of apple cider. They could sit outside in the shade to enjoy it. Someday they will be able to watch trains go by. In fall and winter there will be hot apple cider while they are working on the railroad. There was talk again now of extending the tracks to the coal mining mountain to the west. First priority was those toys for Santa. One sleigh was nearly full so another was moved closer to the toy shops. Our log supply had improved after cutting more trees from the area alongside the tracks.
When autumn came and went we knew another year would go by without our dear friends and their families returning from Iron Ridge. We also knew how much Grandma and Grandpa wanted to see the other 2 boys they raised. Knowing our friends, they probably would not leave until the train they were building was completed and on its way east through the abandoned tunnel. We were eager to send one west. We thought we could help speed thing along in Iron Ridge if we built a train engine and send freight cars full of food, textiles, and materials to them. By the end of the year the engine was built, by spring the freight car was ready be loaded.
Ha! :) The Grinch wants some chocolate!
It was in plain sight, I missed it at first.
Good job. I will continue.
Ha Ha, that was an easy one. :)
So far I've found "It's beginning to look a lot like christmas", "Frosty the snowman", "Let it Snow", and "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire". (Not sure of the names of some of these haha).
All these songs make me really concerned about the fate of Grandma :P
@angainor88 :) very good, but you missed one song in chapter 11. I was so surprised I did not know the name of the "chestnuts roasting" song ;D It's The Christmas Song. I will probably post a list of songs and Grinch pictures later in the challenge thread and give more hints until then. Grandma does a lot of singing. :)
Chapter 15
In spring Cleon, with the help of our son Sharald, moved the passenger car from the station to the tracks behind the new train. Sharald was 14 now and learning everything his father knew about trains, unlike our youngest son, 10 year old Lamare, who was already learning wood carving from Grandpa. It took some maneuvering, but the passenger car was moved.
They then considered what would be loaded first into the freight car destined for Iron Ridge. The train's material car held wood, firewood, iron, and stone. There should be a lot of iron and stone in Iron Ridge already from the abandoned tunnel mine. We had plenty of firewood but were short on logs. If we loaded firewood into the freight car we would have trouble replenishing our supply, and logs were needed to make toys. We wouldn't send any materials to Iron Ridge, and until our wood supply improved, only one toy shop would be making toys. The tracks to the east were getting overgrown with trees that needed cutting and there were branches down on the tracks to be collected. We would begin there.
We were still trying to improve our health and our diet. An old apothecary was built not far from the tracks near the river. Our plum orchard was doing well, and when Charlow, the seed merchant, arrived we traded for walnuts seeds and later for cabbage seeds. A new orchard was being cleared near the turnaround and a food storage unit and a house were built nearby. We debated growing walnuts because tonight Saint Nicholas would come and fill the children's Christmas stockings with apples and oranges and walnuts and candy. The oranges, walnuts, and candy were such a rare treat for the children, but we would need walnuts to help fill the freight car with food for Iron Ridge's train.
We were hoping that Santa would come and pick up one or two of the sleighs this year. Earlier in the year we moved a third sleigh closer to the toy shops. We were still short of logs.
Did anyone discover the 2nd song hidden in chapter 11? Hint - it's in the first paragraph. :)
Chapter 16
Year 16 was a busy year, cutting wood and clearing fields. The cabbage would be planted next to the walnut orchard and the wheat seeds we traded for next to that. Clearing the land only temporarily added more logs to the stockpiles. Toy making was using a lot of wood. The 3rd sleigh was almost full by the time the snow began to fall.
By late winter a garden shed was built across the tracks not far from the stations. A shack for the forester to live in was being built next to it.
A second freight car was being built. The first would be stocked with food and the second with general merchandise, herbs, textiles, and tools. We would need to collect more herbs, and see what we could do about producing the rest of the items ourselves. We would load enough items into each car to get Iron Ridge's new train off to a good start. The 2nd freight car was finished by spring of year 17.
Chapter 17
We carefully went over what items the train's food and general cars contained. We would not take any of those items from the train to load into the freight cars but we would stock the same items. We had apples, potatoes, beef, mutton, and venison. The walnut orchard was doing well, and cabbage and wheat fields were planted. One of our small oat plots would be planted with corn, the other with beans. That only left cherries. If a trader brought cherry tree seeds, it would take a few years to get cherries, we would place an order for cherries instead.
The general goods car was much simpler. We had leather and wool and warm winter coats. Our tailor could easily make leather coats and wool coats too. We had iron tools, and coal to make steel tools. The train's coal car was full, we would not need our coal to trade for any more goods from the train, so our smith would make steel tools from now on.
We would have herbs to send, but we were again in short supply, we would have to send laborers out to collect more. Whether it was our herb bread, our larger variety of fruits and vegetable, or the apothecary that we built, our overall heath had finally improved to 100%. Grandma said it was about time. We began making ale at the Yule Tap but many workers complained there was no hot apple cider being made and then we ran out of wheat to make the ale so we decided not to send ale to Iron Ridge. The Yule Tap switched back to making cider and Grandpa was happy to have a hot cup while working in the toy shop. The 4th sleigh was almost full.
Chapter 18
By spring of year 18, Holiday Hometown had a population of 157, 87 adults, 17 students, and 53 young children. Quite a few of the adult children were still living at home, we had 55 families but only 39 homes. We began building more but only singles were moving in. We decided to wait a while before building more, perhaps in the meantime more couples would pair up. A young couple did move into the new house that was built behind Grandma's bakery and later in the year had their first baby.
By summer we were only waiting for the cherries we ordered and for the wheat and walnuts to be harvested, and then the freight cars would be loaded with the desired goods we would send to Iron Ridge.
Our herb supply was still low. The spice garden by Grandma's bakery would start harvesting herbs instead of spices, and the bakery could continue making herb bread. To compensate for the drop in spice production, a spice house was built behind the Yule Tap next to the grape house. Grandma would be wanting mulled wine for the holidays. It was the most wonderful time of the year.
Grandma was happy to hear that we got carrot seeds from Charlow, the seed merchant, and when Furmann, the general goods merchant, arrived in fall he had the cherries that we ordered. We traded for more than we needed for the freight car. He had map scrolls with him, the latest world map. Our town was now on the map. He said there was now a cartographer in Riverboat Junction who updates the world map based on information furnished by the river boatmen. We thought this was something we surely needed to plan railway routes. We considered getting one for Iron Ridge but Furmann said last time he went that route, they traded for one themselves. He sounded annoyed that he had to wait so long for them to gather enough trade goods. We thought the map scroll was very expensive but we had to have one.
We were convince that Iron Ridge would need the items in the freight cars we were taking to them. By the time the freight cars were loaded and ready to go, it was already snowing. The train would leave for Iron Ridge as soon as weather permitted next year.
'The most wonderful time of the year' and another Grinch (trying to steal a log) :)
:) Both right, song and Grinch. And you wondered what I would do with that Grinch. ;D ;D ;D
Chapter 19
The main topic under discussion in our home over the winter was whether or not son Sharald should be allowed to drive the supply train to Iron Ridge or not. He was a young man of 18 now and knew everything there was to know about trains. Cleon was all for letting him go, I was not. I agreed when Cleon said he would go with the boy on the first run. They left for Iron Ridge in early spring. Cleon's younger brother, Chann, oversaw the track laying that was being done to the west. Cleon and Sharald left the freight cars in Iron Ridge and returned in early summer with news. Everyone was well, the abandoned tunnel was cleared to the other side, and the new train was ready to go as soon as it was loaded. They were grateful for the food and general goods. Iron Ridge could provide us with resources for our material cars if needed. Mauriel and Kareeman with their families would move here soon. They would be home for the holidays.
Daughter Anabell, now 15, said it was time we thought seriously about Christmas baking. She was so much like her Grandmother, always thinking about meals and food supplies. She checked inventories frequently and made sure the mill had grain, the snack stand had nuts to roast, and the hot chocolate stand had enough cocoa and milk. She oversaw Grandma's bakery and spent a lot of time going over meal plans and recipes with Grandma. Anabell reported that the plum harvest would be good again this year and suggested building a Christmas baker to make some of Grandma's best-in-the-world plum cakes. By the time the plum harvest was complete so was the Christmas baker.
Our baby, Lamare, was no longer a baby, he was 14 and out of school now too. He spent most of his time with Grandpa or in the toy shop. Like Grandpa he knew everything there was to know about trees and wood. Birch would burn fast and hot, oak burned slower and provided steady warmth, fruit wood smelled best when burned, but pine was a soft wood and easy to carve. Lamare reported that Santa's 5th sleigh had been moved closer to the toy stores.
Cleon and I were very proud of our 3 children.
Ooo Grinch is sneaking up on the Christmas Baker there! I can't blame him :P
Quote from: angainor88 on December 09, 2019, 05:39:47 PM
Ooo Grinch is sneaking up on the Christmas Baker there! I can't blame him :P
;D ;D ;D Me neither, if I was trying to steal Christmas I'd go for the bakery too ;D
Mod added - override Uneducated (Mod does not change education rate. It removes uneducated production penalty for all workplaces except blacksmith and tailor. It makes the game too easy and basically makes schools unnecessary.)
Chapter 20
After Cleon and Sharald's trip to Iron Ridge we realized that between the 2 towns we could build trains and fill them with all trade goods except cherries. We placed an order for cherry tree seeds with both river boatmen and began clearing a new orchard next to the carrot field. Work on the tracks to the west continued and a tunnel through the mountain was begun before the new year.
After studying the world map we realized we could send trains in all directions and all engineers would eventually return home. There would be a lot of tracks to lay. Towns in this area were few and far between, would we have enough coal to get from one town to another? We had a lot of unanswered questions, but while the west tunnel was being dug we began laying tracks to the north and to the south.
By spring of year 20, the cherry tree seeds we ordered were delivered, and planting the orchard began immediately. Several more houses were built also. Work on the tracks continued through the summer and into fall. Several young men volunteered to go through the completed tunnel to begin laying tracks on the other side. The first train with supplies would be sent through to them in spring. We thought it would probably be a good idea to trade for more map scrolls so every train we built would have a copy.
When elves arrived in late winter to pick up some of Santa's sleighs we were reminded that there were only 2 week left until Christmas.
Chapter 21
The elves came to pick up 3 of the sleighs of toys to take them to secret locations in the forest where Santa could stop and switch sleighs while on his yearly rounds. While they were hitching up the reindeer, other deer came to join them but since they were not allowed to play in any reindeer games, they were not allowed to pull the sleighs. The elves that were not needed to drive the sleighs would stay with us to replace our workers who were leaving soon by train to lay tracks. When asked how they knew that, the elves said Santa knows everything. He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when your awake. He has a magic snow globe so he sees everything, and he likes to see all the decorated Christmas trees and wreaths that have been popping up all around town.
After the elves took the sleighs, we built a warehouse behind the railway station to store toys in until the sleighs were returned to be refilled. The train, still parked at the railway station, was ready to go in early spring of year 21, it was loaded with coal and we replaced the apples we had used. Son Sharald was disappointed he was not the one to take the train through the tunnel to where the workers were already laying tracks. They would have plenty of supplies and a newly built passenger car to live in.
There was still a lot of working on the railroad to be done here at home. By early autumn the railroad tracks reached the mountain in the north and digging the tunnel would begin soon. Back at the station another train was being built to take a crew north to continue laying tracks on the other side of the tunnel. The work train would have a passenger car for the crew and a freight car would have supplies, tools, and an extra coal cart or 2. The workers would probably not get too far away by the end of the year and they could probably return home for the holidays.
I got "Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus is Coming to town" in Chapter 21! (The Bruce Springsteen cover of that last one is the definitive version for me)
:) Both chapter 21 songs correct and no Grinch. Good version of Santa Claus song :)
Chapter 22
Year 21 ended with a lot of snow and blowing and drifting snow. When not hold up inside we had a lot of work to do and seemed to be always dashing through the snow to get things done. When snowed in we had more time to plan for Christmas. Early in the year, a 2nd spice house was built near the Christmas bakery. Daughter Anabell suggested we start baking gingerbread cookies but Grandma said not yet. She told Anabell that when the boys and I were young we had all the gingerbread eaten long before Christmas. She told a secret that gingerbread makes naughty children nice. I had a feeling I would hear about that cookie eating story for many years to come.
It was decided that in year 22 we would begin making eggnog. We would need more eggs and milk. Extra workers were assigned to the animal sheds and another one was built. A few hens and baby chicks were moved to a new chicken coop in early spring. The nog nook was built in the center of town by the hot chocolate stand and the park.
We did not want to run short of flour for holiday baking so a smaller oat greenhouse was built not far from the mill. Our overall health was still 100% and we wanted it to stay that way. We checked that we had enough herb bread and apples. Apple surplus was low so no more apple cider would be made for the time being. Apples and herb bread were also needed to stock the work train freight car along with potatoes and carrots. Iron tools, warm coats, and a map scroll were added and the work train was ready to go.
In late summer family and friends gathered to wave the workers off as the train left the station and headed north. Work on the tracks heading south had continued and now only the tunnel was left to build. We would need another work train to continue track laying on the other side when that tunnel was finished.
The year ended as snowy as it had begun. The elves brought back the first 3 sleighs empty and pick up the remaining 2 full one. They said Santa really appreciated this help because visibility was extremely poor this year and having loaded sleighs ready to pick up was very time saving. We still had toys in the warehouse so it was an easy task to refill the 3 sleighs.
Dashing through the snow :) :) :)
edit - and a Storage Grinch.
;D Song is right :) but where is Grinch?
Year 22 - Seeing worker off
To the left in the storage yard :)
yes, correct, Grinch is standing in the stockpile. :)
;D There is another Grinch somewhere ;D :-X
Chapter 23
At the beginning of year 23 we again had a need for housing. We had 56 families and only 47 homes. We were pleased that a young couple moved into the house we built on the other side of the tracks. We built another house by the sheep pastures with the same results. A third house was built by the river.
When Furmann, the general goods merchant, came to port again he had news to tell. A town in the north named Aspenglow had a monastery with monks who were writing Holy Books. They were filling sleighs with Books and candles for towns that had chapels. They were putting the extra books in a warehouse. If we built a chapel he was sure he could get us one of those books, he might even be able to get some candles. They were gifts from the monks, there would be no charge. We said we would be interested in such a book. Grandma has always wanted a chapel by the cemetery where her son was buried, maybe it was time we built one.
By early summer the tunnel to the south was complete. The work train at the station was completed and its freight car was being loaded. Our last map scroll was aboard that train. We asked Furmann to bring more. Cleon's older brother Hilarion's son was going with the work crew. Grandpa was happy his great grandson, Raleighton, was a track layer but the boy's mother, Partha was not. She thought he was too young and it was too close to Christmas to be away from home. The freight car was loaded and the train was ready to go in autumn. There were a lot of branches that had to be cleared from the tracks before the train could make its way south.
By late autumn the chapel was completed. It was a bit of a walk for Grandma from the boarding house but we made a day of it, sister-in-law Lawandace, her daughter Gustini, my daughter Anabell, and me. We picked a sunny day and stopped at the park to sit a spell and have hot chocolate before walking the rest of the way to the cemetery and chapel. It was a beautiful sight and we were happy that night walking home as the snow was gently falling. It was the kind of snow that sticks to everything and makes it look like a wonderland.
Chapter 24
In early spring of year 24, Furmann brought the Holy Book and a dozen candles from the monks in Aspenglow. Inside the front cover was written a Christmas greeting with pages of a Christmas story noted. Son Lamare built a special table to place the Book on in the chapel and Grandpa carved a pair of wooden candle holders to go alongside. They were not busy making toys, there were still plenty of toys in the warehouse to fill the 2 empty sleighs that were returned.
After our visit to the chapel, Grandma was certain the 2 families from Iron Ridge would be here for Christmas this year. Grandma's woman's intuition was very strong, no one ever doubted her. Christmas was only 10 days away and we had a lot to do before then. Cleon and his 2 brothers began work on the 2nd floor of the old boarding house making it into 2 separate living quarters. The stairs had been too much for Grandma and Grandpa, they shared the main floor with the large common room, kitchen, and dining room.
Son Sharald was concerned that with our train and the train from Iron Ridge that there might be a problem if any of the work trains also made it home for the holidays. He directed more tracks to be laid around the freight station forming more turnarounds. Of course the farmer living nearest the new tracks wasn't happy and neither were those visiting the train market. Sharald didn't know what all the fuss was about. It wasn't as if we were some grand central station with trains coming and going all the time. But Sharald thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to have another work train ready to go so workers who returned could exchange trains like the elves did with Santa's sleighs. Our engine and passenger car were moved to the freight station platforms and a log car and freight car were added. We just all hoped that the work trains and the boys and their families from Iron Ridge would be home for Christmas.
Chapter 25
With Christmas only 10 days away the children were getting excited and naughty. They were not eating their vegetable because they were eating bits of sugar cane instead of feeding them to the reindeer. Sleds and toy trains were found on the railway tracks where the children were not allowed to play. Several snowmen were built on the tracks as well. The children were reminded that Santa only brings toys to good little boys and girls and the naughty ones only get a lump of coal in their stockings.
Grandma thought the children needed a special holiday treat, not as a reward for being naughty, but as a distraction. If they were good until spring there would be sugar plums to eat from the candy store that was being built by the spice house and nog nook. The candy store was completed by early spring of year 25, sugar and plums were being made into delicious Christmas sugar plums.
While the children enjoyed their toys and sugar plums, the adults dealt with several problems that popped up. We were short of firewood, the wood cutter was not getting enough logs. The logs were going to the market cart by the toy stores so a 2nd cart was built by the main stockpile and woodcutter. The smith would also have logs close by. We were in need of more houses. Hometown had 66 families but only 50 homes. When one of the houses was finished the family set up a tailor workplace in their yard. The storage units seemed to always be overrun with textiles. Most storage units were almost full so a new barn was built in the center of town.
As usual, daughter Anabell was concerned with food production. The Christmas baker needed plums for plum cakes and sugar plums were being made in the candy store. She feared there would not be enough plums. The nog nook did not seem to be producing enough eggnog even though there were plenty of eggs and milk in storage. The problem needed looking into but we had a feeling that from now on our troubles would be out of sight and easily dealt with.
Chapter 26
By early spring of year 26 land for another plum orchard was almost cleared on the other side of the railroad tracks. We would not have to give up plum cakes to have sugar plums. It was not difficult to reach the conclusion that the eggnog shortage was due to lack of spices. A small house and a 2nd spice garden were built not far from the Yule Tap. Spices would be needed for making mulled wine soon. Eggnog production increased immediately.
Both our schools were filled to capacity. Top priority was the construction of another school. A new teacher was assigned and she immediately had 5 students, bringing the total number of students to 53. There were still 51 young children in Hometown so there were likely to be more students soon. Adding 130 adults to the number of students and young children, Hometown had a total population of 234 citizens. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa they were all 100% happy and healthy. Grandma asked often about our supply of fruits and vegetables, especially the apples. And Grandpa still entertained us with stories and made sure there were enough toys for the children and that none needed repairs.
Winter came early that year, the days were short and the nights were long and dark. We lost some vegetables when an early snowstorm hit. It brought a lot of branches down on the tracks that needed to be cleared, especially across the river. Grandpa was concerned that the train coming from Iron Ridge would not be able to see if there was a danger on the tracks when they came out of the tunnel. Oldest grandson, Hilaion, had a solution. He built a tall lighthouse by the river with a bonfire in the tower that shone its light to the trestle bridge and beyond.
Chapter 27
There were only 7 days left now until Christmas Eve. I did not think there was much chance that our 2 dear friends and their families would arrive from Iron Ridge in time for Christmas this year. I thought Grandpa and Grandma were going to be very disappointed, but they did not give up hope. Grandpa was spending a lot of time at the chapel, was he praying? He would not say.
Grandma asked Anabell again about the milk supply. Was there enough for a small dairy workplace to be set up so there would be butter for the carrots and Brussels Sprouts? Grandma wanted Christmas dinner to be extra special this year. And I must admit, I was looking forward to a Christmas just like the ones I use to know, with Cleon, his 2 brothers, and our 2 dear friends, all 6 of us here with Grandma and Grandpa like when we were young.
Grandma got her dairy to make butter and 2 new fields were cleared by the northbound railway tracks because as Grandma always said, "you can't have enough carrots". The great grandchildren will be saying "what, carrots again" a lot more times in the future.
The boys, as Grandpa always called his 3 grandsons, thought it would be a good idea to build another small station on the north/south tracks. Even with the turnarounds, it may be a problem if the 3 work trains also returned for Christmas. A coal bin was built right next to the coal mine tracks with a storage unit and more Rooms next to that. Future railway expansion was always on their minds.
By autumn butter was being churned and 2 of Santa's sleighs were again loaded and ready to be picked up.
"White Christmas" - like the ones I used to know... :)
:) You know more American Christmas songs than you thought you did :) Nice :)
Grinch in Chapter 26 - plotting by the spice garden.
And "from now on our troubles would be out of sight" in Chapter 25, I think is from "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"?
:) very good, both right and nice to know my little Christmas game is being played and enjoyed. :)
Chapter 28
As usual, the full sleighs were picked up and empty ones returned to be refilled. The elves said that boys and girls all over the world are enjoying Grandpa's wooden toys as much as they enjoy the dolls and teddy bears and other toys that Santa brings. Grandpa hoped the children coming from Iron Ridge would enjoy them too. Mauriel and Herlyn had 3 children, their youngest was the same age as our oldest. Kareeman and Thel also had 3 children, one son was the same age as our oldest and one was a year younger. Their daughter was the oldest of all and probably married with children of her own by now. Grandma was busy making mittens for all the children.
Grandma wanted to be sure that every child in town got a big gingerbread man cookie this Christmas but she wanted the Christmas bakery to continue making plum cakes. Anabell said there was no reason we could not have 2 Christmas bakeries, there were enough spices, and she herself would see to the baking of the gingerbread cookies.
Anabell assured Grandma there would also be enough Brussels sprouts for Christmas dinner; a new field was being cleared over by the tracks where new houses were being built. There was also another school being built, this one over by Grandma and Grandpa's old homestead. There was still room in 2 of the other schools but with new children coming we wanted to be sure there was enough room for all.
The smell of gingerbread that autumn did not go unnoticed. Children gathered round the Christmas bakery after school and Anabell made smaller gingerbread thins to hand out to them. Everyone said Ana's gingerbread cookies were the best. Now with sleighs and trains and riverboat trade, who knew where in the world these gingerbread cookies might end up someday.
Chapter 29
Grandma was certain the train from Iron Ridge would be arriving any day now. She and Anabell spent a great deal of time going over the food supply and menus. By spring of year 29 another animal shed was built; more children arriving meant more milk was needed. There must be no cookie shortage so another spice house was built over by the apothecary. One of the carrot fields was planted with potatoes instead, and laborers were sent out to insure we had enough onions, mushrooms, and roots for kettles of soups and stews.
Oldest grandson, Hilarion, was concerned that some cheap shacks were being built across the tracks, they might not be warm enough for our winters. Hilarion did an excellent job overseeing housing, production, and building projects. He saw to it that more houses were built bringing the number to 70 houses. Hometown's population had grown to 259, 147 adults, 57 students, and 55 young children.
The summer seemed short that year and the autumn season was cold and rainy. It was the perfect time to start making Grandma's favorite mulled wine. It was very popular. That winter, sitting in front of the fire with a mug of mulled wine and Ana's gingerbread cookies, Grandma again wanted to know about the food supply. A gatherer would now see to it that there was a steady supply of wild foods, the vegetable supply was good, and there was plenty of butter. There was no shortage of sugar plum candy, plum cakes, or gingerbread cookies. There was plenty of hot chocolate, eggnog, apple cider, and of course Grandma's mulled wine. Knowing that the boarding house's pantry was full to overflowing, Grandma could finally sit back and relax, she at last seemed satisfied that all was ready for the arrival of the train from Iron Ridge. As if on cue, a train whistles was heard in the distance. Sound carries a long way on the cold clear winter air.
Two Grinches! A fantastic day! ;) :) :)
I saw one of them at the herbalist. Is he ill? He looks green...
;D ;D ;D ja, Grinch är sjuk av att äta för många Anna's ingefära tunnare. ;D
:) :) :)
Chapter 30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwkuussUUHI
In spring it was still cold so we bundled up tight and headed to the railway station to await the trains arrival. It was a joyful reunion with hugs and kisses all around. The 2 families traveled in the passenger car and had all their belongings in the freight car. The men would unload the train later, we were in a hurry to get to the old boarding house where Grandma and Grandpa waited. They had more new great-grandchildren to meet, more hugs and toys to pass out. Mauriel and Herlyn brought their 3 children with them. Kareeman and Thel's oldest daughter, as I suspected, was married with 2 children of her own, she did not make the move with her parents. Her 2 younger brothers and baby sister did. It had been a long time since there was a toddler in the old boarding house.
After a quick inspection, both families agreed they would be more than happy to move to the 2nd floor of the boarding house even though more new houses were being built all the time. The 6 of us would again all be living under the same roof with Grandma and Grandpa. While it was still light out, we took the children outside to the park for a cup of hot chocolate. As was to be expected, the men went to see the tracks and the trains. Later we all met up and took a short walk to the cemetery where our parents were, next to the school we all attended. Kareeman and Thel's youngest child would go there too, there was still room.
Chapter 31
It took sometime to unload the freight car of personal belongings and get the two families settled in upstairs. Grandma and Grandpa kept the children busy. Grandpa had new little ears to tell his stories to. The winter had been a bad one, colder and snowier than we could remember. It was Spring before we had enough time to take our dear friends, Mauriel and Kreeman, on a tour around town to see how it had changed in the years they were away. It was just the 6 of us again, Cleon, his 2 brothers, our 2 friends, and me. Kreeman was the youngest so only vaguely remembered what the areas around Grandpa's forester station and greenhouse were like back then. The brothers of course remembered their Grandma and Grandpa's old homestead better than the rest of us. Cleon's older brother, Hilarion, had done an excellent job seeing to the repairs and maintenance of the town's oldest buildings.
The small homestead settlement had certainly grown and changed since we were children here. For a few farm fields and oat patches, Hometown has grown into a farming town that can fill train cars with foods, textiles, coats, and tools, and take those goods north, south, east, and west. We make special treats for the Holidays like hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies, and sugar plum candy. We make toys and fill Santa's sleighs and we have a beautiful chapel in which to pray.
Mauriel and Kreeman were happy to be home. We all were.
Chapter 32
While taking our friends on tour of Hometown, Cleon and I thought we saw something in the trees near the turnaround and reindeer pasture. We went to investigate and to our amazement we discovered the same creature we thought we saw the day we all gathered around the town Christmas tree singing. What we didn't expect to see was children bringing him toys and treats to eat. The children said the Grinch was their friend. He's picked them up when they've fallen into the snow and dusted them off. He's stepped in and stopped snowball fights when they've gotten too rough, and he's stopped them from playing on the railway tracks. It has been many years since we first saw this creature and no harm has come to the children, he seems harmless. We would have to talk to the other parents about it but we had a feeling this strange friendship between creature and children would continue.
Also on tour, Chann told us that Grandpa had him plant an orchard tree farm of the small evergreen trees that everyone liked to decorate for Christmas. Grandpa wanted everyone who wanted a tree to have a tree. The trees were doing well and more small decorated trees were popping up around town, even by the shacks across the tracks had a Christmas tree this year.
Grandpa had another surprise, this one for Grandma. He had been spending time in the chapel reading the Holy Book. He came across a Christmas story he really liked and he carved a wooden sign showing a scene from that story. Grandma really liked that sign that Grandpa and Chann put up in front of the chapel. We all did. Grandpa had another surprise in store but we would have to wait until Christmas Eve.
The final surprise of year 32 came in winter. There was no snow. The signs in autumn indicated it would be a bad winter, but it was just the opposite. The elves even had Rudolph hitched up to one of Santa's sleighs, but there was no snow, not a flake. The winter temperatures hovered in the mid 30s to mid 40F degrees. The first early spring day was 51F degrees. It was hard to believe it was so close to Christmas.
Chapter 33
The surprises didn't end when the year ended. In spring, the work train that went north to lay tracks returned. The families of the workers rushed to the station as soon as they heard the whistle blowing when the train emerged from the tunnel. It was not long after, that the supply train that went west returned also. It came to a halt on the tracks across from the freight station and the worker's families also rushed to greet them. To everyone's amazement the 3rd work train returned also and those workers were warmly greeted by family and friends too. Hilarion and Parthe's son, Raleighon, was one of the workers that went south on that train. The freight train from the west pulled up to the new Rooms station so the small work train could park behind it. This would be the best Christmas ever with all the families together in Hometown for the Holidays.
Those families would have some tough decisions to make after Christmas. Those trains would be going even farther away then before, small towns and work camps were springing up along the railway routes as the tracks were being laid. Would the families choose to stay here or would they go with their loved ones. The trains would leave with supplies and extra map scrolls. But until then everyone would have a happy holiday in Hometown. Greeting and good wishes rang out all over town, and of course, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year too, weary traveler.
We now had the dairy workplace making cheese instead of butter. A workplace butcher was making sausages for a Christmas Eve buffet at the old boarding house for our 6 families and Grandma and Grandpa, and you too, weary traveler. Buffets would be set up at the 3 station rooming houses for the train workers and their families. We made sure that every pantry in town was full.
And then winter was upon us again and it began to snow. The sleighs were filled with toys and ready and waiting for Santa to pick up and deliver to good little boys and girls. Our families were all together in Hometown's old boarding house with Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas Eve.
Note: For this last chapter the following map and mods were used:
Map @ 35509911 One River, Small, Fair, disasters Off, Palm Tree Hard Start
Mods: RK Minimized Status, Override Map, New Flora Edit, Palm Tree Start, A8 Moroccan Misc., Moroccan Housing, Abandoned Places, Kid Forest Trader, Kid Workplace Village, Jinxie Festival Park, Kid Animal Pen, Kid Animal Shed, Nativity Chapel (update), Tiny Quarry.
Chapter 34
Christmas Eve day dawned sunny and bright but snow clouds gathered on the horizon and were moving this way. There was plenty to do inside the old boarding house this day. Preparations for the Christmas Eve buffet were underway in the old kitchen. Sausages were being cooked and sliced along with a variety of cheeses. Plates were filled with breads and rolls and platters with meats and vegetables. Plum cakes were sliced and placed on trays with gingerbread cookies and sugar plum candies. The men were arranging the tables and chairs and setting up the big Christmas tree in the common room. The school children made decorations and we all helped them trim the tree. Kettles of hot chocolate and mulled wine were already heating on the hearth of the big fireplace near Grandma and Grandpa's rocking chairs. The floor was covered with hides and wool blankets to snuggle in while Grandpa told one of his stories and the children dozed off waiting for Santa. We insisted that both Grandma and Grandpa take naps that afternoon. Snow was softly falling as the day drew to an end. The meal was eaten before our Hometown holiday hearth and we realized that home is where the heart is and our hearts were all here at home.
We took a plate of food outside to the Grinch who was watching through one of the windows. He was too large to come inside but he was one of the family now too. After the dishes were cleared away we all gathered again before the hearth to hear one of Grandpa's stories. The children were dressed in night clothes and wrapped in blankets, and we had our cups that were filled with warm beverages from the kettles on the hearth.
Grandpa had a surprise for us, he had a new story to tell us. He read it in the Holy Book in the Nativity chapel. It was the story of the first Christmas. He said: A very long time ago and very far away a young couple went to a little town named Bethlehem. No, it is not on our map scroll, but there is an Oh Little Town. As always, Grandpa patiently answered the children's questions. The man's name was Joseph and the woman's name was Mary. He walked and she rode on a little donkey most of the way because she was going to have a baby. When they got to Bethlehem there was no room at the boarding house so they stayed out back in the animal shed. Mary had a baby boy and she wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in the manger. They named him Jesus, he was the Christ Child and yes, Christmas is his birthday. A birthday party? Well now, I suppose the Grandma in the boarding house probably brought them food and cake. And an angel appeared to some shepherds who were watching the sheep. The angel said fear not, and brought them tidings of great joy that a savior of all people was born, so the shepherds went to Bethlehem too. And a very bright star appeared in the east foretelling the birth of a baby King. Three very wise men followed that star. They walked but they had camels to carry their birthday gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The baby was the first Christmas present to us all.
When a sleepy little voice asked why the wise men didn't just take the Railway train, we knew it was time these little ones were all tucked up in their beds to get some sleep. They will have a very merry day here in Hometown when they wake on Christmas Day.
Good night, weary traveler, and Merry Christmas.
The End
Thanks! :)
And a Merry Christmas to you!
:) Thanks and Merry Christmas, Kid :)
Kid Nativity Chapel update has been released. Find info and link to download here:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=2714.0
A list of the locations of all the songs hidden in the story and the Grinches in the picture in the challenge that began back in Chapter 10 can be found in the Holiday Hometown Challenge thread:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3546.0