Intro
This is the 11th story in the New World Series. Newburg of stories 1 and 5, like many other towns, was experience a growing population which required more land for houses and food production which left less land for forests. Logs and firewood were often in short supply in many towns. Older family settlements with aging populations struggled with the heavy workload of providing the needed forest products. After an exceptionally cold winter with a shortage of firewood, Newburg sent a group of volunteers into the nearby Winter Woodlands to establish a settlement to supply their town and Riverboat Depot with logs and firewood. The settlement was called Woodlands Wood.
(https://i.imgur.com/CowL9RT.jpeg)
Map seed # 609279377 Valley One River, Small, fair, Disasters Off, Easy 8 Families
Mods activated for this map and load order:
Map Changing and Starting Mods: Banished UI Maps, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, CC Light Rain, Landscape Nordic (TS), override Map, Settler Deco, Kid Tree Replacer Deco, New Flora Edit, Family Starts
Tweak Mods: Fishing Dock +25%, Hunting Season, Increased CC, 1:1 Alternative (Voeille), Override Winter Clothes, Rock Respawn, Tiny Smoke.
Major or Must Have Mods: An Empty Square, Nomads (Kid), override Uneducated, Storage Crates, Kid Workshop, Jinxie Festival Park, Kid Abandoned Places SE, Kid Forest Haven, Kid Tiny, Kid Tiny Downtown, Kid Workplace
Supporting Mods: Christmas Mod, Kid Deadwood, Kid Deco People, Kid Elf Girl, Kid Fruit & Nut, Kid Gingerbread Village, Kid Houseboat, Kid Market Food, Kid Nativity Chapel, Kid Stagecoach, Kid Traveling Trader, White Picket Fence (TS).
(https://i.imgur.com/rUcbIsG.jpeg)
Greetings, eager explorer, welcome to Woodlands Wood. It didn't take you long to get here on your houseboat; it took us 4 days through snow and cold and thick woodlands to get here from Newburg. We finally found a suitable valley with a main river to settle by. There were 31 of us, 16 adults with 15 children and with 3 carts of supplies. Most of us have family in Newburg and they insisted we take a lot of supplies with us; you know how parents are. Yes, it wasn't long before a river boatman found us; I'll tell you all about it.
Chapter 1
We left Newburg heading southwest; the hills were steep and the woodlands were very thick with mostly pine trees. Finally, from the hilltops we could see a wide river in the distance and headed in that direction. We were happy to see a mix of trees in the valley by the river. Pine trees provide a soft wood that is good for building and for outside burning but for inside the pine sap can cause chimney fires and the firewood burns hot and fast, you would wake up cold in the morning. Firewood is best when cut from hardwood trees like oaks, fruit and nut trees, and birch, all of which we could see in the valley ahead of us. The hardwoods burn slow and provide a steady heat. There was also a lot of deadwood trees in the valley which would cut and split easily.
(https://i.imgur.com/mjq154e.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/aSto41A.jpeg)
Why yes, eager explorer, I am an elf, half-elf actually. There were several of us in the group of Nords from Newburg. I'm Garnestie, a half-elf, and my husband is Glendo, a Nord. We were the youngest couple in the group and were expecting our first child. There was another couple that had no children and one couple with only 1 child. There was 1 couple who had 2 children, and the other 4 couples each had 3 children; that was a lot of mouths to feed. We saw very few reindeer, but the river would provide fish and there appeared to be a lot of wild foods and fruit and nuts to collect. We brought plenty of potatoes with us. This valley would be a good place to settle.
Chapter 2
(https://i.imgur.com/Sc3NvUS.jpeg)
Two families and a single male who just became an adult built houses in the clearing where we built a stockpile and parked our carts. The houses were centrally located so others waiting for houses to be built could stop in and eat and warm up and bed-down for the night. Yes, one of the houses is a tree topper tree house; a half-elf couple would live there.
(https://i.imgur.com/gNDo1kn.jpeg)
To the east of town toward the river, a haven house, a forester workstation, and a tree house were built. That area there by the river would provide the needed logs and firewood for trade. We planned to build the trading post there. There was a fallen deadwood tree extending into the river that would serve as a fishing pier for the time being. One of the half-elves was out fishing even before his tree house was built.
(https://i.imgur.com/q92uTQ0.jpeg)
Glendo and I also built a tree house by the river but south of town where the river turned west before flowing south again. Our house was finished just before our son Farette was born in summer. We had a porch where we could sit and look out over the river. At night we fell asleep to the hooting of the owls who perched in the pine trees nearby. You must look carefully to see them, eager explorer.
(https://i.imgur.com/36Nios9.jpeg)
Chapter 3
(https://i.imgur.com/eH1QsIy.jpeg)
It was very cold and snowing in early winter before the last 3 families got their homes finished in town. One family built a haven house at the other end of the hedgerow where their single young adult son had built his house. He was now chopping firewood on the tree stump next to the stockpile. Another tree house was built near the parent's house. The last house was built on the road by the stockpile. All 3 families had a newborn. The population of Woodlands Wood was 37.
(https://i.imgur.com/PgL46DU.jpeg)
We were all missing are friends and families back home, and we were all concerned with our food supply for the winter. Our overall health was a bit low. We were cold and a bit hungry. The only food in our pantry was fish and potatoes and a few berries. Our supply of coats was getting low; we had no leather to make more. We only had a few hide coats and they were not very warm. Finally, a small herd of deer was spotted southwest of town; it was the closest any deer had come. We promptly built a hunting tree and assigned 2 hunters but only 1 got a reindeer. We had some venison and a few pieces of leather. Only 1 hunter would remain on watch hoping for the return of more reindeer.
(https://i.imgur.com/bFCuuRW.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bpdd980.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/koqNUv1.jpeg)
Meanwhile in town, a small storage barn was built to store the supply carts in. The foods stored in the carts out in the open were froze solid, and there was sure to be more snow. We took more home to our pantries; we could not afford to lose any of our food supply.
Chapter 4
By early spring of year 2, we built a gatherer's hut next to our house. As soon as the snow melted, I was out gathering roots, onions, mushrooms, and even a few wild oats.
(https://i.imgur.com/i8uHSFD.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/M04TndI.jpeg)
A town hall was built near the storage barn to keep an inventory of what foods and supplies we had, and to keep records of the town statistics.
A shed and a tailor's workplace was built by the tree house closest to the hunting tree. No more reindeer were spotted, but Corence, who lived in that tree house, would make some hide coats from the leather we now had.
(https://i.imgur.com/qB7gtIF.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5cXvjvZ.jpeg)
In spring we got a pleasant surprise when some friends and family members arrived from Newburg with a wagon of supplies. There were 18 of them. They brought some iron tools, hide coats, apples, potatoes, and flour. What was the most surprising was the horse that pulled the wagon. They said the fur merchant from the west coast brought a few horses with the promise of more in exchange for more furs. After we unloaded the wagon, it would be taken back to Newburg before winter with as much firewood we could spare and the wagon could hold. It would return with more needed supplies in spring.
Chapter 5
A haven house was built for a family of 4 and another one for a single female; both houses were in town on the road by the tailor. A tree topper for another family of 4 was also built in town near where a new road now extended back into the woods where a patch of spices and 2 chestnut trees were found.
(https://i.imgur.com/Dlx9God.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/q5Ow9YH.jpeg)
Another haven house was built for yet another family of 4 on the road between town and the forester. A stockpile just for logs and a covered one for firewood were built next to and across from the new woodcutter's yard. Next to the firewood stockpile another haven house was built for one of the couples; Lamarian would soon take the horse and wagon back to Newburg. Our trading post on the river was built too.
A second forester's workstation was built down the road from the first one; we would now have 4 foresters working in the riverside woods. A haven house was built for the last couple and their 9-year-old adult son. The first snow of the season fell just as they were moving in.
(https://i.imgur.com/1qWNIgX.jpeg)
The hunters had some luck hunting in fall and venison was now roasting a large spit by the first forester where woodland workers could take a break and have a hot bite to eat. The covered wagon was empty and the horse was hitched up and ready to go. Lamarian only had to load some firewood to take back with him. The tools, clothes, and food he got was much appreciated. We hoped no more snow would fall before Lamarian made it back on foot from Newburg.
(https://i.imgur.com/BeO65R8.jpeg)
Chapter 6
The temperature took a nose-dive as Lamarian loaded the firewood unto the wagon. It would only take a day or 2 to get back to Newburg with the wagon compared to the 4 days it took us to get here on foot. Lamarian's wife, Harolyn, was worried especially when it began snowing again a few days later and continued snowing heavily into the beginning of winter. The frigid temperatures continued also and had outside workers huddling around the spit to warm up. We convinced Harolyn that Lamarian was alright, he could take care of himself, he was not an inexperienced youngster, he would stay in Newburg until it was safe to make his way home.
(https://i.imgur.com/0embgyY.jpeg)
We built a nut roaster in town by the road that led back into the forest to the chestnut trees; folks were sure to enjoy warm roasted nuts especially on the coldest days. We roasted walnuts instead of chestnuts because we had so many more of them.
(https://i.imgur.com/QR1LLga.jpeg)
Despite the weather, St. Nick came as usual to fill the children's stockings with an orange, a big Christmas cookie, and some sugar plum candies. Infants got a small stuffed animal instead. He came earlier that year, right after the children were tuck-up in bed; St. Nick wanted to talk to us because he had a request from Santa. There was a shortage of wood here in the North the last few years, and Santa's elves were struggling to get all the wooden toys made in time for Christmas now. Since we were sure to have plenty of wood here in Woodlands Wood, Santa wondered if we would allow his elves to set up a Santa's Village to make wooden toys for the children for Christmas. The elves would do all the work, they just needed wood to make the toys.
Glendo and I were there to talk to St. Nick. How could we refuse Santa; we said we would welcome the elves when they arrived. I was given an official Santa Helper hat.
(https://i.imgur.com/KJrK7o4.jpeg)
Chapter 7
The elves did not arrive that winter, but Lamarian returned in early spring with the covered wagon and more supplies for us from home. He was greeted by his relieved wife and learned he was going to be a father soon.
(https://i.imgur.com/3kFtzeD.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BDCWR6k.jpeg)
Eleonore, the General Goods Merchant, arrived shortly after Lamarian. He had wheat and fish that we wanted but we had few logs that we could spare. That was okay with him; he would not be able to take many logs anyways. Riverboat Depot special ordered a barge from the boat builder in Newburg to transport the logs. He was happy to accept 100 firewood and 20 stone and 20 iron in exchange for 500 wheat and 50 fish. We ordered more wheat plus wild oats, iron tools, warm coats, wool and down. We hoped to have more firewood for him next time he came. He could not guarantee he would have the textiles; supply was low and demand was high; he would try.
In spring of that 3rd year Lamarian and Harolyn's baby boy, Manni, arrived. Lamarian said he would return the wagon to Newburg earlier that year so he would be sure to be back before the snow so Harolyn would not be left alone with the infant over the winter.
(https://i.imgur.com/s8YWMXW.jpeg)
In late spring, 3 sleighs dropped off 30 elves, 25 adults with 5 children, another was born shortly after they arrived. We did not expect quite so many and were a bit concerned at first but they got right to work gathering wild foods and firewood so their arrival would not cause any shortages. They began building houses of gingerbread back in the woods north of town.
(https://i.imgur.com/514iQFO.jpeg)
Chapter 8
We were busy building too and soon we had a mill on River Road; it was close to the small shed by the forester where the wheat brought by the river boatman was stored. We would have a nice supply of flour. We hoped the river boatman would have more wheat the next time he came.
(https://i.imgur.com/skYdd8g.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vgPUkel.jpeg)
The log barge was delivered from Newburg. We had 2 choices once the barge was full of logs; we could have someone here take the barge to Riverboat Depot or we could tell the boatman the barge was ready for pick-up. We would then have to wait for a bargeman to be brought here to take the logs to the Depot. The first choice gave us the benefit of being able to get the supplies we needed in exchange for the logs rather than waiting for the boatman to bring them. There was plenty of time to decide, we were short of logs. The trees grow slowly here in the cold north.
(https://i.imgur.com/PtG3Be9.jpeg)
The elves had 3 houses built and a large storage barn. They had a small stockpile on the road by the chestnut trees. Farther back in the woods they built a tiny forester to supply themselves with logs, they would share with us when needed.
(https://i.imgur.com/dUnHqHl.jpeg)
Chapter 9
The elves soon had 4 more gingerbread houses built and a chicken coop for the few chickens they brought with them. We often found a basket of eggs in our storage barn. Two more houses were built by the time it snowed in autumn.
(https://i.imgur.com/z9Y82Gi.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MksS0cD.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4Jg1P2W.jpeg)
By winter, Santa's workshop was built with a house upstairs. Young Rohanni just became an adult but he did not want to do elf work, he did not want to live above the workshop; he wanted to live by the river, maybe be a forester, wood cutter, or trader. Lamarian, who was in charge of the Newburg supply wagon, always thought someone doing those jobs should live in his house by the river. With permission from the boy's parents and the elves, Lamarian, Harolyn, and their son moved into the house above Santa's workshop and Rohanni moved into their house by the river. Harolyn became an honorary Santa's elf.
The workshop would provide the elves with iron tools, hide coats, firewood, some ale, and a little candy and gingerbread; a Christmas baker would be needed to make more cookies and a candy shop for more candy. Some of those items would end up in our storage barn just like the eggs did.
(https://i.imgur.com/Zp39zEf.jpeg)
A toy shop would be needed to make the toys for Santa. A fence was being built between our town and the village so no curious children would wonder into the village and see the Christmas toys before Santa brought them for the children to find on Christmas morning. The last 2 houses were built in the gingerbread village by late winter and all the elf families had homes. It was early spring by the time the toy shop was built and several forest fellows were guarding the toy store.
(https://i.imgur.com/Rewh3ot.jpeg)
Chapter 10
By early spring of year 4, a bakery was built in town across from the nut roaster. Flour from the mill would go to the bakery to make bread saving the womenfolk a lot of time that they could spend with the children. A small festive park was built across from the bakery where the children could play and keep their minds off the toy store.
(https://i.imgur.com/1zNJvFP.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wT7vPfW.jpeg)
In spring, Lamarian took a loaf of bread with him on his 3-day walk to Newburg to pick up the supply wagon; without supply carts and families the walk took only 3 days instead of 4. He had just returned and was unloading the wagon when a sleigh drawn by 2 reindeer arrived with more elves. There were only 9 of them, 6 adults with 3 children. The small area next to the storage barn where Lamarian kept the horse was enlarged to include the 2 reindeer; Lamarian would take care of all 3 animals until he returned the horse and wagon in late summer; there would only be the reindeer to care for over the winter.
(https://i.imgur.com/MgRODHZ.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fj4Hkwh.jpeg)
There would be some warm coats to wear next winter; Eleonore returned to port with warm coats, down, and wool. The coats cost 37 trade goods and since we had a tailor workplace, we decided to take the down and wool instead and make our own warm coats. We were low on hides but could make the warm coats with the down and the flax that I gathered from the woods. We also traded firewood, stone, and iron for more potatoes. Eleonore did not have any wheat this time, Riverboat Depot was out and he did not have time to get to The Granary. He would make sure to have some next time he came.
(https://i.imgur.com/E8hUUBz.jpeg)
The last group of elves to arrive brought plum trees and hazelnut bushes with them; the new fruit and nuts were planted by the road from town. Across from the chestnut trees, the elves built a spice house and transplanted some of the spices that grew there by the chestnut trees into the spice house. Next to it they set up a beehive for honey and built a small storage barn across from their stockpile. They built a Christmas baker nearby and hoped there would be enough flour to bake gingerbread cookies with honey, spices, and flour. The cookies were a smaller version of the ones that St. Nick brought for the children's stockings. We would share flour with the elves and they would share cookies with us.
Chapter 11
The elves built a bake shop at the end of the fence that separated the town from the village, a family of 4 moved in and would have both our bread and their gingerbread cookies available for all who stopped in.
(https://i.imgur.com/TMPDvfB.jpeg)
Another family of 4 moved into a gingerbread house that was built down the road near the Christmas baker. The single male who was the baker moved into a tiny house that was built by the forester. All 3 families were settled before the first snowfall of the season.
(https://i.imgur.com/GYqDLvC.jpeg)
Rohanni, who lived by the river in Lamarian's old house, was now our trader. He suggested that a gingerbread town hall be built by the trading post, and he found it very handy for checking inventory records when Laverlyn, the food merchant, came to port. The merchant had only apples, nuts, and oats. Rohanni was a good trader and took the oats and ordered more plus wheat and potatoes. He sent word back to Riverboat Depot that we still had no logs in the depot barge; the trees just did not seem to be growing well here in the cold and snow. What logs we had we needed for firewood and for building. We often collected branches to use as firewood to save on logs.
(https://i.imgur.com/frgs46L.jpeg)
I was missing Harolyn since she moved from the trader's house to the elves' village. It was nice having a friend close by; my youngest boy was the same age as hers. Glendo was still fishing from the deadwood log, and I was still gathering wild foods in the woods. I kept a close eye out for any wild oats that could go to the mill while we waited for wheat.
(https://i.imgur.com/eh431I6.jpeg)
Chapter 12
We were all missing our friends and families back in Newburg, especially now that Christmas was drawing near. A few families made the 4-day trip back for short visits in the warmer months but not for Christmas because of the cold and snow. The trip on foot was just too much for our older parents and grandparents no matter what the season. We would try to keep some of the family traditions alive for the holiday. St. Nick, Santa, and the elves were helping with that.
The elves had the same idea that we had and that was to be sure we had everything we needed before Christmas preparations got into full swing. The elves built a small gingerbread chapel just past the bake shop, everyone in the valley was welcome there. They noticed there was no town cemetery so they designated a small area across from the chapel and put up a few fence pieces to mark off the area.
(https://i.imgur.com/x404v0N.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gp70Bjf.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JbYhvnm.jpeg)
We followed suit and built a nativity chapel back in the woodlands behind the flour mill. It was set back in the pines just out of the forester's work area. It would be a scenic and peaceful walk to the chapel on Christmas Eve.
Chapter 13
In early spring of year 5, Lamarian made his annual trip back home to Newburg to pick up the supply wagon. The old folks wouldn't listen when told we were doing okay and didn't need more of their supplies; they wanted to help us. They said they needed to give us something for the firewood Lamarian always brought them when he returned the wagon. This time, not only did they give us the usual supplies but they gave us a milk cow too. It took Lamarian an extra day to get back with the wagon and the cow.
(https://i.imgur.com/hJrYajg.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8ZzBMTx.jpeg)
There would not be much room for the cow in the small pasture with the reindeer and horse, so Lamarian had an animal shed built behind his Santa's workshop house. It would be a convenient spot to care for the cow. The elves added some of their chickens to the shed and would feed the chickens, collect the eggs, and milk the cow. Lamarian would feed the cow and make sure the animal shed was cleaned.
In spring, we saw the riverboat coming down the river and we were hoping it was one of the river boatmen with the wheat we ordered. It was Mychalmer, the seed merchant, who came instead. We did not want any seed; we could not spare forest land for crops that would grow poorly here in the cold. Shortly after Mychalmers left, Raynardo, the resource merchant arrived at the trading post. He only had a few logs which we didn't need. He saw the log barge with only the few logs on deck; he said he could sure use more logs for his customers here in the north. He did say that the firewood we were trading with the other boatmen was much appreciated by the customers.
Whether it was one of the boatmen who brought the disease or just the cold damp spring weather, Woodlands Wood had it first major illness. One of the woodcutter's children came down with influenza, then another and another. Three cases turned into 9 and then 13 before the tiny hospital was built near the forest area. All the cases were in the riverside forest, and all recovered quickly. Sadly, Sabrill, the laborer, died of a weak heart; he was not one of those who had influenza.
(https://i.imgur.com/yNBaxxm.jpeg)
Chapter 14
Since the Woodlands Wood now had eggs and milk we wanted to make the traditional holiday eggnog. Both the milk and eggs were produced in the Gingerbread Village so we suggested the nog nook be built next to the gingerbread chapel across from the cemetery were Sabrill had been laid to rest earlier in the year. The elves thought it was a good idea and they would be happy to make the nog. They built another spice house nearby next to the first one. Next to the nog nook they set up an umbrella table and decorated one of the pine trees for Christmas. On warmer days folks could enjoy the tree and the eggnog at the same time.
(https://i.imgur.com/sDDfN0O.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/tYgqWpw.jpeg)
One of the riverside foresters began potting small evergreens for anyone who wanted a tree to decorate inside or outside their houses; the little trees could be planted back in the forest after Christmas. We all had so many fond memories from our childhoods of Christmases past; we wanted our children to have the same.
Chapter 15
Not only were the potted trees doing well but our forest trees seemed to have had a little spurt of growth also. We set up another forester workplace in the Gingerbread Village forest; that gave us a total of 5 foresters in that forest and 4 in the riverside forest. We added another forester to work in the riverside forest, and we assigned a worker to the log barge to begin taking more logs on board.
(https://i.imgur.com/WrcKOY6.jpeg)
Eleonore, the general goods merchant, finally returned in late winter with our wheat order. We traded firewood and a little stone and iron for 1000 wheat, 100 potatoes, and 20 each of down and wool. We ordered more of each.
We still had some wool left from last year's trade. Our tailor was still making warm coats from gathered flax and the down; we had other plans for the wool. This winter seemed a bit colder than the previous ones, and now the foresters were spending more time outdoors cutting trees. They and the laborers need more than just warm coats; they need warm winter woolies. By summer of that 6th year, we had a woolen mill built on the river. A haven house was built by the fishing log for one of the young single males.
(https://i.imgur.com/EazRXKr.jpeg)
Chapter 16
By fall, there were woolies hanging on clothes lines all over town, and when the first snow fell in autumn, the children, wearing warm woolen mittens, were outside building snowmen. Christmas wreaths began appearing on doors, and several potted evergreen trees, decorated just like the one in the town park, could be spotted around town. It was beginning to look like Christmas.
(https://i.imgur.com/5HKTr0g.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RlEfZsv.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oNZPJRn.jpeg)
It may have looked like Christmas but it felt more like the middle of winter; it was very cold. Everyone was glad to have warm woolen hats, scarves, mittens, and long johns. The elves thought it would also be nice to have a nice hot drink on those cold winter days. They had cocoa seeds they brought here with them but did not plant because we had no milk. Since we now had a milk cow, the elves built a cocoa house and planted the seeds. They had stored the seed well; most of them sprouted and the plants soon began producing cocoa beans.
(https://i.imgur.com/NKhRy2b.jpeg)
The hot chocolate stand would have to wait though because we had a critical shortage of firewood. Laverlyn, the food merchant, came to port, and restocking the trading post with firewood left us short in the town and village. We immediately headed to the woods to gather branches, roasting meat and nuts was stopped, and another woodcutter went to work in the riverside forest. The woodcutters at the tiny choppers by the town and village stockpiles often waited for logs or had a long way to go to get some; laborers cut a few trees near each stockpile. The crisis was diverted.
Chapter 17
By early spring of year 7, our firewood supply had recovered nicely. We would continue having 4 woodcutters to keep the trading post well supplied, and we would continue collecting branches often for our own use. Our forests and our 9 foresters were now supplying more logs; the depot log barge was almost half full.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ty4ioah.jpeg)
With the log supply improving and the extra wood workers, the woodcutters had a bit more time and took the time to make use of the pieces of wood that were not the best for building and were misshaped or had large knots that made splitting for firewood difficult and dangerous. The woodcutters used those pieces of wood and their free time to carve some animal statues for the town. The elves were very impressed; the woodcutters made an elf girl and 2 small animal statues for the Gingerbread Village.
(https://i.imgur.com/kgx4mgn.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/l4v6Gaf.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/a6Iobma.jpeg)
The elves' statues were placed next to the cocoa house and behind the new toy workshop that was built next to the first one when the log supply improved. The toy sleigh was only 38% full of wooden toys for Santa and it was getting close to Christmas. After the 2nd toy shop was built, the toys waiting to be loaded on the sleigh were mounting up and the sleigh was soon half full.
(https://i.imgur.com/G4crWAz.jpeg)
By autumn, there was more than enough firewood for Lamarian to take some back to Newburg as usual when he returned the covered wagon.
Chapter 18
That winter of year 7 was colder and snowier than any before. Even the deer moved closer to town where the snow was not drifting as badly as it was elsewhere. We were very glad we had enough firewood; meat was again roasting on the big spit, and the nut roaster was also fired up, but chestnuts were roasting now instead of walnuts. A hot chocolate stand was now nestled behind the bakery's oven out of the wind, and the elves Christmas bakery was making plum cakes instead of gingerbread. We had a nice supply of the cookies in storage already.
(https://i.imgur.com/Od98W9C.jpeg)
The winter did not seem to want to end. Laverlyn, the food merchant, was late arriving but he had wheat, potatoes, and a fruit jam he thought we would like that he picked up from Seeds & Seedlings. He thought right, we traded for the wheat, potatoes, and some of the fruit jam. It would be a real treat for breakfast on Christmas morning. Before he left, Laverlyn said if our foresters ever needed tree seedling, he could get them for us.
Lamarian did not leave for Newburg to get the supply wagon until spring and was even later getting back but that was not because of the weather. Ten friends and family members with 1 child came with him and they brought us a surprise for Christmas - a stagecoach. It would make it easier for us to go visit our families and for them to visit us, during the warmer months of course. We were thrilled.
(https://i.imgur.com/6FUwF0B.jpeg)
Well, the children weren't quite so thrilled; they were worried. All this talk about the cold and snow causing delays had the children concerned that Santa would not get here for Christmas. Most of them were told a bedtime story about a red-nose reindeer before drifting off to sleep that night.
Chapter 19
It had been a difficult trip through the woodlands for the families and for the horses pulling the stagecoach. A stable was built for the horses at the edge of town; the road to town needed to be widened. A road back to the pass through which they came was also needed. An older couple moved into the stable; they would care for the horses and drive the stagecoach when needed.
(https://i.imgur.com/P4zsajx.jpeg)
The road to town was widened and formed a square in front of the town hall, we now had a town square. In the center of the square was built an inn where families coming to visit could live while here on holiday; it would be known as holiday inn. Two families would stay at the inn until houses for them were built. Next to the inn was a gift shop that had useful items plus a selection of woolies, and next to the gift shop was a candle shop that had a nice selection of candles that the beekeeper made from beeswax. A family moved into each of the shops and would operate them. Families going back to Newburg for a visit could get gifts at the shops to take with them. Lamarian said he would be happy to take Christmas gifts to Newburg with him when he returned the supply wagon. He was still trying to get the wagon unloaded because he had return so late in spring.
(https://i.imgur.com/lnfXJKu.jpeg)
A candy store was built at the end of that new main street, near where Lamarian parked the wagon. One of Santa's elves began work at the candy store making sugar plum candy. The children would have sweet dreams of sugar plums that night.
Chapter 20
In summer of that 8th year, just before the stable was competed, we had an outbreak of typhus. We quickly reopened the hospital and all 4 patients were soon well again. Around the same time, we also had a visit from Eleonore, the general goods merchant. Not finding the wheat or wool we ordered available at Riverboat Depot; he personally went to The Granary and Green Pastures to pick up the wheat and wool we needed. No, we do not think the disease outbreak and boatman's visit were connected, and we don't think those that arrived with the stagecoach brought it either. We did not hear about any outbreaks of typhus anywhere else from any of the boatmen, and they are very good at keeping us informed. And since you asked about our experiences with the river boatmen, I will also say that we always trust the boatmen to deliver our messages. I had no doubt that when Eleonore delivered our firewood to Riverboat Depot that he would tell them that the log barge was almost full.
Despite the illnesses, the new homes and shops got built. Thanks to Eleonore bringing the wheat and wool, the gift shop would have plenty of woolies, and our food supply would remain good. And since our foresters and woodcutters were doing such a good job filling the barge with logs and keeping the trading post stocked with firewood, we thought they'd like more than just hot chocolate and the few ales that the supply wagon brought. A Yule Tap tavern was built on the road between the 2 riverside foresters. The forest workers could stop at the spit for a plate of roast meat and take it to the tavern to eat with a mug of ale before the tavern's fireplace on the cold snowy days.
(https://i.imgur.com/lWwA1Ui.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qp273We.jpeg)
We had a lot of cold snowy days that year, so many in fact that Lamarian was unable to return the supply wagon to Newburg. Harolyn was glad Lamarian would remain home safe and sound; at that time they had 3 children ages 5, 3, and 2. They were all looking forward to Christmas and a visit from Santa.
Chapter 21
(https://i.imgur.com/B3FDQfW.jpeg)
The elves were very busy. It wasn't enough that they were making toys for Santa, they were also growing spices and cocoa, making cocoa, baking cookies or pies, making sugar plum candy, and cutting trees. The sleigh was 78% full of toys. The elves said that Santa will be happy with any amount of extra wood toys he could get. The elves also said that by now back at the North Pole they would be struggling to find enough logs to finish making all the wooden toys in time for Christmas. We decided to take the log barge to Riverboat Depot even though it wasn't full yet; we knew some of those logs already loaded would make it to the North Pole right away. A young single male volunteered to take the barge to the Depot. He was reminded to wear his woolies.
(https://i.imgur.com/dRddw6D.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/smzRTYu.jpeg)
More wreaths and small trees began appearing around town. The gingerbread village foresters found just the perfect trees for the elves to decorate. One was put in the town square by the candy store. The elves used a little Christmas magic to decorate the trees and to add a row of colorful Christmas lights along Main Street. The children got to stay up late to be taken for a walk to see the lights. It was all quite festive. The little ones had hot chocolate before being taken home and tucked up in their beds.
Chapter 22
(https://i.imgur.com/KH0I9xT.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9Ski5BN.jpeg)
The children also got to learn the true meaning of Christmas and what we were celebrating when we took then to see the chapels. The riverside foresters made 2 wooden signs, one for the gingerbread village chapel and one for our nativity chapel. Both signs depicted the manger scene. The snow had stopped and the sky had cleared, the stars shone brightly from above as we told the children the nativity story.
(https://i.imgur.com/M1B77ES.jpeg)
Chapter 23
(https://i.imgur.com/nWib5KC.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/g9Z0wKQ.jpeg)
We here in Woodlands Wood were so proud of our forest workers. The village foresters provide the village and town with logs for building and firewood for heating, baking, roasting meat and nut, and making hot chocolate. The riverside foresters enabled us to provide firewood to Newburg and so many other towns here in the north. If not for them we would not have sent barge loads of logs to Riverboat Depot or have the wonderful animal statues to enjoy.
(https://i.imgur.com/yE0C10i.jpeg)
The elves in gingerbread village relied on the foresters to provide logs for the wooden toys they were making for Santa, and for firewood for making all the special treats they made for us. We all relied on the forests for providing us with an assortment of fruits and nuts.
The folks back in our hometown of Newburg came to rely on the extra firewood we took to them each year when we returned the wagon they filled with supplies for us. Best of all was the stagecoach they surprised us with. We built a road to the pass that led to Newburg and around the new town square. In summer the stagecoach took us to visit folks in Newburg and brought them here to visit us, in winter the coach took us for rides around the square to exercise the horses and add a bit of fun.
(https://i.imgur.com/HYMJBYk.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/v2m5dCS.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MgGn3d9.jpeg)
Woodlands Wood was a wonderful place to live and raise our families. It is peaceful and quiet in the evening when the foresters and woodcutters are done for the day. In winter, the air is scented with the smell of pines and woodsmoke and when the wind is still the sound of the owls can clearly be heard. Oh listen, eager explorer, you can even hear the sound of singing coming from the Gingerbread Village
Chapter 24
(https://i.imgur.com/6jfoNNh.jpeg)
Yes, eager explorer, Woodlands Wood, is indeed a good place to live. There are 140 of us in the town and village combined, 106 adults with 34 children. We lost 2 citizens over the 9 years, a laborer died of a weak heart and last winter a forester died when a tree fell on him. The rest of us are healthy and happy. The children are all tuck in bed this snowy night, cozy and warm, waiting for Santa.
(https://i.imgur.com/vzk5Tiz.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TmRByWv.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Eh0U19W.jpeg)
We have much to be thankful for here in Woodlands Wood in the Winter Woodlands, but especially at Christmastime. We are thankful for the hard-working river boatmen who brought us wheat for our flour mill and wool for our woolen mill, and we are thankful for Santa's elves who helped make our Christmases merry and bright. And thank you, eager explorer, for listening to my story on this snowy Christmas Night.
Good night, eager explorer, and have a Merry Christmas.
The End
@ Abandoned :) :thumbsup :star Beautiful Christmas town, beautiful setting, added Christmas music. Thank you very much, you brought a lot of joy with a beautiful story, we wish you good health and more beautiful stories about Banished.
I allowed myself to put my wishes for all good people in your hands.
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year! :)
Thank you for another lovely story Abandoned. :) :thumbsup :star
Christmas has come and gone for another year, Boxing Day is here, some of the family are visiting, and the weather forecast is hot and sunny 40C/104F.
I hope everyone has/had a lovely Christmas, all are safe and happy, and depending on where you live warm or cool.
Today will be another day of catching up, indulgence, watering the garden and lawns, and moving my Medaka fry from a hatching container into a larger 50lt aquarium so they can grow out.
Good wishes to everyone and enjoy the season. :)
:) Good to hear from you both
@taniu and
@Glenn :) I wish both of you and your families a Happy and Healthy New Year. :)