picspam, bella's new house

So one day, I went and destroyed Bella's house, lol! Oh how she loathes me! Because the only other place I could fit her ever-expanding family is in the suburbs. She is SO not a suburban kind of lady. But I put them in Stoneview Court, which is a "gated community" - so that status should make her happy. And Cameron is happy because he's right across the street from Max. And the girls will have a nice sized yard to play in.

Of course, I had to start with her kitchen! :)

build week #3.5: what not to do with the lot adjuster

Experiments and failures on placing lots "off-grid"

So I had this grand idea that I'd take some houses, and place them along a fake street, to use up some of that pesky middle space in one of my city blocks. So that street in the middle of the picture is completely decorative, and the homes there are placed "off-grid", meaning they're not attached to any actual road.

These houses I used are by Maisie by the way.

And for the most part, it worked. But I did run into a few deal-breaking (in my book, anyway) problems.

take it down, extras

*warning: this is ridiculously long! No joke! *

Extras, outtakes, and misfits from the "take it down" season...

(I think I'll call them seasons now, rather than chapters. Does that make more sense? I mean, each entry is big enough to be its own chapter, right? Why didn't anyone ever tell me that made no freaking sense? lol! So since the collection usually spans about a season, it seems only logical. Season?)

Anyway, whatever we call it, this collection of stories was the longest EVER, and gave us a crapload of extras!!! These stories took me 8 months to write, covered five major story progressions and many independent pieces and mini-updates, and added up to a whopping 50,881 words!

(If I ever want to know why my novel isn't finished yet, I think I have my answer!)

Let us begin? ;)

under the skin, part 3

August 2083 - Cameron Gibson is 32, Bella Bradshaw is 27, Micah and Mariah Buchanan are 25, James Porter is 26.

* soundtrack: "The Blower's Daughter," by Damien Rice. Warnings: unapologetic cheese? It's a wedding, I'm allowed ;) *

Bella Bradshaw and Cameron Gibson are married on a sweltering day in August, in a garden ceremony at Riley Hall, hot enough even the flowers seem to sweat. Their wedding is elaborate, but appropriate for a rising young film star and Lake City's prettiest playboy socialite. The guests are adorned in shades of silver and scarlet, as per Bella's fancy. Delilah and Naomi don't exactly understand all the fuss, but they're happy enough to be held and cooed over, while their parents make funny gestures and faces at each other.

2082, extras

Extras, misfits, and outtakes from the year 2082 :)

domestic bliss

August 2082 - Cameron Gibson is 31, Bella Bradshaw is 26, Delilah Gibson is 9 months. Last update, November 2080. *Optional soundtrack, "Sex and reruns," by Matt Duke*

*** This is long ;) ***

She missed a recording session because he wasn't home yet. She hates missing work! It's the one thing in the world she's ever been competent at, and not many people actually get this chance she's gotten and she's not going to blow it because he's a flake!

"Where were you?" she says, her voice calm and cold as he walks into the living room.

"Working," he says. "Is Lila in bed?"

"Of course she is. It's nine-freaking-thirty!"

happy mother's day!

I know there are a lot of mommies who read this blog, so in honor of Mother's Day...

this rustic life

March 2082 - Jeremiah Day is 25, Stephanie is 22. (via phone, Bella Bradshaw is 25). Welcome to Lakeside Heights, baby Skye. Last update, March 2080.

Stephanie is talking to her brother, long distance, while Jeremiah sets lunch out on the table. Lara had the baby - it was a girl, and they named her Skye. Stephanie can't even believe how much she's missed. She has four little nieces and nephews now, who aren't so little anymore. Liza is in junior high now, Shaun just started preschool, and Raine is starting preschool next year! Stephanie says, "The last time I saw Raine, she was still in diapers!" Oh, Patrick mentions, Raine still is in diapers, they've got to get that potty training done before the fall. Still potty training at three and a half! Sheesh! And they say girls potty train faster?

Stephanie says, "I can't wait to meet Skye!"

"Are you coming home then?" Patrick asks.

"Well, we kind of have to, I think. I'm kind of pregnant."

"Well, either you are or you're not," he says. "There's really no kind of about it."

"I am then," she says. "Yeah, I guess I am."

happy new year, 2082!

Happy New Year, 2082.

It isn't New Year's Eve. It isn't New Year's Day either. Today is the second of January, and he's there to walk her home from work, like he always does, except today, they have one stop to make first.

2081, extras

Before we start the new year, here are some random extras, outtakes, and misfits from the year 2081.

LCU, normal, simple, happy, part 3

LCU, spring semester, 2081 (part 3 of 3)

The suit is just a gag, because Micah is often silly like that. He found it at the back of his storage locker when he was packing up, and he figures he'll get one last laugh out of everybody before he leaves campus. He certainly doesn't plan on wearing the damn thing all day or anything!

LCU, packing up, moving on

LCU, spring semester, 2080

It's early one spring morning when Keri's sister calls, and this phone call is a warning. Mariah says, "Bella's coming over to see you. Just so you know."

Though Bella Bradshaw graduated last year, it hasn't been exactly unusual to see her finding her way back onto campus. What what is unusual about this is that she wants to see Keri. Keri's older cousins hardly ever give her the time of day, unless they want something. And Keri is sick of the way Bella thinks she's the center of the entire universe!

the lofts, big fat chances

August 2079 - Paul Gallagher is 29, Cameron Gibson is 28, Charlotte Centowski is 25, Amelia Bradshaw is 24, Bella Bradshaw and Jeremiah Day are 23.

Bella and Amelia are actually getting along here in the lofts together. They're becoming almost something like friends. They never imagined the day would come, when Alon Hutchins had become inconsequential to them both, and long forgotten. We suppose that's part of growing up.

LCU, the end of an era

LCU, spring semester, 2079

LONG post! Take a potty break if you need one! :)

At the start of spring semester, the most pressing matter for Bella and Mariah is to win a dance competition. James was there to root for Mariah.

(Joel and Aurora Harris were there, on their first date night since baby Zachary was born, watching at first, but then they got bored and decide to flirt with each other instead.)

LCU, love, all around

LCU, fall semester, 2078

Bella and Mariah are living in Academy Hall this year. In her sophomore year now, Mariah declares her major in philosophy. Not because she's known to be a big thinker, but because... well, because her guidance counselor told her to.

the lofts, farewell marisa!

August 2078 - Cameron Gibson is 27, Marisa Wilson and Charlotte Centowski are 24, Amelia Bradshaw is 23.

Charlotte Centowski and Marisa Wilson have been best friends since they were five, and Charlotte doesn't know what she'll do without her. Marisa received an offer to dance in Abandia City, and she just can't pass it up. She's leaving at the end of the month.

LCU, everything she touches

LCU, spring semester, 2078

Jason called Bella to say he was coming over. He was dropping off some stuff, making it official that things were over between them. Not only had she flat out rejected his proposal last spring, but she never even called him back. He was so sure things were over, in fact, that he came from the gym and was still wearing his workout gear.

But I guess they weren't quite finished after all? Because there were no declarations of over-ness, and he didn't actually drop off anything.

LCU, spring break 2078

2078, LCU, spring break

Okay, go pee if you need to, grab yourself a snack - this one is LONG! I tried to cut it down, but it was just too funny :)

Amelia is so Zen she even has her own flock of butterflies swarming around her. She thought she was dealing with things in a healthy and responsible and normal manner - because, she figures, what are you supposed to do when your boyfriend of six years cheats on you for the second time, and finally leaves you for somebody else? Some not-that-pretty, devious, man-stealing snake who honestly has quite a large forehead!!! And what, you mean five hours of yoga isn't normal???

LCU, at the end of things

LCU, fall semester, 2077

Go ahead and grab yourself a cup of coffee or something... this one is LONG! :)

Amelia moved in with Alon and Piper after coming home from Takemizu Academy last semester. It was just something they all assumed she and Alon would do, but now she's beginning to question whether that was a good idea or not.

Amelia's flight got in really late and he was tired. Sure, he was happy to see her, but just tired. Really tired. And he had work in the morning. She tried to show him some bow thing she learned and he just didn't get it.

waiting on whatever comes next

May 2077, Orlando Centowski is 62, Audrey is 61, Luke is 18. (Mariah Riley is 18.)

Luke's mom is acting weird lately. He is her last baby to leave home, and supposedly that's a pretty big deal for a mom. She often stops him and says, "Wait, right there, I want to remember you like this." His parents have always been kind of weird though.