The Little Blue Hut

Besides, I love being outside. I love it so much that I bore people to death about it. You’d think anyone who lived on a beautiful tropical island would have some appreciation for the outdoors, but my neighbor Collette just stared at me blankly when I talked about how much I adored sand and sunsets and shrubbery.

Mariner's Reach

My fourth goal kind of goes along with that – I want to learn how to garden. I want to grow tomatoes and lettuce and the stuff that Uncle Elvis used to grow. I helped him pull weeds once, but that’s the extent of my knowledge, so I am starting small for now. Besides, I only have one little strip of land next to my house that I am free to cultivate. So far I have two lettuce plants and one tomato vine. We’ll see if I can keep the little guys alive.

Mariner's Reach

My fifth goal is the toughest…although I guess it’s not so much a goal as a question: what do I want to be when I grow up? Yeah, I know I’m grown up, for all intents and purposes. But I’ve never really figured out what I want to do with my life. And, you know, eventually I will have to pay bills and buy food, so something slightly profitable would be nice.

So my plan is to try anything and everything in hopes that something will stick.

Yesterday I tried fishing, which had hilarious results. I biked up the hill to Bellow’s Swamp, which I had heard was a great place for an amateur angler to get started.

Mariner's Reach

It was getting dark out, and the swamp was thick with fog. I ventured to the edge of the water, hoping to see some fishies jumping away, but then my feet suddenly gave way beneath me, and I landed splat in the muck.

Mariner's Reach

Clearly swamp-fishing was not my calling.

Mariner's Reach

But I had to give it a chance. I tried to remember what my Uncle E said about holding a fishing pole – you grip it like a baseball bat. Or was it a tennis racket? Ack, it didn’t matter, I didn’t know how to hold either one, but I could fake it.

Mariner's Reach

I cast my lure into the murky swamp waters, and the bobber lanted with a soft plop right in the middle. Woot! Success. Now I just had to wait.

After what seemed like forever, I finally felt a slight tug on the line. When I yanked it out of the pond, a little silvery thing came flying out with it. Yes, I had caught my first fish. A minnow! I wished I could be more excited, but it wasn’t a very impressive specimen.

Mariner's Reach

I caught two more minnows and decided to call it a night, since I was tired and starving. My catch of the day was too meager to make a meal out of, so I dug some marshmallows out of my pocket (they were a just little bit squished) and roasted them over the nearby firepit.

Well, I have no better luck with marshmallows than I do with waffles. Can you have a negative skill in cooking? Because I think that’s what I have.

Mariner's Reach

Mariner's Reach

Of course I ate it anyway. My stomach was rumbling.

I’m going to keep at it with the fishing. Maybe I should make a rule that I have to try something for at least 5 days before I give up on it. Otherwise I might get discouraged.

Mariner's Reach

And we don’t want that! I love it here. I want to stay. But I need to figure some things out.

In the meantime, I’ll e-mail Uncle Elvis for some fishing tips. And order out for pizza.

32 thoughts on “The Little Blue Hut

  1. Your pictures are quality and your writer’s skills are great! I wish I could write stories :| mine are always so boring “hey a new sims! Oh look she meets a guy! They kissed, then woohoo and then baby! Oh so lame!” Lol I feel bad :D

    • LOL, don’t feel bad, all Sims stories are fun! As long as you’re having fun. :) Thanks for your kind comments!

  2. I giggled all the way through a-GAIN! This is funnnn-ny! Seriously – “Unfortunately I’m not athletically-inclined. Or any kind of –inclined. In fact, I should probably stay away from inclines altogether.” Bwaa haaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

    More more more more more. Pweeeeaaaase. *bats eyelashes*

  3. Lol, I love the 3 wiping at the same time, classic treadmill moment (“,)

    Glad to see Fran back, I loved her in TS2 and she looks just as entertaining in TS3.

  4. I never met Fran in TS2 but I am smitten with her in TS3. Something about her clumsy and awkward way in the world is just so endearing. Looking forward to more!

  5. I think I’m in love – Fran is so crap at everything, she’s brilliant! I love the way you/she writes – it’s lively, funny and interesting – I’m sorry I’ve never met her before – something I’ll have to rectify. I’m supposed to be cooking Goulash and you’ve given me the perfect *out* – I’m off to read more about Fran… and maybe to bite the bullet and download Mariners Reach. You sell it so well ;0) xx

    • Oh man, goulash sounds REALLY GOOD…how did it turn out? Of course I’m two weeks late…but thank you for your kind words about Fran!

  6. “gunther” … hehe!

    Anyway, it’s great to see Fran again and hear about her life once more. I’ve missed her ramblings! I totally agree with what she said – why stay indoors when there’s such beautiful scenery out there! If I lived in her little blue hut, I’d probably love the outdoors, too. And she shouldn’t knock catching 3 minnows! That’s good finishing for a beginner! Go Fran! Mm … that guy she met was HOT! ;O)

    Yay!! Glad to see you writing again, jenba.

    • Heehee, before that picture, I actually gave that guy a makeover because he was dressed funny and had awful hair! Glad you like his new look! I think he’s kind of cute, too, but Fran thought he was a 1 out of 10, so he’s not her type, I guess. :-p Thanks for stopping by, Ange, I always love hearing from ya!

  7. I love the scenery! Makes me want to vacation there, too! And the Klutzy Kathies picture made me laugh.

    • I’d love to vacation on Mariner’s Reach, too…actually, anywhere tropical will do! Thanks for your comment, Deb!

  8. okay first, how awesome is it that my anti-spam word is llama?

    I love Fran. She is spunky and the three women klutzy kathies? or something, is priceless. I love her new town. the pics are great and i agree with Ang. that guy is a cutie, if she is looking for a mate he’s someone to consider. rawr!

    • Yeah, the guy at the gym had potential, but they’re apparently not attracted to each other at all! So they’ll just have to be friends for now. Yay for llamas, and thanks so much for your comments, ruby!

  9. Jen, loong time no write, but considering Fran: FANTASTIC!
    Really, she’s just superduper and the new world she lives in is my personal dreamspot. Has something of Florida for me…
    Keep going, ok?

    • Holy cow, it’s Eva! Awesome to see you! Hope all is well with you and that you’re enjoying life. :) Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

  10. *lol* Fran totally cracks me up! I love her expressions, and she’s so cute at messing up things! And what a beautiful spot to live in!

  11. This is wonderful Jenba! Loved this, “Unfortunately I’m not athletically-inclined. Or any kind of –inclined. In fact, I should probably stay away from inclines altogether.” The picture of all three falling is hysterical!

    I hope you continue with this; Franchesca has a dry kind wit that begs for laughter. Definitely a girl to watch (bad cooking and all :D )!

  12. Welcome back, Fran! Who won the Synchronized Treadmill Falling competition? Nice one, Jen, although, as someone who absolutely loves to fish, the amatuer sim fishermen and women make me cringe slightly.

    • LOL at the “Synchronized Treadmill Falling competition”…love that. And you’ll probably be cringing a lot as Fran’s story progresses, because she and I know nothing about fishing! ;)

  13. I can barely put into words how much I love this. The sense of humor is right up there and this chapter had me laughing from start to finish. I can’t wait to see more!