Colm came over late, and apologized for freaking out on Natalya the day before. "I've got good news my mom and baby Felishia are home from the mainland. Mom has asked after you and said that you can come over after school if you'd like." Natalya gladly stopped by to see Fern. Fern gave her a hug and suggested they talk outside, as Felishia was napping. After a brief chat about a lack of entertainment in the hospital, Natalya hugged Fern goodbye and headed to work happy to see her friend was back in good health. Natalya learned the hard way that the new city council had established noise ordinance rules. She apologized to her neighbors, and promised to restrict her mining to daytime in the future. Natalya felt as if she might never come down off of cloud nine. The dance had been a smashing success. Once again she was crowned queen, but that was peanuts compared to Colm pulling her off to the side and asking her to go steady. After she said yes he kissed her, and not on the cheek. They'd spent the rest of the dance slow dancing under the watchful eyes of the chaperones. Natalya had suggested that Colm could come live with her, and he whispered that he didn't think his parents would go for it. Natalya was happy to have Fern help her with her homework again. Sark was at home with the younger children so Fern could have some time away from the house. Fern loved her new gem cutter. She'd found it on sale in the paper. Now she could cut gems whenever she wanted without having to worry about curfew. Sixteen and her last court date had given her the news she wanted. Natalya was now a fully emancipated minor. To celebrate she invited over the Stones and a few other close friends. She still had two years before she would be old enough to vote, but she could live with that. After the party Natalya had a long talk with Sark and Fern, while Colm decided to try out his spooky day costume. Natalya sighed to herself as she hugged everyone good bye. Fern and Sark were more than happy to have her as a future daughter in law, but both were adamant about not rushing into anything and finishing their education before living together. "Natayla, we love you and no matter what you'll always be like a daughter to us, but ..." Natalya cringed inwardly when she heard Fern say but "Sark and I jumped into our marriage, and at first it failed because we hadn't understood what we wanted yet from life. It wasn't until after we ended up here on the island that we reconnected and grew as friends, but it wasn't easy. Sark and I love both of you very much and we don't want to see the two of you go through what we went through in our younger years." "But ..." Natalya started to say. Fern cut her off, taking Natalya's hands in hers. "But neither you or Colm are interested in college, and your both already best friends. Trust me, you can handle waiting two years, you'll see it will fly by in no time at all." Fern hugged Natalya goodbye. Colm gave Natalya a "I told you so" look and shrug behind his parents back. He had, when she had first asked at the dance, but to her it had still been worth asking, even though her idea had been rejected. Natalya starred at the diagrams in the book, but her thoughts were elsewhere. The last of the furniture was getting delivered this week, she'd ordered enough to set up each bedroom, and a new canopied four poster bed for herself. She also reflected on the sold sign that had gone on the abandoned house next door. Winter had settled in, and Natalya now had a perfect map of the island and no longer struggled to find collectables in the snow. She donated a days worth of finds to the museum as she had promised Fern she would. Natalya couldn't decide if she was scared or interested in learning how to build a tractor beam of her own. The one thing she was sure of, this wasn't what she'd had in mind for her Saturday night. Grateful that even aliens had rules about teens, Natalya said goodbye to the one who'd dropped her off. Staring at the sky she knew she had precious few hours to get some sleep in before the new week started and everything would change. Exhausted Natalya reflected on all the changes that were going to happen over the next year 'n a half. Siobhan was entering high school as a freshman on Monday, which meant that Tara would probably graduate soon. Colm was leaving his volunteer position at the graveyard because the council had finally hired someone to do the job. According to Colm the guy was named Euan McPhail. Natalya wondered if this Euan McPhail was the same person who had bought the crumbling house next door to her home. Closing her eyes, Natalya drifted off to sleep and dreamt of time machines and robots. Here Ends the Danilova Renovation House finally. Besides the gem cutter, there were no additional changes to the basement or first floor. The only change to the attic was rotating the bed that had belonged to Natalya's Great Grandmother. Second floor changes:
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Mad, angry, frustrated, happy, and excited. Emotions are so danged confusing. For two years now I've shown that I can manage on my own. That I can keep a budget, grades up, and a job. Yet the family court judge decided I still wasn't allowed to be fully emancipated. What does he want me to do, turn water into wine and raise the dead?! It's not all bad though. I mean yes he blocked my desire to save up my money and build a gym, but he did give me permission to become a co-owner of the grocery store where I work. He said it would help me learn the skills needed for running a business. He stressed that while my desired goal of opening a gym was a good one, that I needed to focus on my home first. He also cut down how frequently I needed to report in, so now I only have to check in once or twice a year. What did I do? What was I thinking yesterday! I'd been so hot and tired after the all afternoon work out that instead of just a quick wash I'd chopped off my hair. Is this what the judge was thinking about when he said that sometimes we as teens sometimes do things rashly without thinking through the consequences. At least my hair isn't to bad, and it will grow out. My poor tutor, she's always hungry, she's pretty tired too these days. She's got one boy, he played in the children's room, and another on the way. Maybe I should stop coming, I mean I don't really need her help with my school work, but the socialization is nice. With work done, and homework done I can finally start practicing what I've been reading. I could have sooner, I just wanted to read more before applying what I'd been reading. I made a couple of small toys and sold them online. Decidedly not a good way to earn income unless you were willing to mass produce. I'm not interested in mass producing. The fall air is just right, cool and crisp, but not so cold that I need my winter wear yet. I had an excellent day scavenging, despite the fact that finds become scarce with the cold weather. I don't understand why rocks become harder to find with the colder weather. My geology teacher suggested that during fall and winter there is less rain to expose the buried minerals. She then gave me an assignment on erosion while the rest of the class did an easier assignment. I called Colm and asked him if he wanted to hang out. He said yes really fast which tells me he wanted out of the house. I had to stifle a giggle when I saw Colm. It seems Paul Jr is going through a phase, and to keep him from screaming constantly the whole family has been dressing up as book characters. A guy sniggered as he walked past us into the diner Colm said he'd like to change before we grabbed a bite to eat. Smiling I told him I'd meet him inside. After lunch we met up with his mom, who wasn't looking well, and Tara for a movie. The colder weather has arrived full force. I have the heat on but it stills takes me a little bit to adjust to the temperature change. It's so cold but I really want to find as much scrap to work with as possible. My hair finally touches my collar again, but the air is still cold on my neck. Yes I earn enough money from work to buy scrap, but I don't consider it a profitable option. Especially when some of the toys barely sell for anything. I found some plans for a miner, as well as plans for a bot of some kind. I want to make those but I need to improve my skills first. I could read more, but it feels like reading isn't going to help anymore. I made over the main bathroom. I used more of the same converted light fixtures as in my bedroom, and with some hard work on the plumbing added a tub with a shower. The couple from the historical society sniffed, and said it would "do". Sorry! But I like a shower once in a while. I'm trying to keep things historically accurate so the house will stay on the register, and therefore protected from redevelopment in the future. I just refuse to go full dark gothic like one of the committee wants everyone to do. The fact that great grandmother and great grandfather had used a light blend, that didn't include any gothic elements has been my saving grace. Mostly they used regency and victorian. Snowflake day is tomorrow. I've treated myself to a bucket car. I haven't decided if I'm keeping the car or selling it once it's restored. I think some of that will depend on if the family court judge approves my drivers license application. I took the basic drivers ed at school, but I don't have an adult to help me with the road skill practice. Snowflake day was a hit, everyone who had came had a great time and I've learned that Melissa doesn't really get me even though we're good friends. I also learned why Fern, Mrs. Stone, hasn't been looking very well. She and Sark, Mr. Stone, are trying for another baby. They have four kids already, yet they still want more. Spring has finally returned, but you wouldn't know it by the light dusting of snow everywhere. I found another fancy egg during the egg hunt, but it was just like the one I already had, so I sold it. I suppose I could have donated it to the museum, after all I earn almost two thousand a week between my wages and my portion of the profits. I have a greater appreciation for what goes into running a business. I could have gotten away with slacking off at work, yet instead I found myself working twice as hard to make sure that "my" store was a nice place for customers to shop. My hard work earned me two promotions, and now in addition to my regular duties I get the bonus of picking the music for my shifts. The only complaints I hear are about the burglaries that have been increasing around the island. Well I was sleeping, and now I'm not. The alarm system is really loud. After listening to customers talk about their homes being burgled I had reset the sensitivity level on my alarms. I was happy to see the officer taking the would be thief off in cuffs. I thought I was tired. Paul Jr has outgrown the costume phase, but now Fern is expecting a baby girl and this time her pregnancy isn't going very well so Tara and Colm spend almost all of their free time watching Paul Jr. Again! Yet another break in attempt. What keeps drawing the burglars, is it the fancy floral boxes. It's not just me upset, it's everyone on the island. We've been trying to get a police station, but as an unincorporated community mainland says we have to settle for the patrols they send over. Everyone's talking about whether we should incorporate. I messaged my case worker, with a request to be given voting rights even though I'm not 18. It's a long shot, since emancipation doesn't usually doesn't extend to voting rights. I try to talk to Tara and Colm at school, but they're stressed out. Their mom went into labor early and the clinic doctors are thinking of sending her and baby Felisha to a main land hosptal that specializes in pregnancy complications. Their mom's early labor was triggered by something called preeclampsia, and there wasn't enough amniotic fluid around baby Felisha. Listening to Colm, I realize that I don't know what he wants in his future partner. Does he want a small family or big? Then again what do I want? I grew up as an only, so sometimes I think a large number of kids would be nice, but I don't want to be tied to be "so-n-so's" parent, that's just not who I am. In the girls locker room I found Tara hiding in a stall crying. She showed me her phone. Dad - Paul's at the People's house. Mom and Felisha are being air lifted to River View Memorial Hospital. I'll call tonight. "That's good isn't it?" I asked Tara. "No" Tara shook her head, and between gulping sobs explained "They only airlift if the patient might die." I don't know why my throat suddenly felt tight, but it did. I hugged Tara close, her tears soaking through my blouse. Eventually a teacher showed up, they had already been informed on the situation. Tara and Colm were being excused for the rest of the week. I tried to focus on my school work, but it's hard when your best friends are struggling through a crisis. Summer, I'm feeling pensive, yet I should be happy. While I wasn't allowed to vote those that were voted to incorporate. So now not only do we have a police station, we also have a fire department, a city hall, and reserves station. All of the new city buildings have wind and solar installations so they aren't dependent on the grid. There's a semi fun skill course on the back side of the joint police and military block that they use to assess potential recruits. City hall was planned out nicely. The fire department building is okay, I'm mixed on the barn like structure. Someplace like Riverview it probably works great, to me it stands out like a sore thumb, but maybe I think that because it's right across from my house. As to why I'm pensive, I don't see much of my friends anymore. With their dad going back and forth between here and the mainland, they have switched to an independent study program that lets them study from home while they take care of their younger siblings. Leisure day, and I have a tiny pool to show off. I wanted bigger, but the construction firm was adamant that I couldn't have bigger and inside. So small it is, just big enough for short laps. It still makes a nice hang out space. Only Fern Stone doesn't show up for the party. She's still in hospital with Felisha. The worst is passed, but there's questions of when if ever they'll be coming back to the island. Tara is 17 1/2, which is almost an adult. Sark helped her move into a new house to test out living on her own. She sometimes talks about asking Dusty to move in. Sark makes funny grimaces when she brings it up. I wasn't surprised when Sark bee lined for the piano. While we eat berry pie Colm mentions there's another school dance coming up. Which gives me an idea. I ask him if he wants to see my work area in the basement where I made the miner and keep my notes on the car restoration. Oh that did not go well! I'm mortified. I managed to salvage the situation, but Oh! After I showed Colm my notes on the car, I decided to be bold and asked him to the dance. Colm said it would be nice to go as a couple, and well I guess I misunderstood him because he rejected my attempt at a first kiss. He accepted my apology and offered one of his own as he hugged me. He's still really tense because of all the stuff at home with his mom and his baby sister. He gives me another quick hug before changing to leave. My party and the houses makeover are the talk of the town, and thankfully Melissa didn't witness the rejected kiss or I'd be the talk of the town. With the exception of furnishings, which includes light fixtures; and the grounds I've finished the primary renovations of the house. I wanted to remove the door that partitions off the nursery and nanny's room, but the historical society was very firm regarding that change being a no-no, since in Victorian times children weren't fully incorporated into the family at a young age like they are now. They gave me some literature on the topic, admittedly I only scanned it, but now I understand a little better why I was kept in the back nursery instead of being allowed in the room opposite great grandmother when I was little.
For me everything feels on track and awesome. My 16th birthday is a week away, and then I'll be two years from my 18th birthday. In some ways I'm not in a rush to see what the future brings, but at the same time I'm excited for the future and to be completely free of the added legal oversight that has me in emancipation limbo. I don't always remember to water the plants, let alone weed them. If I'm honest with myself I'd much rather be in the basement experimenting with great grandfathers work bench. Which is why I'm reading so many diy books at the library. I've already come to the conclusion that gardening is a nice hobby for those who like it, but it's really not something I'm into. It's hot out this summer. Mrs. Peoples told me their ac broke down which is why she brought their daughter out so late. I stuck around for the homework help. Honest I'm not a risk taker, but it was hot and I was very careful to stay close to shore. Summer holiday would have been better if there was a lifeguard around. The ocean water felt deliciously cool after spending half my morning scavenging. I know several different types of gem cuts, but the market is always paying top dollar for the heart cut gems. Who am I to argue with the market, if people would rather pay five or six thousand for a heart cut stone rather than a marquis or plumbob cut for a lesser amount. I cut my donation gems into the less valuable cuts, just to remind people that there are other styles available. The big summer excitement was the arrival and building of a movie theater. The owners also lease out the stage space to bands, very exciting. They also made some of the concession items available for folks walking by. In this heat a cherry snow cone is very tempting. The theater's arrival got me thinking about how it might be a good idea to own or invest in a business myself for a more stable income besides what I earn from my part time job and scavenging. The downside of renovating my home is the tax assessor upped my bills. Tara is always fun to do homework with. She's got a serious rebellious streak, so sometimes we end up laughing until we cry at made up answers to the questions on our work. I think of her and Colm as my best friends but haven't worked up the nerve to ask her to be my bff. Colm and Lydell however both overcame their nervousness and have asked me to junior prom. Getting Friday off for the dance won't be a problem, but how do I pick who to go with. They are both good friends and I don't want to hurt either of them. I'm eccentric, not evil. After school I hung out by the fishing pond. I just couldn't think. I was sorely tempted to ditch work and prom to go gem hunting. Then I spotted Mrs. Stone. I asked her if we could fish together. No I'm not into fishing, despite knowing how. Then I was so nervous that she'd see through me that I fished to far for conversation. Finally though I just talked to her. She gave me some great advice about being myself and just letting life happen. So I texted both Colm and Lydell and told them that as their friend I would meet them there. So glad I had talked with Mrs. Stone, granted I'm sure she has some interest in how the night will play out, after all Colm is her son. After a quick dash home I showed up to prom in an outfit that decidedly didn't leave any wrong ideas. Holy cow! I got crowned queen. That's not the only thing that happened. Lydell and I had a falling out almost as soon as I walked in the door. He asked if this was what I was wearing, and acted as if I should change into some mini dress. I made it very clear that I was there to dance and have fun with friends, not sneak off and make out or more under the bleachers. Colm was waiting for me by the punch bowl, his first words "You look nice, the red tie compliments your hair." I thought we were just having fun and goofing around, then the dj put on a slow song and instead of letting me dart off the dance floor like I wanted Colm pulled me closer and whispered in my ear. "I meant it earlier you really do look great, tonight" then he kissed me on my cheek before whispering "Natalya if you ever decide you'd like a boyfriend I'd really like to be that guy." Holy Cow! I'm over the moon. Colm the loner, Colm the author, Colm my best friends brother is in love with me! I might have snuggled a little closer, but I'm just a sophomore and not ready to commit to anyone but my own survival and Colm indicated that he understands that and respects my choice to not date just yet. It's a good thing that there was no school or work for me on Saturday. My head was so far in the clouds that I almost missed both a pink diamond and a moonstone while out gathering. That night I hid behind the learning annex of the museum to do homework. Mrs. Stone found me struggling with a couple of history questions and helped me. She didn't bring up prom or Colm, for which I was grateful, but I finally relaxed and called her Fern. Her lips twitched into a tiny smile and her eyes twinkled. As we finished my homework we struck a bargain, when I was finished renovating my home, I would donate a variety of cuts of some of the more expensive gems. In exchange Fern would help me restore the windows without replacing them, by stripping them down and repainting them. We both shivered as the cooler fall air heralded the coming change of seasons. It was very late when I finally crawled into bed, but I'd accomplished a lot of work that weekend with Fern's help. I moved great grand mothers bed and rug to the attic. Installed a set of proper stairs, some lights, and paneled the walls with simple wood panels. I'd refinished the fencing on the roof over the arboretum, which I was starting to think would be a good spot for a swimming pool. Got the upper level outer wall fully restored, and the gutters cleaned up. I'd also restored the upstairs wall panels and flooring, but there's a lot yet to be done with the lights and decor. I'd reached a compromise with the contractors. The heat and ac unit was installed outside near the back stairs to the kitchen, and the electrical panels were installed in the basement. This way I could access the fuse panel and circuit breakers easily during a bad snow storm, and repair technicians could easily service the hvac unit the rest of the year without tracking dirt or mud through the house. The last thing I'd done was move my bed to great grandmothers old room, it was now my room.
I could have moved in an at any time, but I wasn't ready. It's been a little over a year since great grandmother passed away, and slowly my thinking has shifted from the house being hers to it being my house. I got the floor redone as well as the walls. Fern helped me restore both the fireplace and dresser. Bought myself a new desk and chair, but cleaned up the old table that great grand mother and I used to dine at. I still need to replace the curtains, Fern recommended considering lace. She also recommended that I upgrade all of the fireplaces to fire proof. I was happy when I found some old kerosene lamps that had been converted to electric in the restore catalog. I'm not sure what next year will bring, if I'll still be here or not, I hope so. I meet with the social worker and judge from family court tomorrow, which is exactly four hours from now. Hopefully the fact that I'm on the honor roll and half way done restoring my home will be marks in my favor. I wonder if coffee is as good as everyone claims it is? My week did not start out well. I didn't understand why the alarm didn't go off, but I'm glad that I heard the stairs squeak and thought to call the cops. I was worried for the officer's safety when the burglar attacked him. She's spry for an older woman. Happily for me the officer was able to recover the incense burner and my stove. He also advised me to contact the security company and have alarms installed at each entrance, not just the one by the back door. Today I splurged on a cotton candy before work. My boss could tell I was on a sugar rush, but it didn't really help my work performance. Happily it didn't hurt it either. People keep stopping me to ask about the house. Some people try to offer me money for it, others want to know it's history. Eventually I'm going to have to figure out better responses other than "Idk" or "go look it up". I don't mean to be rude, but to have random strangers popping up out of the blue is a little discomforting. Happily I'm able to use "I need to be at work" a lot. Even if sometimes that 'work' is actually at home working on the house. I still spend a lot of time at the library. Although now it's to learn new recipes, and to read how to books for house repairs and renovations. Between Lydell and Colm, I get the feeling I'm going to have a full dance card at the next school dance. I've already cleared with my boss to have the night off when it rolls around. I did it! It wasn't easy, but I did it! I can't believe how much nicer the kitchen looks now. Being able to whitewash the fireplace helped with the final look of the room, as did adding a center island. I was glad that great grandmother hadn't had any of the ceilings done in tinplate. After a bit of research I learned that I could do the same wall style on the back hall as well as the small room that leads to the basement. I moved my bed and the nightstand to the dining room. I kept the special egg I'd found at the spring egg hunt. I suppose I could have sold it, but when I look at it I think of the stories great grandmother would tell me of the old country, Russia. Summer is warm, some days are hot enough that I shelter at the library for a while before going out to scavenge. I often see the Stones around, outside of Mr. Peoples and his wife the Stones are the only other family that really stay on the island full time. With summer come the flowers lot's of flowers. Some of them are worth more than the others, I pick them all just the same because even 5 simoleans helps build the funds needed for renovating the house. I stop and hang with Mr. and Mrs. Peoples to stare at a lost parakeet. It's very cute and we agree that it must be someone's pet. The Peoples are a little more understanding of my formality, his father grew up in Poland, and Mrs. Peoples grew up in Belarus near the Polish border. What a haul. I added a few more gems to the collection at the museum. I have enough simoleans from the pink diamond and two moonstones I found to easily get three or four gem cutters of my own, but I like using the one at the museum, and don't mind having to donate one in exchange. To celebrate my finds, and as a thank you, I take Mrs. Stone out to dinner. I'm grateful that I don't have school or homework until next week. After dinner I decide to try out dumpster diving, after all the Stones earn a fair bit of income from cleaning up and reselling their finds. Gross! I am so never doing that again! Okay, so yes I found a couple of pieces of furniture that once cleaned up brought me a small profit, but nowhere near as nice as what I bring in from scavenging. It's late and I'm exhausted. After my success late Friday after work with my gem finds I spent the weekend working on the house. There's only one thing I left to the professionals, and that was the central heat and air, along with the junction box for the electricity. We're still negotiating placement. The installers want to put it outside, but I think it would be better in the basement. I hope we reach a consensus before falls colder weather.
In the meantime, I'm very pleased with how everything came out. I was even able to finally get all the weeds pulled, the dead trees removed. I'll need to rent scaffolding to get the upper levels cleaned up. I had help turning two of the dead trees into lamps for the odd little room that leads to the basement. I think it might have been cold storage for produce in the days before refrigerators. I think eventually I'm going to finish the basement with some simple paneling and refinish the floor boards. For now though having a shower handy for cleaning up after experimenting with the chemistry station or building stuff will be good enough. I'll be glad when the cold of winter is gone. Getting up in a cold room because I haven't figured out how to properly bank the old stove or fireplace yet is not fun. Cooking morning meals is also proving challenging, some days I just grab cereal or toast. Marta made everything seem so effortless when she was here. Despite the cold I love the freedom the bike gives me. If you haven't guessed my favorite color is red. I'm almost never home any more. If I'm not at school or work I'm at the library. I'm finally starting to understand the school work we're given. With access to the library's computer I've been able to do research of my own. Which has helped me learn the difference between the incomplete facts, the fictions, and what's available through known research. On the advice of both the school counselor and Mrs. Stone I moved great grandmother's grave marker to the cemetery. I miss her so much, despite the late hour I sit and talk to her as I finish the days homework. With the extra day free I spent part of my morning clearing weeds from the front yard. I also installed new porch rails. I might have to replace them again or paint them but for now their fine. I'm super excited, Tara, her friend Dusty, Colm, and Mrs. Stone are coming over to help me celebrate snowflake day so I won't be completely alone. Wow, I can't believe how lucky I am. Mrs. Stone smiles, she explained that both Tara and Colm had mentioned my interest in chest, and Mr. Stone had just finished getting a chess table cleaned up for selling. Dusty gave Tara a music book she'd been wanting. I gave Mrs. Stone some paper and paints for the family, which I felt was woefully inadequate compared to what they had gifted me. Eventually everyone left and I was alone again, so after checking on the stove to make sure it wouldn't go out, I left to go foraging. We had some excitement at school when a deer bolted in and then out of the building, momentarily confused. I decided to test the pe teachers suggestion that jogging would help me reduce my stress. I politely declined Colm's offer of a ride. Despite the cold I didn't think riding in a car with him was going to reduce my stress. He's so cute, and he's not dating anyone. He even asked me to the winter formal, but I have work so had to decline. I stared at my mail in shock. I had a signed permission slip for international travel from the family court judge. I had more than enough money saved up to cover both my bills at home and the travel expenses. I couldn't believe my luck, I was getting to go the Le Champs trip. I just had to clear the time off from work. I couldn't believe how much warmer it is here. Le Champs is further south than industrial island so it's practically spring like here. It didn't take me long to meet locals and learn about the culture. The one thing that stood out for me was even here I was getting sideways looks for my appearance. I love great grandmother, but maybe it's time to do some shopping. With a few discrete inquiries I learn where the locals go. Putting away the rest of my new clothes I feel a thrill of excitement. I wonder what great grandmother would have thought of my new look. I started to get my hair cut but in the end I went with a trim and some bangs, that work nicely pulled up into a pony tail. I discovered that I was just as good at finding collectibles here as I was at home. Le Champs doesn't have the same laws as back home. So I got to try a little bit of nectar at the nectary. It was okay, but I don't get the big hype. Who knows maybe I'll understand better when I'm an adult. My roommates liked the pancakes that I learned how to make at the culinary classes. My last day of the trip I bought an incense for great grandmother. It's seems silly because she's gone, but I think she would have enjoyed it. I also bought myself some cook books. I really want to learn how to make crepes, but it's going to be a while before I'm a skilled enough cook to try to make them. At home, I shiver from the cold. It had been so nice and warm in Le Champs. I dash upstairs and put the incense holder on great grandmother's dresser and then dash back down to the tepid warmth of the kitchen. I double check that I have my trip report in order and review the weeks assignments. We have another trip to the science center this week. As I get ready for bed I wonder what Colm will think of my new look. Sigh, Tara looks like she's having lots of fun playing guitar. Sometimes I wish I could play hooky from work. I shouldn't complain, after all I just got back from an awesome trip to Le Champs. I don't tell Colm that I don't believe him when he says he's having trouble with his school work. I'm having a hard time focusing. He told me I look nice. He waited until after I got off of work to do homework at the library. He usually finishes his work in class. I'm trying to focus but I wonder if he can hear how fast my heart is beating. We're just good friends, but I think if he asks me to another dance I'll say yes. Spring is finally here. Which means I'm having an easier time finding collectables. Most of the time I'm only finding one or two gems, so I don't bother cutting them. I'm tempted to get a gem cutter for home, but I really do need to focus on fixing up the house. Especially if I want central heat for next winter. Although I did splurge on a tablet, primarily I use it for supplemental lessons. I've improved my writing and my language arts teacher gives me extra credit points if I let her review my journal entries. Sometimes I find a fair number of gems, and it's worth my time to cut them. I now know how to cut heart and pear shaped gems too. Today I'm donating a heart cut blue topaz. It's worth 80, but the heart shaped blood diamond I sold to a private collector was worth over 1,200; and that didn't include the other gems I'd found and cut. As I get ready for bed I appreciate how nice the kitchen is starting to look. I think this summer I'll move my new bed to the dining room which is just down the hall. It's also closer to the half bath I added to the odd corner of the living room.
Have I mentioned I don't like writing in this journal, yet I like the idea of great grandmother's house sold off and being sent back to the half way house even less. I got the job at the store stocking shelves. It doesn't pay very much, but it should be more than enough to cover the bills, after all it can't be that expensive to maintain great grandmother's property. I spent the rest of my day relaxing at the library. My first day of school wasn't to bad. Two of my classmates are siblings, Tara and Colm Stone. I got home after work and cried when I saw how much the bills were. There was no way my part time job would cover these expenses. In class today Tara mentioned that her mom made money by collecting and selling rocks to the science center. I pulled out the tiny rock I'd picked up after school yesterday and looked at it. Could this small thing be worth anything? Using my court issued phone I sent a picture of it to the science center. I almost dropped my phone when I saw the response; they wanted to give me 1,400 for that tiny speck of rock. After paying the bills, I splurged. Tara had mentioned two break in attempts so I got an alarm installed. I want a way to stay active since there isn't a gym out here so I got a chin up bar. A few days later we had a field trip to the science center, where I learned a little more about what was available for collecting around the island. I was grateful when Tara brought me some winter outer clothes to wear. She and Colm told me how their parents used to do a lot of dumpster diving for furniture, in addition to the collecting. Yeah, I might have freaked out some today. I went to the library after work so I could work on my homework, which has been really hard for me despite being a genius, and instead fell asleep on the seating from exhaustion. Another day another trip to the library. Today I took advantage of the tutoring program and got help with my school work. I love science, history not so much, but science and building stuff yes. It's been a shock for me to realize that the private school I'd gone to before was not teaching proper science, or even proper history. My biggest shock came in health class, when the teacher didn't stand and lecture on the sin of sex, instead she explained how the body works for reproduction. Colm turned redder than his hair during part of the lecture. Hopefully my discomfort wasn't as obvious. It was awkward, but it's nice to have a better understanding of why I bleed every month. Ugh! I have to stand up in front of the class and debate whether teens should be able to drive without lessons first in a group debate. Which now has me wondering if it's worth it to take driving classes through the school. The island isn't that big so a good bike would probably be just as efficient. If Marta was still here I could ask her to teach me how to drive. Although I can barely cover the bills as it is, perhaps the added expense of a car isn't a good idea right now. Then there's the added problem of the mainlands historical society want's me to keep the restoration as historically accurate as possible. They even sent me a bunch of color and fabric information pamphlets. Add to that a notice from code enforcement about the over grown yard. Thankfully we don't have a city hall or police station out here which means I have some leeway before code enforcement comes by again. I think that if I can show progress they'll give me more time to work on the yard. Wow, Colm invited me over to his house. He's such a loner that I'm surprised by how much he talks to me in class. I didn't have tons of time to visit, as I needed to get to work. Mrs. Stone was really nice she told me several places to find good quality gems. Mr. Stone said I should stop the the museum and check out the art studio if I found any gems. Weekend, oh blessed weekend. I am so sleeping in. It's a bonus weekend too, Monday is snowflake day so we don't have school. Wow, I found some really nice gems today thanks to Mrs. Stones advice. I wasn't to surprised to see Tara at the museum with her parents, it's not as if there's to many places to hang out unless you take a ferry to the mainland. Mrs. Stone, who keeps trying to get me to call her Fern, explained how to use the gem cutter. She also explained that it was my choice of which cut gem I donated, and that I could donate the cheapest one if I wanted. By the time I was done cutting the gems I'd collected for the day I'd figured out how to do both an emerald cut and an oval cut. I donated a small gem and sold the rest. I earned enough money to buy a bike, some planters, and a new bed. I wanted to spend more, but saved the rest for the bills that would be coming. As I climb into my new bed I decide that next week I'd like to do my best to clean up the kitchen, and make it as nice as possible. I've also decided that I want to get a half bath installed on the ground floor so I don't have to constantly run upstairs.
Hunger gnawed at my belly, I should have waited for the midday ferry, then I could have had breakfast at the halfway house I'd had to stay at during the court hearings on the main land. Yet all I could think of was getting home to baboushka, great grandmother, even though she's passed on. The beat cops kept eyeing my outdated clothes. I was offered new clothes by the social worker but I couldn't bring myself to take them. It wasn't pride, it was an odd sense of disloyalty, even though I really wanted to wear modern clothes. The judge who heard my case felt that I was doubly lucky, first I'd survived a train crash as a small child, and then great grandmothers house and I had both survived the meteor strike that had laid waste to the upper part of the island. The judge instructed me that to prove that I could make it as an emancipated minor I would have to attend the regular school, not that there was money for tutors or private school anymore, I would need to submit regular written reports, and I would have to take a part time job. I'm lucky I guess two new stores just opened on the island so I can get a job at one of them after school and have the weekends free to do what I want. I want to restore the house to it's original glory, as well as update it. I'm not a fan of writing, but if writing daily in this journal is what I need to do to stay here then that's what I do. My belly is growling again, I can smell aromas on the wind from the diner, it's feast day today, yet I have no desire to celebrate. I really should go in, but sadness is weighing on me, I wish I knew Marta's pierogi and borscht recipes, I could use their comforting warmth against the coming winter. Taking pictures at dawn, 6 am, game time was not a brilliant idea. I'll try to get better pictures next game session. I used custard to remove cc from the lot, so it might be slightly different from how it was uploaded. I had to shift a few shrubs and trees out of the basement. It will be awhile before the weeds in the yard get addressed in game or story. Natalya has 126 sim days or 18 sim weeks until she turns YA on epic play. The house is fairly big so it will most likely take a minimum of 6 to 8 sim weeks to renovate & become friends with sims around town. She will most likely get an early birthday celebration when the house is finished. :) Updated with the better pictures. :) |
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