#homestead challenge

[lochlander]

One of the things I really like about the Homestead Challenge is the rules about how the homesteads/architecture of each lot should be made of the same materials and look similar to each other. Partly because it makes sense--you ain't getting regular shipments of intricately-etched Victorian marble cornices to Kainai, Montana--and partly because one of the things that often keeps me from expanding my hoods is building fatigue. I have to be in the right mood to build and while I've certainly impressed myself before, I also have way less free time than I used to and it's nice to be able to overthink less.

Plus, I've inadvertently created an architectural style in Kainai that revolves entirely around that Swiss Winter siding by Lady Lama and I regret nothing.

[skeletorsims]

Ilse opens the first day of school! In attendance are the Laces and Saanvi Hollowbreast. Donovan helps them with their schoolwork by playing the piano.

[katssimsdecades]

Spring - 1846 - Wagon Trail start point

Once Santiago was sure all the wagons were packed. He told the women to get on the wagons so they could leave.

Everyone wasn't sure what the future held but the new beginning was just starting.

[kat-simss]

Hmmm... Hürrem has moved on awfully fast, and took a liking to Gustav despite the fact that a.) they aren’t married and this is the 1860s, b.) they literally live in the same house with a dozen other people who definitely would realize something was going on, and c.) this is Elvira and Bartolomew’s bed since it’s the only double bed on the entire lot. I know you just got done traveling for like four months straight, but this is a bit much, you guys!

[princesspiratecat]

Time for A New Challenge.

I think, because I live in an old Colonial and support the Strawberry Banke museum, I'm a bit inspired to do a neighborhood based on the Henry White State Museum, a new Homestead challenge, only set in the Colonial era. (Click the link if you want to take a virtual tour, this house is amazing!)

The problem is that I don't have a lot of furnishings from that time period, and I need some ceiling beams! Does anyone know where to get Primitive /Colonial era furniture and Wooden Beams? I'd be very appreciative.

[homesteadguide]

Tips for homestead living

Homesteading is a lifestyle focused on self-sufficiency and self-reliance. Some tips for living a homesteading lifestyle include:

Start small and build gradually. You can only overhaul your entire lifestyle on time. Start by growing vegetables in a small garden or keeping a few chickens for eggs.

Learn new skills. Homesteading requires a wide range of skills, from gardening and animal husbandry to carpentry and cooking. Consider taking classes or workshops to learn new skills to help you on your homestead.

Could you develop a plan? Before you start making any major changes to your lifestyle, it's essential to have a plan in place. This should include a budget, a list of goals, and a timeline for achieving them.

Be self-sufficient. Homesteading is all about being self-sufficient and relying on your own resources. This means growing your own food, generating energy, and producing your own goods and services.

I want you to please be prepared for challenges. Homesteading is not always easy, and there will be challenges. Be ready for these challenges by having a backup plan and being willing to adapt and adjust as needed.

Connect with other homesteaders. Homesteading can be a lonely lifestyle if you try to do it all on your own. Consider joining a homesteading community or association to connect with other like-minded individuals who can provide support, advice, and friendship.

[anothersimlishtragedy]

The Smithsen homestead, Glimmerbrook, Middle Ages

[culinarylife]

2022: A Year of Homestead Challenges

This year had many challenges as the first year on our brand new homestead but we also made an incredible amount of progress on our plans. #2022 #homestead

I sit here half in disbelief that it is January 1st 2023. With every passing year the time seems to go quicker and quicker. My theory is that as each day becomes a smaller part of your overall life experience that time feels quicker. I sure hope it doesn’t get any quicker than it already is or it will all be a blur. This year had many challenges as the first year on our brand new homestead but we…

[scoutdoesstuff]

hi hello ok. so this was supposed to be posted on august 24th for my little august tea prompt challenge and that. didn't quite happen. but i'm posting it now!!

i'll be trying to get the rest of the challenge out by the end of this week, btw, though posting may be a little erratic on my end. as always, everything will wind up in the masterpost i've got going, though, so feel free to check that from time to time if you're following along (thank you for following along if you are!!).

august 24th's ficlet is another possible homestead verse chunk. this time, we're going to the fair with the flavor white peach.

Jack’s perched on top of Dean’s shoulders, little kid arms wrapped around Dean’s face, and chubby kid fingers interlaced under Dean’s chin. He’s getting dangerously close to a nap time, even for a kid who could decide what age he is at a whim. His once enthusiastic song about peaches is dimming down to a sort of distracted muttering that’s getting close to a creepy witches chant.

“You ready to head home, Jack Attack?” Dean asks, tilting his head up slightly to try and catch Jack’s attention.

“Peaches, peaches, peeaacheesss,” Jack sings, voice cracking on the high notes. Then Jack sighs, awfully mournful for someone who had eaten their weight in fruit and fried dough today.

Sam stifles a laugh in his cotton candy next to Dean. Dean had been designated as the Jack wrangler today which made Sam their sherpa for the day. It also meant that, for once, Sam had eaten more junk food that Dean had, if only because Dean hadn’t had the damn time after chasing Jack around.

The kid was technically indestructible, yeah, but Dean still didn’t want him to accidentally get kicked in the head by a goat. Those things were fucked up. Eyes weren’t supposed to look like that.

The fair had been his idea. Sam had been going through the local papers, more out of habit than any real desire for a hunt, and Dean had seen a blurb about the local fair. Dean and Sam had never really gone as kids, outside of one truly disastrous first date Dean had had in high school. Cindy Martins had been really fucking cute but really fucking freaked out by the fact that Dean could hit a bullseye at twenty paces again and again and again. Sixteen year old Dean had thought he could impress her with his sharp shooting and distract from the fact that he didn’t have any money for food by stuffing her arms with the creepy, dead eyed stuffed animals. It hadn’t quite worked out like that, though.

Anyway, Dean wanted Jack Attack to have normal kid memories, even if he wasn’t exactly a normal kid. All kids liked animals and shitty food and the extremely unhygienic death trap rides, though, so Dean had tossed the idea out to Sam of them going to the fair. Sam had done one of those weird sort of frown, sort of agreement faces he does and gone yeah, sure, Dean and that was that.

Jack had been a bit too small for the rollercoasters, but he’d fallen in love with the frankly terrifying swing contraption that looked … awful from the ground. When Dean’s nerves couldn’t handle his — Cas’ — kid going twenty feet up in the air on something that was deconstructed and reconstructed in twelve hours every other weekend, they’d wandered over and found the animals. Jack developed several deep and intense friendships with some of the petting zoo animals and had a minor meltdown when his time in the pen was up. Both Dean and Sam had a blinding moment of terror, images of their kid — Cas’ kid — showing up on every “can you believe it or not” website on the planet with headlines like “baby with the face of an angel screams everyone within 100 miles deaf after being pulled from petting zoo pen before he was ready”.

Jack didn’t go full nuclear, though, just regular six year old pissy. Sam — stupidly, in Dean’s opinion — promised Jack he could maybe get a pet of his very own soon if he stopped crying. Jack had taken a couple of hiccuping breaths and scrubbed at his face with his tiny hands and stared at Sam like he’d just promised Jack the world. Watching Sammy gently wipe Jack’s tears and talk to Jack like he was family made something weird and warm worm its way into Dean’s chest.

They’re driving home now. Jack’s dead to the world in his booster seat, mouth open in a silent little kid snore, Sam’s tapping away at his phone in the passenger seat, and Dean’s watching the world roll by while the Mamas and the Papas croon softly from the Impala’s stereo.

“Dog or cat?” Dean asks, keeping his voice pitched low so that Jack won’t wake up.

Sam grunts and looks up from his phone, face scrunched in confusion.

“Do you want a dog?” Dean says, slower but still with his voice pitched low. “Or a cat?”

“I don’t know if we’re really positioned to have either right now, Dean,” Sam says, sounding hideously reasonable about it all.

“You just promised our magic six year old a pet today, Sammy,” Dean says. He can’t even bother to hide his smile.

Sam scoffs. “He’s a three month old in a six year old’s body, Dean. He’s not gonna remember.”

“You never forgot,” Dean says. Sammy stares at his profile for the next six miles, a frown slowly growing on his face.

[simmymom]

New Simland - A Homestead Challenge

Meet the first wagon of settlers to arrive. Descriptions were written with the help of ChatGPT

They are quite the crew! Will they be able to build a small community together?

Young Erik leaves behind his homeland in Northern Europe, seeking a fresh start in an untamed new land. Armed with a passion for knowledge and a knack for organization, he dreams of building a prosperous life in this rugged frontier. As he sets foot on the wild shores of his new home, Erik's heart quickens with the promise of adventure and romance amidst the vast, uncharted wilderness. With determination in his veins and a love for order in his soul, he sets out to carve his place in this brave new world, where every challenge is an opportunity waiting to be seized.

Meet Aiden Cruz, a mixed-race teenager whose family immigrated to the new land in search of opportunities. Coming from a middle-class background, Aiden is eager to explore the bustling city and expand his horizons. With a passion for romance and a thirst for knowledge, he navigates the complexities of adolescence with outgoing charm and an open heart, determined to carve out his own path in this unfamiliar territory.

Ingrid Andersen, a bold woman from Northern Europe, ventured to a new land, driven by her thirst for knowledge and a desire to explore. Despite her humble background, she captivated others with her outgoing nature and charisma, earning popularity among locals and fellow travelers alike. Embracing the challenges of her journey, Ingrid's adventurous spirit propelled her forward, defying societal expectations and embracing the opportunities that lay ahead. Her story is one of resilience and courage, illustrating the transformative power of curiosity and determination.

Leah Mbeki, a spirited woman from the lower class of South Africa, made the bold decision to move to a new land following a series of hardships in her homeland. After losing her family's small farm to drought and witnessing the injustices of the apartheid regime firsthand, Leah felt compelled to seek a fresh start elsewhere. With dreams of a better life and a yearning for knowledge beyond the confines of her upbringing, she set her sights on a distant horizon. Despite the risks and uncertainties, Leah's resilient spirit and determination to escape the oppressive social hierarchy fueled her journey. Through her courage and unwavering resolve, Leah sought not only personal freedom but also the opportunity to carve out a brighter future for herself in a land unknown.

Meet Kaiya Running Deer, a spirited teenager hailing from a Native tribe in the vast wilderness of the new land. Born into a lower-class family, Kaiya's upbringing was marked by the resilience and resourcefulness of her people. When she caught the eye of a young settler from a distant village, their budding romance sparked a new chapter in her life. As fate would have it, Kaiya's adventurous spirit and active lifestyle led her to cross paths with the settlers, who recognized her potential and offered her a chance at a different destiny. With dreams of fortune and a desire for love, Kaiya seized the opportunity, eager to explore the unknown and write her own story in the annals of this burgeoning frontier.

Say hello to Maya Seabrook, a resilient woman from a small island who escaped a life of servitude as a former slave. Despite her difficult past, Maya radiates warmth and charisma, quickly winning over the hearts of those around her. Embracing her newfound freedom, she seeks to build a sense of community and belonging in this new land, drawing upon her innate popularity and strong family ties. With her outgoing nature and unwavering determination, Maya embodies the spirit of resilience and hope as she forges a brighter future for herself and her loved ones.

[wanderingwells]

29 Days of Vegetables!

It’s A ‘Leek’ Year! For the month of February I am challenging myself to paint a vegetable every single day! It’s already February and it feels like January skipped away in the blink of an eye. So much happened in 2023, we had another baby boy and tried (and failed) at growing a garden in the meantime. For me, the year felt like I was busy every single day and yet I was left questioning what…

[lochlander]

Oh, I love this new permafrost mod.

[skeletorsims]

Aoife has worked hard to make sure that she has a cabin to live in by the end of the season as the summer weather is only going to last for so long.

[katssimsdecades]

The Host and first Homesteader’s introductions.

Host

Name:  Santiago Agramonte

From: Selvadorada

Gender: Male

Age: Young Adult - 24

Class: Rich

Family Back ground: Second son of the Governor.

Reasons for taking the offer:  Santiago loves politics but as second son taking over his fathers position is just a dream.  So when he was asked to lead Homesteads in creating a new town that may became a new city.  His answer was an immediate yes.

Homesteaders

First

Name:  Flora Baxter

From: Windenberg City area

Gender: Female

Age: Young Adult - 20

Class: Lower Middle Class

Family Back ground: Oldest child of 7.  Her father just started helping manage one of the factories in the city.

Reasons for taking the offer:  Flora’s father has noticed that factory work is dangerous for his daughter’s health.  Flora’s cough isn’t getting better so when it was suggested for her to go he said yes in hopes the new area will improve her health.  Flora was just excited to get out of the crowded house hold.

Second

Name:  Elliot Cole

From: Windenberg Country area

Gender: Male

Age: Young Adult - 21

Class: Middle Class

Family Back ground: Third son, his father owns a farm that is the main supplier to most of Windenberg’s factories.

Reasons for taking the offer:  For Elliott farming is in his blood and having the opportunity to farm in a new land.  Felt like a dream come true so when offered he said yes.

Third

Name:  Ollie Mathews

From: Granite Falls

Gender: Male

Age: Young Adult - 20

Class: Lower Class

Family Back ground: He is the second son only because his twin came first.  There are 6 sons and 2 daughters in his family.  They mainly hunt and fish some crops grow there but the others bring in more money.

Reasons for taking the offer:  Ollie it was an easy decision to go since it meant one less mouth to feed.  He also had no worries since his father had plenty of help from his brothers.

Forth

Name: Benjamin Griffin

From: Moonwood Mill

Gender: Male

Age: Young Adult - 19

Class: Lower Class

Family Back ground: He grew up in an orphanage in Copperdale. When turning 18 he left to work in the wood mills of Moonwood Mill.

Reasons for taking the offer:  After working in the mill for a year he wanted something new so he took the offer.

Fifth

Name: Charity Banfield

From: Willow Creek

Gender: Female

Age: Young Adult - 18

Class: Former Servant

Family Back ground:  Her parents only had two children she is the oldest while her brother is ten years younger.

Reasons for taking the offer:  Her father owed a huge debt to one of the wealthy families in Willow Creek. The family of four served them for five years to pay of the debt. When everything was said and done there wasn't enough money for all four of them so she decided to take the offer to help her family.

Last

Name:  Jane Laurence

From: Brindleton Bay

Gender: Female

Age: Young Adult - 18

Class: Middle Class

Family Back ground: She is the youngest and only daughter out of four children. Her father is part of the trading company so she knows a little bit of business.

Reasons for taking the offer:  With her knowledge of business she wanted to be apart of something big which she couldn't do in her brothers shadows.

[kat-simss]

I honestly don’t remember why Elvira was dressed in her wedding dress here (I think this was Louis and Olivia’s wedding and I was just too lazy to change her formal outfit), but she seemed to get along surprisingly well with Susanna. Perhaps she will turn into a decent mother after all!*

*I think almost every interaction she has had with her children I’ve had to force, so maybe not, but it’s a nice thought!

[sugarplumpixels]

lots of homestead mods

very good for the decades challenge and general countryside gameplay