After the unfortunate incident with the fire, life on the Riverview farm returns to normal. The first cherries and bananas are ready for harvest.
Miranda explores new nectar flavours using them.
Another rare fruit is added to the orchard: Stevie manages to buy pomegranates at the Al Fresco market.
Gary returns to his job at the Bistro, eager to use his new knowledge. The same evening he gets promoted to level nine.
Miranda gets an invitation from Ned the fireman to visit him at his workplace. They have a nice chat about nectar and outer space.
The end of summer is near. A rainy Leisure Day dawns.
Luckily, the Riverview swimming pool is an indoor one, so the rain won't keep the three friends from enjoying the holiday.
Ned Lo is also there, much to Miranda's delight.
Gary notices them chatting and laughing, and he's surprised by the pang of jealously he feels.
After Leisure Day, all three get back to work. Autumn is coming soon and they want to build a greenhouse before the crops become dormant.
Miranda masters the gardening skill - once she started using the tractor, gaining skill levels became easy - and gets an award certificate from the City Hall, which she proudly displays in the living room.
Stevie upgrades the second nectar maker. Now both machines produce an additional bottle of nectar per batch! Miranda's lifetime wish, Bottomless Nectar Cellar, might soon be fulfilled.
Stevie also accepts a skill opportunity to upgrade a shower. She should have learned from Miranda's example: handiness opportunities seem to lead to disaster!
While she is working, their old acquaintance Don Lothario decides to pay them a surprise visit. He waits outside the shower, eager to chat with Stevie, but she wants to finish her work first.
He is tired and hungry, but his desire to talk to Stevie is stronger than his instinct to drink some plasma juice and save himself. Suddenly he collapses into a pile of ashes.
The Grim Reaper appears and summons Don's ghost, while Stevie and Gary (who just came back from work) watch in shock.
Don begs for his life, but Grim is merciless.
When Don finally crosses over to the other side, Gary faints. He has the coward trait and seeing the Grim Reaper is too much for him.
It's just as well Gary was unconscious, because that way he never learned that Grim went inside the house and helped himself to a cup of tea before he finally disappeared. Taking souls is exhausting work!
Back to earthly concerns: by the next morning the household has gained a new greenhouse.
Stevie visits the cemetery to leave Don's tomb in the mausoleum, and takes the opportunity to pick up some rare seeds.
Miranda meets Tilly in town. Although Tilly was the one who ended her engagement with Don after realising what he was like, she has taken the news of his death very hard.
Miranda tries to comfort her as well as she can.
Miranda's mother Penny is sad too - she thought Don was such a nice young man. (This might be due to the fact that he flirted with her too!)
Later, Miranda meets Ned Lo again, this time at the fairground.
As a half-joke, she offers to tell his fortune, and tells him he will meet a tall, handsome stranger. Ned is happy to hear this.
They have a very nice time together, but their relationship remains friendly. Miranda is not completely sure if she would like it to go further...
Autumn starts and temperatures occasionally fall below zero. But unlike last autumn, when they were suffering from the cold, sleeping in cheap beds and having all their earnings taken away by the bills, the household is now well equipped for the cold seasons.
Miranda slips and falls into yet another vat of fruit. But this batch of nectar has a special significance: once it's finished and stored, Miranda's nectar collection is worth 9,994 simoleons - only 6 away from completing her lifetime wish!
The nectar shelves work their magic overnight, and Miranda wakes up with her lifetime wish fulfilled!
She is also very close to mastering the nectar-making skill, and getting an award from the City Hall to join the gardening skill award on the wall behind her.
For a short break, the three friends visit the autumn festival. Gary and Miranda take a seasonal photo together.
Both of them place their copy in a prominent place in the house.
Miranda receives good news from Tilly: she has moved on from Don's infidelity and death and found peace in Sim Fu meditation. In fact, she likes it so much that she's considering making it a second career. She could run a meditation retreat for overworked business people.
On the first sunny autumn morning, Miranda goes back to tending the garden. (Doesn't it look like the spring gnome is imitating her?)
After finishing her work she makes some phone calls. She wants to throw a party to celebrate the harvest and the success of her nectar-making business.
Now that her LTW has been fulfilled there is no need to be thrifty with nectar: she can offer some of the best bottles of nectar to her friends.
Gary has a day off - he is near to the highest level of his chef career and has lots of free time - so he prepares a pie from pumpkins grown in their garden.
As they are waiting for the guests to arrive, Gary congratulates Miranda.
"I just wanted to say - well done. You deserve the awards you got, and this party."
"Thank you, Gary! And thank you for baking a delicious pie for me!"
But their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of the first guest - who is, of course, Ned. Gary is visibly disappointed.
A few moments later a swarm of guests arrives. It's time to eat and socialise.
Gary's pumpkin pie is a success. On the wall behind the table, Miranda's new nectar-making award has joined the gardening one - it arrived with that morning's post.
"Miranda did it! Her nectar-making business is a success!" her mother is thinking.
"Well, I certainly never doubted her for a second!"
The morning after the party, Gary and Miranda are watching the Cooking Channel together. Gary suddenly asks:
"So... you and Ned. Is it serious?"
"Possibly. I think so. He's really nice."
"Then I'm happy for you... Although I must confess I'm a little jealous, too. I sort of... had feelings for you. And I thought you did too."
"What? But what about your romance in China?"
Gary seems puzzled. "Romance in China?"
"The cute relic merchant! I read about it in the newspaper!"
"Oh... so the lady in the shop was a paparazzo. Now I understand why she was scribbling in a notebook.
No, there was no romance. We talked about maybe meeting again, but I decided not to and returned home early instead."
Miranda needs some time for this new information to sink in. She talks the situation over with Stevie.
"So now I've gone from being alone to having two men to choose from! I know my mother would be overjoyed to hear that, but I actually feel terrible!"
"I think you already know which one to choose, Miranda. Close your eyes and think of Ned. How do you feel?"
"Really nice and pleasant."
"Like a cozy armchair, or a cup of cocoa."
"Now think of Gary. How do you feel?"
"I... I would do anything in the world for him. He makes my heart beat faster."
"You're right - I already knew the answer was Gary."
Today is another day off for Gary. He's using it to brush up his cooking skill at the library.
Miranda decides to meet him afterwards.
"Hi, Miranda. You said you wanted to talk to me?"
"Yes. I wanted you to know that nothing actually happened between me and Ned. and it doesn't have to.
We get along well - but, at the moment, that's all."
Gary seems pleased to hear this, but he says nothing. He seems frozen at the spot.
"I was actually hoping you'd have something to say at this point, Gary."
Still no response.
"I should have known this was a bad idea", Miranda says and starts to walk away.
"Miranda! Wait."
"You've probably noticed that I'm a coward. I'm afraid of the dark, the Grim Reaper, vampires, fire and so many other things."
"And most of all, I was afraid to tell you that I care about you because - what if it didn't work out? We'd lose our friendship and gain nothing.
But I think it's time to stop being a coward. So - would you like to give us a try?"
Congratulations to Miranda for achieving her LTW and the reward certificate for nectar-making! Having a party to celebrate was nice
What was also nice... clearing up the misunderstanding that was between Miranda and Gary based on the silly newspaper article. Hopefully the relationship will work out and should it not, may their friendship deepen and not wither away. Oh, what am I saying? I do want it to work out between them!
Oh, I loved, loved, loved this story. I laughed out loud at the toenails with possible grapes underneath and thoroughly enjoyed myself at all times when I wasn't tense about the other possible romances. Super writing style!
Thank you very much, @thuggishsplicer , @ciane and @RamblineRose ! (And by the way, @ciane , thank you for your thread about removing IP lag! I used some of the advice in it very recently.)
Ah ha! I saw your post on emorril's thread and stalked your discussions until I made it here. I had started your story on the other forum but never got to know what happened. You are a great storyteller! Love the end
@PalmArrow Sorry I am late to the party! I see you started this story before I returned to the Sims after a two (or more) year break. I will read a bit over my coffee and then try to do a bit more catching up when I get home this afternoon.
I love the look of Miranda!
You did a great job on the sims
"Men are much less picky when under the influence of nectar" LMAO
I enjoyed reading about how Miranda found her life's dream!
What a handy inheritance
Great looking farmhouse!
OMG! I laughed so hard at the flashback to Miranda's encounter with Gary
The hot dog outfit Thankfully Gary found it funny!
Tilly's timing was bad! She doesn't seem much of a friend
Miranda seems to have put her foot in it by saying yucky about the dinner date.
What an awkward dinner party!
What a tough start! Finances seem very tight!
Good injection of funds because of the festival
I finished page 1 and will start with page 2 this afternoon. I am enjoying this immensely.
@PalmArrow Congrats on their first nectar making machine
Oh no! Miranda's pick up line with Luke fell flat! LOL
Yes! A successful flirt with Gary!
Awwwww a mistletoe kiss
Your use of thought bubbles is wonderful!
That Don!
Miranda's mother, Penny, is a hoot! I think a lot of girls get that kind of pressure from mothers wanting to attend their daughter's wedding!
Loved the flashback to boarding school
Ha! Penny walking in while Miranda is in a wedding dress! I bet her hopes were lifted! Oh, and she fainted!
It's always exciting waiting to know what the unknown seeds will turn into!
"Wedmin"! LOL
That was a clever idea that Stevie had but poor Miranda having to be the bait!
Not surprisingly, I don't feel sorry for Tilly. She's not so nice to Miranda and I felt that was somehow another Miranda putdown.
I can't wait to get the tea set! It should be a good price on the daily deal in a couple of days I have been a tea drinker all my life with an English father and a Japanese mother
Dang! Not the repo man!
Clever use of the Spice Girls song!
Oh no! Not a bad love meter reading!
The nectary is coming along well
Yay for the deathflower and the life fruit
Congrats on the tractor
Congrats to Gary on reaching his LTW!
So much for Miranda's planned conversation with Gary! LOL
Beautiful shots of Shang Simla. Gary must have had a great time
How sweet that he was thinking of Miranda when gathering the seeds
Very smart fortune cookie!
Oh no! What a terrible surprise for Miranda but what a wonderful job you did with the newspaper!
I'm glad she was working on the stereo outside. She might have lost her beautiful farmhouse!
No! Miranda needs to tell Gary how she feels!
Thank you, @Mikezumi! I'm glad you're getting the tea set, it's one of the best store premium objects! The only downside, if that's a downside, is that sims love it a little too much. In one of my games I made a tearoom in Champs Les Sims, and several townies stayed in it for a few days, just moving from one tea table to another.
Poor Gary seeing Miranda flirting with Ned!
Congrats to Miranda on mastering the gardening skill
Oh my! I didn't approve of Don's flirty behaviour but that was tragic!
Love how Grim popped in for a quick cuppa!
Poor Tilly! When all is said and done she was engaged to him before.
Don't go further with Ned, Miranda!
Congrats to Miranda on completing her LTW
I am not so sure that Penny was confident her daughter would be successful
What a good talk they had while watching TV. I hope Miranda takes it in and acts accordingly. They are made for each other!
Good for Stevie! She knows exactly what to say
Awwwwww What a wonderfully sweet ending!
LOL At Yvette getting her bum washed!
Don's death was a shock to me. I never kill sims intentionally; it happened because he was waiting in the sun to talk to Stevie, and I didn't want her to stop repairing the shower. When I suddenly heard that ominous music and my active sims all got a thought cloud with Don's ghost in it, I was genuinely creeped out. But I left it in the story because I thought it fit in well.
And, as you can see, even the Grim Reaper can't resist the tea table!
@ZeeGee , I definitely recommend watching the show if you can find it! I find it both very funny and very comforting, if I'm feeling bad it's guaranteed to cheer me up.
Comments
Miranda explores new nectar flavours using them.
Another rare fruit is added to the orchard: Stevie manages to buy pomegranates at the Al Fresco market.
Gary returns to his job at the Bistro, eager to use his new knowledge. The same evening he gets promoted to level nine.
Miranda gets an invitation from Ned the fireman to visit him at his workplace. They have a nice chat about nectar and outer space.
The end of summer is near. A rainy Leisure Day dawns.
Luckily, the Riverview swimming pool is an indoor one, so the rain won't keep the three friends from enjoying the holiday.
Ned Lo is also there, much to Miranda's delight.
Gary notices them chatting and laughing, and he's surprised by the pang of jealously he feels.
After Leisure Day, all three get back to work. Autumn is coming soon and they want to build a greenhouse before the crops become dormant.
Miranda masters the gardening skill - once she started using the tractor, gaining skill levels became easy - and gets an award certificate from the City Hall, which she proudly displays in the living room.
Stevie upgrades the second nectar maker. Now both machines produce an additional bottle of nectar per batch! Miranda's lifetime wish, Bottomless Nectar Cellar, might soon be fulfilled.
Stevie also accepts a skill opportunity to upgrade a shower. She should have learned from Miranda's example: handiness opportunities seem to lead to disaster!
While she is working, their old acquaintance Don Lothario decides to pay them a surprise visit. He waits outside the shower, eager to chat with Stevie, but she wants to finish her work first.
He is tired and hungry, but his desire to talk to Stevie is stronger than his instinct to drink some plasma juice and save himself. Suddenly he collapses into a pile of ashes.
The Grim Reaper appears and summons Don's ghost, while Stevie and Gary (who just came back from work) watch in shock.
Don begs for his life, but Grim is merciless.
When Don finally crosses over to the other side, Gary faints. He has the coward trait and seeing the Grim Reaper is too much for him.
It's just as well Gary was unconscious, because that way he never learned that Grim went inside the house and helped himself to a cup of tea before he finally disappeared. Taking souls is exhausting work!
Back to earthly concerns: by the next morning the household has gained a new greenhouse.
Stevie visits the cemetery to leave Don's tomb in the mausoleum, and takes the opportunity to pick up some rare seeds.
Miranda meets Tilly in town. Although Tilly was the one who ended her engagement with Don after realising what he was like, she has taken the news of his death very hard.
Miranda tries to comfort her as well as she can.
Miranda's mother Penny is sad too - she thought Don was such a nice young man. (This might be due to the fact that he flirted with her too!)
Later, Miranda meets Ned Lo again, this time at the fairground.
As a half-joke, she offers to tell his fortune, and tells him he will meet a tall, handsome stranger. Ned is happy to hear this.
They have a very nice time together, but their relationship remains friendly. Miranda is not completely sure if she would like it to go further...
I just thought the same thing when I read this!
Sims 3 Blog: Have I Got A Story For You!
Sims 4 Blog: Addy Plays Sims 4
Miranda slips and falls into yet another vat of fruit. But this batch of nectar has a special significance: once it's finished and stored, Miranda's nectar collection is worth 9,994 simoleons - only 6 away from completing her lifetime wish!
The nectar shelves work their magic overnight, and Miranda wakes up with her lifetime wish fulfilled!
She is also very close to mastering the nectar-making skill, and getting an award from the City Hall to join the gardening skill award on the wall behind her.
For a short break, the three friends visit the autumn festival. Gary and Miranda take a seasonal photo together.
Both of them place their copy in a prominent place in the house.
Miranda receives good news from Tilly: she has moved on from Don's infidelity and death and found peace in Sim Fu meditation. In fact, she likes it so much that she's considering making it a second career. She could run a meditation retreat for overworked business people.
On the first sunny autumn morning, Miranda goes back to tending the garden. (Doesn't it look like the spring gnome is imitating her?)
After finishing her work she makes some phone calls. She wants to throw a party to celebrate the harvest and the success of her nectar-making business.
Now that her LTW has been fulfilled there is no need to be thrifty with nectar: she can offer some of the best bottles of nectar to her friends.
Gary has a day off - he is near to the highest level of his chef career and has lots of free time - so he prepares a pie from pumpkins grown in their garden.
As they are waiting for the guests to arrive, Gary congratulates Miranda.
"I just wanted to say - well done. You deserve the awards you got, and this party."
"Thank you, Gary! And thank you for baking a delicious pie for me!"
But their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of the first guest - who is, of course, Ned. Gary is visibly disappointed.
A few moments later a swarm of guests arrives. It's time to eat and socialise.
Gary's pumpkin pie is a success. On the wall behind the table, Miranda's new nectar-making award has joined the gardening one - it arrived with that morning's post.
"Miranda did it! Her nectar-making business is a success!" her mother is thinking.
"Well, I certainly never doubted her for a second!"
The morning after the party, Gary and Miranda are watching the Cooking Channel together. Gary suddenly asks:
"So... you and Ned. Is it serious?"
"Possibly. I think so. He's really nice."
"Then I'm happy for you... Although I must confess I'm a little jealous, too. I sort of... had feelings for you. And I thought you did too."
"What? But what about your romance in China?"
Gary seems puzzled. "Romance in China?"
"The cute relic merchant! I read about it in the newspaper!"
"Oh... so the lady in the shop was a paparazzo. Now I understand why she was scribbling in a notebook.
No, there was no romance. We talked about maybe meeting again, but I decided not to and returned home early instead."
Miranda needs some time for this new information to sink in. She talks the situation over with Stevie.
"So now I've gone from being alone to having two men to choose from! I know my mother would be overjoyed to hear that, but I actually feel terrible!"
"I think you already know which one to choose, Miranda. Close your eyes and think of Ned. How do you feel?"
"Really nice and pleasant."
"Like a cozy armchair, or a cup of cocoa."
"Now think of Gary. How do you feel?"
"I... I would do anything in the world for him. He makes my heart beat faster."
"You're right - I already knew the answer was Gary."
Today is another day off for Gary. He's using it to brush up his cooking skill at the library.
Miranda decides to meet him afterwards.
"Hi, Miranda. You said you wanted to talk to me?"
"Yes. I wanted you to know that nothing actually happened between me and Ned. and it doesn't have to.
We get along well - but, at the moment, that's all."
Gary seems pleased to hear this, but he says nothing. He seems frozen at the spot.
"I was actually hoping you'd have something to say at this point, Gary."
Still no response.
"I should have known this was a bad idea", Miranda says and starts to walk away.
"Miranda! Wait."
"You've probably noticed that I'm a coward. I'm afraid of the dark, the Grim Reaper, vampires, fire and so many other things."
"And most of all, I was afraid to tell you that I care about you because - what if it didn't work out? We'd lose our friendship and gain nothing.
But I think it's time to stop being a coward. So - would you like to give us a try?"
"Yes! Yes, I would!"
THE END
(and greetings from a rainy Riverview)
During Miranda's party, at one point Yvette Grisby stood in the sink and Tilly washed her bum:
The Shang Simla paparazzo making a happy face:
What was also nice... clearing up the misunderstanding that was between Miranda and Gary based on the silly newspaper article. Hopefully the relationship will work out and should it not, may their friendship deepen and not wither away. Oh, what am I saying? I do want it to work out between them!
Sims 3 Blog: Have I Got A Story For You!
Sims 4 Blog: Addy Plays Sims 4
This last chapter was VERY cute and I was like "oh, no... I'm afraid the end is near"
Thanks for another great sim-story, @PalmArrow! You rock!
Store Install
Unlocked Stencils
random legacy
Store Install
Unlocked Stencils
random legacy
I love the look of Miranda!
You did a great job on the sims
"Men are much less picky when under the influence of nectar" LMAO
I enjoyed reading about how Miranda found her life's dream!
What a handy inheritance
Great looking farmhouse!
OMG! I laughed so hard at the flashback to Miranda's encounter with Gary
The hot dog outfit
Tilly's timing was bad! She doesn't seem much of a friend
Miranda seems to have put her foot in it by saying yucky about the dinner date.
What an awkward dinner party!
What a tough start! Finances seem very tight!
Good injection of funds because of the festival
I finished page 1 and will start with page 2 this afternoon. I am enjoying this immensely.
Zumi and the Winchester Brothers
The Watcher's Caretaker - A Limited ISBI
Oh no! Miranda's pick up line with Luke fell flat! LOL
Yes! A successful flirt with Gary!
Awwwww a mistletoe kiss
Your use of thought bubbles is wonderful!
That Don!
Miranda's mother, Penny, is a hoot! I think a lot of girls get that kind of pressure from mothers wanting to attend their daughter's wedding!
Loved the flashback to boarding school
Ha! Penny walking in while Miranda is in a wedding dress! I bet her hopes were lifted! Oh, and she fainted!
Zumi and the Winchester Brothers
The Watcher's Caretaker - A Limited ISBI
ETA: @Mikezumi , Penny seeing Miranda in a wedding dress and fainting is something I directly lifted from the TV show.
"Wedmin"! LOL
That was a clever idea that Stevie had but poor Miranda having to be the bait!
Not surprisingly, I don't feel sorry for Tilly. She's not so nice to Miranda and I felt that was somehow another Miranda putdown.
I can't wait to get the tea set! It should be a good price on the daily deal in a couple of days
Dang! Not the repo man!
Clever use of the Spice Girls song!
Oh no! Not a bad love meter reading!
The nectary is coming along well
Yay for the deathflower and the life fruit
Congrats on the tractor
Congrats to Gary on reaching his LTW!
So much for Miranda's planned conversation with Gary! LOL
Beautiful shots of Shang Simla. Gary must have had a great time
How sweet that he was thinking of Miranda when gathering the seeds
Very smart fortune cookie!
Oh no! What a terrible surprise for Miranda but what a wonderful job you did with the newspaper!
I'm glad she was working on the stereo outside. She might have lost her beautiful farmhouse!
No! Miranda needs to tell Gary how she feels!
Zumi and the Winchester Brothers
The Watcher's Caretaker - A Limited ISBI
Congrats to Miranda on mastering the gardening skill
Oh my! I didn't approve of Don's flirty behaviour but that was tragic!
Love how Grim popped in for a quick cuppa!
Poor Tilly! When all is said and done she was engaged to him before.
Don't go further with Ned, Miranda!
Congrats to Miranda on completing her LTW
I am not so sure that Penny was confident her daughter would be successful
What a good talk they had while watching TV. I hope Miranda takes it in and acts accordingly. They are made for each other!
Good for Stevie! She knows exactly what to say
Awwwwww What a wonderfully sweet ending!
LOL At Yvette getting her bum washed!
Zumi and the Winchester Brothers
The Watcher's Caretaker - A Limited ISBI
I must find a way to watch that show. She is so funny.
Don's death was a shock to me. I never kill sims intentionally; it happened because he was waiting in the sun to talk to Stevie, and I didn't want her to stop repairing the shower. When I suddenly heard that ominous music and my active sims all got a thought cloud with Don's ghost in it, I was genuinely creeped out. But I left it in the story because I thought it fit in well.
And, as you can see, even the Grim Reaper can't resist the tea table!
@ZeeGee , I definitely recommend watching the show if you can find it! I find it both very funny and very comforting, if I'm feeling bad it's guaranteed to cheer me up.