Jungle Adventures and Building Bars

Hi everyone

I hope you've all had a good week.

The weeks are flying by so fast this year! it hardly seems like five minutes since my last post, yet here we are, another Sunday of musings as I take sips of my coffee.

I've had a busy time in RL and SL this week. It's Second Life's 16th Birthday at the moment and there are loads of events going on, so it's been nice to get out and about again after all the work I've been doing on my SL home.

Of course, my Linden balance has suffered but I'm not too worried, I've found some lovely pieces for my home and garden and I've explored sims I haven't been to before, so it's been a lot of fun.

I promised in my last blog to tell you about my roleplaying antics in the Jungle and as I've just applied to train as a healer there I thought it might be a good time to explain the place to you, as it looks like I'll be sticking around ;-)

There's a really good article about the sims that will explain it all far better than I could for you, I've added the link below, so take a look if you want to know more about it before you go, but the best way to experience it is just to go ;-)

When you arrive at the landing point there are information boards and a knowledge cave, which you have to go through and you must accept the experience (which places a dot above your head so the locals know who you are) but apart from that, in my experience, it's pretty easy to get started!

There are nine sims to explore, and loads of people who live and play there so there's always someone to talk to (roleplay with), and there are plenty of people on hand to help explain things to you if you get stuck.
I do have to warn though, this is an adult sim, and there are adult themed spaces, that you're encouraged to use, but if, like me, you prefer the social and exploration side you can spend hours in there gathering food, trading the food for coins (they have their own currency - which costs nothing to participate in) completing quests and generally enjoying the environment, then you can't go wrong here.

I'd recommend it to anyone who likes to have a quiet time (like me) as well as those who like a good fight/battle as there are bandits quite willing to take your coins and anything else you have if you're not careful. ;-) or armed enough!

Links are below for the information and the slurl to the landing point and if you take the plunge and venture forth into the jungle, and you happen to bump into me, please say hi!

The jungle aside I've had a go at some more mesh pieces this week, and although I'm still struggling a little I'm getting there. I've made a few pieces with prims in world, just to help me with sizes, etc and transferred the objects in the 3ds max to alter. I really wish I could take Casey in so I had something to gauge the proportions against but never mind, I'm slowly getting my head around it! ;-) even if it is taking a while!

I had a little swimming pool at the back of the house but as it didn't have animations in it, it seemed a little bit like 'wasted space', so I've covered it over and decided to turn this part of my home into a little bar area.
I did try to find bar furniture for it but nothing was suitable so this is one of the 'things' I mentioned in my last blog that I'd be making.
Thought it might be fun to do a before and after shot! hopefully, by next Sunday, I can show you the finished item ;-)

Actually, whilst I was looking for bar furniture I found a really good animated drinks place and bought a few crates along with a celebration pack, you can find the slurl below, and I'll be going back to buy more once I've finished the build, but for now, it's nice to just merrily plod along doing bits and pieces here and there ;-)

Or not ;-) having a drink and dancing the night away is still doing something isn't it? ;-)

I guess that's it for this week. I hope hope hope I have something to show you next week! fingers, toes, and everything else crossed!!
Until then, I hope you all have a wonderful week and I'll see you soon!
Huge hugs
Casey
xxxxx

Link for Amazon Jungle Information:
https://issuu.com/avajhamin0/docs/l_amour_diversity_mag_-_iss24?fbclid=IwAR0pROrPSscoHOjmsucfPrPdisqjWgpPlp5a4J7Y6mZHmXOB4A9kQuL7FXc

Amazon SLURL:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Glint/213/27/21

No.59 Bar Equipment SLURL:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chatham/220/203/25

A brand new home and fresh new outlook.

Where do I begin as it's been almost a month since my last blog post? ....

The month of May proved to be a little bit difficult in RL, but a couple of weeks ago I got my mojo back and I've been working on my RL business as well as setting up a new SL home and role-playing in a jungle!

Up until yesterday, I hadn't logged into 3ds Max for almost four weeks, but I wanted a picture for one of the walls in my new home and I couldn't find what I wanted inworld, so at 10pm last night I logged in and it all came flooding back.

I don't honestly know what I was worried about, but I was. I thought I'd have forgotten it all and I'd have to start again, stupid hey? But it was fine, and apart from a couple of umming and ahhing moments, I created the picture without any problems. I loaded it in world and it's now where I needed it in the lounge.

So why have I moved? ...

Well, there are a number of reasons, the first one being that, although I loved the estate my old home was on, and I'd forever recommend it to anyone who wanted to live the medieval, steampunk, fantasy life in SL, this time around in Second Life though I'm not so focused on the purely medieval world. I want to expand and create a number of different things and I needed a space to call home that not only reflected my new outlook but was completely different from anything I'd ever had in SL.
Don't get me wrong, I do still love the fantasy world, I love old furniture and the darker the better but I'm not solely focused on the Tudor/Gothic like I was last time.

I left the old sims about 6 weeks ago, after buying mainland (which is the second reason I left - I'm trying to keep costs down a little).
I put up a house and decorated it, but it just wasn't 'me'. Then on 50L Friday last week, there was a house included in the sale and on a whim I bought it. In the end, I didn't use it, as it still wasn't right, but it started a much-needed rethink in my head, to go out and look for what I really wanted.
And boy did I find it! I actually had trouble choosing which house to get in the end, because I loved so many at the store I found! (I've added slurls for some stores I've used below)

After a couple of hours pondering (coughs ... more like 5!), teleporting back and forth between three homes I'd whittled it down to, I picked one that was perfect for me and I absolutely love it.
There are times in SL that just spark your imagination when you're filled with fire and a plan and you just have to go with it, whether it's a new look for your avvie, a party to organize, a wedding, or a new home! and that's pretty much what happened. I'd been floating around for a few weeks (in the jungle! but I'll do a separate blog for that) until the 50L sale and then 'BAM' one simple purchase changed everything. It woke me up and has thankfully reignited the fire I first had back in January.

I landscaped the rocks and placed the house where I wanted it - overlooking the sea, then it was time to decorate, and I purposefully didn't use anything I already had or have made. I wanted a fresh start and a fresh perspective and a place to come home to that wasn't work. If that makes sense?

When I started building in 2007 it was because I couldn't find the furniture I wanted for my castle, but it's nice to have a change, especially if you've been looking at something for hours on end, either creating or animating. I didn't have that last time. I've already said in an earlier blog that I don't intend to spend all my time in SL building, and when I get the store going again - because it will still happen ;-), I wanted a space away from the 'store', somewhere to escape to that's not filled with my own creations. Somewhere to meet up with friends and just potter about on. There will, of course, be bits I make, because there are things that I can't find and want to have, so I'll have a go at making them, but for the most part I wanted other creators things and there are, as I've also said before, some amazing makers out there now.

I haven't finished it all yet, I kind of like the idea of finding pieces as I go along now, or making bits as I realize it's just not out there. I've gone for a vintage, antique, Mediterranean look, which is a bit dark and grungy, but then, I love dark and grungy ;-) and well, honestly, even though we'd all like to think people loved our decorating style, does it matter if no one else does? if you're happy with the place you've created as a home, then really, it doesn't ;-).

As with RL, there will be lovers and haters, of everything you do, whether it's how you look or dress or where you live or what you believe. There are stores in SL that I don't particularly like and others that I truly think are magical and amazing, which is just how people will react to things I create. Laminak will be loved and hated and that's totally fine because it's the diversity we have in RL and SL that make both worlds so special and quite frankly, wouldn't life be incredibly boring if we all liked the same?

Hopefully, this little blip I've experienced has now come to an end and together with my home ;-) and my new found focus on 3ds Max and my RL business I'll be back to updating this weekly again.
Until next time, big hugs and safe paths to you all ;-)
Love
Casey
xxxx

House from Scarlet Creative: 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Scarlet%20Creative/232/22/26

Rocks and Mossy Steps from Skye:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Skye%20Elgol/159/106/24

Garden Walls and Old Bell Tower from GOOSE: 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Oyster%20Pond/174/111/31

As I've used numerous stores for the decorating I sadly can't create a slurl list for you, but, if there's an item in one of the pictures you like and want to know the creator of just leave me a message and I'll do my best to let you know where to get it. ;-)