Clan Douglas Dynasty (Finished)

[Schipperke]

Wimsey’s blog

Hi everyone.  Mortimer and I are back from our honeymoon in Egypt, and guess what - we’re going to have a baby!  I am so excited!  When we came home, we found that Dad had built an addition on the house - new bathroom on the far right of the picture, and guess what he put in on the far left - a nursery!  You’d almost think he knew about the baby before I did.


As soon as Mum heard about the baby, she told me I had to eat nothing but watermelon until the baby is born.  “But why?  Why can’t I eat grilled cheese and ice cream, like I want?”  “Because, Wimsey, watermelon makes the best babies.  I ate only watermelon before you were born, and look how well you turned out.”   I guess I can’t argue with that kind of logic.  So I am now officially on the watermelon diet, while everybody else scarfs down birthday cake, French toast, and other goodies.  Only a few more days of this …

Mum aged up to an elder and achieved her LTW the next day, which made her very happy.  Now that she has perfected her guitar technique, she is back to painting and sculpting again.  I think she’s a bit rusty, though.  A headless panda topiary, Mum?  And that round flat disc on the sculpting station?  Believe it or not, it’s supposed to be a sculpture of me!  Flat is one thing I definitely am not these days.  She also had a lot of trouble with her new portrait of me - she just couldn’t seem to get started, but finally it worked.  I sure hope she’s not getting senile.




Mortimer is working hard on his painting skill and also helping Dad in the garden.  Mortimer agreed with me that his former lifetime wish was a bit unrealistic, so he changed to the same one I had - Swimming in Cash.  He should be finished with that in no time.

I have reached level 10 in my sculpting skill but still have work to do before I know how to make permanent ice sculptures.  I’m working hard on this because Dad wants an ice sculpture of Mum as soon as possible.

[Metropolis Man]

When we came home, we found that Dad had built an addition on the house - new bathroom on the far right of the picture, and guess what he put in on the far left - a nursery!  You’d almost think he knew about the baby before I did.

Hilarious. 

[Schipperke]

Birth announcement in the September 3 Sunset Valley StarPhoenix:

It’s a GIRL!

The Douglas family is pleased to announce the birth of Christie, daughter to Wimsey and Mortimer.  Grandparents Holly and James are delighted with the new addition to the growing dynasty.  Mother and baby are doing well.   The proud father reports that baby Christie is “such a good baby” and that she seems very friendly.

[AriaGirl77]

Hurray for your new arrival!

Awesome story telling Schipperke!

[simfulicious]

Ok, so how many us plan on only having girl babies?  I know that I do.  Great updates, too, by the way.

[samoht04]

I won't I will go random until the 7th Generation.  I like the way you are passing on the information through emails and newspaper clips etc. 

[Schipperke]

I really appreciate the comments - it's nice to know someone is reading all this!  Simfulicious, my dynasty members are named after the 8 schipperkes I have had, 5 of them female and 3 males.  I am hoping through the miracle of Sim genetic engineering (read:  watermelon and/or apples) to replicate the 5 girl, 3 boy ratio.  It's going to be a bit strange if we get farther along and wind up with a boy named Martha or Millie!

[wildredchild]

When I get to my dynasty (having a problem getting the Sims re-installed), I am going to have 3 girls and 4 boys plus the founder will be male.

Awesome job with the storytelling Schip!

[Schipperke]

From Holly’s Diary:

So much has been happening and we are all so busy, it has been hard to find a few moments to write in my diary.

I was so mortified by that flat disc that resulted from my last attempt to sculpt Wimsey!  Must have been having a senior moment.  Anyway, I have been working very hard on my sculpting again.  I don’t even put down my sculpting chisel at meal time:


And all this hard work has paid off.  I think my sculptures of Wimsey and Mortimer look very life-like:



Of course, Mortimer’s sculpture can’t go in the Dynasty Museum, but I’m sure we will find just the right place to display it. 

Mortimer achieved his lifetime wish a few days ago, which made him very happy.  Mortimer has been a wonderful addition to our family.  He works so hard on his painting, and he and James do the gardening together every morning:


Little Christie is such a delight!  We are all very fond of her, but she and her grandfather seem to have a special bond.  He comes home from his fishing in the middle of the night and rushes in to see her.  This morning she became a toddler.  Now there are 4 adults all wanting to teach her to talk and walk.  No child was ever more loved.


Now I must go.  Mortimer has just learned to paint portraits and needs me to pose for his first.

[Schipperke]

We interrupt this cozy little evolving narrative with an appeal for help in solving a mystery.  It's really quite a minor mystery, which is why I haven't bothered to describe it in some other thread.  But I will admit it has me puzzled, and I thought perhaps someone reading who has more experience than I with Simmy nooboos  might be able to cast light on this little puzzle.

The mystery is this:  in toddler Christie's inventory, I have just found a toy boat.  I know the only thing I put in her inventory was a teddy bear.  I also know there is no toy box on the lot and no place that I can think of where a toy boat could have come from.  Founder James naturally comes under suspicion, being a kleptomaniac, but he's never stolen toys to my knowledge.  As I said, it's a very minor point, but it's the sort of thing that is apt to keep bugging me until I find out where the thing came from.  Can anyone explain this?


I took the toy boat out of Christie's inventory so it could be photographed in front of her portrait.

[Schipperke]

Hi, my name is Christie.  I have some pictures to show you.

This is my birthday party.  Grandpa was there but he left to go play in the sprinkler.


My mother says I look like my father.  What do you think?






There are 4 grown-ups in this house and I have to do the dishes?  Is that fair?

[samoht04]

Awww Poor Christie!  Wow Generation 3 already! 

[Schipperke]

Awww Poor Christie! 

Yeah, that kid is going to have to learn to eat faster!  (last one finished eating does the dishes).  Or maybe she should just get used to being in the kitchen ... (hint, hint)

[samoht04]

Ha, you might get her put off at this rate! 

[Schipperke]

Mortimer is channelling Botticelli these days:



I'm pretty sure The Birth of Venus didn't look like that when Botticelli was done with it.

[Metropolis Man]

Oh, awesome. I've seen that painting so many times, but I've seen that bluish spin on it.

[Pam]

The mystery is this:  in toddler Christie's inventory, I have just found a toy boat.  I know the only thing I put in her inventory was a teddy bear.  I also know there is no toy box on the lot and no place that I can think of where a toy boat could have come from.  Founder James naturally comes under suspicion, being a kleptomaniac, but he's never stolen toys to my knowledge.  As I said, it's a very minor point, but it's the sort of thing that is apt to keep bugging me until I find out where the thing came from.  Can anyone explain this?

The toy boat comes from the toybox.  Many times, toddlers put the toys into inventory instead of leaving them on the floor to be put back in the toybox.  Now, if you come back and say you don't have a toybox in the house, I'll be completely baffled.

[Schipperke]

Now, if you come back and say you don't have a toybox in the house, I'll be completely baffled.

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying - there is no toybox in the house.  And it's a complete mystery to me.  Maybe this kid is destined to become a magician!

Edit:  I think the mystery has been solved.  I had completely forgotten about this wooden toybox Wimsey had sculpted.


I can't remember Christie being out in the yard as a toddler, but I guess this has to be where the toy boat came from.

[Schipperke]

Wimsey:  Dad, I’m worried about Mortimer.
James:  Why Wimsey, what’s wrong?
Wimsey:  It seems like he’s just gotten old overnight.  I can’t believe how grey and bent he looks all of a sudden.




James:  Yes, Wimsey, that’s what happens when Sims get old.
Wimsey:  But Mortimer can’t be old already!  We’ve hardly had any time together!  What if you gave him some of your Ambrosia?
James:  Now, Wimsey, you know that only Dynasty Sims can have Ambrosia.  Don’t you think I’d like your mother to eat Ambrosia too?  But she and Mortimer can’t have it because they’re not of our bloodline.
Wimsey:  It’s so unfair!  I can’t bear to think of Mum and Mortimer … dying!
James:  Yes, child, I feel the same way.  But one thing I’ve learned from my nights in the graveyard is that death doesn’t have to mean a final parting.
Wimsey:  What on earth do you mean?
James:  Oh child, you wouldn’t believe me if I tried to explain.  You’d just call it my crazy Celtic mysticism.  You’ll understand in due course.   Look how late it is!  The death fish will be spawning, and I need to go.  Off you go to bed, and try not to worry.

[Saltypaws]

Good update Schipperke.  Funny, the further all of us gets into these dynasties, the more intense.  I have read all of the dynasties I could find and it is so great, theme is the same, but each has a different view.  Pretty cool.  Keep up the good work.

[Schipperke]

Advertisement in the Sunset Valley StarPhoenix, September 6:

The new management of Hogan’s Diner is proud to announce that we are offering a new cooking class.  Are you awfully sick of autumn salad?  Do your tastes tend more to gooey chocolate than goopy carbonara?  Are you longing for something luscious?  If so, you will love our new Sweet Treats class.  This class is being taught by promising young chef-in-training, Christie Douglas.  Come and learn how to make caramel brownies and many other delicacies.

[Twinmum]

mmm, can I get the recipe for the caramel brownies please  

[Schipperke]

mmm, can I get the recipe for the caramel brownies please  

You sure can - just sign up for the class! 

[Schipperke]

Wimsey sits down beside her teenage daughter, busy at the computer.

Wimsey:  Christie, I know your grandfather has told you all about the Dynasty.  It’s a lot to take in at first, and I’m wondering if you have any questions or if you’d like to talk about it.
Christie:  Thanks, Mother, but Grandpa told me all about it.  I think I understand it all.  I think it’s really neat that we were chosen to be part of this special group.
Wimsey:  Do you need help deciding what real estate to buy?  Your father and I thought you might be interested in the Bistro.
Christie:  Yeah, Mother, I’ve already bought the Bistro and the Art Gallery.
Wimsey:  The Art Gallery? 
Christie:  Grandpa suggested it.   I think it makes sense, with both Father and Grandma being artists.  But you wouldn’t believe how much it costs to upgrade it!  It seems the value is depreciated because someone stole all the outside sculptures and lights.
Wimsey (trying not to look at her Dad, who sits nearby innocently reading):  Isn’t that a shame, dear.  What are you going to do to upgrade the Gallery?
Christie:  Oh, just wait till you see what Grandpa and I have planned!  But it’s a secret until it’s done.

[Schipperke]

Article in the Sunset Valley StarPhoenix Arts and Culture section, September 8:

For SV patrons of the arts, there is good news today - The Holly Douglas Art Gallery (formerly Sunset Institute of Modern Art) is about to reopen following extensive upgrades.  The gallery’s new owners, James Douglas and his granddaughter Christie, told our reporter they named the gallery after James’ wife Holly (formerly Alto) in recognition of her expertise as SV’s most renowned portraitist.

The first show in the upgraded gallery will be a two-person exhibit featuring landscapes by Holly Douglas


and a selection of works from Mortimer Douglas’ Blue Period. 


Mortimer is a member of SV’s socially prominent Goth family but was not inspired to begin painting until after he joined the Douglas family when he married Wimsey, daughter of James and Holly.

The show opens tomorrow evening with a gala reception at 7 pm, by invitation only.