03-03. Even More Outtake Screenshots

I added a new item to my game in my ongoing quest to make gardening quicker! I like my sims to have gardens, but taking care of them is so time consuming! Anyway, today I happened to see a link to the Magic Water Pump at MTS. I decided to test it out. I'd seen this mod before, but didn't realize it provided water for inside plants too! How awesome is that?

I actually put the pump down in the basement. It doesn't have to be near the plants, but will provide water for the whole lot. I think of it as an underground (or behind the walls) sprinkler system.

It automatically provides water at 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM, but a sim can activate the pump for 20 minutes at other times by kicking it.

The water flows when it's turned on.

It will also provide weeding and/or fertilizing if you want it too.

Here's my garden before the water flowed.

And here it is a few minutes later. I had turned on fertilizing, but not weeding for the first run.

I recolored my water pump.

Gerardo the Gardener is like one of the family now. How can I ever replace him with a pump?

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Home ownership! The plants all die at once and the appliances break down at the same time too.

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I realized I'd never had Gran do any exercising, so I got her started on her Athletics skill.

The guys had time for a quick game of ping pong before Charlie had to go to work.

Erle has really trimmed down, but I have to have him exercise a little each day to maintain that.

As I closed the game last night, I got a notice that Laddie was sick! I don't think I've had a pet get sick like this before. I always give my sims Simmunity, so I rarely see the Germy Moodlet. But that reward isn't available for pets. Poor little guy. He'll have to suffer for two days or I'll have to cheat and click the moodlet off.

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Just something I find odd. Whenever I tell one of my sims to Summon Treasure with Ghillie the Dragon, they all squeeze behind the grill in between the house and the outside staircase to do it! The same tight spot! It's only one square wide! I was surprised they could even fit through there!, but they never get stuck. Crazy.

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I was happy to see that Erle didn't burn the hot dogs. He's still learning to cook.

Watching Charlie bang that mouse around while playing his video game, I can see why the laptop broke!

Serenading the tomato plant.

Apparently you don't have to be Evil to scare another sim. Childish will do!

I gave Gran a second everyday outfit.

Mayra trying to work off the pregnancy pounds!

Thinking of Charlie?

I got a notice that the mascot ghost from Boddy Manor, Carie Addle, has found romance!

03-02. More Outtake Screenshots

I asked Mayra to play the piano, and she answered me with a Stir Crazy moodlet!

It was evening, but I had her take Hamish for a stroll. On the steep slope, she carried him.

Then she put him in the stroller.

Mayra and Hamish both have the Loves the Outdoors trait, so I think they enjoyed themselves.

Charlie and Gran couldn't do much with zombie Cexavu either. I did get him to pose for Charlie. The zombie shot turned out fuzzy and I didn't have a chance to retake it. Charlie is still low level photography skill.

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Inspector Gray is the WORST handyman I've ever seen! He may be a Computer Whiz, but he is completely lacking in mechanical skills. He came to the household with 5 skill points in Handiness, but every time I asked him to upgrade a toilet or sink, he broke it! Every time! It took him 2 tries to upgrade anything.

So when I sent him down to work on the hot tub at level 6, I saved the game. I was afraid he'd electrocute himself. Well, he managed not to do that, but he did break the hot tub. I was not surprised.

Of course, like with everything else, he had to first undo the damage he'd caused ...

... before attempting the upgrade again.

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These are kind of dark because it was night. I tried to lighten them up a little.

Inspector Gray took Laddie for a walk to the pet park.

That park was just next to the park where Gray needed to Snoop for Clues for a case.

His client lives in an awesome estate!

The Case of the Missing Person is closed!

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Team upgrading. Maybe Erle will learn something from Granesa, but probably not!

Erle is good at helping with Hamish. He made it to him before Mayra did.

Laddie is getting very comfortable with his master's bed!

Sure, Charlie, put up leftovers. Then sit down right there to play with your car!

Gran planting more seeds to replace the dead plants.

Disturbed sleep in the middle of the night!

03-01. A Steamy Alliance

Stepping back in time just a little to right before the alien created havoc in Charlie's life ...

Inspector Erle Gray, Charlie's guardian, had moved into the household to get a better idea of the arrangements Gran Caran was making. The Inspector didn't know a lot about Granesa the Gypsy Matriarch, but he'd heard that she was a woman respected--and feared--by many.

Gran, as she was usually called, was what some folks called a Wise Woman, not necessarily a witch, but someone versed in the miraculous properties of plants. It was whispered that she also possessed arcane mystical knowledge and had been grooming her granddaughter in those same secrets.

Erle tried to research Gran Caran's background, but found she was very good at keeping out of the limelight.

And tracing her story locally also got him nowhere. Everyone knew OF her, but nothing ABOUT her. Undaunted, the Inspector was determined to do what he thought best as Charlie's guardian.

Erle: Charles and I visited City Hall and, with the consent of Mayra, reversed the name change made after the marriage. The family name will be Stalker-Caran, a good compromise for merging two strong families.
Gran: You did this without consulting me?

Erle: It was not your decision to make, madam.
Gran: But it was yours, Mr Gray?
Erle: I advised Charlie, but the decision belonged to him and to Mayra. It's done. We have also written a new codicil to the Stalker will. Mayra and Hamish are, of course, provided for in case of an unexpected ... accident.

Gran: I hope you're not implying that I would be the cause of any such mishap!
Erle: Not at all, Ms Caran. With me as appointed executor of the Stalker estate, I daresay any attempt on your part to arrange an, uh, accident would be foolhardy indeed!

Gran: Why you insufferable man! Do you know who you're talking to!
Mayra: Gran, please!
Gran: Very well, Mayra. I'll say no more. But mark my words, sir, you and I are far from finished with this subject!

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Granesa seethed for days! Then there was the whole alien situation that needed to be dealt with. She'd been impressed with how Charles had handled himself during that fiasco.

And she had also been gratified that Charles had chosen to confide in HER--not that overbearing, over-educated, overstuffed detective! Something needed to be done with that man! Facing him head-on was probably not a good idea though. She needed a more subtle approach. Maybe she should play against his male ego. 

Granesa hadn't used her feminine wiles in years. Truthfully, she was never that good at charming men, not nearly as talented in seduction as her daughter. Gran usually preferred directness in her relationships, relying on her wits and will instead. Men tended to get defensive around women like her.

Not too long after Gran's session in the calming mud bath, Erle took his own turn ruminating on that disastrous conversation about names and wills. He'd be battling Gran Caran on every family issue that came up unless he figured out a way to disarm her.

And while he was considering possibilities, he silently observed Charlie and Mayra together. Young newlyweds! He'd been in love once--long time ago. But his career had taken over his life.

About that time, Gran walked past Erle. He couldn't help but notice that the elder Caran female was not that bad to look at. A well-preserved female. If she just didn't have such a sharp tongue in that stubborn head of hers!

Gran: You know, Inspector, you and I really want the same thing for the kids, don't you agree? Their happiness and safety, the welfare of little Hamish?
Erle: Well, yes. I suppose that's true.

Gran: Why be enemies? Why not join forces? Your knowledge of law and village expectations. My knowledge of human nature and healthy living?
Erle: Are you proposing a partnership of sorts, Ms Caran?
Gran: Call me Gran. ... And why don't I call you Erle?

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The young people soon left the hot tub for their own private purposes.

And Erle and Granesa found themselves alone in the sauna. They looked over at one another, taking each other's measure. I wonder, thought Erle, what Gran would do if I kissed her ...

... just pulled her to me ...

... and kissed her!

Erle soon discovered the answer to that. What the lady did was kiss him right back!

There was something about the steam in that sauna because, just as with Mayra and Charlie, one thing swiftly led to another, and before Erle knew it, all sense of reason fled his finely tuned detective's brain!

He hadn't a clue what he was supposed to do next.

Had the great Inspector Erle Gray just become a Cougar's boy toy? A man of his age and intelligence? Surely not!

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Behind the Scenes

First of all, the Inspector is an Adult and Granesa is an Elder, so there's definitely an age difference between them. But when Inspector Gray joined the household, Gran and he had an instant attraction for one another. By chance, they shared the same zodiac sign (Cancer) as well as a few common skill points. 

Whatever the reason, they became close very quickly, even faster than they did with Charlie or Mayra. When I saw this magnetism, I was inspired to spice up their relationship! And then, out of the blue, Erle got a wish to Kiss Granesa for the First Time. That sealed the deal for me!