A Double Birthday

Time catches up with every sim, and my dear husband Gerard has now decided to retire. We threw a wonderful birthday bash for Gerard and Lahrimer who has just finished middle school. I took the opportunity to invite every sim in town and we held it at the local pool. The party was great, everyone had a wonderful time and Gerard announced his retirement. There were some oohs and awes but I think most knew this day was coming. Gerard and I are ready to slow it down a bit, do some traveling and take it easy. Maybe even plant a garden! I am not ready to retire yet and I am still taking jobs all over the world as a photographer, but that career fits seamlessly within family vacations and whatnot. In fact speaking of family vacations we gave Lahrimer his birthday present today, a ticket to Champ Les Sims! We will all be taking that family trip this summer and I fully expect that Lahrimer will doing a little exploration. He may even spot a pretty French girl to catch his fancy? Who knows it might run in families! Here are some photos of the big birthday party:

Painting a masterpiece

So I have been playing around with techniques, trying some classical style painting and some more modern abstract styles. I find both to be enjoyable but my true masterpieces are my portraits. These always fetch the highest dollar. I enjoy the atmosphere of my studio as well. Its a calming sand color, reminds me of my time in Egypt, and it brings out the color of the portraits. My studio also has incredible views from the front of the house out over the docks and the ocean beyond. Very inspirational. I spend hours sometimes just standing in front of my easel and soaking up the beauty outside before I pick up the brush and paint.

Having Breakfast

Yummy! French Grape Pancakes

More Bridgeport

The Stadium at sunset

Construction by the arboretum

Across the Water

A shot I took from the Bridgeport Bridge.

Some Photos

Me eating dinner on the tub before we could afford a dining table....notice we also couldn't afford lights.

Painting in my studio, before it had a floor.

Life Goes On

Off to school

Well we have made the move into our new home on 22 Pepper st. After saving for months we purchased the property and made the move. Unfortunately it ate up our entire budget and we had been sleeping in a tent on the property while we renovated and began to furnish it. We had many months of grass floors and empty rooms but now the house is finally livable! And boy is it worth it! I have a lovely studio off our bedroom and Lahrimer has a great bedroom, decorated to a tee. Gerard and I are quite happy with our family, but we do not plan on having anymore children. Lahrimer is perfect and we cannot ask for more. My parents finally returned to France to retire and write often. Professionally I am at the top of my game, I have unsurpassed skill and have created many masterpieces which have been shown at local and international galleries and I find myself turning more towards concentration on my photography to provide subjects for my paintings, and on spending time with Lahrimer. He is in school now and a budding painter in his own right. Gerard plays at the music hall and oversees the grooming of young talent and I am happy to say is quite content.  We are hoping to take a family trip to Champ Les Sims the summer before Lahrimer begins high school but we shall have to see how things play out. For now I am quite the shutterbug!

Expanding Family: A note from the Realtor

With the addition of their first child Lahrimer Morel, Cati and Gerard Morel have decided to begin the search for a new home. They have a long list of wants;
A nice size yard
A place for a future vegetable garden
2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
An art studio for Cati
A formal dining room


All of this is hard to find in one house so I have decided to offer them a prime piece of real estate in the up and coming former film district. It's only a plot of land with the framework of a house built on it, but 22 Pepper st. has the potential for everything they are looking for. Unfortunately the price is steep, so some sacrifices will have to be made.


Pepper St.: 

Pepper Street has long been empty after Plumbo Pictures moved to larger lots better suited to their needs. Recently the city of Bridgeport has begun selling small starter homes on Pepper st. because of it's ideal location, near to local schools and  parks, and just outside the hubub of the city center but still within easy commute of Bridgeport's urban attractions.

The Reception

After a delightful honeymoon, filled with love, nectar, and balmy french evenings we are back home at last. My parents threw us a small wedding reception and met Gerard. My father took to him immediately and they started chatting in rapid French leaving my mother and I in the dust. They were catching up I suppose, it has been years since my Father has been back home to Champ Les Sims and I think he misses it from time to time. I suppose one of these days he and Mother will retire there. In any case this gave me the opportunity to share my happy news with my mom. Gerard and I are expecting! I guess we got more out of the honeymoon than we had thought! We decided to cut out early from the party, but my parents only let us go on one condition.....we had to act out the proposal for them so they could see what they missed! I thought it was a bit silly but just for fun Gerard and I switched roles, I played him proposing and he played me, the happy new bride-to-be! It was a laugh and my parents loved it. Besides, how could they possibly be disappointed when they have a grandbaby on the way! 

I Do!!!

We've eloped!! I can hardly believe it. Gerard asked me to marry him and we eloped! We had a delightful wedding in the courtyard of the museum where we met, there is a lovely fountain and we exchanged our vows there and now we are in wedded bliss!!! We return home to Bridgeport tomorrow and I called my parents this afternoon to give the the great news. They have arranged a small reception for us back home, I can't wait for them to meet my Gerard!

A Beautiful Spring Day

Ah my love! His name is Gerard Morel. We have spent every moment together, I have decided to extend my trip. Gerard took me to meet his family yesterday and I am bringing him home to meet my mother and father when my trip is over.

Champ Le Sims

I met Him! The man of my dreams. After wandering around in the market all morning and making eyes at every handsome Frenchman that walked by the Cafe, I decided to head to the art Museum to see their world renowned exhibit of Chinese carvings and artworks. I walked in the door and immediately my eyes were drawn to him. A handsome mustachioed young Frenchman, leaning casually against a pillar examining a statue of a Chinese lion. I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. His voice entranced me and I couldn't keep away. I walked straight over and introduced myself. The moment he looked into my eyes there was fire between us. We talked about everything and saw the entire exhibit together. He is a photographer and a musician and a great appreciator of beauty and artwork. He told me that I was the "best of both". What a line! I couldn't help myself and ........I kissed him right there behind the staircase!      

We are so in love!

Bonjour!

The moment I landed in France I knew this was where I was meant to be. The air smelled sweeter, the birds were more lyrical and melodious, the ground even radiated welcome and good will from beneath my feet. Ah, Champ Les Sims! The place my father fell in love with my mother....surely love awaited me as well...?

Self Employed Painter

After my very exciting adventure in Egypt I knew I had officially caught the travel bug. I had an amazing time, and had come home with a moderate trove of treasure which after some time and effort I sold. I returned home with renewed vigor for life and decided it was high time to throw myself into my passion like a serious artist. I got off the plane and marched myself straight over to the bookstore and quit! Then I headed home and took stock of my financial situation. The treasure was a help, yes, but I would have to become much more dedicated to painting if I wanted to be able to afford to travel.  I went to city hall and registered as a self employed painter and then got down to work......

After what seems like ages I had sold over $4000 simoleons worth of my paintings and could finally consider a trip to France....

Uh oh

Well that was a bit disappointing, but as I left the hall I saw there was a large room down at the end. And it was filled with......TREASURE!!!!!!!! Finally! There was also another sarcophagus at the end but I knew that didn't have much inside. Or so I thought. As I made my way to the last treasure box I lifted its lid and....

It was a narrow escape but I bolted back down the hallway, up a newly revealed staircase and into the sunlight! Whew! I almost died!