NO LONGER UPDATED The Mendenhall Family_Jonagold

Family Meals

2008-01-29T14:04:00.000-08:00

Time is passing so quickly, Grex is looking at marrying his high school love, Ginger...well, not sure if you can call it love, they are both so shy and not sure about the marriage part either. He wants to find fortune and fame in finding the lost treasure of some pirate, silly boy.

My Night Out

2008-01-27T13:45:00.000-08:00

I decided to treat myself and go out to Tiki Joe's-alone. Yes, alone. There's nothing wrong with my marriage...yet, but Joey can be a bit boring. *sigh* I thought we were in love and now...nothing. We discussed children, but he is more concerned now with dirt than kids. *sigh* I wonder if we will make it? My father must know something is going on, he followed me to Tiki Joe's, how rude!

Farming and Harvest

2008-01-26T13:59:00.000-08:00

Such a wonderful time, the crops are growing very well and trimming the fruit trees back ensures good fruit. I am anxious for the harvest, to feel the dirt under my nails and enjoy the taste of fresh produce. Wonderful and delicious.

Enjoying

2008-01-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

My daughter and husband seem very discontent, it's written all over thier face. They say nothing and I don't know if they know it, but it's obvious. I don't know if they will even continue the Mendenhall lineage based on thier feelings. I would hate for it to come to that. But I know that they do nothing in thier bedroom anymore and they barely talk.

But it's none of mine

Fishing and More

2008-01-23T13:54:00.000-08:00

Fishing is so peaceful, it allows you to simply think. I don't do much of it, well I do, but not the way Giselle wants me to. I'm more like her father, Leroy. We fish and think and sometimes talk. Talk about simple life and simple things and being content with what you have and patient for what you don't have.

Market Changes

2008-01-19T13:48:00.000-08:00

The market is doing well, hired a local teen to run the register, added more produce and fruit, as well as fish and honey. Once fall arrives, we'll add turkey dinners for the holiday season. Thinking about selling fresh flowers at the market as well and having it be a bit more like a local artists depot, where you can find hand crafted items of all types. Who knows. Been thinking about doing renovations for the market. During the winter season, plan on selling cooked turkey dinners to families that have no desire to cook. Joey said perhaps adding some golden trout plates as well. I will have mother cook them since she is an excellant cook. I would consider selling pies, but CupaJava has the market on baked goods :\

Thinking

2008-01-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

I think a nice sweet will restore the sweet feelings bewteen my daughter and her husband. They seem so sad, like lost souls passing in the night. Just like her father and I. Eversince that scandal, Leroy refuses to touch me, well...except that one time when he had too much wine.

Distant

2008-01-11T13:51:00.000-08:00

Giselle and I have been a bit distant to say the least. I guess perhaps we may not have been ready for marriage. She's so ambitious, wanting bigger and better and more. More produce for the market, better sales, bigger buildings. I like things simple and slow, bigger and better and faster makes me nervous. I like to stroll through life and she...well, she runs so quickly.

About to Grow Older

2007-12-28T14:05:00.000-08:00

Grigia left so I will celebrate my birthday alone since my twin sister is gone. I have saved a bit of money to travel to Tiki Island and spend some days digging for Priate Jimmy's gold. I think after I spend my days there, I will return and marry Ginger...I don't know if she would marry me. I like her a lot.

Winter?

2007-12-22T13:31:00.000-08:00

Leroy is obsessed with winter already and it's the middle of summer-yes, we had a cold snap and that may damage some of the crops, but if the hood needs more food-they can order more!

Commercial

2007-12-21T13:27:00.000-08:00

Perhaps we should create a commercial for the business-that would get more customers in-in fact, I need to talk to the hood council-too many shoplifters lately!

Farming

2007-12-10T13:34:00.000-08:00

Farming going ok-worried about providing food throughout the winter when the crops die. We're not going to focus on that too much, since it's not yet fall here. We're going to increase the number of honeybee hives though as a precaution. I wish the fruit trees would hurry and be ready for harvest, but patience is very important in the farming industry.

Fishing

2007-11-21T13:25:00.000-08:00

I have been hard at work with the farm-fishing and trying to reach our quota-the produce can't be rushed, but fish can.

So far things are going well, but we may need to expand the crops and for some reason honey isn't selling very well. It keeps spoiling, maybe placing it in the refridgerated cases would help-I'll tell Giselle.

Hard Work For Love

2007-11-18T13:33:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a paper for school and emailing Ginger-I wanter her to be mine so much! How can I convince her!

I am at a brick wall. Ginger declares that she likes me, I like her too and I think we will get along well together after graduation. She's not attending college and niether am I, but...her father. I think he thinks I'm not good enough for her. I am a hardworking farm boy and will provide for my family, but I don't know how. Maybe working on the farm still, dad could pay me for my labors, maybe I should try searching for the illusive Dead Pirate Jimmy's gold. I hear that it may have been washed away on Tiki Island. I could save the money and travel out there to search for the gold. If I find it, it could be worth lots of simoleans, then...then Ginger's dad would accept me.

Looking Away

2007-11-13T13:05:00.000-08:00

I've been accepted into Murdville. Roy and I are both leaving and immigrating to the new hood. I'm so excited yet nervous.

Well, goodbye!

I Hate It!!!

2007-11-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

I hate school! teacher thinks he's so smart-but can he make a tomato grow-no! I'll show him-after kicking his trash cans down! I'm going to another hood and start a nice large farm and grow lots of food for all the simmies and it will be great! Who needs his stinky lectures!

I've been researching other hoods and Murdville sounds perfect for me. It's small and starting over, I could manage a farm or help a local business if needed to. I sent an email asking about thier immigration policies, hopefully they'll allow me in.

Family Time

2007-11-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

The family eating together-mac and cheese since Grex cooked. Grigia is looking into immigrating to another hood. I will miss her, but she has plans of helping start a farm in another hood. She has already talked with them and will be traveling with another boy if they are accepted.

The Market

2007-11-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

Things are going better-revamped the market-got rid of those horrible shelves and replaced them with nice tables with grigham tablecloths. Also, now all we sell is crated produce and fish and honey-on Fridays we sell loose fish at a discount. The market hours have been reduced and I'm rethinking about selling deli sandwiches and fresh salads. This will help when the produce levels from the farm are low. It takes so much produce to create a crate! Wow!

Too Much

2007-10-31T13:30:00.000-07:00

The hood council wants us to produce more fresh produce-but you can't rush nature, so we're working on catching lots of fish. I don't know how we're going to prepare the crops for the winter-perhaps we need to do a second planting-yes, a second planting will take us into the winter...I hope.

What to do?

2007-10-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

Now I'm a teen and I already know that I will be leaving this hood-but where to? Another small hood where I can help farm? A bustling city? Where will I go? What does my future hold for me?

Dates!

2007-10-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

I asked Ginger Grey out on a date, she said no! I almost cried! So I called her back and talked some more and tried again, this time she said yes. I wonder why she said no at first? Well, we went to the botanical gardens and had a good time. We walked around and sat on the bench-she's sooo cute and fun! I like her a lot!

Market Days

2007-09-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

Father has officially transfered the deed to Farmer's Market over to me. I am the sole owner and will focus on the business of making money. Right now, I need to hire a cashier, my half-sister (and cashier for the market) Gretta left the hood and moved to DimSimTown-she's doing well I hear. I might post her and see how things are. I miss her.

Anyhoo-once I hire a cashier, I'm installing new counters to hold the produce and reducing market hours. We need more time to harvest and build up inventory. We have a good program now where we pay market price + $10 to sims for thier produce and fish-but not many sims sell us produce, a few sell us fish. So that means father and Joey need to produce the food for the hood-especially in light of my discussions with the hood council.

New Life New Soil

2007-09-19T07:28:00.000-07:00

The hood council has voted to allow farmers to hold larger plots of land. As a result, we moved to a larger plot of land 3x3. There's more room for the house, barn and fields. In fact, we may downsize the barn to have more room for produce. Joey and I will be devoted full-time to farming, Giselle will run the market selling the produce, fresh fish and fresh honey. The twins will help whereever needed. To prepare we crated a lot of produce to store in the new barn.

Family

2007-09-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

Giselle wants a baby...really bad. I'm not sure, maybe we should wait, her siblings still live here and her parents too, maybe a little later...but it's fun praticiing!

O, I won a Cooking Lesson with Tatiana so she is coming to the house and she's gonna show me some tricks.

Stupid Heels

2007-08-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

How can Tatiana expect me to cook in these high high heels. My feet hurt after standing up all day mixing soups, plating dishes and making sure good meals are served. Maybe I can ask her for a more comfortable uniform, I'm in the kitchen all simday, the customers don't see me at all.

now i know

2007-08-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

I know what I want to do! farm! fish! collect honey! I want to be a farmer! It helps that i like to work with my hands and its no secret that school wasn't the easiest for me, but when I weed the crops, talk to the fruit trees, I feel...at peace. Giselle's father has been helping me learn about the soil and the crops and what bait to use to attract what fish, how to soothe frigtened trees (yep, they get scared!) and how to tell when a crop is lonely. I like it!

What a surprise

2007-08-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

When I married, I was only expecting companionship, a sim to share my financial burdens with, maybe have some children...but love, I never expected this!

Yes, I am in love. In love with this crazy doofus of a man and his playful ways, he silly looks and everything about him. Perhaps I am under a spell, but all I can think about is being in his arms, kissing him, having his child...wow...I never felt like this before.

What Joy!

2007-07-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

No one told me about the joys of the earth! I used to want to play and swim and go out, but now...now I have fallen in love with the earth, with the way the lakes burst forth with fish (though I end up falling more than catching), how the sweet smelling dirt gives life to the plants and veggies to feed us, how bees migrate and create sweet sticky honey. I feel as though I have found a new secret, something ancient and old, yet...wonderful!

Memories

2007-07-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

I found this old photo in the drawer, this was right before Giselle married. How much things have changed. She's making some radical changes to the Farmer's Market, she wants to install a tea station, add fresh watermelon to the produce list, sell locally grown flowers, also she wants to sell some deli plates such as sandwiches and mac & cheese. We'll see what happens

Honeymoon

2007-07-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

The honeymoon is no where near over...Joey and I have been enjoying relaxing and going around the hood. Joey doesn't have a job and I will take over the Farmer's Market soon, so there's no rush. We spent the day at CupaJava enjoying the espressos, the baked goods and people watching. Joey doesn't know what he wants to do...I hope he decides soon, before father gets upset. Speaking of father, he recieved the approval from the hood council to buy a bigger lot for the farm (they don't like for lots to be bigger than 3x2), but he's gotten approved for a lot up to a 3x3. I think eventually we will supply all the food for the hood, that would be great. My children would be farmers and manage the market, no more imported food and more money for us!

Food Expo Grand Opening

2007-07-12T08:11:00.000-07:00

The Food Expo had a nice start, there was a write-up in the paper and lots of residents tasted the goods and even more brought items from the market. Giselle is making some business changes, I will turn the business over to her soon. I must think if there is anything I need to teach her about the business, perks, etc. I think I'll step back and do what I love most, farming

and fishing. That way there will be plenty of goods for the market. O, I even brought a honey beehive so I can gather honey and sell it at the market as well. Now we've expanded to fresh produce-mostly packed in crates of twelve for ease, though there are some singles that are available-fresh fish-Giselle wants to pack these in crates as well; and pots of honey. I wonder if

one day The Farmer's Market will be the sole provider of food for the hood. That would allow

the hood not to depend on outside imports as much. In order to do that, I would need a bigger farm. Now would be the time to move since the crops are due to be harvested and simMonday is right around the corner. I will give the hood council a call.

Mrs.

2007-06-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

I'm a Mrs. Married woman. Wow! Now what! Our parents have been hinting at grandchildren, but we just got married! Give us time to breathe first! And for my siblings to get older and moved out the farm.

daughter married

2007-06-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

Giselle is married, I hope she finds lots of love in her marriage and that Joey will love her all the simdays of thier life...unlike Leroy and I. *sigh* I am desperate, I've been talking with the pastor and he suggested that Leroy and I go to counseling, but I feel like it's all my fault...

married

2007-06-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm married all I want to do is play, jump on couches and watch TV. Why does Giselle want me to help at the market? Nah, boring work!

Joey...Love?

2007-06-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

Joey stopped by the farm today, we discussed the wedding plans and he brought over a gift for me. It was a small quilted pillow. That will go nicely in our home. O gracious, I'm still dress shopping. I found some possible dresses, but I haven't decided yet.

Joey said that he loved me, love! Ha! Why would he say such a thing? Doesn't he know that our marriage will be the best choice for us. Best thing for our future...our children's future. Why mess it up with love?

Memorial Service

2007-06-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

The memorial service was a good idea, Giselle said it would help us with closure. It didn't...but we won't say so. Why do they make happy floating balloons for funerals? Such a waste! Bad taste!

Now I need to cash the check from the hood council and make changes to the Farmer's Market for the Food Expo. I wonder...should I order signs? Maybe some summer flags even. That would be nice.

Alone

2007-06-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

I cry alone so much. I'm an elder now, three of my children are dead, my husband won't touch me, I don't know why we even share the same bed anymore-perhaps because twin beds would annouce to the children that we're having problems. I feel on the brink of insanity every day. Thank goodness Giselle is happy and marrying the man of her dreams, hopefully she will be happier than I was in this marriage.

Gone

2007-06-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

Three children dead, the Food Expo starting this simSaturday and Farmer's Market is the main site. How will I host the event with my children freshly gone? I find myself fishing at night near thier graves, we must move them to the Memorial Gardens, not sure the family can bear to see them every simday. Giselle is home, she graduated and she coming home. She's engaged, we've been purchasing flowers from Fresh Flora and preparing the farm for her wedding. Elda is going to make her wedding dinner/brunch. Why...my family is falling apart!

Shopping

2007-06-07T07:39:00.000-07:00

Father and I visited the Medical Centre. I thought it would be good if we had a memorial service for Glinda, Geoff and Gayle. We brought some black funeral balloons and I picked up some oranges. Joey and I are postponing our wedding until simSunday, since the Food Expo starts simSaturday and the memorial service will be simFriday (father will close the Food Expo in mourning). Mom is going to make the wedding brunch-cakes, sandwiches, maybe even some fried chicken. Dad has already purchased the flowers, what's missing...? O gosh! The dress!

Horror

2007-05-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

Our children!!!! The teens!!! All dead!!! Thier bus was in an...an accident and...they all...died!!! So horrible!!! Stinky buss!!! The bus transport gave us $6000 for the accident, $6000 will not replace the lives of three teens that were destined for greatness!!! So horrible!!!!

Hood Council Report

2007-05-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

Ayanna called and starting asking me some tough questions about the status of my goals on the hood council. This is not whatI needed, especially with managing the Farmer's Market and preparing for the Food Expo and the interruption with the whole Season's chaos. I'm not as young as I used to be. Thankfully my term is almost complete and I don't plan on running again. I want to enjoy my elderhood.

Establish a Family Day for residents to go outside the home/at home entertainment: Not accomplished-will promote families to use simSaturday for this day. Should a fine be instated for defiance of this?

Increase number of parties thrown: not accomplished-most families celebrate with cake inviting only immediate family members. Perhaps give out best party awards. Best party of the simweek?

Build a university house: Done, however the house functions as a dorm to house ten students: five males/females in two double rooms and one single room (for the RA) per sex.

Reduce discrimination amoung elders: not started. most elders are content with jobs in the city, did set up a automatic pension plan for OFB elder employees.

Encourage groups to meet regularly and correct current group lists: not done, with the Seasons chaos this is better to be put off for next term.

For the next term recommend delegating tasks to other sims as such:

Community Director Tasks: Secure family values, uphold rights for children and elders, ensure a family friendly and healthy community for current and future generations. Ensure a quality education system for residents. Ensure adequate culture, local food produce, restaurants and bars, and social meeting places.

Medical Director Tasks:Perform research about medical issues of sims, ensure the quality of living in the hood via environmental testing for viruses, educating residents on healthy habits and staying abreast of the latest medical advancements.

Archives and Technology Director Tasks:Assist in the management of family tree information, collect community & residents registry, manage the local library. Manage the website.Test and implement 3rd party technology and perform back-ups of resident information.

I also suggest that we give those sims a small stipend for thier duties, however they would not have voting rights on the Hood Council, but would merely serve as directors of hood related tasks. This gives more residents responsibility for hood matters and spreads the burden off the hood council members who are not paid as full-time employees and must manage other duties and jobs.

Getting Married

2007-05-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

I'm engaged to Joey. We're going to marry after I graduate from university. He's already a grad and he's looking for us a place to stay. I think we're going to stay in the boarding house for now, especially since my house is full. Geoff and Glinda are going to be in university soon, but that still leaves Gayle and Grigia and Grex and mama and papa. Not much room for Joey and I. I'm going to inherit the farm one day, but not now. Maybe we could move into a duplex-there's one available. There are not many places to stay actually. What a shame.

Kiss

2007-05-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

Joey and I kissed. Do I like him? He's a bit slow, but a nice fellow, besides he's due for a large bit of simoleans. Simoleans that I can use to renovate the Farmer's Market. Dad is getting older, he needs to look over the farm, I can do the business of the market. Maybe expand the selection of products beyond produce and fish.

Food Expo

2007-05-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

I am applying for a grant from the Hood Council to upgrade the Farmer's Market for the Food Expo Celebration. Which is strange since I am on the Hood Council, but I must submit an application like all other businesses in order to get a grant. Thankfully I know I will get the grant since the market will be the base of the Food Expo. I need to look at the design of the market and probably change some options around to prepare.

Giselle will be home from university soon. She has been having trouble with her roommate and with the dorm in general. The hood council has decided to built our own dorm on campus and house the students there.

Otherwise business is going well-we're selling produce in crates now instead of singles, it means a bit more work from us, but it's easier to sell. We might combine the shelves with crates of produce as well as a few singles of the produce. The fish sales are the best, we're working with locals to provide the fish. I might have to do some fishing of my own. We're getting the farm redone to be mroe effective. I might petition for a bigger lot 2x2 isn't much land, especially for farming purposes.

Scandals

2007-04-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

Leroy has been avoiding me eversince the scandal broke. Which is hard to do since I'm his wife. I tried explaining that I was vurnerable and seduced, but it doesn't matter. He's an elder now and seems intent on making me suffer by withholding his love.

I went to see the new pastor and talk about...things. It was strange, we had to talk under the trees, in the rain, since he doesn't have an office yet. I promised to send $100 a week to the church as a donation and he promised to pray for me and my situation.

I wish that stupid will had never been created!

Introduction

2007-04-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

Leroy-elder
Elphaba-elder
Giselle-freshman in university
Geoff-teen
Glinda-teen
Gayle-teen
Grex-child
Gringia-child

Not much to say. Will be expanding the market to sell fresh fish and maybe fresh veggies-if possible. Will decrease the food sales to individual deli items and whole turkeys, in addition to fresh fish. Want to install a pond and a garden on the farm...after all it is a farm.