#Sims Daily renovation of Hidden Springs

[samkat10423]

Hidden Springs

It is currently -3 degrees F here, where I live, so where better to play than in Hidden Springs - EA's pitiful version of the Alps? I didn't get a whole lot done today because I'm lazy. Yes, I am! But I did re-do that little cabin down by the military base and moved the Abbot family in - along with a dog that the previous owners abandoned - because, yes, children, there are a-holes out there. But the Abbots have given it a home, so all's good.

Then I hopped back over to their previous home and gave it a tiny makeover and moved that Nanny family with the abandoned brats into it. (Notice a theme here?) Plus, I added another teen to the mix and a dog.

While I was at it, I redid their family connections because EA set the nanny up as their mother. Way to go, EA! You can't even do your own storyline correctly! I also took away all their money, because I figured if the deadbeat parents left their kids with a complete stranger, they certainly wouldn't leave any of their cash behind. Anyway, the nanny still has a job as a toddler coach, even though I gave her that "hates children" trait. None of the kids particularly like her - nor do they expect their crappy parents to come back. And they certainly aren't calling her "mom."

Then I went up into the mountains and placed this lot that I built when we were doing the whole TSD town reno. Since Jenba originally planned on her town hall to replace the city hall, police station, and military, there was no art gallery left in town - except for that crappy one out in the boondocks. And I figured a country with a royal family would definitely have someplace to store their art and crown jewels. So, this is their former home, where they lived until neighboring troops marched through and kicked their royal butts out.

Like I said, we were restricted to no CC - which, for a CC lover like me, was HARD! And since most of our group didn't have that castle set from the store, I just winged it using mostly basegame stuff. But the version I kept for myself does have CC - mostly royal family paintings and other junk you might see in a royal residence. (It's furnished inside to look like it did when the family lived there).

Anyway, this is up where EA had their "resort" - 55 Ruby Ave. The town hall - where I was going to place my art gallery, is now a center for the performing arts where my ratty sims can go to hone their skills in music, art and dance. I figured it made more sense, since there is the promenade where they can perform for tips and paint sims' portraits - for simoleons, of course!

And that was all I did today, since I wasted a lot of time in CAS, redoing sims.

#sims 3 #Hidden Valley #Sims Daily renovation of Hidden Springs

[samkat10423]

Back in Hidden Springs

As you guys all know by now, I have the attention span of a gnat - yes, I do! So, I've abandoned Sunset Valley for a bit and started "fixing" Hidden Springs. Mostly because it is Christmas time and I figured where better to celebrate it than the greener-than-green hot mess EA misguidedly thought represented the Alps. Anyway, back in the day when the Sims Daily site was still up and running, several members decided to renovate this world as a group project. And hoarder me, saved all the lots. I've changed a few of them - mostly adding CC. At the time we did this, we were basically sticking with EA-created stuff. But since I'm doing this for myself, I can go crazy!

I changed out the city hall for a newer model and added some TSM cc to reflect the town history. That statue is of that mounted King from the Sims Medieval - as are those 2 large knight ones. I gave my protesters a podium and a microphone so the powers-that-be can better hear them. And I've added some fountains.

This build was done by Jenba and is called The Sims Dailly. It's the Business rabbithole replacement. Inside I've set the downstairs up as a newspaper office. And upstairs is the editor's space. I've used @mspoodle1s" rental bikes and her news van. And @grandelama's curbing - which I love!

I don't think anyone ever did this lot, so I replaced the sports stadium with this one from Aurora Skies. I made that track functional by using icarusallsort's jogging markers. And I placed those soccer nets on the field so sims can do something other than just stand around. To the left of the lot is a really nice gym I found over on Mod the Sims, called Turnverein by cutsocks. I googled "German" over there and it popped up. I figured it was in keeping with the old world vibe this town failed to do.

Then, up on the hill @ 2 Ponderosa Ct. I bulldozed the ugly house that was there and plunked down the hot air balloon lot from Aurora Skies. I have it, so I figured why not use it.

This is another lot that was created by Jenba. It was on 65 Subalpine Blvd, but I wanted the gym to be closer to town. So I moved this lot to 77 Subalpine Blvd. Anyway, it's called St. Avornalino Nectary and is an old monastery that's been converted to a nectary. It's pretty much as she designed it - I just swapped out some EA paintings for religious ones from the Sims Resource. And I added that clock over that one door.

I did a couple other lots, but haven't taken any pictures yet. Mostly because I'm lazy. Anyway, I plan on switching out most of the houses because I think EA's are crap. And I'll be giving the locals make-overs. And where all those weird, sickly green sims are, I'll probably make some of them into supernaturals.

Anyway, most of the lots are already done since Sims Daily members did them for me. I just have to add some CC. So, my plan to have this ready for Christmas - the first ever I will actually play! - should pan out. Go, me!

#sims 3 #Hidden Springs #the Sims Daily members

[samkat10423]

More Hidden Springs

The main park (?) in town was renovated by @webbymom - one of the Sims Daily site owners. She was also one of the creators over at the old Sims Three Musketeers site. Anyway, I did make some changes because - like I said earlier - no extra party CC was used in any of the original lots. First thing I did was replace the fountain she had with that carousel because my sims like using it. Then, in the big open area in the front of the lot, I placed 2 of those invisible skating objects Sandy made over on Around the Sims 3. They allow sims to skate on parking lots - or in this case, a park - without using those rinks EA designed. I also added the flags, MsPoodle's bike rental object, benches, more lampposts, and different trees. Plus, I edited the parking lots and used those parking meters that are in-game. In that little building she made, I redid the bathrooms, then made the other side into a very small ice cream shop. And I gave them some tables outside.

Across the street is this little B&B made by @purzelsims, called the Golden Duck. It's zoned as a resort, and she had placed the resort tower in a basement. I have the rug, so I got rid of most of the basement and used what was left for a small laundry room.

There are actually 2 floors with rooms that sims can rent, along with the ground floor with dining and check-in. But, since all of the rooms are similar, I only took pics of the one floor. She originally had them all decorated the same, using the same patterns on all the furniture. But I like variety, so I mixed it up a bit. I may go back in and reduce the number of bathrooms since currently every room has one. And in all of the B&Bs that I've stayed in, that just doesn't happen. And I'll probably change out that long, green rug in the hallway with some of B5Studio rugs.

On the outside, I added signage that Sandy created for hostels and there's even a sign with ducks. I also added that electrical box, the drainpipes and an air conditioner.

Where EA had plunked down that criminal hideout from the basegame, I decided to use the one that I think came from Barnyard Bay. So, I made this little lot, and it is now called the Smuggler's Cove and is listed on the National Registry for historical sites. Hence the concrete plague. Anyway, I used a lot of plants from Supernatural here, so honest sims can go mushroom hunting here if they want some.

This is the new town gym created by cutsocks that I found over on Mod the Sims. I didn't change the interior much at all, but I did add parking out front and placed that bus stop shelter. Inside, about the only thing I did, was delete some bathrooms and replaced them with that sauna that came with Sunlit Tides,

This is just that EA lot that came with that one stuff pack. In the renovation of this town, Purzel did make an open school, but since I'm a lazy player, I decided to use this one instead. The only changes I did do, was to give the kids more playground stuff and that soccer set that Sandy made for kids.

And finally, this is a lovely little lot created by @lilidebergerac. It's a small park where sims can stay overnight in treehouses. About the only thing I did on this lot was add that archery object that Sandy created. Anyway, it's out in that area where all the weirdos live - hence the dirt roads. (Thank you, Lili! My sims love this lot!)

And then my game said, "Enough already!" and that was the end of game play for today. But right before it did, I was checking out all the lot sizes for the houses. And OMG!!! EA went crazy with over-sized lots in this world. Most of them - even the ones in town - are like 30x40. And they get bigger the farer out you go. Stupid. And I'm thinking lazy. But such is EA.

#sims 3 #Hidden Springs #thanks to Sandy @aroundthesims3 #And all the friends I made on The Sims Daily #miss you guys