Stephanie Farmer is taking the original Land Lubber's Challenge, which can be found at:

http://www.simcasticdesigns.com/challenges.htm#The%20Challenge%20Lots

You download the lots there, create your own Sims, then try to meet the challenges posted by the other forum members. Give it a try!

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...that's the order in this neighborhood--at least for this original challenge. If I succeed with this one and try a second one, that will change, depending on the challenge prerequisites.

Since challenge Sims must live off the land, Stephanie gets right to fishing. She needs to stock up as much fish as fast as she can, then get to planting.

All right! Good start! We're havin' fun, now!

Mmmmm...healthy food! Grilled bass with squash is pretty tasty--especially when there's nothing else to eat! Neighborhood visitor Bill Simpson is invited to partake, but he's too busy fishing, himself.

Full of yummy fish, Steph fertilizes six garden plots.

She then plants six tomato plants.

Then she waters all six seeded areas.

Her gardening done for the day, feeling happy and contented, Stephanie heads back to the pond to get in some late afternoon fishing, which will also give her a little more time to pursue her relationship with Bill.

Bill went home, but Stephanie persists--fishing by moonlight. Too bad her first catch isn't another fish, but just an old boot. She won't throw it away, though. If push comes to shove, she'll be able to (gag) grind it up in her fancy juicer, and choke it down. It will at least provide nourishment, when other food is scarce.

There! Another bass! Good. That's breakfast. Maybe one more before bed, if possible, and the next day's meals will be set.

Woohoo!!! Now THERE'S a FISH!

Yet another largemouth bass...not as huge as that last jumbo one, but good enough to allow Steph to give it up for the night and get some sleep. Tomorrow will be another big subistence day.

Catchin' some ZZZs.

Making use of the compost bin.

Getting in some socializing before breakfast.

Having performed her morning ablutions, Steph grabs just a little more social time--this time with the mailman, before stocking the fridge with some of that bass from the previous day's fishing efforts. Fish for breakfast is sounding awfully good about now!

Ah...bass with squash again. What could be better?

Well...this round isn't as healthy...just a LITTLE overdone. Still...nutrition is nutrition.

Breakfast over, Stephanie waters her tomato plants.

Then she tends them. She's trying to be very careful that she gets a good harvest. She's going to need that food before too long!

Then back to fishing. Steph still needs to stock up some extras. Catching a nice catfish would provide a change in flavors that would be nice, for sure! Hopefully Bill or another neighbor will stop by soon to provide a little social contact, too.

Yes! Another jumbo largemouth bass!

Caryl Roennigke stops by just after sundown, so Stephanie takes a social break before dinner and bedtime.

Caryl joins Stephanie for some healthy grilled bass and squash. This time Steph's cooking skills have provided a much more tasty meal, and Caryl approves. A little conversation about people who actually live in HOUSES provides some much-needed social contact for Stephanie before bedtime.

Even after Steph heads to bed, Caryl sticks around to fish for a while, under a beautiful starry sky.

Well-fed, well-rested, and confident of the friendship of two locals, Steph wakes up about 4:00 AM, happy to see that it's raining. Hopefully there won't be any lightning, though!

Since she's already up, might as well tend to the tomato plants. Does rain mean she doesn't need to water? There's been lightning, but nothing dangerous as yet, anyway. So far so good.

Aha! Stephanie has now faced her fear of fire, and walked away to talk to the paper girl instead. Good going, Steph! What strong character!

Yeah, right! It just LOOKED that way! Well...a quick visit from the local therapist will take care of that fear...at least for now.

Might as well have a little fun in the rain before breakfast, since she can't do anything about it!

Steph's pretty canopy seems to be holding up fairly well, though there is an occasional drip that reaches the ground under it. Hopefully the rain will stop soon. AFter all, it's halfway through spring...summer's not that far away!

Time to try for some catfish. Bass is good, but it's sure getting boring by now!

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!!! Not only has Stephanie caught a huge catfish, but she's achieved the goal of obtaining her first fishing badge. Great going, Steph!

Not bad! This bass isn't as big as some of them have been, but it'll do. Now to get some basic housekeeping done before the heat of the day sets in.

On the other hand, Steph never passes up the chance to greet a friend. She grabs Bill as he passes by, and invites him to help eat up some of the fish that's still left on the platter from breakfast.

As he chows down, Stephanie makes sure all the trash is composted. Got to keep those pesky roaches away!

Since the chores are done and there's fish in the larder, Steph asks Bill to join her in a quick game of darts (she bought the board from a passing vendor).

Night has fallen, but Steph decides to test out her new Riverblossom Minnow lure, and Bill joins her on the other side of the pond. The two fish comfortably together for a while, as the crickets sing.

Suddenly, both pull in a catch--Steph a small catfish, and Bill a jumbo bass--just as the rain starts up again...well it's only a short-lasting drizzle this time. It sure has been a good day!

Once again Stephanie turns in early, while her neighbor continues to fish for a while. It's a good thing that pond seems to have a never-ending supply of fish!

Stephanie has had a good night. She wakes about 6:00 AM, and makes her bed right away.

Might as well get the "bathroom" visits over with before the day begins. Those tomatoes are going to need more tending and there's always another fish to catch.

Tending the plants didn't take long. My, how nice and healthy they are!

Oh dear! Steph has just learned something! She thought she should water the plants, but evidently they didn't need any water yet, and now they're all sickly! Hopefully they will recover...? She doesn't know.

While watering the tomatoes unnecessarily, Steph missed the paper carrier, so her social needs are a little low as she fixes breakfast (ugh--bass with squash yet again--can't waste it, though).

A glance at the plants assures her that the extra watering doesn't seem to have done TOO much damage, as their color has been restored, and they've gotten bigger. It still remains to be seen whether or not they'll get back to actually being healthy again, though.

Oh, good! Caryl has stopped by again.

My! The day just SPED by, and Stephanie didn't even get in any fishing. It's a good thing she has some still on ice. Caryl invited her to join in a game of darts. Since it was a tad dark for playing games, Steph set up a small lantern she just happened to have bought from that same passing peddler. That reminded her that she should probably SELL an extra fish or two if possible, in order to have a bit more funds on hand the next time the guy passed by.

Yet again, a friend takes advantage of the fishing pond as Stephanie snores away.

Steph gets up early once again, making her bed and using the facilities. She really needs to get back to fishing today.

Steph faithfully tends the tomatoes, but they still seem to be a bit sickly. Hopefully this won't ruin her harvest completely!

Hooray! Another catfish--small, but edible.

The bills don't come to much out here in the country, but they DO have to be paid, unfortunately!

Got to finish eating up that bass and that squash before the catfish can be sampled.

Oh, good! Stephanie missed Bill's passing by earlier in the day, since she was studying to increase her cleaning and mechanical skills. Just before sundown, Caryl came by, so the two hung out for a while before doing some moonlight fishing together...

...in the rain! The thunder was resounding and the lightning flashing, but Stephanie and Caryl were in their element.

All right! Yet another huge blue catfish! Good timing, too...it's just about bedtime.

Tending the plants still hasn't made them healthy. Stephanie is worried about the value of the crop.

Since no people have stopped by yet, Steph takes the time to pet a passing stray dog.

Aah! Blackened catfish for breakfast today!

After cleaning the toilet (yuck), Stephanie decides to try her hand at planting again, just in case that tomato crop fizzles. First she makes good use of the compost she's been creating.

Then she plants cucumbers.

By the end of the day, she also planted strawberries.

Still time to get in a little fishing before bed.

A small catfish is better than nothing.

No friends fishing tonight. It was rather a lonely day.

Finally! Sickly though they were, Stephanie's tomato plants produced a harvest! She sold a few, but harvest most of the fruit to use with her juicer.

It took quite a few of her precious stock to get enough, but lunch today would be blackened catfish and...

...tomato juice.

Yeah! Good stuff!!!

That gave Steph enough energy to tend the rest of the plants.

She also got another whole row of tomatoes planted before bedtime.

Though the day was a busy one, it was another full day of social loss. Hopefully a friend or two will stop by tomorrow!

Early to bed, early to rise. Stephanie begins watering and tending her plants while it's still dark. Summer, with it's hot days, is upon her, and she needs to keep from getting sunburned.

She finishes with the garden plot just as the sun rises.

Then she gets her cleaning chores done. She needs to get in some fishing and some socializing, but those may have to wait until the sun goes down.

Taking advantage of the shade under the canopy, Stephanie wisely uses her time to write in her diary--telling about her friends and all the fun she's been having with her fishing and gardening.

Blackened catfish for lunch again. Sure would be nice if some friends came by!!!

Working on that diary again, but keeping an eye out for the occasional visitor.

Oh, thank goodness!!! Bill walked by, and Stephanie caught him just in time. Whew!

Turns out Bill likes blackened catfish, too!

Though she's a bit worried about the heat, it's close enough to sundown, that Steph joins Bill for a game of darts.

Once the moon comes up, Steph busies herself watering and tending her garden.

Then she still has time to fish for a little while with Bill, which makes her quite happy.

Bill catches another one of those infamous boots. Steph is just glad it wasn't her, this time!

Oh, good! It's been a while since bass was on the menu.

Once again, Stephanie falls asleep to the comforting sounds of a friend having fun at the pond.

Wow! Bill must have been having some pretty good luck, since he was still around when the paper girl arrived!

Nothing like a big glass of tomato juice for breakfast...

...except maybe a second one. Since that last crop had been so sickly, it takes more than one glass to fill up a hungry stomach after a good night's sleep!

Once again, Stephanie wisely uses the canopy to keep off the heat of the summer day, while redeeming the time by writing in her diary.

Though her stock of tomatoes is diminishing rapidly, at least Stephanie is able to deal well with the heat because she has something to drink.

The heat has been making it a bit harder to get through with all her chores each day, but Steph managed to get all her plants tended, and then was very glad to see the rain begin. Great! No watering would be needed, at least!

After all that work, a midnight snack was necessary. Thank goodness there was some bass in the fridge, just waiting to be grilled.

On this particular morning, Allyn saw that Stephanie was still asleep, as she brought the morning paper.

Hating to miss the social contact, Stephanie managed to groggily greet Allyn, though. She figured she could always sleep later...as long as it didn't get TOO hot during the day.

Gotta keep everything clean, regardless of the heat. She'd already had to spray for roaches the day before (eeewwww!).

Definitely converting to the needs of the summer, Steph went back to bed, slept until noon, then got up to face the rest of the day rested and well.

Stephanie thought about using the afternoon to study, but she realized that soon it would be Fall, and then she'd be able to get more studying done during the cool evening hours, in front of the fire. So she spent some more beneficial time writing in her diary, instead.

Caryl! It's been too long!

Though she knew she had to get busy with the plants while it was cool, Stephanie couldn't resist sharing some blackened catfish with Caryl along with some good conversation.

While Caryl got out her rod and reel, Stephanie carefully tended the garden. Time was running out for this harvest!

Finally she had just a bit of time to spend fishing with Caryl.

First Caryl caught a huge bass...

...then so did Steph.

Then Stephanie actually got to bed on time, while Caryl provided that soothing fishing "music" in the background.

Obviously the fishing was pretty good last night, because Caryl is still around in the morning, when Steph greets Allyn right after the sun comes up.

The leaves have begun to fall!

Caryl looks on as Stephanie drinks her morning juice.

Thank goodness the Fall sunshine isn't as hot as the summer sun, so Steph is able to harvest and sell her cucumbers without being in danger of sunburn. She gets over $450 for the three plants from which she sold the produce, and ended up with 27 cucumbers on hand for juicing. Not bad!

Blackened catfish for lunch, but there's still time to catch some bass, maybe, for the next day's meals.

Though it's really not necessary, Steph takes the time to rake up some of the leaves, which makes her just feel good.

Then Caryl stops by again.

The two spend another evening fishing.

It's quite obviously Fall, since the two ladies are having such "heavy" thoughts regarding their education!

That doesn't keep Caryl from exhibiting her one-upmanship and beating Steph to the first firsh of the night.

Not bad...but not as good as Caryl's last one!

I've been meaning to get a shot of the "walking fish" that keep trying to swim through that little peninsula. Too bad Stephanie can't just walk over and pick one of them up!

Just how many giants lost their boots in this pond, anyway?!

Well, Caryl is really taking THIS night!

At least Steph isn't getting skunked!

Having gone to bed rather late, on an empty stomach, Stephanie was up early having a bass and squash breakfast. She had tried to fix cucumber juice, but though she stocked all 27 cukes into the juice bowl, she couldn't actually make juice! She added her last four tomatoes, too, but no go. Oh dear! Now what? At least she was able to remove the vegies from the bowl so she could try again later. Maybe she'd try getting a new juice from that peddler.

Well...she did that, and what a waste! She got $329 trade-in for her old juice, but then it cost her $800 for a new one...that didn't do the job, either! Just how many cucumbers does it TAKE to make juice!!!???

Just couldn't stay awake any longer.

What a fiasco THIS day has been!

It was almost dark by the time Stephanie got the tomato plants tended.

The shadows were even longer as she began to harvest the strawberries (selling a few, but keeping the rest for juice).

The strawberries she sold didn't bring in much money, and all she can do is HOPE that the oters are good juicers! Still...there's more bass and squash for dinner...not sleeping TONIGHT on an empty stomach!

Another early-morning fellowship time with Allyn, who is fast becoming Stephanie's best friend. At least SHE doesn't beat Steph at fishing!

When the tomatoes were harvested, Stephanie didn't bother selling any. She KNOWS they make good juice! Now the whole cycle begins again...but will the garden be able to survive the winter which is coming soon?

Well...at least the fertilizing is done! But look at that light. This is kind of scary. What will happen next?

A lonely game of darts.

Planting pole beans and tomatoes...

...far into the night...just in case.

Drinking cold tomato juice on an already-cold, windy Fall day. Now there's another worry! Since there are no DOORS to go through, Stephanie is going to HAVE to have a coatrack in order to change to outerwear, very soon. Those cost $335, and she just spent everything she had on seeds for that winter garden, that might not even grow!. She doesn't think she has enough "bland strawberries" in stock to make enough money, either! What to do, what to do???!!!

First thing to do is get back to fishing...NOW...obviously!

Aha! Wonder how much that jumbo bass is worth?

Yes! Stephanie netted $61 for that luscious fish. She'll have to catch quite a few more, though, to get that coatrack!

How much is a small blue catfish worth?

Stephanie only got $49 for the catfish, but she sold a few strawberries, too, and she now has $170...just over half of what she needs for that coatrack!

Three fish later...

...with one of them being a rainbow trout and two of them being jumbo bass...Stephanie was able to get $209...

...making enough to buy that coatrack. Now she needed to pull in at least one more...for meals!

Oh, good! Another rainbow trout. Hopefully the trout are as good eating as they are selling! Stephanie has heard rumors that there are GOLDEN trout in this pond, but she hasn't seen one yet.

After tending to her pole beans...

...Steph searches the depths of her fridge for the ingredients to a special dinner. However, when she turned back to get just one more thing...

...the ingredients just disappeared like so many OTHER yummy things had done ever since she moved to this strange place!

So Steph finally settled on blackened catfish yet again!

At least it's good, nourishing food!

After quickly watering the beans, Stephanie shivers her way through her nightly toilette, then curled up in her bed. The nights are sure getting cold!

Getting a REALLY early start on the day, Stephanie changes to using some stink ball bait, and moves around to a different place on the pond than usual, with great results! She has also left her PJs on for a while, since they are warmer than her usual everyday wear!

Hooray! There's another rainbow trout...just in time, too! Steph's social life is in quite bad shape, so she hurriedly puts away the fish and runs to greet Allyn.

Unfortunately, Allyn had to run, herself, so poor Steph is still hurting for some company!

Fortunately, Stephanie has discovered how to talk to her PLANTS! Saved!!!

THEN Bill Simpson finally stops by!

Well...at least Steph can share a meal with him, and then maybe they can have some fun playing darts for a while...

...or not! Steph is beginning to think both Bill and Caryl only stop by to make use of the fish pond!

Ah well...that's HER favorite place to be, also!

Caryl catches a bass, and Steph pulls out a huge blue catfish. Poor Bill...

A jumbo bass this time!

Time to turn in. This time Bill and Caryl both leave really soon, since the night is turning very cold, and winter is headed in...maybe before morning.

Well...no snow yet, but this dark, cold morning doesn't bode well for the day.

Strawberries evidently work better in the juicer than cucumbers. Stephanie has put all her cucumbers into the fridge (by mistake). What will happen with them there? She evidently can't get them out...so...?

Here comes the first snow of the year. Undaunted, Stephanie greets Jack Todd, the mailman. She needs to remember, though, to put on her coat, pretty soon!

It's SO COLLDDD!!! Hopefully this will work. Stephanie warms herself at the barrel stove.

Yes! It worked! THAT'S a relief!

Just in case, Steph tends her pole beans, then watered them, since they seemed to need it. She finished off with snow piling high, though, so she's now worried that the plants will freeze solid from the snow and the water!

The stove needs lighting again, but thank heavens it warms up fast, and so does Steph.

All of this activity takes its toll early in the afternoon, so Steph climbs under her slightly snowy covers, and begins to snore. The stove is still roaring away over on the other side of the canopy, and Steph seems to be quite warm, and cozy. All is well!

It's a good thing Stephanie has stocked up on vegies and fish, because it looks like it will be a while before she can get anything else out of that pond! Too bad she can't do some ice fishing!

At 9:30 PM, Steph woke up and relit the fire. THEN she remembered to put on her outerwear. Got to get that order changed for next time. She got a bit chilly standing there in her bare feet and PJs, getting that fire going!

A quick meal of bass helps keep her warm.

Then Stephanie sits down to catch up her diary.

Gotta keep that fire going...

...especially since it takes a while to unclog a cold, sludgy toilet!!!

Well, the beans are looking pretty sickly. Still, at least they are "someone" to talk to!

Catchin' a few more ZZZs while stayin' warm!

Coming back from a quick trip to the "outhouse."

BRRRR!!! Time to relight that pesky fire and get into the outerwear yet again!

Might as well play a little darts to pass the time.

Believe it or not, the bean plants seem healthy again, so Steph spends some time tending them, though in doing so she gets cold all over again.

Then she has to light the pesky stove and get warm all over again. When will this winter ever end?

Might as well sleep some more.

Trying to get in a little social contact.

However, the penguin distracts Steph from Allyn's conversation.

kThe penguin seems to think that the scarecrow is an old friend!

Light the fire...warm yourself...chant to yourself, "I can make it through the winter!" "I can make it through the winter!"

Mmmm....cold strawberry juice!

Back in bed where it's at least warm!

Talking to the poor sickly bean plants!

Socializing with Bill, even though he's pretty cold.

Warming up yet again.

And again.

And again...wonder why Bill doesn't get the hint?

Sharing another meal with Bill.

Sleeping. When will Spring arrive? This is definitley not much FUN!!!

Cold strawberry juice again.

"I forgot to pay the bills! So? Take the stupid chair! Do I care? Not a whit!" Just let me light that fire again, so I can get warm!!!

Aaaahhhh!

Quick! Play darts while the sun shines. Surely the Spring MUST be almost here!

Light the fire...warm up...take out the compost...at least the snow is almost gone!

It was so much warmer today that Steph was able to get some of the (sigh) dead beans pulled and put into the compost heap, then greet Caryl and play some darts, thus satisfying two of her basic needs fully for the first time since winter began!

There was even time to light the fire and warm herself again...

...before fixing what was probably the last of her fish in a tasty stuffed rainbow trout meal, which she shared with Caryl. For some reason Caryl wanted to talk about ice cream, which Stephanie thought was pretty weird, given the still-cool temperature of this last day of winter!

This SHOULD be the last night Stephanie has to rely on that !@#$@#$ stove to keep her warm!

Yup! When she got up, the snow was gone, though the pond was still frozen. She had to keep the fire going for a little while, but it was pretty easy to warm up. Spring must have arrived, for sure!

A glass of tomato juice does it for breakfast. Before shutting down this place and heading for her REAL home, Stephanie will clean up all the dead bean plants, and she wants to wait until the pond is thawed, so she can catch just one or two more fish. She already has a gold gardening badge, but would like to turn her silver fishing badge into gold, as well.

Joining Caryl for a quick game of darts before the pond thaws.

After the game, it's cold enough to build up at least one more fire and get warm.

Grabbing some more tomato juice keeps Stephanie's appetite at bay for now. It's a good thing, because she's totally out of fish now.

Nothing like a good old pillow fight to pass the time of day while STILL waiting for the pond to thaw!

Oh no! Spring has pulled a nasty trick on Stephanie! It's snowing again!!!

Well...night has fallen anyway, so back into bed she climbs. Please, please, PLEASE let it be REALLY spring when morning comes!

It's the middle of the night. The snow has gone, but it's still dreadfully cold. Steph downs another glass of cold tomato juice. It's a good thing for those antioxidants, because I just heard her sneeze!!!