Making Progress . . .

Year: One
Season Spring
Day: Ten

The last day of spring has arrived! There wasn’t much to do on the farm since I decided to wait and plant summer crops instead of trying to push a last minute round of spring crops. Because of all the free time, I headed up to Carter’s Dig to excavate the ruins there. To my surprise, as I was working with Carter and Flora, I found a stone tablet with an odd language on it. Carter and Flora were ecstatic and thanked me for helping them find it. We were all sure that there was more to this stone tablet and continued to work for a while longer but with no success.

I headed back towards the farm and saw Takakura in the pastures. He waved me over and showed me the pond that he just finished installing. It gave Miel a lot more water and allowed for me to get some more animals as well. Takakura even mentioned that I might attract some wild ducks with the new pond. I thanked him for his hard work and all his help. I finished up my daily routine, wrote about my day in my journal, and quickly went to sleep looking forward to the first day of summer.

Year: One
Season: Summer
Day: One

It’s the first day of summer and the weather is great! I was able to plant my entire lot of summer crops in one go. A final round of Tomato Seeds, some first time Melon Seeds, and a handful of Turnip Seeds filled the field. With a new season comes new crops and I’m excited to see how they grow. With such nice weather, I went fishing after I finished the rest of my morning chores. There, at the river bank, I caught a Huge Smelt! I hope to make a pretty penny from it when I sell it to Van.

I headed back to the farm at the same time Takakura arrived from the city. He waved me over to the Chicken Coop and introduced me the Rooster I had ordered. Jing was big and looked healthy, and Nanao seemed to like him. After I made sure Jing was settled in, I left the Coop to finish the rest of my work, only to find Nik, Nak, and Flak standing outside the door. They were so excited that they talked over each other; the only thing I could understand was that they had something to give me. They dragged me to their house which was located inside the giant tree by the Pond to the north of the farm. Once inside, they settled down and showed me what they had found . . . a Blue Feather! It’s a very rare item, selling for huge sums in the city, and they were giving it to me. Come to find out, giving a Blue Feather to the person you love is a traditional way of proposing marriage in Forget-Me-Not Valley. I thanked them for the gift and headed back to the farm. I couldn’t help but think that everyone in the Valley wants me to find a bride . . . what to do?

Year: One
Season: Summer
Day: Two

Today was such a busy day! Watering the fields, feeding the Chickens, brushing Miel, and tending to the farm kept me on my feet for most of the day. I was starting to get a bit discouraged with all the hard work and it didn’t help that I wasn’t making enough money to support the farm. I found myself barely staying in the “black” and I had to watch my finances carefully. Takakura saw this and tried to cheer me up. As a way to say that I was doing a great job, he brought a Horse from the city for me. He was a handsome animal with a dark brown coat and a thick, black mane. Takakura told me that he was a gift and to use him well. I named him Koharu and placed his Feed Box across from Miel’s in the Barn.

After letting Koharu get settled, I took him for a ride around the valley. I rode him to every corner of the valley, his strong legs easily took us everywhere with great speed. As I was heading back to the farm, I ran into Celia who was running some errands for Vesta. We talked for a while until I realized the time and had to excuse myself. Koharu and I quickly headed back to the farm so I could finish the rest of my work. I have to really thank Takakura, his thoughtfulness helped to re-energize me and re-excite me about working Hyde Farm.

The Dragon Versus The Carp

Long ago, there was a carp who wished to know what was at the top of a waterfall. It swam upstream and through perseverance and hard work, it made it to the top of the waterfall. The gods were moved by the carp's determination and courage and rewarded the carp by transforming it into a dragon. To encourage the other carps, the gods created a gate at the top of the waterfall. Any carp who jumps over this gate shall be instantly transformed into a dragon. Yet, what happens when a dragon befriends a carp? What if the carp betrays the dragon, and the dragon loses its place at the top of the waterfall? If a carp can be transformed into a dragon by reaching the top of the waterfall, will a dragon be transformed into a carp if it falls from that very waterfall?

I have to start by explaining my mindset when I was playing Yakuza. I had just beat Indigo Prophecy, a game I was expecting to have an amazingly well written story. I was right, for only the first half of the game and then it all went downhill. When I popped in Yakuza, I wasn't expecting much. Everyone called it a Japanese Grand Theft Auto and a simple arcade brawler. By the time I finished the game, I was blown away by the complexity of the story and the characters. There were plot twists and character revelations that I never saw coming . . . and unlike Indigo Prophecy were actually believable and made perfect sense. I can honestly say that Yakuza has one of the best video game stories I have ever played.

You are Kiriyu Kazuma, an up and coming member of the Dojima Family, a Tojo Clan affiliate. In all honesty, I can't really mention that much of the story without spoiling it. I can, however, repeat what has printed on the back of the box. Kiriyu Kazuma is known as the Dragon of Dojima until he goes to prison for the murder of Dojima Sohei, the leader of the Dojima Family. After ten years, he is finally released and finds that his best friend, Nishiki Akira, filled the spot he vacated after going to prison and the Tojo Clan in disarray. Kazuma also finds that his girlfriend, Sawamura Yumi, and ten Billion yen are missing. Of course, Kazuma takes on the task of finding out what happened during his ten year absent.

Yakuza is basically a brawler . . . punch, kick, slam bad guy's (sometimes good guy's) head into pavement, repeat. The gameplay seems like it could become repetitive if it wasn't for the RPGesque style of leveling and the ability to learn new styles of fighting through training. Throughout the story, you'll find yourself greatly outnumbered and have to fight your way through hordes of baddies. There's also the boss fights which can be extremely difficult at times. I found the controls pretty intuitive, the only major pain is that the camera doesn't always want to show you your enemy. You can use a variety of weapons, but I found it more satisfying to beat up people with my own two fists.

There is so much to do in Yakuza, everything from hitting the batting cages, playing some blackjack, going to the arcade, blowing all your money at a hostess bar, and beating up the frequent street punks that you find on every street corner. There are a variety of side missions as well as the main story which took me about fourteen hours to complete. While the story is thrilling and dark, you'll find yourself wondering what happened to your "bad boy" attitude when it comes to the side missions. Running errands for little old men, catching a purse thief, and other missions will have you wondering if you are a "Dragon" or an errand boy. There are even some eyebrow raising moments in the main story as well, including a chapter entitled "Save the Puppy!" . . . you'll just have to play it to find out what that means.

For the cons in the game, the fighting does get a bit boring at times considering that you get jumped every ten steps you take. Navigating Kamurocho (in real life known as Kabukichou) can be a bit hard at first, especially when key locations have multiple names. Then, there is the biggest con of all, at least for me anyway. In the entire game, I counted roughly a dozen sentences that didn't use the "F" word in it. The swearing in the game is grotesque, dropping the "F" bomb in almost every sentence and most of the time dropping it multiple times in a single sentence. One character uses it twenty times in his five minute dialogue. With voice acting from Eliza Dushku, Mark Hamill, and Rachael Leigh Cook - you'd think that the voice acting and content would have been better. If you can overlook the horrific language and repetitive gameplay, the story will be enough to keep you glued to this game.

While I wish I could expand more on all the reasons I love this game, I simply can't without ruining all the amazing twists and unexpected turns that this game offers up. All I can say is that half-way through the game I thought I had everything figured out then suddenly, they threw me for a loop and gave me a second half that I never saw coming. Delving into the Yakuza underworld is thrilling, dark, and filled with suspense. With a mystery to solve and a colorful cast of characters, this game is truly by far the best story driven game I've played on the PS2. Yakuza truly shows why the Dragon reigns supreme.

Qwarktastic Qwest!

• Title: Yakuza
• Developer: Sega
• Publisher: Sega
• ESRB: Mature
• Original Release Date: 09.05.06
• Original Platform: PS2

Just Getting Started . . .

Year: One
Season: Spring
Day: Three

Every third and eighth day, Van the traveling merchant, stops at Forget-Me-Not Valley to buy and sell various odds and ends. I was excited to meet such a person and to do some business with him. I quickly finished my morning routine of watering the crops and tending to all the animals. I headed into town a little before noon in hopes of meeting Van before he set up his shop. As I waited near the Inner Inn, Ruby and Rock came out to say hello. Ruby is Tim’s wife and Rock is their son. Rock’s party animal personality doesn’t seem to fit with Tim’s laid-back attitude and Ruby’s reserved behavior. Rock’s blonde hair doesn’t seem to fit with Tim’s and Ruby’s black hair either. Kind of makes me wonder . . .

I didn’t have long to dwell at the Inner Inn family as Van came strolling up the road. He gave a wave to Ruby and Rock and as he passed by gave me a nod. I approached this short and portly man and introduced myself. His long black hair was tied back in a neat ponytail and his prominent nose was well framed by his large mustache. He welcomed me to the valley and said that he looked forward to the goods I would sell him. He added with a laugh that he looked forward to the products I bought as well. After letting him open his shop, I browsed all the items that Van offered. I finally decided to buy a Brush and a Fishing Rod. It was a bit of a stretch on my budget, but well worth it. I also sold a few of the Toy Flowers and Goddess Drops I had picked earlier.

After leaving Van’s Shop, I ran into Carter and Flora as I headed towards Vesta’s Farm. They both work at the Dig Site just across the river from Hyde Farm. They both look like archaeologists with their light khaki clothing. Carter’s dark hair and glasses gave him an aura that showed how much he has traveled. Behind Flora’s glasses and her dirty blonde hair, you could see in her eyes the enthusiasm she has for the job. After a quick introduction, I bid them farewell as they headed towards Van’s Shop and I walked over the bridge to Vesta’s. Once there, I bought those Orange Seeds that I couldn’t afford on my first day and hurried back to plant them in the field. After finishing the rest of the chores, I ate a hasty meal and turned in for the night.

Year: One
Season: Spring
Day: Six

A few days have passed since Van’s arrival. I’ve made great use of both the Brush and Fishing Rod that I bought from him. My hope is to be able to make a bit of side money by fishing in my spare time that might help me afford to repair and expand the farm. I’ve already been out fishing quite a bit since I bought the rod. There’s a river that’s just next to my farm, the waterfall that feeds the river by Carter’s Dig, a pond north of the farm, and a pond south of the Inner Inn. I’ve already caught a few species of fish including Smelt, Huchap, Rainbob, and Colombo all in varying sizes.

I ordered some better farming equipment including a Light Hoe to help conserve my energy. I’ve noticed that my trees that I planted have already sprouted and that there are flowers on my Tomato Plants. I think I’ll be able to harvest my first crop in a few more days. I’m excited to see how my hard work will pay off.

Year: One
Season: Spring
Day: Seven

I’ve been busy almost all day completing chores around the farm, helping Carter at his dig site, fishing, and harvesting some local plants. All this was in preparation of Van’s return tomorrow. While I was in town I ran into Muffy and had a quick chat with her. I also met Daryl, the local mad scientist. His dark hair was strewn about wildly, his sharp nose barely held his glasses upon his face, and his eyes were bloodshot from the lack of sleep. I tried to introduce myself but he shooed me aside, muttering to himself the whole time.

When I returned to Hyde Farm, I found that the Hen I ordered came in! I named her Nanao and immediately put her in the chicken coop that was already on the farm when I came. I also found, as I was inspecting the fields, that I had a pest problem in the first field that I planted all my trees in. Unfortunately, all of my Peach Trees were affected and I had to cut them down. What a waste! Luckily, the other trees were not harmed. Hopefully, this will not set me back later in the year.

Year: One
Season: Spring
Day: Eight

Success! I harvested my first Tomatoes! Though they weren’t of the same quality of Vesta’s crops, I was proud that I grew them with my own hands. I finished up my usual routine and waited for Van’s Arrival. He usually puts his shop up around noon but this day was different. I waited for almost an hour and he didn’t show. There were a few people gathered around waiting for him, so I thought that I would try my hand at selling a few of my goods and opened a shop near where Van runs his. Tim bought some Normal Milk A from me. Since he and his family have been so nice, I gave him a discount. Gustafa came and looked at my goods as well. It was the first time I had met him. He lives in a hut near the beach to the south of the Inner Inn. You can’t miss Gustafa, his large, green hat is easy to spot and he is usually playing his guitar among the trees. He wanted some of the Toy Flowers I had picked earlier; I told him that he could have them for free.

After they left, I closed my shop and headed back to the farm to finish up the daily work. I decided to try one more time before I turned in for the night and headed back down towards the Inner Inn around 5:00pm. To my surprise, Van was there and his shop was open. He apologized for being late, explaining that the city traffic had been hectic. I sold all the goods I had been collecting from the last time he visited and made a hefty amount. I happily headed home to enjoy a relaxing night.

Bring On The HEATley

Every year around this time, the NHL General Managers start wheeling and dealing, trying to find the best players for the best price. Sometimes they are UFAs who are asked on a tryout basis to join training camp. Sometimes it's a deal between two teams, maybe even a deal among several teams. As the clock ticks down for the start of the season, everyone is trying to make their team the best that it can be by October 1st. Sharks GM Doug Wilson is known for playing his cards right. He knows how to find big deals and make them work, like the trade for Joe Thornton. Wilson is even known for acquiring new players at the trade deadline and throwing them into the mix! For those that don't know when the trade deadline is, it's usually set about six weeks before the end of the regular season. Talk about some late changes. Most of Doug Wilson's trades have done wonders for the Sharks. Thornton, Boyle, and a handful of other players have helped propel the Sharks to the top echelon of NHL teams. Yet, something has been missing from the Sharks. Regular season success is almost guaranteed, having been in the top three teams in the league for the past two years and gaining playoff rights for five years straight. Post season is where they have failed to find the same success. But like the great GM that he is, Doug Wilson always has a plan and a solution . . . and this year is no different.

Every year there are big trades, money rich signings, and contract extensions - this year was no exception. Players like Kessel (BOS - TOR) and Gomez (NYR - MTL) were traded, the $30.5 million matching deal for the Sedin twins (VAN), and Luongo (VAN) got a twelve year contract deal. But nothing, nothing matched what Doug Wilson pulled off on September 12th, 2009 - trading Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek to Ottawa for Dany Heatley . . . amazing. Now, I have to admit I wasn't sure what to think when I heard the news. It was leaked very early that Dany Heatley wanted out of Ottawa and he wanted out badly. Unfortunately, the situation wasn't handled correctly, resulting in a very public and very bitter battle. Rumors flew around the net on where Heatley's new home would be. Why was the news so huge? Maybe it's because Dany Heatley is a 50+ goal scorer for the past four seasons. It could be that he has recorded at least one point in every playoff game he's competed in. It could also be the fact that he is the highest scoring player in the Olympics . . . that's the highest scoring player in the world. He's big-time hockey, known as a sniper and a guy that always shoots first.

The amazing thing isn't that Wilson has able to snag Heatley, it's the price he got him for. The word on the street was that Marleau, one of the Sharks best forwards, was going to be traded to Los Angeles, LA would trade three of their players to Ottawa, and the Sens would send Heatley down to San Jose. But somehow, I have no clue how, Wilson got Heatley for Cheechoo and Michalek. In hockey terms, that's cheap. It's not that the two Sharks traded are bad players. Cheechoo had a 50+ goal season a few years ago but ran into injury problems and hasn't been able to bounce back with the Sharks. Michalek had a break out year last season and was a key offensive force on the second line. But even combined, they don't quite have the caliber of talent that Marleau has and they definitely aren't close to Heatley's level. All I can say Doug is "what a steal".

I am definitely excited to see what kind of heat Dany can bring to the Sharks. In the few games I've seen him play in, he rarely smiles. It's not that he's angry or not happy, he's focused. He wants to win and he does't hold back that desire to win. Something that the Sharks have been accused of doing. He only arrived in San Jose last Friday (September, 18th) and got one practice under his belt before playing in a pre-season game. He's been playing with Thornton (C) and Setoguchi (RW) . . . what a scary combination. Thornton, one of the top assist guys in the entire league, Seto's speed, coupled with a sniper like Heatley - crazy. Marleau's been bumped down to the second line with Pavelski (C) and Clowe (RW) but that doesn't mean it's a demotion. The Second line is a Power Player powerhouse and adding Marleau's ability there can only help that line. Pre-season is still underway and the Sharks are still sorting out the rest of the team. A consistent third and fourth line has yet to appear but there is still time to get that together. So far there are 29 players on the roster and it has to be down to 23 by October 1st.

There are a lot of spots open now with so many players gone. Let me just give you a quick rundown: Boucher (PHI), Cheechoo (OTT), Ehroff (VAN), Goc (NSH), Grier (BUF), Lukowich (VAN), Michalek (OTT), Moen (MTL), Lemieux (Retired), and the great Jeremy Roenick (Retired). That's not even counting a few of the rookies that have been let go or some of the reserve players. With so many spots yet to be filled, this year's Sharks team is going to look extremely different from last year. Yet I feel strongly that it will be a change for the good. I was worried that if too many of my favorite players left, I wouldn't feel the same way for the Sharks. I watched my 2001 Avs team unravel and become a completely different team in only a year. I find myself feeling differently about the Sharks. I don't love them for a handful of players, I love them for the goals and commitments they have. From the General Manager down to the Equipment Manager, their goals are the same - to create the best hockey team they can. I bleed Teal and will bleed Teal forever. So, bring on the 2009-2010 season!

So Many Choices . . .

Year: One
Season: Spring
Day: Two

Because I went to bed so early, I found myself wide awake at 3:00am in the morning! I ventured outside, the moon was still high in the sky and the air was still. I watered my five Tomato Seeds and decided to hike a bit north of my property. I heard there was a pond there and was curious to investigate the area. Once there, I found that there were many wild flowers growing around the area. I picked a few Goddess Drops and some Toy Flowers. I also found a local herb called Mugwort. Not being able to afford to consume any of my products produced on my farm, I was reduced to scavenging the area for more of these herbs. Though they tasted quite bitter, they gave me enough sustenance to continue my work. I also found a curious Mushroom near a tree that lay across from the pond. I was hungry and it so big that I thought the mushroom would be able to sate my appetite for I had only found one Mugwort at the time. As I consumed it, I began to feel faint and must have slipped into unconsciousness because the next thing I remember was waking up inside a tree and finding Nik, Nak, and Flak before me. They were surprised to see I had found my way into their domain and commented that I must be a very large Harvest Sprite. They greeted me kindly and welcomed me into their home. They had so many odd things in their house; one especially peculiar item was a pot that held some kind of liquid in it. As I stared into the pot it began to move . . . and then speak! After quite sometime of watching the pot, it became exasperated and yelled that I had won. Inquiring what the pot meant, Flak said that Mr. Pots would grant me a wish. He then asked if I wished for a son or a daughter and which point I said on a whim that I wanted a daughter. Flak said that Mr. Pots would surely grant my wish. Finding that I had spent some time with them, I said my farewells and headed back towards my farm.

Once outside, I found that it was raining and I had watered all of my crops for nothing. I quickly hurried back down the hill and into the barn. There, Miel was waiting to be milked and fed. After seeing to her I decided to explore the town a bit more since there was nothing for me to attend to at the farm. While on my walk I met a nice elderly couple, Galen and Nina. Galen seemed like a mean old man at first, with his sharply pointed nose and white hair. But once I spoke with him, I found that he was very nice and friendly. His wife Nina was wonderful as well. Her face was very rosy and her grey hair hung in wide curls. They told me that they often walk in the morning around town. I visited the mansion at the end of town and met Romana, a very smart elderly woman. Her granddaughter, Lumina, was practicing the piano much to the joy of Romana. Lumina’s reddish-brown hair was cut short and she wore a sweater around her neck, she looked as if she were going to play tennis. Lumina happened to be another one of the eligible women in Forget-Me-Not-Valley. Their butler, Sebastian, was a very polite elderly man who seemed to be completely devoted to Romana and Lumina. After my visit to the mansion, I walked down towards the southern end of town and met Cody, a metalwork artist. His dark skin, blonde Mohawk, and tattoos only added to his hulking frame. He looked like a pro-wrestler but was actually very quiet and reserved. I ran into Tim, who runs the local inn. He is very easy to recognize in a crowd because of his distinct Chinese clothing. I also talked to Nami, the unsociable redhead that lives at the inn. She is yet another one of the eligible women that Takakura had mentioned earlier. Lastly I talked to Griffin who runs the Blue Bar. He looks like your classic cowboy with his long brown hair and big mustache. I also met the waitress, Muffy, as well. Her hair is blonde and the style reminds me of the south. She happens to be the fourth of the eligible women in the valley.

By the time I finished talking with everyone, it was already around 4:00pm. It was still raining as I rushed back to the farm to attend to Miel. I put the milk in the shipping bins and picked up the money Takakura had left from yesterday’s sales. I petted Hiei who was taking shelter from the rain in his house. I double-checked the fields before I turned in for the night. I wrote a few notes in my journal and went to sleep. As I listened to the rain falling on the roof, I couldn’t help but wonder which girl I would pick if I had to. Hoping that I wouldn’t wake up tomorrow as early as I did today, I slowly drifted off.

And So It Begins . . .

Year: One
Season: Spring
Day: One

Takakura led me into a small valley green with the touch of spring. A soft wind blew across the valley floor and the sun shone brightly overhead. I didn’t know the reason why Takakura brought me to this peaceful place. As we walked towards an unknown destination, we passed a farm with three rows of greenhouses and turning windmills in the background. We crossed a small wooden bridge that led us over a bubbling stream so clear and blue that it sparkled like a gem in the sunlight. We turned up a dirt road and at its end, revealed a farm with green pastures, unplowed fields, and a few old buildings. Takakura saw the surprised look on my face and laughed. He asked me what I thought of the place. I gave a slight nod, it was a beautiful land filled with life and joy. He asked me if I would work the farm and live here in this valley. I could only stare at Takakura as I tried to process his request. Seeing how my mind was whirling, he began to explain himself. When he and my father were young they had stumbled upon this serene place called Forget-Me-Not Valley. They dreamed of moving here and working the land with their own hands. After my father passed on, Takakura had hoped that I would keep both his and my father’s dream alive by taking up the task of working the farm.

I gazed upon the old farm; it needed a lot of dedication and work to get it functioning again. I wasn’t raised a farmer and didn’t know where to even begin. But the forlorn look in Takakura’s eyes and the responsibility I felt in keeping my father’s wishes helped me to find the courage I needed to attempt this monumental task. I nodded my head in confidence and joy spread across Takakura’s face. He was ecstatic with my decision and promised to assist me in any way that he could. His suntanned skin showed that he had spent many years outdoors and his black hair was trimmed short to deal with the summer heat. I had faith that he could help me very much with the farm. The first order of business was to name my new farm. After much deliberation, I finally made my choice – Hyde Farm. Takakura then took me around the valley and introduced me to the locals. I won’t get into too much detail about these folks yet, but safe to say, they are all friendly and a great group of people.

After we returned from our tour of the valley, Takakura introduced me to the cow he bought for me. A Normal Cow, black and white in color, Miel is very friendly and eats a lot. She likes to have a set schedule and hates it when I’m late. He showed me how to milk Miel and where to put the items I wished to sell. As Takakura finished explaining a few of the particulars of running a farm, two stray dogs approached us. One was blonde in color with pointy ears and a blue bandana around its neck. The other looked orange, had floppy ears, and wore a red bandana. Takakura stated that he wasn’t too fond of dogs so I could only have one. I picked the one with the red bandana because I loved his floppy ears. I named him Hiei and Takakura said he would build him a dog house later that afternoon. The first day of spring wasn’t even over and I already had two animals in my care. I had a feeling that I would get many more as the seasons passed by. Takakura took his leave to build the dog house and I was officially left on my own to run Hyde Farm.

The first thing I did was pick up my tools in the shed that stood next to the barn. There were two Tomato Seeds on the shelf as well as a Heavy Hoe and Heavy Sickle hanging on the wall. I put them into my Rucksack and entered the barn. Because of the nice weather, I called Miel outside to the pastures to graze. After making sure that she and Hiei were alright on their own, I hurried down the road and back over the bridge. It was late afternoon and most of the day was gone, I had no time to lose. I approached the farm with the greenhouses and windmills and knocked on the door of the main house. The people welcomed me warmly and invited me in. Takakura had introduced us earlier when he took me on a tour of the valley. The farm is owned by Vesta who grows many crops to sell in town and to ship to the city. She is a large woman who was built to work in the fields. Her reddish-orange hair fits her boisterous personality. Her brother, Marlin, helps with the farm work. His curly black hair doesn’t seem to fit the look of a farmer and you can never tell when he’s joking or being sarcastic, the former is usually true. Celia, a family friend, recently moved in to help them. She holds her light brown hair back with a handkerchief to keep it from getting in the way of her work. Her quiet and kind personality seems to be the total opposite of Vesta who is always outgoing. Takakura had clearly pointed out that Celia was one of four eligible women in Forget-Me-Not Valley and that I should try to find a bride before the year was out. I ignored the comment knowing very well that I had little time on my hands for such things. The one important piece of information Takakura did offer was that I could buy seeds from Vesta . . . and that was the very reason for the visit.

When I walked inside, Vesta was nowhere to be found. Marlin and Celia explained that she was in the storage house that sat near the greenhouses. Celia told me that she would be happy to fulfill my seed orders. I had a very serious choice in my hands. Should I buy seeds for only the spring season and hope to turn a quick profit or should I plan ahead and prepare for the winter and next spring? After much careful thought, I decided to go with the latter, knowing that Miel wouldn’t provide milk forever. So I spent my 3000g startup money on a variety of fruit trees that would take roughly a full year to mature. I had two unplowed fields on the farm. The closest to my house had relatively unfertile soil and it would be unwise to use it to produce the normal seasonal crops. Fruit trees however, are much sturdier and should survive just fine in that field. The field itself was seven squares long and five squares high. Because of the size of fruit trees, I couldn’t plant them too close together. I devised a pattern that would maximize field yet allow for the necessary space for the trees to grow.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
5 x o x o x o x
4 o x o x o x o
3 x o x o x o x
2 o x o x o x o
1 x o x o x o x

I bought six Peach Seeds which I planted in rows two, four, and six. I also bought three Apple Seeds which I planted in row one, three Grape Seeds which I planted in row three, and three Banana Seeds which I planted in row seven. I couldn’t afford to pick up everything that I wanted so I decided to put off planting Orange Seeds for a few days. In addition to everything mentioned, I also bought three more Tomato Seeds as well as two bags of Fertilizer. Once I had made all of my purchases, I bid Marlin and Celia adieu and hurried back home. I plowed the first field and planted all of my fruit seeds. I was surprised at how heavy the hoe was and I found myself exhausted after every row. But I couldn’t rest and quickly moved onto the next field. The second field is much more fertile and is five squares across and seven squares long. To save on time and to save my body, I only plowed the first five squares and planted my Tomato Seeds.

It was only 5:30pm but I was beat. I watered the Tomato Seeds (fruit trees do not need to be individually watered), fertilized the pastures, and went to see how Miel was doing. I called her inside, milked her again, and fed her. I left the barn and entered the storage house where I put the milk for Takakura to take to the city and sell. I’m grateful that he’s willing to leave every morning at 5:30am and take the long hike to the city to sell all the goods that the farm produces. I could sell my products in town but it saves me so much time to have Takakura take care of the business side of things. After preparing the milk for shipping, I exited the storage house and slowly walked towards my house. Hiei came bounding up to me and I gave him a pat on the head. I saw that Takakura finished his dog house and reminded myself to thank him in the morning. Before I could enter my house, I was approached by three curious looking creatures. “Sprite” is the only word that comes to mind to describe them. They announced themselves as Nik, Nak, and Flak and welcomed me to Forget-Me-Not Valley. They said that they were Harvest Sprites and would watch over my progress with much interest. After they left, I entered my house and recorded my progress of the day in my journal. I was so profoundly exhausted that once I laid my head on my pillow, I fell soundly asleep.