Dreaming of Stardew Valley

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's topic is Water

sunshine_challenge Prompt 5 is Hyacinth
Hyacinths symbolize jealousy, a desire for forgiveness, joy, and sincerity, depending on the flower color. Yellow hyacinths are linked to jealousy, purple flowers mean you're seeking forgiveness, and blue hyacinths are tied to sincere care.

I was going to talk about about how these emotions manifest in Stardew Valley, but then I realised I personally get jealous of other people's farms when I see them - not just Stardew Valley but also other peoples islands on Animal Crossing: New Horizons

I know we're not supposed to compare ourselves to other people - but so many people have beautiful layouts, they have incredible themed farms and islands, with gardens and decor and paths and they looks beautiful. I am not creative in that way and I can never come up with designs for my games. They always end up looking very basic. They're perfectly functional and I'm progressing in the game but they don't look as nice as all the ones you see online. I get very jealous of players who have the ability to make their farms/islands/etc to look that pretty.

Sometimes I'm almost tempted to place an order from those people online who offer to design your farm/island - but I'd be too nervous about it being a scam.

I do wish my farm and my island had an amazingly aesthetic layouts though

Hi, hello, good evening!

I have just returned home after an utterly lovely two week holiday in Majorca. I did as little as was physically and humanly possible, and honestly mostly sat by the pool or on the beach, relaxing as hard as I could. I feel amazing for it, it was exactly what I needed. I spent some time reading, some time doing needlework, I did some lovely hiking trails, and a lot of swimming (including a trip to a waterpark),

My cat Rusty is currently not talking to me although I suspect he will soon start telling me of his severe displeasure of the fact I was gone for so long. It's the first time I've left him for more than a long weekend but he seems to have survived mostly intact and I know my parents enjoyed spoiling him rotten.

I am now trying very hard not to let the pile of laundry stress me out. I have ordered a pizza delivery for tonight and am settling down to try and catch up on the lovely comments you folk have been leaving me

hi, hello, good evening!

I am catching up on posts while sitting in my hotel room. My connection is terrible, sadly, but I'll catch up on commenting when I'm home. And thank you all for your lovely comments that I can see you've left!

sunshine_challenge Prompt 5 is Goldenrod
Historically, Goldenrod has been used as a symbol of good fortune, growth, and encouragement. Because of its ability to survive in diverse, harsh environments, Goldenrod represents good luck and a pioneering spirit (pretty fitting given its origins in the meadows and pastures of North America).

And it will come as no suprise that I'm going to write about Good Fortune, Growth, and Encouragement in Stardew Valley

In Stardew Valley, good fortune is a fickle thing. Some days, it seems like everything is going your way. You find a prismatic shard in the mines, your crops grow at an accelerated rate, and you even catch a legendary fish. Other days, it feels like the universe is conspiring against you. You get hit by a swarm of bugs in the mine, your crops die of a mysterious blight, and you can't seem to catch a break.

But even on the days when your luck is running low, there are still plenty of opportunities for growth and encouragement. Talking to the villagers can help you learn more about the world of Stardew Valley and its inhabitants. Completing quests can give you a sense of accomplishment and help you build your relationships with the villagers. And even just spending time tending to your farm can be a rewarding experience.

So if you're feeling down on your luck in Stardew Valley, don't give up. Just keep on keeping on, and eventually the good fortune will start to come your way. In the meantime, there are plenty of other things you can do to grow and be encouraged.

Talk to the villagers. The villagers of Stardew Valley are a friendly bunch, and they're always happy to chat. Talking to them can help you learn more about the world of Stardew Valley, its history, and its inhabitants. It can also help you build your relationships with the villagers, which can have a number of benefits. For example, villagers with high friendship levels will give you discounts on their goods, and they may even give you gifts.

Complete quests. Quests are a great way to earn money, experience, and items. They can also help you learn more about the world of Stardew Valley and its inhabitants. To find quests, talk to the villagers, check the bulletin board in the town hall, or visit the adventurer's guild.

Spend time tending to your farm. Tending to your farm can be a rewarding experience. It's a great way to relax and de-stress, and it can also be a lot of fun. As you tend to your farm, you'll watch it grow and thrive. You'll also get to harvest your crops, which is always a satisfying feeling.

Most importantly - Don't give up. Sometimes, it can be easy to get discouraged in Stardew Valley. You might have a bad day in the mines, or you might lose a valuable item. But it's important to remember that everyone has bad days. The important thing is to not give up. Just keep on keeping on, and eventually the good fortune will start to come your way.

hi, hello, good evening!

Question 2 on the 30 Days of Stardew Valley Challenge is Least favourite character and that dubious title goes to Haley
Haley, to me, comes across as conceited, self-centred and rude. She seems judgey and superficial, all she seems to care about is fashion and how people look - her dialogue the first time you meet, she says 'If it weren’t for those clothes you might actually be pretty/cute...'

She reminds me far too much of the popular girls in school who used to bully me for not wearing the right clothes, not wearing make-up, being tall, etc etc. I'm sure, like all the other NPCs, she has some heart-breaking storyline that explains why she's the way she is but I don't care to put the effort into befriending her to find out!

hi, hello, good evening!

thefridayfive for 14 July 2023 asks:
1. What scent is your shampoo? I have a Friendly Soap shampoo bar that's peppermint and eucalyptus. It's very refreshing

2. What’s something interesting that you’ve carried on your shoulders or back? Nothing interesting, just the weight of other peoples expectations and disapproval of me as a millennial.

3. What’s your favorite dance step or move? Either the Macarena, the Locomotion or Saturday Night

4. Who do you spend the most time with? Voluntarily, it's my cat, Rusty. But it's probably the other people I work with, since I spend

5. Is there anything in your daily life that you need to stand on tiptoe or get a stool to reach? No, I'm slightly taller than most other women actually, just over 5'6, so I'm the one who reaches shelves for other people in the supermarket

[Bad username or unknown identity: thefridayfive"] for July 2023 asks

1. How's your summer (winter) going so far? so far it's going really well, I've enjoyed the sun while it's been there and complained about the rain but I'm in England so that's pretty normal. I've spent some time on the beach, and relaxed in the warm.

2. Have you made any special summer (winter) plans? I have! I am going on holiday at the end of July for the first time in 4 or 5 years. I'm going to Majorca and have no plans on anything other than sitting by the pool

3. What are your traditional activities in summer (winter)? I don't really have any traditional activities, there's something specific I do. I'd like to go on more picnics and ride more.

4. Are there special summer (winter) foods or drinks you're enjoying? I do always enjoy ice cream

5. What is one thing you need to do this summer (winter)? Relax and enjoy it!

Prompt 2: Gladiolus
Generally, gladioli represent strength of character, faithfulness, moral integrity, and remembrance. Gladioli are actually the traditional 40th-anniversary flower and the birth flower for the month of August! Each individual colour of gladiolus is also symbolic.

Life in Stardew Valley isn't always a walk in the park. You would think with it being a pixel farming game it would be, but there's unpredictable weather patterns, and the relentless challenge of running a farm. Some days there's so much to do with your crops and animals, there's no time for anything else and it's easy to get frustrated. However, it's in these challenges that our strength of characters gets the chance to shine - you learn to adapt, to persevere, and keep pushing forward. Your ability to bounce back from setbacks (and remember to build scarecrows), or make tough decisions (do I milk my cows & water my crops, or keep working on my current quest?)

You also have the opportunity to foster deep and meaningful relationships with the villagers - and not just the one/s you're romancing. Whether it's supporting Pierre's store over Jojamart, joining in with community events or simply taking the time to chat with or gift to our neighbours. By consistently showing up, being a reliable friend, we cultivate trust and camaraderie along with our crops, and our faithfulness helps build a thriving community that lifts each other up.

Stardew Valley is steeped in history and the stories of those who came before us. The farm belongs to your late grandfather, and you're working it in his memory. From the dilapidated community centre, to the secrets buried in the mines, remembrance plays a vital role in uncovering the valley's past. As you discover and preserve artifacts, interact with the villagers and get to know them and their stories, and participate in seasonal festivals, you pay homage to the rich heritage of the area. All of this allows you to connect with the traditions and legacies that have shaped Stardew Valley, fostering a sense of appreciation and gratitude for what has come before.

Kindness is another important theme in Stardew Valley - you're constantly interacting with the residents of Pelican Town and treating them with kindness will lead to them reciprocating. The main way of being kind to them is by giving them gifts they like, and especially on their birthday. This will increase your friendship level with them and creates a positive feedback loop where they're then kinder to you in return which makes you feel more favourable towards them

The higher your friendship level with the villagers, the better the likelihood that they will gift you useful items.
Pam, for example, will gift you battery packs.
Clint can send you copper, iron, and gold bars
Gaining 2 hearts with Caroline unlocks the tea sapling
Linus sends you a recipe for sashimi which is a decent snack
Gus will send you all kinds of recipes in the mail

Plus, being kind - even in a game - makes you feel good! When you perform an act of kindness, it releases endorphins which have mood-boosting effects. This means that being kind can literally make you feel happier!
So go out there and spread some kindness

Prompt 1: Iris
They can represent faith, hope, courage, wisdom and admiration. Specific flower colours attach further meanings to the pretty blooms. Purple iris brings a message of wisdom and compliments, while a bouquet of blue iris blossoms speak of hope and faith.

We've already covered my slight obsession with Stardew Valley, right? So I'm kind of wondering if I can manage to make this entire blogging challenge about the game. I don't know if I will, but the prompts appear to be nice and abstract so fingers crossed!

When you start playing Stardew Valley (or any game really) you don't know what you're doing, the controls can be confusing and can you feel completely lost and confused, right?
But you have faith that you'll eventually figure out what you're doing.
I remember thinking I'd learn my way around the map, never remember who the characters were, but within a couple of hours/game days, I was working it out and a year later I know so much about the game.

The whole point of the game is the hope that you can build a better life for yourself in Pelican Town, the hope that you can find a sense of satisfaction, happiness and maybe in love!

Even though it's only a game, there's still courage needed to face the challenges in it. There's monsters, disease, the weather. It takes courage to try new things, both picking up a new game to play, but also in-game itself - I know people who find it scary to start talking to & befriending the villagers; some of them can be difficult and no-one likes rejection, even when it's fictional! I find the mines take a lot of courage, especially the Skull Cavern - I keep dying and it would be so easy to not keep going back but I find the courage to keep trying.

There's so much to learn in game - what crops to plant & when & how long they take to grow, what animals to raise, what machines to buy/build, when to spend and when to save money.
I know players who have built up a huge bank of knowledge about the in-game details, they're like walking encyclopaedias and it's pretty amazing to witness!

You wouldn't think it in what initially appears to be just another farming sim game but the themes of faith, hope, courage, wisdom, and admiration really help make the game meaningful and enjoyable and keep me coming back day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year!

I'm also hoping I have enough courage to share this post with folks at sunshine_challenge!