An introduction of sorts

One of the things that frustrates me about people in general (but most usually seen when you watch any type of TV show when there's a contestant/s) is how, when they introduce themselves, part of what they say is their job. I understand that to some people that is an important part of their view of themselves, that their job is crucial to their identity, it matters to them and it does actually say a lot about who they are.

But that isn't the case for me. While I enjoy what I do in my job, it's literally just something I do to earn a salary so I can pay for things I need to live, like mortgage and food etc. So why did I just type 'Hi, I'm Erica, I'm 31 and I'm a school receptionist'? I'm so frustrated with myself. I'm not a school receptionist, it's simply what I do and in my opinion, those are very different things.

A much better, more accurate, way to start would be:

Hi, I'm Erica, I'm 31, I live on the coast in Cumbria (north west England), and I am completely obsessed with Stardew Valley (in case being called stardewdreaming didn't make that obvious). Not just Stardew Valley but also Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, etc. I legitimately dream of dropping out of the rate race and moving to small town in the middle of nowhere and becoming self-sufficient, living off my land. I'm like a walking cliche of the Millennial Dream, crossed with Cottagecore and Rusticcore - and I am absolutely ok with this! I'm also fully aware that what all this encompasses is a very romanticized view of rural living and not an accurate portrayal of farming life - but I still strive to embody some of the ideas of simple living, harmony of nature etc.

When not playing these games, I'm often watching people stream them on Twitch. I feel like such a cliche!
I also enjoy reading, baking & cooking, colouring, needlecraft, making jewellery, sleeping, swimming. I've usually got music playing and quite enjoy country/folk.

That's me in a nutshell. It's nice to meet you, and thank you for spending some time reading my blog!

Sunshine 2023: Prompt 1: Iris

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!