My Chateau Reno

Though I've had abundant experience with real-life home renovations, my Second Life renovation record is rather spotty.  When it comes to virtual homes I'd generally rather build them myself than buy them, especially because I know I just can't stop myself from remodeling my new purchase.

It was the same way back in my days of TheSims2.  I'd download a brand-new abode and spend the next week (or two or three) ripping it apart and putting it back together.  On the bright side, that destruction/construction cycle taught me a lot about architecture & 3D construction.  I'd actually recommend it to anyone interested in honing their own skills.

This year with spring just around the corner, I was anxious to add a few new rentals to my Duché de Coeur regions. Being long on ambition but short on time, I decided that a purchase was in order and after much consideration selected a chateau from Never Totally Dead.

Horse Tales: New Carriages come to the Coeurs

Toni & Axel meet at the Petit Trianon

New horses & touring carriages have arrived in the Duché de Coeur and Skye & I couldn't be happier to have this popular mode of travel back up & running through our estates!

It was a snowy winter morning back in December when we made the shocking discovery.

Dastardly horse thieves, working under the cover of night, had made off with all of our trained carriage horses.  May they be perpetually cursed with hoof & mouth disease (the thieves not the horses)!

The stables were empty; the carriages themselves taken.

My Blogging Journey

With the arrival of spring I've been revisiting my own blogging journey so Strawberry Singh's Blogging Journey Challenge is very timely indeed.  What a wonderful opportunity to reflect on my travels, ponder the paths taken by other Second Life bloggers and make some corrections to my current course.  Thank you, Berry for launching another excellent adventure!

Which electronic devices do you use to blog with? Tatiana, Duchesse de Provence Coeur, would say she uses only the finest quill pen and perhaps some oil paints.  I keep it almost as basic and stick to my computer.

Do you have a mission statement for your blog, if so, what is it? Connect; Create; Entertain; Inform; Have Fun; Do no Harm; (not necessarily in that order).

How do you feel about blogs that use their platforms to spread negativity? If that's their only goal I'm not interested in them.  Though I appreciate all sides of a discussion, relentless negativity will just suck the soul right out of you.

Are you a grammar junkie? Do you thoroughly check your blog for errors before posting and/or do you judge other people’s posts if they contain errors? I do make an effort to act as my own editor (it's not easy) with the goal of communicating clearly.  As for judging other people's posts; I firmly believe that people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones :)

If you could switch blogs with another blogger who would it be? He's not a SL blogger but I would switch with Philippe Joubert Lussac of Gris-bleu, consistently one of the most beautiful blogs I've ever seen.  I also love Jamie Adair and her History Behind Game of Thrones.  Dang!  Why didn't I think of doing that!

Has your blog/blogging style evolved over the year(s)? How? My first post, Just Arrived, was published January 1, 2009.  The whole blogging process was exciting & a tad overwhelming.  Not only did I have to begin writing again but I had to figure out all the technical aspects as well as the whole blog design thing.  At least now I can leverage my basic knowledge and concentrate on improving.  Honestly, I continue to find the whole process fascinating.

Flat Ebbe: The Age of Enlightenment

It only seems appropriate that I take Flat Ebbe back to my home in 18th-Century France.  I know that he's been run off his feet this week as a result of Strawberry Singh's Flat Ebbe Linden Meme and so I figured that a quick tour through the Age of Enlightenment might make for a bit of a respite and perhaps some, well, enlightenment.

After touring the French Gardens outside the Petit Trianon, we paused for refreshments in The French Pavilion while I pondered the advice that I could/would/should offer this new Linden Lab CEO.

It's not like I'm a stranger to offering advice, solicited or not, to CEOs.  My real life (RL) resume is pitted with examples but as I said in  Adventures w Flat Rod: Rod Humble Crept into My Life with regard to Second Life (SL): I'm just one among the many and for the most part I'm very content with our at-arm's-length relationship.

Shared Seas Sailboat Race

Way too much fun was had at the April running of the Shared Seas Sailboat Race!

The competitors loaded up their boats with lucky charms & brave passengers before setting sail on the challenging course that threaded its way through the Duché de Coeur & Rocca Sorrentina.

It was a bit of a wonder that Fortune smiled on everyone and they all made it to the finish line, a bit soggy but mostly intact.  

Perhaps the Navigator Challenge is having a beneficial effect on our Shared Seas Sailors as not a shipwreck or lost vessel was to be reported.

There were, however, rumours of some rather aggressive sailing maneuvers conducted by my sister, Skye.  Something about her attempting to drive Mercury onto the rocks?
I'm not going to ask too many questions about that.

Last Dance with Rodvik

Warning!! Given Rodvik's recent departure from Second Life, the title of this post might imply some melodramatic musings when it's actually a response to Strawberry Singh's latest Monday Meme, Dance in Second Life Challenge.

SL Sailing Pro Tips: A Lighthearted Look at Second Life Sailing

Now that Port Trianon is open and the Shared Seas of the Duché de Coeur & Rocca Sorrentina have become a reality I've set my sights on becoming a Second Life sailor.  It hasn't been easy and though I've had to swim for my life more times than I care to count I have learned a few things along the way. Calling them "Pro Tips" may be a bit of a stretch (though it does have a nice ring to it!) but they may help novice SL sailors figure out their port from their starboard.  Have a look & see what you think!

First things first; take my hard-earned advice and make an effort to get to know your sailboat, especially if you intend to do any racing.  Being a "last minute" person myself, I've suffered the embarrassment of backing over my competition at the starting-line when I really meant to move forward.  Fortunately, they're a forgiving bunch!

Public sailboats are available at the docks of Port Trianon & the beach of Rocca Sorrentina.

The green & brown sailboats from the Duché are for singles & groups; these are the ones used for racing. The blue sailboats are for couples that like to cuddle though they can also be used as a rather awkward single.

With the Duché boats make sure you "sit" to the right of the rudder otherwise the boat, thinking you are a passenger, will not follow your commands.