Just curious - this 'bruising' that appears on every male sim ... is this a known problem? I see it every time I switch to 'body hair' or 'tattoo' in CAS. Hoping someone knows WTF before I start the daunting and often fruitless task of 50/50 which can take precious hours from an already short day off.

Some new, some repaired/improved, some newly converted.

Read about it on my blog.

Free. Free of ads. No link shorteners. No early access. No curseforge. No support of dubious companies. No hidden agendas. Just love for my fellow simmers. Please support each other, call your mum, cancel your toxic social media. Don't be an asshole. Don't stand with assholes.

Back to my dark place.

Meet Spencer.

We try to channel our grief into finding a new soul to rescue. This was surprisingly fast given how many dogs we looked at to find both Jaxon as a playmate for Laika, and Freyja after we lost Laika. Javi just sort of came to us naturally - a rescue we follow kept posting pictures and each time he came across our timeline it was like - we really want to meet him.

Spencer showed up in our first search.

He is three to four, heartworm positive (sadly common here in the south - it's easy to avoid with one pill a month/treatment is difficult on a dog that becomes positive), 17 pounds, and not really trained. We were told his people died and the kids didn't want him or the other much larger dogs in the house.

He's been with us two and a half weeks and he's starting to show a little more confidence and he's getting used to our routines. He was neutered just before we got him. Between nerves, harsh medications, and a diet change he had a rough go our first few nights. His actions tell me he was probably an outdoor dog - he hates going out at night - especially if it is cold, but he's starting to know it's just a bathroom break and back to creature comforts.

Freyja desperately wants to play, but he is still a little reserved. He shouldn't be running around while he's being treated so we're okay with that. He is starting to show a bit of his personality and I suspect he'll be our friendliest dog. He loves meeting new people.

A new dog can't replace another, but he's been a great way to channel our energy and honor the one we lost. There are quirks about him that remind us of Jaxon and that is comforting. It's like he was guided home.

I *think* I am done.

I do love the lighting in Del Sol Valley

Trying something a little different. My art folders are bursting at the seams, but over the years of saving images, not all of them are a good size to work with. So, I decided to take inspiration instead. Are they successful? Eh - who knows. Art is highly subjective. So is CC for that matter. These are designed using only shapes and a collection of stipple brushes in photoshop.

I've also decided to try a normal map to give it a more painted look. I have avoided this previously as every piece of art would not work work but most midcentury art is slopped on paint. I kind of like the effect even if it's not consistent for each piece. This will probably be a one time effect.

Of course - the artist in me is going back and looking at them thinking they are not good enough (they'll neeevvveerrrrr beeeeee-hee-hee [sob]) but the adult in me is like - then people won't use it (like half your other shit). I have significantly more pressing things to lose sleep about.

A flock of surfaces

I think I am winding up this particular part. I included the door table because it looked left out when showing the flour cabinet, jelly cabinet, and chairs. Photo 2 shows a couple of converted tables from the "This Is The End...Table" set from S3 and a couple of other tables from S3 - an Industrial Pallet Coffee Table and an Antique Plant Stand.

Not a remake, but a retexture. The original I use all the time, but this one has more of a maxis-match-ISH element. Uses about six different wood textures gifted to the community by different creators all merged into a unique texture. The mapping program won't show both the glass top and the table base, but you get the idea.

This was in some previews for pieces I am working on and I felt it was time to take away the real-leaning textures for a softer look. I threatened to do this ages ago - started and then abandoned what I started for any number of reasons. It seems that some challenges stunt my creation whereas others heighten it.

#WIP This is another industrial style table I did for S3 that is getting a minor makeover and updated textures.

You know what I learned? I don't save specific textures and reuse them for a consistent overall look. I (stupidly) recreate them each time and flounder. Good times.

Testing the S4 version of this table - off to make the coffee table.