Island Living: A Photo Journal

[CrankyCupcake]

Fuchsia's natural instincts are kicking in! I mean, yes, for sure, if you're a deer and you're in the close vicinity of a wolf that is smiling to himself a lot, you should totally ask yourself what it means.

 

[CrankyCupcake]

Happy anniversary, New Horizons! Happy birthday, Littlestar! A year flew by, we had fun times and rainy days, and here we are. Where's my Bonsai Shelf DIY!? It's never going to happen issit!?

I was excited to get into the game, having played WW and NL. Claude, who is among one of my first 5 original residents, is still with me. He has a special place in my heart. As long as there is Littlestar, there is Claude. We watched the island grow into what it is today. It's not a fancy place with fancy architecture and landscaping. It's just home. Where we can be ourselves.

A lot has changed. But I still take too many photos. I can't help it. I adore my islanders. Even the ones who have left. And I'm taking the time to enjoy the ones who are left. No one is leaving for a while. I just want to bask in the comfort and warmth of familiarity and friendship. We've all earned it. 🏝♥

 

[CrankyCupcake]

Do you get the sneaky feeling that maybe Tangy's dumbbell is kinda different from the one Octavian is using?

 

[CrankyCupcake]

If we are ever able to hug our island's residents and NPCs, the first ones I would hug are Claude, and Sable. ♥

 

[CrankyCupcake]

Claude has been with me the longest. He is, after all, one of the original first 5 villagers to move here. So it surprises me that I'm still able to get new dialogue with him after all this time!

In real life, I'd love to be able to yell as much as I want whenever I want. But I live in an apartment and I don't want my neighbours to wonder. Yesterday, however, I couldn't contain myself. The yelling and swearing I did trying to reel in a legendary glacierfish in Stardew Valley...

 

[CrankyCupcake]

Just a cute moment of two cute islanders doing their part for the island.

In other news, I wandered into Picrew again and reimagined some of my islanders in their younger days. Can you tell who's who? From top to bottom, left to right: Deli, Fuchsia, Octavian, Wolfgang, Raymond, Tangy. I had fun!

Credit: Anoko ga Kocchi wo Miteiru

 

[CrankyCupcake]

It's Lolly's birthday and Fuchsia, dressed to the absolute nines, is celebrating with her. I wasn't sure about Lolly when I invited her to live on Littlestar. The normal personality in this game strikes me as bland and unexciting. But Lolly was different. She had more dialogue than any other normal villager I've had before. Somehow. She's cute and sweet and I think she's going to be celebrating birthdays on my island for a long, long time. ♥

 

[CrankyCupcake]

Hmm. I have a memory like a well-used sieve so I don't remember getting this essential tip at all last year!

I did mention that Raymond is the most well-informed islander I have! So it makes sense that he should be the one to tell me this. Now I just need him to clue me in on how to avoid catching stones and tyres.

 

[. Rarity .]

I found your wonderful thread, and I I'm so happy I did. I love all the pure, happy moments you show case, and how you seem to love Marshal as much as I do

I take far to many screen shots of him, and his little tail is absolutely adorable, I agree. I have many screen shots of him and my jock together, him on his lonesome, and when its just the two of us. I absolutely adore him.

I look forward to more of your photos in the future, keep up the wonderful work!

 

[CrankyCupcake]

@CylieDanny

Thank you very much for stopping by and taking the time to let me know! And thank you for your kind words. I'm glad to hear you've enjoyed the screenshots. I always have so much fun taking too many of them, then deciding which ones to post here.

Marshal just makes me smile every time I see him.

 

[CrankyCupcake]

I asked Octavian if I could lick his lollipop, just a teeny weeny little lick, and he was aghast at the idea.

Found Raymond dozing under a tree. I wish I could join him right there and take a nap, too.

 

[CrankyCupcake]

OH WOW IT'S SAKURA SEASON ALREADY!

It was night by the time I managed to play AC because I was playing Stardew Valley and I finally beat the game! It took 4 in-game years. Getting to the summit was awesome, especially the cutscene with Sebastian. I think I got teary-eyed. The sort-of-closing credits was a cute surprise. It made me laugh. Grandpa and Mr Qi said they had watched me every step of the way on my long journey to achieving perfection. That felt good to hear. What a very satisfying end to one of the best games I've ever played.

 

[CrankyCupcake]

Can you take too many screenshots of the sakura trees? Nope. Not for me. It's never enough. Never ever. For the next 8 days, there will be nothing but gratuitous sakura shots. I love them so!

 

[CrankyCupcake]

The best time to take sakura pictures in the game is early morning. I find that, after 8am, the delicate pink hues of the sakura are washed out by the sunshine. But I also enjoy taking pictures in the night because the contrast between the dark night sky and the sakura blooms adds a dramatic effect.

Editing is required though. The difference can be stark between edited and non-edited screenshots. My snaps are always adjusted for better contrast and colour, but I try not to cross that line between what's natural looking and what's editing induced trauma drama. Do I always get it right? Who knows? Who cares? I do it for fun.

I see editing as a way to enhance rather than to correct. Thankfully it's a lot easier to do with AC screenshots than with actual photographs. I used to grapple with white balance and exposure issues when I was photographing my favourite macro subjects like insects, jumping spiders, flowers and water drops. And now I'm feeling all nostalgic and want to go out with a camera and shoot stuff. But I'm also elderly and I have back problems, so those days are behind me. That's why I enjoy AC so much. I'm grateful for the in-game camera. I just enjoy making screenshots so much. It's such a beautiful game.

 

[CrankyCupcake]

The sun was setting. Marshal and I sat together for a bit under the cherry blossoms outside his house.

 

[CrankyCupcake]

It's Sunday, so Daisy Mae was visiting with her turnips. Spring must be pretty bad for her sinuses, she kept sneezing and sniffling, but she didn't let that interfere with her appreciation of the beautiful cherry blossoms.

 

[CrankyCupcake]

Today's sunset was one of the rarer ones with very deep, intense hues. This light made the sakura look completely different from yesterday's sakura at sunset.

 

[CrankyCupcake]

Today I found Fuchsia lost in thought under the sakura trees. She's probably wondering if her loud rock music from the radio is bothering her neighbours. Or maybe she's just dreaming up the next prank to play on Raymond.

Lolly, on the other hand, simply spent the day appreciating the cherry blossoms. As did I.

 

[CrankyCupcake]

I found a squirrel camper. I've never met her before. But I think I'm a little in love with her design.

To be perfectly candid, I thought I was looking at a boy squirrel when I first entered the tent! Apparently Tasha is a snooty. I've not had much luck with snooty animals. I liked Maelle and Mathilda a lot when they were living on my island. But the snooty personality is not endearing to me. I'll give it another shot with Tasha and we'll see how it goes. Fingers crossed.

 

[CrankyCupcake]

The cherry blossom petals were flying everywhere today. Just 3 more days, and then the sakura will be gone.