Anduin Valley Revisited

[Livin in Sim 83]

Heh, huh, hoo, hah!

John is back!  Glad you had a nice vacation, and sympathies about the work situation.  Mine is also grim.  I will need to visit the Carson links again for relief. 

How did you know I revere Clapton--not to the "God" point, but close enough to risk lightning?  I was toying with the idea of getting tickets for the Denver show.  I've never seen him.  Looks like all the good seats are taken...I never knew there was a Cream Reunion.  I have everything from the Yardbirds (For Your Love) to The Blues.  I will have to look for that DVD.  All told, nothing can evoke a reaction as much as the chords in the "bridge" of "Badge" for me.

Speaking of the blues, the Brothers, and a dusty road, the farms are very agricultural aerial photograph comparable.  I've been looking at those lately.  Did you transit enable the Farm Bureau?  I've taken out the base textures of all my chosen custom made lots in Ilive, but some stubbornly persist in showing up.  Nice ditches--I'm going to have to request for you to become an honorary Irrigator.  That is the name of a high school team in a town nearby.  Their mascot is, you guessed it, a 'Gator.  Odd play on words, but what else would they go with? 

Take care, don't work too hard, and don't worry about the update, our patience will make us virtuous.

--Liv

[dedgren 830]

Wonderfully thought-out farms, John, perfectly placed on a gorgeous landscape.

In other words, the usual AVR stuff.

I come home here whenever I feel jaded.  I always leave ready to see things with a fresh outlook.

Take care, my friend.

David

[RushHourFreak 1]

Awesome update. I love the steps for creating the farms and residential are. You should write a book about this. Very informative and great pictures. decriptive and Weel explained.

Cool, yes we're on 2007...

RHF

[emilin 2]

Excellent update! I know that I don't comment here very often, but I use this CJ in one way or another almost every time I play. Your attention to detail is unsurpassed, and the way you explain how everything is made is so very, very useful.

[hondo42769 0]

Can it be?!?  YES!  John and AVR are back in 2007!  Oh happy day!

I explained in my last post about AVR withdrawl, and I must say that this junkie needed a fix!  Thank you!  And thanks for the link to the transparent texture tutorial at PEGs site.  This update has lived up to your reputation for top-notch detail.  The farms look great, can I assume that you got what you wanted to grow the first time?  I would have loved to see that farmer parking those trailers!  There must be some massive wheel chocks keeping them in place!  I'm looking forward to the light industry, although your farms are so beautiful that I am certain that I will miss them a little in future updates.  Oh well, I can always go back and look at earlier pics.

All my best to you and yours in 2007!

Welcome to page 133!

[owenluby 1]

Definetly a great update!

Just one request: In picture 2, the roads transition into that housing sector opposite the water tower smoothly... Is that transit enabled or is there a mod or the like that lets one do that?

Keep up the excellent work!

[Nik-nik 3]

I am glad you are back and survived the season of greetings.

Great work you showed us.

I start from the top. Personally I do not find that big blue watertower fitting in this environment, it sticks out well though inthe overview picture (number 19).

I love those irrigation canals, I do not ever see you sue the windmill that belongs to the canal set. Why not?

Pic 13 great those little homes there, pity the trailer is also just around that tree, nice try in hiding it John, but I got it.  I recommend buldozing that one.

Farms look great, but in pic 15 there is a slight glitch on the field the brown underground shows through. Maybe a too steep incline?

Nice to see the Vanderaap cottages. I do not see them in many CJ's. Notice how well the colour of the shutters match the crops........ 

......yeah I know I am a details-freak (also in this year)

Finally about parking those trailers, that's one thing, but to run your truck nose first into the sand is a whole other matter.

take care John and keep on having fun.

Nik-Nik

BTW, did your son eat the house empty during Christmas diner?

[Fallon144 1]

Another magnificent update!!

I just found out I passed my thoughest school exam so im double happy

Im hoping that somedat you'll make a(nother) huge city in your wonderful region, keep up the amazing work mate!!

[pvarcoe 0]

Hi John, happy new year to you and yours!

Thanks for the mention about the new NAM. I haven't tried it yet so sorry no feedback. With your mention of it though, I'll proceeed with caution. I have mostly been terraforming a region lately, with no plugins installed but cycledoggs terrain and tree mods. The game runs super fast, but when I get back into building cities that will have to change of course.

Lovely update, right up my alley; lots of farms, terraforming and detailing. It seems to me like you incorporate more irrigation systems than you used to? It seems to be a neccesary "early" step in the development of your rural areas.

I notice you "trap" farm zones inside of fence lots quite a bit. Your dirt trails must be  transit enabled to avoid the "no Transit zots"? It seems like that is the only way you could be avoiding them. It works very well and is key (I think) in the detailing of rural areas that you excell at (the best IMO).

Thanks for update, looking forward to some industrial work.

Phil

[jacqulina 162]

CONGRATS ON MEMBER OF THE MONTH my friend i have been voting for you for a long time now

[Nardo69 51]

Great update again my friend - you continued in 2007 where you stopped in 2006! The placement of the windmill is is just perefct - and regarding the layout of the irrigation ditches you are by far better than I will ever be I must commit ...

And again here (couldn't extend my noon break any longer today ... )

Congratulation for the MOTM!!!!

Take care my friend!

Bernhard

[bat 6]

Excellent start in the year 2007! Congrats on being the member of the month December '06, you well deserved it!

bat

[Livin in Sim 83]

Oh, yeah, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.  Félicitations, John, and many happy returns of the day!

I have never been a member of an online community before.  You have made me feel so welcome.  I have enjoyed so much our conversations, and have felt my time well spent in visiting your journal.

It looks like a lot of others feel the same.

Here's to my favorite MOTM!

--Liv

[pquarles 0]

Re: The third picture (terraforming steps)

This is one of the main reasons I keep coming back to your CJ: I had never thought of dragging road next to (but not over) the hole-digging lots. And yet it creates a beautiful and incredibly realistic overpass. I learn something every time I come here.

[Voulpiotis 4]

Great job - the best start for 2007! Waiting for more; I'll be here until the cj dies, I hope after the 200th page!

[Darmok 34]

This update is composed of 14 pics, if you dont see all of them, please hit the "refresh" button....

---

Schulmanator - Schulmania

Hi Schul,

I saw the farming sector with all the references to the STTNG Darmok episode, great thinking, ad I think those names fit very well with your CJ!

The canals come with trees alongside, but I often add some other trees on adjacent tiles.

See you soon!

---

Flying_Scarecrow

Thanks for your kind words Scarecrow,

And the 100th post is always a milestone, glad you made it here, and I wish you many more to come.

Take care

---

Liv - Livin in Sim

Now that's a greeting! The Blues Brothers themselves!

Hehehe.... I wouldn't call the work situation grim.... let's say.... hectic! 

Well it comes with the territory, in graphic design it's often that way, but I really like the "non-routine" pace of my profession son I accept the downside gladly! I just can't picture myself (again a graphic reference I just can't help it...) doing the same thing day after day....

On YouTube you'll find tons of Johnny C. material in fact they have a better selection than on the DVD set! Don't get me wrong it's good, but the editorial choice is questionable IMO.

About Clapton, how can one not like him?? And I agree with the critic (the link I gave you last update) about the fact that he plays without any "gadgets" and he don't need any, as in "Me and Mr. Johnson" his playing is really refined.

Yep I TE'd the Farm Bureau, and about becoming an honorary Irrigator, well I've been called other names over the years WINK

The snow came back yesterday (this is written tuesday morning), about 6 inches worth perhaps winter has finally arrived!!!

Enjoy your weekend Liv

Take care

-John

An Anduin Valley Council announcement

---

David (dedgren) - Three Rivers Region

Hey David, always good to see you in AVR my friend.

I'll go visit soon in SC4D

Take care

---

RushHourFreak - Sierramonte 

Thanks RHF,

It's good to know that the tech pics are still appreciated and useful.

See you soon

Take care

---

emilin - Province of Lazarus

Welcome to Anduin VAlley Emilin,

Thanks for your kind words, and I'm glad to know that AVR can still be a source of inspiration.

Come back anytime you feel like it, the doors always open!

Take care

---

James - hondo42769

Hi James,

I hope that PEG's tutorial can help you with the transparent texture, It looks more complicated than it really is.

On those particular farms, I think they grew OK the first time around, I don't remeber having to blast any of them, I could have blasted the one with the trailers on the steep incline WINK but I guess I was too lazy to do it.

The industrial sector will be very light, and even if I really like creating rural setups, a change of pace is sometimes beneficial.

Thanks for your good wishes, and I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts in 2007.

Take care

Another Anduin Valley Council announcement

---

Owen - (Owenluby) - Unifire

Hi Owen,

Opposing the water tower is the Bureau of Farm Management, and the road transition is created by the fact that I've transit enabled it.

Always good to read you my friend

Take care

---

Nik-nik

Survived is a good way to put it Nik,

The holiday period could be described has an interminable suite of great (and rich) meals... combined with, you surely guess, lots of great wine and such... I think that I'll eat soup for at least a couple of weeks just to give my stomach a rest.... But who's complaining    I'd do it anytime!

I beg to disagree about the blue water tower, as we are coming to the end of the farming zones and entering a more "semi-urban" one, the more modern looking tower will fit in, at least I think it will. But then again those things are always a question of personal preferences. About the canal windmill I think I used it on some of the firs farms in Anôrien, let me see.... (going back in the archive....) nope.... you're right, but if memory serves me right you're about to see it in a following update... (back in the dusty archives again, flippin' thru old boxes of pics..) nope... I could have sworn using it in Anôrien!!! must have deleted it to place a trail or something... On this one I agree with you, I should have used it.

On the pic 13 topic... I just looked at the original pic (1600X1200) very carefully and couldn't find the trailer you're talking about... could you point it out to me? I'm puzzled! If you're talking about the house which is about dead center in the pic perhaps it's the white pavement of the driveway that threw you off? Anyhow more info on this one, I'm really want to know more about this.

Yes the fiels in pic 15 are not slope conforming hence the graphic glitch, a smoother grade would surely cure the problem, but the tractor was at the repair shop at the time, the dinner was on the table, the kid was throwing his yogurt all over the place (wink) or maybe I was just too lazy to correct it.... hehehe...

You, a detail freak..... NAHHHHHH! I don't buy that! 

Nik, it's always fun to read your comments, send my best to your family.

Take care

---

Fallon144

Congrats on the exam results!

As for a big city, well... next one shoud be more on the concrete jungle side.

But don't hold your breath though we're not there yet!

Take care

---

Phil - PVARCOE Bow River Valley

Hey Phil, happy new year to you too and same to your family.

Yeah, I think it may have something to do with the New NAM and the Rural Highway, it's so slow that's it's unplayable! So I'll remove it for now, until I've completed Anôrien.... darn, I was looking forward to use those long gradual curves with the railroads..

Though it's quite easy reverting to the old nam all you have to do is to switch both directories, I kept the old one just in case so it was no fuss. And I'm sure that if you don't use the rural highway it should be OK, probably that the next RHW version will more compatible with the NAM.

About the fact that I use more and more the irrigation canals, is related to the fact that when I went to Ontario last summer I saw so much of those, that it must have influenced me.

Yes some of the dirt trails are transit enabled, but even then sometimes I have to "cheat" to circumvent certain problems see update 17 on page 130 for more details

Thanks for your appreciation my friend, it's always good to know that what we do serve some kind of purpose.

Take care!

-John

---

Jacky (jacqulina) - Paradise Falls

Jacky, thanks for the MOTM nomination and congrats. I never thought that I could be on that list someday. But it's a great pleasure indeed!

See you in Paradise falls my friend

-John

---

Bernhard (Nardo) - Urland a (mostly) rural coastline

Hey Bernhard, how's it going?

yeah, about the windmills I tend, more and more, to find some secluded spot where the wind would be unimpeded. And in this particular setup I was lucky to find such a spot.

Thanks for both, nomination and congratulations on the MOTM thing, it's really means something to me!

Take care and see you soon in Urland!

-John

---

Bat - Capporth City

Hi Bat, thanks for the kind words!

And the MOTM thing is really like the cherry on the top of the cake!

Take care

---

Liv - Livin in Sim

Thanks Liv, but I'm not that nice, for your information, even knowing they go as far back as the Cretaceous era (over 145 millions years ago), I can swat a biting mosquito without ANY remorse!!! That show's my dark side isn't it? WINK

On the music topic again, B.B. King is coming to Quebec in may, I'm thinking seriously of breaking my piggy bank and take 2 front row tickets! **counting pennies - "and ten, makes 90$" **

I guess it's maybe my last chance of seeing him.

Take care

John

P.S. As you are now a citizen, the City of Anôrien have decided to offer you a business opportunity, more details below....

---

pquarles

Hi pquarles,

Glad to be of any help, I know I never cease to learn when reading CJ's.

Take care

---

Constantinos - Voulpiotis

Welcome to Anduin Valley Contantinos,

Thanks for your appreciation! About the 200 pages, we'll see, thats quite a tall order!

Looking forward to read you again.

Take care

---

And now dear readers, without further ado, here's....

---

First of all, here's a Mystery link of the week , this week it's really something mysterious.... in a "Twilight Zone" way....

Now, I want to address a topic that really really touched me this week.

I want to express my gratitude to all of you who took the time to nominate me for Member of the month, and several people did it not only this time but have done it repeatedly for several months now.

That alone for me has even more value than the label itself!

People you really are the best.

See you next friday!

---

In the meantime

Take care and enjoy life

Darmok

[Benedict 3,119]

Excellent update, Darmok. Once again, I am impressed with the attention to a tiny detail - rearranging the parking lot for the radio station. Your work in this CJ is awe inspiring.

[mayormommy 8]

I like the mosaic of the warehouses along the highway, with the service road, parking lots, and sound barrier wall. Although I like the way you put together the little neighborhood of Lexington row homes, it seems a little isolated and better suited for a more urban, less car-dependent area. Great work with the radio station, I always disliked the original lot. And more nice work on the rest stop, it's just perfect.  *Has sudden urge to go to Friendly's for a grilled cheese sandwich and chocolate shake*

[RushHourFreak 1]

The concept is absolutely perfect. I think you have done a great job with the warehouses. They are not located in the avenue itself, but you made street connection. This strategy is great for preventing traffic problems and other drawbacks. I do like how you tell the story of making the connections and highways interchanges, I like it because you tell it step by step, and is much easier for you to answer a lot of individual questions.

Great work.

RHF

[GMT 389]

wonderful work my friend!

waiting for more

[rooker1 4]

The last two updates were fantastic.  Your rural cities are actually looking better, which may seem impossible because they are so great looking already.

Anyways hopefully work isn't too busy for you and we'll hear from you soon.

Take care and you have a great 2007 also.

[bat 6]

Great using of the Rural Highway! Fantastic pictures and work! The second update in the year 2007 looks execellent like every update (also in '06)

bat

[Fallon144 1]

nice update mate!

nice lay out of buildings in the new part and I love what you've done with the roads

keep it up mate

[hondo42769 0]

John,

Do you ever get the feeling that there are mysterious forces at work in the universe?  I am not a religious person, but this is one of those times that makes me feel that a higher power might be in play.  This is going to get a little personal, and I'm not entirely sure I am comfortable sharing this, but here it goes.  I battle with depression and social anxiety every day.  Some days are better than others, and then there are some that are just, for lack of a better word, crappy.  This, for whatever reason, just happened to be one of those crappy days.  I finally got enough strength to get out of bed when I realized that it is Friday and time for an AVR update.  It may be a silly thing to many, but a visit here usually does cheer me up!  I thought I would just pop in and take a look, thinking that I would just take some notes (yes, I actually take notes) and post a reply later in the day.  Scrolling down, I saw Liv's citizenship announcement and thought that maybe some day I might be granted such an honor.  To my surprise, that day was today.  This is an honor that touches me in a very special way because there are not many places that I feel comfortable and welcome.  Anduin Valley is one of the few places that I can visit when I need to access the feeling that I am a part of something.  So, with extreme gratitude and complete humility, I graciously accept this honor.  But, it did not end there!  As I moved on to the update, another surprise was waiting for me when I got to pic #9 and there before my eyes was Hondo Holdings.  You didn't just offer me citizenship, you laid a foundation for me!  I know that you could not possibly anticipate how this would affect me, but I could not be more sincere in offering you my gratitude.  I have saved these pics, and will cherish them always.

James

PS:  Great update!

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Always a pleasure to see your updates. The town, as always, looks great. I am glad you take the time to not only show what you are doing step by step, but show how you do it. Everyone in ST benefits from efforts such as this. I think you present in a way whihc is both informative and artistic. Thanks for all you do!

[Shadow Assassin 336]

Congrats on your MOTM award, Darmok. You do indeed deserve it.

I quite like what you've done with this update, it's very nice and green. I like the RHW intersection (shame the streets aren't one-way, but oh well ), and American Hardware Supply Co and Hondo Holdings fits in wonderfully with the environment around it.

And the new radio lot's brilliant, too. I like it, too.

[Livin in Sim 83]

"Good evening, late night listeners, here with you is Anôrien's evening star, at 104.3 on your radio dial, KLIV FM.  Skies are currently clear, the temperature is a pleasant 34 degrees celsius, winds are light and variable out of the northeast at 8 mph.  Your 24 hour forecast calls for a low of 26 tonight, followed by a sunny high of 42 tomorrow, winds continuing light and variable out of the east northeast, with a 40% chance of an afternoon thundershower.  And now, after a word from our sponsors, we'll welcome you back to our regularly scheduled program, Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland..."

It is quite a twist of chance, John, but I am no stranger to the broadcast world in real life.  My former husband has been off and on an announcer (they take umbrage to the term DJ) for most of his working life.  (In another coincidental note, in a far future CJ I'm planning, a radio station is featured in the storyline.  So evidently KLIV will have an AM sister station.)   I've dated other people in broadcasting before and after being married.  They are somewhat of an unruly bunch in my experience, yet of course great fun, so I will have my work cut out as station manager of KLIV.  A good strong program director should be the solution, and a somewhat shady sales manager.  And as for the format, what do you think?  Classic rock might be a possibility according to our recent conversations.  However, those announcers are among the most rascally, and would drive me to distraction,   I toyed with the idea of all talk, oh, so obnoxious.  Maybe a Public Radio type (do you have it in Canada?) programming would appeal to the Yuppies?  The good local folk in Anôrien would quite possibly take a shine to Garrison Keillor, no?

Seriously, it made the week to see my passport, I accept it most thankfully.  I will be sure to watch out for your "dark side", thanks for the warning.    Yes, work is not as grim as I imagined since I filled an open position.  Your philosophy is a good one, and I am not at all surprised to hear you are in graphic design.  I noticed you have transit enabled the service stations in the past two updates, as well as my employees' and sales clients' parking lots.  The radio station is very true to life in looks, and to have the streets turning into various parking lots achieves great realism.  Two thumbs up on the ramps also.  I thought I read somewhere that the Rural Highways were in the new NAM, was I dreaming?

"And now back to Piano Jazz, as Marian talks with little known composer Clint Eastwood..."

--Liv

[threestooges 0]

If anyone deserved the MOTM award it would be you: Always informative, always willing to help, creating an overall welcoming atmosphere... It's about time (though I can tell you didn't do all of that to get the award which is why it is so well deserved). A very nice update. I like the redo of the radio station. I've never quite been comfortable enough to fiddle with the LE myself (I've done a few things but nothing spectacular) and furthermore, how to make it functional etc in the game. It's something I should learn, but I haven't found a really simple starter for it yet. I must compliment the two new business entities in the area, may their business boom. Finally, the warehouses look really authentic in that configuration. Did the parking lots line up like that, or did you put them there? Either way, good job. (Incidentally, I am happy to make this my 200th, and just as happy to make it here)

[luker91 0]

wow great update john.... i really enjoyed how you made the interchange... also i like the warehouses and radio station...cant wait for more...

Luke

ps congrats on MOTM, you really deserved it!

[aldara6166 109]

Very nice John...not only do you touch our hearts but you touch our souls as well (some more than others which is awesome! )

Great use of American Hardware Supply...let me see now, how made that great looking BAT...Oh yeah...ME!!

Anyway...it looks great my friend...now, if only you had an amusement park in your CJ...that would look great...

Great work my friend...keep em comin!!