Spring in SL

I know it snowed here the other day, although it cleared up pretty quickly, but spring is still on its way despite the cold temps.  In Second Life, you can have spring, summer, or any season you want all year round.  But if you prefer to follow the calendar, you can start working on your house and garden to make it ready.



Dulcie on her new patio

Dulcie by her new fountain

 As March came around, I began to think it would be nice to add some outdoor stuff to my SL house.  I "planted" some flowers and added a patio.  I found a nice bistro table and chairs set that coordinated nicely with the wrought iron fence around my house and then bought a fountain from the same shop where I'd found the furniture, B&D Designs.  The price and prims were reasonable, and the arrangement comfortable for spending more time outdoors. 

Another spring project at my house includes breeding my two Amaretto horses, a feat I'm not sure how is accomplished but which should yield some interesting results.  My female horse, Star, actually just became pregnant to my surprise by our male horse, Steam.  I was playing around with the breeding menu, and I guess I did something right.  The little foal is expected on Tuesday.

I'm also planning some Easter parties at home as well as at my pet memorial center.  What is spring without an Easter egg hunt, spring outfit, and bunny hop dances?  In SL, all of these are in abundance. I look forward to the warmer weather in rl but, for now, I am enjoying spring in SL.

Finding Your Special Place in SL

My real birthday is May 9 which falls on Mother's Day this year. In second Life, the day my avatar, Dulcie, was "born" or what residents refer to as a Rez Day is March 6. I like to celebrate both days, as many people do. I don't always do anything big, although I've had a few Rez day parties. For my real birthday, I also like to do something in SL. It's always nice to have an excuse for a party or celebration, and there are so many places to dance, explore, or just have a good time with friends.

When trying to plan a place to go, I wanted to try some place different than the old standby, the Jazz Cat on Info Island International, although I always enjoy going there, as do many of my fellow SL librarian colleagues and friends. I asked for some recommendations but, of course, just like asking for a book recommendation, everyone's taste is different. I also checked SL blogs and the Destination Guide. I didn't really know exactly what I was looking for, but I thought I'd know it when I saw it. The problem was that there were too many choices, and I really wanted to visit each one to see what they were like.

I saw a play advertised, Alice in WonderSland, and thought that might be fun to try, but it wasn't performed on the day that worked best for me. I also considered a SL cruise that one of my friends had tried aboard the SS Galaxy or even a more daring voyage on the HRS Titanic. But when I visited Foxxie's Ballroom and Jazz Club in Shadowfox, I felt that I'd found the place where I wanted to celebrate. In addition to a really breathtaking ballroom of gold, silver, and black, the grounds of the Shadowfox sim feature lovely gardens scattered with dance balls, a gazebo, and a pretty lake with swans. You can take a hot air balloon or horsedrawn carriage tour of the area, have a free photo taken, row a rowboat on the lake, and, of course, shop. As far as dancing, the Ballroom has a strict formal dress code, but it is a classy place and worth the effort. Besides most ladies love to take out their gowns from inventory every once in awhile or buy a new one for the occasion, and men can always find a tuxedo tucked away in their inventories.

So next year, I may celebrate my Rez Day or birthday by seeing a play or taking a Second Life cruise or maybe I'll find another nice place or even just stay home, but, this year, I will enjoy a special night at Foxxies. I am looking forward to it.