New Toulouse Ghost Hunt

By Gemma Cleanslate

The following is posted in on the home page of New Toulouse website.

“Following a sharp rise in reports of local hauntings, a fresh survey of ghostly activity is taking place in New Toulouse Parish.

The Spectral Activity Survey will continue through December 5, so be on the lookout for any haunts, spooks, wraiths, phantoms, specters, poltergeists, or other apparitions. Citizens who register 20 ghosts with the Beacon Spiritualist Institute will gain access to gifts organized by the Taloo Boosters Society.

“The ghosts of this parish, among them the oldest inhabitants of the area, have for too long been without a voice,” said Richard Mains, a recently deceased candidate for New Toulouse mayor. “Since many ghosts are housebound, we call upon the living to find us and tell our stories.”

The most recent survey of this type was undertaken in November 1914, when 2,720 spirits were reported in this parish.”

The parish has been fairly quiet since the hippopotamus scare ( http://slnewserevents.blogspot.com/2017/07/bacon-of-hope-hunt-at-new-toulouse.html  ), but perhaps this is where all the ghosts and ghouls went after Halloween Night. 

I am always so happy when New Toulouse has a special “hunt" event. There is a story at every step that is so interesting . This time there are ghosts of past residents of the parish that will not or cannot leave their homes, perhaps out of love of the place, or just can’t get out. Some still have some contact in the sim, some are just completely lost.

I started by getting my Hud that will keep track of all the ghosts I do find. Each stop will introduce you to a new ghost that you really have to look for in some of the places. It took me a while in a few of the stops to find him or her.There is always so much to see in New Toulouse that is interesting in itself it is easy to get distracted. 

In the Chapel I got so interested in playing the organ and admiring it I got off track. I almost gave up because that was a hard spirit to find  but ran into Kenny (kennymcdee.korobase) and Janie (janie.broome) and we worked together on a couple of stops and helped each other. As Janie mentioned the voice dot sometimes gets in the way of recognizing the ghost! It really helps locate the ghost to use the region windlight. To take pictures I usually change so you can see the venues.

Each venue I visited I was able to find the ghost after a short time. There were a few that took longer because of the size of the venue and the many hiding places. Look up look down, climb stairs, open doors, you will find them and learn their fate. There are fun gifts after you finish the ghosts and are guided back to the Spiritualist institute to find the boxes. Little did I know that one of our reporters , Klaus, is involved in this region til I visited his shop looking for a spirit.

This region has so many fascinating artifacts scattered around it is a wonderful place to visit even when not much more than everyday living is going on. Every time I go I see shops and buildings I have not explored before. I always stop at the cemetery before I leave and get that News Orleans feeling. It is always a pleasure to visit . Have a great hunt. Ah, it is a good idea to take off the hud once in a while to save the ghosts and remember to use the Windlight of the region. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/New%20Toulouse/129/99/23

Gemma Cleanslate  

“Bacon of Hope” Hunt at New Toulouse

by Gemma Cleanslate

If you have the right kind of flower, Eichhornia crassipes, the water hyacinth, you can indeed exchange it for bacon, of a certain type. While supplies last.

"The Bayou Safety Initiative is kicking off its flagship campaign with help from Perrineau and Co., a local provider of innovative meat solutions. Foreign flowers threaten our domestic waterways—nay, our very way of life. Buying liberty bonds won’t stop flowers. Only hippopotamuses, and you, can help.” 

How hippos ever got into the Bayou at New Toulouse is beyond me. However, it is always a treat to visit this sultry sim, ”the city in the swamp on the bank of the Missedabracket Estuary. Loosely themed after New Orleans and the bayou, 1900–1925. “ Henri Godenot is the owner and he has assistants.Niki (Nikita Weymann) is the Estate Manager and Yvonne Follet is his Executive Assistant. You will see all the help he has when you see the credits for the hunt.

I love the Mardi Gras time here but I also love the story based hunts . This makes it much more interesting than just a normal hunt , at which I am not very good. This time I was able to do it all at one time in one day, forcing myself to forge ahead. That is much better than the three days worth of visits it took me when I did “Death Picks a Winner“ last year. This hunt, called “Bacon of Hope” takes you over the whole region searching for the pink hyacinth that is overtaking the bayou as an invasive species. At the entrance you can get your supply of bacon which seems to satisfy those who give up the hyacinth (some are not interested in the bacon at all). As usual, this invasive species is very pretty and becomes a decoration in many places.  

At the entrance room, New Toulouse (96/178/1501) , check out what you will be searching for , and be sure to look at all the warnings of hippo cows and what to do if you meet one. You can pick up your hud to wear that registers your finds. Read the note card . Then go off to your first stop in the card on your quest to get the hyacinth.At each stop you when you locate your flower a further part of the ongoing story is given to you along with your next stop on the quest. Each stop is interesting and distracting so you almost forget why you are there. There is a whole group that puts this story hunt together. 

At the end you will go to a gazebo and there are boxes of gifts from all the participants on the table there. I picked up some more boxes to open!  

I always spend extra time looking at all the interesting homes, businesses and gardens, and of course the bayou. I always go back to walk along the streets and look for new areas. 

I ran into the owner of the Tarot Tea Room, Belle (BELINA Corvale), who had just opened a new Cafe down the street. I stopped at the Le Reve de Jaques Cafe and checked it out. I also stopped into the cemetery and the Synagogue. There is so much to explore here in New Toulouse so make it part of your plan that after your hunt is done you will walk the streets and byways and discover the charms . 

The hunt will be ongoing until the end of July.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/New%20Toulouse/96/178/1501


Gemma Cleanslate

The Furry Fashion Halloween Hunt for 2016

By Bixyl Shuftan

Like may of her customers, Amethyst Crystal, the owner of Furry Fashion, has a great love for Halloween. So for weeks she and her staff have been working on a special Halloween area: The 2016 Furry Fashion Halloween Hunt: The Drageth School of Magic."

"Our take on our own version of a magic school," Amethyst called the place, "I'm a big fan of fantasy and magic. I have the Harry Potter books on audio, I listen to (them) quite often."

Just the look of the place is enough to bring people, the overall spookiness, the erie-looking woods, the creepy creatures, the tentacled horrors, the tombstones, "R.I.P Skyler Glasswing: Lost in Teleport," and the haunted castle where the School of Magic is. The castle has numerous hallways, passages, and rooms. And you never really can know what's behind those spooky-looking doors until you open them.

But of course there's more. This being Furry Fashion, there's a number of stalls and vendors offering a variety of outfits and avatars. There's witch, convict, bat, spider, and more.  The majority are fitting for a Halloween event.  There are also textures for modders and builders.

And of course there is the hunt. Placed throughout the area are thirty magic books. Each contains a prize, such as shorts, dresses, jewelry, and more. To give those looking around an idea what to look for, there's a sample spellbook on the fireplace next to the arrival point. While they have the same shape, they do come in different colors and some are better hidden than others. They are both in and outside the castle.

Besides the Halloween area, Furry Fashion still has it's everyday avatars and outfits at ground level, as well as the Furry Fashion Lounge which has events every day except most Mondays. No doubt many of these parties will give shoppers a chance to wear their outfits before and after Halloween.

As for next year, "I've already got staff giving me suggestions to what to do for next year," Amethyst told me, "One of the staff is obsessed with skeletons so wants a undead ballroom. She loves anything to do with skeletons, bone mods,dancing skeletons, etc. Another suggested Alice in Wonderland."

To get to the Halloween area, those at ground level at Furry Fashion can teleport up there via a fireplace, "on the ground level of the sim between FF Main store and the Gacha Resell Shop. ... people can click the flames and it turns into a teleporter." Furry Fashion is also taking part in the "Quest Fur Cover" shopping hunt, so it's hunters will also receive the landmark to it. Or one can just head to Furry (198/167/2480).

Bixyl Shuftan

Wonder Egg Hunt

By Gemma Cleanslate

Saturday I popped over to the Relay for Life event that was held by Team  RFL Fighting Sunflowers. It was an Easter Egg hunt in the Wonderland.  Jesie Ja'Nae West (Jesie Janick) did the décor and it was delightful!

Starting in 5mins, 9am-1pm slt there will be an egg hunt benefiting Relay For Life. This is an event you do not want to miss so get your baskets ready for some amazing prizes and photo opportunities with your favorite characters from the beloved Story.  So bring your family and friends. Adults are welcome to hunt eggs also! To get to wonderland you have to start at the rabbit hole!

Alice was there as were a cast of characters from the story of Alice in Wonderland. I even saw Peter Pan and had tea at the table with him. The Red Queen was overseeing it all. There were a myriad of kids running around in the grasses looking for tiny eggs with prizes in them. I could only find one egg and that was by accident as I saw a someone else find it. The Information Station was quaint and held many pointers about cancer. 

Alice was taking pictures with the kids. I got a kick out of one child who announced her dad was single very proudly. And then suggested that Alice would make a really nice wife for him and a new mommy. Got to love the SL kids! Everyone was having a wonderful time and I enjoyed the visit.

The Fighting Sunflowers Team has raised almost 44,000 Lindens inworld as of now, and has so far collected a total of close to 120,000 Lindens in total.

Gemma Cleanslate

The Skybeam Fox Hunt (Nov 2009)

By Bixyl Shuftan

 In late October, Second Life Newspaper had a new sponsor, the Skybeam Estates. It wasn't long before we had a chance to spotlight the community, their third anniversary on Saturday Nov 14. Among the events that day was the fox hunt. Maybe I was a little close to the subject, but it was the one that I chose to write on, the article going up Tuesday Nov. 17.

 * * * * *

Skybeam had a number of  events to celebrate it’s third anniversary. There was a “Worst Dressed” contest. There was a snail race. There was a spoof of “Wheel of Fortune” called “Wheel of Lindens,” in which I won a hundred L on. But what to me was the most memorable was the fox hunt.

No, they didn’t hunt yours truly. Amethyst Starosin, the Skybeam event manager, and Erix Oh, donned feral fox avatars, purple and red respectively, and volunteered to be the targets. There was also a third fox, Kiwako Snook, whom was the gray decoy. There were free horse mounts available to those whom didn’t have one, but as demos they were no longer redeemable once the player got off them, or 45 minutes had past. Anyone whom wanted the traditional red riding outfit, however, would have to get it themselves. To catch the foxes was a cager, just go in mouselook, aim, and click.

So at 10 AM SL time on Saturday the 14th, people began gathering. My presence led to a few chuckles, not just because of my avatar’s vulpine appearance but also the raptor-like mount I had for a “horse.” But no one tossed a cage at me. It was soon time to give the foxes a head start, and then everyone on horseback charged to capture them, or in my case on raptorback to “rescue” them.

But not surprisingly, I lost sight of them. I had heard all of Skybeam, not just that one sim, were open to the fox hunt. Peaking at the map, there were plenty of green dots here and there, so I wandered about, going through fields, over rocky hills, and by homes. I didn’t think I’d find the foxies, but I was having fun exploring around.

Finally checking the map, I saw that the sim the hunt had stared on suddenly had a mess of green dots. Was it all over. I ported over, expecting to hear that it was. Instead when things were rezzing, I saw people running around, and people shouting, “Some one get her!” The hunt was still on!

To my surprise, the purple fox darted in front of me. I promptly zoomed into mouselook, took aim, and ... nothing! As I had test-fired it once before, I wondered if it was a one-shot weapon, and went back to the starting point to get a new cager. But when I got it and turned my raptor mount around, I heard, “TWIZT GOT HER!!” “Yay Twiz!!” “CONGRATULATIONS TO TWIZT YING FOR CAGING THE ONE THAT COULDN'T BE CAUGHT!!” And so the hunt was over. twists response was simple, “Wow. I didn’t even see the cage.”

After that was the post chase chatter. Earlier on, Erix Oh had been caged by Neil McCullough. Amethyst had proven much more frustrating, “That was so frustrating having her right there in front of me and not getting her.” “I'm sorry ... but last year Neil had me in like 90 seconds ... this was great.” “Did anybody get a picture of me caging myself?” “... what'd you say, where I ‘rested’ on my sim, hidden in a hollow stump?” (decoy)“I almost morphed dragon a couple of times, just to give a horse a fright. :P ” “Eeeek a dragon!” “Oh my God!  Scarey dragon!”

Admist the laughter, there was talk of having another fox hunt in December, and Amythest the purple vixen getting a few belly rubs. And after a while, people soon left for the next event. And so ended the Skybeam Fox Hunt.

Among my furry friends, reaction was a bit mixed. Some thought it odd. Others joked about holding a different kind of fox hunt. Many thought it should be the foxes on horseback and hunting the “hummies.” But there was also one suggestion for a shy human guy being chased by a band of scantily-clad, giggly, vixens.”

* * * * *

This would be the only anniversary of it's new land sponsor Second Life Newspaper would cover, and there would be no fox hunt in December to cover. Still, it was a chance to get a peek of life and times at Skybeam.

Bixyl Shuftan

The Wulfenbach 2014 Winter Games

By Bixyl Shuftan

In real life, the Winter Games don't start until February 7th in Sochi Russia. In Second Life last weekend, residents from several Steampunk communities (and friends of) got together for their own winter activities, the Wulfenback 2014 Winter games. The events took place over a the weekend of Saturday January 25 and Sunday January 26, and across several sims across the Steamlands over multiple communities. The events got their name from prominent Steelhead resident KlausWulfenbach Outlander.

The Consulate of Europa Wulfenbach 2014 Winter Games as the events were officially called started off at 11AM SL time at the Dragon Amphitheater in Caledon On Sea (161/35/3076). At over 3000 in altitude, the location was all iced and wintered up, with the only dragons around being stone statues. Indeed there were more penguins at the place, which were skittering around on the ice, with other decorative items such as snowglobes. For those wishing to skate on the ice, all they had to do was click on the stage and get a pair of Wulfenbach skates (and disable any AOs active). Cups of hot coco were also available.

The stage itself had a white Christmas tree in the center back.On the brick floor was a large blue disk for a dance area, with decorative patterns. With music provided by Nyree Rain, people were soon, taking off their skates, and coming over to dance. The event lasted for about ninety minutes, though some people stuck around to chat for a little while before heading to the next event.


At 1PM SL time was the fencing match, the "United En Garde Tournament" at MariKesh Mondrago (75/199/47) (for those who want to know more about the game, Click Here). After paying an entrance fee, thirty-two contestants participated in the event, taking place over three rounds plus the rounds to determine the winner and third place. Some fast and furious swordplay was done, with no shortage of short matches.

The match for first place was Stormy Lionheart and Joesf Fitzpatrick for the championship. It was a bit of a contrast, Stormy being a girl in blue jeans and Joesf a dapper-dressed fur in a good suit. But feminine wiles won out over fashion, and Stormy won. The third place round between Zac Icthan and Vance Nirvana was an even greater contrast with Zac being a two foot tall hippo tiny. But in En Garde, size does not matter. The tiny hippo scored, and won third place.

 at 4PM SLtime, was an intermission event, "Queen Anne's Chess." This wasn't a tournament event, so no prizes were given, but there was still some competition. Queen Anne's Chess Club, at Winterfell Laudanum (127/210/517), has a number of games, including a billiards table, a Japanese dice game called Chou-Han, a Risk-like game called "Conquer," and of course chess. The location is open 24/7 for anyone to drop by and play.

At 5:30 PM was the "Steamcarpet Steeplechase," hosted by Lucien Brentano at MariKesh Mondrago (63/206/48). Actually, there was only one steamcarpet in the event. Most others chose some other vehicle from a flying giant BLT sandwich, to Baron Wulfenbach's helicopter pack, to Avariel Falcon's flying unicorn avatar, to a giant housefly. The flying sandwich got a few jokes in the crowd about "bringing home the bacon" and "airline food," and the giant housefly sparked some humoring about "that would take one heck of a swatter" and "you want flies with that?" The race took part across a course in the air made up of rings. Satu Moreau proved the fastest, and got first place. Second was Avariel Falcon. Third place went to Baron Wulfenbach himself.

The Steeplechase was the last of the Saturday events. Sunday January 26 would see a few more. At 11AM SL time was a fishing event in Caledon Kittiwickshire (71/236/24), "Hats may be involved." There was also a "Scupper of Coffee Race" at the Babbage Square sim, "The Experimental High-Test Coffee Race, newly added this season, will test your mettle in a foot race designed to demonstrate the energy-producing effects of a good, hot, steaming and perfectly safe cup of uber-coffee! Unlimited amounts of coffee will be provided along with additional equipment absolutely without charge!" Sadly, the Newser was not available to cover these events when they took place.

The final game event was the Monster Hunt, taking place at Steelhead St Helens from 5PM SL time to 7PM. The event was described as, "The North Pole has come under attack! We have received word from surviving members of Santa's elven ranger squad that otherworldly forces have invaded and taken over Santa's workshop, seeding the surrounding area with hideous monsters and vile mutations to keep away prying eyes. These villains are now using Santa's factory and manufacturing capabilities to create death machines to leave under trees and in stockings for children all over the world come Christmas next year. ... Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us on the WEA Gummi-Ente where you shall receive equipment and basic training, and then be air-dropped as close to Santa's workshop as we are able, fight your way past the savage beasts that patrol, find the entrance to the main factory, find the ones responsible for this invasion, and in the spirit of Christmas, destroy them utterly and without mercy!"

The event was done using HUDs for the Grim Combat System, which I've seen in a few zombie games. Free crossbows and guns were available for the event, along with red berrets provided with "the blessing of the Queen Victoria of England." More than a dozen gathered to take part in the hunt, including Baron Wulfenback. Yours truly also took a gun for the fight. At the event's start, we jumped down, and mean-looking "tainted snowmen" began appearing, along with alien "three-legged freaks" and floating aliens, and closed in. We fired back, and began taking down these nasties. There were a few "clanks," steampunk robots, near the drop zone to fire at any monsters that came too close, so there was a safe zone.

After clearing out the space between the ship and Santa's workshop, some of us went in, went down a hole, and entered some kind of subterranian base with robot drones, aliens, and even the nemisis of Doctor Who, the Daleks, around every corner. It was a hard fight, and many of us ran out of hitpoints and had to be ported back to the ship, or if the port didn't work, wait for the HUD to recover before we could shoot again. Zanya Resident provided some commentary during the shootout, "Tha Baron is cornered but fights his way through a wall of Daleks and drones!" "Bix is making slush out of the snowmen!"

Finally, there was a big boom, and with a clatter, metal saucer-shapped objects could be seeing crashing to the ground. Zanya shouted, "OH MY GOD! The Dalek ship has been destroyed!!!"

Finally, the time for the shootout was over, "Everyone back to the ship."  "Shoot. I was hoping to reach 1000." Scores were tallied, "In first place, we have Luke Skywookam (Luke Skywalker aka maxim.krutschek ), with an unbelievable 914 kills! In second place, we have Tal'Kesh (aka Way) with an amazing 665 kills! And in third we have Baron Klaus Wulfenbach with a hefty 440 kills!" Zanya commented, "special recognition should to to Tal, though I don't have an exact number, I would bet solid money he thinned the Dalek population down more than everyone else! ... it seems the Daleks took massive casualties, we kept intercepting them screaming about a doctor. Then the ship exploded."

Zanya Resident reactivated the place after the games were over for anyone else wanting to play. The location is at Steelhead St Helens (109/218/886).

The final event was the closing ball. This would be at  St John Parish. Unfortunetly, yours truly was not able to attend due to real life matters.

It was an eventful Winter Games, the seventh organized event of it's kind in the Steamlands. No doubt next year there will be an eighth.

Bixyl Shuftan

Renaissance Faire and Hunt

By Grey Lupindo

      The second Renaissance Faire and Hunt is going on through the month of December at Mieville Lovelace (21, 185, 23).  This hunt is great for anyone who likes medieval items or simply enjoys the thrill of a hunt.  You arrive on board a ship, and a foot bridge leads to the village.  The village is very creative and captures the mood and spirit of the hunt.    

      You will hear the sounds of village life—pigs grunting, chickens clucking and townspeople mingling about—as well as medieval music played on instruments like trumpets, harps, and bells.  

    Tents and vendor stalls circle around a center pond.  Paths lead off to the docks, a tree house, and a jousting area.  Many of the shops have freebies or reduced price specials.  Everything from small candles to huge sailing ships can be found here.  I especially like the vendor who posted the “Will Work for Chocolate” sign.   Me too!

     Perryn Peterson has done a great job organizing this hunt.  Perryn is known for the Historical Hunts, including my favorite, the steampunk ones.  A notecard states that there are over 100 shops participating.  I’ve only been able to visit a few so far, but they’ve been good ones.   I especially like the fact that there is a list of participating shops and LMs.  This allows you to continue the Hunt and return later to any spot where the item stubbornly refuses to be found.     
       In addition, Perryn has set up a mini-hunt in the village that is separate from the Renaissance Faire Hunt.  Fifteen acorns have been hidden very well around the village.  So far I’ve only found 3 of them, but I intend to keep looking.      

       There’s also a make-your-own pottery vendor in the village at Renaissance Faire Isle (70, 148, 21).   This is the first time I’ve seen this type of activity at a fair.  A couple of pottery wheels are set up where you can throw a pot for 25L.  If you don’t like your creation, you can re-set and try again.   You don’t pay until you make something you well like enough to buy.    

       There’s also a tree house that is reached by climbing a rope.  You have a choice of climbing speeds, too.  There’s a great view of the Faire from here.  Check out the inside, too.   

       A faire isn’t complete without food.   There’s a tavern in the round here with free food and drinks.   Lots of tables are available, too, for you and your friends to relax and rest up for the rest of the hunt.   

Grey Lupindo

Let’s Go on a Hunt

I don't usually have time to devote to all of Second Life’s creative hunts, but I wanted to go on "The Home and Garden Market Hunt," sponsored by Katy Glendevon and Heavenly Villa on Triskelion Shores. It’s all part of a grid-wide hunt that runs through Dec. 2. Hunt items are ten cents.

Heavenly is the owner of L'aize Dayz PG & couples furniture and the Touch of Home group. She's a co-owner of Home and Garden Market Village and a teacher at Builders Brewery. You can follow her at http://laizedayz.wordpress.com/ .

Katy started building in SL almost 4 years ago, and after a brief foray into clothing design went back to furniture making. She founded Marmalade Jam one year ago. She is the co-owner of the Home and Garden Market, a real vendor community with the mission of supporting fellow home and garden item creators. Creating items for her store and the wonderful feedback from Home and Garden Market vendors is what inspires her and keeps her motivated. This is the first hunt she organized and she’s proud of the response from shoppers and vendors alike. It’s something she and Heavenly wanted to arrange since the market was first established in June 2011. They have moved around a little, expanded, learned, and now it seemed like the right time to do it. A lot of preparation went into it: finding vendors, finalizing dates, shooting pics, creating landmarks, slurls, blog posts and the advertising.

A click in the destination guide landed me in the "L'aize Days" store, in a room with brown and green furniture, the cozy stuff that would have you falling asleep in your first life. Heavenly created a country coffee table, brown leather and tweed armchairs and a warm brown window seat. The winter green cupboard in the corner is sweet with an antique phone, daisies and books.

When I stepped out of the store, I searched for information leading me to what hunt item I was suppose to look for. A few minutes later, I learned it was an apple from a small poster in the Marmalade Jam store. The first apple I spotted on the Teacher's pet desk was the wrong one. I did find the right one. Here’s a clue: milk & cookies.

In Natas there were cute storybook canopy beds. Next door, Thaino featured shabby chic and vintage home styles. Bold colors pop out at you. At Pinky's Nik Naks, I saw some really cute gnomes. Actually love those in first life, too. They were $50L and about 10 prims. The Ivy Greenhouse was only $100L and about 22 prims.

By this time, I'm noticing the "cuteness level" of the market and all the sculpties. Landscapes medium and dark green are very cozy. The pond areas are adorned with waterfalls and lily pads. Contently, swans swim about.

At Thingies, the Frosty the Snowman song greets me as I cross the welcome mat. Here you'll find nautical products, such as a lighthouse or starfish on stands. The framed beach pictures are nice. I found an apple there. Think roses. You’ll find a Dutch Iris Collection and African Daisies for $300L, all hand painted at Rich Living. There's potted trees, too.

Storaxtree sold old window picture frames, cookies on a plate and some home builds.

At Exquisite Eye Decorations, there was a cute little Dutch windmill, a scarecrow, a round table and chairs, flowers, small tealights and a room divider.

By DeZyne featured a striped umbrella and lounge chairs, quality custom homes and home accessories. The bird cage with the cat ready to pounce is so realistic at Thisnthat. Desiree Davison is the creator here. She also has a lampost with an elf. Grandma’s Chair is just adorable, exactly what you'd see in her house. Check out the summer dock.

Love's Enchantment featured items by Jacob Bearsfoot. I saw yellow finches and blue songbirds and butterflies, too. There were summer mushrooms you could sit on and a Lovers Embrace water sculpture that was pretty nice. I saw a gorgeous grandfather's clock.

I did the entire course and only found 2 apples. I was told there are five out there. Hope you do better. Don't forget to check the stalls.

For more information, log on to: http://homeandgardenmarket.wordpress.com/

Netera Landar

The Ozland Fall Treasure Hunt

I love a treasure hunt. Right now there are several hunts going on in SL, and I recently went to one on Ozland. Owned by Sven Pertelson and Llola Lane, the Ozland hunt covers 3 sims. A good place to start is OZLAND SW (234/137/300). Treasures are hidden in fall leaves. The prizes are as plentiful as fall leaves, too! If you’ve never been on a treasure hunt before, this would be a good one to try. The leaves are easy to find, and no HUD is needed. The lack of a challenge takes some of the fun out of the hunt, but the treasures more than make up for it.

I found the prizes to be really neat: piles of fall leaves that will look great under my trees, a fall-colored rug, a lamp, and even a bed with nightstands. The leaves are hidden along the yellow brick road, of course, and inside almost every shop. There were lots of freebies inside the shops, too. Some of the freebies were not to my taste (like munchkin skins), but most of them were great. I found clothes, including ball gowns for the ladies and a tux for the guys, jewelry, and other fun things. The grey sweater I found was very warm and stylish.

Another treat in Ozland is a rotating art exhibit. Currently on display are the photographs of resident Cowboy Darbyshire, who is a RL Arizona photographer. His exhibit "Desert Thunder” shows some spectacular lightning storms. More about the Ozland art exhibit and schedule can be found at ozlandart.blogspot.com.

A note of warning, however-- at the SW corner of this sim, I received a warning message that I was entering protected land. I was still following the yellow brick road. However, more warnings like “Beware of the Dog” and “Property Protected by Robots” scared me from continuing further.

I backtracked quickly and took a teleport to the next sim, Ozland Emerald. OZLAND EMERALD CITY SKYVILLAGE (119, 106, 299). Here there were more fallen leaves to pick up and treasures to find. I came home loaded down with ice skates, Halloween decorations, and winter PJ’s. I even ran into the Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man along the way.

The last spot on this hunt was OZLAND Cat Inn at Over the Rainbow Ballroom, OZLAND (86, 56, 300). This location had The Panhandle Arms, a pub where I enjoyed a cold Heineken, free of course. There are cute shops and things here, too. One spot is a small display dedicated to the King and Queen of Ozland, Llola Lane and Sven Pertelson. Another place is a $10L shop here, which is close to free. They had Hummingbird lamps in two sizes and lots of nature pictures for your wall.

Fall is coming. The Ozland Fall Treasure Hunt is a good way to get in the mood for it.

Grey Lupindo

Glistening Treasures

I looked in at the Jewelry show at The Village International several times so far and am really impressed. The designers have set out some wonderful pieces for collectors.

The jewelers are Narita Rayna of Ticky Tacky, Lake Swords of Bodywear Jewelry, Ninja Petion of Digital Dragon, Tjake Kearny of Jewelry by Jake, Carrie Granti of CGUK and NIRVANA, Mericatherine Quinnell of Exquisite Jewelry, P4Designs of Milady’s and Tommy Angon of Culture Fine Jewelry. A wonderful collection of jewelry designers.

There is a HUNT going on with wonderful gifts hidden throughout the sim. Don’t miss it!

They will all be there until July 31st so don’t miss a change to see so many in one place at one time!. Take a walk around the sim to see the art exhibits while you are there. There might be a party going on.

The Jewelry Show is at The Village International sim at (134, 18, 25)

Gemma Cleanslate