Nectar Hills - Chapter 6

As the weeks passed, I was finally able to get much of the brush cleared away – with the help of the twins after school and on weekends. I had always wondered why the builders had wasted the space in the foundation...



…until the day the last bit of brush was cleared away and we discovered a door in the wall under the deck.



A little oil on the hinges and the doors creaked open after a lot of pushing and colorful language. These doors were meant to last, that’s for sure. Pushing on the door, I felt as if it might not be easier to move the rest of the structure instead.





I entered into a cavernous room which must have been originally used as a stable. The construction sure looked old enough to have been anyway. The room was now filled with debris; rotted furniture; cracked dishes; old wooden crates; rusted buckets and other metal objects; and a huge pile of junk in the back corner.

This entry room would be a perfect place to set up a couple nectar making machines, with room for a desk and some work benches. Once we move all of that from the shed, we can then use it for storage, as was intended.



Again, more work ahead, clearing this room out. El and the boys pitched in and did what they could, and in no time the room was clear of debris. As we moved the old crates out, we discovered an adjoining room. It would be perfect for storing and aging the nectar. I will get some racks built along the walls, and there will still be plenty of room to store the fruit we harvest from the garden.

I found an electrician who was willing to do some wiring for a small fee and some nectar. You gotta love the barter system. He did an exceptional job; first rate.

Now that there was some light in the place, we began moving the nectar machine and benches down from the shed. Val dragged Rum and Windsor along to help out when they could. The move seemed to take no time at all.



With the machine in place, it was time to get to work. Unfortunately, moving it in pieces and reassembling down here, made it inoperable. I quickly got to work trying to find the problem and get it operational. This wasted some precious time and resulted in the loss of production.



After several days, I was able to locate and correct the problems and got the machine running. We were back in business.

After one of my deliveries to the Consignment Shop, I swung by the junk yard on a whim and discovered someone had tossed some perfectly serviceable windows out. I gathered them up and dragged them home. Of course I had to get some help from someone who knew carpentry and windows.



I’ve noticed El’s attitude has changed since the windows have been installed. The light has made all the difference. I must admit; I don’t mind staying indoors more myself.

A delivery arrived from my parents a few days later. It was a child-safe stove for the boys. There were some baking mixes and a cookbook included, so, of course Dusty had to make some muffins.



I happened to be out, but El said they weren’t half bad. Personally, I think she wanted me to think that so I would be willing to be his guinea pig next time.



On a bright note, we’re on the waning side of potty training the triplets. At least they can make it to the potty, even though they still need help.





It seemed like we just celebrated birthdays for the twins when the triplets’ big day rolled around. It will be nice to have some more little helpers around the house – or will it? I could have two and half times the do-overs that I have now; but it’s a small price to pay to see the bright smiles on their faces when they help.

First up is Onyx! He seems to be the most jovial of all the boys! His crazy antics always get me to smile. I hope they only increase as he gets older. He is such a joy to have around.







Why am I not surprised at the faces he makes now? El was not amused; and this made it even funnier. I think she wanted to knock him into next Tuesday.



Next was Coal. He did much better with the candles than Onyx. Dang their so cute, I don’t want them to grow up now.









And last, Grey! I kinda feel for El; not one of the boys wanted her to bring them to their cake – not even once.









Ah! My boys; it’s always a great feeling to see them get along with each other. Considering each one of them has his own interests, I’m surprised. Dusty is the consummate gamer; Smoky is everything mechanical; Onyx is into music; Coal loves the arts; and Grey is all athlete.



El bought a couple board games and was able to coax the triplets into playing. They had such a fun time, they made a regular habit of playing at least a couple time a week.





With all of the birthdays we have in this house; each person getting their own cake, it seems there’s little room for any other food in the refrigerator. I am really beginning to despise cake; sweets in general, for that matter. Perhaps I should learn from the boys and make myself some muffins in their stove. Ssh; that’ll be our secret.

Now that the triplets are grown, we’ve been able to remodel the kitchen and replace the high chairs with a bigger table. Every time someone has a birthday, the house goes through physical changes in concert with them.



Time, once again, for MORE birthdays! Guess I can look forward to more cake piled up in the refrigerator. The twins are up; and I believe they are ready for the higher grades in school; well, Dusty is at least.





Although older by birth, Dusty ceded to Smoky and let him blow out his candles first.





Then Dusty’s turn; he thought long and hard on his wish. I can only imagine it had something to do with Star Raiders (or whatever that sci-fi show is) and holodecks! Anything that sounds geek or gamer, it’s up his alley. The twins could probably make a name for themselves; with Dusty’s flare for mathematics and gaming and Smoky’s penchant for building anything mechanical; they could do great things in the Science Fiction world.







Dusty’s as big a fan of the cake as I am! I’m sure you can note the sarcasm there.





More birthdays out of the way and more cake to fill the frig. Cake! Cake! CAKe! CAKE! Anyway you say it, it’s sweet and we have way too much of it.

I had once asked El why we couldn’t just save the whole cakes and reuse them instead of buying new ones. If looks could kill, I’d have pushed up a mountain of daisies by now.

Nectar Hills - Chapter 5

Can you believe it? 5 … count ‘em … FIVE toddlers. What did we do to deserve … I mean … to be blessed with five healthy, happy boys? As much work as they are, I don’t think either of us would trade them for the world. Each one is special in his own way.

Meals seemed to run back to back with the boys. They were always hungry. I swear, that as soon as we got them all fed and out of their chairs, it was time to put them right back and start the next meal.



There were days when the care for the boys took its toll. El was affected more than I, but I was no less unscathed. I’m sure it was that she wanted a baby girl after the twins. We’ve tried, but perhaps it just wasn’t meant to be. I still can’t help but feel sad for El; she loves the boys, but a girl would have been so nice for her.



I must say, though, that having so many so close in age is very taxing. I have nothing but admiration for people who run day care centers. It takes a special person to WANT to take care of so many young children.



We put several toys and activities out on the deck for the boys. The house is just too small inside to have the boys AND their toys. They seem to like it just fine out there. I have noticed the brush growing up between the slats on the deck. I really need to get some of that cut back and cleared away before the city takes our home away.



I seem to always be the lucky one to draw potty duty. Now that the boys are potty trained and can go on their own, someone else [namely me] must go behind them and keep their potties clean. We could only fit three potties in the bathroom, so they [and we] will just have to make do.





I’m glad the twins took to walking so quickly. It gives El and I some extra time to ourselves. With the two of them more mobile, we could spend more time with the triplets. True, we still weren’t afforded the time we needed to get our lives back in order, but the blessings outweigh the hardships.



El gets out and takes walks, and I tend to the garden as much as I can. I must admit, the weeds are winning the war. I was able to get my home business permit for nectar making from city hall, but the business was slow in taking off. Hopefully I can engage one or two of my progeny in the family legacy.

But, for now, I will settle for what I have; a beautiful wife and five wholesome, healthy children. We were fortunate that they played very well together. We seldom had to intervene on a scuffle between any of them. Thanks to Aunt Cin, and her excursions through town with El, the boy had many wonderful, even if some were used, toys to play with. Although busy with his own family, Uncle Val found time to make a toy chest for us to store the toys in. The kids are lucky to have such thoughtful relatives.



As darkness fell in the evenings, we would start to round up our brood and get them ready for bed. The evenings when El would get out for some time to herself, I let the boys slide and play a little longer. Smoky would sometimes come toddling over and ask for a story, saying, “Dada, boo.” The others, like a perceptive herd, would come toddling and crawling over as well.



I’m sure they didn’t understand what the story was about, but they would sit (for the most part), and listen to every word.



Although the others would wander off and return, Smoky sat there, looking at the pictures as I read.



I would occasionally notice the other boys just staring off into the corners of the room, but they would still sit there. Perhaps the tone of my voice made them feel safe. Well, that’s what I told myself, anyway.



The more and more I read to them, the longer they all sat there. I wonder if they were actually beginning to understand the story. Whatever their reasons for sitting there for such a long time while I read; I was just elated to have them all near.

On the evenings that El was out by herself or with her sister, she would call to check on how I was faring with the platoon. When my phone would ring, all of the boys would say “Mommy” in some form or another.



They would be so excited, that there was no way I was getting them down soon thereafter.

I think El secretly hoped I was having difficulty with the boys so she would have a reason to rush right home; but it always did her a world of good to get away. She would return many times with new books to read to the kids that she found on sale at the bookstore or that she borrowed from the library.



I had taken my first batches of nectar to the local consignment shop in hopes that I would be able to sell something; if even to get my name out there. We still didn’t know too many people in town, and Val had suggested starting there as he had taken up painting and was selling them on consignment there. You’ve got to start somewhere.



I was surprised when Blueberry Muffin called and said she had sold all but one bottle just two days later. I gathered up everything I had ready and took it down. It was selling surprisingly quickly and I have since been receiving private requests from townsfolk that happened to catch me at the consignment shop. The business was picking up, albeit slowly, but I was in no position to take on much more right now. At least this was starting to bring in some money.



I decided to take some of the extra cash and hire a maid to give El a break from housework. Of course it was partly selfishness on my part, as I did not want to empty the kids’ potties anymore. I called the local maid service and surprisingly, they had someone available and sent him right over for an interview.



I was a bit leery, at first, about having a male maid. Perhaps it was sexist on my part, but I was sure a man was not going to clean as thoroughly as a woman.

He arrived no too long after and introduced himself as Sacchrum Kane. He seemed competent enough; had good credentials; so I hired him on the spot.



He turned out to be every bit as good as the agency had said. I’m glad he proved me wrong. I will have to try harder not to be so stereotypical in the future.

When I told El that I had hired a maid, she was ecstatic. She bombarded me with questions about when they started and such.



From the reaction I got from El, I should have hired a maid a long time ago.



With the twins’ birthday rapidly approaching, we made some much need renovations to the house. We added a second floor, finished a room for the twins and moved our bedroom upstairs. We knocked out a few walls downstairs and expanded the kitchen and living rooms. We can hold off on finishing the rest for a little while; but it will need to be finished before the triplets’ birthday rolls around.

Time for more birthdays; the twins become children.



First up is Dusty.







And then it’s Smoky’s turn at the cake.







That proved to be a long day. While rounding up the kids to put them to bed, we found Coal fast asleep on the deck; the underbrush reaching through the cracks to gently caress him. I will have to take care of the brush. I can’t put it off any more.



That said, I made my way down the stairs at the back of the house to get started on clearing the brush away.



This is going to be a lot of work; I need the exercise anyway. The only exercise I’ve gotten recently was from mashing grapes for the nectar; neglecting the upper body.



The next big event was the first day of school for the twins. The summer passed all too quickly and the boys would begin their first year at Sugar Valley Elementary. El walked them to the bus. The tears rolled down her cheek as the bus pulled away from the curb.



End Chapter

Nectar Hills Gen 2 Heir [Opinion] Poll

I am looking to choose the generation 2 McWine heir very soon. I have indicated [opinion] as I have one of the boys in mind, but am curious to see what others think. If you would like to leave comments as to why you chose the way you did, I might feel inclined to change my choice.

Below are their CAS portraits, dressed as I envision them to be as they grow up, along with their current traits. All traits have been acquired randomly. There has been no gender manipulation in either of the births. Jag and El both still have the wish for a girl, and I may try to fulfill those wishes, but I don't foresee that child being considered for heir/ess.

Twins (Teen)

Dusty (gamer extraordinaire)
Traits: Good, Genius, Computer Whiz, Bookworm


Smoky (family man)
Traits: Family-Oriented, Disciplined, Eccentric, Great Kisser


Triplets (Teen):

Onyx (musician)
Traits: Virtuoso, Perfectionist, Clumsy, Excitable


Coal (musician)
Traits: Loner, Star Quality, Virtuoso, Childish


Grey (athletic)
Traits: Brave, Athletic, Hydrophobic, Commitment Issues