Fun fact: Mt. Loowit was known by a few names from the surrounding First Nations tribes. The Yakima called it “Si Yett,” the Cowlitz “Lavelatla,” the Puyallup “Loowitlatkla,” and the Klickitats “Louwala-Clough.” Loowit is derived from these longer names.
Like many landmarks in the Pacific Northwest, Loowit was titled “Mt. St. Helens” by George Vancouver in 1792, named after Alleyne Fitzherbert, the First Baron of Saint Helens in Britain; a person who likely never saw the mountain with his own eyes.
I earned 100% perfection in early fall of year 5. I’ve been playing for a while past that though because I wanted to finish wrapping up a few things. Still not quite done, but nothing’s ever quite done so I figured I’d make the post now ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Proof + some screenshots of completed collections since I figure most people don’t get to see them
I’m also dating every eligible in town so I got to see everyone’s events and get everyone to 10 hearts 😄 I’m the village bicycle I guess
The only person not at 10 hearts is my son Leon, he’s new. My first child is Ginger, I had her with Shane and named her that because I was away on ginger island when I missed the day we brought her home 😬 Then I divorced Shane and married Haley, and I had unlocked warping by then so I was present for Leon’s birth 👍 I’ll accept my parent of the year award now, thank you
Now for some cool places & lore around my farm!
In the top left corner, I have a small garden and sitting area surrounding grandpa’s grave. The fruit trees here are all old enough to give iridium fruit, and I sometimes go sit on the chair by grandpa and relax. The smell of fruit and flowers in the area also attracts junimos and small animals
In the bottom right corner, my slime hutch has been leaking contamination into the area, making it a lovely sanctuary for slimejacks, skeletons, and carnivorous plants. Also Wumbus the slime man lives there. This area is used for educational visits but for your health and safety we ask that you do not linger long. Also wash your hands
Next door to the left you can see the coop where my golden chickens live. No word yet on what the interaction of pure slime and pure perfection will do to the surroundings
Next: cave shrine
The bats leave offerings for the gilded man, and I am but the humble steward who keeps the altar clear
(I highly recommend putting the golden lewis in the farm cave every time. It brings me so much delight)
My aquarium! On the farm map, it is located just south of the greenhouse, in the blue cabin by the two fish ponds
I had to catch every fish in the game for perfection, and after I did that I decided I wanted an aquarium in which to display every fish. So I had to catch them all again 😅 I also had to invite a friend onto the save file in order to upgrade his cabin and remove the beds, because you really need a house to have enough space to show off all these fish and decorate around them
The main room is for ocean fish (with a small corner devoted to coldwater fish in the southwest corner). On the right are the freshwater fish, both river and lake. Up the stairs we have the fish that like warm climates, then last we have the deep, dark, and otherwise dank fish 🐠
I love how this building turned out, and the screenshot doesn’t do it justice. It’s so delightful to walk around and see all the fish swimming around their tanks
And finally, here is my house!
We’ve got a chill living room/kitchen, a funky bedroom (with Lewis’ shorts on display, obvs), a cute children’s bedroom, and… the basement where our shitty roommate Bobo lives. He doesn’t pay rent.
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I would say if anyone wants to try a perfection playthrough, I highly recommend giving it a shot! It forced me to spend time doing things in this game that I never paid much attention to, like cooking and completing monster eradication goals. I also got to see the heart events for characters I hadn’t befriended before! Some things were kind of a slog to get through, but I liked having such a large project with so many different aspects to work on
And if you haven’t played much past the community center before, I have to tell you that’s just the beginning. There’s so much cool stuff to find and play with, and a lot of it was added in recent updates so some people don’t know how much is there. Starting a new file and experiencing these things organically as I played was a lot of fun
As for advice on how to do a perfection playthrough, my biggest tip would be to make it fun! Place decorations and make up stories and make your farm somewhere you want to be, because you’re gonna spend a lot of time there 😅 Sometimes a little inefficiency is worth it to have something that makes you smile
The next town on our map is Croford, a highly defended population of humans surviving through the wilderness by themselves, along the edge of Coldwater Lake
Hiking Boundary Trail to Coldwater Peak at Mt. St Helens.
The trail is 12 miles with elevation gain of 2780ft.
For sure, this was definitely one of the toughest hikes I've done this year. Over 7 hours of hiking in close to 90 degree weather. There was pretty much no shade. I went through a half a gallon of water on the hike. I think what really wore me out was driving 3 hours to get there. 3 hours to get back to Salem.
I saw a lot of gorgeous wildflowers and so many hummingbirds. And had a few buzz by my head.
This trail also features nice views of Mt. Rainer, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood.
Mt. St. Helens is so beautiful and also terrifying to be honest. The size of the hole in the mountain is breathtaking. On parts of the trail, you are so close, you feel like you can reach out and touch the mountain.
It's amazing how you can still see all the damage from the eruption that happened 40 years ago. Spirit Lake is still filled with dead trees. And of course, stumps are everywhere in the blast zone.
I highly recommend a visit. There's a nice visitor center close to the mountain if you don't care to hike.
I set out to sacrifice myself to the Volcano but she was sleeping. The nice Ranger told me not to disturb her slumber and come back and check again some time.
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Loowit
Taken from the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater
This was the original visitor center at Mt. St. Helens. That is Coldwater Lake in the foreground. Once they decided it was +/- safe enough to get a little closer to the mountain they built the Johnston Ridge Observatory and repurposed this building keeping it mostly closed to the public.
The new flag design incorporates the Brown Pelican and the Huey P. Long Bridge, in an enclosure resembling a sunset over the water. The pelican represents strength, nobility and beauty, while the bridge is a physical and iconic representation of the connection between the East and West Banks of Jefferson Parish. The pelican is perched on the edge of the enclosure which is representative of the steadfast and resilient nature of the people of Jefferson Parish. It is looking to the right indicating forward progress and the future.
Jefferson Parish, 2021
Mercer County OH
On April 4, 2002, the County Commissioners adopted this official county flag for the first time in its history. The celebration of Ohio's 200th Birthday was the catalyst for the endeavor. Over thirty designs were received from students, residents and workers of Mercer County. The commissioners accepted the flag created by a group of nine individuals employed by Fanning/Howey Associates located in Celina, the county seat.
The flag is colorful, yet simple, and clearly represents the pride of the community. Agriculture is represented by a silhouette of an 1800's style barn. Three amber bands across the bottom represent the different colors of crops as they ripen and are ready for harvest. The lighthouse signifies Grand Lake, the largest man-made lake in Ohio. Beams radiating from the lighthouse stand for all six Mercer County schools: red for St. Henry, orange for Coldwater, gold for Parkway, green for Celina, blue for Marion Local, and purple for Fort Recovery.
The flag committee added one final touch to the design. The foundation of the lighthouse was modified to have fourteen stone blocks. Each block represents one of the townships. The county was named after General Hugh Mercer of the Revolutionary War.
The so-called galaxy or fireworks rasbora is actually a true danio, not a rasbora, though its a bit of an atypical one, not least its miniaturised length of around 2cm,or under an inch. These schooling fish live in clear, shallow, mountain springs in the Tai speaking Shan country, near Lake Inle, at an altitude from half a mile to a mile, in a water chemistry above neutral pH, and richly vegetated with Anacharis plants. As an upland cyprinid species, they need temperatures of at least 20 degrees centigrade, but not ordinarily exceeding 24 degrees, although it may tolerate daytime temperatures above this. Captive fish have fared poorly at a permanent temperature of 26 degrees or higher, so exposure to such high temperatures, must be temporary.
Like other Asian mountain fishes, they are "coldwater tropicals" by origin and care requirements. They must be maintained in schools, as you might expect, seeing that these are small cyprinids. Feeding is as for other Danio species, without complication. This species is now Danio margaritatus, and an alternative name for this species in the aquarium trade, is now celestial pearl danio, referring to a larger relative, D albolineatus, which is also indigenous to Southeast Asia, and has been circulated much longer in the aquarium trade. Whereas the popularity of this beautiful little cyprinid is both recent and rapid, because the species was first described by ichthyology as recently as 2006.
Winter fishing in Florida is a favorite pastime for anglers seeking mild weather, diverse fisheries, and the opportunity to catch a variety of fish species. The Sunshine State's waters remain relatively warm during the winter months, providing an ideal environment for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Whether you're casting your line in rivers, lakes, or coastal waters, Florida offers a plethora of options for anglers looking to experience the best of winter fishing.
Saltwater Fishing: Florida's extensive coastline, including the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, offers exceptional saltwater fishing opportunities during the winter. Key target species include:
Redfish: These hard-fighting fish are available year-round, but winter can be an excellent time to target them inshore, especially in the Mosquito Lagoon and Tampa Bay areas.
Trout: Speckled trout are prevalent in the winter months, and you can find them in both shallow and deeper waters. Areas like Charlotte Harbor and the Indian River Lagoon are known for winter trout action.
Snook: While snook are typically associated with warmer months, you can find them in deeper, warmer waters during Florida's winter. Bridges and inlets are popular spots for winter snook fishing.
Sheepshead: Known for their distinctive teeth, sheepshead are abundant inshore during the winter. They are often found around structures like docks, bridges, and oyster bars.
Freshwater Fishing: Florida's lakes, rivers, and freshwater systems also offer fantastic winter fishing opportunities. Popular freshwater targets during the winter include:
Largemouth Bass: Florida is renowned for its trophy bass fishing. Lakes such as Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades are prime locations for winter bass fishing.
Crappie: Winter is an excellent time for crappie fishing in Florida. Lakes like Lake Toho and the St. Johns River are known for producing sizable crappie during the colder months.
Bluegill and Sunfish: These species remain active in Florida's freshwater bodies throughout the winter. Anglers can enjoy panfishing in various lakes and ponds.
Tips for Successful Winter Fishing:
Time of Day: In winter, fish may be more active during the warmer parts of the day. Consider fishing during mid-morning to early afternoon for optimal results.
Slow Presentation: Coldwater temperatures can slow down fish metabolism. Use a slower presentation for lures and bait to entice bites from lethargic fish.
Target Structures: Fish tend to seek warmth and cover during the winter. Focus on structures like docks, bridges, deeper channels, and areas with natural sun exposure.
Adjust Baits: Choose baits that mimic the natural prey of the target species. Shrimp, mullet, and small baitfish patterns are often successful in saltwater, while soft plastics and jigs work well for freshwater species.
Regulations and Conservation: Before heading out, it's crucial to be aware of fishing regulations, size limits, and bag limits for the species you intend to catch. Florida has strict regulations to ensure sustainable fisheries and the conservation of its diverse marine and freshwater ecosystems.