Tag: Blue Finch

It was off back to the Full private region held by Dianna Fluffington for me recently, and a visit to her creation of Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow.

This actually marked my third time at the region in the past 12 months, having previously visited in April 2023 and again in November of that year (see: A Blue Finch Spring in Second Life and A Blue Finch Frosty Hollow in Second Life). However, both of those iterations of the region design were collaborative works between Dianna and her former partner Grant Wade (GMi7); so the occasion of this visit marked my first time to an iteration of the region that is solely Dianna’s design – and it remains as eye-catching and photogenic as ever.

As with the two past iterations of the region, this version for Spring 2024 offers a pleasing mix of themes and influences. The subtle touches of fantasy (such as via the elven-like lanterns lighting the many paths through the setting) are present, there is much to appreciate in terms of natural flora and fauna, superb use is made of landscaping elements to give the setting a unique, rugged look and beauty which is softened through the use of grasses, trees, water, shrubs and paths.

Whilst not strictly enforced, the landing point sits to the east of the region, tucked quietly between the north-east and south-east quadrants and within the single paved street of a small gathering of places of businesses, all neatly framed by a mix of walls and water channels, flowerbeds and trees. Within the area, the little shops are open to visitors, whilst outdoor spaces offer plenty of space for sitting down and passing the time.

It is here as well, towards the southern end of the street, that visitors can find information on the region and its in-world Group, an invitation to hop up to a sky platform to visit an art exhibition by Cammie Carver and hosted by The Wanderers Relay for Life team (all donations, etc., to RFL of SL via the team), and directions to a horse rezzer where visitors can take a tour of the region on horseback. Unfortunately, the rezzer refused to work for me, so I’m unable to mention the nature or extent of the tour.

For those opting to explore on foot, there are a variety of paths leading away from the landing point and the little hamlet of shops and on through the region. So many in fact, that I’m not going to even attempt to chart a route for you to follow from here; the best thing to do is just step through the gates or over the little bridges from the town space and start wandering – whichever way you go, you will be richly rewarded with things to see and do.

In terms of the latter, as well as the horse ride, the immediate surrounding to the town offer mini golf to one side and on the other, on the shores of the central lake, the opportunity to rez one or more (if you are in a group) inflatable tubes. These will whisk you around the waterways (at a pretty brisk pace!), complete with your personal supply of beer / drinks. There are also zip lines awaiting discovery and use by the adventurous.

One of the latter sits between a elevated events area tucked into the north-west corner of the setting, on a terrace covering a table hill. Given the other path up to this region is long and winding (but well worth the effort of finding and following given it does take one on a tour of a good part of the region and offers so excellent views from some of the higher aspects of the landscape), this zip line offers a quick and easy ride back down to the lower-lying elements of the setting for those who do not wish to retrace steps.

But to return to the tube ride: this deposits riders in the shallows of a cove directly below the events terrace noted above, which is home to one of two stretches of beach making up the setting. A rocky arch from here provides the means to return of the region’s grasslands and gardens. Once through the arch, it is possible to spot another of the region’s zip lines and also appreciate another touch of the fantasy elements found throughout, this one in the form of ruins and a quiet swing waiting for romantics.

Places to sit can also be found through the region – from converted rowing boats through decks built out over the waters, parasoled tables on terraces and squares or rafts on the water, through to the region’s little cafés and bars or the open-air cinema (complete with offerings of pizza and buckets of nibbles.

Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow is one of those places where just as you convince yourself you’ve seen everything there is, something else pops up in the form of an unexpected turn of a path or a hither-to unseen passage between trees or under rocky heights, and so brings you to something else to enjoy.

Such a discovery might be a little vignette of animals or a place to sit, a romantic corner, the unexpected sight of water flowing upslope (such is the magic of the region!) or another such unexpected view. As such, it is genuinely a place where the more time taken in exploring, the greater the rewards to be reaped.

Those seeking an immersive location bringing together assorted themes and ideas and which offer huge scope for photography, relaxing, having a little fun or romantic interlude – or indeed, a combination of all of these  –  will undoubtedly find Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow an ideal destination in their Second Life travels.

SLurl Details

• Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow (Pottery Hollow, rated Moderate)

A full region leveraging the private region Land Capacity bonus, Blue Finch Frosty Hollow is a gorgeous winter-themed design by Grant Wade (GMi7) and Dianna Wade (DiaMi7) which has a lot within it to appreciate, do and photograph. Bringing together a number of what are now “traditional” staples of Second Life winter settings alongside of some touches perhaps more common within fantasy settings, this is a region which simply works for the eye and imagination.

The first of those SL traditional elements can be found at the landing point, taking the form of the DRD Arctic Express waiting at the local station. With its dining car dressed for a festive meal, it offers a cosy retreat from the outset, with one the passenger cars laid out as a lounge  with sofa, Christmas decorations and both a brick-built fireplace with fire in the hearth and a wood burning stove!

Alongside the train, the local station presents a little café and pizza house for those seeking something to warm their insides, with a little gift wrapping shop rounding off the platform’s parade of shops. The café and pizza house might well be welcome, because the train is unlikely to be going anywhere soon (unless it is backwards), given the local reindeer appear to be engaged in a game of staring it down whilst occupying the lightly drifted snow lying across the tracks before it!

The landing point provides a summary of activities awaiting discovery within the region – a horse riding tour, ice skating, snowboarding and sledding. It also indicates that there will be a special Christmas Party within the setting at some point. The date and time were both TBA on my visit, so visitors might want to keep an eye out for that or join the local group via the sign at the LP to receive updates and notifications.

The horse tour can be found just south of the station and past the reindeer facing off against the train, where a sign board and horse sit close by the local (and again SL winter traditional) Hive Christmas Tree Farm. Sitting on the horse and clicking it will start the tour, which will proceed gently around the region along trails and paths, revealing places and locations to which visitors will doubtless wish to make a return. Lasting some 6 minutes, the ride will reveal the upland areas of the region as well, the route even allowing a for glimpse of Santa relaxing with a little skiing before the season gets really busy for him!

Skating can be found at the frozen lake occupying the southern central area of the region, with pre-choreographed single and couple skating pose balls awaiting people’s enjoyment. Those who prefer more freestyle skating and have skates in the inventories could doubtless slip them on and take to the ice as well.

Should the skating not warm the cockles of your soul, there are numerous little spots around the edge of the lake where warm food and drink can be had – roasted chestnuts, doughnuts and coffee, hot chocolate loaded with whipped cream… There are also various places where folk can just sit and watch the skaters go by; however, if the nippiness is still too much, then there is always the lakeside conservatory, where cosy armchairs await, espresso, hot chocolate and cakes are on hand – and most importantly, a roaring log fire keeps the air warm.

The uplands to the region lie mostly to the north and west and make very good use of space. On its northern side, high cliffs separate the region from its off-region surround, but in a manner which allows both region and off-region land elements to flow together to form a whole. These cliffs have a ribbon plateau running along their tops, reached via a snowy slope rising from the lowlands and presenting both an easy climb and a downhill run for sledding and snowboarding.

At the top of the slope, the plateau broadens to sit as the home of the fantasy-leaning element of the setting, providing as it does space for the Compulsion Elven House (a building I’ve oft been tempted by, but have managed – thus far – to resist purchasing!). Whilst intended more for fantasy / Middle-Earth themed settings, the house works very well here, forming a large retreat for people to enjoy, complete with a welcoming festive meal, music from a piano and places to sit.

To the south of the house is a second curtain of cliffs, reached via an elven style bridge topping a rocky arch. Dropping in a series of step-like levels as it runs close to the western edge of the region, this plateau is somewhat more rugged than its partner to the north, but offers its own points of interest, such as the tall towers clinging to the rocky bluffs as they rise from the lands below to be topped by stone-built pavilions (the excellent Trompe Loeil Amelie Pavilion I’ve frequently used myself) from where views across the entire region might be enjoyed.

Two other upland areas within the setting also await visitors. The first sits at the eastern end of the sledding / snowboarding slope, where a long finger of rock stretches forth as if to poke the lake below. At its northern end there stands a tall clock tower keeping SLT, a fenced path running south from it before switch-backing as it overlooks the lake, to descend down to the trails below.

The last highland area takes the form of a blocky mesa to the south-west, separated from the rest and reached by its own path. Water tumbles from its rocky flanks to feed an unfrozen pond which in turn feeds a fast-flowing stream as it runs down to the lake. Ruins sit on the top of this mesa, forming what appears to be an event space.

There is yet more to see within Blue Finch Frosty Hollow as the snow falls gently across it, but I’ve said enough here; this is a setting best appreciated first-hand and sans my gibbering. All I will add in closing is that do be sure to use the shared environment when you drop in to see for yourself, and have local sounds active. Otherwise – enjoy!

SLurl Details

• Blue Finch Frosty Hollow (Pottery Hollow, rated Moderate)

Blue Finch is the name given to a Full private island designed by Second Life couple Grant Wade (GMi7) and Dianna Wade (DiaMi7) which has been featured in the Editor’s Picks and Nature and Parks section of the Destination Guide. A Moderate rated region, it offers a warm greeting to visitors:

Welcome to Blue Finch Ridge. Uniquely beautiful and enchanting. with a rustic warm quiet charm. Romantic hideaways but please No adult activity. Be respectful.

Blue Finch About Land description

This is a place of serene beauty, one which at the time of my visit lay caught in the colours of spring. It sits as if a part of a rugged coastline, a rocky island cut off from the surrounding hills of its brethren courtesy of the not-to-distant see having stretched its finger deep inland, flooding the lowland to surround the island, leaving it sitting within a deep inlet or bay, the main channel of which sweeps inward from the north-west.

Across the island and tucked into its south-east corner where it is sheltered by the nearby hills, sits the landing point, occupying a pier gazebo as it extends out over the water. It is here that visitors can join the local group, read about the region and offer their support towards the region’s upkeep and their appreciation of the settings or teleport directly to the event / activity areas within the region – but I obviously recommend using your pedal extremities to explore the setting – and take your time doing so.

As the About Land description notes, this is place to visit and appreciate for its beauty. Offered under a basic EEP day setting, the region is well suited to almost any daytime settings, and I hope the images here demonstration, having been taken using my default personal EEP settings.

Once across the bridge and on the island, there are numerous paths for visitors to follow, with stepping stones and bridges of various kinds ensuring the waterways cutting through the land do not hinder and path of exploration.

All of the paths lead to somewhere interesting, be it the little fishing hamlet along the south side of the island, the pottery centre up on a high plateau, the old castle that serves as the movie centre, sitting over a wide cavern forming the gateway to the north-side beach, or more directly down to the eastern beach. And this is barely scratching the surface of the region.

Throughout the region are multiple places to sit and pass the time, look-out points, the event spaces, and various public buildings where time can also be spent – my favourite being the little coffee house. And all of it is wrapped in an engaging soundscape.

However, this is not a place to be written about – it is a place that should be appreciated first-hand  – as such I’ll finish with a couple more photos and a strong recommendation you drop in and see Dianna and Wade’s work for yourself.

SLurl Details

• Blue Finch (Pottery Hollow, rated Moderate)