Tag: Elyjia Baxton

Snow Falls – click any image for full size

Update February 27th: Hrodas Fen, the region held by Elyjia and once the home of A Way of Life (formerly Snow Falls) is now under new management.

Update: Snow Falls is now known as A Way of Life, see A Way of Life in Second Life for more.

It’s been a while since we’ve visited a region design by Elyjia (Elyjia Baxton) and Brayan Friller (Brayan26 Friller), so when Shakespeare passed me the LM to Snow Falls, we were delighted to hop over and explore.

As the name suggests, this is a winter region, a Homestead designed to look like a small island sitting within a bay of icy-looking water. Clouds scud across the sky, as if in a hurry to get somewhere, remaining overhead just long enough to drop snow as they scurry on their way. Or perhaps the falling flakes are actually snow blown free from the surrounding high mountain peaks, then left to find their way down to the ground as the wind set them free.

Snow Falls

A cobbled waterfront sits on the shoulders of neatly lain bricks, the edge guarded by tall railings set between brick pillars to avoid the risk of anyone falling into the frigid waters below. This little lane – it is barely more than that – is  home to a nest of little businesses that have perhaps seen busier times as they look out across the water (these actually offer gacha resales for those interested).

To the north, just beyond one set of gates guarding the shops, the land climbs up to where a barn and chapel occupy the hilltop, a tall water tower rising between them. the blanket of snow is rutted by the tracks left by an old flat-bed truck they appears to have been puttering back and forth – perhaps delivering Santa and his gifts to the barn.

Snow Falls

A second set of tracks at the foot the hill lead to what might be the farmhouse associated with the hilltop barn.  Cats are playing close by, outside another barn while a horse looks on.

Go south along the shop fronts to the second set of gates and the land again opens up, snow-laden fir trees pointing the way towards a small stone bridge connecting to one of three further islands making up the region. It is home to a pavilion offering a break from the weather, and which is watched over by the lighthouse sitting on the neighbouring small island.

Dagger Bay – click any image for full size

This is a flat-topped square of rock rising from frigid waters, the finger of the lighthouse giving fair warning that the waters around the rock can be dangerous – a fact underlined by the wreck of a trawler lying close by, deck canted over, ice forming around it.

The remaining island lies to the north, close to the farm. A single, empty cabin sits on it, a sail boat close by suggesting it might occasionally see use.

Snow Falls

For those seeking places to relax and appreciate the views, there are a number to be found – in the Pavilion, in a couple of arbours, out on the water, courtesy of a rowing boat – and even up on a couple of balloons floating above the farm, as well as on benches to be found on the waterfront outside of the shops and scattered around the region in the snow.

There are one or two small rough edges to the regions – the odd floating tree or snowman – but nothing that really interferes with the overall lay of the land or the opportunity for taking photos. For those who do enjoy photography, the regions a Flick group for sharing pictures.

Snow Falls

All told, another picturesque region by Elyjia and Brayan, and well in keeping with the time of the year in the northern hemisphere.

SLurl Details

• Snow Falls (Hrodas Fen, Moderate)

Tavana Island – click any image for full size

I was drawn to suggest Tavana Island as a place Caitlyn and I should explore on the basis it is designed by Brayan Friller (Brayan26 Friller) and Elyjia (Elyjia Baxton). They were the couple behind the gorgeous Au Petit Jour (see here for more) and The Heart of the Sea (see here for more), so I was keen to see what they had cooked up with their latest design. As it turned out, we weren’t the only ones: digging into my inventory I found Shakespeare and Max had also sent me a landmark for the region!

If there is a word to sum-up Tavana Island, it has to be “exquisite”. This is a place we and I arrived in with the intention of having a leisurely exploratory wander – and ended up spending the better part of our evening within. It’s also a place with strong echoes of Heart of the Sea – so much so, that it was easy to imagine we’d just sailed from there aboard the schooner anchored offshore, popping over the horizon to arrive at Tavana Island and then row ourselves to shore via one of the rowing bows moored down by the beach.

Tavana Island

Visitors arrive on the largest – by far – of five rugged islands. It sits towards the north-east of the region,   four of the remaining islands sweeping in an arc from west to south around it. The landing point is set close to the southern cliffs of the island, near a set of iron gates. These point the way to a set of wooden steps leading down to the beach, which looks out towards the southern isles in the group, while a gravel path runs from the leading point in the other direction, offering a route around the major sites of interest on the island.

The most obvious of these is the Tuscan villa a short distance from the landing point.  This might be a holiday home or farm-house (there is a barn nearby and both horses and sheep grazing on the island). It looks out over the waters to the north, where two outcrops of rock rise from the sea, like sentinels standing guard.

Tavana Island

A short distance way along the path from the house is a little cuddle spot and an old chapel, while those following the path from the landing point to the villa might be tempted to turn aside and take the little junction leading the way up to a grassy plateau on the south side of the island. There is a gazebo here, complete with a dance machine (with another machine out on the grass) – and the audio stream featuring music from films makes for a perfect time dancing.

I’m not certain if either of the two islands to the south which show signs of habitation are open to the public – there is no direct way to reach them. With Au Petit Jour, Elyjia and Brayan did set a small island off to one side for private use, so this might be the case here. I haven’t been able to check with them if this is the case here, so it might be better to view them from afar rather than risk unintended intrusion. There’s certainly opportunities to this, either from the sun loungers on the sand or from the rowing boats moored by the little pier at the beach, or from the grassy plateau mentioned above.

Tavana Island

There is a natural beauty to Tavana Island which makes it an absolute delight not just to visit, but to spend time enjoying, be it sitting (on land or in a rowing boat), dancing, or simply wandering and looking. There’s a subtle sound scape perfectly matching the seasonal look for the islands, so keep local sounds enabled.

All told, another superb design by Brayan and Elyjia, one more than worth time to visit. Should you do so, and enjoy your time as much as we did, please consider a donation towards the upkeep of the region for others to enjoy as well.

Tavana Island

SLurl Details

• Tavana Island (Tavana Island, rated: Moderate)

Au Petit Jour – click any image for full size

Au Petit Jour is the latest Homestead region design by Elyjia (Elyjia Baxton) and Brayan Friller (Brayan26 Friller) – who you may remember as being the couple behind The Heart of the Sea, which Caitlyn and I visited back in March 2017, and found to be a beautiful, tranquil location.

Those who remember The Heart of the Sea may notices that Au Petit Jour (“At Daybreak”) has much in common with that former build, whilst also being an entirely unique design.   There are two primary islands, for example, one of which includes the landing point, and a number of smaller offshore islets. As with Heart of the Sea, and as its name would suggest, Au Petit Jour is caught in the rays of an early morning sun, whilst the land presents a similar mix of lowlands and rocky, grass-covered bluffs and mesas.

Au Petit Jour

But where Heart of the Sea rose from open waters, Au Petit Jour sits surrounded by other islands with tall green slopes and grassy shores which, to the east almost stretch out far enough to make part of this landscape a headland, rather than an island. To the north, between the rounded shoulders of these mighty hills, lies the open sea, a silver-grey Moon dipping slowly towards it, facing another open channel and the sea beyond, to the south.

The landing point is located on the north side of the largest island, under the shade of two tall trees with trunks gently bowed from age, bluebells blossoming around the feet. Birds perch on fences greeting the morning in song, and a cinder track cuts across the grass east-to-west, separating a shaded arbor from a nearby Romany camp, beyond which a light house is perched upon a rocky outcrop rising from reeded waters.  Follow the track eastwards, over an old stone bridge, and you’ll reach the second of the two large islands.

Au Petit Jour

This throws a rugged face towards the tall hills to the east, crowned by an old folly (where dances can be enjoyed). The cinder path splits before reaching this flat-topped cast of rock, one arm leading to the steps that offer a way up to the folly, the other cutting between rocky faces to arrive at a low-lying area, shaded by trees and looking south over a cinder beach and across the inlet to the other islets in the group.

Go west along the track from the landing point, up a small flight of tone steps, and you have a choice of going south (left) or north (right). The southern path leads past more steps offering access up to a windmill seated on the island’s highest point, to a cove-like sandy beach presenting another vantage point looking towards the largest of the remaining islands. This is home to stilted beach houses built out over the water, with  cabins for rent on the low hill above them.

Au Petit Jour

Northwards, the land remains flat and low, forming a hook to enclose a small bay into which waters tumble in falls down the side of the windmill’s table of rock. The hook offers a small place for music and dancing, while a raft anchored in the little bay presents another place for sitting and cuddling.

Beautifully laid out, with places to sit, places to cuddle and places to dance – as well as plenty to see, Au Petit Jour  offers much for the Second Life traveller to enjoy. When visiting, do keep in mind that the small island to the south-east, with the little cabins on the rocks and the little white boat dock, is a private area and not open to the public. Should you enjoy your visit, please do consider a donation towards the upkeep of the region.

SLurl Details

• Au Petit Jour (Hrodas Fen, rated: Moderate)

With thanks to Shakespeare (Skinnynilla) for the LM.

The Heart of the Sea – click any image for full size

The Heart of the Sea is a marvellous homestead region design by Elyjia (Elyjia Baxton) and Brayan Friller (Brayan26 Friller) that Caitlyn and I were (once again!) pointed towards by Shakespeare (SkinnyNilla) as a result of one of our regular exchanges of landmarks with one another. For those wishing to spend it in idyllic, natural surroundings rich is a sense of peace and tranquillity, I thoroughly recommend a visit.

As you might expect from the name, water features strongly in the design, the region comprising the gentle sweep of a rocky island sitting within shallow waters, accompanied four rocky islets, together with a smaller island which forms the landing point. On this sandy hump,  lying across the wild grass holding the sand in place, lies the broken finger of a candy-striped lighthouse; once it may have warned passing vessels about the rocks laying on the eastward side of the isle, but no more.

The Heart of the Sea

The two main islands are connected – by way of one of the smaller rocky outcrops – by an old board walk – almost. But while at one time it may well have linked the three sandy beaches it passes between, now it lays broken and sagging into the shallow waters in two places. However, in the lee of the middle islet sits a rowing boat draped with a cuddle blanket, while the sand of its beach has a message written upon it; the first indications that romance is welcome here.

Rising from a ribbon of sand that almost entirely encompasses it, the main island comprises three low, flat-topped tables of rock. Two of these are home to a small farm. On one, horses and sleep graze on a rich thatch of grass, a nearby barn offering some shelter should the elements turn. On the other sits what might be the farmhouse, reached by crossing a natural stone bridge spanning a narrow channel of sand below.

The Heart of the Sea

More horses graze near the house, while the broken frame of a greenhouse looks out over the sea. A well stands close by, and flowers, though wild, appear to subject to care even as grapes ripen on the vines strung to one side of the old greenhouse. Even so the house sits deserted, bereft of all furnishings save for a single porch swing.

The last of the island’s three low-slung plateaus is home to another lighthouse, possibly a replacement for the one broken near the landing point. Tall and white, as if newly painted, it rises from a broad, square concrete plinth, also home to a little keeper’s cottage. This lighthouse stand, sentinel-like over the westward curve of the island, overlooking three little beach houses offer for rent, each sitting within its own parcel.

The Heart of the Sea

A short walk across another board walk from these and snuggled by the rocks of another of the islets, sits a Romany caravan, a little camp fire and rug set out on the sand offering a place for sitting and / or cuddling. It is one of several such places awaiting discovery around the island, both on the beaches, on wooden decks and rocking rowing boats. Keep an eye out, as well,  for the dance machine tucked under the shade of a tree.

Set against an early morning’s light – the Sun just tipping over the eastward horizon, an old boat shack offering the ideal point from which to observe it – Heart of the Sea feels like a place caught in a moment of time. Tranquil, softly lit, enriched by a gentle soundscape, it is perfect for gentle meandering, and unhurried exploration. Should you enjoy your visit as much as we did, please consider making a donation towards its upkeep via the jar at the   landing point.

The Heart of the Sea

SLurl Details

• Heart of the Sea (Catalina, rated: Moderate)