#briarsintime

[briartime]

Chestnut Ridge, 1850

[briartime]

It's a sad day in Chestnut Ridge. For a small community, Ruth's funeral sparks a turnout of nearly everyone. She was a kind woman, no matter what folk believed about her land, family, and curses. Reverend Wright leads a lovely eulogy while Clyde Tucker can barely contain his pain. Everyone's hearts are with him, but mostly they're with the twins, Dennis and Harriet...

No child should grow up without their mother, folk whisper afterward. No child at all.

[briartime]

By some cruel fate, it seems Ruth's statement is to be proven. She leads Rosie inside the shack and starts to kindle the stove, hoping to warm up the space, only for a few embers to catch on her dress fabric.

Before either woman can comprehend what's happening, Ruth is engulfed! Rosie panics before she rushes outside to find some water - any water! By the time she returns, it's too late.

Ruth, covered in burns, her lungs full of smoke, has passed.

[briartime]

It has only been a few short years since Rosie eloped with Robin Briar and left her home - or, rather, was disowned. Every so often she writes to her family, though she has never received a letter in return. She wrote the day Gavin was born, and she writes the day he turns one full year. Perhaps one day...

[briartime]

The day Rosie learns she is with child is the same day she notices roses blooming beside the house. Above, the sky is overcast and throws a shadowy blanket over the homestead. But there nestled in the thorny bushes, those roses are vibrant and so full of life!

She chooses to take this as a good omen.

(My friend who built this lot, I actually met her when I first started In The Rose Garden! She was with me for the entire journey of my first decades challenge, and she slipped these roses into this lot as a surprise! I was so excited to see them!)

[briartime]

As a gift for his beautiful wife, Robin heads into town and comes home with a new colt, just for Rosie. He's a happy boy and she is delighted to care for him! The family mare, Lady, is an elder as far as horses go, and they'll need a new strong horse for when Lady is too old to ride or pull wagons.

They name him Dandelion, "Dandy" for short.

[briartime]

Rosie has been so eager to please! The first meal she cooks on her own for her new family is a hearty stew and warm, soft bread. It's delicious and Robin praises her cooking!

Mama Nina isn't quite as impressed as her son. She's not sure what good it is wasting fine bread to use as a bowl, especially when they have plenty of good, clean bowls to use instead!

[briartime]

One of the first things Mama Nina does is send Rosie down the road to visit the Tuckers with a basket of goodies. It's a trip she usually makes herself every week or so, but of late Mama has been feeling under the weather.

Rosie is, of course, eager to please her mother-in-law and meet their close neighbors! But, while the trek isn't a long one, she can't help but worry about rattlesnakes and the like...

[briartime]

Despite Robin keeping the full story from his brother, there was some truth in it. He DID fall head over heels for Rosie Miller the moment he saw her. And clearly she fell for him, too...

That night, as they prepare for bed, Rosie can't help but notice a certain bassinet sitting in their bedroom.

Rosie: "Your mama isn't subtle at all, is she?"

Robin: "She's only got one grandchild... guess we better get started and give her some more."

[briartime]

Robin: "It was love at first sight. I can't explain it any better than that. I sold our stallion and caught a glimpse of her wandering all alone. Soon as I could, I rushed over to introduce myself... and that was that."

Robin smiles as he brushes down Lady, refusing to say anything else to his brother about the suddenness of his marriage. No good would come it, anyway; they wouldn't approve if they knew.

But the truth was, he and Rosie only really got to know one another after they eloped and made the journey home. Rosie's family had wanted her to marry someone else, a friend of the family who was much older, and by far wealthier. Rosie had been plotting how to escape when Robin introduced himself. He knew he wasn't getting any younger and with both of his siblings already married, he was the last Briar in need of a wife.

It worked out for both of them.

[briartime]

Families of Chestnut Ridge

Briar

I thought I would start by introducing the current families I've placed in my save! This will be the only household I play and focus on for now. My main household and founders: Robin Briar, his new wife Rosie, and his mama, Nina Briar.

Robin also has an older brother and sister with their own families.

Also, starting with an already married couple is new for me! I'm not sure if I would call this gen 0 or gen 1, but I do know this gen won't have a whole lot going on.

[briartime]

Some days, Rosie saddles up Lady and takes a short, easy ride around the property to soak up the sun and give Lady some exercise. Every so often she runs into Clyde Tucker, who's taken to wandering over the years since the passing of his wife. Rosie and Clyde don't say much. Usually it's just a nod in greeting and nothing more. But they'll spend the time riding and walking side by side, listening to the natural noises of the ridge, each lost in their own thoughts before they part ways.

[briartime]

Together, Rosie and Robin are quite the doting parents. When he isn't busy with more manually laborious work, Robin even takes Gavin off Rosie's hands and gives her a break.

Robin: "Now, normally us menfolk won't be botherin' with the laundering, mostly 'cause your mama and granny don't think we can do it right. But it's good to help out when you can. You'll have a happy wife that way, so don't you forget it."

[briartime]

It's late 1852 when Rosie goes into labor. Traditions be damned, Robin stays by her side the entire time, and together they bring into this world their first child and son, Gavin Briar.

[briartime]

One of these days, Rosie will be able to do a full set of laundry and have it hanging on the clothesline before sunset... Until that day, it seems laundry will become a full day's work and she will have to put off any other chores that need doing...

[briartime]

Polly Briar, sister-in-law to both Artemis and Rosie, is the only woman present who's had a child before. Rather than gossip or get religious, the ladies spend the morning listening to Polly explain the process of childbirth.

Angeline is quite perturbed by what she hears, and Rosie does her best to keep her own composure...