Day 6

Moved on up to level 9!

Was gifted a needlepoint picture (not sure where to put this or how...) and a lovely butterfly (which, it turns out, I can't "use" until I reach level 10). How one "uses" a butterfly is beyond me.

I also got a chicken in a mystery package. When you hover over the chicken, it shows a percentage of "readiness." Just what am I supposed to do with the chicken when it's ready? Slaughter it? Make it lay eggs? Do I have to do something with ready animals, or can I just leave them? What if I'm a vegetarian?

Also, just where do all the harvested vegetables and fruits go? They're magically whisked away to some tractor trailer in the sky.

Now have three neighbors...although, I thought I accepted/was asked by one more person, but for some reason, that neighbor request seems to have disappeared.

Find I now make planting choices based on when I'll be able to get on the computer.

Fertilized neighbors' farms and fed their chickens today for the first time. Apparently, you're supposed to do this once a day. You also gift your neighbors once a day. This is one aspect of the game that while I suspected you needed to be networked in order to play, I had no idea that NOT having neighbors would make this a dull game indeed.

Even found other places on the internet where one can solicit "quality" neighbors, as opposed to duds. I imagine the dud neighbors simply never visit your farm, never gift you anything, etc.

Installed Rescue Time at work to track how much time I'm spending playing the game. Need to reinstall on this computer to get a complete picture of just how much time it's taking. Considering I could (or would) otherwise be endlessly shopping for yarn or books, for now, spending time on FV is better than being tempted to buy things I can't afford and don't need.