For eight thousand years, vines clutching the earth have thrust themselves upward towards the sun and given us juicy berries, and ultimately wine. In every sip taken in the present, we drink in the past – the moment in time when those berries were picked; a moment gone but recaptured – and so vivid that our bond with nature is welded deep. Karen MacNeil The Wine Bible

On June 23 of 2026, I will celebrate my sixteenth year here in Second Life—a milestone that still fills me with a childlike sense of wonder. Nearly every day of those years, except for a handful lost to illness or vacation, this world has been a sanctuary and my endless source of discovery. I remember the amazement of realizing on my second day that I could make a home here. The possibility was irresistible, and I became a Premium member right then. I have not looked back; I have only looked forward, always learning something new every day.

Soon, 75 prims were not enough for me. I leased a parcel, upgraded to a larger one, moved to a homestead, and finally, a full region—all within my first year. When Linden Labs introduced 30,000 land impact, I eagerly jumped on the opportunity. Clearly, I enjoy digging in dirt, whether in First Life or Second Life.  

My first major build was Lost Horizon in 2016, inspired by my love for the book and movie. In 2018, I created my most ambitious build, Petit lac de Cygne, a homage to my French ancestry that garnered several articles. Next came Little Swan Lake in 2020, my favorite build. In 2023, I suffered a brain fart and let the region go, leasing a homestead and naming it Une Belle Vie.  Why did I do that?  I struggled with the homestead.  Attempting to create a mini Little Swan Lake was a disaster.  Just not enough land impact. Seeking a new direction, I tried a modern tropical oasis, and while it was lovely, it still fell short. After a typical ‘man issue,’ I again leased a 30K region in the fall of 2024 and named it ‘A River Runs Through It.’

I struggled with this build as well.  Hoping to open it to the public, something always felt off. Nearly finished, I realized buying a region from Linden Lab would be more economical than leasing. Without hesitation, I purchased a 30K region in March of this year and named it Belle Rive Vineyard.  

Like my previous full regions, Belle Rive features a vineyard—an extensive one. In just a month, I’ve completed about three-quarters of the build. Belle Reve will eventually open to the public, but for now, I am content digging in pixel dirt, finding my groove again, with the help of my husband, Grey, and enjoying the process.  

Be kind to one another. Find joy in all that you do. Till we meet again♥