New Year, Old Monique

Tonight is New Year’s Eve, and there’s a big celebration at the lake. But before heading over that way, I made sure to check my mail. I found a goodbye letter from Tiara, and I’m okay with that. 😛

Dearest Jeff! During my entire move, I was sure I was forgetting something. You know what it was? I forgot to say adieu to you. I hope this letter will ease your devastation... All the best! -Tiara

At the northwestern part of the lake, I found Puck standing by the pier. He told me that his 2023 was…hungry. 😋

Puck: What kind of year was it for you, Jeff? This whole year, I was just kind of hungry.

At the countdown board, I found Hank, Tortimer, and Baabara. Baabara tried to apologize for being rude over the past year.

Baabara: You know, I've been thinking lately...and I may have said some things in the past year that sounded a little rude.

But our beef goes way back, much longer than the past year. Apology not accepted. 😛

While I’m on the topic of snooty villagers I have a long history with, I ran into another one. It’s Monique the cat, who just moved (back) in. Monique, Olivia, and Yuka formed the trifecta of rudeness that annoyed me so much in the early days of Forest.

Monique: Oh, my! Have we met before, pfffffft? I'm almost positive the answer is no.

Even though I’ve softened on Olivia over the years, I still strongly dislike Monique and Yuka (especially Yuka). This is Monique’s third stint in Forest (at least). She lived here in 2011 too, in addition to the early days of Forest. The good news is that she probably won’t stick around long.

Anyway, I returned to the lake to watch the countdown. Baabara was the first villager who talked to me in 2024, and that can’t be a good sign. 😛

Baabara: HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Hurray!

Tortimer, as confused as ever, wished me a “Happy Mayor.”

Tortimer: 3... 2... 1... Happy Mayor!

And Puck wished me a “Happy New Deer,” before correcting himself. Can’t we all get on the same page as to what this holiday is called? It’s really not that difficult. 😆

Puck: Happy New Deer!

I stood on the pier for a bit and enjoyed the reflection of the fireworks in the lake. I know you can’t look up at the sky in this game, but I wish we could at least see the fireworks in the river and ocean too!

Enjoying the fireworks on New Year's Eve.

I looked around a bit to see if Wisp was in town (since it was after midnight), but I couldn’t find him anywhere. I know there have been a number of times I’ve seen him in the first hours of a new year, so I was a bit disappointed.

One other note: I recently made a new Harvest Festival Guide, so check that out if you’re interested. In the process of making it, I switched to my Aja Blu town to get a cornucopia from Tortimer. (He only gives it to you once, and I apparently never saved my original one in Forest.) But while I was in Aja Blu, Marcy reminded me that she hadn’t seen me in 85 weeks. Oops. 😆

Marcy: 85 weeks ago... Yup. 85 whole weeks...

I don’t play in my other towns regularly, as you can probably tell. 😛

Anyway, I hope you had a fun night…and I hope you have a great 2024! Never Stop Crossing! 🙂

Harvest Festival 2023

Among the letters I found in my mailbox today was a goodbye letter from Pango.

Guess what, Jeff! I realize this is a little cuckoo, but I've decided to move. Have I lost it? No!!! I've just got to try to get a fresh start. i don't even know where I'm going yet! See ya! -Pango
Pango pang-went.

Today is Thanksgiving in the U.S., and Animal Crossing celebrates it as the harvest festival. When I spoke with Candi, she already gave me a clue as to Franklin’s location in town.

Candi: I can't remember exactly where it was, but look around in acre 1, in my ears!
I’ll look in acre 1, but I’m not looking in your ears.

As I zoomed by the museum, I ran into Franklin. A conversation began automatically, which was disappointing, because I didn’t yet pick up a knife and fork from the wishing well.

Franklin: Easy enough to say, but...I can't get anywhere near that table. The danger... Ooh, now I'm getting a migraine.

But I made my way there next, making sure to pick up the silverware I needed. I also spoke with everyone at the party, including Tortimer…who told me I wasn’t welcome at his house. Wow, thanks.

Tortimer: Have you been out harvesting fruit for your own feast tonight? I hope so! You sure can't come over to my house!

Belle, Tiara, Tom, Sydney, and Puck were at the feast, awaiting the main dish.

Sydney: Where's the main course, anyway?

I returned to the spot where Franklin was, behind the museum, but he was already gone. I kept searching, and I eventually found him in the northwest part of town.

Franklin: Hey, what're you planning to do with that knife and fork? I knew it! You traitor! You... CARNIVORE!!!

I handed him the knife and fork, and he gave me a harvest mirror. After grabbing more silverware, I resumed my search. Down near the beach, I ran into my newest neighbor, Twiggy the bird.

Twiggy: Good evening! You seem kinda lost to me... Do you live in this town, cheepers?

I spotted a balloon present, and I followed it halfway across town. Fortunately, it got stuck in a tree…the last tree before the edge of town. I shook it down and found a classic clock inside.

Over and over, I found Franklin. He had a tendency to hide in a few certain locations repeatedly, so that helped a bit.

Franklin: This is the end!

Once I had about 15 harvest items, I took stock of everything to see what else I still needed for a full set. To my surprise, I already had at least one of each item! Plus a few extras, of course. So I decided to redecorate my upstairs room for the first time since 2012!

The harvest furniture set.
The harvest furniture set.

I grabbed one more item from Franklin, and then sold my five duplicates for a total of 12,399 bells.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Update: Here is a video showing much of the day’s gameplay:

Update #2: I now have a Harvest Festival Guide you can check out for help!

Pango’s Debut?

Gabi has already bounced out of town, as I received her goodbye letter in the mail today.

To Jeff, I'm leaving town, and I'm not telling anyone where I'm going, but don't you worry! I'm off on a grand adventure that's totally going to rule! Wish me luck in my new life. Don't forget me! -Gabi

Nookington’s was selling a skull skirt, and I couldn’t resist since it’s Halloween weekend. 💀

Timmy: That would be a skull shirt you're looking at. ...at.

When I spoke with Candi (on the ramp near Static’s house), it seemed like she was trying to confuse me.

Candi: Huh? What do you mean, what do I mean? Oh! I see what you mean. You mean, what's funny?
What do you mean?

Ursala was being her usual lovely self, calling me an untalented simpleton because of my “hideous” town tune. If only the piece of land with her house could break off into the sea…

Ursala: Inspiration? Who needs that? You simpleton! Just go change it now, grooomph!

Down in Acre F-1, I met Gabi’s replacement: Pango the anteater.

Pango: Hey, how's the evening air treating you? Nice? Say, have we met before, snooooof?

Surprisingly, Pango hasn’t lived in Forest since I started this blog in 2011. Of course, there’s a decent chance that she lived here at some point before that…since my town was already 8.5 years old by then. So I can’t be 100% sure, but I found no sign of her in my previous videos or saved letters.

Over by the wishing well, true blue buddies Kody and Tom were kicking around a ball. That is, until they stopped so that Tom could give Kody a new shirt. Kody put it on, but hated it. (So why did he put it on?) But that left him feeling depressed.

Kody: Sigh... What's the point...?

Halloween is coming up in a couple days, so I hope you all have a Happy Halloween! And good luck if you’re playing the festivities in Animal Crossing! I don’t plan on participating on GameCube, but I may play some City Folk for the event. See you all in November! 👻🦇🎃