Lifestyle

Stardew Valley Diary: Winter

17/12/2020

Pixel art depiction of a snowy village scene with colorful buildings, a Christmas tree, decorations, and three characters in winter attire. Snow-covered trees and festive lights add to the holiday ambiance reminiscent of Stardew Valley.

My first year spent in Stardew Valley is drawing to a close! Fall – which was so visually appealing – has faded to make way for Winter, which I’m told will offer three different festivals and not a lot else, thanks to crops dying!

I’m excited to share the remainder of my year one diary and look back on how my first year has gone.

You can catch up on my diary of Fall here. Don’t forget, you can follow my daily updates on twitter @lunarwoodfarm, or photos of my farm and everyday life at instagram.com/lunarwoodfarm.

We pick up on the very first day of winter…

Pixelated image from Stardew Valley, featuring a winter farm scene with a farmhouse, barns, snow-covered trees, and a character by a silo, with time and money indicators at the top.

Pixel art video game scene of a snowy village from "Stardew Valley Diary" with a character outside a building labeled "Pierre's." It's daytime, and there are snow-covered trees, buildings, and footpaths.

1 WINTER

I’ve woken up to a soft white blanket covering the land. All my crops have died (including my jack o lanterns! Thank God I kept some spare) but everything looks so beautiful that I don’t even care.

I make my way into town to check out all the decorations, and immediately stumble across a dark figure who scarpers when he sees me! How odd.

The decorations on each building are beautiful – I hope I can get some for my own. As usual, Leah’s house is decorated the prettiest.

This season is going to be all about planning ahead; foraging, building and hopefully cooking too. I am here for it. Plus, winter/Christmas is my favourite time of the year. I even see a night market on the calendar – is this a Christmas market I see?! I squealed with excitement. I’m going to enjoy this very much…

2 WINTER

Today I found a cool magnifying glass in a bush. That is all.

A pixel art scene from the Stardew Valley Diary video game featuring a character with a red cap walking on a stone bridge over water. It's winter, with snow-covered trees and ground, and two green lamps on poles. Time reads 3:40 pm.

3 WINTER

Today I spent some time foraging. I made it over to the mine but soon realised I forgot my pickaxe. Such a rookie mistake (yet one I keep making). I’m really feeling the pinch now that I’m not growing and selling any crops. So much for my kitchen!

4 WINTER

Today I took an unsuccessful trip into the mines. Upon leaving, Linus called me over and apologized for being rude, saying I was actually his friend. He invited me inside his small tent to show me something and all I heard was icky sounds…I was convinced he was murdering me! Luckily he was just showing me a recipe though haha.

5 WINTER

Today I managed to make almost 2500g from foraging and farm animals which isn’t too bad considering I can’t even grow any crops at the moment. I wish I could use my greenhouse..

Pixel art image of a farm at night in Stardew Valley, showing a house, barns, and various farm buildings under a starry blue sky, with a game HUD displaying time, money, and other icons.

6 WINTER

The farm seems so bare all of a sudden! Today is a pretty laid back day – I give out some gifts and go in search of a Christmas tree but there doesn’t seem to be one in stock. I’ve heard you can marry and start families with other characters and I decide I want to bone Harvey – I think. But as usual, he’s nowhere to be found! I take a slow stroll back to the farm and pause in the forest just outside to cut down some wood. In the end I don’t make it home till nearly 1am!

7 WINTER

Today I headed to the beach to fix a bridge to allow me to access another part of the beach. I don’t know why I hadn’t already done it!

A pixel art illustration of a festive ice skating scene with multiple characters in colorful outfits standing around a frozen, heart-shaped pond amid snow-covered trees and Stardew Valley Diary-themed snowmen.

A pixel art scene of a character ice fishing on a frozen lake, surrounded by other characters in a Stardew Valley Diary winter setting. Snow falls gently in the background.

A pixel art scene from Stardew Valley Diary displaying a dialogue box that reads "Lou, with 5 big, slimy fish!" Above the text, a character named Lewis and other characters stand outdoors beside a fishing pond.

8 WINTER | FESTIVAL OF ICE

It’s the day of the Festival of Ice! Though not as fun as previous festivals, I did manage to win the fishing competition! And I thought I was bad at fishing…it must have been all that practice from that other fair..!

A screen from Stardew Valley showing a stylized tree with branches holding various colorful icons, labeled "Crafts Room." Below, text reads "Reward: Bridge Repair.

9 WINTER

Today was a really successful day – for the most part. I made my way over to robins to see if she had a Xmas tree in stock but the shop was closed, so I mooched down to the community centre to complete another bundle. I still don’t entirely understand what this is, but it’s like a fun little scavenger hunt so I enjoy it anyway. Once I got back to the farm I decided to start sorting out my crates into seasonal food and forage, but accidentally threw away 300 pieces of wood in the process…

10-11 WINTER

Another couple of days simply spent foraging..and another couple of days still without a Christmas tree. What has a farmer got to do to get a Christmas tree around here?

12 WINTER

I spent another day today foraging. Although life is slower on the farm in winter, I actually quite enjoy it. There’s something really satisfying about exploring the countryside surrounding my farm, looking for berries to pick and the like.

A pixel-art style image from the video game Stardew Valley showing a character fishing on a wooden pier, with teal ocean waters surrounding, and a small island with bushes visible. The game's HUD displays time, currency, and energy levels.

13 WINTER

Today I finally asked robin to start on my kitchen extension! Currently, my home is one tiny room with a fireplace. It’s cosy but way too small for me! I also tried my hand at some evening fishing too, and took my geodes to be cracked open. Oh and I donated some more gems to the museum!

14 WINTER

Today I gave my love Henry a mushroom for his birthday – he loved it! So easily pleased. He was at his actual workplace today (I’ve been playing nearly a whole year and this is the first time I’ve seen him at work) so I took this opportunity to peek into his bedroom too. It’s rather geeky!

Pixel art scene of a character with black hair standing before a pink throne surrounded by palm trees, set against a pink and blue gradient sky with floating islands, reminiscent of Stardew Valley.

15 WINTER | NIGHT MARKET

Whilst waiting for the night market to start, I mooch around foraging. I poke my head into Emily and Haley’s house and Emily is asleep. I somehow end up in her dream which ends with her saying I’m very special and that our destinies will intertwine. What the actual f*ck?!

A vibrant scene from Stardew Valley Diary featuring a night market at a pier with various colorful stalls, boats, and people, illuminated by numerous small hanging lights under a starry sky.

Pixel art illustration of a mermaid juggling bubbles against a vibrant background with colorful wavy patterns and floating geometric shapes, reminiscent of a Stardew Valley Diary.

Pixel art scene depicting a small character observing a large holographic projection of a woman surrounded by futuristic decorations and plants under a glowing moon, reminiscent of an entry from a Stardew Valley diary.

Pixel art image inspired by Stardew Valley, showing a farm scene at dusk with a character in a red hat. Stalls display fruits and veggies, NPCs around, and decorative lights illuminate the path.

What a beautiful little night market! I socialise, I buy some pretty candy canes for my farm and even watch a mesmerising mermaid show. However, I want to buy all the decorations!!

A pixel art scene from Stardew Valley depicting an indoor setting with a character standing in a wood-paneled room that includes a bed, kitchen, and living area. The time and in-game currency are displayed.

Pixel art style image of a submarine interior inspired by Stardew Valley. Features a character near a control panel, digital displays, and a closed hatch on a blue and grey scheme.

16 – 17 WINTER | NIGHT MARKET

I finally got my house extension! I also went on a boat ride at the night market and ended up catching some rare fish. The winter Night Market lasts for three nights which is lovely as it’s just such a sweet and pretty event. There are different things on offer to purchase each evening too, including rare art – not that I can afford any rare art!

18 WINTER

Today I tried to give Willy a squid for a task I accepted but he just wouldn’t accept it! I want my money Willy! You owe me!

A cozy, pixel-art style interior of a small house at night with a bedroom, kitchen, and living area in the style of Stardew Valley. A character is near the bed, and a cat is by the door. Time and gameplay indicators are visible.

19 WINTER

I’ve been trying to redecorate my house, now that I have a proper kitchen and bathroom. It’s getting there! My kitchen is super cute, no? I also tried to make it over to the travelling cart but made it there too late.

20 WINTER

So up until yesterday, I totally forgot about the whole secret Santa thing. I’ve got Shane – who I admit, I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for. He’s got an emo/sensitive air about him! I spent today researching into his likes – apparently, pizza or beer tends to keep him happy. Guess who knows how to make pizza now? It’ll be the first thing I make in my new kitchen!

21-24 WINTER

I’ve been spending a lot of time in the mine these last couple of days, where I discovered that digging up worms reveals lots of cool rare items! I also upgraded my fishing rod too at last. Who would have thought that spending the day digging up wiggly worms and bonking them on the head would be so fun??

I also have a pretty successful day of foraging, fishing and completing bundles for the community centre. It’s only two days until Christmas and the start of spring again though! I’ve barely spent any money this winter as I want to start Spring off on the right foot, with plenty of crops growing and some money to fall back on.

A pixel art scene from Stardew Valley featuring a snowy farm. There's a character near a silo, wooden houses, bare trees, and fences, indicative of a winter setting. Time reads 12:20 pm on a snowy day.

24 WINTER

It’s Christmas Eve! I spend the day scurrying around trying to sell as much as I can so I can use all my money on cool Christmas decorations.

I also thought my dog, Ori, had gone missing as I suddenly realised his bowl had been full for around three days now. turns out he’s just stuck on some stupid hill. No idea how to get him down.

A vibrant, pixel-art village scene inspired by Stardew Valley in winter, with snow-covered houses, trees, and landscapes. Residents go about their day among decorated buildings and a central Christmas tree.

Pixel art scene reminiscent of Stardew Valley, featuring a bustling Christmas market with multiple stands, a large Christmas tree in the center, and various characters interacting around the festive decorations.

25 WINTER | THE FEAST OF THE WINTER STAR

Today is Christmas Day/The Feast of the Winter Star! I learn the story of the winter star from Willy, exchange presents with my Secret Santa (Shane loved his!), and enjoyed the pretty decorations. Unfortunately, there was no shop there, so still no Christmas tree for me..but I had a wonderful day nonetheless!

26 – 27 WINTER

Now that the Feast of the Winter Star is out of the way, I’m spending the last few days of the season sorting out my chests and fishing more. There really isn’t a lot to do – but after such a busy first year, it’s nice to just play casually.

28 WINTER

It’s officially the last day of winter and, tomorrow will be a whole year on the farm. How that time has gone by quickly! I’ve seen it grow so much and I’ve made mistakes too but it’s super fun. Although I’ve enjoyed the slower pace of winter, I am looking forward to getting stuck into farming again.

My Thoughts on Winter & My First Year in Stardew Valley

Well, winter in Stardew Valley is very nice, isn’t it? Considering winter is my favourite time of year in real life, I’m not surprised it’s also a favourite in Stardew Valley either.

Although there’s less to do – I think it’s the perfect time to step back from farming and concentrate on other areas of the game like developing friendships, decorating the house and planning ahead for next year. Just like in real life, it’s almost like you get a new blank sheet to set up your farm however you want. I do think fall is just that tiny bit prettier then winter, but the decorations are just so lovely and festive that it’s a close tie.

I have throughouly enjoyed my first year in Stardew Valley. From turning up to Lunar Wood Farm not knwoing the first thing about farming, to surviving an entire year of running the farm, getting to know the villagers better and picking up new skills has been a pretty successful first year. I do wonder what next year brings!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my diary of my first year in Stardew Valley. In reality, I am now on Year 6 of the game, with a whopping 186 hours invested into my farm! I recently chose a bachelor to settle down with (although I am finding married life a little underwhelming and boring so may divorce them…), and have expanded my farm to include an array of different animals and crops. Although I’ll no longer be sharing my diary, my Stardew Valley content won’t stop here!

Keep your eyes peeled for a tour of my farm in the near future, game tips and tricks and maybe some sort of update one day. I’ll also continue to update my socials dedicated to Lunar Wood Farm!

You can follow my daily updates on twitter @lunarwoodfarm, or photos of my farm and everyday life at instagram.com/lunarwoodfarm.

Have you played Stardew Valley yet? It’s the perfect distraction during 2020’s pandemic, and a really lovely game that genuinely helps to feel less anxious and stressed!

All Posts about My Stardew Valley Diary

Spring: Stardew Valley Diary: Spring
Summer: Star dew Valley Diary: Summer
Fall: Stardew Valley Diary: Fall
Winter: Stardew Valley Diary: Winter

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by Louise Joy