(Excerpt from our book Tales from Heritage Farm, available in our store)
“My, what a windy day!” quivered Lilac. The wind howled through the grove of trees and bushes that lined the northern border of the century old farm. The arbor was a windbreak for the farmhouse and the out buildings.
“You can say that again,” affirmed one of Lilac’s company. It was Woody. He was a white cedar of tremendous stature. With his wide spread branches he caught the wind’s full fury in all kinds of weather. “But you have to remember, it’s worse up here than it is down by you.”
“Yes, I do remember. We all appreciate how you shelter us here,” returned the lilac bush from down below.
Woody and Lilac had been friends for many years. It was decades ago that they had met. Farmer’s Grandma planted the young lilac to beautify her yard. Lilac quickly grew up to be a protection for the family during the harsh windstorms. But Farmer’s Grandpa foresaw the need of a stronger windbreak, so he planted Woody a few feel beyond Lilac. They grew side by side for many years.
The lilacs giggled over their neighbor’s shortness of stature and his apparent lack of strength. “He is going to protect us?” all the other Lilacia family teased. He was a small cedar. Woody was a short sapling and took years to gain in height. All the new Arbor Vitae family was young and seemed frail to them.
photo credit: sarae via photopin cc
photp credit: Wenda Grabau
Deena Hall says
You should draw cartoons for these sometime too 🙂
grabauheritage says
Yes, that is a good idea. I will give that some consideration. It would be good to get it done now before spring. Thanks for the idea.