Brooke and the Magical Spectacles
The Magical Murphy Farm
Written by Patricia Arnold
Illustrated by L. Arnold and P. Arnold
P. Arnold & L. Arnold ©2012
To Jessica and Lisa, who believe.
Chapter 1
Spring
Spring at the Murphy Family Farm couldn't have been more pleasant. The weather could be counted on to be just right for the growing season. Some found it strange that it was warmer at the Murphy Family Farm, as if an unusual wave of heat cycled through the fields every now and then. Every season, fresh produce such as watermelon, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes and carrots grew large. Their pumpkins were the biggest in the county.
Mrs. Stella Murphy's sunflowers were the talk of the town because of their enormous size and perfect color. The Murphy's corn was famous for its sweet delicious flavor. Many a rural housewife envied her mother's strawberry jam and her apple butter. At the county fair, the Murphy family received many blue ribbons and honors which they accepted with modesty.
When it came to harvest standards in Cahill County, there was only one way for farmers to measure quality, and that was by comparing their harvest to that of John Murphy's. The other farmers constantly asked the Murphys why their vegetables turned out so large and delicious. John always replied that it was because of all of his little helpers tending to things whenever he couldn't. Everyone laughed, including his daughter, Brooke. Her father had a great sense of humor and he liked to joke around. Brooke always thought joking was his way of keeping his farming secrets. She hoped that someday, he would share them with her.
One sunny afternoon after supper, Brooke Murphy decided to work on some chores on her family's farm. She filled her bucket with chicken feed and gave it to the hens. She went into the barn and petted her horse Lucky. She gave him a red apple which he really enjoyed. Lucky nuzzled her face as she ran her fingers through his soft mane. He was in need of a good brushing, so she went into his stall to complete the task. When Lucky's coat was shimmering, she led him into the pasture so that he could enjoy the afternoon.
She couldn't be happier about living on a farm. Brooke enjoyed visiting the barnyard and taking care of all the animals. Every animal helped Brooke's family in some way. The hens gave her family eggs, the cows provided dairy, and the cats kept the mice away. A dog named Big George and a rooster named Absalom guarded things. Lucky was a fine horse and her best friend. She entered him at the county fair the year before, and they won a trophy. Brooke's dad installed a shelf for it at the back of the barn.
When Brooke finished her chores, she decided to go for a walk through her mother's garden of wildflowers, marigolds, petunias, roses and sunflowers. She loved the wooden swing at the center of the garden. Next to the swing was an enclosed pond her father built for her mother's butterfly koi. Brooke enjoyed looking at their scales, which shimmered in orange, white and gold. She liked how their long fins flowed behind them like a fine netting. She felt like spending the afternoon feeding the fish and picking a bouquet for her mother.
She wondered if her parents would mind if she took a break from her chores to enjoy the sunny spring day. After thinking about it for a moment, Brooke decided that they wouldn't mind just as long as she didn't go too far or lose track of time. The Murphy farm was quite large, and even though Brooke had lived there her whole life, sometimes even she got turned around.
The original Murphy Farm was a hundred and twenty acres, and her father had managed to keep every inch of it, even through the tough times when other farms were being divided and sold piece by piece. The original homestead that her grandparents had built was still standing and in excellent shape for its age, despite the fact that other houses were falling down.
It made her sad to see the old Walters place falling apart. Old Mrs. Walter's daffodils still popped up fresh ever spring in front of what was left of the crumbling house. Nothing was falling apart on the Murphy Farm. Even with modern additions here and there, the farm offered a rare view of simpler times gone by. When people visited the Murphy family, it was like stepping into a painting of an 1800's farm.
It was such a beautiful, historic farm that the mayor asked if her father would open it up to the public as a local attraction. In response, John Murphy said, "This is a working farm, not a petting zoo!” The state declared it a centennial farm, and the sign was displayed proudly in the front yard. Yes, it was true that the Murphy Farm had prospered for over a century.
Just as it was true that the Murphy Farm was fruitful and perhaps lucky, Brooke's parents always said that just as long as they were thankful, it always would be. This was a motto at the Murphy Family Farm since its founding, and they lived by it. While Brooke's parents sold their produce and country made items at the farmer's markets and prospered, they always remembered those less fortunate, and donated some of their crops to people that needed food. When the family got together to can tomatoes and pickles, plenty of those jars went to the local churches to help feed others. If the other farms needed help, her father wasn't above offering his advice and assistance. In fact, John Murphy was at the Smith Farm helping Sam's son Jake fix a tractor that very day.