The Babbling Brook: Little House on the Farm

By Janet Mary Crunican

Growing up on a farm. The fun, excitement and the adventures. Always having creative ideas how to spend an afternoon on their unique farm with the horses, cows and geese. All the cats hovered like birds over the girls high on the bank ears perked ready to spring for battle. Muddy and wet the girls crouch low on their arms and legs squiggling to scoop up baby minnows with their plastic cups. Mommy, I really think that we should put these fish in the house with Fish, piped the girls. I really feel sorry for Fish, he is all alone it that fish bowl, whined Kendra as her eyes started to wet up with tears. How would you feel if you were all alone? Kendra who is determined to bring justice for everyone even if it is a fish. I think she is right Mom, chorused Kaylee. After all what would Jesus of done. He wouldn't of turned them away and let them die. Ugh I thought. Imagine putting wild baby minnows with a large white goldfish. Some how my heart soften remembering when I was a child. I would rescued about any animal, even a dying grasshopper. Finally Fish had company. The girls played with their fish as if they were pet frogs. The Babbling Brook is a true story about two wholesome American girls living a unique life on a farm, learning ripe lessons and flavorful values.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 6, 2013
• ISBN: 9781479770946

Janet Mary Crunican

Janet Mary Cruncian is a prolific author of the Children books; The Horse and the Mole, Oliver and the wholesome loveable series; Little House On The Farm. Janet has also written numerous articles and short stories. Her passion is being creative. Janet was born in 1964 in Portland Oregon. Grew up in the town of Lake Oswego Oregon. Ever since Janet was in third grade at Upland Elementary school determined she would be an author. Janet would sit at her deck on a rainy day to write stories and create books. Janet loves to read and is fascinated with children's books that make lasting heart warming memories. Janet loves words and the word of God, in her childhood her two favorite books were the Dictionary and the Bible. Janet is the President of Television Toastmasters. Janet has been in involved in Toastmaster for over twenty years. She is an accomplished articulate speaker and writer. Janet writes and speaks weekly in Toastmasters clubs. Janet has an great affinity for children and animals she takes tremendous joy in writing her books. Her books are suitable and devoured by all. Janet enjoys telling authentic stories about her own children's unique life growing up on the farm. Stories that warm hearts and give valuable lessons. In Janet's spare time she loves being around her horses, having quality time with her two daughters and writing her latest book. Today Janet lives on a farm in Cornelius Oregon with her husband and two daughters.

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Copyright © 2013 by Janet Mary Crunican.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Contents

Chapter 1    Marvin’s Wagon Ride

Chapter 2    Fish

Chapter 3    Abundance of Friendships

Chapter 4    Stinky Business

Chapter 5    The Raging River

Chapter 6    Pleasant Surprise

Chapter 7    Fun Times

Chapter 8    Ukrainian Eggs

Chapter 9    Skunked

Chapter 10  Barnyard Delights

Chapter 11  A New Baby Cow

Chapter 12  Old Friends

To my father-in-law, Bill Crunican,

who kept me encouraged while writing this book,

who inspired me with his great witty stories,

who would make me laugh until I have tears in my eyes,

who helped me make my books authentic,

who believed in the success of my series of books, and

who is the next best earthly father next to my biological father

Joe Collins, who has gone to be with the Lord.

These two men have greatly impacted my life.

And to my daughters, Kaylee and Kendra,

who are my biggest joy.

How blessed I am to be your mother!

Blessings to you always!

Janet Mary Crunican

Janet Mary Crunican is also

the author of the following;

The Horse And The Mole

Oliver

Little House On The Farm (book one in series)

Chapter 1

Marvin’s Wagon Ride

In the peaceful times that lay ahead, the geese swam and splashed in the pond next to the house. They also swam in the quiet brook that flowed next to the house and next to the sweet-smelling barnyard. They would babble endlessly throughout the year. It was a relaxing feeling to look outside on the farm and see the cows grazing and the baby calves running and jumping around, having joy.

Over there, next to our house, were our beautiful Icelandic horses. We would see Grandpa driving his John Deere tractor out in the field. He would be attending to one of his cows. There were beautiful, plush clovers that blanket the ground, flowers that sprouted up that the girls have planted, and all the marvelous colors. I look up to the heavens and know that He was looking down on me. Loving me. Caring for me. Holding me tenderly in His loving arms.

Lord, I love You, I whispered. As I felt His sweetness surround me, I felt His warm presence encircle me. I know He was with me. I could feel His wind tousle my thick blond curls against my cheeks. He is so real. He is my Lord. And He loved me so dearly.

All the colors, to be able to sit back and enjoy from the little house on the farm, the amazing blessings from our God above—how blessed we were to be able to enjoy all the wondrous beauty that He created.

We are here for a short time that we get to enjoy all that God is blessing us with—His glorious pleasures. The sight was candy to my eyes. The glory was all the Lord’s.

Inside the house, the girls were playing. They were engulfed in a game with their cats. Marvin was wearing a pink ruffle dress, riding in the doll wagon being pulled by Flour, who was wearing a dog harness with a long leash attached to the wagon.

Marvin purred and delighted at all the attention. Kaylee popped a balloon. The noise frightened Flour. He darted down the hallway, trailing Marvin in the little red wagon. The girls squealed with delight and sheer adulation. Marvin sleepily stayed nestled in the wagon. Flour tried to escape from this entrapment. He tried to run. The wagon trailed after him, with Marvin riding peacefully.

Kendra mimicked a voice for Marvin. That cruise-ship style! said Kendra as she pretended to speak for Marvin, the cat she just adored. And he loved her so dearly.

Flour ran around the couch. Kaylee’s beautiful blue eyes sparkled with excitement as Flour jumped onto the couch, trailing Marvin in his wagon. Kendra helped Marvin up on the couch. Flour jumped down onto the kitchen floor, hoping to have a snack. He slowly crept toward his food dish, trailing Marvin in his wagon.

Flour then lay down on the floor. He was tired. He didn’t want to play this game. He stretched out and pretended to sleep. Marvin yawned, still resting in the wagon. Kaylee quickly blew up another balloon. Kendra giggled. Kaylee grabbed a fork from the kitchen drawer and sneaked up behind Flour.

Pop! went the balloon.

Yikes! Kendra mimicked for Flour. What was that noise? I was trying to sleep!

Flour darted toward the playroom, pulling the king Marvin in the wagon. The wagon bumped against the reclining chair. Marvin fell out. Kendra rushed to rescue him.

Kendra opened Marvin’s mouth and pretended to speak for him. "This is not cruise-ship style!" She laughed with her toothy grin.

Flour raced off, trying to hide. He pulled the clunky wagon behind him. There was no escaping this game. Kaylee went to retrieve her cat.

The girls started to grow restless after their game. Why don’t you girls play outside? It is a beautiful day. You never know what tomorrow is going to look like in Oregon. It might rain, I said.

Oh, come on, Kendra. Let’s go outside, said Kaylee.

Meow! Meow! Meow! said Kendra. I am trying to catch Marvin.

Oh yeah! Let’s get the cats! We can play with them outside, said Kaylee as her eyes started to brighten.

OK! Caught him! said Kendra as she falls over backward, her feet high in the air, clucking Marvin as his tail wisps against her face.

All right, my darlings, outside, I said.

Mom, look at Fish, Kaylee said.

What about him? I said.

He is all lonely. Poor Fish, said Kaylee, all empathetic.

Yeah, she is right, Mom. He is lonely. He needs some friends, said Kendra as her eyes started to wet up with tears.

He is a fish, I tried to reason.

Then Daddy walked into the kitchen. Why don’t you take the girls to the feedstore and get Fish a friend or two, he reasoned. "Look at