PICNIC IN THE COUNTRY
It was a perfect, sunny afternoon when Gene and her best friend escaped the
hectic pace of Hollywood and drove out into the picturesque California
countryside. Gene tooled her sporty blue convertible roadster along the winding,
hilly curves, relishing the warm July breeze in her hair. The long grasses
coating the rolling hills gleamed like silk, providing a lush bounty for a herd
of red-coated longhorn cattle. The tangy perfume of citrus filled the air as
they drove past miles of lemon, lime, and orange orchards. Gene and her girlfriend had no destination in mind...just a carefree drive,
plenty of laughter, and a chance to catch up on the news of each other�s busy
lives. But when they spotted a small farmstand nestled in the cool, inviting
shade of two peach trees, they couldn�t resist stopping for some fresh,
homegrown fruit. The farmstand was a faded wooden shack, but every possible nook
was brimming with ripe, succulent fruit, wax-sealed mason jars of homemade
preserves, dripping honeycomb, garden-fresh vegetables, and colorful bunches of
dried wildflowers and fragrant herbs. They oohed over the delicious array and
struck up a lively conversation with the cheery farmer�s wife while picking out
home-baked bread, jam, peaches, and dark red cherries for an impromptu picnic in
the country. As they drove off with a wave, the delighted farmwoman immediately
began work on a new sign: �MacKenzie�s Fresh Farmstand...Gene Marshall�s
Favorite Picnic Store!�
Click here to return to the homepage.