{that's not me on tv...}
Over a year ago, I did a segment on BYUTV's show, Fresh Take, called "Dare to Dream". My friend, Casey, works for BYUTV and was looking for someone to share their dream on the show, so I said I would do it.
I know you are all dying to know what my dream is, right?
Well, I've always loved children's books and writing and from the time I was little have had verses pop into my head. Every know and then, I would write them down, and dream about sharing them someday, and maybe being "discovered" and becoming a real author.
The show had an expert come and give us tips on how to realize our dreams AND I got to have my hair and makeup done, and was served a yummy dinner!
It was fun to go and do the shoot, but to be honest, I have had a little anxiety the past year about when it would come out and
A. How I would look,
B. How I would sound,
C. If I said anything stupid,
D. If, when I posted my writing, that people wouldn't like it,
E. If people I know didn't like my writing, that they would feel like they had to lie and tell me it was awesome.
These are all kind of vain insecurities, but real nonetheless.
Since it aired, everyone has been really sweet and said some really nice things about my writing, so I am thankful for that...and since one of my stories is already on the BYUTV blog, I thought, what the heck, I might as well share another on my own blog...and I would love some feedback--even negative feedback if you have it.
Farmer Petumpkin’s Mighty Big Pumpkin
by Kathy Dye
Farmer Petumpkin had a lovely farm just outside of town. He lived quite happily with his wife, Ma, and his children. Farmer Petumpkin’s garden never had any weeds and his plants were the envy of all his neighbors.
In the springtime, Farmer Petumpkin planted his seeds. He took very special care to space them just right, so that they would have plenty of room to grow. He watered and fertilized and played classical music for them.
In the summertime, Farmer Petumpkin tended his growing plants. He made sure that the plants were protected from bugs, so that the leaves would remain healthy. He watered and hoed and shaded them from the heat of the day.
When it was autumn time, Farmer Petumpkin was ready to harvest his garden. He was overjoyed by his onions. Transfixed by his tomatoes. Elated by his eggplants. But his pumpkins! His pumpkins were perfect!
Farmer Petumpkin’s perfect pumpkins were just the right shade of orange. They were shaped just right—not too tall, not too fat. And they were big! The biggest, most perfect pumpkins that Farmer Petumpkin had ever seen!
Farmer Petumpkin got straight to work. He harvested his onions, his tomatoes, and his eggplants. He got to work on his pumpkins, carefully pulling each one from its perfect vine. It was getting late as he came to the last, largest most perfect pumpkin of them all.
Farmer Petumpkin carefully twisted and pulled, but the pumpkin did not budge. “I must be getting tired,” thought the farmer, and he called for some help. “Ma!” Farmer Petumpkin shouted, “could you please come help me?”
Ma Petumpkin came out to the garden. “Well!” she said, “that’s a mighty big pumpkin!” Farmer Petumpkin agreed, “It’s so big, that I need help to pull it off its vine.” So the farmer and his wife tugged and pulled and twisted at the vine, but still, the pumpkin did not budge.
They decided to call for reinforcements. “Children!” they shouted, could you please come help us?” The children came running. “Wow!” they said, “that’s a mighty big pumpkin!” The Petumpkin parents agreed, “It’s so big, we need help to pull it off its vine.” So the farmer and his wife and the children tugged and pulled and twisted at the vine, but still, the pumpkin did not budge.
Farmer Petumpkin was puzzled, but soon he had an idea. “Ma,” he said, let’s get the horse to help us.” So they got the horse. “Neigh!” thought the horse, “that’s a mighty big pumpkin!” Now the farmer and his wife and the children and the horse tugged and pulled and twisted at the vine, but still, the pumpkin did not budge.
“How about the cow?” Ma Petumpkin suggested. “Excellent idea!” said Farmer Petumpkin, and they got the cow. “Moo!” thought the cow, “that is a mighty big pumpkin!” Now the farmer and his wife and the children, the horse and the cow tugged and pulled and twisted at the vine, but still, the pumpkin would not budge.
Farmer Petumpkin was getting worried, but decided that maybe the pig could help pull. “Oink!” thought the pig, “that’s a mighty big pumpkin!” Now the farmer and his wife, the children, the horse, the cow and the pig tugged and pulled and twisted at the vine, but still, the pumpkin did not budge.
This was serious. Farmer Petumpkin knew his only hope would be to get everyone at the farm to help. So he got the sheep and the goats and the ducks and the chickens to help. “Baa! Naa! Quack! Cluck!” thought the animals, “that’s a mighty big pumpkin!” Now the farmer and his wife, the children, the horse, the cow, the pig, the sheep, the goats, the ducks and the chickens tugged and pulled and twisted at the vine, and it started to move just a little bit.
“Pull!” pleaded Farmer Petumpkin as the pumpkin wiggled more and more, but all of their efforts were just not enough. “We need everyone! Everyone to help us pull!” Out came the dog and the kittens and the mice from the barn. “Woof! Meow! Squeak!” thought the animals “that’s a mighty big pumpkin!” Now the farmer and his wife, the children, the horse, the cow, the pig, the sheep, the goats, the ducks, the chickens, the dog, the kittens and the mice from the barn tugged and pulled and twisted at the vine and SNAP! Off came the pumpkin as everyone tumbled to the ground.
“Oh! Thank You!” cried Farmer Petumpkin, as everyone went home to bed. Later that day, Ma Petumpkin got busy in the kitchen. She made pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin pies. The mighty big pumpkin was big enough to feed Farmer Petumpkin and his wife, the children, the horse, the cow, the pig, the sheep, the goats, the ducks, the chickens, the dog, the kittens and the mice from the barn.
(They even had enough to feed the neighbors.)
THE END
What is your dream?
