Life with Bob Blackberry

The latest crafting challenge on the Sylvanian Families Forum was about farm life so it inspired me to write a story about the main farm in Bluebell Oaks. Down in this part of the world, autumn has just arrived so it's harvest time. In Bluebell Oaks, the villagers are at their busiest time of the year, and there's nobody busier than the Blackberrys, owners of Blackberry Farm.

Bob Blackberry is a busy man. His family farm is the supplier of all the fruits and vegetables for the village so he's got his work cut out.

Autumn is a busy time; he's got his hands full with harvesting pumpkins, potatoes, carrots, zuchinnis, onions, tomatoes and all the other veggies they grow up at Blackberry Farm.

The Blackberry rabbits also the run the orchard, although they are thinking of selling the orchard so they can focus more on their veggies and not be quite as busy. Of course, they would still keep some fruit trees for themselves, and so Betty can make her jams  and juices to sell.

He spends his days tending to his crops and harvesting ripe veggies. Bob Blackberry may be a farmer, but there's no one in the whole village that knows more about agriculture and horticulture than him.

But life on the farm isn't just about staying at home with his plants. The village needs their supplies and Bob has deliveries to make. That's where Blacksocks comes in.

Blacksocks is the family's cart horse. Along with Blacksocks is Bob's other pride and joy: his cart.  Bob doesn't believe in cars. He thinks they're unreliable and too modern. After all, isn't a horse just as good? It doesn't need fuel, and won't break down in the middle of the road.

Every morning, Bob and Blacksocks set out on their early deliveries to the village. He has already sorted the fruit and vegetables and put them in baskets ready to deliver to the shops.
His first stop is usually the Watermill Bakery, where Christopher Appleblossom is waiting for his delivery. Christopher always asks for the same thing: apples for apple strudel, lettuce and tomatoes to put in the sandwiches, and berries to make his specialty berry bread.

The next stop is the Village Store, in the middle of the village. Cedric Walnut, the owner of the store is always delighted to see Bob.

"Bob! And my good horse Blacksocks! How are we on this fine autumn morning?"
Blacksocks, too, likes Cedric, because Cedric always slips him a sugar cube to munch on whenever they deliver to the Store.

Then they head to the Sweet's Store, just down the road. It is run by the young but very talented Melinda Cakebread. Not only does Melinda make sweets, but she also has a cake counter in her little shop. The Blackberrys supply her with berries to put into her delicious pies and cakes.

"Fancy a piece of my new blueberry pie, Mr Blackberry?"

Once all the deliveries are done, they head back home. But that's not all of the outings they make.
Every Saturday morning, Bob hitches Blacksocks to the cart and loads it with his finest vegetables, to head to town for the weekly Farmer's Market.

Betty also runs a stall in the village to sell her jams and juices.

The Farmer's Market is always very popular, and Bob arrives early to set up his stall.

"I'll take one kilogram of potatoes, please." Mrs Bramble said. Bob is very glad that his wife convinced him to buy a pair of scales for his stall. It makes measuring quantities so much easier.

Next Mrs Brightfield and her daughter Jenny arrive to buy some onions.

"Here Jenny, take an apple." Bob knows that little Jenny is quite food-centred, and she had her eye on the baskets of fruit.

The Cottontails have arrived to buy carrots and radishes. The Cottontail family are some of Bob's most regular customers.

Blacksocks loves all the attention he gets from the children during the Saturday market.

Throughout the morning, the stall is bustling with customers.

Across the street, Betty is also busy making juices for her customers.

Customers enjoy the bench where they can relax with a drink.

The Waters family have come for some drinks, and Betty has made a special smoothie just for Bucky.
"Here you are, love."

Bob loves his life on the farm, and although he's a very busy man, he wouldn't want it any other way.