Out in the garden by the side of the shed. Hurries an orangey fox, dotty scarf on her head.
Her fluffy tail waves, her claws scratch through the mud. Up high in the air pops a big, round, brown spud!
She clips the tomatoes, claws-up long string beans, scurries into the greenhouse picking salady greens.
Pouncing onto a plant pot with a net made of wire, she turns the wheelbarrow upright and cooks on the fire.
This clever young fox, a chef of scraps and no waste, serves beautiful menus with a WOW aftertaste!
Her crafty smart mind, and slick chopping tricks plus one powerful nose to sniff all the best picks.
Sally Panzanella is the best chef in town. She finds goodies from dustbins and every garden around. The animals visit her bright garden cafe, each morning and evening without any delay.
Brown rabbits, sleepy badgers, spiky hedgehogs, green frogs. Tiny rainbow caterpillars, and spotty round hogs.
"Delicious!"
"Delightful!"
"Scrummy - Yummy - YAY!"
"What wonderful dishes have you made us today!?"
"A warm carrot salad, with beans and some rice. My famous lemony salsa with herby delight.
A cheesy gooey omelette, red stew and pea mash, then for dessert nothing better than my grassy mint smash."
When meal time was over the diners left two by two. "Goodbye Mr Peacock", "See you later, Miss Kangaroo."
In the shadows of night Sally and her helper Wee P (the littlest field mouse with the wobbliest knee) both skip to the pond to wash up the plates and close up the restaurant by locking the gates.
“OOOHEEEEE” Growls a voice, from the top of the stairs, standing at the back door, a tall lady in flares.
She sweeps up the pathway with her raincoat and bat, and bangs on the bins with a RAT-A-TAT-TAT.
“I know you’re there foxy, I hear you each eve, and I am here to tell you I have tricks up my sleeve! The animals are munching on my prize turnip tops and my salads and parsnips are disappearing in lots.”
"Tomorrow, BEWARE, the fox catcher is in town! You will no longer wear your dotty scarf as a crown. Watch out little foxy, your cooking is done. To the cages with you and your friends…one by one."
"Eeep”, whispers Sally. “Whatever will I do? My home is this garden. I can’t live in a zoo!"
Lying under the stars as the moon glows in the dark, Sally dreams of fun parties and summer-time larks. “I must wait for the morning to gather my goods, and find a new garden to cook my great food.”
The birds are now chirping. Tread the army of ants. In the flowerbeds Little Mouse sips dew from the plants.
With a sad heart Sally slips her shoes onto her feet and slowly walks the long pathway to her snug breakfast seat.
“Surprise!” Yell the creatures. Everyone is here. The big and the small, from the beetle to the bear…
Hatty Hedgehog adorned with her tools on her spikes, Santi Squirrel and his crew hop onto their bikes.
“Let’s go!” Squeak the bugs we have everything ready! STOMP STOMP in a line, they march along steady.
BEEP BEEP! RATTLE RATTLE, CHICKABOOM PUTT- PUTT- PUTT!…A rusty old van pulls into the lot.
CLACK Steps a short man with dirty old boots, one raggedy hat, a grey net and big hoops.
Oh no! He spots them, his feet bang and bash, the net waving up high above his fluffy moustache.
Sally ducks and dives, rolls under the bush,flings a juicy tomato, SPLAT-PLOP at his boots.
He leaps over the fence and runs through the sticky mud, little mouse trips him up with that lovely round spud.
"You sly little fox, I will catch you!” He yells. His face soaking wet and all covered in snails.
The animals slip away and run over the hill. Hearing cries from the catcher lying face up in some dill.
At the end of the river across the green bridge is a flowering garden with a long rugged ridge. Sally spies a leafy spot, oh so pretty and bright where everyone is welcome, it is such a delight.
"Sally we love you, and your wonderful food, we have found you this café in this new neighbourhood."
A garden of goodies, a river so blue, berry hedges, apple trees and wild harvests too.
Sally puts on her apron, ties her scarf on her head, picks up her big bowl and begins to bake bread!
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