Mary Spring has just moved to Riverblossom with few possessions and a dream of making a difference. She gets a job at a local restaurant but finds the work exhausting. She quits to become a self-employed farmer, selling her produce at the supermarket. Her friend Shana encourages her to go on a date with Buck, a man she met through his sister Ruby, to see if there could be a connection.

1. Dawn over Riverblossom Chapter 1.1 Springtime Chronicles

2. “Greetings, my name is Mary Spring and, like many before me, I have found myself on a large plot of land with few possessions and a dream. I have always believed that it takes one to make a difference and I that is what I intend to do.I love food. Food is wonderful and so is cooking it and growing it. I would gladly pass on from this world if I had a Library of recipes and also a family to hand them on down to.”

3. “First off, I needed a job. I had no roof and barely enough to live on. The cab driver was very kind and told me that they were hiring at the Little Corsican Bistro, the fanciest restaurant in town. He also told me that if I needed to save money on food, the community garden always had something to harvest.”

4. “I was certainly apprehensive, but the head chef was quite kind and appreciated my dishwashing perfectionism. I was due to start tomorrow afternoon!”

5. “I then decided to introduce myself around town. Hannah Jones seemed somewhat cold to me when I told her I was a legacy founder. She seemed to believe that I was out to get her husband, which I wasn’t. I’m no home-wrecker!”

6. “After some convincing, she took well to me and even told me her recipe for Ratatouille! After of course she threatened to bludgeon me with her fry pan if I had any ill intentions towards her husband.”

7. “I took a little wander through the town centre. And I spotted something interesting. People were protesting outside Town Hall so I decided to investigate.”

8. “I introduced myself to Mr. *** who was the organiser of the protest.“My, yer sure are a pretty youn’ thing. Welcome to Riverblossom Hills. Wes protestin’ here cos’ the government is usin’ coal for power and its messin’ up our nice clean air so that’s why we is wanting a switch to nuclear. More power for less o’ that nasty black stuff”His logic baffled me somewhat so I asked him about other energy alternatives.”

9. “Well, according to him those other alternatives are no good. Although he was a little incoherent, never-the-less a fire stirred in my belly and I couldn’t help myself but protest as well!”

10. “My wanderings brought me to the community garden. I love gardens and there were plenty of juicy fruit and vegies ready for picking. Some tomatoes would be perfect to try out Mrs Jones’ Ratatouille recipe!”

11. “I even met a rather attractive male. It turns out he is one of my co-workers at the bistro. I introduced myself. He was a quite warm and friendly. ‘So you’re the new legacy gal in town?’ he asked. My enthusiasm was obviously a little to much as it turns out he is not a big fan of children. It got very, very awkward. So I excused myself to go home and get dinner.”

12. “Here I was, no roof over my head, trying to slice vegies in the dark surrounded by fancy houses. I thought perhaps I was a little in over my head here. Tomorrow would be better.”

13. “Tomorrow was a better, although my neck was sore from sleeping on the couch. I went to work and although it was a hard slog, I got my first pay check which was rather excellent. My cab driver from yesterday was also my carpool driver, the joys of a small town!”

14. “Look! I got a bed with my pay check! It is lovely and cheap, but it beats the couch. I have a pillow now! I was exhausted though and despite the cheapness, it looked like Sleeping Beauties feather bed! Who knew how much hard work washing dishes could be.”

15. “So my days proceeded as thus. I would arise, have breakfast, tend to my growing garden, go to work. It is a great place and there is real comaraderie there and I’ve made some good friends. I’m also getting promoted!”

16. “Don’t think that I was a boring work-a-holic! I spent a fair bit of time at the only local tavern the Lone Wolf. It was usually very quiet but Ruby Broke and I livened the place up!”

17. “Ruby also threw a couple of great parties, why in swimwear though, not even she knows! I did meet an interesting someone though. Ruby’s brother Buck is a rather good-looking sort if I do say so myself. We both have a shared interest in gardening!”

18. “Buck called me the next day and asked if I had any great fruit or vegies on hand for something he was cooking. I was more than well stocked and the, gentleman he is insisted on a small token compensation. We had a good conversation and I think were could be considered good friends.”

19. “I have to say, work was beginning to get to me. I was constantly feeling run down and exhausted. I didn’t even make it to my bed one night. My conversations with Buck had got me thinking of a different career path. So I made a couple of calls.”

20. “My garden was very rewarding, and I’ll bet it can provide me with an even better income that I was making working my tush off in a sweltering kitchen. So I quit my job and applied to be a self employed producer.”

21. “And here I am, heading from Town Hall to sell my first lot of produce at the local supermarket! I felt so light that I just ran! I kind of regretted it in my little heels but who cares! I was my own boss now! A little bit of dirt and sweat and I made more money with those vegies than I did in a week at the bistro!”

22. “So I now became an avid seed collector, planter, waterer and weeder. With the occasional plumbing repair work too. All I could think of was the fact that I shouldn’t have to do this. All that was missing from my life was made very apparent.”

23. “Shana and I had been friends since day one at the bistro. So I turned to her for advice. Foosball is a wonderful thing.”

24. “Girl, you ‘aintgettin’ any younger! The Reaper will be a’knocking at the door soon!” Shana said, “Gees, thank you for the self-esteem boost Shana!” I replied. Ignoring my sarcasm, “Just go on a date! You ‘aint going to see if Buck is the real deal or not if you don’t spend more time with him!” She was right, as usual.. We shall see.