A TRIBUTE TO NORDIC NATURE

Many years ago, a curious mouse lived underground with her family. Her greatest wish was to leave their safe burrow and explore the world on her own. She asked her family:

“No,” said her brother, “The cat will catch you.”
“No,” said her father, “The fox will catch you.”
“No,” said her mother, “The bird will catch you.”

Then, Grandma Mouse hobbled out of her room. She pointed her cane at the curious mouse and said: “She will never learn to outsmart those savage beasts if we don’t let her go! We must trust that we have raised her well.” And with those words, they let the curious mouse go out into the world.

Rumour has it, she became the cleverest mouse of all, because she always had faith in her ability to overcome even the most savage of obstacles.

There once was a little acorn. It was much littler than the other acorns, but it had much bigger dreams. It dreamed of growing up to be a tall and mighty oak. The other acorns poked fun at the little acorn and said:
“You are too little. You will never become tall and mighty.”

One day, a kind squirrel saw the little acorn being teased and decided to help. The squirrel dug a hole and buried the little acorn, hoping it would grow soon. Time passed, and nothing happened.

But then, one spring day, the little acorn sprouted, and over time, it grew into an impressive oak tree. Now, it provides shelter for insects and animals, and shade for weary travellers. And every year when it bears acorns of its own, it feels like the happiest oak in the world

Once upon a time there was a little sparrow. Often, she was laying cosy and warm in the nest, full of admiration looking down, watching all the fast animals running crisscross on the forest floor. Though she was still a nestling, the little sparrow was full of curiosity and zest for life dreaming of one day to be as fast a runner as the deer, the squirrel or perhaps as speedy as the hare.

In a moment of eagerness and abstraction, the sparrow fell out of the nest. All her life, she has been dreaming of speed. But a vertical drop in thin air was way too fast.

Bump! The little sparrow hit the ground. Dazed after the fall, she saw that she has damaged her legs. ‘Oh no, now I will never be running as fast as the other animals in the forest,’ the sparrow cried. In her despair, she looked to the sky and saw a flock of birds flying high above the crowns of the trees. She slowly fluttered her wings and flew away. Her legs were still in pain when she faster and faster passed both the deer and the squirrel – and finally the hare.

It was a warm and bright summer day a long time ago in the hilly countryside. A perfect day in the joyful life of the basket – picnic time with all the children in the village. The basket loved the feel of the unspoiled nature in the forest. In fact, he just loved being a picnic basket.

Now, aging and with worn handles causing pain, he still felt great pride when trusted the treasure of soft drinks, freshly baked bread, homemade sausages, and the loveliest cakes.
Crack! A broken handle and he got thrown away, left to the bushes. Sommer passed. Winter came. The basket just lay there freezing on the ground.

At last, he was found and picked up by an old lady out collecting firewood. She gave the handle a quick repair. Some washing and drying. And the basket was fit as a fiddle to a retirement by the fireplace in the warm and cosy cottage of the old lady in the forest. And every day when getting packed with wood, the basket now more than ever enjoyed feeling the unspoiled nature in the forest he loved so much.