What Breeze hates most…..

Everyone in the wood knows the green faced Ogre called Breeze loves trees, cupcakes and food in general. But Breeze was surprised one afternoon when Lily refused to eat her broccoli and instead of grumbling about being told to eat it. She said “Everyone I know hates something but what do you hate Mr. Breeze?”

He crunched on his own raw broccoli and considered his answer carefully.

Lily pushed her vegetables around on her plate while she waited for his answer.

“I hate, Rain.”

“Why?” She smiled up at him and when he looked away she slid some broccoli on his plate.

“Because it makes sitting on branches of trees difficult, I keep sliding off.” He rammed a piece of broccoli into his large mouth.

Her answering giggles didn’t please him. Lily noticed and said, “Sorry but you like sliding on branches.”

“Yes but not when I am trying to sleep and there is this picture I got from that sneaky dog – Bob.”

Lily sat up, delighted that Bob had been mentioned as this meant the whole problem of eating or not eating broccoli would now be forgotten. “Bob? What has he done?”

“He watches me falling off branches in the rain and I bet he laughs a lot at it.” Breeze scratched his chin and looked very bothered at this thought.”

“Can I see the photo?” She asked

While Breeze ambled to the back of his cave to collect the picture Lily pushed the remaining broccoli onto his plate just in time as Breeze returned.

“See, what he does?”

 

dav

 

“He is a clever Dog, hiding from the rain,” she mumbled. She noticed Breeze’s sad expression and suggested, “But he doesn’t make Lily the nicest Ice cream sundaes in the whole wide world.”

Breeze grinned. “You are correct, lets go and make some extra large ones.”

Lily jumped down from her chair only too happy that the horrible broccoli was now forgotten.

Muddy Puddles and Ally McDuff

 

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Ally

bob thinking about ogres

Scruff

 

Ally McDuff has a best friend named Scruff.  He has a thick warm coat, four paws, a curly tail and a big smiley face.

Ally and Sruff love doing things together.

 

Trouble is they always get dirty.

“Stay clean, Ally.” Mum said.

Minutes later they were digging. Ally used a shovel. Scruf used his paws. “We will find the Pirates treasure soon, Scruff, ” she said.

By tea time they found:

An old smelly sock,

a bone,

an funny shaped blue glass bottle.

Ally peeped through the blue bottle and said, “Even you are blue, Scruff.”

“Woof” he said.

Ally looked at Scruff.  He was no longer white and black. He was dirty from nose to tail.

“This means a bath, Scruff,” Ally whispered.  She looked at her arms, she was dirty too.

“Maybe Mum won’t see it. Let’s hide.” They ran indoors.

Scruff hid under Ally’s bed. She squeezed in beside him.  “Mum won’t find us here” She said.

Mum did.  They washed Scruff first. He hated being washed.  He looked sad and wet when he was clean.

Ally was next. “Wash behind your ears,” Mum said.

When they were nice and shiny again, mum said, “Ally you are always getting dirty, someday…you might stay clean.”

“Tomorrow Scruff we will be clean all day.” Ally whispered.

Ally decided if they were to be clean, then Gran was the person to be with. Gran was the cleanest person for miles around. Her house shone in the sunlight. Her garden was squeaky clean. Though Ally wondered if the squeaky noise was made by the mice playing in the hedge.

“No chasing mice Scruff, today we will stay clean.” She said as they walked into Gran’s kitchen.

Gran was baking gingerbread men. Ally helped. Scruff sat on a stool and watched. When they put the gingerbread men in the oven to cook. shoes. Scruff has it on his fur.”tulips gingerbread man

 

Gran looked at them and smiled. “Ahh Ally you and Scruff are wearing a lot of the mixture on your face, your clothes and your face.”

Ally scowled all the way home.  She looked grumpy during and after her bath.

Next day they decided to stay indoors. Ally loved painting. Scruff joined in, splodges of paint flew around the room.

When they were finished they showed the painting to mum. “It’s great, I love it even Scruffs paw prints.”

She looked at them and sighed. “Ally you are both covered in paint.”

Ally groaned. One bath later they were sitting having tea.

“How can we stay clean?” Ally wondered.

“I have an idea,” dad said.

Next morning he said to Ally, “you are coming to help me today. I am going to wash my car and Gran’s. You and scruff can help.”

Ally looked at the bucket of water and the sponge. They couldn’t get dirty could they?

They began to wash the cars. When the y were finished the cars were shining and clean. But when they looked at each other, they were all dirty, even Dad.

“Ahh no Dad, another bath?”

“Sorry Ally, it was my fault. Don’t worry though I will make up for it tomorrow.”

Ally spent the night wondering how they were going to manage to stay clean.

Next morning Dad said “I have a reward for my two helpers, we are going out.”

He brought them to the park where they had fun on the slides, swings and roundabouts, even Scruff had a go.

They came home squeaky clean.

Well done. Ally. Mum said. “You are shining like a new Ally.”

An apology to any visitor to this site in the past few weeks.

I feel an apology is needed. I am sorry for not being able to get online to post pictures, crazy stories etc.

I live in Ireland and while we are supposed to be ultra modern truth is this is Ireland where everything either works like magic or it has the hiccups and that is the way my internet had been working.

I have been told that a new line is needed so I am afraid to ask when this will happen but promises have been made so hopefully, in the near future I will get up and running again. In the meantime the posts will stutter along a little sporadically.

In the meantime, Bob who dislikes Ogres is in hiding, can you spot him?

Hisilicon K3

Hisilicon K3

Hisilicon K3

Hisilicon K3

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Odd Socks

Breeze asked everyone in Mudpile Wood to help solve a mystery.  Socks had gone missing, leaving most with only one sock of every color. Everyone agreed it was time to find the odd socks.

They searched everywhere, from the tip of the mountain to the bottom of the wood. Matt and Daisy-lyah searched in every rabbit hole. Tulip searched high into the sky in case the socks were carried up into the clouds by the wind. And they did not find one single sock.

Breeze remembered Bob, the dog had a friend called Ellie who loved finding things.  He wrote her a short note:

Dear Ellie,

Please help us find the odd socks from Mrs. Groundsels basket, if we don’t find them I am afraid we won’t get any delicious vegetable pies any more. I will ask Tulip to bake you some munchy dog biscuits.

I will leave the red basket on the smooth stones near your friend the dragon – at the pond.

Your best ogre friend

Breeze.

“What do we do now?” Hamish asked Breeze when they left the large washing basket at the smooth stones.

“We take a nap and let Ellie do her stuff.” Breeze said as he climbed the nearest tree. He tried to sleep but kept wondering about the missing socks. His dreams were filled with strange images: sheep eating socks, crows wearing socks after they pecked holes in the feet of the socks and the worst of all giant socks chasing Breeze.

Loud barking alerted them next morning and they went to find out what was wrong. Hamish stood looking at the red basket, “Well. I never.” He said over and over again.

“Superb. Great, Amazing. Happy days are here again, vegetable pie this evening for tea.” Breeze said.

“Woof.” said Ellie as she waited for them to bring her to Tulips house to collect her munchy, crunchy dog biscuits flavored with honey.

full red basket of socks

Do you doubt that she did it? Take a look at these pictures and tell me what you think?

ellie large with socks in mouth

 

ellie bucket 4 And where did she find them?

dragon odd socks 3

tree socks

Everywhere!

 

Squish Squash.

Breeze was babysitting Lily and Daisy-lyah. They wanted to hear a story. “A nice story, Mr. Breeze. Please.” Lily said.

Breeze looked around him and noticed Hamish planting some new cowslips in the hedges close to the wood. Hamish was bashing the ground with his shovel.

“Okay, I will do my best.” He said handing each of them a fairy cake to eat.

This was the story he told.

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“Squish, squash,” Millie sang jumping up and down in a puddle. She wore her favorite bright green boots. “I’m going to grow ideas.” She said to her Granddad.

“No we are going to grow flowers Millie,” Granddad said, “we are going to plant sunflowers.”

“Super sunflowers.” Millie sang stomping along in her boots.

Granddad took a long time to plant his seeds.

First, he dug the soil. Next, he raked it carefully before drawing a line in the soil with a stick. Then carefully he dropped in a seed every few centimeters. Next, he covered the seeds with earth and finally he watered them lightly.

Millie watched him and giggled. “You are slow at planting seeds.”

“Okay Millie show me how you can do it,” Granddad said.

 

“Lets go digging Fred.” She said to her dog.

They both dug a big hole then Millie stood with her back to the hole and threw the seeds into it. Next they covered the seeds in a mound of soil. Then they watered it with loads of water. The soil looked very soppy and wet.

Millie smiled, “now for the fun part. Come on Fred. Lets stomp them in.” They both jumped on the ground while Millie sang, “First you squish them, then you squash them, and then you watch them grow.”

 

Every morning Millie checked the garden. One week later she ran into the kitchen, “Come look, we’ have plants.”

Granddad ran out to his patch and scratched his head. There was not one plant in sight.

Millie said, “look at mine.”

Granddad looked and the ground was full of baby plants popping out of the ground as they began the race to the sky.

One month later, Granddads plants had emerged.

“They look tired.” Millie said. “Perhaps they should take a rest like mine.” Granddad looked over and saw tall sunflowers resting against the fence, the greenhouse and one was leaning against a tree.

After that Granddad began to plant his seeds just like Millie.

Versatile Blogger Award

We would like to thank Kim Gosselin of http://kimgosselinblog.com/ for awarding us the Versatile Blogger Award.

Breeze is delighted to have the honor of being the first Ogre, blogger with an Award. Thank you Kim for your kindness. For parents, young or old, or grandparents Kim’s site is a delight and I highly recommend it to everyone.

versatile blogger

The rules of acceptance for this award are to share 7 interesting facts about yourself in addition to nominating 15 other bloggers for this award.

Our attempt at Seven “Interesting Facts”

1. I (Maria) am stubborn, so stubborn at the age of four I refused to be bullied into writing with my right hand. This set the tone of my life as I carried a bright sign titled: Bully me or die trying..

2. This site came about by an accidental comment on Doris Pacheco’s site and the subsequent follow up drawings and story.

3. Doris and Maria have never met. Doris lives in America and I live in Ireland.

4. Mudpile wood is an actual place. Situated near my home in County Meath.

5. Maria has had short stories printed in magazines.

6. My imagination will not switch off.

7. I love chocolate but it hates me – I seem to be allergic to milk chocolate as it brings on a sinus condition.

Doris

1 This project started with a photo of my favorite tree , a tree that I have never touched or hugged, it is my neighbors, but it fascinates me, he is my friend. The photo of the tree was for my time out for art I do every Thursday with my friend Lisa, she lives in Ecuador, and she is one of the reason I did this project, she doesn’t know I have this page, and will find out today about the book and gets an award today.

2 I am an abstract painter, and Lisa encourage me to draw, had not drawn for more than 20 years, so I started having fun every Thursday and it made me take on this project.

3 And, just like Lisa, Gian Paolo a writer from Italy, inspired me to get off my comfort zone, he is really good at writing and creating characters, he has a thing with detail. So, he inspired me to create more than 15 characters.

4  I have never illustrated a kids Book before, my projects are very different. Maria does not know this but I got sick the first couple of days, I had no clue how to start and did not know how to do it either.

5 I went a million times to the library to see kids books, had to learn how to draw characters.

5 I made three characters with red hair, they remind me of  a friend Jonathan Caswell, he very nice, funny and sweet, a poet, he always re-blogs everyone.

6 Another interesting thing about the book, as I was finishing with the drawings, Maria published another book called Moving On, I did not know about. Please buy it.

7  Lastly, I had help from the best creative director, my niece Lillian she is 12 and she helped us in many ways. It is funny how kids tell you the truth, if she did not like something, she told us. Many things were cut out because of her. Lillian, want to tell you thank you and I love you. You were the main reason behind this project. Had lots of fun with you and Marcelo :).

Nominees:

1 http://79nexus.wordpress.com/
2 https://callmecaitlin.wordpress.com/
3 http://mylittlegrasshoppers.wordpress.com/
4 http://lizandlifestyle.wordpress.com/
5 http://monkeyworks.org/
6 http://thekidshavegonetoschool.wordpress.com/
7 http://doodlemum.com/

http://newwhitebear.wordpress.com/

https://bythemightymumford.wordpress.com/

10 http://playamart.wordpress.com/

11 http://witlessdatingafterfifty.wordpress.com/

12 http://kmihran.wordpress.com/

13 https://aquileana.wordpress.com/

14 http://lorienyoga.com

15 http://hillsofherchastity.wordpress.com/

*If you are an “Award Free Blog” or do not have time to accept please know that we understand. Your work is always very much appreciated.

Bob’s Troops arrive.

When Breeze woke the next morning he was a little surprised to discover Eunice the carrier pigeon sitting on the end of his bed. She had a note tied to her leg.

 

He opened it and frowned. “A dog walked on paper.” Breeze muttered staring at the paw prints.pink paw prints

“Does this mean yes or no?” Breeze wished Tulip were here then she could read it for him.

He decided to have breakfast first.

He was enjoying his berry breakfast with muesili when he heard a lot of barking outside his door. He went to look. The wood was full of dogs, racing about with their noses on the ground and their tails in the air. He smiled and said, “They came.” He thought it was safer to stay out of the way.

As he watched from high in the mountain he discovered it wasn’t many dogs. It was one dog.  A black and white collie with a curly tail. “Ellie came.” Breeze said to Spike who sat in the sunshine beside him.

ipp

ellie on ogres seat

Ellie stopped running and stood on a fallen tree peering about her. Suddenly with a bark and a wag of her tail she raced away.

Breeze felt sad. “Ellie couldn’t find her.” He said and wondered what to do next.

He decided to have second breakfast and perhaps an idea might land during it.

He was on his third bowl of cereal when he heard a familiar shout and a lot of barking.

“Tulip” He shouted and raced outside.

small pic

breeze and tulip for site

 

Tulip didn’t look happy.

“Why did that crazy collie drag me here? Are you sick?” Tulip asked.

Breeze looked at her. He decided she looked very angry. He nodded his head. “I was worried, we couldn’t find you, no one knew what happened.”

“Izzy was sick. I went to help her.” She stared at him.” Now I am back and I suppose you and that pair are waiting on Fairy cakes to be baked.”

Breeze began to feel happier. “Yes please.”

Tulip flew away saying, “I think I should bake Ellie an extra big batch and perhaps then I will allow you one or two.”

Breeze was feeling a little grumpy as he walked down the stony path. He stopped when he saw the two dogs sitting looking at  him.

1st pic meeting

“What?” he said. “What do you want?”

“We would like to share our cakes.” Bob said. They got up and raced away.

“But this time you have to come and find us!” Ellie shouted back to him.

Breeze decided it would be nicer to sit in a tree. He knew Tulip was his friend and though he might have to wait a day or two for the cakes. Fairy cakes always, always found their way to him.

 

 

 

 

Breeze plays detective.

Breeze wasn’t happy. He had not met Tulip in days. This meant he had not eaten one fairy cake in two whole days. He decided a visit to her house was necessary.

When he arrived at Tulips house he found the house locked up and a note stuck to the front door.

“I will be back when I am back.”

Breeze read it aloud a few times.  This is very odd he thought and went to see, Elegant.

However Elegant did not know where Tulip was gone.

The kind witch did offer to make some witch cakes for Breeze he accepted them and discovered they were not as nice as Tulips cakes. Thanking Elegant he left with the parcel of cakes tucked into his pocket along with Spike his pet frog.

Breeze asked everyone where Tulip had gone but no one knew. He went home feeling worried. It was most unlike her to simply leave without telling him or Hamish or Elegant where he was going.

When he got home he placed Elegants cakes on the table. Spike had eaten one and was now curled up on a leaf that sat in a saucer. How do I find a missing Fairy, he wondered.

Then he remembered his friend Bob.

He sent him a short note;

Dear Mr. Bob,

I am sending you these great cakes baked by my friend Elegant. We hope you in return will do us a great favor and ask Ellie to find Tulip. We are worried the tiny fairy is in trouble or ill no one has seen her in two  three days.

Tulip was last seen at her house on the edge of the wood you could start there.

I am really worried.

Breeze

 

Then tucking the note into the witches cakes Breeze sent them by pigeon to Bob’s house.ipp

“I do hope the silly dog does read the note and doesn’t simply eat the cakes.”

Breeze could do nothing more but wait.

Sally and Scruffy

Sally’s best friend is Scruffy.  He has a thick warm coat, four paws, a curly tail and a smiley face.

Sally and Scruffy love being busy.  Trouble is they always get dirty.

“Stay clean, Sally,” Mum said. “Please.”

Sally said, “Okay. We will do our best.” She went to find Scruffy.

“Today, Scruffy we are going to find Pirates treasure,” Sally said. She began to dig in the middle of the vegetable patch. She used her red shovel. Scruf used his paws.

“Keep going, it is here somewhere.” she panted.   By teatime, they discovered: an old smelly sock, a bone, and a blue glass bottle.

Sally peeped through the glass and said, “You are blue, Scruffy.”

“Woof,” he said. Sally looked at Scruffy.  He was dirty from nose to tail.

“This means a bath, Scruffy,” Sally whispered.  She looked at her arms, she was dirty too.

“Let’s hide.” They ran indoors and hid under Sally’s bed. “Mum won’t find us,” she said.

Mum did.  Scruffy was washed first.  He looked sad and wet when he was clean.

Sally was next. “Wash behind your ears,” Mum said. “Sally, someday…you might stay clean.”

“Tomorrow Scruffy we will surprise Mum. We will be clean all day.” Sally whispered.

Sally decided Gran would help.   Gran was the cleanest person for miles around. Her house shone in the sunlight. Dad said Gran’s garden was squeaky clean.  Sally wondered if the squeaky noise was made by the mice playing in the hedge.

“No chasing mice Scruffy, today we will stay clean.” She said.

They walked next door to Gran’s house. She was in the kitchen baking gingerbread men.

Sally helped. Scruffy sat on a stool and watched. When the gingerbread men were baking in the oven. Gran said, “Ahh Sally you’re wearing a lot of mixture on your face, your clothes and your shoes. Scruffy has it on his fur.”

Sally scowled all the way home.  She looked grumpy during and after her bath. “I hate baths but today is not so bad because we have gingerbread men to eat after our bath.”

10 things Breeze can’t live without.

 

  1. Fairy Cakes.. lemon cakes….cakes any cakes tea 1

2.      Silly socks. Ogres  are dreadful at keeping track of their socks. Breeze has a pair the witches gave him, they giggle when they are lost and are warm when he finds them.

3.      Hair gel. Breeze does not have a lot of hair but he does love making the most of his few strands.

4.     Bubble gum. Breeze once heard a story about a boy who got trapped in a bubble and had an amazing adventure. Breeze is hoping for an adventure. He keeps a giant packet in his house and practices blowing bubbles every day.

5.        Fairies to bake cakes. breeze and tulip for site

6.        A talking recipe book (with good manners). Breeze loves cooking but is slow to read

7.        A night light that chases spiders. Breeze does not like spiders.

8.        Breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper.

9.        A hug. Ogres are very squishy and huggable.

10.     A dog  (Breeze has set some clues for Bob to find him. He hopes Bob will visit often.

Breeze plans on making sure the dog returns home smiling, with icing sugar on his furbob