Spring in September

There is a mischievious witch living on the outskirts of the wood. Her name is Lovisma. She is unpredictable and full of trouble making ideas.

However, most of the occupants of the wood know this and avoid meeting her.

So, when every tree in the wood was rattled by the sound of her angry roar,  all of those living in the wood hid except for one family. They were having too much fun.

“Who stole my cherry pie?” Lovisma bellowed as she raced through the wood on her broomstick. She was angry. The broomstick was spinning around which meant, most of the time this dizzy witch was flying upside down. When her head met a very solid fallen branch, she tumbled from her broomstick. Lovisma sat on the ground and rubbed the bump.  Then she let out a piercing whistle and her broomstick returned.

She stared around her and sniffed, (witches have a great sense of smell). “Funny but I can’t smell cherries anywhere in the wood.” She considered the possiblities. There were not many. “This means the villain is still near my house.”

She was sneaky. She flew slowly and silently back to the edge of the wood. Then she stopped and listened. She could hear laughter. She sniffed. She could smell her cherry pie. Lovisma crept forward ready to pounce but she was so surprised at what she was watching she forgot about pouncing.

“Who are you and what are you doing that for?” She demanded as she watched the family of elves bouncing high above the ground from cobweb to cobweb.

“Cos it is fun. I am Dot, or Dorothy. Wheeee”  Dorothy tumbled head over heels and landed beside Lovisma.

“Can I try?” Lovisma asked.

Dorothy frowned. She looked from Lovisma to the cobwebs and back to Lovisma. “You could….but… they are small and you are ……” Doroth scrunched up her tiny nose and wiggled it. She knew witches could be crotchety so she carefully said,  “Much bigger and stronger than we are, I wouldn’t like you to get hurt.”

Lovisma giggled. “No problem. Watch.” With a flick of her wrist she created a huge cobweb that stretched from one tree to another. Then she ran to her creation.

Lovisma discovered she loved the freedom of tumbling and dancing on the webs. When she finally grew tired of it she sat beside the group of elves to catch her breath. “It is stupendous fun. But, it does make you hungry.”

Dorothy nodded her head. “I am sorry about your pie, but it was sitting on the porch of the house and we thought it was left there for anyone to take.”

Hisilicon K3

Lovisma stared at Dorothy. The elf got to her feet and started to run away. “Stop, I was just going to ask how you feel about apple pies cos I know a spell to create some delicious pies.”

As Dorothy and Lovisma sat with the other elves eating pies and drinking elderflower cordial they failed to notice the large audience at the edge of the wood.

“This is a day to remember, the day when Lovisma reverted to the child she should have been, fun and friendly.” An elderly rabbit declared. Everyone agreed as they crept away.

Advertisement

We won an Award!!!

We are all really happy, a big thank you to davidmbeecroft. He has awarded us the Liebster Award.

 

Before I explain the rules of the Award and answer David’s tricky questions I would like to say this about him: he has a way with words that stops you in your tracks and makes you think about why you do stuff. This, for me is a much needed few minutes of reading. I love his thoughts for today. Check out his blog on the link above and judge for yourself.

 

THE LIEBSTER AWARD

Which in our minds is a giant twelve foot shiny button that cannot stay still as it flashes like a rainbow coloured traffic lights.

 

 

 

The Questions were answered by Breeze with notes /remarks by Tulip in brackets.

Q1: Do you like tea?

Yes if it is flavored with vanilla muffins.

(What he means is he drinks muffin soup )

Q2: What are you having for dinner tonight?

Pumpkin Stew with wild rice and mushrooms and I can’t wait for it.

(Cooked by Mrs Groundsel because all Breeze can cook is eggs, boiled, fried, scrambled or poached)

Q3: If you could have any super-power, what would it be?

To be able to shrink as small as a fairy.

(He wants to be able to fit into my kitchen and eat all the muffins and cakes!)

Q4: Do you have a super power/ ability?

My current super power is climbing Trees. I am the only Ogre who can do this.

(He learnt to do this to avoid going to school or working)

Q5: Why?

I climb trees because I love watching clouds and the world below me. It is also a pretty powerful place to sleep.

(He is hidden from view and can sleep his days away instead of working)

Q6: How strong are you?

I can lift a 200 year old tree full of birds.

(It comes in handy if a tree falls to the ground)

Q7: What colour eyes do you have?

Dark brown.

Q8: How are you today?

 I am a little tired because I helped Hamish paint his house a beautiful shade of purple.

 (This means they painted the house, themselves and their pets, and the surrounding trees purple. Some of the birds were pretty angry to find their nests were now a yucky shade of purple.)

Q9: Snog, marry, ignore? I prefer to ignore.

Q10: What pet would you like to own?

 I am happy with my pet frog. Spike has a remarkable love for dancing.He does not sing much but he loves to dance especially hip hop dancing.

(Luckily frogs hate cup cakes.)

Q11: What is the happiest you have ever been?

 When I was a toddler I fell into a batch of marshmallow Icing. It was better than any present. (This is true I was told he ate his way out of the bowl)

And the last part of the award is to pass this award on to other bloggers so here we go:

1 Gluestickmum

2  The entrepreneurialwife

2  Momgoeson

4 Confessions of a crummy mummy

5  ecschmit87

6  swimintheadultpool.com

Now for the tricky part your list of questions are as follows:

1 If you were stuck on an island what is the one thing you would bring with you?

2  Which do you prefer exercising or reading or blogging?]

3  Why did you start blogging?

4 World War three has broken out what do you do?

5 What is your favorite film?

6 Do you still hang out or keep in contact with your school friends?

7 List your top five favorite foods

8 Are you a city person or a country person?

9  What makes you happy?

10 what makes you sad?

11 What would you like to be when you grow up?

A map creates chaos.

Breeze felt happy after his swim with the hippo’s.  He was a little bit dirty, this was due to Grace’s love for mud fights. But it was fun and Breeze did like mud.

His happiness vanished when he saw a crowd of animals and elves staring at Lovisma’s map.

Hamish asked Breeze, “Is this a joke,  nothing is in the right place.”

Elvis a rabbit who couldn’t sit still was running around the group shouting “It is a trick. She will turn you all into horrid monsters.”

Breeze said, “No it is simply a painting. Not a great painting but a painting.”

Mrs. Groundsel had a baby pixie in her arms. “It is a terrible painting, little Dee keeps crying when she looks at it. What I am afraid of most is that none of our houses are in the right place.”

Hamish looked interested when she said this. He slowly said, “maybe this is where they will be tomorrow.”

Martin a dwarf who loved decorating his house, jumped to his feet and shouted, “she is going to mess with our houses, best to tie them down.”

The group ran in every direction, everyone shouting, “yes tie them down, good and tight.”

Breeze sat on the ground and thought about this a little. This problem felt like another trick and he would need a spell or two to solve it.  He set off for Tulips house.  “I do hope she is baking I could use a really huge fairy cake just now.”

Lovisma plays a birthday trick on Breeze

Birthday’s were special to Breeze but he kept his birthdays a secret. He always treated himself on his birthday. Last year it had been an extra 6 fairy cakes.

A few days before his birthday he woke to find Tulip staring at him.

“You were talking in your sleep.” She said.

“Well I hope I was polite.” Breeze watched a very large bumble bee fly overhead. It reminded him of Lovisma. He decided it was his imagination.

“You were muttering something about a birthday. Whose birthday is it?”

Breeze scratched his head. “I have no idea.”

******************************************************

On the morning of his birthday Breeze woke to discover Spike his pet frog was missing. Most mornings he woke to the sound of Spike darting around collecting his breakfast of flies and insects. This morning there was no happy “ribbit” sounds. He walked to the entrance of the cave and stubbed his toe off a chunky sized box. On top of the box was a bow and a card.

He read the card:  “Happy birthday, Mr. Breeze.”

Breeze looked at the box. He nudged it with his toe. It jumped three inches into the air and landed on the same spot. He bent down and carefully lifted the lid. There was a loud angry “Ribbit…ribbit” and a frog jumped out. The frog looked sad and odd.

It jumped onto Breezes knee and jumped once more landing on his hand. Breeze raised the frog close to his face.

The frog said “ribbbiiiiitt..”  He looked ill to Breeze.

“Oh Spike, what happened? Are you ill? Why are you yellow with smarties on your skin?” Breeze suspected it was a trick played by one of the goblins.

To cheer Spike up, Breeze took him to the Hiccuping pond close to Mudpile Wood. Within minutes of arriving Spike was happily catching flies.  Breeze however wasn’t happy because he made another discovery. Each time Spike hopped his skin color changed. One moment he was a smarty covered frog and the next he looked like a pair of pajama’s all stripes. The flashing colorful frog was attracting a lot of attention. Spike hid in Breeze’s pocket.

Breeze concentrated on solving the problem of poor Spikes skin of many moving colors. Tulip was not impressed either. “Why would someone do such a thing?” She demanded with red poofs of angry smoke shooting from her wand.

Breeze moved away from the wand and showed her the card. “It’s your birthday!” She shook her head. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I celebrate it quietly in the way I want to.”

Tulip put her hands on her hips. “That sounds like a load of rubbish to me, but it is your day. However I will bake you a special cake. ” She looked at Spike. ” First we will ask Elegant to fix this.”

“But don’t tell her about my birthday.” Breeze hissed.

“You are very peculiar for an Ogre. Most stand on the mountain tops and shout it out. But don’t worry I won’t.”

They found Elegant hanging out her washing.

“I thought Witches just zap things and they get done.” Breeze said.

“That is the lazy Lovisma way of doing it.” Elegant said. She looked at Breeze. “What has my little sister done now.”

“Why would you think she has done anything?” Tulip asked.

“Because she was so happy today and she was up before the sun, which is most odd for her.”

Breeze whispered, “Please Elegant. It’s poor Spike, please fix him.”

When the kind hearted witch saw Spike she took him in her hands and whispered to him, “Oh Spike you poor fella. Don’t worry, close your eyes I will have you back to normal.”

Spike and Breeze closed their eyes. When they opened them Spike was back to green. He was so happy he did a happy frog dance tumbling and hopping around Breeze.

Breeze looked at Elegant. “What about Lovisma? Who will punish her?”

Elegant tapped the side of her nose and said, “already done, you won’t see her for a day or two.”

Suddenly they heard a terrible screech. Breeze hid behind a bed sheet on the clothes line.

Lovisma appeared before them.”Who did this to me? I look like Goldilocks. Help me Elegant…” Her hair was golden, her skin like milk and her lips a soft cherry red. She was dressed in a pale pink dress. Her hat and shoes matched perfectly.

When she spotted Tulip, Lovisma screamed and vanished.

Tulip said, “Come to tea Elegant, about five o clock, I am baking a special cake for Breeze.”

“Will it have cherries?” Elegant asked.

“It will.”

Though Breeze felt sad for Spike he was delighted to hear about his special cake and decided that next year he might remind Tulip about his birthday and leave creating the surprise up to her.

 

 

10 things Breeze can’t live without.

 

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

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. 

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 fur

Smoke Day – Part 2

 

When Breeze returned to Tulips house. She was sitting on her patio drinking a cup of honey and camomile tea.

His nose twitched in response to the delicious smell.  She smiled. “Would you like a cup?”

“I’d rather a chocolate chip and blueberry muffin.”

Tulip scowled. “That is two muffins not one.” She handed the muffins to him on a dainty flower patterned plate.

“Thank you two is always better than one. “Breeze sat on her porch.

Tulip smiled and waited. Breeze ate the muffins then said, “why did you look angry earlier and why did you create a dust storm?”

Tulip scowled. Her  ponytail danced up and down as she said, “I’ve visitors coming.”

“Oh, do I know them?” Breeze asked.

“Fairy Lilian and Lovisma.”

Breeze frowned. Tulip quickly said, “Lovisma likes Lilian. When she heard Lilian was coming tomorrow, Lovisma invited herself. That is why I am angry. I don’t want to have a witch in my house but I do want Lilian to come. She is fun and makes amazing chocolate chip cookies. You would like her Breeze.”

“I am sure I would particularly if she brings cookies.” He sat for a while and watched the clouds tumble high in the sky over his head.

“Tulip. I could help with Lovisma if you wanted me to.”

Tulip frowned. “Does it involve squishing or stamping on her?”

Breeze shook his head. “I would like to try it once, just to stop her bouncing about. She looks like a strange kangaroo.”

“Yes, she loves kangaroo’s.” Tulip giggled.

Breeze stood. “I have to go. Thank you for the scrummy yummy cakes.”

Before Tulip could say a word he was gone. She could hear him whistling as he walked into the wood. She wondered what he was planning. “I bet I will soon find out.”

The next afternoon the butterfly clock in Tulips house was fluttering at three o clock when Lilian arrived.

The fairy flew up to Tulip, gave her a kiss on each cheek and said, “I’ve brought you a present. It was suggested by a friend.”

“Why thank you, Lilian.” Tulip looked around her she couldn’t see any thing but the box of chocolate chip cookies  Lilian carried in her special handbag which was shaped like a lady bird.

“I’ve followed the instructions and left him down by the river.”

Tulip narrowed her eyes and looked at the curling dancing river. She couldn’t see anything. “Never mind I suppose I will find out later.” The two fairies went indoors and spent hours chatting, catching up on family news. Their laughter sent sprinkles of  sparkling fairy dust dancing high into the sky.

Breeze called to see Tulip later that day. “Did you have a good day?” he asked. Stars were tumbling from his eyes

She laughed. “Thank you I did.” Tulip considered him carefully. “What did you do to her?”

Breeze said, “I didn’t do anything.”

Tulip thought about it for a minute. “Okay what did you ask Lilian to bring for me? And what did you do with Lovisma.”

Breeze said, “I did not touch one purple hair on the little witches head. You can ask her if you like, she is in the field beside the waterfall.”

With that he turned around and went back to his favorite tree for a nap.

Tulip flew towards the waterfall. She sat on a rock in the middle of the river. It didn’t take her long to find Lovisma. She could hear the witch shouting at someone called Toby.

Tulip flew close and hid behind a giant sunflower. She smiled.

Lovisma was bouncing from one giant mushroom to another. Right beside her and racing her was a tiny kangaroo.  She smiled as she watched the kangaroo and the witch race around the field.

“I think Breeze deserves some cakes, but maybe not too many. Just enough to say thank you.” She decided to leave solving the mystery of where Lilian found the Kangaroo named Toby for another day.

 

Breeze’s favorite Fairy Cakes.

This is the recipe I have made and I love them, I cover them with icing (made with icing sugar and a little water)  or with melted chocolate and often add a cherry on top.

 

Ingredients

• 110g/4oz butter or margarine, softened at room temperature
• 110g/4oz caster sugar
• 2 free-range eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 110g/4oz self-raising flour
• 1-2 tbsp milk

 

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and line a fairy cake tin  with 12 paper cases.

1. Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale. Beat in the eggs, a little at a time, and stir in the vanilla extract.
2. Fold in the flour using a large metal spoon. Add a little milk to make the mixture a dropping soft  consistency and spoon the mixture into the paper cases until they are half full.
3. Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes, or until golden-brown on top and a skewer inserted into one of the cakes comes out clean. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.