Christmas and the magical mince pies

It was snowing and yet the huge green ogre named Breeze was asleep. He was tucked onto his favorite branch high in the tallest oak tree in the wood. His excuse was – he was keeping watch for Santa.

Breeze adored the magic of Christmas. So when the very first flake landed on his nose, he stopped snoring and woke in a hurry, slid down the trunk of the wrinkly crinkly old tree and raced through the wood shouting “it is snowing. Christmas is coming, Santa is getting ready to leave the north pole.”

His friends, shook their heads and said, “he is never unhappy at this time of  the year.”

However when Breeze bumped into Lovisma, he lost his happiness. For she had hold of a wooden santa claus and was dangling him upside down. “I’ think I should fly up to the moon and drop him, lets see him fly then, ” she giggled at her own joke.

Lily, was sobbing “Please, don’t do it, he is only made of wood he can’t fly. He needs reindeer and magic.”

Breeze frowned.  “Lets see if Lovisma would fly if we took her broomstick away and tied her up nice and neat like a Christmas pudding.”

Lily stopped sobbing and looked at him. “Could you do it?”

“I would if you asked me.”

Lovisma instantly dropped the wooden Santa and flew away. Breeze told Lily some jokes to cheer her and then they made a giant snow rabbit before they both went home for tea.

All evening long Breeze thought about the nasty witch. “Time I scared her good and proper,” he decided. He needed to think long and hard because Breeze knew that every witch has something she is terrified of.

It was Christmas eve and the wood was looking sparkling and festive. The trees were wearing their best winter coats and the birds had decorated some of the lower branches with holly, though the berries were missing.

Elegant witch had solved the problem by asking the knitting group to knit holly berries and attach them to the branches. She added her own dash of magic then making the berries twinkle with bright lights.

Breeze had baked. This was an event in itself and the mince pies did smell awesome, which he kept saying. However, Lily wondered why he had put a box of six pies to one side.  The label on the box said, For Lovisma, “Mr Breeze why did you give that nasty witch six mince pies and there will only be one for everyone else.”

He winked at her and said, “these are special pies just for her. Don’t let anyone touch them or there will be trouble.”

She wondered why he sounded a little cross but decided one of his mince pies would be enough for her. Besides Santa was coming.

The table for the midnight party was set and suddenly there was a cold rush of air. A cackle of laughter announced Lovisma’s arrival. She was looking really nasty in a purple and silver pair of leggings and a huge purple flouncy dress.

Yuck, you look like a giant blueberry. Matt announced.

Her answer to him was with a flick her wand to turn him into a snow ogre. Breeze said, “Be nice or no Santa.” She flicked Matt from snow ogre back to green ogre.

Ooh mince pies, Lovisma said. I want one.

You can’t have one, Breeze told her. But you can have six to take home to Elegant witch. I made them for you both.”

Lovisma smiled sweetly and said, “I think I will have one, just one now.”

However, once she started she couldn’t stop. Lovisma kept stuffing mince pies into her mouth until the box was empty.  “I feel a little odd.” She said.

Lily smiled. “YOu do look a little odd.” And she moved further away.

Not a moment too soon as Lovisma began to shake like a jelly, then spun around so fast she was a purple blob. Suddenly there was a loud pop and when everyone looked she appeared to have vanished leaving the purple dress in a heap on the ground then it began to move in hopping movements. Lily was the first to spot the new improved Lovisma. “OOh a frog I love frogs, can I pet her?”

“I can’t be a frog. I hate slimey frogs.” Lovisma the frog shouted.

Lily said ” but you are, look in the reflection in the glass. This is you a cute purple frog. ”

Each time Lovisma attempted to jump onto her broom she slid off, instead she hopped away screaming in horror.  “I hate you Breeze almost as much as I hate frogs.”

After that everyone was happy she had left but they were a little afraid of eating any of his mince pies.

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Elegant to the rescue.

The yearly event  for witches is the “Broomstick Dive and Duck Ball”. It is a night of feasting, music, competitions and games.

Lovisma loves the competition called, “Whackiest disguise for a broomstick.” Last year she disguised her broom stick as a sausage roll. A giant warlock tried to eat it and broke a tooth. Lovisma didn’t hang around to collect her prize.

Elegant loves the “Design a witches hat” competition. Last year her hat looked like a giant board game complete with rolling dice and moving figures.

This year the two witches began their preparations early. On the night of the ball, they took great care with their appearance. Elegant ‘s gown  was midnight blue sprinkled with tiny glittering stars, her shoes and hat matched.

Lovisma spent ages planning her outfit. When she appeared beside Elegant, she looked like a giant swirling lollypop.  They called their broomsticks and got ready to leave for Warlock Twittchets house. 

Suddenly a loud scream was heard followed by a dog howling in pain. “What is that?” Elegant asked.

“I don’t know. Lets go.” Lovisma sped off into thenight sky.

Elegant looked towards the wood. The howling was dreadful. “Oh, dear.” She mumbled and flew after Lovisma. When she caught up with her sister she said, “I need to help it.”

“But you will miss the fun. Remember last years popping cheesecake. It was fantastic.” Lovisma said.

“I will catch up later.” Elegant said and went into the wood.

She found Tulip and Hamish trying to get close to a huge dog.  He was standing on three legs, the third one was bent and blood poured from it.

“My magic isn’t strong enough. He is in great pain.” Tulip whispered to Elegant.

“We will work together and fix this.” Elegant said.

Even with magic it took them a long time.  When his paw was mended and bandaged. Hamish  said, “We have to get him home.”

Tulip agreed, “yes he can’t stay here he will frighten everyone but where is his home?”

Elegant thought about the problem and declared, “there is only one way to do this.  We need a potion from the bubbling cauldron. Hamish, we will be back in a jiffy.”

The bubbling cauldron was asleep. It didn’t like being wakened and asked to work. Eventually Elegant persuaded it to allow her to make one potion.

When they returned they added the potion to water. When the husky drank it he told them his story.

Elegant was happy to return the animal to his home but she felt a little sad she had missed the fun at the ball. The next day when everyone in Mudpile Wood  heard of Elegants kind act, they decided to hold a party in her honor to thank her.

 

Breeze: Introducing the tiniest witch, Lovisma

We have many different beings in Mudpile wood but the one who creates the most trouble is a witch called Lovisma.

 

She is like no other witch I have ever met. It doesn’t matter what she is doing she creates mischief wherever she goes. Lovisma hates to walk and is often seen flying about on her dashing purple and pink broomstick.

I often think she has fallen into the wrong wood.

Take a look at this picture Doris drew of her and you will see what I mean.

 

Doesn’t she look like trouble?

I will be back to tell you more about her.

Easter Mystery at Mudpile Wood.

A reminder:   Breeze is a very friendly Ogre.   Hamish is a grumpy Elf.    Lovisma is a tiny mischievous witch and Tulip is a Fairy who adores to bake.

Women’s voices drifted up to Breeze as he lay dreaming on a branch in a tree.

 “Humans” he whispered. Breeze let out an ear piercing warning whistle. He spotted rabbits and elves running further into the wood. 

 

“Did you hear that funny bird? ” One woman asked. “Don’t go into the wood. We don’t want the children to get lost in there.”

Breeze noticed the women’s baskets were full of shiny objects which they were hiding in the long grass and under bushes.   Finally their baskets were empty and they left.

 

Breeze slid down the tree. Hamish walked up to him. “Why did you sound the alarm?”

“It was a crowd of humans. They hid somethings,” Breeze was stretching his hand out underneath a bush.  “Aha, look what I got!” He pulled out a shiny blue  ball.

“What is it?” Hamish asked.

Breeze scratched his head. “I don’t know.”

Hamish smelt it. “Chocolate. Why hide them?”

 

They asked Tulip.  “I don’t know.” She said, “but the tooth fairy might know.”

Mavis, the tooth fairy was tired, “Show me quickly, I need to sleep. “

Hamish handed her the blue ball.

“Ugh it’s an easter egg. They love them, hide them in odd places and call it ‘fun’ to find them.” Mavis  scowled then said, “I’m going to sleep, leave.”

The three friends left in a hurry.

 

“Now we know what they are what are we going to do?” Breeze asked.

“Nothing,” Tulip said, “They will come and collect them.”

Lovisma, heard this conversation and went to look at the eggs.

 

On Easter Sunday Tulip, Breeze and Hamish were hiding at the top of a tree.  They were there to make sure no child entered the wood. “It wouldn’t do for an elderly Ogre or Fairy to meet a child.They might never recover from the shock,” Breeze said.

 

The children raced into the field watched by their parents. They began to search for eggs.  A small girl gave a shout,  “I see one.” This was followed by a wailing cry. “Why won’t it stop moving?”

 

Breeze , Hamish and Tulip watched the field turn into a playground for leaping Easter eggs that could not be caught.

 Tulip looked at Breeze and Hamish.

“We didn’t do it.” Breeze said. “Did you?”

“I did not.” Tulip said and waved her wand towards the leaping bouncing eggs. But no amount of Fairy sparkle or magic could stop the eggs from moving.

 

Suddenly an egg was caught. 

It popped open, a bright yellow rabbit jumped out and began hip hop dancing.  His ears were spinning around and hit a boy in the legs. He began to cry.

 

“Lovisma did this. Listen, I can hear her giggling.” Hamish said.

They began to search. Suddenly a bush sneezed. Breeze pounced on it. He emerged with a wiggling fighting Lovisma.

“Leave me be you big ogre.”

“I will if you stop them bouncing eggs and dancing bunnies.” Breeze shook her.

Lovisma was dressed in green, she had bells in her hair. She jingled as he shook her.

 

 “Lovisma you had better place a forgetful spell on them. We don’t want the wood full of nosy humans.” Tulip said.

“What will you give me if I do that?”Lovisma smiled.

Breeze said, “I’ll stop shaking you for a start, and I’ll tell you where to find lovely fresh mud.”

Lovisma loved bathing in mud. “Deal.” 

 

With a flick of her wrist she stopped the eggs from moving and with a wiggle of her nose the children stopped crying. 

Hamish’s ears twitched. “No one is talking about the jumping eggs, they are leaving.”

“Pity,” Lovisma said. “I always wanted to create a big stir. Now I will have to think of something else.”

Before they could scold her, Lovisma vanished.

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Have a great Easter everyone.