Pancake Day in the Wood.

Breeze, the snooziest ogre in the whole universe, woke to the sound of slip-slap, slip-slap. His nose twitched because the air was full of the scent of lemon. This was unusual because the wood always smelt of trees, leaves, flowers and those that lived in it but this afternoon the only thing he could smell was lemon.

…lemon …. and blueberries.

He slid down the tree trunk, raced across the wood and stopped in the clearing. It was dreadful,  instead of seeing neat plates piled with pancakes

All he could see was bits of pancakes flying from pans to the floor, or getting stuck on trees, leaves, grass,  even the pancake flippers had bits stuck to them.

This won’t do at all, he muttered and began to race around the clearing. Ten minutes later he had to stop, he was stuffed, he couldn’t eat another pancake and worse his feet were sore from running.

Lilbeth came over to sit beside him. “That was a very nice thing you did Mr. Breeze.”

He opened one eye and looked at her. She nodded.

“Why do you say that Lilbeth?”

“Because now we don’t have to tidy up. And maybe we will get better at flipping pancakes for tomorrow.”

She left him sitting there with his mouth wide open. He didn’t know if he should cry or laugh. He would have to do it all again tomorrow!

 

 

Advertisement

Too hot.

It was the hottest summer, ever. The broad river was no longer rushing and gushing. The water trickled along, stopping here and there to form small puddles.

Breeze was hot, much to hot to sleep. He walked to the river and sat down but it was so low he hardly got wet.

‘Enough of this, ‘ he muttered and walked to Elegant witches house.

‘We need water.’  He told her.

Elegant agreed but added, ‘I can’t help. Mother nature forbade me from doing anything. She says this is the way it is to be.’

‘Rubbish, ‘ Breeze said and spent the next ten minutes trying to change her mind. He left feeling hotter than ever. “I have to do something or I will simply vanish from lack of water.’

He went home to the darkest corner of the cave. It was a little cooler. Breeze sat on the floor. It felt cool and wet. He discovered there was a leak in the cave and he had sat on a muddy puddle.

‘Feels very cool.’ He said and stopped. Then turned and raced to the river.  It didn’t take long for him to get the work done.

When he was finished he called everyone to the side of the river and showed them his creation.

‘It looks very dirty.’ Hamish said, and everyone passing by agreed with him

Breeze said, “try this, he stepped into the pond that sat to one side of the river bed and sploshed around.His very red face began to turn to its normal shade of yucky green. Hamish still stood and watched.

‘Breeze said, ‘here mind my snack’ he held out a large cupcake to Hamish who didn’t think just acted. and found himself tugged into the pond by Breeze’s large hand. He tumbled in and sat scowliing for about twenty seconds than he smiled. ‘Breeze you are a genius.’ He said and lay back to have a peaceful snooze.

Breeze watched him and wondered if he should warn Hamish that there was a large group of elves, hoblins and ogres heading his way. ‘Best not say anything, he will find out in a minute.’

 

 

A Surprising Catch.

 

Hamish and Breeze were fishing. The moon hovered over them high in the sky.  The river flow was slow.

“The river looks tired.” Breeze whispered.

“Lets hope the fish are hungry and tired.” Hamish stuck his fishing line in the water. The line ran from the water to a low branch of the oak tree. Near the top of the branch Hamish had fixed some tiny bells. “They will wake me when the fish has been caught.” He told Breeze who kept staring at the bells.

“I should have thought of some bells,” Breeze said and settled down for a nap.

They woke when a fox jumped onto Breeze’s chest.  Breeze sat up and shouted “we’ve caught one.”

Hamish looked at their fishing lines.They sat quietly they didn’t jig about in the water.  “I don’t think so, it was Harry the fox, blame him.”

Harry apologised to Breeze for waking him adding, “she scares me. And she is a little crazy as well.”

Breeze and Hamish watched the fox run across some stones along the river bed and vanish into the dark field behind them.

“I wonder who scares him. How shall we find out?” Hamish asked as he spotted a  stripey sock lying on the path close to them. They walked to the sock. Hamish sniffed it. “Lovisma, it smells of lavender and she likes lavender.”

“Lovisma loves her crazy coloured socks, why would she drop it here?” Breeze walked along the path and found another sock, this one had dots on it. They continued through the wood finding out bits of clothes here and there. A hat sat on a gooseberry bush, a  dress hung from a branch and a long scarf blew amongst the leaves in the willow tree. As they went they picked the items up and Breeze stuffed them in his pockets. He smiled because he had solved the puzzle.

“I know a crazy collie who likes to steal socks, but I won’t set Lovisma on her.”Breeze said. “I like crazy collies called Ellie.”

The sun was rising and the moon was heading to bed as they arrived at Lovisma’s house. Elegant and Lovisma were in the kitchen arguing. They could hear because the windows were open.

“I don’t understand who steals our clothes? I mean who would want to do it and why?”

“It is very bothersome. It means we have to keep zapping up new socks. It is  a little tiresome.” Lovisma told her older sister.

“What I don’t understand is how it always happens when it is your turn to do the laundry. It is strange.” Elegant said.

“Let’s be kind neighbour’s and return the washing.” Hamish suggested. “Afterall Elegant is a very kind witch.”

They emptied Breeze’s giant pockets and left the socks and hats in a heap on the porch.

“Go hide.” Hamish told Breeze.

Breeze ran into the wood, Hamish rang the doorbell, then hid.

Elegant answered the door saying, “Good morning….” She stopped and stared at the heap of washing. Then she did a little jig and dance on the front porch before pointing her wand at the clothes and ordering them to march indoors.

Breeze and Hamish heard Elegant say, “Good news Lovisma, you won’t be bored today, some kind neighbour has found our washing.Now lets make sure these socks  in pairs.”

The two friends decided doing nice things made them extra hungry so they forgot about their fishing lines and went to Hamish’s house to cook an extra large breakfast.

 

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.

A Dragon named Frank with a hot problem

Breeze was smiling because he could smell his favorite smell – cakes baking. He slid off the branch and began to wander through the forest. He knew if he took his time he would miss the messy washing up bit and land at Tulips door in time for afternoon tea and cake.

His smile lasted for about ten seconds. It was the saddest looking dragon who took his happy smile away. The dragon was green and miserable.

“Hey, What is wrong with you buddy?” Breeze asked.

“My life is ruined and all because of my hot breath.” The dragon mumbled.

Breeze frowned and sat down, a safe distance away, from the grumpy dragon.

“But, Frank even I know that your speciality is fire breathing” Breeze spoke softly not wishing to annoy the small dragon.

“Yes but not when you love flowers and want to be a botanist.”

“A what?” Breeze looked about him wondering if he had fallen on his head and was having a terrible nightmare, because not one bit of this conversation was making sense to him.

“I like studying and growing flowers but it won’t work cos often, much too often they end up looking like toast.”

Breeze opened  his mouth, closed it and opened it again. He was afraid to say what he was thinking.

The dragon spoke for him. “No burnt flowers do not taste like toast. They simply look burnt.”

“Okay I know what to do lets talk to Elegant witch.” Breeze stood, told Frank where to meet him and ran off to see Elegant.

Unfortunately for him she wasn’t baking, she was cleaning her house using a broom.

Breeze watched her work and frowned. The world is gone upside down, he thought, dragons who want to potter about in the garden and witches who use a broom for sweeping. 

Her chuckle startled him. “I heard that Breeze and no I am not crazy. I just like sweeping.” Putting down the broom she asked him, “What problem have you brought to me today?”

Breeze told her about Frank. It was Elegants turn to look worried. “If I stop his fiery breath, the others will not like it.” Elegant began to pace about the room. There was a bee dancing on the window ledge, very gently Elegant shooed it from the room. Then she turned to Breeze, “That is the answer.”

Breeze frowned. He didn’t think a bee on a window was an answer to anything but he knew Elegant to be a clever witch so he waited for her to return.

Frank arrived as Elegant finished her spell. When the dragon nervously asked her if she could help, she smiled and held out the hat for him. “It is smashing but won’t it go on fire too?”

Breeze moved out of the way and said, “Try it” then as fast as he could he ran to Tulips house. Afterall if the magical beekeepers helmet worked the dragon would be happy and if it didn’t then Breeze might have a lot of ashes to sweep up and Breeze hated sweeping.

 

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?”

 

 

“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.

Lilian’s Friend : Part two.

Tulip was surprised when Breeze offered to mind Lilian the following afternoon. “I won’t have time to bake you pies or cupcakes.” She told him.

“I don’t want any pies or cupcakes.” Breeze said.

Tulip frowned. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I am fine. Lilian is helping me with the ducks. They are not running away from me anymore.” He told her with his fingers crossed. And it was sort of true. They weren’t running away from him because he hid behind the biggest bramble bush he could find.

Much later when he was sitting with his back to a tree he asked Lilian to tell him more about the angel called April.

“I don’t know anything else except she is nice. But why don’t you ask her yourself.” Lilian said and moved closer to the pond to chat with the ducks. Breeze smiled as he heard her talking to the ducks.

Breeze looked around the woodland and the pond. He could see nothing but Lilian, ducks, ducklings, trees, water and the clouds. “I don’t know where she is.” He muttered.

Then he heard it. A soft giggling, gurgling sound,  like water flowing across loose gravel. “So you are here. Can I see you?” When he got no answer he said, “Please, can I see you.”

She appeared as slowly and gently as a Summer mist. The air shimmered and he saw a pair of tiny feet encased in green slippers, a long flowing dress and finally her smiling face framed in chestnut coloured hair. Her wings were glimmering in the light.

Breeze thought she looked very frail. He stared at her. “You are tiny. How can such a tiny angel mind so many trees and keep them happy?”

She shrugged her shoulders and whispered, “Angel dust.”

Breezed nodded. “Ahh, I understand, ” he said though he didn’t really understand.

She smiled. “I will show you, when Lilian is ready to go, there is a sad lonely tree living near Lovisma’s house. I think the tree is afraid of the troublesome witch.”

“April, you came to see me.” Lilian ran up to them and hugged the fairy.

“Of course I did, now would you like to help me?”

“Yes, please.” Lilian danced about them as they walked.

They stopped before an odd looking tree. “It looked bigger yesterday.” Breeze whispered.

“Yes he is trying to make himself small and invisible.” April replied.

She walked towards the tree and slowly flew upwards to the very tip of the tree. As she moved upward, there was a gentle rustling noise as the leaves in the tree sprang to life, catching the sunlight and dancing about. The movement crept along the branches making them stretch outwards and upwards. Then he noticed the trunk of the tree grew broader,  and moved towards the sky.

“It is growing,” Breeze said.

Lilian giggled. “No it is stretching and wait for it.” She stood pointing at the tree.

As each branch bent gracefully towards the sun high above it looked to him like the tree was – smiling.

“It is smiling.” He said and noticed April was back at his side.

“Yes it is. That is what my fairy dust does. ”

Breeze smiled. “Thank you for showing me. I never knew it until now. I will try to h elp by telling the trees jokes and talking to them.”

“Thank you  Mr. Breeze that would be a great help.” With a wave and a smile she left them.

Reasons why most Ogres don’t climb trees.

There are many reasons why Ogres don’t climb trees (well most except for our pal Breeze).

The reasons are:

1. They are afraid of heights.
2. Their legs are too short.
3. Their mums told them never to climb trees and Ogres usually obey their mums.
4. Just like the picture says, There is a bear in the woods.

5. Or is it because they have difficulty picking the right tree to climb? The most obvious can be spotted if you look at Fred the Ogre closely, when he looks at you, he does not see one of you he sees three because his eyes are crossed. Which is also why most ogres have odd shaped noses, from walking into doors, and ? trees.

Fred the Ogre

Upside down but not inside out.

Breeze woke  then asked many questions.

Why are the bees flying around my feet? Why are the trees hiding in the ground waving their roots at the clouds?  The answer was because he was hanging upside down with his jacket flapping about below his head in the light wind. A passing bird flew into his jacket pocket and settled there.

He pinched his arm. “Nope I am not dreaming , that hurt.”

Breeze knew of only one person who could do this to him…. he scowled, “Lovisma.”

He removed the bird from his pocket, loosened his feet in the branch and landed head first on the soft grass beneath him. Back the right way up Breeze discovered he was walking in circles. His head felt strange so he sat on the ground and waited for everything to stop spinning.  He discovered the only upside down thing in the whole forest was him and the tree he had fallen asleep in.

Feeling better he set off to find Lovisma.  He glanced at the sky and saw the sun sitting high above him. Having decided it was lunch time he guessed she would be  trying to persuade Elegant her sister to make her a snazzy, tasty lunch.

When Breeze arrived at their house he heard Elegant say, “What have you done now Lovisma? Breeze looks angry.”

Lovisma giggled, “he always looks mad.  I didn’t do anything.”

Breeze peered in at the window and demanded to know if she had flipped him.

“I didn’t but I wish I thought of it you must have looked funny.” She smiled at him and licked strawberry jam off her fingertips.

Elegant asked him, “Would you care for a strawberry jam tart?”

Breeze ate six then told them he would not move unti l he discovered the truth. Elegant decided to bake more tarts. He sat down to wait. Something soft went ‘plonk’ on his head. It was a scrunched up bit of paper. He opened it and saw an arrow pointing to his left towards the river. He got up and wandered close to the bank. At the edge he saw another arrow pointing down at the water. He peered into the water. “Strange,” He muttered and walked back to his favorite tree. Much later he woke to discover the world had flipped upside down again.

Elegant arrived before him. “What time of the year is it?” She asked.

“Spring.” He said. Then he smiled. “I always sleep well in Spring time.”

“Exactly.” She left him to unravel the mystery.

Breeze started to think.  They all grumbled as the large ogre trampled through their gardens and bumped into everything.

What are you doing? Hamish, his best friend asked.

“Solving a puzzle.”

“Can I help?” Hamish asked. They sat outside his house drinking tea and eating Chamomile sandwiches.

Breeze woke when Hamish roared at  him. “Look what you did to my garden.”

Breeze frowned. The scarecrow was shivering as he was not wearing his clothes. The flowers were shaped like the letter n with their heads near the ground.

“I didn’t do this.” Breeze said.

“You did. Your  loud snoring blew the clothes off my scarecrow, and scared the flowers.”

Breeze smiled “Thank you Hamish you solved the puzzle.” He headed home singing “I was upside down but not inside out” while poor Hamish had to find some new clothes for his scarecrow and persuade the flowers to raise their heads.

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.

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

 

 And where did she find them?

Everywhere!