Pookas Page for Grownups

When my youngest daughter, Mandy, heard that the story in this issue would revolve around a pony, she immediately volunteered to draw the illustration for it. Mandy has had a passion for horses ever since she was in the womb. When she was little and asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, my daughter would always answer with confidence: A horse! To her, every horse or pony has always been a magical being and I think she did a wonderful job of expressing that in her drawing! You can visit Mandys artwork and read about the horses in her Fantasy Stable at: magicwindsstables.devientart.com

I cant take credit for the wonderful Sidewalk Smores idea in the Kitchen Witch section. It was the brainstorm of my brothers beautiful lady-love, Emily, who always seems to be coming up with creative and exciting ways to make life interesting. This was her way of coping with the intense heat that gripped their area of the country recently. She not only allowed me to share it with you, she even sent me the photos she took. Thanks, Emily!

Rayne Storm who, for the past several years, has been goddess-sent with her wonderful crafts for kids, is taking a well-deserved break. However, if you havent visited her website lately http://www.themagickalcauldron.com/ she has lots of her unique projects for pagan kids there and even a couple of books coming out!

Evelien Roos and her children sent me a wonderful recipe for a Lammas Quiche that they thought your family would enjoy. I do hope you try it! Evelien and her children live in the Netherlands so this might also be a great opportunity for your child to see where that it on a map, how far it is from where you live and even learn a little bit about what life is like there.

I hope you all have a magical Lughnasadh!

Lughnasadh
Lammas, Festival of First Fruit, First Harvest

This is the first of the three harvest festivals. Earths bounty becomes ripe for gathering. The first loaves of bread are baked from this years grains. Fruits, such as lemons, berries and peaches are ready to be canned or made into pies and jams. In the midst of all this activity, people still find time to gather at County Fairs that are todays version of the ancient Lughnasadh Festivals.

In this Issue
Storybook Chair Kitchen Witch Sidewalk Smores by Emily Elsies Herb Garden Little Book of Shadows Pookas Lesson Coloring Page The Fool Lammas Quiche by Evelien Roos
The Pooka Pages, unless otherwise noted, is written and illustrated by Lora Craig-Gaddis. Pooka Pages is a FREE publication published 8 times a year at: www.pookapages.com This issue of Pooka Pages is copyright July 2011. No portion of this magazine maybe be used without the artist or authors permission. To contact an artist or author or for general inquiries, write to: pookachild@hotmail.com

Pooka bounded in through the open kitchen window with Thistle, the fairy, hot on his heels. She swooped down and tagged him. Now youre It! she giggled. Edgar, the crow, was right behind them. No, Im It! he cawed, and then fluttered over to the table where Elsie was busy stuffing sachet bags with potpourri. Shoo! All of you! exclaimed the little witch. She flapped her hands at them. Im working! Pooka ignored his mistress and landed on the table, crowding his little body next to hers. He surveyed the lace bags, loose ribbons and giant bowl of potpourri. Whatcha doing? he asked. Making favors for the Lammas Faire, Elsie told him, adding, and Aunt Tillys in the herb room making wreaths. A verbal explosion floated in through the herb room door that ended with: Curse you, cat! Now, leave those alone! Grimalkins helping? asked Pooka (although he really didnt need to.) Elsie rolled her eyes and smiled. Of course. Aunt Tilly stomped into the room bearing a beautiful round wreath of rosemary branches studded with bay leaves, dried orange slices and sunflowers. Here you go, she said, setting it on the table. It used to have Queen Annes Lace, but SOMEBODY thought those flowers needed removing. Grimalkins little grey face peeked through the door. Tiny, cream colored flowers decorated his face and whiskers. Am I in trouble? he asked. Aunt Tilly glared at the kitten. Always! Grimalkins face disappeared back into the herb room. Thistles arms reached into the cookie jar as she proclaimed in a high little voice: I love the Festival of First Harvest! I cant wait!

Pooka and Edgar both looked at her. Even after getting stuck in the cotton candy and almost getting eaten that year? Pooka said. Thistle shrugged a dainty shoulder at him and tossed her head. Well, I didnt get eaten, did I? She bit into the cookie that it took both her hands to hold. Sensing a quarrel brewing, Elsie interjected, So whos going to the Lammas Faire this year? A paw and a wing and a tiny hand all shot up. Grimalkin poked his face out of hiding. Me too! the kitten declared. Aunt Tilly and Elsie smiled at each other.

The hot August morning sun beat down as Elsie arranged her lotions and potions on shelves underneath the canopy she shared with Claire, the Flower Lady. Claire sorted her tin buckets of yellow sunflowers, green ferns, delicate white babys breath and bright blue delphiniums into glorious fragrant bunches. Pooka dogged Elsies every step, rubbing against her ankles and nagging her: Are you going to come play this year? he asked. Elsie, every year, youre stuck here at the booth all day and night. When are you going to come play with me? he insisted. Can we have a corn dog? PLEASE? Can we go see the horse races? I bet you could win the penny toss and get me a gold fish! Elsie turned to him. What would you do with a gold fish? she asked. Pooka looked up at her innocently. Eat it? Elsie rolled her eyes and sighed. Would you two mind watching the booth while I make sure this silly cat doesnt get into trouble? Aunt Tilly waved her hand, shooing them off. Go, she told them. Grimalkin told his mistress loyally, Ill stay here and help. Must you? sighed Aunt Tilly, but she smiled nevertheless. The Flower Lady called after them: Have fun! So Elsie and Pooka joined the throngs of Faire goers. Edgar perched happily on Elsies shoulder; Thistle rode under her hat and Pooka trotted alongside. They all shared a corndog and sampled the wares at the pie contest. Thistle got over her fear of cotton candy and Elsie danced with the rest of the villagers. An announcer came over the loud speakers telling everyone the horse races were about to begin. Oooh! Nathans going to be in that! exclaimed Elsie. Lets watch! They passed the pens of livestock for sale on their way. Suddenly, Elsie stopped in front of a small pen holding an ugly little shaggy pony. What are YOU doing here? she asked, startled. The pony hung its head in shame.

Do you know that pony? asked Pooka. Thats not a pony, Elsie said. Its a Unicorn! Edgar fluttered over to land on the ponys back. Yuck. Dirty. Ugly. he squawked. Thistle tipped up the brim of Elsies hat for a look. Yup, thats a unicorn, she nodded before disappearing again. Pooka glanced up at Elsie. Are you sure? he asked. All I see is a shaggy, ugly little pony. Elsie shrugged and said, Maybe you have to be a witch or a fairyin order to see the unicorn in disguise. Pooka looked again. I guess so, he admitted. Just then two men came toward them. I dont know, the elderly farmer with a grey beard was saying. I bought him off some fellow in the next county. Not sure why. He aint good for much. The man next to him, stout with a dark stubble of whiskers across his face, examined the pony roughly. Looks fairly strong, he said. Bet he could haul coal carts up and down the hills. Reckon he could, agreed the older man. Eat much? asked the other. I aint interested in throwing a bunch of good feed at an old work pony. The grey-bearded farmer shrugged. Eats normal, he said. The stout man stroked his whiskers and considered the pony for a moment. Well, tell you what, he drawled. Let me look around and, if I dont see something cheaper, Ill be back in an hour. and then he left. Elsie plucked at the farmers sleeve. Excuse me, she said, but how much are you asking for the pony? He told her the price, which was very reasonable, but Elsies face fell. It was still more than she had saved up. Thank you, she said, trying to hide her disappointment. The farmer ambled off a ways and Elsie told the others: Hauling coal is a rough life for a pony and its NO life for a unicorn. We HAVE to raise the money to buy him! The ugly little horse shook his mane and looked at them hopefully. The brim on Elsies hat lifted again. Ill help! exclaimed Thistle, and she darted off toward the fields. Edgar, the crow, squawked and told them hed be right back. Pooka looked up at his witch with big eyes. He felt desperate to help also. We can put me on a table and charge people a nickel to pet the pussycat, he suggested. Thats an idea, smiled the witch, but I think at a nickel a pet it might take longer than an hour to raise the money.

Soon, Thistle flew back with her tiny arms filled with a teensy bouquet of flowers. The Flower Lady can sell these for us! she declared with enthusiasm.

Elsie looked at the itty-bitty flowers and smiled sadly. Im afraid humans want bigger floral arrangements that they can actually see without a magnifying glass. Just then Edgar landed in front of them, flapping his large wings. His beak was jammed with shiny bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Sell these! he crowed happily. Edgar, exclaimed Elsie. These are all things youve stolen from the villagers. We cant ask them to buy them back! The big black bird cocked his head to one side. Why not? he asked. I know! cried Pooka. I could pretend to be a fat little kitten balloon and let people throw darts at me! You could get hurt! objected Thistle. Naw, Pooka said confidently. No one ever manages to hit the balloons in that game! Elsie just shook her head and said, This is hopeless. All we can do is ask the Goddess to help us.and quickly! Shed just spotted the stout coal miner weaving his way through the crowds toward the ponys pen. Okay, old man, he said as he approached the farmer. Im here to take that ugly critter off your hands. To Elsie, it felt like the heart in her chest had just landed in her stomach with a hard thud. Oh no! whispered Thistle. Were too late! Pooka huddled next to Elsies ankles and buried his face in his paws. Edgar, who was perched on the witchs shoulder, press close to her cheek. The grey-bearded farmer shook his head slowly. Sorry, he said. The ponys not for sale anymore. My granddaughters taken a shine to him and I told her she could have it. Elsies head shot up and she saw a little girl in the ponys pen, hugging his neck and sharing her cookie. She moved closer. Congratulations on your new pony, she smiled. The child fixed her with a fierce glare. Not a pony, she said. Its a unicorn! and the girl wrapped her arms around the creatures stubby neck and gave him a hug. The pony winked at them and Elsie chuckled as she walked away. Hey! said Pooka, catching up to her heels. I thought you said only witches could see unicorns? Elsie face grew thoughtful. Well, she said, perhaps theres a little witch in every boy and girl. Edgar, the crow, and Thistle, the fairy, nodded at the Wisdom of this. Pooka added, And maybe a bit of unicorn in every pony?

-The End -

The

Kitchen Witch
Sidewalk Smores
By Emily Some summer days are just HOT, HOT, HOT! What can you do to make those days some of the funnest ever besides jumping in a lake or a pool? Make Sidewalk Smores and let the sun do the work for you! This is a perfect activity for Lughnasadh afternoon: Spread some aluminum foil out on the side walk under the full sun and put a marshmallow on it. Now, wait a little bit until the marshmallow starts to get all gooey.

Then, place a piece of chocolate on a graham cracker square and put that next to the marshmallow on the aluminum foil. The chocolate will melt pretty quickly. As soon as it does, scoop the marshmallow off the foil and plop it on top of the chocolate. Spread peanut butter on another graham cracker square and put that on top of the marshmallow. Now, bite into your yummy Smore!

Rose Geranium, with its soft bright green leaves and dainty little purple flowers, is an easy plant for you to grow. You can put it in a pot or stick it in the ground. Indoors or out. And it smells so good whenever you brush past it that youll want to just scoop its branches up in your arms and give it a hug! If you cant resist the hug and accidentally break off a branch, thats okay too. Just stick the branch in some dirt, water it and soon youll have a brand new rose geranium - and thats a good thing, because you can never have too much of this marvelous plant. Put it on a cut and it will stop the bleeding. A poultice of the leaves is even good for bruises. It kills nasty old germs (antiseptic) and helps remove the inflammation when a boo-boo gets all red and hot. Its especially good if you have an older brother or sister who gets bumps on their faces. Suggest they rinse their face each night for a week in a rose geranium tea and see the difference! Rose geranium has a magical, uplifting property. When someone is sad and depressed, smelling the fragrance of this humble little plant can work wonders to help them feel happy again. In magic, its good for love and friendship spells. When it seems like everyones cranky and quarrelling in your home, simmer a some leaves in a cauldron on the hearth or a pot on the stove. Peace will be restored! A couple of the soft leaves slipped into your pillowcase at night will help you sleep and have beautiful dreams.

Elsies recipe for a Magic Friendship Cake: Cake Think about your friends and the people you love as you light a pink
candle in your kitchen. Now, make a white or golden sheet cake according to the recipe on the box. Add an extra teaspoon of vanilla and a teaspoon of almond extract. Pour into a pan and cover the top of the batter with rose geranium leaves before placing in the oven. When the cake is done, remove the leaves and let the cake cool. Icing Glaze: While the cake is baking, make a very strong tea of rose geranium leaves. Strain the leaves out. Then, in a bowl, put 2 cups of powdered (confectioners) sugar, 1 tablespoons of softened butter, teaspoon vanilla and teaspoon salt. Stir in 3 to 4 Tablespoons of the tea until its smooth and slightly thinner than regular frosting. Now, ice your cake and decorate the top with sliced strawberries and fresh mint leaves. Share the cake with people you care about. Its magic will help strengthen old friendships and form bonds with new friends.

Pookas Lesson
Tarot Kitty
Pooka opened his eyes and yawned wide, showing his pink
tongue and all his little white teeth. Then he rose and stretched every inch of his body. After that, he looked around the parlor for his witch, Elsie. He spotted her sitting, not far away, at the round table she often used as an altar. He flicked his ears in dismay. Was she spell-working without him? She had an expression of intense concentration on her face. Pooka decided to see what she was up to. He hopped off the chair, strolled silently across the parlor and then leaped onto the table, landing precisely in front of the witchs face. Blessed Be, Pooks! Eslie exclaimed, her head jerking back. What are you doing? Im seeing what YOURE doing, the cat replied. He looked down and noticed that he was sitting in the middle of a bunch of cards arranged in a curious pattern. Whats this game? he asked. Its not a game! Elsie told him. Im doing a tarot reading. And your black, furry butt is planted in the middle of it! Reading? asked Pooka. Its a story? The little cat settled down and tucked his paws into his chest. Read it to me. I like stories! Its not that kind of story, sighed Elsie. And not that kind of reading. She stroked his head as she searched for a way to explain. The pictures on the cards represent certain things. They represent actions or archetypes something you do or a way of being that everyone can relate to. When you look at them in relation to the other cards around them, a story emerges. The story is a way your deep consciousness has of telling you whats going on in your life, whats going to happen in the future and what you should do.

Do I have a future? asked Pooka. Elsie hugged him. Of course you do! Can you read my story? he asked. Sure, said Elsie. Lets see what message the cards have for you today. She gathered up the cards and shuffled them. Then she spread the cards in an arc across the table and told the cat to pick one. Pooka sat up and seriously considered each card. It was hard since he could only see their backs and the backs looked all the same. One card on the table, however, kept drawing his attention. Finally, he touched it with his paw. That one, he said. Elsie turned the card over. The fool she said. Im not a Fool Pooka protested indignantly. These cards are wrong! Do it again! No, no, Elsie assured him. The Fool is an innocent being starting out on an adventure. Hes not stupid or dumb but he is full of excitement and doesnt always watch where hes going. Sort of like when you were watching the fish in the creek and kept creeping further out for a better look until you finally perched on a rock that wasnt stable. Remember? You fell in? Pooka did NOT like being reminded of that. The water had been cold and wet and he was certain that all the fish had been laughing at him. I know to be more careful now, he muttered stiffly. Yes, nodded Elsie, You learned something from that. But there are still more lessons ahead. Thats what this card is saying. Pooka thought hard and came as close to frowning as a kitty can. I was going to go play in the forest with Thistle, but maybe the card is warning me to stay home today. I dont want to fall in the water again. The little witch started gathering up her cards. Not at all, she said. Its just telling you to be careful and pay attention. Okay! No problem. I can do that! agreed Pooka as he jumped off the table and galloped from the room. See you in a while Im going to meet Thistle now! A moment later, Elsie heard the crash of breaking pottery coming from the direction of the open kitchen window. She closed her eyes, muttered a silent prayer for patience and called, Pooka? Was that my basil plant that was sitting on the window sill? A tiny ooops floated back to her followed by a slightly louder: Sorry! The witch sighed and went to get her broom and dustpan.

(Picture for you to color from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck)

Little Charms for Boo-boos, Bumps and Owies

(Grownup can say a line and then you repeat it)

Charm for a cut:

This skin is torn Now it will mend For with each breath Is healing sent. (blow 3 times on the cut)

For a Bruise or Sprain:

My bodys hurt And Im upset; But with this kiss The wound is blessed. (Kiss the area or have a grownup kiss it.)

To Soothe a Headache:
A grownup should do this: Gently stroke the childs center forehead in an outward spiral pattern with lavender oil, concentrating on drawing the pain out while reciting the charm 3 times in a sing song voice Butterflies, fairies, Gossamer wings Soft & delicate Gentle things Fill your brain; Like summer rain They rinse away pain.

From Elsies friends, Evelien, Eleanor and Andy in the Netherlands comes this wonderful recipe :

Lammas Quiche
with corn, smoked salmon and chives Serves: 6

For the dough: 7 ounces of plain white flour 1/2 cup water 3 ounces butter Pinch of salt For the filling: 10 1/2 ounces of dried peas or beans for "blind" baking 5 ounces of fresh corn grain, straight from the cob Butter Freshly ground pepper Salt Nutmeg 8/10 cup milk 8/10 cup cream 3 eggs 2 egg yolks 2 tbsp chopped chives 5 ounces smoked salmon in slices 3 ounces of grated cheese Preparation: Mix all ingredients for the dough and knead thoroughly. Let the dough rest under a cloth on a cool, dry and draft free spot. Dust your working space with some flour and roll the dough to 3/4 inches thickness. Butter a 10 inch pie dish with a minimum height of 1 inch and dust this also with flour. Cover bottom and sides with dough and press down slightly. Let a bit of dough hang over the sides and set a bit of dough aside for finishing touches. Heat the oven to 338 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover the dough with aluminum foil and fill with the dried peas or beans. Bake the dough `blind for about 15 minutes. Take from the oven and let cool. Remove the foil with the peas and check the dough for holes. If necessary use the remaining dough to fill these. Cut off the excess dough outside of the dish. Make the filling: Freshen the corn grains under the cold tap and soften them by boiling them in unsalted water for 20 minutes. Again freshen the corn and drain them well. Melt a small pad of butter in a pan and add the corn grains. Season with freshly ground pepper. Boil the milk and cream with 1 ounce of butter. Season with a dash of nutmeg, freshly ground pepper and salt. Beat the eggs and yolks in a bowl. Mix the cream with the eggs, stirring slowly. Sieve this mixture and let cool slightly. Now add the chives. Cut the smoked salmon slices in thin strips. Mix the salmon, corn and half the grated cheese and fill the pie. Then put in the egg-cream mixture and cover this with the rest of the cheese. Bake the quiche for 45 minutes on 302 degrees Fahrenheit. Serve with a fresh salad.
(Images from clipart)