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Pooka's Page for Grownups Pooka's Page for Grownups... In this issue, we have a special guest contributor - Six year old Rebecca who's a member of Pooka's Circle on Facebook. With the help of her mum, she made her very first besom and then wrote a tutorial on how she did it for other kids. Rebecca did a great job, both on the broom and the tutorial. We'd love to see more kids telling other kids how to do the sabbat crafts that they've tried. If your child has done one, share it (along with a photo) on Pooka's Circle. In our last issue, Team Member Carmen wrapped up her year long "Symbols of the Sabbats" and, in this one, she's beginning a brand new column of lessons for young pagans. In it, she will be teaching the basics - much like Pooka's lessons with Elsie! We hope your child enjoys them and, perhaps, be helpful as you teach and guide your child through the ways of your Path. Here at Pooka Pages, we all hope you're having a marvelous summer and that your Lughnasadh is filled with the promise of a bountiful harvest. Lora, Pooka and the Team www.pookapages.com Join our Group on Facebook - Pooka's Circle or visit, "like" and "follow" our Team Page : facebook.com/PookaPagesTeam Also known as Lammas, Festival of First Fruits, First Harvest - This is the first of the three harvest celebrations. Earth’s bounty becomes ripe for gathering. The first loaves of bread are baked from this year’s grains. Fruits are ready to be canned or made into pies and jams. The bounty of the vegetable garden is being canned and preserved to feed people during the coming winter months. In the midst of all this activity, people still find time to gather at County Fairs that are today’s version of the ancient Lughnasadh Festivals. In this Issue Storybook Chair- Elsie's Magic Coloring Page - Sunflower by Liliane Grenier Kitchen Witch - Bread in a Bag by Emily Tinsman Short Story - Pooka Knows When He's Kneaded Elsie's Herb Garden - Saving Seeds Activity Page - Make a Seed Packet Wee Witchling's Read-Along - Saving Seeds A Letter from Scotland by Fiona Tinker How to Make a Broom/Besom - by Rebecca, age 6 Little Book of Shadows - Broom Magic Coloring Page - Corn Dolly by Hope Mayo The Path of the Witchling by Carmen Sanchez-Bezzard Coloring Page - Pooka Harvesting Corn by Liliane Grenier WitchCraft - Wheat to Grow On by Amber A. The Pooka Pages Magazine is published by Lora Craig-Gaddis This is a FREE Publication for Pagan Children The Pooka Pages is published 8 times a year. To get the current issue, go to: www.pookapages.com Pooka Pages, Lughnasadh 2014 © July 2016 No portion of this publication may be used without the author or artist’s permission. To contact an author or artist or for general inquiries, write to [email protected] Elsie's Magic Pooka lay sprawled on the broad stone window sill, his furry black tummy warmed by the sun. He flicked an alert ear when the garden gate opened, but he was used to his witch receiving visitors throughout the day. They'd come to buy herbal remedies for their ailments, charms to bless their homes or rose petal lotion for their complexion. Occasionally, if they had a problem, they'd ask for a tea leaf or tarot reading. So he only half listened through the open window when Mrs. Gilmore, the neighboring farmer's wife said: "Elsie, dear, I need a bit of your magic spice mixture. Did you know that horrible Lavinia Hinkle intends to enter the Lammas Faire Cake Competition again?" Pooka could almost hear his witch shrug her shoulders. "She always does." "And, thanks to your special spice blend, my cake has beat hers every year!" chortled the plump woman smugly. Elsie laughed and said, "I'll be right back." Pooka heard her little boots trot back to the herb room and then return. "Here you go." Mrs. Gilmore promised, in exchange, to bring Elsie some extra eggs, cream and butter this week. She then left the cottage carrying a small packet. Extra cream? That sounded pretty good to the cat. A short while later, the garden gate squeaked open again. Pooka cracked one eye open and this time it was their friend, Randy Mackellar, from the village book store. "Darling girl," he exclaimed when Elsie opened the door. "Your garden is absolutely fabulous! I am so glad you're not entering the flower competition at the Faire this year. My poor roses wouldn't stand a chance!" Pooka heard Elsie laugh. "You wouldn't by any chance be needing some more of my Plant Potion?" "Not only adorable and an amazing little gardener, she's also a psychic!" teased Randy. The garden shed door squeaked open and a moment later Elsie said, "Here you go." "Yes!" cried the young man triumphantly. "Now I'll be sure to win again this year and I promise that the next rose I breed will be named the 'Elsie's Enchantment!" "Don't you dare!" laughed the girl. Pooka stretched lazily. He sat up and scratched behind his ear with a hind paw. As he did, he noticed Randy pause at the garden gate to exchange greetings with Miss Mary, the church organist. Randy went on his way and Mary entered the garden. "Hi, Elsie," she waved. Elsie, who'd been bent over cutting a bouquet of lavender, straightened up and waved back. Pooka was curious. Miss Mary was always friendly when they met her in the village, but definitely not a regular customer at the cottage. So, when Elsie invited her in for a cup of tea, the cat leaped off the window sill and followed them in. As Elsie put the kettle on, Miss Mary looked around. "Your cottage is so warm and homey... and it smells so good in here!" "Thank you," said Elsie as she measured the tea into the little brown pot. "Which reminds me," Mary went on. "Do you remember that mysterious sachet mixture you sold to me last year?" Elsie nodded. "Yes. It was lavender, clove and patchouli oil mixed with..." "Oh, don't tell me!" exclaimed Miss Mary clapping her plump hands over her ears. She then turned bright pink. "You see, I used some of it in the stuffing for the quilt I entered in the contest last Lammas. The judges kept sniffing my quilt and I really do think that's why I won." Elsie poured their tea and placed some lemon verbena cookies on a plate. The organist looked a bit startled as Pooka, who was perched politely on one of the chairs, reached a paw out and helped himself to a cookie. Her eyes widened a bit more as the witch poured a bit of tea into a cup, added a healthy dose of cream and then set it in front of the cat. "So, why don't you want me to tell you the recipe?" Elsie asked the organist. "Then you could just make it yourself." Miss Mary's round cheeks flushed a rosy pink. "Oh, dear... I'm not sure our minister would approve. I mean, there must be some sort of magic in it." Elsie waited. Mary sipped her tea and nibbled a cookie before glancing over at the witch timidly. "But, surely it couldn't hurt to use a bit of it again this year?" Elsie smiled and headed toward her Herb room. "I'll be right back," she said. While they waited, Pooka couldn't help smirking a bit as the organist kept a close eye on him. It almost seemed as though she expected the cat to tie on an apron, head over to the stove and begin supper preparations. After Miss Mary had left, with her bag of sachet mixture tucked in her purse, Elsie went to the parlor to read a book. Pooka trailed behind her, jumped into her lap and sat on the book. He then fixed her with a quizzical Look. "Yes?" the witch sighed. "How come you never enter the Cake Contest? Or the Flower Competition or the Quilting Contest?" demanded Pooka. "You're good at all that stuff. Come to think of it, you never enter any of the competitions at the Lammas Faire." "Because, everyone in the Village knows I'm a witch. So, if I won, people would say I cheated by using magic," Elsie explained. "But they don't mind using your magic to help THEM win!" objected Pooka. Elsie grinned and rubbed behind his ears. "Yeah, well, people are funny that way," she admitted. "It's human nature." "I'm glad I'm a cat!" Pooka announced. The girl gathered his furry little body into her arms and snuggled him. "I'm glad you are too!" Lughnasadh Bread in a Bag by Emily Tinsman This is a really cool recipe because squishing things is always fun, Right? And, your grownup will like it too because it doesn't make a big mess. (Just a little one.) The bread comes out slightly. You can add herbs like rosemary, sage, pepper, thyme, and bit of shredded cheese Or, you can add spices, like cinnamon, cardamom and clove. Or just make it plain. It's deliicious no matter what! It makes 2 mini loaves or 1 normal sized loaf. Note: With regular flour, you'll get more of a "muffin" texture. For a finer, "bread-type" crumb, use bread flour.
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