A “Lucky Kitchen Witch” tale from the 2012 “Canadian Magic Forest Tales.”
By Gypsy Joy
According to the Cree legend,
the Wendigo, one of the lesser Gods of the Aboriginal Peoples created in a whimsycal and mischievous mood the most intriguing, magical and mysterious lake to be found in Ontario. This lake would later become known as “The Lake of the Woods.” Very cleverly designed so as to trick any invaders who would accidentally come around to this marvellous place with its many islands, different vegetation of the land and richly bejeweled waters. The Wendigo still keeps an eye on this magnificent and fascinating lake as he transformed himself thereafter into a massive rock to keep an eye on his creation. Massive rocks never seem to move an inch from their place always keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings and leaving everyone in awe wondering and pondering.
But even the Wendigo might not have foreseen what would happen ages later when the curious leader of a flock of Canada Geese would discover a “Lucky Kitchen Witch” who kept a watching eye on many a cook in a Dutch kitchen in The Netherlands when he peeked through a half open kitchen window. The Lucky Kitchen Witch reminded the leader of the Canada Geese flock of the likeness of a pictorial on Painted Rock Island of the magic Lake of the Woods in Ontario. Unfortunately, the leader of the Canada Geese flock was not able to chat with her as he could not enter the Dutch kitchen and the Lucky Kitchen Witch never seemed to leave the Dutch kitchen. Thus, the leader of the Canada Geese flock was kept in the darkness and unable to unravel the likeness of the Dutch Kitchen Witch and an image on Painted Rock Island in his homeland. While abroad, The likeness kept the leader of the Canada Geese flock so intrigued, that on many a night he felt so restless he could not fall asleep.
Happily a wee little bird flew one day accidentally through an open window into a Dutch kitchen and overheard a few mere mortals chatting about doll craft. That’s how the little bird found out that almost three decades before the second millennium a few of the Lucky Kitchen Witches had been send to a place somewhere in Ontario Canada. The leader of the Canada Geese flock was thrilled with the information and could almost not wait till the day that they would be back in their beloved Ontario. On the day of their return he met immediately with his Cardinal and Robin friends and after having tweeted with each other about their travel adventures the leader of the Canada Geese flock mentioned the discovery about the Lucky Kitchen Witch in The Netherlands who, he thought, was a spitting image of a pictorial on Painted Rock Island of the magic Lake of the Woods in Ontario. The Lucky Kitchen Witches were rare and only a few had been send to Ontario in the past. So, at first, the birds all doubted that they ever would find a kitchen in Ontario that spotted a Lucky Kitchen Witch made several decades ago by a Dutch 70 year old lady.
(Shown at right)
But just like “Mother Goose” and her adventurous stories, Canada Geese are determined to bring a good ending to any adventure or mystery that they encounter, thus with the help of a squirrel who knew a sweet little kitten who knew that in her mistress house a “Lucky Kitchen Witch” created in The Netherlands adored the Halloween goodies table each year, the leader of the Canada Geese flock began to have a happy feeling that at last he would be able to unravel the mystery.
The “Lucky Kitchen Witches” the sweet kitten told him, were once lovingly created by hand as well as on an oldfashioned Singer sewing machine, worked by hands and feet and had been created by the loving heart and labour of a Mother longing to earn extra money for a trip to Canada to visit her daughter and husband and their youngsters. This very talented senior saw her
Lucky Kitchen Witches
exhibited in The Netherlands which must have made her very proud, indeed. Although her sublime handywork did not bring her great fame nor riches, it did bring her to Canada and she was able to enjoy not only her family in Canada but also the splendour of Canada’s beautiful nature. Her family in Canada was overjoyed as they showed her the beauty of the country, the forests and the lakes. This beautiful Mom and Grandma not only had “Golden Hands” she also had a “Golden Heart, that’s why the “Lucky Kitchen Witches” are magic and still bring success and joy to many a cook in every nook in The Netherlands and also in my mistress kitchen in Ontario when the children were youngsters and adds to the magic of “Trick or Treat” on Halloween for almost 40 years,” the sweet kitten said in a happy voice as she continued with a wink: ” Come over tonight to my house. Wait till it’s dark and the man in the moon lits your way. The house can be easily spotted as it features many a weigela where often the hummingbirds can be seen feeding on the nectar of the cardinal coloured trumpet flowers. I will introduce you to “Sweet Witchika”, the Lucky Kitchen Witch. Here is a map! I will wait inside for you and open the door so you can talk to Sweet Witchika.”
The Canada Geese all honked and the Cardinals and Robins chirped in excitement when the leader of the Canada Geese flock flew off that evening to have a chat with “Sweet Witchika” so he could honour the sweet Dutch lady with the “Golden Hands and Golden Heart” and fly one of her creations to The Lake of the Woods to have a peek on Painted Rock Island which can by mere mortals only be seen from a boat. However, there is nothing to withold the magical ones and the wonderful birds from having a closer look. Thus, when “Sweet Witchika” arrived at the magic Lake of the Woods in Ontario also known as Lac Du Bois, sitting on the back of the leader of the Canada Geese flock accompanied by his entourage on Canada Day, the charming elderly “Lucky Kitchen Witch” was able to get a close look at all the pictorials and petroglymphs carved in the famous Painted Rock. After exploring and decifering the art of the early artists the leader of the Canada Geese flock and “Sweet Witchika” were convinced that indeed one of the pictorials was an exact likeness of “Sweet Witchika”.
“Sweet Witchika” was overwhelmed with joy. Somehow she had always felt at home in Canada and no wonder here was the likeness of a relative from long ago. She knew the story why she was created by a lady with Golden Hands and a Golden Heart in a city in The Netherlands that was also known as “Duke of the Woods”. A beautiful and pleasant city not too far away from the magic of Anton Pieck and The Efteling. One of the finest enjoyable amusementparks in the world with all its magic and fairytales.
The latter, always, a beloved topic during a family reunion, especially when they were listening or viewing a video of the Dutch Minstrel of the violin, Andre Rieu and his Orchestre. Now she had seen this marvellous and exciting place created by the Wendigo and the pictorials, it made her feel very special and so happy as if she had been crafted by the famous Master of Pinocchio” the mistress had told the children about when they were little. She giggled and hopped happily on the back of the leader of the Canada Geese flock. She pondered all te way back about the city in The Netherlands also known as “Duke of the Woods” and “Lac Du Bois” … could it be just a coincidence? I don’t think so, she thought by herself. It was quiet flying in the sky. At times the geese honked merrily as they stated: “We are sooooo happy we met you “Sweet Witchika” and that we could fly you over on Canada Day.” Sweet Witchika beamed and while they flew over Ottawa she smiled broadly and said: “Thanks to all of you, it’s the best Canada Day ever!
The story of the Wendigo legend by an Unknown Author
and more about one of Canada’s magic lakes can be found on
