My Kit from Fleur!!!! It's here!!

I got the most wonderful kit from Fleur yesterday!! Here are the pictures because words just won't do it justice. I love, love, love it all!

my kit arrived with a lovely note from fleur

to represent slytherin's locket she made me a beautiful blue cowl! i love it!

This cute bag w/Harry on it had so many goodies inside

stitch markers & a row counter bracelet, a cable needle, scissors & tape measure (attached to each other!), chocolates, a cute pin that says "behave or i will felt you" haha

and a green chibi

close up of the bracelet & stitch markers

so pretty & in ravenclaw colors! made with resurrection stones to represent gaunt's ring

close up (sort of) of the behave or i will felt you button

my yarn in beautiful blue colors for the stephen west pattern clockwork (another locket horcrux which is not pictured but that's the one fleur sent!) i can't wait, it will be my first stephen west pattern!

kitchener stitch dogtag! i've wanted one of these for a while

my beautiful wand!! aka a shawl pin :)

frog legs &

bat brains! to lure nagini from hiding. haha

fleur also sent a box of peppermint cocoa which i am about to make! i was too excited looking through the package that i didn't get a photo of the hot cocoa.

fleur thank you so much! i love everything & enjoyed having you as my spoiler for HSKS 12!!

thank you!!

Owls are flying!

All of the kits should be soaring through the air or have already landed for HSKS 12. I've sent Gryphon the Great's kit & I can't wait to see what he thinks.

Another great term has come to an end & we will be taking a brief pause until Spring (which works out really well for me actually - I was afraid I was going to have to skip next term).

What will I be doing from now until Spring? Well, I have about a million projects that have been long neglected. A certain baby blanket that is the never-to-be-finished-because-i-keep-refusing-to-work-on-it phase is a must! A pair of gloves started last winter for my sister must be finished before this winter is over! And a few other projects that I've had planned must be not only started but completed.

Oooooh & I've finally learned to make...x.... Remembered I can't say because I would spoil some of Gryphon's surprise. But once he gets his kit I will post pictures of this new skill I'm working on. So needless to say, I'd like to do a lot more of___x___.

Week 9 quiz

To which prison was Gellert Grindelwald sent after he was defeated by Dumbledore in 1945? Nurmengard

Who is the first casualty in The Deathly Hallows? Professor Charity Burbage

What does Draco Malfoy name his son? Scorpious Hyperion Malfoy

Before Harry gains control of it, who is the master of the Elder Wand? Draco Malfoy

Severus Snape’s Patronus takes the same form as which other character’s? Lily Potter

Where do Ron, Hermione and Harry apparate when Death Eaters invade Bill and Fleur’s wedding? Tottenham Court Road

Who does Harry send to search for Mundungus Fletcher and the missing locket? Kreacher

Who destroys Salazar Slytherin’s locket? Ron

What does Hermione use to destroy Helga Hufflepuff’s cup? Basilisk fang

Following the death of Lord Voldemort, who is named temporary Minister of Magic? Kingsley Shacklebolt

Anagram Fun

These were a bit tricky!

1. SPARSE VENUES - Severus Snape
2. GO UNLOAD LOVE - Luna Lovegood
3. A MOTH SEDAN - Dean Thomas
4. FLUSH CIGAR - Argus Filch
5. SLICK AIRBUS - Sirius Black
6. DUMB ANALOG - Ludo Bagman
7. A DRY MOO-CALF - Draco Malfoy
8. UNSNAP THE SKI - Stan Shunpike
9. PIT-A-PAT RIVAL - Parvati Patil
10. AN OLD JEER - Lee Jordan

The Seven Horcruxes

All 7 of the Horcruxes can be seen above, but here they are in their individual glory.

The diary -first horcrux destroyed by Harry in the Chamber of Secrets:

The ring - destroyed by Dumbledore:

The locket - destroyed by Ron:

The cup (Hufflepuff's cup) - destroyed by Hermione:

The diadem - destroyed by Crabbe's Fiendfyre:

Harry, actually just the Voldemort soul fragment in Harry - destroyed by Voldemort:

Nagini - destroyed by Neville:

October is coming to a close....

And that means we are that much closer to the Deathly Hallows movie! I'm so excited! I've already bought my tickets for the first matinee on Nov 19th. I can't handle going to the movie at midnight; I might fall asleep (I blame it on the fact that I have a 30th birthday coming up).
And I'd rather go on Nov 19th because that is my 1 year heartiversary!!! AKA 1 year since I had open heart surgery to repair a congenital heart defect. So I've taken that day off from work. The DH & I will have a nice breakfast, then go to the movie, and later that evening we'll go out for dinner at my favorite sushi restaurant (Musashino). We're both vegetarian so we won't have any of the fishy sushi, but the vegetable tempura is so amazing!! And they have these really yummy salads with a tomato & ginger dressing that I could eat just on it's own - an entire bowl, like it's gazpacho. Their veggie friendly rolls are incredibly delicious. Of course some tempura fried ice cream w/espresso beans will be in order too. Soooo I might have to fast for a few days before we go so that I can eat everything!
I can't wait!!!
It's the perfect way to celebrate!
<3

Week 5: Matchy Matchy

1. Vine wood and Dragon Heartstring - i. Hermione Granger
2. Walnut and Dragon Heartstring - k. Belatrix Lestrange
3. Hawthorn and Unicorn tail hair - m. Draco Malfoy
4. Hornbeam and Dragon Heartstring - d. Viktor Krum
5. Ash and Unicorn hair - g. Cedric Diggory
6. Rosewood and Veela Hair - l. Fleur Delacour
7. Elder and Thestral Hair - b. Albus Dumbledore
8. Mahogany and an unknown core - j. James Potter
9. Elm and Dragon Heartstring - e. Lucius Malfoy
10. Cherry and Unicorn hair - c. Mary Cattermole
11. Yew and Phoenix Feather - h. Tom Riddle
12. Holly and Phoenix Feather - f. Harry Potter
13. Willow and Unicorn Hair - a. Ron Weasley

Quiz & Essay

It's really time for homework this term (essay even - let's hope it doesn't have to be a 6 foot long parchment). I'll have to work on this a little bit at a time over the next few days.

1. Why does Harry accuse Remus Lupin of being a coward? Lupin wanted to leave a pregnant Tonks behind while he joined Harry, Ron & Hermione on their quest.
2. Who is R.A.B.? Regulus Arcturus Black
3. According to legend, what would a person become if he could assemble the Deathly Hallows? master death
4. What is Ariana Dumbledore rumored to be? a squib
5. What is written on Harry’s parents’ gravestone? The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed is Death
6. Why does Krum want to fight Xenophilius Lovegood? Krum thought that Xenophilius was wearing Grindelwald's mark - but it's really just the symbol of the deathly hallows
7. Why does Voldemort seek the Elder Wand? In order to finally conquer Harry
8. Where did Dumbledore’s family live? Godric's Hollow - this is where they moved after Ariana was attacked
9. Whose eye does Harry see in his magic mirror shard? Aberforth Dumbledore's
10. What item does Harry steal from Gringotts? Hufflepuff's cup
11. Where does Rita Skeeter get her information about Dumbledore? From Bathilda Bagshot
12. What is inside the Snitch that Dumbledore leaves Harry? The resurrection stone
13. Why does Dumbledore leave Ron a Deluminator? because he knew Ron would leave Harry & Hermione & the deluminator could help him get back to them
14. Why has Hermione not read The Tales of Beedle the Bard? Because they are stories told to wizard children not to muggle borns.
15. What is Dumbledore’s greatest regret? The death of his sister.
16. Whose mail did Snape open?
17. What form does Snape’s Patronus take? a silver doe
18. Why can the Sword of Gryffindor destroy Horcruxes? because it has absorbed basilisk venom
19. What name is given to wizards who help Mudbloods? blood traitors
20. How do Harry and his friends enter the Ministry of Magic? using polyjuice potion
21. Who made Harry’s wand? olivander

Essay Question

Choose one of the following questions and post your answer to your blog.

1. How does Harry change over the course of the novel? Is The Deathly Hallows a true coming-of-age story?

2. In what ways do the dead speak to the living in this book?

3. In what way do Ron and Hermione act as foils for Harry, drawing out his qualities and characteristics more clearly?

   
   

Word Association Game

We're doing word association this week for our assignment. I love this sort of thing, plus it makes blogging this week really fast & fun.

1. Pumpkin Patch
2. Owl Box
3. Leaf Fall
4. Weasley Sweater
5. Quaffle Broom
6. Hallow Deathly
7. Mad Max
8. Dragon Hobbit
9. Crystal Dark (as in The Dark Crystal)
10. Trees Branches
11. Hermione Bagnold (haha)
12. Hogwarts School
13. Burrow Home
14. Dobby Sad :(
15. Horcrux Kill!
16. Ministry Magic
17. Magic Mary Poppins
18. Sirius Black
19. Apple Pie
20. Juice Orange
21. Candle Vanilla
22. Ghost Story
23. Snake Bite
24. Wand Wave
25. Invisibility Cloak
26. Tent Pole
27. Spell Book
28. Umbridge BOO
29. Dursely UGH
30. Prophet Paper

My 5 favorite things...

If I were on the run from Death Eaters I would have to take a few things with me.

1) A Kindle so I could read up on the Deathly Hallows in Tales from Beedle the Bard. It would also be helpful to be able to download travel guides on the spot while on the run. (I actually don't have a Kindle but would most certainly get one before going into hiding, running away, or being stranded on a deserted island. It may be on my Xmas list for this year.)
2) An iPod filled with my favorite music & the Harry Potter audiobooks read by Jim Dale (for inspiration on ways to escape from the Death Eaters). It would also have to have some movies, maybe Rear Window & some Thin Man movies. Or TV shows, my current pick would be Dexter. And of course photos of the people I'm leaving behind while on the run.
3) Knitting needles & yarn of course!
4) A Nintendo DS with a Pokemon game & a Final Fantasy game. Those games take so freaking long to play that you could keep playing them one after the other for quite a while & not get tired of them.
5) My husband & my dog....I know that's really two "things", but I couldn't be forced to pick between them & I wouldn't want to give up my yarn or my electronics! I could however be persuaded to leave our betta - George the IV - behind (don't let the roman numeral fool you, we don't intentionally kill fish they just don't live much more than a year or two for us.)

First Assignment for HSKS 12

A little bit about me to help everyone else with their homework.
1. I knit. I've tried to crochet a few times & maybe with a few more attempts I might catch on.
2. Birthday December
3. I'm in the USA
4. I'm not new, I think this is my 4th HSKS swap.
5. This is my 4th HSKS swap.
6. I have 44 stashed on ravelry - in reality there is way more than that but I try not to count.
7. I don't crochet. I only knit.
8. My favorite color is Blue, but I also love Grays, Ivory, some greens.
9. I really like Christmas. I think because I love all of the lights & bundling up in warm clothes, drinking hot cocoa & having a fire in the fireplace (which I can finally do in my new house!!).
10. I love any wool, alpaca is fabulous. I'm not too hot on acrylics or anything itchy.

What I've found out about everyone so far:
1. Someone with the same craft as you (either those listed above or another one). Rowena Bladvak, rav id: Ronni-licious - knitting
2. Someone who was born in the same month as you. Cassandra Crimsonchin, rav id: dramaqt99 - December
3. Someone from a different country. Emma Gorodok, rav id: Selana - Germany
4. A new HSKS Family member. Morgianna Defeufaucon, rav id: staroftwilight - Welcome Morgianna!!
5. Someone who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps. Wisteria Lovegood, rav id: Neila - she's been in more than me, so that's more than 3!
6. Someone who has a bigger stash than you! (And if your stash is the biggest, proudly say so!) Bella Shacklebolt, rav id: Smartchick - 110 stashed
7. Someone who both knits and crochets. Intarsia Bindoff, rav id: Mutz - my sister!
8. Someone who has the same favorite color as you. Genevra Dreamy, rav id: suenosdejmi - blue
9. Someone who has the same favorite season/holiday as you. Hermione Bagnold, rav id: smileynetta - Christmas
10. Someone who has the same favorite fiber as you. Vevina McFey, rav id: mrsmama - Noro & Malabrigo

An Owl Has Arrived

Mistry Moonbleu's owl arrived with a fantastic package! I'm so excited about everything in it! She chose Hagrid as the person to base my kit on :)
Here are some pictures:


Like a niffler to sparkly things, I went to the squishy yarn first! I can't wait to use my beautiful yarn! Thanks Mistry this was on my wishlist!


Here is everything all wrapped up:


And unwrapped! Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, Socks from the Toe Up book, chocolate mint patties, gummy frogs, cute japanese creatures, needle wraps & a emergency crochet hook, and 2 fabulous handmade items! Mistry made an incredible yarn bowl for me to use (I can't wait to use this!), it's got a beautiful glaze and a really creative way to have run your yarn through the side of the bowl. The other handmade item is a rock cake, so cute!


Here are a few close ups of the items:





Thanks, Mistry!! I love everything so much!!

Moving is a Pain

This is how my very first craft room appears at the moment:

The garage is much worse.
I'll be so happy when the last box is unpacked. But at the rate that everything is going I'm not sure I'll be finished anytime soon.
I'm contemplating just donating boxes without even looking inside them. If I've lived without it for a week, then maybe I can live without it for good :)
I did treat myself to some pretty yarn today though. I had promised myself that I would go to the yarn store & buy a very pretty be sweet yarn called bambino taffy when I moved into my new house. It was on sale today! I had completely forgotten to go get it when we closed on the house, and I'm glad I did because I got 20% off & decided to get some malabrigo lace as an extra treat haha!
Oh & I received a lovely ceramic mug from my head of house Hermione! It's gorgeous! It's my prize for being the random winner in our house's weekly contest. I'd take a picture but it's already put away in the disaster zone that is my kitchen.
Well, I'm off to unpack more boxes.

Arithmancy Homework

Puzzle #1: Dobby

Puzzle #2: Harry Potter

Puzzle #3: Hogs Head

Homework for the winners of the last Quidditch match (that we be us Ravenclaws)!

PART 1

Find one person for each of these questions. No repeats!

Who is new to HSKS this Term? Genevra Dreamy - Hufflepuff
Who has played Quidditch for their House this Term? Mistry Moonbleu - Gryffindor
Who is working on the same project (WIP) as you? No one seems to be currently working on any of my WIPS :( (Well my sister Intarsia & I are working on the same socks but we can't have repeats and I need to have her for the person who lives w/in 100 miles).
Who has more items in their Queue than you? Megaera Black - Slytherin
Who has donated to SPEW this Term? - Clara Clovenhoof - Slytherin
Who has participated in Dueling Club this Term? Rowan Dragonsinger - Hufflepuff
Who lives within 100 miles of you? Intarsia Bindoff - Gryffindor
Who is from a different country than you? Emma Gorodok - Ravenclaw


PART 2

Comment on at least one blog from each of the other houses. List their names here and something you learned about them from their blog post.

Andromeda Finch-Fletchley - Our very own Ravenclaw. I've learned she loves Lemonheads, Jeff Burton, and posted amazing photos for potions homework.
Storm Ivory - Hufflepuff, She is making a "reasons why I should buy an iPad" list just like I am!
Mistry Moonbleu - Gryffindor, She's amazing! She tats, she can handle ceramics, she takes care of large parrots for her neighbors. Oh & she's my spoiler! ;)
Quietus - Slytherin, What an amazing looking rock cake! If you haven't checked out the transfiguration homework, you should at least go and look at the picture.

Quidditch training

I'm just about to rush off to a team meeting to prepare for the upcoming quidditch game against Gryffindor this Sunday. I'll be up against my sister Intarsia. I'm not used to dueling with her, but it should be fun! A little sibling rivalry never hurt anyone.

I've also decided to do my own self-study program. I am determined to get my Spanish skills back to where they used to be so that I can really become truly fluent in the language. I have an opportunity to possibly use my Spanish skills in the muggle world, so that will help me keep refreshed & using the language.
If anyone has any suggestions on online resources, books or apps that might be helpful to dust off the synapses that contain my Spanish language memories I would appreciate your comments. ;)

Potions Homework

I'm determined to finish this homework early this week! It will be a work in progress, so please bear with me as I finish each section.

Part 1:
Originality Marker

Amaryllis Belladona: possibly used in the love potion Amortentia

Aloe Vera: used for burns and scrapes

Peppermint: When you add a sprig of it to the Elixir to Induce Euphoria it will counteract the potion's side effects of unrestrained singing and nose-tweaking.

Yarrow: Closely related to Sneezewort, may be used in Confusing Draughts.

Eucalyptus: can be used in potions to help w/colds.


Part 2:
Answer the following potions questions:

1. Sneezewort, scurvy grass, and lovage are used to make what?
B:Confusing Draught - or Bufuddlement Draught

2. Porcupine quills are to be added when to a Boil Cure Potion?
D: After it is removed from the fire

3. What potion, if brewed correctly, should change color numerous times throughout brewing including deep purple, lilac, and finishing clear?
A: The Draught of Living Death

4. This ingredient in the Draught of Peace, would likely bring you permanent peace since it is poisonous, what is it?
D: Hellebore

5. Chopped daisy roots, skinned shrivel-fig, sliced caterpillar, one rat spleen, dash of leech juice are all ingredients to what?
C: Shrinking Solution

Part 3: Pimm's Cup


Fill 12 oz glass halfway with ice.
Add 1.25 oz of Pimm's #1
Squeeze in some lime juice
Top off with 7-Up
Garnish with cucumber & lime

Quidditch Match this Saturday

I'm so excited about Ravenclaw's first quidditch match against the Slytherins. I'll be cheering from the stands, but I've agreed to be an alternate so maybe you'll see me out on the pitch.

I think we've got a strong team. The Slytherin beaters are going to have their work cut out for them!

Since we didn't have any homework this week, I've decided to do the Mad-Libs that was posted in my common room:
Part 1, the words:
1. a verb: skip
2. a number: 4011
3. a body part: ear
4. an abstract noun: beauty
5. a noun: sausage
6. a skin condition: eczema
7. a body part: elbow
8. type of person/stereotype: hipster
9. a substance: goo
10. a fortune cookie phrase in all capital letters: A PLEASANT SURPRISE IS IN STORE FOR YOU
11. article of clothing: ascot
12. verb ending in "-ed": punched
13. neurological disorder: narcolepsy
14. an animal: emu
15. a fruit: kiwi
16. a latin (sounding) phrase in all capital letters: PERGO MOVARTIS
17. a body part: ankle
18. a large animal: humpback whale
19. a food: edamame
20. a body part in plural: fingers
21. a verb ending in "-ing": leaping
22. a nonsensical word in all capital letters: CREMTILBEG
23. a container: bucket
24. a body part: wrist
25. a noun: tile

Part 2: The story
Harry Potter And The Curse of Dudley

Harry Potter, the boy wonder, the (hipster) of the wizarding world; sat alone in his tiny bedroom scratching his (elbow) and cleaning the (goo) out of Hedwig's cage. This summer wasn't nearly as boring as his previous summers had been.

Over the summer, his cousin Dudley had grown quite frightened of him. Harry secretly kept cursing him, even though under age use of magic was strictly forbidden outside of Hog(eczema)'s school of (sausage)craft and (beauty).

It seemed the wizarding world turned a blind (ear) when it came to Harry, and he never got in trouble for his... transgressions.

One particularly memorable curse on Dudley happened on the (4011)th/nd/st of June. It was so hot, you could (skip) a/an (tile) on the sidewalk.

Dudley sat on his enormous (wrist) in front of the telly, spooning (bucket)ful after (bucket)ful of (edamame) down his throat. Harry thought he looked rather (humpback whale)ish, with his piggy little eyes and fat body.

Harry got an evil little grin on his (ankle) and raised his wand behind Dudley's head. "(PERGO MOVARTIS)" he shouted; which translated to English means "Turn this boy's head into a (kiwi) and make him dance around like a (emu) with (narcolepsy)!"

And that's just what Dudley did! He (punched) off the couch, screamed "(CREMTILBEG)!" to the top of his lungs, and began (leaping) on the floor, while turning in circles and flapping his (fingers).

Harry was laughing so hard, he almost peed his (ascot). He was still laughing, and Dudley was still flapping, when Uncle Vernon came thundering down the stairs. He had gone a nice shade of purple. He looked at Harry, shaking in anger, then looked at Dudley, horrified. "(A PLEASANT SURPRISE IS IN STORE FOR YOU)!" he screamed, then calmly turned and walked away.

Harry and Dudley looked at each other in abject confusion. Harry shrugged his shoulders in a "beats me" gesture, and the two cousins sat on the sofa, temporarily forgetting their animosity toward one another.

Dudley lifted the half empty (bucket) of (edamame) and offered it to Harry.

"Don't mind if I do!" said the bespectacled young man, grabbing a spoon and preparing to dine.

Dudley's (fingers) gave one mighty final flap, and the boys had a most enjoyable evening, indeed.

S.P.E.W. & the beginning of a beautiful Quidditch season

I've made some little booties for Ms. Mooney our S.P.E.W. coordinator for this term.



I think I'll try to knit another pair but change the pattern to in the round, maybe use smaller needles as well.

Tomorrow is the first Quidditch game of the season! My sister Intarsia Bindoff is keeper for Gryffindor! I'm going to be cheering loudly from the stands. Gooooo Intarsia!!!! Knit Crochet now Knit again like the wind!

Care of Magical Creatures Homework

Part One:
For my Care of Magical Creatures homework, this will be my originality marker:



Here are 5 items that I always like to have handy for Care of Magical Creatures:
1) A shiny gold bank filled with shiny coins to attract Nifflers. There is a handy "mute" button on the bottom to make the bank & its contents not shiny so the Nifflers don't attack the person holding it or destroy the room that it's in.

2) Gloves for handling Blast-Ended Skrewts & other such spiny creatures.

3) Goggles for protecting my eyes from venom, nasty juices, and other hazardous fluids that a creature might spit or emit.

4) Chocolate in case you run into dementors, or in case you need a pick me up after a long, boring afternoon of observing flobberworms.

5) This item was originally going to be my "happy thought" for conjuring my patronus to protect myself from dementors:

but when I tried to capture my "happy thought" with my originality marker, it turned into a not so happy thought:GRRR!!

Soooo, instead item #5 will be my lunar calendar & wolfsbane potion to help relieve werewolves of some of their pain during the full moon. (Looks like I'm almost out of wolfsbane potion, must remember to brew some more)


Part Two:
1. Please describe the physical appearance of a house elf.
Large, pointy ears, long nose, bulging eyes, 2-3 feet tall, spindly arms & legs
2. Kreacher is the house elf of which wizarding family?
The Black Family (inherited by Harry Potter, after Sirius' death)
3. What is Hermione Granger making for the house elves?
Little house elf sized hats & socks
4. How do you free a house elf?
Present him/her with clothes
5. What does S.P.E.W. stand for?
Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare

Part Three: Bonus/Extra Credit assignment, S.P.E.W. hat

Transfiguration Homework

I've finally managed to complete my transfiguration homework.
Here is my originality marker.



Now for the Bowtruckle:

Vigoro Virga (turns the twigs, tape & paper into a bowtruckle)



The Rememberall:


Creo Memoria (creates a rememberall from paper after being cut with scissors & colored with markers):



Golden Snitch:


Vegeto Snitchium (creates a golden snitch from paper after being cut with scissors & colored with markers):



Hagrid's Rock Cakes (yuck!):


Burnio Crustium repeat 15 times or until you smell something burning in the kitchen (creates rock cakes from slices of baguette placed in oven)



Decoy Detonator:


Creo Diverto (creates decoy detonator out of foil)



Nose-Biting Teacup


Aggro Taza (creates nose-biting teacup using paper, tape, scissors, marker & teacup)



Spectrespecs:


Coloro Oculus (creates spectrespecs from glasses, candy wrappers & foil)



Time Turner:


Reddo Tiempo (creates time turner using old top, paper, foil & marker)



And now for a look at all my work (minus the stinky rock cakes):

I'm pleased with my creations. Unfortunately slices of bread were harmed during the completion of this assignment. I really meant to get them just nice & brown & toasty. sigh