Sock kit swap

Yes- it's starting again! I'm looking forward to receiving lots of green goodies. I've asked for a kit to make a felted item this time. Late last summer I purchased a magical felting aid from Dervish and Banges during a day out in Hogsmeade and now crave opportunities to use it. It's a fantastic piece of magical engineering - takes any piece of knitting and turns it into heavy felt with no effort whatsoever. Before I got it my felting spells worked very haphazardly so I'm delighted with the reliability of the 'Ecoballs'.

Recently I started knitting a Shetland shawl using some laceweight wool I span a year or so ago. So far I've nearly finished the edging for one side. It's slow work! I'm also working on some special socks to show my House Pride. I showed them to Irma when I was working a shift with her at Hogwarts last week, and she was most complimentary. What do you all think?

Champion!!

This is the hat that successfully saw off Mr. Draco Firewalker - the illustrious Hufflepuff with superfast wandwork who nevertheless couldn't deflect this deathly curse.

And this is the champion's plaque I got for seeing off all my opponents. Lucky me!!

Advent Cheer

With awesomely perfect timing Emma Gorodok's owl landed here today with another package from her. A wonderful selection of goodies with a strong Christmas theme, including an amazing Christmas stocking Advent Calendar. There was also a set of silvery Christmas serviettes, some Zitron sock yarn in Ravenclaw colours, a long Addi 2mm circular needle (great for magic loop), a German Christmas stollen (Mmmmm!!!), and a beautiful Christmas angel made by Emma's Mum in hardanger embroidery. Apparently her Mum makes tham to sell at a 'Weinachtsmarkt'. I'd love to visit one of those. I so love German Christmas traditions and products - truly magical.

The boys helped me put the stocking Advent Calendar up tonight, then we emptied the stocking labelled with a '1' for the first of December. I was just expecting sweets, so was amazed and quite overwhelmed when some lovely tree ornaments and a set of beautiful Ravenclaw stitchmarkers appeared. There was also a piece of chocolate covered marzipan - it was very yummy!!

Emma, from the bottom of my heart - Thank You!!

Quidditch - Round 3

1. Who was Tom Riddle Sr.'s girlfriend before Merope gave him the love potion?
a. Eleanor
B. CECILIA
c. Sally
d. Mandy

2. What does Luna say floated into Harry's ear when he was in the train car that supposedly caused him to lose focus?
a. Demiguise
b. Jobberknoll
C. WRACKSPURT
d. Runespoor

3. How much do the primary Apparition lessons cost?
a. 10 galleons
b. 8 galleons
c. 15 galleons
D. 12 GALLEONS

4. What is Professor Merrythought's first name?
a. Eileen
B. GALATEA
c. Carol
d. Jocelyn

5. What Hogwarts club was Eileen Prince captain of?
a. Charms Club
B. GOBSTONES CLUB
c. The Slug Club
d. Occlumency Club

6. Who is head of the Goblin Liaison Office?
a. Ambrosius Flame
B. DIRK CRESSWELL
c. Ciceron Harkiss
d. Barnabas Cuffe

7. Mrs. Weasley offers Fleur a goblin-made tiara for the wedding with Bill. What family member is currently in possession of the tiara?
A. AUNT MURIEL
b. Aunt Ethel
c. Aunt Edna
d. Aunt Thelma

8. How many points does Snape take from Gryffindor for Harry's late arrival and muggle attire?a. 30
B. 70
c. 50
d. 90

9. When Professor Slughorn first meets Hermoine, he asks her whether she is related to Hector Dagworth-Granger. What society did Dagworth-Granger found?
a. The Most Extraordinary Society of Charms
b. The Most Extraordinary Society of Herbology
c. The Most Extraordinary Society of the Defense Against the Dark Arts
D. THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY SOCIETY OF POTIONEERS

10. Which of these describes Golpalott's Third Law?
a. The antidote for blended poison will be equal to less than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components.
b. The antidote for blended poison will be equal to less than the product of the antidotes for each of the separate components.
c. The antidote for blended poison will be equal to more than the product of the antidotes for each of the separate components.
D. THE ANTIDOTE FOR BLENDED POISON WILL BE EQUAL TO MORE THAN THE SUM OF THE ANTIDOTES FOR EACH OF THE SEPARATE COMPONENTS.

Ravenclaw 'Super-Secret' Quiz

I admit I used magical aid to complete this - I was falling asleep scouring the floo network for research data, so I cribbed some answers from worthier Ravenclaws than I!!

1. Astrid Cloverleaf
2. Cassandra Grubbly-Plank
3. Enna Kirts
4. Selena Starfire
5. Henry Longstaff
6. Cecily Fortescue
7. Mona Ravenscroft
8. Argentia Pascal
9. Prendolyn Wilcox
10. Lizzie Wychwood
11. Ursula Longbottom
12. Rowena Weasley
13. Aurora Curlyfur
14. Lily May Clearwater
15. Megaera Black

Bonus 1: smiuleynetta/Hermoine Bagnold (of course!!)
Bonus 2: It is less than half

Halloween

A few pictures to celebrate our special day, my fellow witches and wizards!

The boys and I had a lot of fun getting the pumpkins ready. The spider one is by far my most ambitious ever - the other being much more representative of what I usually do.

Then the boys got dressed up ready for the Halloween party - both were skeletons. Their cousin was, of course, her usual pretty self.

Package from Emma

My spolier, Emma Gorodok of Slytherin, has sent me a package - the first of two I am to expect she says. This one contains gorgeously squishy yarn in Ravenclaw colours with a pattern to make a doubleknitted scarf with owls on it, and a knittng journal that Emma very cleverly made with papers she designed herself. It's beautiful - I'm including pictures of some of the pages for you to covet! There was also a selection of Haribo sweets - already consumed!! I love how Emma made an envelope for her letter with her own paper, it looks really professional.

Thank you Emma for such a lovely package!