I got my kit!

I got home from visiting my friends and family back in NY, and found Mystry's owl Twitchee wating for me on my porch. Inside were a bunch of parcels wrapped in Ravenclaw bronze and blue, very pretty. (I forgot to take a picture after unwrapping the ones in white paper, but they had the bronze paper, too. They just needed a little extra padding.)

I got some warm cozy mitts in Ravenclaw blue and silver (and haven't taken them off since!) The ruffle is so pretty!

Here's the whole kit.

A beautiful coffee mug that will be going to work with me for my use-it-every-day-all-day mug. A skein of Araucania Itata yarn, which is a blend of super-wash wool, silk and bamboo. It's totally yummy, and in my all-time favorite colorway of blue and purple. A box of See's candy. I squeed when I saw it, because I haven't had See's in forever. Yes, I've eaten some of it. A small and clever tool box with lots of compartments. A snitch kit, with snitch and a sticker book with house emblems. A set of owl salt and pepper shakers. A soft handled crochet hook, which I'm desperate for. 2 very cool post cards from California. And a copy of Handwoven magazine, which I will be slowly savoring this evening.


Here's a close-up of the snitch, and the tool box opened up:

The owl salt and pepper shakers:

Yarn

Tomorrow is the big day!

I'm going to see the movie! I'm going to see the movie! In Imax! Tomorrow morning! Yay. I've been reading the books and watching the movies all week. I'm watching The Half-Blood Prince right now, and will be all set. Time to get out the radish earrings.

Oh, yeah, my kit is finished, and going out in the mail on Monday. Yay! :-)

Week 9 pop quiz

1. To which prison was Gellert Grindelwald sent after he was defeated by Dumbledore in 1945? Nurmengard
2. Who is the first casualty in The Deathly Hallows? Hedwig
3. What does Draco Malfoy name his son? Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy
4. Before Harry gains control of it, who is the master of the Elder Wand? Draco
5. Severus Snape’s Patronus takes the same form as which other character’s? Lily Evans Potter
6. Where do Ron, Hermione and Harry apparate when Death Eaters invade Bill and Fleur’s wedding? Tottenham Court Road
7. Who does Harry send to search for Mundungus Fletcher and the missing locket? Kreacher
8. Who destroys Salazar Slytherin’s locket? Ron Weasley
9. What does Hermione use to destroy Helga Hufflepuff’s cup? A basilisk fang
10. Following the death of Lord Voldemort, who is named temporary Minister of Magic? Kingsley Shacklebolt

Anagrams

Holy cow this was hard. It took me all week to finish!


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

Blah. Just blah.

I have had the wonderful luck of coming down with a Muggle disease called shingles. It hurts and itches and it's driving me crazy. Madam Pomfrey said that since it isn't a magical malady, none of her cures will work, so I just have to wait it out. Luckily I was already planning to have next week off work, to paint and set up my weaving studio. Hopefully if I pace myself, I'll be able to finish, or come close, and still feel enough better to go back to work. On the plus side, if I have to spend a lot of time resting, that means a lot of knitting time.

Rhinebeck

Rhinebeck was awesome fun, but was a bit of a bust for yarn for Lizzie's kit. So I'll default to plan B, ordering it online. But I have found something so seriously awesome for Lizzie's kit, and I found it by accident. I will post it on the family blog, though :-) Ok, shortie post this week, because I worked crazy hours this week, and spent today visiting with cousins.

Week 5, matching

Instructions: Please match up the wand (wood and core have been listed) with its owner. Each wand/ name of owner will be used once. Please use the web, books, each other for answers. Post answers to your blog for this week’s activity.

1. Vine wood and Dragon Heartstring: i) Hermione Granger
2. Walnut and Dragon Heartstring: k) Belatrix Lestrange, then Hermione who got it when Dobby rescued her and the others from Malfoy Manor
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 . Also, a) Ron Weasley’s first wand, which was a hand-me-down from his brother Charlie
6. Rosewood and Veela Hair l) Fleur Delacour
7. Elder and Thestral Hair b) Albus Dumbledor, then Tom Riddle
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’s second wand

This one wasn't in the original list, but since it was used by 2 of the major characters, I thought I'd add it in :-) Chestnut and Dragon Heartstring: Peter Pettigrew, until Ron took it from him at Malfoy Manor.

Week 4 homework questions

1. Why does Harry accuse Remus Lupin of being a coward? For leaving Tonks alone while she was pregnant.
2. Who is R.A.B.? Regulus Arcturus Black, Sirius’s brother
3. According to legend, what would a person become if he could assemble the Deathly Hallows? The Master of 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? Xenophilius was wearing the mark of the Deathly Hallows, recognized by Victor as the mark of Grindelwald, who had killed Krum’s grandfather.
7. Why does Voldemort seek the Elder Wand? He thinks it would make him undefeatable.
8. Where did Dumbledore’s family live? Godric’s Hollow
9. Whose eye does Harry see in his magic mirror shard? Aberforth Dumbledore
10. What item does Harry steal from Gringotts? Helga Hufflepuff’s cup
11. Where does Rita Skeeter get her information about Dumbledore? She gives veritaserum to Bathilda Bagshot.
12. What is inside the Snitch that Dumbledore leaves Harry? The Resurrection Stone
13. Why does Dumbledore leave Ron a Deluminator? It would guide Ron back to Harry and Hermione.
14. Why has Hermione not read The Tales of Beedle the Bard? She grew up in a Muggle home, and it was a kids book in wizarding homes.
15. What is Dumbledore’s greatest regret? His relationship with Grindelwald
16. Whose mail did Snape open? Petunia Evans Dursley, Lily’s sister.
17. What form does Snape’s Patronus take? A doe
18. Why can the Sword of Gryffindor destroy Horcruxes? It’s goblin-made
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 to create disguises, they enter through the phone booth visitor’s entrance.
21. Who made Harry’s wand? Mr. Ollivander

Week 3 - Word association

Slightly late, but here it is:

1. Pumpkin – juice
2. Owl - post
3. Leaf -fall
4. Weasley - Ron
5. Quaffle - ball
6. Hallow - Deathly
7. Mad - eye
8. Dragon - breath
9. Crystal - ball
10. Trees – Ents (Sorry, wrong books.)
11. Hermione - granger
12. Hogwarts -school
13. Burrow -Weasleys
14. Dobby –house elf
15. Horcrux – Harry
16. Ministry – of Magic
17. Magic - wand
18. Sirius -godfather
19. Apple -pie
20. Juice -orange
21. Candle -light
22. Ghost -white
23. Snake -Nagini
24. Wand -magic
25. Invisibility -cloak
26. Tent - camping
27. Spell -book
28. Umbridge -meanie
29. Dursley -cousin
30. Prophet -daily

5 things to take camping

Hmmm, 5 things I can't live without.

1. My Kindle. There is no way I can spend any time at all without something to read, and my Kindle means I can have plenty of reading material with me, without much weight or bulk.

2. A knitting or crochet project. Something small, like a sock. Preferably something that has a pattern that's pretty simple to remember, so I can work by fire light.

3. Chocolate. Seriously, there's just no point in going camping if there aren't going to be smores.

4. Air mattress or pad. I'm just not as young as I used to be, and sleeping on the ground isn't fun anymore.

5. My camera. I actually have 2, not including the one in my phone. I've got a serious digital SLR Nikon with several lenses, and then I've got a smaller Nikon Coolpix. The Coolpix is more practical for taking places, because it's so small, but I really like taking pictures, and get better results with the big camera. Sometimes when I go somewhere, I bring the camera bag instead of a purse (Hmm, maybe I need to bling out my camera bag a little bit.)

Week one homework

1. Someone with the same crafts as me: Hermione Bagnold does a lot of the same crafts: knit, crochet, beads, cross-stitch. She doesn’t mention weaving, but there aren’t that many of us weavers around.

2. Someone born in the same month as me: Bella Shacklebolt and Manticora Crimson

3. Someone from a different country: Emma Wigsworthy

4. A new HSKS family member: Caradoc Brocklehurst is here for the first time. Hopefully it won’t be his last time!

5. Someone who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps: Andromeda Finch-Fletchley. She’s been here since HSKS3!

6. Someone who has a bigger stash than me: I’ve only got 6 things stashed right now, so just about everyone’s stash is bigger than mine. Cassandra Crimsonchin has 55 things stashed, so she’s definitely got me beat.

7. Someone who both knits and crochets: Celestina Pettigrew

8. Someone with the same favorite color as me: Poppy Pluot loves purple so much, she used it as the background of her blog!

9. Someone who has the same favorite season/holiday as me: Ambyr Phoenixfire loves fall, like I do.

10. Someone who has the same favorite fiber as me: I haven’t found anyone who said the exact same thing as me, which is a blend of wool with either bamboo or tencel. But Lizzie Wychwood said that wool is her favorite, so that’s as close as I’m going to get.

A little bit about me

What crafts do I do? Weave, knit, crochet, cross stitch, bead, a little bit of embroidery, and a little bit of sewing. I'll really try my hand at anything.

I was born in June.

I’m fron the US.

This is my 6th HSKS swap.

I don’t know how big my stash is. Most of it isn’t up in Rav, and it’s mostly still packed up from my move. Most of it is weaving yarn, though.

I do knit and crochet.

My favorite color is purple, but I also really like blues, teals and greens, basically cool soothing colors. Of coures, I like fall colors in their place, too, so I guess there really aren't that many colors I don't like.

My favorite season is fall, hands down. I love the leaves changing, and when the air gets crisp and cool. I love getting ready for fall and winter holidays. My favorite holiday is, well, I’m really not sure. I love Halloween. I love dressing up (and we are encouraged to wear costumes to work!) I love decorating, and I love handing out candy to the kids. But I also love Chanukah, too. I love seeing my family. I love shopping for presents, and wrapping them, and seeing people’s faces when they open them. I love lighting the menorah, and making latkes (potato pancakes). And I decorate for Chanukah, too.

My favorite fiber is another tough one. For weaving, I really love working with perle cotton. It makes a great warp, comes in a gazillion wonderful colors, different sizes, it’s just really versatile. For knitting, I really like working with wool and bamboo or tencel. They’re warm, soft and drapey.

I got my kit!

As usual, I get so caught up in sending out a kit, I tend to forget I'll be getting one! So it's always a lovely surprise to come home to a package from Quietus. And this one was lovely right from the start! Waiting on my screen porch was an owl with an ivy wrapped package.




Inside were many bundles wrapped in pretty green tissue paper, along with a pattern to knit a leafy, lacy scarf called Branching out.

There was a pretty little tin covered with leaves, that held stitch markers, row counters and a padded grip for crochet hooks. I've only just recently started crocheting, and don't have many tools for it yet, so the padding will definitely come in handy. The stitch markers have pretty leaves on the, so Quietus is really rocking the nature theme with this kit. There's an exploding frog soap, which is peppermint soap on the outside (yum! so refreshing!) and a cherry bath bomb inside. How fun is that?

I also got a Windmill bag, which is a pattern I love. I've done it before for someone else, but somehow never got around to making one for myself. And now I don't have to!

I got some great yarn, one ball of SWTC Terra, that's 50/50 bamboo and cotton, and 2 balls of Patons Angora Bamboo, which is a blend of bamboo, angora and wool. To top all that off, I got some of my absolute favorite chocolate treats, Ghirardelli squares, and a bar of Lindt dark chocolate. I'm keeping that in the freezer so that I eat it nice and slowly. Quietus even remembered my kitties, and sent catnip mice, which got 2 enthusiastic paws up.

Here's the whole kit and caboodle:

Pepper enjoying a hit of the 'nip:

And Rascal partaking as well:

Daisy is on her way

My owl Daisy is on her way to Celestina Pettigrew. It's a long flight for her, and I sort of overloaded her, so it's going to take a week or so for her to get out there. I hope she enjoys the trip! Next kit, I have to try to get lighter stuff! I had a lot of fun making the _____ for the kit. I was wondering how I was going to ship appropriate picnic food without having to worry about it melting. So I was very happy to find ____ flavored ____ ____, and ___ ____ flavored _____ _____. But my best find was the set of ______, _____, and _____. I liked them so much, I bought some for myself!

Down to the home stretch

I'm going to be working like crazy to get my spoilee's hand-made item done for Friday. I've picked up some great little items that fit my theme, so I'm pretty happy with that. I've just got to finish my stitching, and do a little bit more shopping. It will be tight, but I'm confident I'll be done on time. Then I get to start planning my trip to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. Yay!

Scavenger Hunt, Etsy style, part 1

Campfire



Pine Cone



Bowtruckle



Candle

Scavenger Hunt, part 2

Muggle Trash



Water Balloon



Edible plant



Creature that lives in the lake

Scavenger hunt, part 3

Feather



Yarn



Hogwarts Pride



Bathing Suit

I got Wingo!

Straight across the second row:

W: Catriona has seen every HP movie in the theater.

I: Emma Gorodok dyes her own yarn.

N: Lexie Lovegood is a HSKS newbie.

G: Genevra has 3 siblings, plus some step-siblings.

O: Hermione has way more things in her queue. 621 to my 50!

Wingo

In the interest of helping out my fellow campers, I've got some info about me :-)

I worked at a YMCA camp in Western NY for 5 years.

I've been on the train a bunch of times. I like riding trains. My longest trip was riding from Alabama to NY and then back for Thanksgiving one year. I even got one of those little sleeper cabins. That was lots of fun.

I speak a smidge of Spanish and Hebrew. Can't really converse in Hebrew, though, just read and understand prayer.

I've dyed my own yarn a bunch of times. My old guild always had a dye day every summer. But I can't really say I do it regularly. Not more than once or twice a year.

I have 3 siblings, to brothers and a sister.

I've got 50 items in my queue.

My patronus is a hawk.

I collect cats, and I collect sheet music that has the name Amy in the title (Amy is my muggle name)

I do make stitch markers, but usually just for swapping. So I don't have any of the ones I've made.

I live in Central Mass.

My favorite sweet treat is dark chocolate.

I played quidditch last term and in the earlier HSKS swap that was a whole season of quidditch. I've played seeker and beater.

I do own all of the Harry Potter movies, and all of the books.

This is my 5th HSKS swap.

I've done a 3 day, 2 night camp out, at Rhinebeck a couple of years ago. It was so cold!

I play the piano.

My birthday is in June.

First camp assignment

A little questionnaire to help our spoilers :-)

Knit or crochet or both? Both, just started crocheting last week :-)
Brands you would like to try but don't have easy access to: nothing specific comes to mind
Favorite fibers/least favorite fibers I like bamboo and tencel a lot, don't like anything too scratchy.
Favorite colors/least favorite colors I love blues, greens, aquas, purples, reds, yellows, pretty much everything. I do prefer clear, true colors over muted colors.
Yarn weight preferences Usually I say fat yarn goes faster, but lately I've been using a lot of sock yarn.
Favorite projects Socks for knitting. I'm not sure yet crocheting, I haven't done enough yet.
Favorite gadgets Stitch markers. Row counters help a lot, too.
Favorite designers Don't have a favorite.
Salty or Sweet or...? Both, preferably together. I love chocolate, the darker the better.
Tea or Coffee or...? Both, plain or flavored. My favorite tea is Earl Grey.
Allergies None that matter. Just bee stings.
Other things you like, i.e., buttons, pens, fabric, stitchmarkers, etc. Stitch markers, row counters, anything an experienced crocheter thinks would be helpful to one starting out.
Currently Craving The new M&Ms with pretzels inside.
Where you might have wish lists (Loopy Ewe, Amazon, Etsy) Just my blog. Never thought of setting one up anywhere else. Didn't know Etsy had one, so I might go look at that.
Measurements (feet for socks, wrists, head circumference) Size 7 feet. Wrist circumference 6". Head, well, I don't usually wear hats.

Part 1: Short Answer

1. Explain why Muggles need electricty. This is as close to magic as Muggles get. Electricity powers many Muggle machines and devices, including the lights in their homes, home cooling systems, entertainment systems like televisions, and even sometimes vehicles.

2. What are the most common ways Muggles communicate when they are not together in the same place? Muggles typically use telephones to talk remotely. Some telephones are kept at home on leashes called wires, but other phones stay with the Muggles. Sometimes the Muggle will talk into a telephone, and the person they are talking to will hear them on a second telephone. Other times the Muggle uses letters on the telephone to “text” which is sending words in writing, instead of sound. The Muggle receiving the message sees it displayed on their telephone.

3. How do Muggles cope with broken items? Sometimes Muggles put a broken item back together using glue, which is sticky and holds the pieces together. Unfortunately, Muggles frequently use a place called a garbage dump to store broken things, replacing the broken item with a new one. This contributes to even bigger piles of garbage and sometimes releases poisons into the environment.

4. Describe a popular Muggle sport. My favorite Muggle sport is called baseball. 2 teams play against each other at a time. One team starts out by standing around the field (playing defense), while the other team sits on a bench (playing offense). One part of the field has a diamond sketched on it, with “bases” at the 4 corners. A player from the defense stands at each of the 4 bases. One of the bases is called home.

One player from the offense stands at home plate with a bat (longer than a quidditch bat). The pitcher stands in the middle of the diamond, and throws a white ball at the batter, who tries to hit the ball. If he hits it, he runs around the bases, while the defense tries to hit him with the ball. If they hit him while he’s not standing on a base, he gets an out. There are a lot more rules, which sometimes Muggles argue over

5. Name something you'd like to try doing without magic, and how you would accomplish it. I would like to try growing food. To do this, I’ve got a garden in my yard. I bought plants at a Muggle store called a nursery, and am planting them in the garden. Since I won’t be using magic, I’ll have to use fertilizer to feed them, and a garden hose to water them when it doesn’t rain enough. I’ll have to pull out all the weeds (plants that grow in the garden that you don’t want) and then when the fruits and veggies are ready, pick them all by hand.

Part 2: Identify these common Muggle items.

1. A small squared-off rod held in the hand with many soft buttons on one side with numbers and words written on them. A remote control, used to control televisions and other electronic items.

2. A metal box with a long, handled hose, which counts several sets of numbers when you compress the handle. Gas pump. Muggle vehicles (cars) burn gasoline (or petrol) for propulsion. Periodically, the Muggle must fill a tank in the car with gasoline, and they do that by using a gas pump.

3. A heavy rod with a single button that emits light when pushed. A flashlight. Since Muggles can’t use wands and the Lumos charm for light, they have flashlights.

4. A small, thin, glossy rectangle that has pictures on one side and emits a variety of noises, often attached to Muggles' ears with a thin cord. An Ipod. Muggles are able to put whatever music they like on their Ipods, making each one unique.

5. A large cabinet with one glass side, displaying a variety of neatly organized items, which occasionally spits one out when the correct code is entered. A vending machine: Since Muggles can’t summon food, and have no house elves, they have to provide their own food. Sometimes when they are away from home and need food, they visit a vending machine, put in various amounts of money, and get something to eat.

Part 3: Famous Muggles

Part 3: Find a picture of the following Muggles and describe why they are famous.

1. Spike Jonze: a producer of movies, commercials and music videos. A movie is more like a wizard photograph than a Muggle one, in that the people move. But they can’t talk to the viewer. They just keep telling the same story every time the movie is viewed.



2. Oprah Winfrey: a woman who has acted in Muggle movies, publishes a magazine, and has a talk show on Muggle TV. On her show, she talks to famous Muggles, asking them a lot of questions.



3. Bono: a Muggle rock musician, from an Irish band called U2. He writes the words to all of their songs. He is also an activist and humanitarian, raising money for Muggles in poorer parts of the world.



4. Elizabeth II: the Queen of England. A largely ceremonial position, she is nominally the head of the English government. It is uncertain whether any of the Muggle Prime Ministers have informed her of the presence of the Wizarding world. She's been the queen for a really long time, and has a big ship named after her.



5. J.K. Rowling: An English writer who has written the saga of Harry Potter’s battle and defeat of Voldemort. Unlike Rita Skeeter, she seems to work hard at sticking very close to the truth, both good and bad.

Got my kit!

Actually, I got it a week ago, right before I left to go out of town. So my apologies to Emma Scrimgeour for the delay.

First, when I opened the shipping box, I saw:

Is that a great bag or what? Emma's mom made it!

Inside, there's this awesomely cute hippo tool box.


Inside the hippo:

Harmony dpn's in size 1 (can never have too many of those!) stitch markers, and radish earrings (it's just not a Luna kit without radishes!) The stitch markers spell out "its often infested with nargles" which is what Luna says about mistletoe :-)


There is a pair of awesome mitts in Ravenclaw colors with big "diamond" buttons



There are also a pile of tea bags (yum!); some dark chocolate (gone already); a very nice hand made card; the pattern for Luna's Moonlight Ladies sock (by our own Ann Kingstone); and some hand-dyed yarn by Christina Marie Potter.

Arithmancy homework

This was massively fun! And it means I've got something to blog about early in the week, which is good since I'm going away for the weekend.

Puzzle #1: Dobby
Puzzle #2: Harry Potter
Puzzle #3: Hogs Head

Finished my hand made item

Whew! Just squeaked it in there, but it is done early enough to earn house points. That's a first for me, so I'm extra excited. Obviously I'm not going to post a picture, because I don't want Dagmara to see it before she opens her kit. Now all I need to do is a few more small purchases, and I'm all set for early send points. Yay!

Now I'll just write some cheering charms for tomorrow's quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Slytherin is closer to us in points, so I guess I'll be cheering for Hufflepuff to win.

Battle cry

Ok, it's more like a march, but still:

I don’t know but I’ve been told,
Gryffindor brooms are plated gold
Somehow it has come to pass
Ravenclaw’s are plated brass

Gryffindor’s brooms shine nice and bright,
But Ravenclaws are fast and light.
Gryffindors are smart brave witches
But ‘claws will score and catch the snitches.

Potions Homework, part 1

Pomegranate: juice is used in Strengthening Solution. (Yeah, I know, that pom is past it's prime. I found it in the back of the fridge)


Phlox: used to attract flocks of birds to a garden, which then eat the bugs.


Shamrock: used in Ireland as an ingredient of Good Luck potions.


Muscari: Essence of muscari can be used as food coloring, but too much causes the ingester to turn violet. It was almost revealed to the Muggles when the affect was used in the making of the movie “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” Luckily the film was charmed, so Muggle viewers believe the affect to be just a bit of movie special affects.


Leaves of a bubotuber plant. The pus of the tubers themselves (found underground) is used to treat acne.

Potions homework, part 2

1. Sneezewort, scurvy grass, and lovage are used to make what?
A: Allergen Solution
B:Confusing Draught
C: Babbling Befuddlement
D: Wandering Agent

2. Porcupine quills are to be added when to a Boil Cure Potion?
A: It is the second ingredient you add
B: Before it is removed from the fire
C: You don't add them, they aren't part of the 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
B: Amortentia
C: Calming Draft
D: Elixir to Induce Euphoria

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

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

Potions Homework, part 3

This is a potion I make that is a quick and dirty sangria-type drink. It's light and refreshing, which makes it nice for summer. I use fruit juice, usually a mixed berry blend, some white wine, and some club soda. Notice in the picture the Ravens on the wine bottle :-)

Mad-libs, part 2: A Tale

Harry Potter And The Curse of Dudley

Harry Potter, the boy wonder, the penny-pincher of the wizarding world; sat alone in his tiny bedroom scratching his elbow and cleaning the sugar 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 Hogeczema 's school of catcraft and happiness.

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

One particularly memorable curse on Dudley happened on the 13th of June. It was so hot, you could bake a picture on the sidewalk.

Dudley sat on his enormous ear in front of the telly, spooning flaskful after flaskful of chocolate mousse down his throat. Harry thought he looked rather giraffish, with his piggy little eyes and fat body.

Harry got an evil little grin on his kneecap and raised his wand behind Dudley's head. "Carpe Momentum" he shouted; which translated to English means "Turn this boy's head into a star fruit and make him dance around like a tiger with migraines!"

And that's just what Dudley did! He bounced off the couch, screamed " BLODRUM!" to the top of his lungs, and began sewing on the floor, while turning in circles and flapping his thumbs.

Harry was laughing so hard, he almost peed his cap. 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. " IT TAKES BOTH SUN AND RAIN TO MAKE A RAINBOW.
!" 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 flask of chocolate mousse 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 thumbs gave one mighty final flap, and the boys had a most enjoyable evening, indeed.

Mad-libs! How fun!

Here's my list:

1. a verb: bake
2. a number: 13
3. a body part: foot
4. an abstract noun: happiness
5. a noun: cat
6. a skin condition: eczema
7. a body part: elbow
8. type of person/stereotype: penny-pincher
9. a substance: sugar
10. a fortune cookie phrase in all capital letters: IT TAKES BOTH SUN AND RAIN TO MAKE A RAINBOW.
11. article of clothing: cap
12. verb ending in "-ed": bounced
13. neurological disorder: migraines
14. an animal: tiger
15. a fruit: star fruit
16. a latin (sounding) phrase in all capital letters: CARPE MOMENTUM
17. a body part: kneecap
18. a large animal: giraffe
19. a food: chocolate mousse
20. a body part in plural: thumbs
21. a verb ending in "-ing": sewing
22. a nonsensical word in all capital letters:
23. a container: flask
24. a body part: ear
25. a noun: picture

Care of Magical Creatures homework

I'm using the same marker as in the last round of pictures.

Pepper: used to feed salamanders


Bowl of milk: You can use it to tell knarls from hedgehogs. They’re suspicious of any food left for them. You can tell them apart from hedgehogs by putting out a bowl of milk. The knarls will react to it with hostility.


Lettuce: used to feed flobberworms during Care of Magical Creatures classes


Hot Mitts: used to handle fire crabs


Fairy eggs: can be used to distract a bowtruckle so you can take leaves or wood from their trees

Part Two: Complete the following quiz about House Elves. 5 points for each correct answer.

1. Please describe the physical appearance of a house elf. Short, skinny arms and legs; big eyes; long pointy nose; big pointy ears

2. Kreacher is the house elf of which wizarding family? The Black family

3. What is Hermione Granger making for the house elves? Hats and socks

4. How do you free a house elf? Give him/her clothing

5. What does S.P.E.W. stand for? Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare

Transfiguration homework

I didn't make it 100%, but I came pretty close. Above is my originality marker, a necklace from my sister.

Toy rubber ball

Memoris! Now it's a remembrall:

Candy and some paper:

Fugatum! Now it's a snitch:

A cup and some teeth:

Te dentum! A nose-biting teacup.

An hourglass and jewelry supplies.

Tempes mutatio! It's a timechanger:

Twigs:

Vita arbus! A Bowtruckle

Papers:

Oculum! Spectrespecs :

This was my one failure. I'm awful in the kitchen. I couldn't find any fruitcake to transform into rock cakes, so I tried fruit and cake.

Geocakuem! And got a rock. Can't win them all.

Modeling clay

Pyrotus! Decoy Detonator