Yoga Knot

Sick babies are no fun.

2011-11-18T05:41:00.000-08:00

As the title suggests little E has a head cold, yuck. So we are staying home instead of going to the Y. This is going to be interesting for me because this means I am not only not working out today, I am also not teaching my yoga class today... I am missing it already and class hasn't even started yet. I know its in good hands but I love teaching my class. I would feel horrible putting E in childwatch and I would feel bad for them as well. No one wants to get sick and no one wants to be forced to leave the house to play with strangers when they are sick. So I will probably take her to run some errands later but I'll just watch her to see how she is doing and head home if it gets ugly. I don't think I can stay home all day without going stir crazy.

Anyway I am slowly coming up with things to send my spoilee in her package. I just haven't ordered or picked any of it up. So hopefully this whole thing goes quickly and I can send it out on time. I am usually already done or at least started by now but I have just been so lazy about starting and so busy with other things (ie the beagle sweater) that I haven't had time. I have some pics to add to the blog but I might just add them in the next blog (which I might write just after this one, lol).

I've been busy knitting and I found some awesome blogs with vegetarian friendly recipes. :) So hopefully I can integrate these meals into our diets. With my first veggie thanksgiving and christmas around the corner I wonder what I am going to do. Thankfully we are celebrating thanksgiving with another veggie friend of mine. She said there will be meat for the non veggies like my husband and daughter and her whole family plus some yogis, lol. I'm sure she will come up with something for us though. :) I am off for now to get some pics together and to keep the kiddo entertained.

2011-10-13T11:40:00.001-07:00

Hanging out with the babe thinking about growth as it relates to my yoga practice. I would love to grow and continue to learn about yoga. I need a new level of challenge and to learn from different teachers to really round out my personal practice as well as my classes I teach. I feel like my classes and my own practice ( I don't have much of one with the babe always around) have grown stagnant. I need something to really breathe life back into it. So I am searching for new classes with hopes its not going to cost me an arm and a leg. I am also thinking about starting on my 500hr ryt with the 300hr therapy track included or 200hr ryt in a different style of teaching. I just really like learning new things. Anyway enough of my dreaming, lol.

I am still slowly crawling along on the beagle sweater and hopefully I am almost done with the front. I signed up for HSKS again its 13 the Yule Ball. I'm pretty excited I love the people who do it so its nice to hangout with them again. Anyway I am off to take the baby outside so she can run around and play.

Pumpkins Pumpkins Pumpkins

2011-10-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

I love pumpkins and pumpkin flavored things. So this weekend we went to Pumpkinville, for the baby of course, lol. It was really sweet watching her pick her pumpkin. I loved it. We went with some friends and then out to dinner after. It was a great night.

Anyway as far as knitting stuff goes. I am working on the front of the Beagle sweater. I finished the back a couple weeks ago. I need to do the sleeves too. I am really hoping if I keep knitting a little bit each day that I will finish it in time to power knit the rest of the afghan for my friend for Christmas. I am not hopeful at this point because I am knitting so slowly on this sweater because I am bored. Oh well.

I made some coconut macaroons yesterday from the cookie a, sock yarn and cookie recipe club. They were super easy to make and tasty. I have to be careful I don't eat too many because I can't afford the calories, lol. I'm off to make some pumpkin coffee (shocking I know) and figure out what I am teaching tonight for my gentle yoga class. Yay!

2011-10-05T10:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Wednesday. Thank you for bringing us to the middle of our week. So following up my last post. Sunday night the beagles owner came for her. Apparently she is an outdoor dog and they didn't realize she was missing. She is an outdoor dog because she chews everything. Well I follow this up with a no shit sherlock. Beagles are working dogs and when they are bored, which is pretty much anytime you don't have them actively doing something, they go straight to chewing. She had fleas and needed a bath. So I get that she is a pain to have in the house but its a pretty terrible life to be chained up in the backyard all day and night. So the whole situation kind of made me mad. The teenager and her mother that came to pick the dog up seemed happy to have her back but if they aren't going to take proper care of her whats the point....but I digress.

Anyway. We went to toddler tales today and on the way over Evie passed out in the car and she remained unconscious until the last 2 songs of the class. So because she had a power nap we are skipping nap time....yay.

Yesterday we got our patterns and recipes for the Cookie A sock club. I was a little disappointed in the patterns. The yarn is nice but the patterns didn't do anything for me and this isn't the first shipment I have felt this way. I am not sure if I want to join again next year. Its been fun for the most part though. I'll just have to use another pattern for the yarn.

Ending on a happier note because this was kind of a whiny downer post, lol. I am enjoying a nice cup of pumpkin coffee while my daughter carries her sidewalk chalk around the house. I bought the ingredients for the coconut macaroon recipe from the shipment. The weather is warming up a bit while keeping a nice breeze. My house is not completely trashed and if my husband has time or feels up to it tonight we might be eating pasta with mushrooms and pumpkin-gorgonzola sauce . It looks like an awesome recipe. :) I will tell you all how it goes next post. For now I am off to enjoy my coffee and maybe do some knitting. Happy Fall!

Furry Family

2011-10-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

Well we have a temporary addition to our furry family. A beagle was wandering the streets yesterday afternoon. She had escaped from her home. She had a broken lead attached to her collar and she was going up to each house in the neighborhood. Evie and I were getting strapped in the car ready to head to Target. She came up to us wagging her tail and looking for love. She was a little shy, she tucks her tail when you pet her but she really likes it. So we took her into our backyard and put up signs looking for her owner. We haven't found her owner but she is enjoying laying on a pillow with a bone in our laundry room. I don't want to let her into the house in case she has fleas or something but I do feel bad for her. I am wary of bathing her in case she bites from fear. She is the sweetest dog though. So tomorrow when the SPCA opens we are going to take her in. Hopefully she is chipped so she can find her family.

Other than that we might head to the fall festival at the local park for some fun kid crafts and face painting. We will see what happens. I hope its not going to rain..... The fall weather has started to set in so its been chilly out here. Of course its suppose to start warming up this week. I like the cooler weather though, the season of warm woolies is coming. :)

Knitting progress: Beagle sweater: I finished the back and now I am working on the front. Slow progress but thats alright. Hopefully it will be done by christmas. I am also waiting for my CookieA sock club shipment to arrive. Hopefully it will get here by tomorrow. I have been good so far and not looked at the spoiler picture in the thread but I really, really want to. I am wondering if its going to have a Halloween theme or fall theme. I also can't wait to see the patterns....

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-10-01T05:17:00.001-07:00

No its not Christmas yet, although that is a wonderful time of the year, its fall and October. I personally love October. Its when J and I started dating, when we got married, Halloween and the leaves all really begin changing. Plus, for those of us who enjoy knitting and wearing our woolies, its time to pull out the sweaters and cool weather clothing. I hope we get to go camping this October. October here is not too cold usually. If we were still up north we would probably have random snow, lol. Ah well.

Uh oh gotta run, crying baby.

New and Yummy

2011-09-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

Ok so I just tried Tempeh for the first time and I have to say its really, really good. So I'm pretty excited about it. It was a pretty interesting sandwich with veggie slices and avocado. Yum. Love, love, love it.

Its been a pretty good day so far. I took pilates which for some reason was not as hard today as it usually is. I had a fabulous new sandwich, we are meeting up with a friend for coffee at starbucks, then I teach my yoga class and then I have a meeting for the yoga seminar I am teaching at. Yay! So it should be a busy but fun day.

As for knitting yummy's I found this amazing yarn that I REALLY REALLY want but they apparently only sell it in the UK, lame. Its called Araucania Botany Lace. Its so pretty. :)

My favorite is probably the green but the colors are amazing and as I said I really, really want it. Now to figure out how to acquire it without spending a million dollars in shipping. I will need to talk to my LYS at some point to see if they might try and carry it. LOVE.

Alright I am off to get some knitting done on this sweater before coffee (well before more coffee in the form of a Pumpkin Spice Latte). Yum! This post is delicious. :)

Finished!

2011-09-24T05:09:00.000-07:00

I just finished my spoilee's handmade gift. I'm so happy its done. I just need to photograph it and buy 2 more things for the box so I can send it out as early as possible. :) Its a little crazy how much time I have before I need to send it out so I will probably slowly continue to add things to the box, lol.

On to the Christmas knitting. Just gotta finish Jesse's sweater and the afghan I am working on. I want to cast on more but I am going to hold off until I finish something first.

Flexitarian

2011-09-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

I have recently adopted a more vegetable friendly diet. I have wanted to give up meat for some time or at least severely limit my intake of meat. I have never been one of those people that thinks man am I hungry for some steak. I have always loved veggies so its kind of surprising to me that it has taken this long for me to adopt this lifestyle. It is a slow transition but I want it to work with my life as well which is why I am a flexitarian. I eat a mostly vegetarian lifestyle with a few dairy products and fish sprinkled in (I really like sushi so giving up fish is out of the question for me). I have recently found veggie slices and they are really good so I will probably eat that in place of cheese. My husband is a hardcore carnivore and while he somewhat enjoys my love of tofu in foods or vegetable based dishes he is not interested in converting. I think we are going to continue to feed our daughter meat as well. If either of them want to convert I am in full support but I feel its a choice you should make for yourself for your own reasons.

Anyway in the world of knitting... I am four pattern repeats into my spoilee's handmade gift. I can't be more specific in case she reads my blog. :) Other than that I haven't really had time to work on other projects. Last night I taught my yoga class and followed it up with a piyo class so I was too tired to do anything when I got home. Tonight I hope to either work on my spoilees project or mix it up and work on Beagle or my Aran Afghan.

Change of thought

2011-09-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

I have realized that I have been much more negative lately. I am getting frustrated more quickly with things than I did before and I really think its because I let myself go to that negative place right away. I let my emotions take over before I fully process the situation. So I am going to trying and consciously change my thoughts by letting go of the negative ones and replacing them with a new one. Stopping the train of thought before emotions kick in. I used to do this all the time and it worked AND I was much happier with less frustration. Its going to be a challenge but I really want to let go of the negativity. I think its really going to help in my day to day life. :)

On a knitting related note. I bought my yarn for my spoilees project and I cast on. I am only through 2 repeats of the pattern but I'm pretty excited. I also bought the yarn I think I am going to send her (unless I see something else and change my mind, lol).

I have to teach my yoga class tonight and if I am feeling up to it I intend to go to piyo as well. Here's hoping I have the energy because I have been feeling blah and tired all day. Even my pumpkin spice latte didn't completely turn my day around. I think its a dreary weather funk. Its been overcast for days.

I have found an awesome new tv show called Awkward. I am a little worried its not going to be around for very long because its only 10 episodes in and the season is over next week. It might be another heart breaker like Firefly which was too short lived...sigh. Also NCIS is back, woot!

As usual its been a while

2011-09-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

IIIIIIIII'm Baaaaaaaack! Things have been crazy busy as usual. I am teaching more, Evie is growing up so fast and life is moving along. So what is new with me? I have been working out like a fiend and watching those calories and since March I have lost 20lbs. Pretty awesome. It was one of those things that I have wanted to do for a while and now that I am not breastfeeding etc. I was able to focus on it. I hope to keep it off too (with the exception of another pregnancy of course).

As far as knitting goes. I have been knitting like crazy. I am working on the Beagle sweater by Norah Gaughan and an afghan for a friend. I hope to see her this Christmas so I can give it to her (hopefully it will be done by then...). The sweater is for my step-father who really enjoys my knitting. I also have about a million projects I would like to cast on but I am working on using stash I have now and trying not to accumulate more yarn for now. Its going well so far. I have a swap I am in now that I need to buy yarn for (hopefully tomorrow after toddler tales). I have dreams of doing lots of knitting for Christmas but I need to be realistic and realize I am not that fast of a knitter.

I was in Sock Sniper this year which was fun and I hope to be in it again next year. I usually do Sock Wars but apparently that is no longer going on. I wish I would have survived longer than getting one shot fired (I sent off 3 in the last sock wars). Unfortunately thats not how it worked out though. It was fun. My sniper sent me sheep shaped soap, sparkly halloween stickers for evie and some nice socks.

Anyway I think thats enough rambling for this post. Off to get ready for work....

I was spoiled!

2010-12-02T18:19:00.000-08:00

Yay for spoilers! Thank you so much Honoria! Without further ado the package revealed!

The package and Bob's leg. :)

We opened the package and found a winter survival kit!

Evie helped me open my package. She really liked the paper. What a cute little helper. :)

The package in full. She got me a sock kit (Ravenclaw socks)! Candy Cane Green Tea, a wooden owl kit so I don't have to use the owls in the owlery anymore, a cute hat and fingerless mitts to keep me warm while I knit, a quick quills pen, and 4oz of yeti roving to spin! The yeti roving is so soft. I can't wait to try it out! It was an awesome package which I am so grateful for. Thank you so much Honoria you are awesome! :)

Close up of hat and fingerless mitts. Such a pretty color!

A Ravenclaw sock kit! Yay for Ravenclaw socks. I can't wait to start them.

Yeti Roving!!!! I am excited to use it. I'm not a consistent spinner yet but eventually I will be. This will help me get a little better and who doesn't want to spin Yeti fur? Its so hard to come by, lol. ;)

November is coming to a close

2010-11-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

and quickly too. I can't believe how fast this month went by. Evie is going to be 7 months soon, yikes! As I promised there is a lot of knitting content and this post is picture heavy. :) (The post is all over the place because of how the pics uploaded, sorry.)

I love getting mail and lately I've been getting a lot, lol. Pictured above are some knitting goodies. The latest interweave knits and Cookie A's new book Knit Sock Love and I love knitting socks, lol. I can't wait to start on some. I haven't had a chance to cast on though because of all the christmas knitting, boo. Oh well christmas knitting can be fun.
I love pomegranates so I seeded 2 of them today, yum. I am going to take them to the Y with me either tomorrow or Tuesday and share in the yum (gorgeous) wealth. :)

J, Evie and I got our tree last night, yay! I'm so excited I love the smell and the look of a nicely lit tree. Christmas is so beautiful. :)
My Amaryllis Minerva bloomed yesterday. I'm so happy. It's beautiful. Hopefully I can get it to bloom a second time. This is my third Amaryllis and none of them have bloomed more than once, boo.
This is the sock I am knitting my brother for christmas. I hope he likes it. Its coming along nicely. Unfortunately its only the first and he has a size 13 foot (boo). Plus I need to knit a pair for my other brother who has equally large feet. Hopefully I can make quick work of this sock. It is a Cookie A pattern from her first book Sock Innovation called Sam.
These beautiful skeins were my one and only Black Friday purchase. I was not brave enough to fight the crowds for good deals. Plus other than more yarn what could I possibly need that badly? ;)
Finally these are my Mystery March Sock by Kristi Gerachi. I love them. My mom also loves them so if she still wants them (imperfections and all) I guess they will be hers. I love sharing my knitting but on rare occasions I actually keep some of it for myself, lol.

Thats about all thats happening here. I plan on taking Evie to see Santa either today or next weekend ( I think J wants to be there). My step-dads cross stitch stocking is coming along. I only started it 3 years ago? something like that. Anyway I might be able to finish it this year but if not whats one more year? I think we are going to Target today to get some christmas music and maybe a few more things. I like going to Target when there isn't anything to do and I want out of the house, lol. As far as the Leitmotif Cardigan goes its on hold for now. Its not a priority holiday knit. Hopefully I'll get it done while I can still wear it. I ordered the yarn for the Beagle sweater I am knitting for my step-dad. It hasn't shipped yet which is strange so I may need to call them on Monday to see whats going on. Anyway I am off to enjoy some more free time before Evie wakes from her nap. :)

Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T04:53:00.000-08:00

We had an awesome Thanksgiving here. My friend dropped off her dog so she could fly to Cali. J made the turkey, stuffing, and yams. Evie and I played and had fun. I finished a pair of socks, yay (I needed those needles back, lol). We also went to a friends for some dessert and coffee. :) All in all it was a pretty full day. I love my family and am very grateful for them. I can't wait for Christmas so I can spend time with our families back in Ohio. :)

Next post will have more knitting content. Baby is crying, gotta run!

Ugh

2010-11-18T18:39:00.000-08:00

and we cycle back to startitis. Well finishitis was bound to be short lived anyway. I started my Leitmotif Cardigan and have realized that my gauge must be way off so I am going to need to rip and restart...ugh. I got pretty far too so thats a little frustrating. Its not a hard pattern to get into though so I'm not too worried. I am setting it aside for now though b/c I can't look at it. It's making me angry, lol.

Instead my new plan is to take a sweater break and go back to socks. I wanted to make my brothers both a pair of socks for christmas anyway so I may as well start those. Maybe the Cardigan can be my travel project or something. I definitely need to do a gauge swatch though.... Other than all that the stash busting exercise is underway. My craft corner of the office will finally start to downsize hopefully. Not that I don't like having a nice little yarn collection but it looks really cluttered right now which is really annoying me. I don't generally buy yarn (except sock yarn) unless I have a pattern picked out for it. Otherwise it tends to sit in the basket unused....

Anyway I am off to cast on for some socks.

Blah weekend

2010-11-15T09:19:00.000-08:00

Well this weekend kind of sucked. I taught my friday yoga class and then just chilled with my daughter all afternoon. We had dinner plans with friends to grab some sushi but that didn't happen. They bailed because they were tired and didn't want to go anywhere. We should have bailed too because I was exhausted and not feeling very well but we went anyway. I sat with my fussy 6 month old, staring like a zombie at my also tired husband. I woke up Saturday with a mild fever and vegged out all day on the couch with the kiddo. We were suppose to go to my friends farm for a bonfire and potluck dinner but by the time it was starting I was feeling worse. I tried to go to bed early but Evie was screaming and by then my fever had spiked to 103, yikes. So I laid in bed my skin felt like fire and my head was going to explode. I was having chills so I was snuggled under my blankets with a cold compress on my head and neck. J was trying to help with Evie but he had hw and other things to work on so he was just letting her exhaust herself on the living room floor. Apparently I can't sleep when I can hear her laughing or crying so I got up and fed her and put her down for the night. She woke again at 4:30am but by then I was feeling a lot better so J changed her diaper and brought her to bed so I could feed her. We slept in a bit which was good but I was still a little drained and dehydrated on sunday so I spent another day vegging out. My throat is still sore today but I am doing so much better than I was. Thankfully I don't have anything to worry about today. I'm going to go to the post office with my spoilees package and then to the grocery store (our fridge is pathetic plus I was craving cherry pie while I was sick...).

Finishitis?

2010-11-11T11:08:00.000-08:00

Usually I have a serious case of startitis but my stash/WIP basket is threatening to take over my desk and my half of the office. So it must be stopped, lol.

These socks (Mystery March 2010 Socks) have been languishing for too long. I started them a really long time ago (March apparently). They are for my mom because she liked them when I was knitting them. I'm pretty far on them I just need to get past the heel flap and through the foot. So that shouldn't take too long. :)

These French Press Slippers were started as a stash buster. I had left over wool yarn that needed a project so I started them and never got to the second slipper. I just finished sewing this slipper together today.

My Vivian Cardigan (back view) I finished this cardigan last week and I LOVE it. I wear it all the time. Its comfortable and warm which makes me smile. :) I haven't even put in the zipper yet and I might not. I might just wear it without closure.

Vivian (front view)

Brattleboro (sp?) Hat. This hat is for my sister I knit it up in 2 days. I just need to buy some buttons and weave in the ends and its done. I really like it.

My Emmas. These socks were started before Evie was born. I took them to the hospital with me to work on. I of course never even took them out of the bag. Oh well they are FINALLY finished though and I really like them a lot.

Emmas together at last, lol. :)

Hopefully I get some of these projects wrapped up so I can start some more..... Next blog post I will write about my Leitmotif cardigan I started yesterday.

Is is really November?

2010-11-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

It's a little hard to believe that November is here already. Evie will officially be 6 months on the 8th....yikes! I don't know what I'm going to do with myself, lol. She's rolling all over the place, putting EVERYTHING in her mouth. If she can touch it/grab it, it goes in the mouth, lol. I don't mind, actually I find it kind of entertaining. She cracks me up and makes me smile. I love her so much. ANYWAY enough talk about my little angel.

I have been busy busy with my knitting. I am on a finishing kick lately. I have been looking at all my WIP's and I am trying to make some sense of them. I have at least 2 socks OTN that need to be finished. I FINALLY finished my Emma's. I started them just before Evie was born and then I just never got around to finishing them but finish them I did last night. Yay! I started and am almost finished with a hat for my sister for Christmas. I'm not sure if I'm going to make another hat for my other sister yet. I kind of want to make a really cute cabled vest for her. It looks like it made with big yarn and needles so I should be able to finish it quickly. Oh Christmas knitting, so stressful sometimes but also so fun. I finished my Vivian cardigan, I just need to buy/add the zipper but that might not happen for a while. That hasn't stopped me from wearing it though, lol. I am going to cast on for another cardigan today. I also have a baby surprise jacket to make and a bunch of other stuff to do, blah, lol. I still have yet to make something for Evie. So that is definitely on my priority list. So much knitting so little time.... I'll add pics to my next post when I load them from my camera. Love, love, love getting some knitting off the needles. The yarn basket is a little out of control and definitely could use a little downsizing. :)

As for my spoilees package, its pretty much done. I might buy one or two more things and I actually have an idea of something else I would like to make for it, lol. Oh the never ending swap packages. I have to get it out of the house by the early send off date or I will just keep adding to it which I'm sure my husband will really appreciate, lol.

HW week 8

2010-11-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

1. SPARSE VENUES
2. GO UNLOAD LOVE
3. A MOTH SEDAN
4. FLUSH CIGAR
5. SLICK AIRBUS
6. DUMB ANALOG
7. A DRY MOO-CALF
8. UNSNAP THE SKI
9. PIT-A-PAT RIVAL
10. AN OLD JEER

1. Severus Snape
2. Luna Lovegood
3. Dean Thomas
4. Argus Filch
5. Siruis Black
6. Ludo Bagman
7. Draco Malfoy
8. Stan Shunpike
9. Parvati Patil
10. Lee Jordan

3 Years

2010-10-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

Well today is J and my wedding anniversary! Yay! Three years ago today we started our life together. Its been a great three years. Tonight our friend, Kaeli is coming over with her son Eli to watch Evie for us. So we can grab dinner. Eventually we will go for the couples massage but there was nothing open for us today. I feel bad about not walking the dog today but I just don't have time. Poor guy maybe after dinner when we get back I can give him some love and attention, lol. Its been a wonderful day. :)

Anyway I am off to get ready and hang out before Kaeli and Eli come. Evie is napping, yay. :)

Wedding Numbah 3

2010-10-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well its time again to travel to Ohio. We leave thursday. Thankfully this time we are flying. So yet again we are going to a wedding. It seems insane to travel home for 3 wedding in 2months with a 5 month old but its what we do apparently. There were suppose to be 4 weddings but we decided to bail on one of them because that would mean back to back weddings. It just wasn't going to work.

Anyway. My spoilees package has slowed to a crawl. I need to make some stops at a few places to buy the filler stuff and needles. I have the other stuff mostly together. I need to finish making the handmade project but I am having a hard time stepping away from the Vivian Cardigan. The sleeves are attached and I am 2 rows away from the shoulders. I can't wait to finish it. I also need to buy a zipper. I've never put a zipper into a cardigan before so this will be a new experience. I really want it to be done so I can take it to Ohio with me to wear but I know this is not going to be the case. Still I can't help but try, lol.

For now I am off to finish getting the house together, the laundry cleaned and everything ready to leave tomorrow evening. I have to make sure the house is in good shape for my friend who has kindly offered to live here with the pooper and kitty until we get home. So nice of her and good for me because this house has needed some serious cleaning and I needed some serious motivation. :)

Week 5 Matching Game

2010-10-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

Vine wood and Dragon Heartstring Hermione Granger
Walnut and Dragon Heartstring Bellatrix LeStrange
Hawthorn and Unicorn tail hair Draco Malfoy
Hornbeam and Dragon Heartstring Viktor Krum
Ash and Unicorn hair Cedric Diggory
Rosewood and Veela Hair Fleur Delacour
Elder and Thestral Hair Albus Dumbledore
Mahogany and an unknown core James Potter
Elm and Dragon Heartstring Lucius Malfoy
Cherry and Unicorn hair Mary Cattermole
Yew and Phoenix Feather Tom Riddle
Holly and Phoenix Feather Harry Potter
Willow and Unicorn Hair Ron Weasley

a. Ron Weasley b. Albus Dumbledore c. Mary Cattermole d. Viktor Krum e. Lucius Malfoy f. Harry Potter g. Cedric Diggory h. Tom Riddle i. Hermione Granger j. James Potter k. Belatrix Lestrange l. Fleur Delacour m. Draco Malfoy

Week 4 Quiz

2010-10-05T06:32:00.000-07:00

Why does Harry accuse Remus Lupin of being a coward? He was leaving Teddy and Tonks to go adventuring
Who is R.A.B.? Sirius brother Regulo Arcturus Black
According to legend, what would a person become if he could assemble the Deathly Hallows? I think its death himself or something
What is Ariana Dumbledore rumored to be? squib
What is written on Harry’s parents’ gravestone? the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death
Why does Krum want to fight Xenophilius Lovegood? he is wearing the mark of grindelwald
Why does Voldemort seek the Elder Wand? it is rumored to be the most powerful wand in existence and he wants something that can kill harry
Where did Dumbledore’s family live? godrics hollow
Whose eye does Harry see in his magic mirror shard? dumbledores brother aberforth
What item does Harry steal from Gringotts? hufflepuff cup
Where does Rita Skeeter get her information about Dumbledore? bathilda bagshot
What is inside the Snitch that Dumbledore leaves Harry? resurrection stone
Why does Dumbledore leave Ron a Deluminator? to help him find his way back
Why has Hermione not read The Tales of Beedle the Bard? she is muggle born
What is Dumbledore’s greatest regret? the death of his sister
Whose mail did Snape open? sirius' from lily
What form does Snape’s Patronus take? doe
Why can the Sword of Gryffindor destroy Horcruxes? it had aborsbed basilisk venom
What name is given to wizards who help Mudbloods? bloodtraitors
How do Harry and his friends enter the Ministry of Magic? polyjuice potion they take on the identities of ministry members
Who made Harry’s wand? ollivander

In what ways do the dead speak to the living in this book?
Through the Mirror or Erisaid in book one. They don't really speak but they exist in the mirror. They also communicate when the wands connect. Harry sees the ghosts of his parents. At the end of book 7 when Harry is walking to his death, he is surrounded by his parents and their friends. The portraits also communicate with people. So in a way the dead live on forever in their pictures. Harry also has a conversation with Dumbledore at the end of the book in his head. The dead communicate in many ways.

Fun Game Assignment 3

2010-09-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Pie
Owl post
Leaf tree
Weasley twins
Quaffle quidditch
Hallow deathly
Mad eye
Dragon gringotts
Crystal ball
Trees forbidden forest
Hermione granger
Hogwarts school
Burrow ron
Dobby house elf
Horcrux voldemort
Ministry magic
Magic wand
Sirius uncle
Apple cider
Juice poly
Candle wax
Ghost nearly headless nick
Snake nagini
Wand elder
Invisibility cloak
Tent palace
Spell wingardium leviosa
Umbridge ugly
Dursely dudley
Prophet daily

That was fun and simple we need to do that more often. Off to take care of crying baby...yay, lol. :)

Busy Week

2010-09-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

This week is going to be interesting. We are leaving for Ohio on wednesday for my sister-in-laws wedding. That should be fun. I'm not really looking forward to the car trip. Its going to be long especially with a 5 month old.

In the world of knitting we have some project progress. I am about 50% done with my spoilees present. Sorry no details until she gets it in the mail. My Vivian is coming along nicely but it won't be ready for our trip back home. I finished the body up to the sleeves and finished knitting the left sleeve yesterday. I like working on this project. It gives me a little break from my spoilees gift. Its very relaxing to knit. I hope to cast on for the right arm before we leave town. I'll probably even take it with me. Its nice to work on in the car. I still need to sew the buttons on my MIL's cardigan. I need to do that before we leave so I can wash it and give it to her this week. She likes it and it looks better on her than on me. Some how I managed to knit a more petite cardigan than I was hoping for but thats alright because I know she appreciates and will wear it.

I managed to find 2 dresses for the wedding (rehearsal dinner and wedding). I could not find a dress before my cousins wedding but I finally found 2 I really like. Its going to be interesting trying to breastfeed with a dress on but thats ok. I have such a hard time finding clothes that fit right now since I am breastfeeding. I am hoping the baby weight will start coming off a little more quickly. I am a little sick of trying to find clothes that fit right. Oh well what can you do.

October is just around the corner and I've bought some Halloween themed outfits for Evie. I really hope the weather starts cooling down some more so she can comfortably wear them. I love this time of year. Fall is amazing and beautiful. I can't wait to share this experience with her. She is definitely going trick or treating. I bought her a ladybug costume. So cute. :)

Yay for knitting!

2010-09-20T09:19:00.001-07:00

Left Sleeve Vivian Cardigan

Main Body Vivian Cardigan

As you can see above I've been busily working on my Vivian Cardigan. The only modification I have made to this point is a different yarn. The Cascade Eco is coming out great and I love the color. I can't wait to finish. My hoped for finish date is before the first weekend in October. If I keep plugging along all should be fine. So fingers crossed. :)

Other than that I have been brainstorming ideas for my spoilees package and I think I have a good idea what I want to do. :) I just need to put the plan into action. First off I need to order yarn ASAP. The rest will begin to fall into place as I go. Little purchases here and there to make the package awesome.

For now I am off to work on my Vivian Cardigan and order some yarn while Evie naps. Shes so cute. :)

Evie got a jumper this weekend. She seems to really like it.

Finishing up Assignment 1 :)

2010-09-16T10:08:00.000-07:00

1. Someone with the same craft as you: honoria beckett
2. Someone who was born in the same month as you: Phelia Ballycastle
3. Someone from a different country: lizzie wychwood
4. A new HSKS Family member: nicky lovely
5. Someone who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps: wisteria lovegood
6. Someone who has a bigger stash than you!: fleur sweeting
7. Someone who both knits and crochets: hermione bagnold
8. Someone who has the same favorite color as you: Delantrophy Griey
9. Someone who has the same favorite season/holiday as you: siobhan mooney
10. Someone who has the same favorite fiber as you: lavender diggory-dolohov

HSKS 12 week 1

2010-09-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

So I am back as Minerva Wood for another round of the fabulous HSKS swap. I'm still waiting to see which family I get sorted into but until then I figured I would help people out by adding my answers to this weeks blog post questions. :)

Someone with the same craft as you (either those listed above or another one). knitting
Someone who was born in the same month as you. may
Someone from a different country. USA
A new HSKS Family member. this is my fourth hsks
Someone who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps. as i said above this will be my fourth
Someone who has a bigger stash than you! (And if your stash is the biggest, proudly say so! my stash is pretty tame
Someone who both knits and crochets. I can only crochet accents to my knitting
Someone who has the same favorite color as you. green and blue
Someone who has the same favorite season/holiday as you. halloween and christmas
Someone who has the same favorite fiber as you. i use a lot of merino wool but i do like cashmere and i love alpaca

I hope my answers have been helpful for everyone. I will post again with the answers I come up with later. :)

September already?

2010-09-10T11:24:00.001-07:00

Where does the time go? Well my yoga training went well. Evie was great for J and we all survived 2 full days of mommy being absent. It was good for all of us. J got to see what a day in the life of a mom is like, Evie got a chance to miss me and I got to remember that its ok to leave even if I don't want to. As I said it was a good experience.

Evie went on her first car trip home to Ohio. It was a long drive there and back. It was a quick trip to celebrate my cousins wedding. It was a lot of fun. Evie got to meet my mom's family, all of her aunts and uncles and she got to spend some time with her grandparents. Next time we get to Columbus it will be for her aunt Jenna's wedding. So that should be a lot of fun. She will be 5 months then. She is growing so fast. She rolled over from her back to her stomach on tuesday. She has been doing it at least once a day since then. I can't believe she did it. I am so excited to see her crawl or even army crawl. I'm not particular. Shes just amazing. Her next great feat will hopefully be sleeping through the night. She's only done it once and we have not had a repeat performance since, boo. Oh well everything in its time. Its easy to say, hard to live.

Anyway I am off to work on my Vivian cardigan while she naps. Plus at some point I have to go in search of Ziggy's collar. He came home without it this morning, sneaky little kitty.

Ah the good life...

2010-08-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen? Yeah I thought so, lol. I love my little girl and she is getting so big its crazy. I have to leave her for the first time for a whole day on Saturday and Sunday to go to a yoga training. I'm a little freaked out. I don't want to leave her. Not gonna lie I might cry. I'm sure J will be fine but its a whole new experience for all of us. So heres hoping it goes well. She turns 16 weeks on Saturday! eeek.

Ziggy got a kitty door about 2 weeks ago. He's still not sure about the whole thing. It's actually kind of funny to watch him stare at it, bat it and then finally go through it once he realizes we aren't going to open the door for him, lol. I hope he adjusts soon though.

This is my Icelandic Star cardigan. All it needs are a few buttons and a good washing and its done. It doesn't fit right now but once the baby weight is off and I am done breastfeeding it should all be good.

In other knitting news I am working on my Vivian cardigan. Hopefully I will send the other yarn back tomorrow. Its been a pain in the butt trying to remember to do what I need to, to ship the yarn back for a new color. I hope they still have the color I want so I don't have to choose a new one. Anyway the hubs is home and I am gonna go grab some food. More updates later, probably after this crazy weekend. :)

Is it fall yet?

2010-08-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

I find myself impatiently asking this question during every unbearably hot day. Lately though the weather hasn't been too bad. A little warm but overall we have had several overcast days. I am just excited for the fall. All the warm clothes, the fires, camping and more reasons to knit, not that I need any. ;)

Evelyn is growing so much everyday its hard to believe. I love every crazy day with her. The teething sucks but she seems to be doing pretty well. I love her.

In knitting news. I got my yarn in for both of my new cardigans I would like to make. Unfortunately I don't really like one of the colors so I am going to send one cardigan worth of yarn back to switch it for another color. Oh well. I am almost done with the Icelandic Star cardigan. I just have to sew on the buttons and wash it once and its ready to wear. Too bad it doesn't fit around my chest right now. Oh well after I am done breastfeeding it shouldn't be a problem....I hope. Otherwise I will just find a new home for it. Its nice looking but I really liked the knitting part more so than the need to wear it. :) I'll post a picture later after I buy some buttons.

My car is a mess right now. It's not running and I am back to driving Betty again. J has been working on it for 2 nights now and has stayed up until midnight trying to figure out whats wrong with it. Boo. I hope he gets it running soon. We have so much traveling coming up and I figured we would take my car but its probably not going to work out that way.

Its been a busy day today. I went to my cycle class, grocery shopping. I have to teach tonight, go to a yoga meeting for this seminar and come home and crash. So I gotta get going because I need to leave for my class.

The Weekend....

2010-08-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

It comes and goes but doesn't really seem all that different from the week days for me. Probably

because my full time job is raising Evie. Its still nice to have though because my husband is around and I love being able to spend time with him. So on to knitting content....

I finished the Sleepy Monkey Blanket for my friend who is having her baby later this month. :)

Evie modeled for me. :)

front

back

We went to a cookout tonight and had a good time eating and chatting. Evie did pretty well throughout up until the end when she was ready for bed as I am now. So I am headed to bed. :)

A break....

2010-08-01T10:55:00.001-07:00

From the heat. Not from Evie, lol. Mother nature has finally decided to let up on this nasty heatwave we've been in. Its been cool or nice for at least 3 days now AND we've gotten some rain. We have really needed it too. My lawn is turning green again. It longer crunches when you walk on it. Going outside is no longer a horrible experience. Yay!

Today has been a pretty long day. As usual Evie needs to sleep and as usual she fights it. This has been the pattern all weekend and for the past 3 nights I have not slept well. I can't wait until she is 6 months and we are done breastfeeding and she is eating other things to keep her full. She needs to start sleeping through the night like yesterday. She also needs to be doing this in her own bed because I for one am sick of sharing. I don't sleep well and she does not share space well. Oh well its been 3 months so far so whats a few more right? What can I say I'm a sucker for that toothless grin. :)

I am suppose to pump everyday so I can save up a good supply for my weekend training at the end of the month. That way Justin can stay here and feed her while I'm gone. I have my fingers crossed that I will be able to meet this goal and that she continues to get a little easier everyday. Otherwise its going to be the longest weekend of J's life, lol.

As far as knitting goes I've done a couple rows on the baby blanket for baby bean. I am hoping that I get it done before he arrives. I'm pretty sure I will though. Unless she delivers way early I should be good.

I'm off we are going to Target and Starbucks. Maybe even the bookstore so I can get out of the house.

Wow its been a while....

2010-07-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

So I had my baby girl, Evelyn Marie, on May 8th. She is beautiful and wonderful and also the main reason I haven't been on here in forever. I haven't accomplished as much knitting as I usually do since she's been born.

Currently I am finishing up a baby blanket for my friend who celebrated her baby shower yesterday. Yeah blanket not done but I have time, the baby hasn't arrived yet! ;) I am on the border so I am really close to finishing, yay! I love the way its coming out and will post pics as soon as she receives it because I don't want her to see it before it comes. :) I also have 3 pairs of lingering socks on the needles (yikes) and a sweater that I started way back when that really needs to be finished. Of course I have received the newest Interweave Knits in the mail and OF COURSE it would have a cardigan I REALLY want to make. I also have another cardigan from twist collective that I REALLY want to make. Alas they will have to wait as I practice self control so some other projects can get off the needles...like the cardigan I forgot to mention that I started last year....stupid startitis.... I'm afraid to look in my yarn basket I know there are other unfinished projects lingering...begging to be finished and in some cases even frogged....

Anyway aside from knitting or attempting too I am also getting back to my workout routine. Evie and I go to the gym everyday of the week. She hangs out with the child watch people and I workout trying to get back to my regular body. I think it would be going better if I could get my eating habits under control....lol. Oh well. I am hoping to at least be in better shape than I am for my level 3 yoga training at the end of august which is coming much faster than I anticipated. Oh well we will see what happens. Hopefully the training goes well and they let me pump while I'm there because I am still breastfeeding and hope to continue until she is 6 months. Its a lot of work but I think its worth it. I wouldn't trade that time for anything. :)

Wednesday we go to a dog training class. Bob is a good dog and listens pretty well but its always good to do something with him since we are so busy with the baby and its also good to keep training him. So Wednesday is the orientation where my friend Rick who runs the dog training place meets with the owners to see how they are (train the owners and then the dog, lol). Some of my yogi friends are going to be there so it will be lots of fun. So we are going to have our first baby sitter, our good friend Auntie Elyse is going to come and watch Evie. Depending on how it goes we may ask her to watch her for the duration of the class which I believe is 8 weeks. This will depend on Evie's cooperation. If Elyse is willing to keep watching her (ie. Evie didn't make her run screaming) it will make everything easier.

Well thats my boring update for now. Pictures to follow in my next blog. Knitting, baby etc. :)

Sock Madness Socks!

2010-04-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

So I made it through round one of sock madness. We had to knit socks with an interesting construction. Pictured below the Simple Side to Side socks are knit flat and then grafted together. Then you need to pick up stitches for the cuff, heel and toe. The pattern was simple enough and created some really cool looking socks. The main issue is the lack of stretch. They will stretch in length but not in width. So of course they didn't work for my feet so my mother is acquiring a new pair of socks....again. If you hate grafting and picking up stitches these socks aren't for you. They are pretty fun to make if you have never knit socks in this style and they are great for all that wild yarn you have sitting in your stash though. The designer is working on updating the pattern to work with the fitting issues. So hopefully when its released to the general public people will have an easier time with fit. This is a competition though so socks aren't knit to necessarily fit everyone. I managed to make it to round 2 (at a much slower pace than I would have liked) but life gets in the way, travel, death and funerals. I'm just glad I finished them in time to move on.

Simple Side to Side Socks by Deborah Swift

Yarn: Yarn Love, Juliet in Robin Hood colorway

Needles: US Size 1 Circulars

This brings us to the round 2 socks which actually did fit. Cool Beans is a pretty colorwork pattern that drove everyone crazy, lol. I love how they look and I think its really cool we knit a pattern based on coffeebeans. The biggest complaint I heard was the gusset decrease went on forever, which I kind of agree but once I stopped looking at the gusset decreases and focused on the beans it went a lot faster, IMHO. It was a learning experience for most because many people had never done colorwork. I like colorwork, I haven't done many colorwork patterns but I do love colorwork. Once the errata came out for the heel and the toe problems were worked out it made the pattern a lot easier for people. Thankfully there were several finishers before me who figured out the pattern problems and posted fixes for them. I finished before the toe info came out but I'm sure its helped a lot of people. This pattern is the first time I have ever been asked to share my picture as one of the model pics for a pattern which is a huge honor, so thank you yarnyenta, you are awesome.

Pattern: Cool Beans By: Yarnyenta

Yarn: Knitpicks bare merino natural and zauberball (don't know the color)

Needles: US2 brittany dpns

I can't wait to see what they have in store for us for pattern three. I managed to make it to round three btw. So hopefully everyone knits their socks quickly so we can move on. I'm anxious to start especially with the baby's due date closing in. I want to see how far I can get. :)

Spoiled :)

2010-03-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

First off some cute baby stuff from a wonderful friend. Baby Gap has some of the cutest outfits. I love them and she even bought a swimsuit. J and I were just talking about teaching the baby how to swim after she is born. Yay! Now I just have to cross my fingers that there were no mistakes made and we are actually having a girl because there are so many cute girl outfits now. She also got us The Giving Tree. I love this book, its so sweet and wonderful. I am so grateful I love all of it. :)

On to my next spoiling. This is from my coffee and yarn swap. I love it. She got me coffee from a local roaster, 2 skeins of lornas laces daffodil yarn, handmade magnetic chart keepers (so needed these), a little bag from the loopy ewe (awesome), a needle size measurer, stitch markers, homemade soap (it smells awesome), coffee toffee chocolate and a baby rattle for the baby. I love it all and can't wait to start using everything. The coffee smells amazing as does the soap and I can hear the chocolate calling my name. The yarn is awesome especially now that I am in the Sock Madness competition. I am going to need all the sock yarn I can get. :) Thank you so much for being so awesome.

Next post will be on sock madness, fun knitting stuff. :)

And then the olympics happened...

2010-03-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

I was going to blog more and then the Olympics happened. So instead of sitting at my computer not blogging I was sitting in front of my t.v. trying to knit. I accomplished a lot less knitting than I had hoped. I managed to finish one pair of socks which I had to knit for my Sock Wars target. I sent those socks out and made my kill but the Baby Surprise Jacket was started but not finished. I had dreams of Olympic glory by finishing some WIP's but that also did not happen. I did manage to start a cross stitch blanket which I don't have any pictures of now but I will eventually. Its a cute little Winnie the Pooh design which may or may not be for my future child. Lets be honest here I am not so consistent with finishing cross stitch projects...or knitting projects....or projects in general but I try. I got a message from my Sock Wars assassin. She has mailed out my socks so my time is limited. I am hoping to get my SIP's in the mail before my death socks so I can at least work on them even if I don't get to finish them. I am waiting for Sock Madness to begin but in the meantime maybe I can get some of these WIP's out of the way. Too many lingering projects OTN.

I leave for home in about 2 weeks! Yay! The baby shower should be fun. I have another appt. before I leave so hopefully things are continuing on as they are and we are both healthy. :) The rest of this month will probably be dedicated to baby classes to prep for the little ones arrival. The baby room should get a coat of paint this weekend. The walls are all prepped they just need some paint. I think that about covers this update. Below are some visual goodies, enjoy.

My third and probably final kill for sock wars. The socks were soft but I had to start them from the beginning because no one had even made the skeins into balls.

My first start on the baby surprise jacket. I managed to lose my place in the knitting and had to start again. I just love the colors and am hopeful there will be enough yarn to finish it.

So much to post about

2010-02-08T09:54:00.000-08:00

So today I signed up for Sock Madness 4. I'm pretty excited because I have never done it before and it looks a lot more intense than Sock Wars. Speaking of sock wars, I made my second kill on Saturday! Yay! My target has already sent her socks on to her target though, so somewhere along the line are my SIP's waiting to find their new owner, me. I might be able to get one more shot fired off before my assassin gets to me first. She is in Canada waiting to receive my socks so she can work on them. Hopefully Canada post works in my favor and take forever to deliver them, like they are known to do. :)

(socks I am working on until the new SIP's arrive)

(Second pair of death socks I sent to my second target, she liked them)

In other news, J and I went to Jacksonville, Fl on a little vacation. Well it was a little vacation for me, he was there for work. He had to present a paper he wrote so I tagged along and visited a friend in the area. She too is preggers but she is much closer to her due date than I am. She took me around and showed me some sites during the day and then at night J and I would hang out and eat dinner. It was fun and a nice break from the everyday but I did miss my pets and being in my regular routine. So it was good to get home. Our friends who watched Bob and Ziggy spoiled them rotten. We are fortunate to have people willing to love our pets as much as we do. :)

(one shot of our view from the hotel)

(another angle from our hotel room)

This weekend we tried a new restaurant out here called Five Guys. The food was good, it reminded me a little of a burger version of Penn Station back home. In other news we got some snow but not a lot and the rain melted a lot of it. Supposedly we are getting more this week..boo. I was ready for it to be spring because we weren't having any inclement weather out here but of course the second you resign yourself to a short season it inevitably lengthens.

We had some friends over for the super bowl on sunday. No one was really into a team in particular but we all had a great time. Eating and just hanging out talking. Lily came over to play with Bob and they had fun until Bob got cranky and didn't want to play anymore. He's such an old man. Ziggy wanted nothing to do with the new puppy in the house so we went off to nap on our bed.

Overall it was a great weekend. Tomorrow I have my next baby appt. Hopefully its routine and quick. Then the rest of this week I have a lot of yoga to teach because one of the teachers is out for the week. Most of it is gentle yoga though so thats good. Anyway I am off to get some stuff done. :)

SIP's!!!!

2010-01-27T16:39:00.000-08:00

These are my socks in progress for sock wars 5. My target sent them out and I just got them in the mail today. I am soooo excited to work on them. Last sock wars I was taken out after one kill. I am hoping to possibly make two kills this time around. If not I'm going to get as far as I can with these socks. This is an accomplishment for me, living long enough to get SIP's. Yay! So I thought I would take a break from knitting for a minute to photograph them and update the blog.

This picture is my progress so far today. When I got the socks only the cuff was really done so I had to work from there and I am about 4" in. I have to make it to 7.5" by bedtime in order to start the heel flap tomorrow. :) You can kind of see in the edge of this picture the amount that was done on the sock when I received it.
Picture number two is of both skeins and my targets progress/my progress. She was probably doing two at a time on circulars but I don't know how to do that and I don't have size 1 circulars (shocking I know). So I am using my trusty dpns making one sock at a time.

The yarn is Regia Flusi Sock in colorway #1802. It's really pretty. The needles are brittany us1 dpns and the pattern is Jeckyll and Hyde.

I have updated so now I must return to my knitting. On to victory! :)

Updates and HOPEFULLY more posting

2010-01-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

So I have been really bad about updating my blog. I want to try and update it more with knitting content and soon there will be baby content as well. I am about 6 months along now and can't wait for the baby to get here! :) I can wait I guess because we have stuff to finish up before it happens but I'm still excited for everything to unfold.

I don't have a new years resolution this year, not that I ever really set one. I like to try and better myself throughout the year rather than waiting for a magical time to start, Jan. 1st. I understand this works for people and gives them a jump start which is fine it just doesn't really work for me. Anyway I want to start using up my stash more instead of buying new yarn all the time. I have a bunch of idle projects sitting in my basket waiting to be finished and more yarn that fits in my basket. This is nice but it kind of drives me crazy because the organized side of my brain can't stand to see all the clutter. So I really want to work on that and maybe destash some yarns I am not using or that I don't think I will use.

As far as knitting goes. I am in Sock Wars 5. It's a sock knitting competition. You have a target and you are trying to knit them a pair of socks before your assassin knits you and pair and sends them out to you. I have managed to take out my target, yay, now I am just waiting for SIP's from her. I get her targets socks to finish and then send out. I feel a little bad taking her out because she was the youngest player in the competition, 9yrs old, and the usual age range is 20s and up. Her mom said she was ready to be done knitting the socks for her target though. So I sent her some yarn and her death socks so she could still knit socks but maybe in a pattern that was a little more interesting to her. Now I sit here waiting...please come soon SIP's I am so excited to work on a second pair. I only got to make 1 kill last year, I am shooting for 2 this time around. Ironically enough the woman I took out last year is my assassin this year, lol. Its an entertaining twist. She has known since the beginning of the war that I was her target but I just found out recently so we both had a good laugh about it. It was completely unintentional, pairing us up.

I am also doing ravelympics this year. So Feb 12th I get to cast on my baby surprise jacket and finish up a pair of socks during the Olympics. I hope I win a medal, lol! I might even work on a sweater I have OTN. My next major cast ons will probably be the sleeping monkeys blanket and vivian which is a gorgeous cabled cardigan that won't fit until the baby is out and I have lost some baby weight. Not looking forward to getting rid of baby weight but thats ok I'm sure if I keep up with yoga all will go back eventually, fingers crossed.

I am also hoping to make some progress on my spinning. I bought the book Respect the Spindle by Abby Franquemont. It's been really informative so far. So I am pretty excited to try and use the techniques to improve my spindle skills.

I'm off for now. I might come back and edit in some pictures of knitting content. The sun has come out, it has stopped raining and I might actually get to take the dog to the park. :)

I've been spoiled!

2009-12-09T19:06:00.000-08:00

Ooo a package for me! I love mail!

The first picture is of all the knitted items. She made me a cute hat and fingerless mitts that everyone loves. She also made me a cup cozy and a stuffed elephant for the baby. The dog has already tried to steal the elephant...this does not bode well for future stuffed toys, lol.

This is the goodies section. Yummy chocolate which is all gone unfortunately.... A travel mug, hot chocolate and peppermint tea, yum!

This is my sock kit which I am sooo excited about. I love Cookie A patterns and Django is one that I have been wanting. Some pretty blue sock yarn, dpns, a tape measure with a pin on the back so I can never lose it (how did you know I always lose it?), a thimble and a needle point cover.

This is the whole kit in all of its glory. Thank you Pandora I love it. It was very sweet and you did a marvelous job following my wish list. Sorry it took me so long to post the pictures. Hopefully my kit is well received. I sent it out today. :)

Busy Busy Busy

2009-12-03T09:32:00.000-08:00

Well our trip home was a lot of fun. We took both the dog and the cat back home with us. Eleven hours in the car with two animals is interesting to say the least. I almost killed the cat on the way home. He meowed for about an hour and a half straight at the beginning of the trip. Finally he calmed down and slept. The dog was in a similar boat and paced around the back seat of the car for about an hour. Thats how long it takes him to realize we are not going to the dogpark. The cat really enjoyed my in laws place, one small dog and no cats. He wasn't so thrilled about my moms house, six cats and one big dog. The dog he could handle but the other cats were another story. So I think this next trip we are leaving him at the vet instead of bringing him. There will be less stress on both sides.

Other than that I've been pretty busy since we got home. I have so many projects on my plate and things are getting interesting at work, lots of yoga classes not enough teachers. My house is sort of clean but not really so I need to work on that especially since there are fleas and we just can't seem to get rid of them. I was hoping they would all die while we were out of town. I had sprayed everything down, washed everything and vacuumed but it doesn't seem to have done the trick. So I think we are just going to have to vacuum everyday for at least a week and try it that way. Maybe it will help, fingers crossed. As far as projects go I have been knitting when I can to finish these socks for my spoilee. I am really hoping to have them done soon. I may even be able to send out by saturday. They are coming along but not as quickly as I would like. I also have a cross stitch stocking for my step dad that I have been working on for over a year, maybe even two now, that I would like to give to him this year. I am trying to finish my Diana Gabaldon book, An Echo in the Bone, before its due back to the library (tomorrow) but I know that is not even close to happening, oh well. I guess I will have to buy it and finish when I have time, which at this rate may be never. I would really like to start a new knitting project as well. I have the new interweave knits and I love the Icelandic Star cardigan. I bought some yarn from knit picks which has already arrived but I can't start it until I at least finish these socks. I might even have to put if off a little longer because the grey yarn I chose is not really the shade I wanted and they have a lighter shade coming out this month, so I may have to wait for that. Oh well. I still have another sweater OTNs which would be good to finish. Either way I'm not sure it will matter. By the time I finish said sweater and cardigan I will probably be too round to wear them, lol. Ah the joys of pregnancy. On the plus side people keep telling me how thin I look, I'm not sure if I care if they are lying at this point, its just nice to hear, lol. As far as work goes I already have my plate full with classes and I am loath to take on more because I know come May I will have to give up all of my classes for at least a month anyway and I won't be able to start teaching again until the baby is at least 6 weeks because that is the youngest they take in the daycare. It sucks because all of these classes are opening up and my boss wants to start more next year. Then next year one of the best teachers will be leaving because her husband is military so they will be relocating. This will leave two classes open, one of them being a more challenging class and I am probably the only one currently qualified to teach it after her...yikes. So much to think about, oh well what can you do. We also spend every major holiday out of state so that is just more classes to find subs for, yay. Oh well it will all work out some how. They are trying to hire on more subs, heres hoping.

Tomorrow J and I are going to buy our tree and decorate the house while listening to Christmas music. I am sooooo excited. I love all the glitz of the season. All of the warm happy family moments and and beauty of it. I really hope it snows this year. We can build a snowman then! We probably won't get any snow here and if we do it will most definitely not be enough or the type to make snowmen from but we are headed north for Christmas, fingers crossed. Now I just have to figure out what I want for Christmas, always a challenging task, and buy all the gifts. I'm so excited! :)

I'm a slacker

2009-11-16T17:48:00.000-08:00

I slacked on posting to my blog. I'm a bad prideling.

I don't really know what to write about this week. My spoilee's package is pretty much complete except for the knitted item which is about 60% done and will hopefully fly off the needles. So I might be able to get it out next week. Fingers crossed.

I rented Super Mario Bros. Wii and its pretty awesome. Its also pretty challenging. I think we are going to buy it at some point or ask for it for christmas because its awesome.

Wednesday I have my next baby appointment, yay! I hope things are going well in there. :)

Next week we head back to Ohio to see the fam. I am soooo excited. We haven't been home since may so I am dying to see my family. All of my brothers and sisters are going to be in town and we get to see J's family too. Yay! Home cooked meals here we come!

Where is Winnie Round 3

2009-10-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Winnie went to Queerditch Marsh this week in search of the ghost of cyprian youdle. He was cursed during a quidditch match, very tragic. A wonderfully historic site, it is the birthplace of quidditch. :)

Winnie decided to visit Appleby Village next. I'm sure she managed to get a lot of knitting accomplished considering there is nothing to do there.

Winnie's Travels Part 2

2009-10-20T17:11:00.001-07:00

It seems Winnie is off again exploring the world. Her first stop seems to be at Larnach Castle is Dunedin, New Zealand. What a beautiful looking place, I'm jealous. Her second stop was to montreal, quebec, canada. :) I hope she is having a lovely time on her travels.

Quidditch Practice/Getting to Know You

2009-10-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

1. Someone with the same craft as you (either those listed above or another one).
Selena Starfire and I have both started the Pomatomus socks. So I left her a project comment because I love the yarn color she chose.

2. Someone who was born in the same month.
Antonio dela Weasley and I were both born in May. I sent him a message on Rav. :)

3. Someone from a different country.
Lizzie Wychwood is from the UK. I stopped by her blog to visit her. :)

4. A new HSKS Quidditch player.
Ginny Lockhart is new so I stopped by her blog to welcome her to the wonderful world of HSKS.

5. A player who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps.
My old Ravenclaw buddy Olive Bumblebirch is an asst. captain this time around. It will be fun being in another swap together. I sent her a little message on her blog and I wish her team luck. :)

6. A player who has a bigger stash than you! (And if your stash is the biggest, proudly say so!)
Emma Gorodok has a much bigger stash than me. So I commented on her blog. I may need to do a little shopping in her store...such yummy colors.

7. A player who both knits and crochets.
Hermione Bagnold knits and crochets. I left her a message in our locker room. :) Go Pride!

8.Someone who has the same favorite color as you.
Emma Wigworthy and I both seem to love the color green. I stopped by her blog to visit her. :)

Time to hit the showers that was a long practice. :) Go Pride of Portree!!!!

Pride of Portree!

2009-10-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

Wow just need to dust off in here a little. Its been a while. I am the proud member of pride of portree this round of HSKS. As always I'm sure we are going to have an amazing time and win. :)

GO PRIDE OF PORTREE FUTURE QUIDDITCH CHAMPS!!!!

Yay Ravenclaw!

2009-05-15T04:46:00.000-07:00

THANKS AGAIN FOR ANOTHER AMAZING TERM!

More fiber than you can shake 2 needles at....

2009-04-22T17:24:00.001-07:00

Ok so hopefully blogger doesn't melt down before I have a chance to share all of my amazing stuff! Ok so starting off we have an awesome HBLOES package from my spoiler Tia. Tia I love you. She gave me tea in like every flavor. Delicious, I do enjoy Tazo. :)She also got me some sock needles from knit picks. Can we say hell yes? The green pencil is awesome and I loooove this pattern book. I heart cables! She also made the awesome stitch markers on the pattern book. Very cool. Thank you!!!

Below is the whole kit (minus the hat which will make its way here when her poor wrist recovers.) Thank you Tia you are awesome!!!

Moving on to my NEXT kit, lol. Swaps are so fun. Anyway Hexy is awesome. She sent me so much fun stuff. Below she cross stitched a snitch themed scissor fob and did an amazing job. She sent me stitch markers as well and they are GORGEOUS. The needle protectors will be soooo helpful. Some tea which I can't wait to try and a smiley face keychain to remind me of her.
She also sent me a ravenclaw cross stitch kit. I can't wait to try it because I do enjoy my cross stitch (I swear I'm not a 90 yr old woman I just have the hobbies of one, lol)

Moving on to something I love dearly a SOCK KIT!!! This yarn is a gorgeous, yummy purple with some wooden dpns (swoon) and a pattern that looks like a lot of fun to knit. :)

Moving finally to the bag which is amazing. I love it. Its felted but still incredibly soft! Its just so amazingly done, I love it!

Below is the whole kit n kaboodle. She really spoiled me rotten. There was chocolate but honestly did anyone actually think that was going to make it into the picture before my mouth? Yeah thats what I thought. :)

Continuing on from kits straight into the fiber porn. :) Below you will see some very squishy, very yummy skeins of Sockpixie yarn. I looooove her yarn she does such an amazing job dying it. :)

More sockpixie fiber but in a different form. I bought some of her roving in the hopes of some day spinning some very usable fiber :) I just love the colors and spinning is so much fun! Yes I am encouraging/enabling you to take your fiber addiction to the next level. :)

Some spinning I have been working on. For christmas I got a louet drop spindle kit and this is the beginner fiber. Its been fun spinning and learning. I'm not great but I'm getting better. With a little more consistent practice I'll be spinning like a pro, lol.

Here are my louet singles in the red color. I am going to try and ply it with the grey and see what happens. :) I have never plied before so cross your fingers and hope for the best lol.
Below are some shots of my socks. This first one I just finished tonight is a shot (not a very good one) of my marilindas. The colors are brighter in real person (sockpixie yarn) But the cables and heel are pretty awesome so I thought I would share. Its a cookie a pattern.

A shot of both socks. :) They are so soft! I love them!
Finally a pic of my Hederas, also a Cookie A pattern. I sent these socks out to my friend Adrienne as a gift. They are pretty awesome socks and I hope she gets a lot of use out of them.

Here ends my longest tribute to fiber ever. Thank you for tuning in. :) Now go out and knit!

Quidditch 3

2009-04-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

1. This “Harry Potter” character’s first name comes from Roman mythology. The mythological character’s twin brother is named Romulus. What is the Harry Potter character last name?
b. Lupin
2. Which “Harry Potter” character’s first name is the Roman equivalent of the Greed Goddess Athena?
c. McGonagall
3. In ‘Harry Potter’ World, this wizard has created the Philosopher’s Stone (called the Sorcerer Stone in the US). The historical figure from the 14th and 15th centuries was a scribe and a manuscript-seller who became famous as an alchemist. Who is this individual?
Nicholas Flammel
4. What is the first name of a character whose last name is the name of a Bulgarian leader from early 9th century who doubled the country’s territory?
c. Viktor
5. Which character’s name is the name of goddess in Indian mythology?
b. Patil
6. “Where the Wild Things Are” tells the story of Max, a young boy sent to bed without his supper for his wild antics. Who created this winner of the Caldecott Medal?
a. Maurice Sendak
7. What was NOT one of the unexpected defense mechanisms that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook encountered in their attempt to rob Gringotts?
d. The Geminio Curse
8. What was Snape aiming at when he cut off George’s ear?
c. Another Death Eater’s wand hand
9. How much older than James was Lily? (Referring to Harry’s parents, not children).
d. 2 months
10. Food is one of the five exceptions to what magical law?
b. Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration

George
Minerva McGonagall
Patil
Where the Wild Things Are

Ravenclaw HW

2009-04-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

1- Who wrote the obituary of Dumbledore in The Daily Prophet? Elphias Doge

2- What is a Squib? Someone born of wizarding families with little to no magical abilities.

3- Who stole the locket Horcrux from the Black House? Mundungus Fletcher

4- What are the Albus Dumbledores' siblings names? Aberforthe and Ariana

5- Where did Hermione leave the money for the eggs and bread that they stole from the lonely farm? under the chicken coup

6- What is the quote Lily and James Potter have on their tombstone? "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death"

7- Why did Gilbert Grindewald leave wizarding school? He was expelled for dangerous experiments on students

8- Where does Xeno Lovegood first say that Luna is when Ron, Hermione and Harry visit? he says she is down past the bridge collecting plimpies

9- What wood is the wand from The Deathly Hallows supposed to be made out of? the elder tree

10- How did Harry, Hermione and Ron escape the vaults of Gringotts? they rode out on the dragon guarding the vaults

11- What is the name of the all-female Quidditch team that Ginny has a poster of in her room? Holyhead Harpies

12- Describe what the Undetectable Extension Charm is. a spell placed on an object to make the internal space greater than the external space appears (think of the tents they stay in at the world cup or hermione's bag)

Yikes almost forgot!

2009-04-03T05:22:00.000-07:00

Well another week draws to a close and I have been pretty busy with yoga, knitting and cleaning for the in laws arrival. I have finally been hired on by my local Y to teach a regular saturday class and to sub for people. I finished the paperwork on tuesday. There is a lot of subbing to be done so I am all over the hours, lol. My neighbor is getting me in at his gym so maybe I can teach there as well. yay! I have my first official paid class this morning, so I'm excited and a little nervous.

As far as knitting goes, I finished my friends Hedera socks I knit her. I started a pair of Marilindas and am at the heel on the first sock. My package for my spoilee is done I just need to wrap everything up and I hope to send it out today with the package for my friend. :) Yay for early sending points! I have also been spinning a little. I finished the first batch of roving from my louet spindle kit I got for christmas. It comes with 3 balls of roving to work with/ practice with. I also got some roving from sock pixie, which I am super excited to work with because its a merino wool. I want to improve on my spinning before I touch it but I can't wait. I am going to spin some more singles and ply the 2 I have together which should be exciting as I have never plyed before. I have been on the rav. spin group drooling over other spinners yarns and decided to pick it up again. :)

I have a lot of cleaning to get done today because the inlaws are getting in tonight. Its a good thing we did a preliminary cleaning this past weekend so its not as bad as it could be. Theres still a good amount of work to be done but it could be worse. They are sleeping in our room so I need to get in there and strip and wash bedding and remake the bed.

The hubs and I have decided to start looking for a house. Our lease here is up this summer so we kind of want to get into a home plus the first time home owner $8,000 will be really helpful. There is a lot of stuff to consider and over the summer there will be a lot more houses up for sale (military area).

So as far as updates go I think this is it. I might post some more pics later of all my knitting/ spinning fun! :)

Yay for Prizes and Updates!

2009-03-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Yay for prizes! I got this AMAZING yarn and these ADORABLE stitch markers from winning the hw posting prize for ravenclaw! Crazy4dyeing, ellie, a fellow claw, made them and donated them! She is so sweet and soooo amazingly talented! Thank you so much! I love my sock stuff!

So I wasn't around this weekend because I was at a yoga training. It was so much fun. I learned a lot, even though it was a refresher course for me. I think I learn something new in each retreat. I can't wait to go to level 3! Yay. So hopefully I'll have more time this weekend to spend on Rav.

If the weather is good this weekend the hubs and I might try our 32 mile round trip bike ride. It would be so fun especially with good weather. The hubs family is coming April 3rd to visit, so something else to look forward to. We are also going to see Rodney Carrington with some friends that night too. So all is good. I am off to post some kit picks to the ravenclaw kit blog. :)

Quidditch 2

2009-03-16T05:56:00.000-07:00

1. On which day did the Order of the Phoenix come to get Harry?
c. Saturday

2. During all this chaos with Voldemort and the Death Eaters, people still had lives to live and Ron's oldest brother, Bill decided to marry Fleur Delacour. Who were the uninvited guests at Bill and Fleur's wedding?
b.Death Eaters

3. Voldemort had seven Horcruxes hidden in different places. Six of them were hidden at the Gaunt shack, Hogwarts, a cave, inside Harry, inside his snake, Nagini and Tom Riddles Diary. Did Voldemort hide the last Horcrux inside the Malfoy's vault at Gringotts?
b. No (the Lestrange vault)

4. Why did the Dumbledore's move to Godric's Hollow?
c. The father went to Azkaban

5. Harry and Hermione read a part of "Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore," written by Rita Skeeter. Then they met Dumbledore's brother Abeforth and he told them the same story, just with a few details changed. Which of the following did Aberforth and Rita Skeeter agree on about Dumbdore's past?
b. That Dumbledore was friends with Grindelwald for a while

6. When Harry and Hermione visit Godric's Hollow, they visit the graveyard to see Harry's parent's graves. Harry walks by a tombstone that we later learn belong to tone of "The Three Brothers." The brother buried there once owned what?
b. The cloak

7. The Trio finds out that Luna had been kidnapped by the Death Eaters , and that they won't give her back until they got Harry Potter. Why did they kidnap Luna?
a. Her father sided with Harry and Dumbledore

8. After Voldemort killed Snape, he left the room and Harry came out from under the cloak. Snape gave Harry some of his memories all the way from when he was a child to just months before. Harry dived into the Pensieve and which of the following did he not see?
c. Snape and Lily having fun in a potions class

9. On the search of the Lost Diadem, Harry finally gets to talk to the Gray Lady. Who was the Gray Lady when she was alive?
c. Helena Ravenclaw (Rowena's daughter)

10. Which of these is not one of Harry or Ron's children?
d. Victoria

Pictures

Look at me posting this week, lol

2009-03-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

So for an update on my fellow hogwarts students:

Kaae (hufflepuff) has been working on a pair of yogi pants which I am super excited to see! I hope they come out well that she enjoys them/posts the pattern so that I too can make them :D I love you Kaae!

Madam Ferula McGonagall (gryffindor) finished a gorgeous baby afghan that her grandmother started before passing away. She is going to give it to her brothers child (the intended recipient). I think its amazingly sweet and wonderful of her to share something so special. What a lucky brother to have such a great sister!

Callisto Verity (slytherin) has been spending some time with Madam Pomfrey drinking skelegrow. Poor dear broke her arm and has been unable to knit! I know I find this very tragic. Hopefully she is on the mend and doing much better. :)

The headmistress asked all the students to contribute a cheer for our match against the ballycastle bats but I think I should leave that up to the more creative members of our house or other houses. So good luck to our allstar team! I am off to buy some more stuff for my spoilee. :)

I'm a bad claw

2009-03-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

I hope this still counts. I have been really really busy lately with things. My yoga has been going really well which is awesome. I just haven't been spending as much time online. The weather has been great out here so most of my time is spent running around enjoying the weather and getting things done. My spoilee's package is coming along nicely. I hope she will like it. I am almost done with the bag, yay. The hubs and I saw the movie australia this weekend. It was pretty good, I thought it was going to end a couple times throughout the movie but it would get to a point and then push through. Kind of strange. I cast on for a pair of Pomatomus and cast off a pair of Marlene's. Cookie A sock crazy lately apparently. I have a skein of sock yarn coming from sock pixie. I hope it comes soon! Well I am off. I have a bunch of things to do before noon. I am sorry I have been so worthless. :(

Ravenclaw hw!

2009-02-28T12:51:00.000-08:00

1- A fellow classmate never lets you speak in a conversation. What incantation do you mutter under your breath? What happens to your classmate when you say the incantation?
Ducto moutho! duck tape appears across their mouth, I feel its an effective spell lol
2- You’ve just entered a Muggle city in complete wizard clothing and a restroom cannot be found to change out of your outfit. What charm or spell do you say to change what you are wearing?
presto chango!
3- You are riding a bicycle along on a country road and suddenly notice your tire is flat and needs air. What spell do you perform to give your tire air?
wingardium leviosa! (ill be riding on air lol)
4- You are reading a valuable and one-of-a-kind book, and, quite unusually, you’ve left your quills and parchment in the dorm. You only have your wand for assistance. Create a spell for highlighting or remembering the important pieces of text without harming the book.
emblazio! it will highlight the text in a nice light (great for when you are in dark rooms)
Muggle Studies: Write a small paragraph about the following objects. What are they used for? Do you have any personal experience with them?
The first object is a steam presser. I think the muggles use it to flatten things. I have never used such an object but I have heard they find it very useful in their day to day lives. The second object is a grass smoosher or so I gather from the picture. They use it to kill grass, who knows why they are so distructive to mother earth. The third object is used to cut the tops off of cans. We have one at home and while I have never used it without magic I do find it to be a useful object. The final object looks like a weapon. I am sure we could use it at home to take care of the garden gnome problem.

Magical Clubs and Associations: Use your creativity to tell us what the following clubs/associations are based on their acronyms. Is the club/association open to all? Members only? Requirements to belong? Have some creative and clever fun with this. Elaborate as you wish!
1- The HAGS association This group is founded by an older witch named Agatha (nicknamed Hagatha for her less than stellar looks) She wanted older witches to have a group to which they could belong. It's primarily made up of unattractive ladies.
2- The club of SQUEALers This is the piglet cheerleading squad. Once a year they hold tryouts for enchanted pigs to join this elite squad. Only the best and brightest piglets can join and cheer for the Hogs, a local quidditch team.
3- The THE club The TRUE HERO ELITE club or THE Club is a group of witches and wizards who gather together at conventions dressed as their favorite hero from folklore. It's like the muggles version of a scifi convention. Anyone can join as long as you are a hero at heart (or at least a side-kick)
4- The association of FIRE and ICE This is a very old association begun by witches and wizards who enjoyed being burned at the stake because of the tickle from the freezing flame. While witches and wizards are no longer burned at the stake this old group continues to meet several times a year to discuss the most advanced in fire and ice spells. Only the best and the brightest of our time are accepted as members.

RAOK!!!!

2009-02-27T10:22:00.000-08:00

Bob and I got home from the dogpark and found the most amazing present in the mailbox today! It was from Bevin Rae Mooney! Look at that gorgeous stationary she used.

She sent me so many awesome goodies, like the Buddah paper clip. I love it, its so cute and will be put to use immediately organizing yoga papers! :)

She sent me some really pretty blue and bronze beads to make my own stitch markers or earrings. I can't wait to use them, they will be so much fun!

The she sent me a variety of teas! I am drinking the raspberry tea now and it is delicious. I haven't tried the others yet but I'm excited because I love tea.

She handknit this gorgeous soft cotton cloth. I'm sure it will be put to good use. I do love handknit cloths, I have one in the kitchen right now lol. :)

This is Bob "helping" with the photoshoot....or sitting on it. I guess that depends on your definition of helping lol.

This is a shot of everything from the package. THANK YOU BEVIN!!!! You're the best and have totally made my day! :)

Photo tag!

2009-02-21T10:49:00.000-08:00

I just got tagged by Cass so I guess its time to share! Here are the rules:

1. Go to your pictures on your computer

2. Open the 6th folder

3. Choose the 6th picture

4. Show the picture on your blog and write something about it.

5. Invite 6 new people to this challenge.

6. Link to them and let them know they have been tagged.

LOL this is Hank, my mom's dog. He is the sweetest creature in the world. This is him just chillin in my mom's kitchen. He loves to go outside and chase whatever you throw. It's his favorite game on the planet.

I tagged: Lady Arabella Carmichael , Hermione Bagnold, Megaera Black, Bevin Rae Mooney, Cassandra Goode, Fleur Dolohov

Quidditch Round 1

2009-02-17T10:46:00.000-08:00

1. What momentous event was the reason that the members of the Order of the Phoenix felt it necessary to move Harry out of the Dursley’s house?a. The start of the new school yearb. The Dursleys kicking him outc. Voldemort’s escape from Azkaban d. Harry’s upcoming birthday

2. Who revealed the actual date of Harry’s transfer to Voldemort, despite the misinformation the Order had been spreading around that the move would occur on the eve of his actual birthday?a. Mundungus b. Snape c. Yaxley d. Shacklebolt

3. With the use of Polyjuice Potion (and to confuse any possible attack by Death Eaters), six member of the Order were disguised as Harry and escorted out of Privet Drive, along with the real Harry. Which member of the order did not survive that night?a. Mad-Eye Moody b. Nymp0hadora Tonks c. Hagrid d. George Weasley

4. Who informed Harry, Ron and Hermione of the bequests left to them in Dumbledore’s will? a. Kingley Shacleboltb. Minerva McGonalgallc. Arthur Weasley d. Rufus Scimgeour

5. During the wedding celebration for Bill and Fleur, Kingley Shacklebolt sent a Patronus to tell the guests that the Ministry had fallen, Scrimgeour (the Minister) was dead and the wedding celebration was about to be attacked by Death Eaters. What form did the Patronus take? a. A lynx b. An otter c. A doe d. A stag

6. Escaping from the wedding to London, our three friends found themselves confronted by a pair of Death Eaters, disguised as workmen. This close brush impressed on them the need to find someplace to hide. Where did they decide to go?a. The Leaky Cauldron b. Sirius Black’s house c. The Dursley’s house d. Ron’s Auntie Muriel’s house

7. Kreacher’s animosity towards Harry, Ron and especially Hermione (a Mudblood) was well documented in book five, “The Order of the Phoenix.” His initial interaction with them showed that his attitude had not changed. How did they win him over?a. By giving him clothes and his freedomb. They didn’t win him over!c. By giving him something to eat d. By giving him Regulus Black’s old locket

8. Who did they eventually find was in possession of the locket/Horcrux?a. Severus Snapeb. Lucius Malfoyc. Lord Voldemort d. Dolores Umbridge

9. What did Harry find embedded in the door of Umbrdige’s office?a. Moody’s magical eye b. Nymphadora’s purple hairc. Hedwig’s headd. George Weasley’s ear

10. After retrieving the Horcrux, they tried to return to their safe place but they were pursued (actually Yaxley tagged along when they disapparated). This meant that the Death Eaters knew their hiding place and they had to go somewhere else. Where did Hermione take them? a. To Godric’s Hollow b. To the Forbidden Forest c. Back to the Burrow d. To the site of the Quidditch World Cup

Picture Scavenger Hunt
The pictures must be posted on your blog or at least linked to from your blog. Make sure that the links work or you will not get credit.

Mad-Eye Moody
Nymphadora Tonks
George Weasley
The Dursley's House
Kreacher

Now for your viewing pleasure...fiber content! :)

2009-02-15T14:20:00.000-08:00

Pictured above is my entrelac sock by eunny jang. I have never made entrelac anything before so its been a fun learning experience. When I finally finish these socks they will be sent to my friend Adrienne. I will also enter them into the SKA drawing to maybe win a prize! :)

Pictured above is one of my attempts at spinning on my drop spindle that I got for christmas. It has a single on it right now from the louet gems drop spindle kit. It's been fun learning singles I am ready to try plying though.

Above are some special socks to send to a special friend. They are the campfire socks. I just love the yarn I used, artyarns merino. So pretty but they took much longer than I was anticipating so I will be glad to send them off finally.

Above you will see the amazing prize I got from HSKS6. Some yummy yarn and chocolate. I do love my sock yarn! Thanks Neila I was soooo excited to get it in the mail! You are the best. :)

This is sock one of the Marlene socks from Cookie A in the Knit1 mag. They have turned out pretty awesome if I do say so myself which I do, lol. I can't wait to finish the second one so I can wear them! Not that this has stopped me I finished this sock today and am wearing it (just the one sock) around the house. :) Below is a rare glimpse of my kitty and puppy hanging out together. If they knew I had this picture they would probably kill me and burn all photographic evidence. ;)

I have a hat I want to post but my spoilee has yet to receive it so that will be saved for a later post. Now I am off to make some dinner and then knit the night away on my socks! :)

Slytherin quiz....yeah I want to get to know them

2009-02-11T18:56:00.000-08:00

Slytherin House Quiz #2: How Well Do You Know Your Housemates?

1. Which housemate has an 11 ½ inch holly wand with a Dragon Heartstring core? Bathilda Boomslang

2. Which housemate creates rockin’ sock patterns? Emma Wigworthy

3. Which housemate has the hots for David Boreanez? cassandra puddlemere

4. Which housemate used to be the top badger who made a habit of eating snakes? Quinn

5. Which housemate shows off her awards from HSKS6 on her blog? madam ferula

6. Which housemate makes kicka* * cookies IRL? Esme

7. Which housemate is a third year Slytherclaw, whatever the hell that means? Callisto

8. Which housemate wants Plymouth to make her feet happy? Bathilda Boomslang

9. Which housemate is a knitting addict? (Ok, all of us, but one in particular.) lily of flitwick

10. Which housemate loves to sing? diana lockhart

11. Which housemate has issues with muggle devices? ginny crookshanks

12. Which housemate likes Darth HelloKitty?cecily fortescue

13. Which housemate has a member of the family with his own fan club? queen frysia

14. Which housemate has never-ending PMS? olivia gaunt

15. Which housemate originally comes from South New Joisey?penelope caerphilly

16. Which housemate “adores” European chocolates? clara clovenhoof

17. Which housemate has a roommate who seriously put a crimp in her communication abilities? rowena weasley

18. Which housemate was fortunate enough to lose her HP husband? lavender diggory dolohov

19. Which housemate likes some Nascar dude? Andromeda Finch Fletchley

20. Which housemate needs a new time-turner? ophelia crookshanks

Ancient Runes hw

2009-02-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

These are my rune slippers. They ward off the nargles that try to attack when you aren't looking. The runes are a M and W for my initials. Even advanced magicians are unsure why runes frighten nargles away. :) Either way they are a comfy pair of slippers for me!

Ravenclaw Assignment 1

2009-02-09T21:06:00.000-08:00

1- What form does your Patronus take? What does it symbolize for you? I'm going to say a sea turtle. They are such majestic creatures. It symbolizes a love of the ocean and sea creatures.
2- Did you bring a cat, an owl, a toad, or other pet with you? What is their name? My cat, Ziggy. He is pretty much the most evil creature on the planet but I love him. (picture below)
3- What is your favorite class here at Hogwarts? I love all my classes bring on the homework! Does knitting count as a class because I'm pretty sure I spend all of my time in the common room doing that....
4- What is worth sneaking out of the castle for, even if you got caught? Books (or making out with a muggle)! What teacher is going to fault you for sneaking out to expand your knowledge (or drink butterbeer...hey they do it too)
5- What has made you laugh so hard that you've had butterbeer come out your nose? My husband with one beer in hand weilding a vaccuum cleaner (yeah we party hard around here)
6- What yarn do you covet? Link please...http://www.sockpixie.com/catalog/item/5411235/6560001.htm this or anything by sockpixie....yum
7- What is your favorite flavor... the one thing you could simply not live without? Is brand important? Coffee pretty much coffee. I love dunkin donuts but I'm kind of a coffee floozie soooo yeah coffee...yum
8- How many HSKS terms have you participated in? This is my second HSKS6 stole my heart so I return for yet another amazing year! Go Claws! Lets bring it home another term.
9- Do you have a birthday, anniversary or other big Muggle event during this year at Hogwarts? If yes, please tell us what. No big muggle events that I can think of....I could make one up. Minerva appreciation day. We can celebrate it everyday. ;)
10- You in 5 words. crazy, funny, laid back, fun and clever

BONUS ASSIGNMENT: Comment on six fellow 'Claws assignments... meaning you read them and then say whatever you want to say. Email me with the six students you commented on. Email is bevinraemooney "at" gmail "dot" com

Huffle shmuffle quiz

2009-02-09T17:13:00.000-08:00

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft? knitting for about 7 yrs....

2. Do you spin? What type of spinning do you do? I am in the beginning stages of learning to use my top whorl drop spindle and I love it!

3. Are there any other crafts that you participate in? cross stitch, sewing...probably some others but mostly just knitting

4. What are your favorite yarns/fibers? I love fingerweight sock yarn...yum. I enjoy it in most fibers (Opal sock yarns seem to be in my all time fav list though)

5. What are your LEAST favorite yarns/fibers? acrylic mostly it just hurts my fingers and is mostly unpleasant feeling when knit up 100% wool is alright but again when I knit with it, it is rough on the hands.

6. Are there any types/brands of yarn that you are dying to work with but haven’t gotten a chance? ummm i guess socks that rock yarn and most indie dyers make some pretty sweet looking yarn. im always up for trying new fibers. :) I REALLY want to try some of sockpixie.com fibers I LOVE her color work.

7. What are you currently working on? ummm soooo many things. 2 pairs of socks, a hat, a shawl, and soon a bag for my spoilee

8. Are their any knitting/crochet techniques that you would like to learn? I LOVE learning new techniques. I get bored easily and enjoy a challenge so the most challenging sock patterns intrigue me. :)

9. Do you have a yarn winder and/or a swift? No I want one though...

10. Where/how to you keep you needles/hooks? In a plastic ziplock bag which my cat enjoys chewing on

11. Do you like sweets? What are your favorites? yes dark chocolate and even milk chocolate...and chocolate...you get the point

12. Are you having a birthday during this swap? Nope I wish, May 30th

I stole the Slytherin quiz

2009-02-02T07:15:00.001-08:00

What are your three most favorite colors? blue and green but I like most colors so yeah...

What are you three least favorite colors? pretty much anything pastel

Your favorite candy is _________________. butterfinger I guess

Draco, Lucius, or Snape? not any but i guess if i have to pick on snape because of the complexity of his character

Do you knit, crochet, or both? knit would love to crochet but so far its a little confusing

What type of kit did you ask for? sock (I heart socks)

Acrylic—has its uses, should all be burned, best yarn to work with (choose one)? most finger weights but I love using Opal for socks

Who is the Slytherin Head Girl this term? isn't it quinn?

Name four “extras” you would love to receive in your kit. sock blockers, size 1 needles dpns, coffee and tea

What are your three most favorite scents? I love pumpkin, most yankee candle company scents, sandalwood rose

Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks? I like both. Dark chocolate and goldfish have been favorites of mine as of late

Which Slytherin is the Keeper of the Crucio List? ummm good question...

Do you really need more stitch markers? Probably not I don't really use the ones I have but they are cute and fun

Dpns, circular, or straight? dpns

What yarn makes you squee? pretty and soft yarns in blues and greens

Favorite HP Movie? probaby the third because it becomes a little darker but harry has hope at the end because he has his godfather

Favorite HP character? I love minerva mcgonagall but I also really like ginny.

Who was your first choice for DADA professor? Colin Firth or Boreanaz

What is the Slytherin Common Room called? the snake pit

What makes you worthy of being in Slytherin House? haha I'm a claw through and through

History of Magic assignment

2009-02-01T11:35:00.000-08:00

Based on your reading of the websites previously listed and your own personal knowledge of Hogwarts history, write a short essay on the meanings of the House symbols. Include all 4 Houses, not just your own. Include the specific reason why each House chose the animal it has for its symbol, if you can find it.

Ravenclaw's symbol is the eagle. The eagle is an intelligent bird so they are well matched. Ravenclaw's value intelligence, wit and wisdom. The element associated with Ravenclaw is air so the animal is suited to the element. The blue is represented by the air element. Ravenclaw is named after its founder Rowena Ravenclaw.

Gryffindor's symbol is a lion. The element associated with Gryffindor is fire. The fire represents strength of character and bravery which explains the colors. The lion is a golden color. The lion is a considered a brave and courageous animal and those are traits regarded highly by Gryffindors. The house was named after its founder Godric Gryffindor.

Hufflepuff's symbol is the badger. I am unsure of the badgers meaning but it could relate to the the earth element associated with the house. Hufflepuffs value loyalty and hard work. The yellow and black colors could represent the earth (think desert). The house was named after its founder Helga Hufflepuff.

Slytherin's symbol is the snake. This houses element is water. Sytherin's value ambition cunning and resourcefulness. The snake is a the house symbol because they are associated with cunning and resourcefulness (think biblically satan taking on the form of a snake to tempt eve to the fruit tree (sorry didn't mean to take this to a religious place)) Snakes are resourceful, they use their environment to their advantage. The green could be a representation of their ambition i.e. money. The house was named for its founder Salazar Slytherin.

Potions assignment

2009-02-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

1. Name the two known Potions professors at Hogwarts during the books. Include which book(s) each of them were professors during. (1)
Snape (books 1-5) and Slughorn (books 6-7)
2. Name the five pieces of equipment that a student of Potions is expected to have. (1)
Cauldron, herbs, glass phial, advanced potion making book and knife for cutting
3. Give me the name and the person who invented the potion that is used as a remedy for the common cold. (1)
Glover Hipworth
4. What does the Polyjuice potion do? Name at least four of the ingredients. Tell me at least two of the characters who used this potion in the books and tell me what it did to them. (2)
Allows the drinker to take on the form of someone else. Boomslang, lacewing flies, antimony and dna from the person whose form you are taking. Harry and Ron took the potion and they took on the forms of Crabbe and Goyle.
5. What is a bezoar and what is it used for? (1)
Stones from the stomach of a goat used to save someone from poisoning.
6. Tell me what the Amorentia potion is. What would yours smell like? (1)
Its the most powerful love potion in the world. Mine would smell like my husband. :)
7. Name three Potions ingredients that can be found in the Muggle world. What are each of these items used for in each situation? How to Muggles and Wizards use these things differently? (2)
ginger root-makes you smarter muggles use it for food, leeches-muggles use them to cleanse the blood and we use them for polyjuice potions, passionflower juice is used in the love spell and in the muggle world its used to liven up a garden. :)
8. What is your favorite Potion and why? (1)
I don't really have a favorite potion I guess if I have to choose one it would be the luck potion especially when voldemort was around.
9. There are at least two Potions which are mentioned as being illegal to the students at Hogwarts, but they get used in the series. Which two are these and what do they do? (2)
Felix Felicis potion (makes the drinker lucky and is illegal to take during quidditch) and Amortentia potion (love potion because love is a choice) are illegal
10. Name the three ingredients in the Draught of the Living Death. In what year do the Hogwarts students brew this potion? (2)
asphodel, infusion of wormwood and valerian root. They brew this during their 6th year.
11. We all know that Remus Lupin is a werewolf. During his time teaching at Hogwarts, Snape makes him the wolfsbane potion to counteract some of these nasty effects. There is one ingredient which Lupin says will render the effects useless. What is this ingredient and why is it important? (1)
It tastes awful but if you add sugar it will render the potion useless.

HSKS7

2009-01-16T10:55:00.000-08:00

This portkey will take you to the main HSKS page! Join us this year!

Ghost quiz

2009-01-14T06:00:00.001-08:00

There are at least 20 ghosts living at Hogwarts but there are only a few who are famous enough to be named.

Grey Lady
Bloody Baron
Nearlyheadless Nick
Fat Friar
Moaning Myrtle
Professor Binns
The ghosts at Nick's birthday party
The ghosts from the headless hunt group (Sir Patrick Delaney)

That is all I could find! :)

Flying Assignment!

2009-01-14T05:35:00.000-08:00

Each team consists of three chasers, two beaters, one keeper and one seeker. Scoring with the quaffle is worth 10 points and catching the snitch nets your team 150 points.

The rules of quidditch are as follows:

Players can fly as high as they want they cannot leave the pitch boundaries or the quaffle will be forfeited to the other team.

Only the team captain can call a time out. The time out can last as long as two hours if the game has gone over twelve hours. The team must return to the pitch during this time or they are disqualified.

The referee can impose penalties. A single Chaser may take the penalty by flying from the central circle towards the scoring area. The opposing team's Keeper may attempt to stop the shot being scored, but no other player may interfere.

Contact such as pushing and shoving is allowed but no grabbing of brooms or persons.

No substitution of a player is allowed, even if they are badly injured.

Players can take their wands onto the pitch but only for protection. They are not allowed to use them on other players, the four balls, any broomsticks, the ref or the spectators.
(thank you wikipedia)

Another assignment done!

2009-01-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

Yay a cup cozy! It's in one of my favorite colors too, green! I just used some yarn I had left over from another project. I found the pattern for free on Ravelry. Now to get to some other projects! :)

Ketchup time

2009-01-04T14:41:00.000-08:00

I mean catch up time teehee. I have been a naughty blogger but I am back now...lucky you. :) So this is my owl dishcloth.

I know the owl is hard to see but its there (the yarn is also much darker blue). The owl is in the likeness of my sweet owl, Boo. Boo is a long-eared owl. Long-eared Owls are buoyant fliers, appearing to glide noiselessly even when their wings are flapping. They are very manoeuvrable and can fly through fairly dense brush. They fly moth-like, often hovering and fluttering while looking for prey. When roosting, a Long-eared Owl will stretch its body to make itself appear like a tree branch. Unlike most other Owls, during winter they may roost communally (7 to 50 Owls) in dense thickets and range over very large undefended foraging areas. Communal roost sites are often used year after year, probably by the same birds. Here is my essay professor! :)

This is my other knitting project. I am working on the Sugarplum Shrug. It's pink and sparkly but thats hard to see in the picture. I just have to finish knitting up the edging and sew it on there. Then as usual I have a million other projects I need to get to.

The hogwarts school year has begun. Its year one of HBLOES and I am the charms professor. So it should be an exciting term. HSKS7 starts at the end of January and I can't wait to start that as well. Now I need to go start my apparitions homework. :)

Get to know your friends at Christmas

2008-12-08T06:04:00.001-08:00

I stole this off of Emma Kettleburns blog. Yay. These things can be so fun!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper, I love wrapping up presents and unwrapping them. It's so fun and gift bags are only good for certain things. I think presents should always be wrapped at Christmas.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real, eventually we might get a fake but we don't have storage space for it now.
3. When do you put up the tree? Sometime after Thanksgiving a couple weeks before Christmas 4. When do you take the tree down? It varies but probably after New Year
5. Do you like eggnog? No
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably the ballerina book from my dad. It fell out of Santa's sleigh into the garage...hmmm....it was funny but its one of the only presents I really remember receiving as a kid.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My mom
8. Easiest person to buy for? J, he just tells me what he wants and this year he's even ordered it for himself, lol.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No but I like my moms.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, I should start on those soon...
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? None I'm grateful for any gifts I receive.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer the Burl Ives one
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? No specific time. This year I'm making most of my gifts but some have to be bought in Dec when I get the lists from the gift exchange.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can remember
15.Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Pretty much anything my mom makes. I love the nutrolls though. Those are a holiday tradition of sorts with my family.
16. Lights on the tree? I LOVE decorating the tree. There has to be lights. I just love sitting in a room with the lights off with my tree all sparkly and pretty
17. Favorite Christmas song? the nutcracker soundtrack (and going to the nutcracker) and anything by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel back to Ohio to be with our fams
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yep
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? a star for our tree but i love my moms angel
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People not getting into it. Its about family and making time for the ones you love. Plus its beautiful. How can you not love the beauty of the season. Its not about gifts and shopping.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? There are so many I love. Most of which have been left with my mom. I might have to swipe those this year. For now I love the one J's mom gave us.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Anything mom makes.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To have time for family AND friends
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? I dunno.

Spoiled Rotten!!!!

2008-11-30T11:09:00.000-08:00

So I woke up this morning and my husband brought me a package which was delivered yesterday! It was my package from my spoiler! So I started ripping it open. It came nicely wrapped but I didn't take pictures until the end. I couldn't wait to dig in lol.

The first thing I pulled out was this. I wasn't sure what it was at first but after I pulled it all out I found out it was a quillow. Its a quilt that folds up into a pillow. It is the coolest thing ever! I love it!!!!!

Next I got this amazing yarn! The ravenclaw colors are awesome and its sooo soft! My husband was laughing at me as I caressed it. :) The other yarn was handdyed by her!!!! It's called rainbow frosting. I'll think of her when I knit with it because she makes these amazing cupcakes and blogs about them! It is so awesome. I can't wait to start knitting with them!

I love the Favorite Socks book. I wanted a copy too! It's like she could read my mind! :)

I'm excited she sent me two sets of needles!!! Now I can try knitting socks on two circulars. I can't wait!

She sent me hand lotion which smells great and this awesome traveler mug with a knitted picture in it! It's so cute and I do love my coffee! She also sent me some tissues with a J on them and a little recipe book full of gourmet sandwiches. My husband was excited. She also sent a little tin with cute stitch markers and little tags I can attach to my knitting when I give it away (they say made by and who they are for). She also sent some Ghiradelli chocolates which I'm pretty sure will be gone by tonight.

The card she sent was sweet. This is the whole she-bang on my couch. I love it all so much! Thank you so much Ferula! I love it and am SOOOO happy! :)

Here is the aftermath, a picture of my destruction if you will....

THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN! It will all be well loved! :)

WE WON!!!

2008-11-20T06:29:00.001-08:00

THANKS TO ALL MY FELLOW CLAWS! THIS TERM WAS AMAZINGLY FUN AND I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE MET YOU ALL. THIS WAS THE BEST FIRST SWAP EVER! I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL IN HSKS7!

Final Quidditch Trivia!

2008-11-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

1. Who was Tom Riddle Sr.'s girlfriend before Merope gave him the love potion?
b. Cecilia
2. What does Luna say floated into Harry's ear when he was in the train car that supposedly caused him to lose focus?
c. Wrackspurt
3. How much do the primary Apparition lessons cost?
d. 12 galleon
4. What is Professor Merrythought's first name?
b. Galatea
5. What Hogwarts club was Eileen Prince captain of?
b. Gobstones Club
6. Who is head of the Goblin Liaison office?
b. Dirk Cresswell
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
8. How many points does Snape take from Gryffindor for Harry's late arrival and muggle attire?
b. 70
9. When Profressory Slughorn first meets Hermione, he asks her whether she is related to Hector Dagworth-Granger. What society did Dgworth-Granger found?
d. The Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers
10. Which of these describes Golpalott's Third Law?
d. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separtea components

Brain...Melt...

2008-11-05T17:24:00.000-08:00

Super Secret Answer Time:

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 Curlyfurl
14. Lily May Clearwater
15. Megaera Black

1. Hermione Bagnold-Smileynetta
2. 37 not even half

Now to do some mindless knitting....

Knitting Update!

2008-11-03T09:26:00.000-08:00

Well a little more than just a knitting update but we can start there. So I finished my sister's Tyrolean Stockings. YAY! I hope she will like them. I figure if anything they have OSU's scarlet in them. Yay team spirit! I think I'm going to make another pair in grey for my other sister. More OSU team spirit.

This weekend was a lot of fun. J, Dan and I went to the Admirals game, our local hockey team. It was fun but we lost 4-0. That was pretty lame. Oh well. Then Saturday we went camping with Dan and Jimmy and the dogs. Our evil dog decided to roll in horse shit. Yeah it was pretty gross. Thankfully there was a spicot right on our site so with water and paper towels we were able to get him cleaned up and not smelly. Then Jimmy's dog Daisy decided to wander around camp all night while we were sleeping. She tried to take our tent out. So not much sleep was had but it was still fun. I managed to wrap up and shove everything into my spoilee's box. I just need to make a card and send it out by the 7th. I hope to have it out by tomorrow but we shall see.

1 Year Anniversary!

2008-10-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

Well its official, we made it one whole year. It was a lot of fun too. J is so sweet. He planned an awesome day for us. We took a ride on the Alliance, its a sailing ship at Yorktown beach. We had a lot of fun and the crew let us help bring up the sails. I think it was more for them though because it's such hard work, lol.

It was a two hour tour as not to be confused with the Gilligans Island 3 hour tour. teehee. Anyway I'm glad it didn't last much longer than 2 hours because it was really cold and windy but still fun. Laura, one of the crew members, made everyone hot chocolate and hot apple cider. We had the cider and it was delicious and much appreciated. On a funny side note, everyone taking the tour was from Ohio, lol. It was crazy. Well one of the ppl graduated from OSU but he was from California. He was still linked to Ohio though. One of those crazy things you would never think of. The other couple was from Columbus too LOL. Anyway after the boat ride we were suppose to walk the beach until dinner at this nice seafood place but it started raining so we left to find some hot tea. We went to Aroma's, our local hang out and then decided to have dinner at UNO's. It was good and now we have left overs for dinner. We rented the Amittyville Horror and watched that. It was creepy. All in all it was an amazing anniversary. I even get to get a massage when I make the appt. I didn't have time to go for one yesterday.

In knitting news my Halloween swap item was sent out yesterday...so look out lucky Ravenclaw buddy. lol. I finished my first Tyrolean sock for my sister and have started the second. I have also gotten my package all together. Now I just need to wrap everything and prepare to send it out. :) Lots of accomplishment. I'm getting it out by the early send date so I can give us some more points. Lets go Claws!

Ravenclaw quiz! Go Claws!

2008-10-23T18:00:00.000-07:00

What security question does Mr. Weasley ask Mrs. Weasley before he enters the Burrow? What is the answer?

What do you like me to call you when we are alone together? Mollywobbles
What two names does Mrs. Cole call Dumbledore when she takes him to see Tom Riddle at the orphanage?

Mr. Dumberton and Dunderbore
What is the name of Ginny's Pygmy Puff?

Arnold
What three D's are needed for apparating?

Destination, Determination, Deliberation
What spell did Harry perform when he was attacked by Dementors?

Expecto Patronum (Patronus Charm)
Who did an arrow salute at Dumbledore's funeral?

the Centaurs
What did Dumbledore set on fire to prove to Tom Riddle that he was a wizard?

Tom's wardrobe
What Christmas present did Kreacher give Harry?

a large number of maggots
What is on top of the Weasleys' Christmas tree?

a stupified garden gnome painted gold stuffed into a miniature tutu with small wings glued to its back
What was the most popular item at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?

Nosebleed Nouget

Why did Harry threaten to kick Ron off the Griffindor Quidditch team?

Ron became an aggressive jerk and took his anger out on Ginny and the rest of the team which made Demelza cry
What happens if you break an Unbreakable Vow?

you die
Who did Hermoine go to Slughorn's party with?

Cormac McLaggen
Who is Mrs. Weasley's favorite singer?

Celestina Warbeck
Who are the only two people who know the full contents of the prophecy made about Harry and Lord Voldemort?

Harry and Dumbledore

SOAR RAVENCLAW!!!

2008-10-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

WE WON!!!

GOOD WORK TEAM!

LETS KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND WIN

ROUND THREE AS WELL!

SOAR RAVENCLAW!!!

Defeated in Battle....

2008-10-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

But I got an amazing consolation prize....socks and some pretty ones too! Excuse the pictures I have no talent when it comes to using my camera....

I think I sent her some nice ones too. I hope she likes them!

In addition to my quidditch

2008-10-15T18:18:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite characters Minerva McGonagall.

She has so much personality.

One of my favorite magical creatures.

Quidditch Round 2

2008-10-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

1. What animal does the portrait in the Muggle Prime Minster’s office resemble?
b. Frog
2. What drink does Romilda Vane try to give Harry?
a. Gillywater
3. What is the name of the person who heads the Holyhead Harpies?
b. Gwenog Jones
4. How many ‘Exceeds Expectation’ grades does Harry receive in his O.W.L’s?
c. 5
5. What is Professor Sughorn’s favorite candy?
d. Crystallized Pineapple
6. What tattoo is Harry reported to have on his chest?
c. Hippogriff
7. What color robes do the staff at the Weasley’s shop wear?
b. Magenta
8. What is the man outside Flourish and Blotts selling?a. Amulets
9. How much is the skull, which Hermione enquires about at Borgin and Burkes, worth?
c. 16 Galleons
10. What are Professor Slughorn’s initials?
b. H.E.F.

My team rules!

2008-10-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

Third Place with 160 points

Knit 1, Percolate 2

Andromache Tonks

Fiera Firenze

Minverva Wood

This team showed exceptional creativity like true Ravenclaws!

Good work team!

And I even got honorable mention! :)

Honorable Mentions

Most Creative: Minerva Wood

Most Ravenclaw Pride: Emma Wigworthy

Most Lyrical: Eugene Nigeno

So much fun! Thanks Olive, lets do this again sometime! :)

Knit1, Percolate 2's picture list

2008-10-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry Fiera and Andromache, I got all but three. I tried though! I used my yellow tape measure for my marker. I hope everyone did well!

On the top we have the locket horcrux and on the bottom we have the house socks being worn.

On the top we have the mystical beast, the dreaded blanket dog and on the bottom we have a fanged frisbee (a frisbee that has been fanged by dogpark dogs)

On the top we have the butterbeer (butter and beer in a glass) and on the bottom we have the muggle artifact (a lighter or so I have heard it called)

On the top we have a government employee (my husband works for nasa) and a tree changing colors and on the bottom we have a used textbook.

On the top is an engagement ring and on the bottom is a shady shop (and by shady I mean sketchy, its a gun and cigarette store I mean really)

On the top I have my precious lucky potion which I refer to as coffee and on the bottom we have a broom ( a muggle one obviously)

Hufflepuff quiz...What, my spoilee is a puff?

2008-10-08T06:55:00.000-07:00

The Quiz...
1 Which is your favorite book in the series (and why)? Order of the Phoenix because thats when things start to become more serious. I love that Harry gets to spend time with his godfather before his passing. I also like that more of the story is revealed.

2 If you were taking Owls, which class would you get an E in? Would you get any Ts? I would probably be an E in Transfiguration because it seems so fun and really useful so I would be trying to use it all the time. I don't know if I would get any T's but if I did the only possibility would be Potions. It makes me think of science and I have never had an aptitude for it.

3 Who is your favorite character (or characters) in the Harry Potter series? Hmmm I like Dumbledore, McGonagall, Neville Longbottom and his grandmother. I am a fan of characters with strong personalities and those whose actions go beyond words.

4 If you had to pick 1 character for a roomate, who would you pick and why? Who'd be your least-favorite to have as a roomate? Probably Ginny because she is fun and is willing to get into a little trouble. She is also intelligent, which is a quality I enjoy in my friends. I wouldn't want to room with Lavender because she is gossipy and annoying.

5 Hufflepuffs are a hardworking bunch, but also a bit mischevious. Which Hogwarts professor would you most like to prank, and how would you do it? I would probably try to prank either Dumbledore or McGonagall. I think they would actually get a little pleasure out of walking into a classroom or their office to see someone has been cleverly messing with them. I don't know how I would prank them but I would definitely choose one of them.

6 Favorite DADA professor? (from the books, Lucius does NOT count :) Probably Lupin because he was passionate and he made DADA fun and interesting in the book. I also give Snape some credit because even though he was crazy and probably liked the dark arts a little more than he should he knew his stuff. He would have made a great DADA if he weren't so clearly interested in the truly dark arts.

7 Favorite magical creatures? (Also, if for example you like a certain creature in general, but not how they are represented in the HP canon, feel free to elaborate :) I think the thestrals were pretty cool actually. I also liked buckbeak.

8 What is your favorite food in the HP universe? Which food or foods would you like to try in real life? Do you have any recipes to share with us ;)? Anything with pumpkin in it would be amazing. I looooove pumpkin. I would also like to try butterbeer. It sounded like they ate fall foods all the time at hogwarts lol.

9 Broom, floo powder, portkey, or magic carpet? broom sounds like the least frightening/painful of all the options. I dunno about the magic carpet... I would have liked to join the quidditch team so probably broom.

10 Since we're Hufflepuffs... Yellow or Black? I'm not a puff but I think clothing wise I like black more but I would like a yellow bike. :)

Hogsmeade

2008-10-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

Hogsmeade was amazing. I heard all of the great stories but it's so much more fun in real life! So I went out with my fellow Claws. We hit up Honeydukes first. Who doesn't want to get hopped up on candy? So after some wise purchases of sugar quills we wandered to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. It's much better than Zonkos plus those Weasley boys are so yummy! I made some...ummm...purchases....teeheehee. After spending some time flirting erhm I mean talking with Fred and George we decided it was time to get our knit on. So it was off to the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeers and pumpkin juice. I was surprised so many people showed up for the Hogsmeade stitch and bitch. Rosmerta loved the company so much she gave me a butterbeer on the house. She is so sweet. I promised to make her a warm, comfy pair of socks to wear while she is working. Maybe we can get her to knit with us next time... Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. I made a quick stop by the Shrieking Shack at the end of the evening, just to test my bravery. No one was really around and the house was quiet enough but it's still creepy. Give me the Ravenclaw common room over that place any day! I should go to the library to read up on the Shrieking Shack's history. It seems interesting. Anyway I have tons of Transfiguration, Potions and Charms homework to do! I hope I impress Prof. McGonagall tomorrow, I've been practicing!

Ravenclaw quiz!!!

2008-10-01T05:59:00.000-07:00

House Quiz

What potion has the strange side effects of excessive singing and nose-tweaking? Elixer to induce euphoria

What ingredient can be used to counteract the effect of the above side effects? peppermint

How much can you get for Acromantula venom? 100 galleons/pint

What is the most powerful love potion in the world? Amortentia

What antidote does Harry use to help Ron when he is poisoned by Madam Rosmerta's finest mead? bezoar

How does Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' Owl Order Service get their potions past the security at Hogwarts to their customers? they put them in bottles labeled cough syrup or perfume

What did Draco Malfoy make in Potions class when Professor Slughorn assigned them to make something amusing? hiccuping solution

What spells will not work in an area affected by Instant Darkness Powder? fire magic and lumos

What are the ingredients for the Draught of Living Death? asphodel in an infusion of wormwood, valerian roots, sopophorous bean,

How much will unicorn tail hair fetch? 10 galleons/hair

Extra Credit
Answering the following questions are extra credit and will earn you an additional ticket in the drawing for the prize.

Do you prefer to knit or crochet? knit, I don't know how to crochet, I wish I knew how to crochet

What is your favorite weight yarn to knit/crochet with? probably sock yarn, finger weight, dk...I've been making socks more than anything lately

What fiber contents do you most like to knit/crochet with? What fiber contents do you dislike knitting/crocheting with? I like alpaca and mohair, I don't really like 100% wool because its really itchy and my skin is sensitive.

How many complete pair of socks have you knit/crochet? good question I think 6 or 7. I have 2 or 3 socks on the needles.

What is your favorite item to knit/crochet? Probably socks but I do like to make/learn new techniques all the time. Sweaters can be fun to make too.

What is your favorite treat? Currently I am loving pumpkin muffins with a cup of coffee and goldfish.

Do you drink coffee, tea, or both? I drink both but I probably drink way more coffee than tea. My hubby J and I used to drink tea every night but it was too hot in the summer to have hot tea so we stopped.

Do you have an online wish list? If so, where? No, I keep meaning to make one but I haven't gotten around to it. I really just start projects when I find something I want to make. :)

How many Ravelry groups are you in? Currently I'm in 17.

Is there any special item you have been really wanting, but can't find in your local area? Ummm, probably the yarn I need to make the space invader socks on knitty.

Time flies

2008-09-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

Well I feel like I'm falling behind in everything. I was in Richmond for my yoga teacher training this past weekend. It was sooo much fun. Exhausting, mostly mentally, but fun. I met some really nice people and learned a lot. I am going to sign up for the december training, which will be nice. Unfortunately I missed snitch hunting because I was in a yoga studio all day lol.

Anyway, I won my duel against Molly Crookshanks. The duel was fun and it would have worked out for our house either way, we are both Ravenclaws. I'm glad I get to keep competing though. I love the whole dueling thing!

On my needles now I have a pair of the dueling socks for my friend Hermione. She liked the yarn I used so much I offered to make her a pair. So I have the first sock at the foot now. I am a little scared about how much its going to cost to send these socks all the way to Italy.... I am also changing my mind about my cousins socks and I believe I am going to make her some Baudelaire socks instead of the Twisted Flower Socks. I like to try new patterns and as I have already made the Twisted Flowers for myself it seems like more fun to try something new.

I think I am going to try to put my cruiser bike back together so Adrienne and I can bike the battle fields. They rent cruiser bikes but I think she would like mine more because it's not a P.O.S. I want her to see where J and I like to bike on the weekends. We are going to the post office today because she needs to ship all of the chocolate and wine she bought during her trip to Kosovo. Too many suitcases that weigh like 90lbs. lol.

My friend is still staying with me. She watched my furry children while I was gone this weekend, which was nice of her. I can't wait for my husband to get home though. I miss him soooo much. :)

Quidditch Round One!

2008-09-24T07:33:00.000-07:00

Trivia and pictures must be posted to your blog before the Snitch is release in order to receive House points. The Snitch will be released on Saturday. Time is still to be determined.

1. At the beginning of the book, Cornelius Fudge is talking to the Muggle Prime Minister. Which member of the Order of the Phoenix has recently been found dead?

c. Emmeline Vance

2. What animal does Bellatrix Lestrange kill when she and her sister, Narcissa, are going to see Professor Snape?

b. Fox

3. What time does Professor Dumbledore collect Harry from Privet Drive?

b. 11 p.m.

4. What did Professor Sluhorn transform into when he was trying to hide from Harry and Professor Dumbledore?

a. An armchair

5. What grade did Harry get for Herbology?

a. E – Exceeds Expectation

6. Herbert Chorley, the Prime Minister’s Junior Minster, has been entertaining the public by impersonating which animal?

b. A duck

7. What is Professor Sprout’s first name?

d. Pomona

8. What is Dumbledore’s idea of ‘a few words’?

d. nitwit, oddment, blubber and tweak

9. Who is Marcus Belby’s famous uncle?

b. Damocles

10. What is Snape’s mother’s name?

b. Eileen Prince

Pictures
Post pictures to your blogs or link to the pictures from your blog post.

Narcissa: http://www.allmoviephoto.com/photo/2008_harry_potter_and_the_half_blood_prince_023.html

Snape: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.harry-potter-movie-buzz.com/uploads/uploadForumPhotos/medium_Snape%2520Treaching%2520Occlumency-7skeyb77.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.harry-potter-movie-buzz.com/photos/316/alan-rickman-as-severus-snape.php&h=300&w=400&sz=15&hl=en&start=7&usg=__a9wjRNbSF7yqjpkSbLCgIp72KlU=&tbnid=rHrmtzQKbBsT3M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dseverus%2Bsnape%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

Bellatrix: http://www.helena-world.com/blog/wp-content/20070610_bellatrix.jpg

Professor Sprout: http://www.hogwartscharacters.co.uk/images/professor_sprout_trans.gif

Professor Dumbledore: http://www.theculturebeat.com/wp-content/photos/Albus_Dumbledore.jpg

Dueling Socks!

2008-09-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

I present my crushing blow to my competition. LOL. That is if my socks make it to her before hers make it to me. I tried to find the fastest owl in the owlery. I do have a confirmation number though! I sent out 3 parcels. So we shall see what happens. My RAOK should be receiving her gift soon...lucky girl. My hat attack partner is just getting the yarn from my failed hat attack project. Oh well. I think she will enjoy it more than I did. :)

In other news my friend Adrienne, from Beaubaxton School, is coming to visit. I believe she and Fleur are cousins. Anyway. She has decided to spend a week and a half studying abroad at Hogwarts. So we shall have great fun in the Ravenclaw tower getting into trouble. I'll be meeting her at the castle gates at 11pm tonight! I can't wait. I think I'm going to help our house elf straighten up the common room for her arrival. :)

I look so good!

2008-09-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

I'm the really attractive one on the left LOL. My DH, J is on the right. He's so pretty! :)

I stole the Puff quiz!

2008-09-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

Mwahahahaha I am taking a Puff quiz and you can't stop me!

1. Do you knit and/or crochet? Knit. I'd like to learn to crochet someday
2. How long have you been at your craft? About 5yrs...
3. Do you spin? If yes do you use drop spindle or wheel. No but again its another aspect of fiber I would like to learn and indulge in!
4. What is your favorite color? Probably green and blue. I seem to be partial to earth tones
5. Do you have any other hobbies? I camp, hike, bike, swim, do yoga, hang out with my dog and cat, drink coffee, read and basically try to get out and do as much as possible.
6. What are your favorite yarns/fibers? No favorites really. I enjoy sock yarns a lot. I do have this yummy alpaca yarn in my stash which I am very partial to. I just have to find a good pattern to work it up in.
7. What are your LEAST favorite yarns/fibers? mmm depends on what they are being used for. Im not a huge fan of itchy yarn. My skin is sensitive so it just makes me slightly crazy. Other than that I tend to stick to natural fibers.
8. Are there any yarns that you’ve been eyeing and wanting to try? I'm pretty open to anything at this point. I love to try new things and I think my fiber experience is pretty limited for what you can find at the lys.
9. What are you currently working on? I am a project whore. I have a hard time sticking to one thing unless I am completely consumed by it. I am about to cast on for a pair of socks for my cousin, I have a guitar bag to sew together, I'm making adjustments on my koolhaas hat, i'm making a shawl, prepping for my dueling socks, i'll be starting my spoilees gift, and oh man i'm sure there are more buried away...yikes thats a lot
10. What is your favorite Finished Object? (Pictures are welcome.) ummm good question. I don't know if I have a favorite. I guess one of the last things I finished (yeah i know i'm shocked too) the twisted yoke cardigan or was it the tangled yoke cardigan...well either way my mom stole it so its gone lol.
11. Are their any knitting/crochet techniques that you would like to learn? maybe making two socks on circulars or something like that. i do enjoy learning new things!
12. What is you favorite type of book or movie? Comedy and light romance. Anything fun. I have a hard time watching really violent movies and horror/scary movies. So other than that I'm good. I can only watch intense drama if I'm in the mood for it.
13. Who is your favorite person at Hogwarts? If you are asking about book people I couldn't tell you. I love the witty one liners of the books and a lot of characters have a quirky appeal. As far as Hogwarts swap I would have to say that I love all my Ravenclaws and everyone in the other houses seem really nice. I love my spoilee too!
14. Favorite class and/or subject at Hogwarts? Lol good question. From what I've read in the books I think I would really enjoy DADA, transfiguration, herbology and charms. I would like potions but i'm afraid it would be like all of my experiences with science...tragic lol.
15. How many family members do you have? including me its 4. My husband J, my dog bob and my cat ziggy. and no we didn't name them after the marleys. they both came with names which they both knew so we kept them lol.
16. What is your favorite Fall activity? camping, knitting, hanging out at the coffeeshop or anywhere with J.
17. How many projects do you have on your needles/hook? See question 9
18. What is your favorite type of footwear? flipflops, sneakers, my earth shoes are nice and many others. I like my shoes!
19. What is your favorite beverage of choice? Coffee! and water.
20. What is your favorite park of Half-blood Prince? good question. i have a lot of favorite parts mostly the one liners and i liked ginny and harry getting together and dumbledore talking about knitting!

RAOK

2008-09-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

OMG I went to the mailbox today hoping to get the stuff for my RAOK in the mail but I got a different package. Esme the sweetest person ever gave me a RAOK! I got this yummy fall colored yarn, candy and a cute drawstring bag! It was such a good feeling to find that in my mailbox. So thank you Esme, you made my day!

You know its bad when

2008-09-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

You know its bad when you are suppose to be swatching and doing other things in a day but can't because you are trapped relentlessly in front of your computer reading Harry Potter and checking for updates on forums. With that being said I really have to go and be productive now...wait for it...wait for it. Ok and go! LOL

So much going on!

2008-09-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

So many exciting things happening. Tomorrow is the beginning of hat attack. I have yet to knit a swatch for it...ooops. LOL. Oh well what can you do. Thats the plan for tonight at least.

I got my roommate assignment today! Yay for my fellow Ravenclaws Andromache and Fiera. I think we are going to have a lot of fun getting into trouble together. Other than that I am trying to work out what to make my spoilee. I have ideas but im not sure what she would like more.

J leaves thursday for cali. He has work out there boo. I'll miss him but I think I'll be able to visit, he'll be gone 3 weeks. My friend Adrienne might be coming to visit me while he is gone though. She's back in Ohio but she is planning to fly out. Hopefully she can make it to keep me company!

In other knitting news, I have made good progress on my shawl. It really is the furthest I have ever made it in this project. So I remain hopefull that there is an end with a very pretty shawl, if I do say so myself, which I do! I hope to add pics soon. Now I am off to get my knit on! :)

Everything you want to know and more....

2008-09-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

Potter Name: Minerva Wood

Rav ID: Yogaknot

I am allergic to: nothing i'm aware of

Pets that I have: dog (Bob) cat (Ziggy)

My favorite yarn: sock yarn i don't have a favorite brand per say

If you are a Ravenclaw, do you prefer the film colors or the book colors? film colors

My favorite flavor: pumpkin or dark chocolate

My favorite holiday: Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas probably Halloween

I would like to receive a: (Sock kit, scarf kit or yarn dyeing kit) sock kit please!

List your favorite brand of needles or hooks, including size and length: brittany sock needles! i use size 2's a lot but i dont have any 0's, my 1's broke and anything below 0 i've never owned

Is there a brand that you are dying to try?: not dying to try but ive heard nice things about lantern moon pretty much anything wooden

I've participated in HSKS: (How many times have you participated in HSKS swaps?)this is my first swap! i wish i would have known about it earlier!

Do you have a birthday during this swap? If so which day? nope i wish though lol! May 30th!

::Edit::

Wisteria did it so now being the good Ravenclaw I am I must add the "extra credit"

Favorite colors: blue, green

Favorite seasons: Autumn and Spring

Favorite Disney character: I dunno about character but I always liked Sleeping Beauty growing up

Favorite time of day: early morning

Favorite snack: currently I'm going to have to say goldfish...so salty mmmmm

Ravenclaws Newest Resident

2008-09-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

I think we should name her Ness. It kind of mixes fantasy and the simplicity of JK Rowlings elf names. Plus I think its a cute name! :)

Apparently Ness worked for Madam Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks. She started making deliveries to the castle, fulfilling orders from teachers. There she fell in love with a fellow house elf, Norbert. Madam Rosmerta noticed a change in her work and her excitment at returning to the castle. Eventually she learned all the sordid details and allowed Ness to move to the castle. Dumbledore found her a position straightening up Ravenclaw tower. That is how she came to be with us! :)