HSKS 12 Spoilage!!

Gifties for my girls: Wizarding bags with their names on them, Slytherin pride stickers, Slytherin bookmarks, and floo powder (edible ;) )

MY Wizarding bag. It's covered up, but has my name and looks like theirs, only black. Filled with coffee, soak samples, CIRCUS PEANUTS!!!!!!! Dementor's Kiss candies, and a "Horcruxes Got Soul" bumper sticker

Closed shot of my handmade item. Wait... It gets COOLER!!!

Ta-da! It's a secret quill holder!!! Filled with quills of all colors!!!

"Snake in the Grass" sock yarn with the Nagini pattern (not photoed)

Owl Ribbon, which WILL find many more purposes, an Owl iron on, fridge magnets and stitch markers.

Ready for my close up, Mr deMille...

maddy.

(theme for this and the following post shamelessly stolen from The Pioneer Woman)

she is...

stubborn

opinionated

beautiful

loud

growing up so fast

wise beyond her years

she is not...

complacent

"girlie"

shy

anything one would expect her to be

a happy reader

a morning person

I've been MIA...

But I'm back! Here's what I've been up to:

We took the girls to have their Christmas photos taken.

I re-organized the craft room:

I finished my MIL's Sweater for Christmas:

And my parents' blanket for Christmas:

And my FIL's scarf for Christmas:

And a pair of socks for me. It's recently been pointed out to me that during times of trauma, I cast on for socks. So, since I was dealing with a pretty big-assed size trauma in the past few weeks, I knit these:

Oh! And we had Halloween, too. We went to Lucy's for Halloween, and walked around her neighborhood to trick or treat. The girls were princesses, Jake was a three hole punch, and Lucy and I had our towels handy, just in case!

Anagrams

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

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Week 5 Matching

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

Busy Bee

It's been a busy house here lately. My mother-in-law and her mom came to visit for a week, and we were going non stop the whole time. They arrived on Wednesday and we did a grocery shop at Costco (always an event, that place is crazy). Thursday, we went to the Strip so they could see where Jake works. That was slow going, because his Gram needs to stop a lot to rest. Truth be told, so do I right now, so that's okay. Friday, we went on Maddy's field trip in the morning and then stayed up late playing games. Saturday afternoon was lunch out and "Legend of the Guardians" at the IMAX theater. Saturday night was Shakespeare in the Park (MacBeth). Sunday we grilled a really nice lunch and then went to Cirque du Soliel: Beatles Love in the evening. AWESOME show. The girls loved it especially, and the Aussies sitting behind us were completely enamored of the fact that Laura fell asleep 3/4 of the way through, mid-clap. Monday, we finally got to relax a bit as they were leaving around 4am Tuesday. We've spent the entire of this week trying to get back into the swing of our routine and waiting for the supplies for a change in Maddy's curriculum. :) Here's hoping that next week is a bit calmer!

Long Week

This week was long, and isn't really over yet. We had an ultrasound. It was great! I got to see AND hear the baby's heartbeat. That was reassuring, since I've miscarried before.

Maddy's lessons are going okay... She's still struggling with reading, but is making progress which makes us feel better. We're going to give it a few weeks, and if we don't feel like there has been enough progress, we're going to get her a tutor.

Jake and I are going to spend the remainder of this week deep cleaning the house in preparation for the visit from his mother and grandmother. They will arrive on Wednesday, the 29th, and be here for about a week. We're looking forward to seeing them, as it's been since June for me, and since December for him since we've been face to face with them.

1. Someone with the same craft as you (either those listed above or another one).Emma Wigworthy
2. Someone who was born in the same month as you. Cayden Brocklehurst
3. Someone from a different country. Lizzie Wychwood
4. A new HSKS Family member. Schmutzerella Oglethorpe
5. Someone who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps. Wisteria Lovegood
6. Someone who has a bigger stash than you! (And if your stash is the biggest, proudly say so! Fleur Sweeting
7. Someone who both knits and crochets. Hermione Bagnold
8. Someone who has the same favorite color as you. Siobhan Mooney
9. Someone who has the same favorite season/holiday as you. Ambyr Phoenixfire
10. Someone who has the same favorite fiber as you. Morgianna Defeufaucon

Photo a Day, Week 1

buttons for Lucy's Peaks Island HoodBlush and First Blush Sundara sock for a Daybreak Shawl
The fabric for Lucy's apron
A photo of my Grandmother with Maddyson in her Christening gown.
Peaks Island Hood
My Chef accessories
My Baker's rack

My Kit from Emma

My kit finally made it through customs and to me, yay!!!!!! Let's see it all, shall we?


The yarn and pattern and stitch markers. The yarn was hand-dyed for me by Emma in a beautiful Aqua color. It's laceweight and over 600 yards!
The stitch markers up close, and their pouch. They're runes. She included the meanings of the runes, and if you're curious, I'll list them for you later.

The hand made items: A tea cup pin cushion, a mini sock, a snitch for my Christmas tree, and a gorgeous thin scarf that can also double as a head wrap (I got a Trelawney kit, in case you were wondering!)

The goodies: German hot cocoa (YUM!) a quill pen, and sheepie candles. She also sent along purses with gummy bears for the girls but I didn't get a photo of them.

Photo a day and Knitting for Yarn

So Lucy and I have vowed to take a photo a day from now to the beginning of August, and two a day from the beginning of August to our trip, so that we'll be in the habit of photo-taking and won't forget to photograph our trip. I've decided to blog my photos on Fridays, so that I stay in the habit of blogging as well.

Wednesday, the girls played dress-up in old Halloween costumes. Here's Laura as Spidy.

Thursday, I photoed some yarn I've been spinning. This is Lorna's Laces roving in Vera.
This is my "Happy Scarf". I work on it when I'm sad, upset, or unable to focus on anything else.



I've also been knitting for yarn lately. I just started, but the basic idea is that someone sends you the yarn and pattern they've been wanting to knit, you knit it and send it back to them, and then they send you yarn as payment/a gift for helping them to knit the things in their queue. I've currently got a scarf, a pair of socks and two sweaters going. That's why my facebook status constantly says "Knitting" or some variation thereof. LOL!

On the Road Again...

We're off to CT this morning. We'll be there until Sunday. I'm so looking forward to seeing my SnB friends Saturday morning! We'll be staying with my in-laws, which should be fun!

Keeping Busy

I've been keeping busy while I've been here in PA, but am missing my home and my friends there something fierce. Next week I go to CT and get to see my in-laws and my friends there at my knitting group on Saturday morning. I have to say I'm pretty excited for that, because I've been missing them nearly as much as I'm missing my home. LOL

I've been working on a few pair of socks for me and for Lucy and a surprise for an angel kit in a swap I'm in (so no more details there, lol)

The Time Has Come

Today is the day that I fly cross-country (First from Vegas to Boston, then from Boston to Baltimore) to visit my parents, in-laws and friends for 24 days. It's just me and the girls on a red-eye to Boston, so I'm a little nervous, but I think we'll do alright. They travel very easily, especially by air, so I'm more worried about me than them I think.

While there, we intend to do a bunch of fun things which I'll take photos of to post here as much as possible.

See you on the other side!

Sudoku- Arithmancy

I'm so proud of me! I actually DID the puzzles and didn't read someone else's answers!

1. Dobby
2. Harry Potter
3. Hog's Head

Exciting new ventures

Lucy and I are opening an Etsy shop together. We'll be selling an amalgam of things that showcase both of us to the best of our abilities, and hope to have lots of fun with it. I'm going to keep the details of everything we want to see in our shop under wraps, but suffice it to say, we're VERY excited and now VERY busy prepping for our self-imposed launch date of Aug 31st. Watch here for more info to come!

Busy Lady

Yesterday, Jake had a friend over for brunch, so I was cooking my fanny off starting at 6:30 am!

Today, I think I'll go to the LYS and try to see if I can't enjoy some knit time there.

At some point this weekend, I need to book three round trip tickets to Pennsylvania (yay for red-eye cross country flights when traveling with a 4 and 6 year old!) And can I just take this opportunity to say what pros my girls are with flying? Their first flight was in December, when we moved to Vegas, and from that very first flight my girls can navigate through baggage check, security, and find their way to a gate with relative ease. They impress me.

Then will start the epic list making, packing and repacking, and triple checking. That will pretty well take up the entire two to three weeks between now and the time we go.

DONE!!!

The ruffled apron I talked about a couple of posts back is done, and look how cute it turned out!

potions homework

Part 2:

Answer the following potions questions:

1. Sneezewort, scurvy grass, and lovage are used to make what?

A: Allergen Solution

B:Confusing Draught

C: Babbling Befuddlement

D: Wandering Agent

2. Porcupine quills are to be added when to a Boil Cure Potion?

A: It is the second ingredient you add

B: Before it is removed from the fire

C: You don't add them, they aren't part of the potion

D: After it is removed from the fire

3. What potion, if brewed correctly, should change color numerous times throughout brewing including deep purple, lilac, and finishing clear?

A: The Draught of Living Death

B: Amortentia

C: Calming Draft

D: Elixir to Induce Euphoria

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

A: Murlap

B: Belladonna

C: Mugwort

D: Hellebore

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

A: Swelling Solution

B: Deflating Draught

C: Shrinking Solution

D: Sleeping Draught

My new sewing project

Soon, the fabric you see below will become a ruffled skirt style apron, much like the one seen here. Awesome, right? The orange polka dot fabric is the backing, the ties and the band. The other four are the ruffles. SO cute. I'll update when it's finished. Shouldn't take too long...

We won Quidditch today, which was awesome. Way to go Rowan!

I finished those project bags that I mentioned in my last post. Check 'em out!

COMC Homework

Part 1:

Five items for COMC class:
1. Ferret, for feeding to a Hippogriff.
2. Cat, for breeding Kneazles
3. Pencil, for sketching Bowtruckles
4. Wand, for jinxing Blast-Ended Skrewts
5. Lettuce, for feeding Flobberworms.

Part 2:
1. Please describe the physical appearance of a house elf. House elves are short, between 2 and 3 feet tall, have fat bodies, spindly limbs, bug-eyes, and big bat's ears.
2. Kreacher is the house elf of which wizarding family? The Blacks
3. What is Hermione Granger making for the house elves? Clothing, which she left strewn about in hopes that they'd pick it up and be freed.
4. How do you free a house elf? Give them clothes.
5. What does S.P.E.W. stand for? "Society for the Protection of Elvish Welfare"


Part 3: In the works...

How did I DO that?

How is it possible that I completely forgot to blog this last week? Ugh. So absurd. I'm a bit angry with myself right now, but we'll move along, yes?

I just finished a BIG project yesterday that I'm madly in love with. Sadly, I can neither share a photo nor talk about it because it's a gift for someone who could very likely be reading here.

There are a few things, however, that I *can* talk about right now. Fleur and I have decided to start our own sock club. We knew that while lots of people (Yarn Harlot, for example) were having great luck knitting from stash with self-imposed stash sock clubs, we would not follow through. Even randomizing which bag would be pulled each month was unsuccessful when we tried it.

So, we decided that what we'd do is create a sock kit for the other person out of our OWN stash. We covet each other's yarns with a frequency and ferocity that is amusing to bystanders, so we knew this would work. Each month, we choose a yarn from our stash, a pattern to go with it, and spend a maximum of $10 on extras to round out the theme, and then on the third Tuesday of the month (because we couldn't wait an entire month from when we finalized our decision to do this, lol) we trade.

We're each going to have a binder for our patterns, just like we have for our Rockin' Sock Club patterns. And I'm making us each Japanese Knot project bags to be our special bags for our club. Here are the fabrics I'm going to use:




Cute, right? I think so. :) I'm loving the owls. I also just bought fabric for two skirt style aprons for myself, a full "Hostess Style" apron for Lucy, Ruffle aprons for the girls, and basket liners for Lucy's wicker baskets. So there'll be lots of sewing going on in my house for the next little while. :)

Character descriptions

So, assignment one is to write an essay about why we chose our three characters for our kits, to help our spoilers out a bit.

- Minerva McGonagall: The Gryffindor HoH and sometimes Headmistress is my favorite bonny lass. I adore the fact that she and I are both Scots (mine descent and hers birth, but there you have it). I love that she has a tartan nightgown and cap, and wish I had something with my own tartan on it! I'm a highlands Cameron, and just adore everything about my Scots heritage.

- Sybil Trelawney: I love how very eclectic the divination teacher is. She makes me laugh, and I suppose I can relate a bit with her predilection towards thoughts of doom and her devotion towards her chosen family at Hogwarts. I love the fact that her prediction altered the history of the wizarding world so severely, and she doesn't even know- and I think that we've all altered someones history in that way without realizing.

- Moaning Myrtle: It's hard to explain why I love the specter in the girls lavatory so much, but I really, really do. I find her incredibly amusing. Maybe it's schadenfreude, but I just love Myrtle. Her pain and lament just crack me up, and I love her spying on Cedric and Harry in the bathtub.

Favorite Things, Wish Lists, etc.

Favorite Colors: Green and pink, blue and brown, pink and brown (each as combinations), Green, Blue, purple, grays. I have recently found an extreme lack of yellow or orange in my sock stash, so those colors in sock yarns would be good. :)

Favorite Scents: I'm not a fan of anything overly sweet smelling, and get migraines from certain scents, so you're probably better off avoiding smelly things. Yankee Candle candles are safe, none of their scents have ever given me a headache (knock on wood...) Ooh. I LOVE the smell of Soak's "Scent for Celebration".

Favorite Yarn Brands: Malabrigo (all weights), Cosmic Fibers, Cascade 220, Knit Picks yarns.

Favorite Yarn Types: I'm always interested in new yarns for socks or lace. I like wools a lot. I'm not usually that fond of cottons, because they feel strange in my hands when I knit. Cotton blends are good, though. I knit mostly socks and lace, so the majority of my yarns are wool, and wool blends because of that.

Favorite Snacks: Spangler Circus Peanuts (yes. Those neon orange marshmallows shaped like peanuts. I love them.), Oreos, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, Cheez-Its, Tortilla Soup (sort of hard to ship... ;) )

Allergies: None that apply to the swap, unless migraines from some scents counts.

Wishlists:
KnitPicks
Loopy Ewe
Etsy

Sole Food Swap!

Overview:

Pictured are a bamboo steamer (yay!!!); gifts for the girls and DH; Wasabi paste (mmmm....); Instant Miso soup in three flavors- tofu, green onion, and wakame seaweed; breath mints; recipes; Alpaca Sox yarn; two sock patterns and instructions for the steamer with MORE recipes!
Close up of the yarn, so pretty.
The girls with their gifts-
not pictured are the buttons she sent them, which they're currently playing with.
Lots of yummy peppers. Mmmm....Yummy stuff close up.Thank you SO much to Lotusburger. I love EVERYTHING. Yes, I will use the peppers, and I've made dumplings before, so I know my way around a wonton wrapper well. ;)