Gryffindor Homework No. 4

Greetings to all Gryffindors. I'm sure many of you are busy finishing your Handmade Items for your enchanted kits, or may be busy with holiday knitting. We do have a small assignment (large, if you wish), for homework this week.

1. Name your favorite magical creature, and describe why it is your favorite.

2. Tell us your favorite charm, spell or curse, and explain why you like it.

3. Describe your favorite holiday family tradition - which holiday and what makes it special.

4. Name your favorite fiber-based (knitted, crocheted, or spun) finished object.

Please post answers on your blogs, by 12 midnight PDT Saturday night.
Hope to see you in the Common Room on Monday, at the regular times!

Cheers,-CentyB!

My Answers:

1. Name your favorite magical creature, and describe why it is your favorite. 

 I really like nifflers.  I think it would be quite handy to travel to beaches to discover treasures!  Plus, they just sound snuggly.

2. Tell us your favorite charm, spell or curse, and explain why you like it.  

 Lumos is a very useful, but episkey is very useful with a clumsy little kid.  Cleaning charms are fantastic, also!

3. Describe your favorite holiday family tradition - which holiday and what makes it special.  One of my favorite holiday traditions is on Christmas morning everyone gets up before dawn    to start opening presents.  It is always eventful!  I also enjoy watching absolutely as many Christmas movies as possible.

4. Name your favorite fiber-based (knitted, crocheted, or spun) finished object.

  My favorite knitted item to date is my Sally the Ragdoll and my mermaid.  I have both of them on my project page.  I have many favorites that other people have crafted, there are just too many to list.

Snape

So who knew that as I listened to HBP that I would come to REALLY like Snape.  I felt heartbroken for him and his unrequited love, but this is a new respect and like.  How hard could it have been to be the executer of Dumbledore?  And during his grief (even though he was the reason) of loosing his friend, he had to act for the benefit of Voldy.  

I am sure I am slow on the catching on to all of this, but I have a method to re-reading my books.  I realized last year that I re-read my Harry Potter books every two years.  Partly because of the releases of the last 3 books.  I am now trying to organize my reading to that schedule.  However, I have been really bored at work and I want to listen to something to motivate me to do something.  What better to do it by listening to Harry!  

Anyways, I love Snape.  The end.

[Disclaimer, Not my Artwork]

Vacation

We went to Blanchard Springs Caverns in Blanchard Springs, AR, before heading home on Thursday.  Here are some pictures:This is my attempt to catch a scene in the dark cave.  Lovely and blurry.

My husband's attempt.  


Brown Bat.  It was so exciting seeing this bat, why I don't know?  My husband wasn't able to get a picture of a pile of bats.  There was probably 10 or 12 in a pile.  R took a plush bat home as a souvenir.   I think she really likes bats because they eat up to 3,000 mosquitos a night.  I think that impressed her actually.

We only have pictures of the Caverns, because I forgot to take them any other time.  The Ozark Folk Center (Mountain View, AR) had good photo ops, too.  I didn't feel good so I was doing good just making it through.....I got a drop spindle though!!  I am worried about using the wool that came with it since I am allergic to it.  I am going to see if I can order cotton from somewhere.

A Very Harry Potter Birthday

My camera has been MIA for about 2 weeks, but I found it!  Here are some pictures from my daughters Harry Potter Birthday Party.  It was very low budget decorating, but I thought it looked nice.I used an old vinyl curtain and spray paint to make the flags.  Staple them to string and tie on balloons and it is a Gryffindor party.

Boxes of party favors (ordered from celebrateexpress.com).  Keys go to our china cabinet and books!

We didn't have a lion.  The capes that my mom made.  She is a genius.

The birthday girl with he cape and hat.  The hats were decorated with stickers and crayon drawings (vinyl curtain also).

Gryffindor Quiz 2

1. At what are Hogwarts students allowed to swear loudly if smoovenu attenuclea attempts to strangle them? venomous tentacula 

2. An animal form protector charm is a stuproan. Patronus

3. Who is the potions master in HBP? Choare Gushroln Horace Slughorn

4. What is Aragog? A troaclanuam acromantula

5. Who is imperiused and cursed by a necklace in HBP? Itkea Lebl Katie Bell

6. What does Harry destroy in HBP? choxerrous horcruxes

7. Draught of living death is comprised of ? (list the four components)

Half Blood Price's version:  valerin root, sopophorus bean, use a knife to smash the juice out, and every 7th stir it counter clockwise.

Advance Potions Making version:  asphodel, in an infusion of wormwood, valerian roots, sopophorus bean

8. What potion can reverse the draught of living death? dweliggnew Wiggenweld

Bonus: Who is R. A. B.?    Regulus Arcturus Black                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Poor Narcissa

I am listening to the Half Blood Prince at work and this morning I was struck how sad it must of been for Narcissa to go to Snape over Draco. A very disheartening feeling of doom knowing that your child is marked for death. I couldn't imagine.

I also remember how much I like that Dumbledore like reading knitting patterns! I thought it was funny the first time I read HBP and that was before I was knitting!

My status on my HSKS6 package is going pretty well except for the handmade item. I think I am going to try something else or change the fiber. I thought I could tuff out wool, but it has proven otherwise. I have to wear long sleeves and the weather here is still into the 90s. I have been so tired at night that I have been screwing up on it terribly. I think if I use cotton or try a new project I would be happier.

I started Jack Skellington on Monday night! I worked last night until 8pm and since I was on the Circ Desk I could knit. I got him mostly done while trying to read The Other Boleyn Girl, if that is the title? He is cute! I just have to problem solve the hands and do detail stitching and then I am done! I also started on Zero last night. I am not sure how I am going to make his brow slope...it is a pretty sharp slope. Mine probably won't be quite right, but oh well. The next character will be Oogy Boogy, R keeps asking for him. Go figure, a 3 year old liking Oogy Boogy.

Pondering

I am trying to work out my design for Jack Skellington. The body is pretty simple, the problem is his hands. They are long and then, pretty much out of proportion of his body. I am trying to figure a way to make them look right. No brilliant ideas yet. I am hoping it will come to me soon.

So, I am thinking of going back to school. This thinking has been going on for awhile. Now I have to decide between library science or art. I am going to have to force myself back into painting and I hate it. I don't want to force myself, I want to do it because something has inspired me. I think knitting maybe too much of a creative outlet for me. As stupid as it sounds, I thought about combining the two crafts.


I hate being an adult. Too many serious decisions.

Hogsmede Visit

The Hogsmede visit is scheduled for tomorrow!  But, the sad thing is I can't go.  :(  I got detention for setting off a dung bomb, stupid Peeves.  I have been told by a little birdie that there is a secret passage and tonight when everyone is asleep I am going to sneak to Hogsmede to get a butterbeer.  I have been craving one!

Cheers!