HSKS6 Best Kit Award!

Emma rang me at work today to direct me to the HSKS6 site for news on the Best Kit awards. Imagine my amazement when I saw a picture of the kit I had sent! I was utterly flabbergasted, and totally thrilled! It is a great honour, so thank you to everybody who voted for my kit. Bevin sent her owl to me with a message containing all the lovely things the Hogwarts students had said about my kit. It gave me such a lovely warm glow inside to read them. She also sent a plaque for my blog, which you can see on the sidebar here. It more than makes up for not getting a scroll for finishing my handmade item early - I overshot the deadline by a mile! I had a great time pulling together the kit for Eugene, (Brent in the Muggle world) who did a wonderful blog about it, including a video that I am sure is largely responsible for me winning the award. I will miss our correspondence, which was conducted mostly in verse. He is a very talented poet, and was very gracious about my little ditties! HSKS6 was a wonderful swap, with super participants, we had a blast playing Quidditch and doing homework at Hogwarts together. I had a simply gorgeous kit sent to me by Kaae, the amazingly talented Danish knitting witch. My house (Gryffindor) had a lot of fun with quizzes and cyphers, along with nearly catching the snitch in the 3rd round of Quidditch. And now it is all over until the winter term begins in HSKS7. We are on our Christmas break, for which I have stacks of stuff to do in order to be ready on time, must dash...!!!

Quidditch again!

Woohoo! Another game of Quidditch. Here are my answers to the quiz... 1. Who was Tom Riddle Sr.’s girlfriend before Merope gave him the love potion? a. Eleanor b. Cecilia c. Sally d. Mandy 2. What does Luna say floated into Harry’s ear when he was in the train car that supposedly caused him to lose focus? a. Demiguise b. Jobberknoll c. Wrackspurt d. Runespoor 3. How much do the primary Apparition lessons cost? a. 10 galleons b. 8 galleons c. 15 galleons d. 12 galleons 4. What is Professor Merrythought’s first name? a. Eileen b. Galatea c. Carol d. Jocelyn 5. What Hogwarts club was Eileen Prince captain of? a. Charms Club b. Gobstones Club c. The Slug Club d. Occlumency Club 6. Who is head of the Goblin Liaison office? a. Ambrosius Flume b. Dirk Cresswell c. Ciceron Harkiss d. Barnabas Cuffe 7. Mrs. Weasley offers Fleur a goblin-made tiara for the wedding with Bill. What family member is currently in possession of the tiara? a. Aunt Muriel b. Aunt Ethel c. Aunt Edna d. Aunt Thelma 8. How many points does Snape take from Gryffindor for Harry’s late arrival and muggle attire? a. 30 b. 70 c. 50 d. 90 9. When Profressory Slughorn first meets Hermione, he asks her whether she is related to Hector Dagworth-Granger. What society did Dgworth-Granger found? a. The Most Extraordinary Society of Charms d. The Most Extraordinary Society of Herbology c. The Most Extraordinary Society of the Defense Against the Dark Arts d. The Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers 10. Which of these describes Golpalott’s Third Law? a. The antidote for blended poison will be equal to less than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components b. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to less than the product of the antidotes for each of the separate compenents c. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the product of the antidotes for each of the separate compenents d. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components And now that is done I am taking my little wizard to the cinema to watch "Igor", I feel he needs some help in avoiding career pitfalls! Must dash...!!!

Awesome HSKS6 Package

After a long hard day at Gringott's, where we have all been doing our best to bolster the flagging Muggle economies around the world, I arrived home to find that a Danish owl had dropped off a huge package for me from Kaae. All of a sudden I felt full of life again, excited by the prospect of what was hidden inside the enormous box. After wolfing down my dinner, I set about opening the amazing package with my wonderful little witch assisting. We both kept letting out exclamations of delight as each item was unpacked, and it seemed to just keep coming! Here is a picture of all the contents displayed on my settee, as you can see pretty much taking up all the room available... And an index of contents... Knitting stuff: Knitpicks Harmony 2.5mm DPN's - for the 2 socks at a time technique Gryffindor magic wands zipped tube Retractable measuring tape - ideal for the snitch cover I intend to make Cherry Tree Hill merino fingering weight yarn in "Moody Blues" Yarn by Kaae to knit the Mr Weasley Tie Stitch-markers galore in my favourite blues - fish, dragonfly, flower Harry Potter Puppet Pals pattern - the kids will love these! Bellatrix sock pattern - ideal for the cherry tree yarn Fawkes sock pattern - my fingers are itching to have a go Eating stuff: Chocolate frogs - filled with caramel Chocolate eggs - already consumed by my little witch and wizard! Blue toads boiled sweets - clearly to dispel my dislike of blue food! Knight bus cookies - look totally scrummy Liquorice wands Hearting stuff: Gryffindor pouch - double knitted and felted, simply gorgeous Gryffindor wizard/witch hat - wonderfully quirky! Gryffindor tree socks - perfect for filling with treats for the children Golden heart bead Golden knitted tree ornament Turkish blue bookmark Here are some close-ups of my favourite items... The Gryffindor haul - pouch bag, witches hat, tree socks. The Yarn haul - Moody Blues and Weasley Tie. The Blue haul - Turkish bookmark and stitchmarkers with lovely boxes. The Cute haul - heart bead, chocolate frog, blue toad, tree ornament. Oh, and she also included the divine little hats for SPEW which I am to pass on to my dear sister Emma Wigworthy who is the Europe co-ordinator. So thank you Kaae for an absolutely amazing package, I love it all, and love you for taking so much care over it, and being so generous with your time and money. And now I have to take it to Emma's for her to drool over, must dash...!!!

Fireworks Night

I have had another wonderful week, culminating with a fabulous firework display at the school my little witch and wizard attend. Before that they took Daddy with them to a belated Halloween celebration where he was the life and soul of the party due to being plied with copious amounts of wine, with most other parents absteining as they were driving, whereas Mr Wychwood and our little dears were travelling via the Floo Network. It was apparently a great party, with the highlights being apple bobbing, and stick the wart on the witches nose (Daddy convinced the children it was my portrait they were sticking it on). And now we are visiting Grandma Wychwood for the weekend. We landed here just half an hour ago, and took the children straight to bed. And now I must make a bedtime drink for myself and Mr Wychwood. Must dash...!!!

Gryffindor House Assignment No.4

Well, here is the homework that was set by our dear prefect, Millicent Brocklehurst, known more familiarly as CentyB... 1. Name your favorite magical creature, and describe why it is your favorite. My favourite magical creature is the Unicorn. I have always been fascinated by this creature which in the muggle world is considered to be mythical. I have from the early days of my marriage to the wonderful Mr Wychwood been blessed by him with lovely unicorn gifts, including some miniatures which my little witch has decided to display in her bedroom. It is the mystery of the unicorn that attracts me so much, they are so beautiful, shy and yet powerful, and simply noble in their bearing. I love the scenes with the unicorns in the film Legend, although it breaks my heart that one is killed for its horn, a parallel with the muggle world in which Rhino's are in danger of extinction because their horns are so prized. Here is a picture which shows how beautiful and mysterious unicorns are... 2. Tell us your favorite charm, spell or curse, and explain why you like it. My favourite spell is Apparition. It is such a time-saving thing to be able to just magically move myself from one place to another, no matter the distance involved. I find it so frustrating in the muggle world taking hours to travel between family, friends, and places of work using trains, planes and automobiles. I confess that I sometimes cheat and use apparition because I am simply too impatient to bother with muggle transport. This of course forces me into using memory erasing charms to prevent my muggle colleagues from twigging that I am using magic to get from one end of the country to the other instantly! 3. Describe your favorite holiday family tradition - which holiday and what makes it special. This has to be Christmas, and the flaming of the Xmas pudding. As a child, my Dad always did this for us, before it was served with Mum's wonderful rum custard. Now we all have Xmas dinner at my dear sister Emma's house, where she and I use the traditional method of heating brandy on a spoon, lighting it and pouring it over the pudding, which is then all aflame. The children love watching the blue flames flicker, and of course rush to turn off the lights for this magical treat. 4. Name your favorite fiber-based (knitted, crocheted, or spun) finished object. I love the socks that I knit using the yarn sent to my by Queen Frysia. They were my first pair using the magic loop technique, and the yarn was simply gorgeous, not only in softness and colour combination, but also because it smells divine. The pattern was a toe-up one, and I finished it off with a lace border and picot edge, based on the one designed by Emma in the Luna's Moonlight socks. In fact I love them so much that I am wearing them as I finish this homework! And now, it is high time I carried on knitting Eugene's bag, must dash...!!!

Halloween Fun

We have just returned from a magical night with many wonderful wizarding families, including the splendid Wigworthy's. It was a party celebrating the wizarding world's main holiday of the year, which is of course Halloween. It was hosted at the local family pub/restaurant, in the attached childrens play gym. Needless to say, our little ones had a fabulous time, and of course were wearing their best dress robes. Here is a picture of my two minxes after all the fun, and proudly displaying the light-sticks that Aunty Emma so kindly gave them... My little witch was impatiently counting down the days until Halloween, so desperate was she to carve the pumpkin and don her outfit. And now of course I am exhausted after all the excitement, yet I still have my Gryffindor homework to do! Must dash...!!!

Gryffindor Assignment No.3

We have great homework assignments in Gryffindor, I love this one... Decipher the following quote from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: "OFXMWPOZCP DLJD APZAWP QTYO TE QLC PLDTPC EZ QZCRTGP ZESPCD QZC MPTYR HCZYR ESLY MPTYR CTRSE." SPCXTZYP RCLYRPC "DUMBLEDORE SAYS PEOPLE FIND IT FAR EASIER TO FORGIVE OTHERS FOR BEING WRONG THAN BEING RIGHT". HERMIONE GRANGER. Bonus 1: Who became scarred and developed a taste for raw meat in Chapter 29 of HBP? Bill Weasley. Bonus 2: Who developed an antidote for a birthday present in Chapter 18 of HBP? Professor Slughorn. Well, homework's done, and having been away at a magical convention for the last couple of days, I need to spend some time re-bonding with my family, starting with a trip out together. Must dash...!!!

Quidditch Round 2

Hurray, Quidditch again, I do hope we find the snitch this time though, we really need to up our points to stand any chance of winning the House Cup. Here are my answers for the pre-match warm-up... 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 Slughorn’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 I hope to be around for the snitch hunting, although this is by no means certain as we are taking our little witch and wizard to see a Disney On Ice show, this year it is Nemo and Friends. So if the snitch is released before I return late afternoon I shall miss all the fun again, although I shall no doubt have a wonderful time at the ice show. So, time to get the little ones to bed so that they are bright and fresh for tomorrow's outing, must dash...!!!

Gryffindor Assignment #2

I think I'm late getting this homework in, hope that the headgirl and prefect let me off! 1. At what are Hogwarts students allowed to swear loudly if smoovenu attenuclea attempts to strangle them? Venomous Tentaculae 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) Asphodel Wormwood Valerian roots Sopophorous bean 8. What potion can reverse the draught of living death? dweliggnew Wiggenweld Bonus: Who is R. A. B.? Regulus Arcturus Black And now I have knitting to do - a handmade item for a clever Ravenclaw boy. Must dash...!!!

Hogsmeade Visit

I had a wonderful trip down memory lane this weekend, having been asked by Mistress Wartbobble to hang around in Hogsmeade making sure that the inevitable high spirits of the students didn't boil over into a rumpus that would cause problems for the school. I of course took the opportunity to enjoy a cup of English breakfast tea at Madam Puddifoot's, served in her best china of course rather than the pottery mugs she uses for the visiting students. Everyone was on their best behaviour whilst I was there... I had to smile to myself with fond memories of the first stirrings of love that Mr Wychwood and I shared there over our loving cups during our own student days. Happily I was not embarassed by any similar exchanges between our students, although there was a first year Hufflepuff boy who must have been slipped a love potion, he was enthralled by every move made by Rowena Bladvak, 2nd year Ravenclaw. There was a group of giggling Slytherin girls in Gladrags, trying out various outfits. It was this very shop in which I purchased my gown for the Yule Ball, at which Mr Wychwood and I shared our first kiss. It was a perfectly delicious gown, in shot satin, which shimmered between green, blue and purple depending on the angle of viewing. Mr Wychwood particularly appreciated the plunging neckline! I popped into Scrivenshafts and picked up my favourite peacock feather quills, a luxury that was beyond me when I was a student, having then to settle for the common Mallard feather quills, which inevitably led to blotches in my essays, much like I now see from our poorer students in their Arithmancy extra assignments work. Zonko's was a popular place this year, with many of the students preparing for Mischief Night. I saw a 2nd year Gyrffindor purchasing a Nose-Biting Teacup, and so must remember to check my evening cuppa before raising it to my lips. In my day it was Flying Saucers that were popular, I shall never forget the look on Professor Umbridge's face when her favourite drink literally leapt out of her hands - of course it was Fred and George Weasley that set that one up! Well, now that I have shared this trip down memory lane with you, I really should help Mr Wychwood get our dear little ones to bed. My little witch loves me to make up bed-time stories for her, especially when they involve trips back in time to lark about with me when I was her age! Must dash...!!!

Gryffindor Quiz No.1

Thank you CentyB for this bit of fun... What yarn shop did Henry Longstaff shop at for yarn? Mrs Macs Who is the HSKS6 SPEW coordinator? Clidonia Acromantula Which Gryff student just returned from London? Lady Felula the Forgetful Which Gryffindor has cats named after the muggle rock band, The Ramones? Dagmara Grindelwald What is your favorite childhood television program (Magic or Muggle)? The Magic Roundabout! What is your favorite adult television program (Magic or Muggle)? Blackadder Which travel destination did you last visit? The Lake District What was your last finished object (FO)? Ravenclaw mini jumper How many project(s) planned for holiday gifts? 4 Hogwarts house mini-socks! How many do you expect to actually finish and give? 4! Who is the mother of Half Blood Prince? Elaine Prince Which Weasley became engaged in Book 6 (Half Blood Prince)? Bill What is the result of a Sectumsempra curse? The target is cut, anything severed from a target's body by this spell cannot be grown back by magic Who used a Bezoar to reverse poisoning? Harry Potter The witching hour is approaching, must dash...!!!

Masham Sheep Fair

I had a simply fantastic weekend, with the highlight being a trip to Masham Sheep Fair with my dear sister Emma Wigworthy. The sheep were in fine fettle, here is a picture of one of the local breeds - a Teeswater... It looks quite content, despite facing this picture of the Teeswater wool stall... Of course, I had to spend a little time admiring the wares! There were lots of sheep on show, with all of them entered in competitions. Here is a picture of the Jacobs class being judged... There were other wonderful sights to see, not least of which were the splendid Shire Horses pulling a dray of Theakstons Old Peculiar! Inspired by the marvellous creations on the local Spinners Guild stall, I was persuaded to purchase some gorgeous blue roving, which I have begun to spin on a drop spindle loaned to me by my beloved sister. It is very naughty of me to have started this, as I am not yet finished with the socks which are to go to Enna Kirts of Slytherin, who defeated me with her Expelliarmus spell which arrived on Saturday... And so, I really should get on with some knitting... must dash!!!

Quidditch Round 1

I love playing Quidditch. I am of course a veteran player, but that doesn't lessen the excitement any. It is just such a rush! 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 Picture scavenger hunt: Narcissa Snape Bellatrix Professor Sprout Professor Dumbledore And now I shall have to retire to my bedchamber, as tomorrow I will be at Masham Sheep Festival with my dear sister Emma Wigworthy, must dash...!!!

Hogwarts Picture Day!

Professor Wartbobble has decreed that today is Picture Day at Hogwarts - all staff and students have to share an image of themselves. So here is mine, taken in June this year by my little wizard, a great photo of my little witch and me together, I hope you agree that she is very cute! Both my little dears need a bath, having been up to mischief in the garden, must dash...!!!

Spoiling News

It has been an exciting week for me, learning that this term I am to be spoilt by a simply wonderful Danish witch, known as Kaae. I also have the pleasure of spoiling a poet, Eugene Nigeno, who is in Ravenclaw - I have had such fun reading his magical diary on the Floo Network. Today is my little wizard's 5th birthday, and he is full of anticipation for his party, which we are hosting at a huge local play centre. It will be a fun party, with many of his friends from elementary wizarding school including his elder sister, and his cousins who are of course Wigworthy's - my dear sister Emma's children. This of course means that I have stacks of little last minute preparations to get through, so I must dash...!!!

HSKS6 Questionnaire

I hope you read this Kaae! Potter Name: Lizzie Wychwood Rav ID: Wychwoodlady I am allergic to: Work! Nothing else fortunately. Pets that I have: None, unless you count my animal husband! My favorite yarn: Sock yarn, of course! I'd love to try a merino/silk mix. If you are a Ravenclaw, do you prefer the film colors or the book colors? I'm a Gryffindor! But if I were Ravenclaw I would go for film colours because they look great in Emma's Luna's Moonlight socks! My favorite flavor: Lime, closely followed by strawberry! My favorite holiday: Definitely Christmas. I would like to receive a: Yarn dyeing kit, if Kaae was willing to have a go at it, so am I (hope my first go is more successful!). Sock yarn please though! List your favorite brand of needles or hooks, including size and length: My all time favourite so far are Knitpicks Harmony circulars 2.5mm 32" long for magic loop knitting. I would love these in a longer version to try my hand at 2 socks at a time. Is there a brand that you are dying to try?: No, Knitpicks have me hooked! I've participated in HSKS: Once - HSKS5. Do you have a birthday during this swap?: No, but my little wizard will be 5 on 20th September! And now I have to finish up the package for my Twilight swap partner, the deadline for sending it is tomorrow - must dash...!!!

Mrs Longbottom!

I saw this test at Ophelia Ballycastle's, and thought I would have a go...

Your result for The Harry Potter Husband Test... Mrs. Longbottom Your perfect HP man is Neville Longbottom.

You like the nice guy. You don't need the best looking guy, or the most talented, or the most popular, or the most powerful. You want a guy who'll be there when you need him, who knows how to stick through the hard times, who isn't afraid to do what needs to be done, and who stands up to even his friends when necessary. You can't go wrong with a guy like this. (fanart by jeremia http://jeremia.deviantart.com/ used with permission) Take The Harry Potter Husband Test at HelloQuizzy This is surprisingly close to the character of my dear Mr Wychwood, so it seems that I have my perfect soul-mate anyway! And I hear him now, calling me to help get the children ready for bed, must dash...!!!

Places Visited

England is a wonderful country, we have such a variety of beautiful landscapes, historical buildings, and quirky shops. Here is a list of the places we visited during our 2 week family camping holiday... Marmion Tower Middleham Castle Brymor Ice Cream Parlour Black Sheep Brewery Wensleydale Longwool Shop Forbidden Corner Studley Royal Pateley Bridge The oldest sweet shop in England Langdale Ambleside Hawkshead Wray Castle Stott Park Bobbin Mill Fell Foot Park Hilltop Tarn Hows Acorn Bank Garden and Watermill The Alpaca Centre Aira Force Stickle Tarn Grasmere So as you can see, we had a very busy couple of weeks visiting lots of places using our English Heritage and National Trust memberships, and my dear sister Emma Wigworthy and I had a couple of trips out satisfying our fibre and yarn yearnings! And now we are off to visit my dear mother, as it's her birthday, must dash...!!!

Holidays

I have just returned from the most wonderful family camping adventure. We had a marvellous time, shared with my dear sister Emma Wigworthy's family, my mother and father, and my brother and his wife for the first week in Bewerley Park near Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire. For the second week the Wigworthy's and Wychwood's headed for the Lake District, where we camped at Great Langdale. Our little Wizards and Witch took up the challenge of fell walking and enjoyed great success. We were very fortunate to have our magical tent with us, and there were several muggles in awe of the exterior dimensions, but of course we did not allow any of them into the palatial interior. We will have to erect it again at home though, as it got rather wet due to unseasonal rains, and being on a a muggle campsite we did not dare use magic to dry it out for fear of arousing suspicion. During this fortnight of fun and frivolity, my spoilee Lily Finnegan posted pictures of the kit I sent on her blog, which was a great relief as I hadn't taken any myself before sending it, and so was unable to share with you pictures of my first ever swap package. Thankfully Lily did a wonderful job with her camera, if you want to take a look, let your mouse nibble here. Whilst away I was able to get started on my entry in the Ravelympics, in which I am participating with Team Hogwarts. I am competing in the Bag & Tote Backstroke, and am now about half way through the knitting. It is a bag for Miranda Moonstone, who is my partner in the Twilight Swap. And now I have lots of unpacking, washing, and getting ready for return to work and school to do, must dash...!!!

Joyous News

Specky has been found! Just one day after I had a "Lost" notice inserted in the Daily Prophet classifieds section, he has been spotted safe and well in Sweden. It turns out that the intended recipient of the package he was carrying had gone on an extended vacation, and our naughty owl decided to have a holiday of his own rather than return home to await her return. He hadn't considered that we would worry about him, and in old age he has become fiercely independent, to the point that he resents our concern for his welfare. Nevertheless, we still love him, and the children are overjoyed that he is returning to us. I have though insisted that he use a portkey to get back rather than risk another sea crossing, so we will be seeing him again very soon. I am preparing a welcome home feast of course, and the children want to help decorate the cake now, so I must dash...!!!

Anxious Times

It is rather tense in the Wychwood household at present. Our dear owl Specky is missing in action. He was last seen on 3rd July for his pre-flight checks before setting off for Gnesta, Sweden with a package for Lily Finnegan of Hufflepuff. None of the family have come out and said it directly, but I can see it in their eyes that they blame me for giving in to his pride and allowing him to attempt such a long journey despite his advanced years.

My little wizard is inconsolable at the extended absence of his life-long friend. Specky proudly delivered all the birth announcements when he was born, and has doted on him ever since, with the feeling being entirely mutual. Our poor little fellow is bereft. Of course he has a wonderful new little owl friend in QQ (a gift from Queen Frysia), but this does not make up for prolonged separation from his first feathered friend.

And my dear little witch has cried herself to sleep for the past two weeks. She is so tender, and cannot bear to think about what may have happened to Specky. We have of course shied away from suggesting that we may not see him again, putting it off until all hope is lost. I dread having to share that possibility with the children.

Here to cheer me up a little is a picture of my dear ones in happier times. I'm afraid it is a little grainy, as it was taken with a muggle device known as a "mobile phone", but it should be sufficient for you to see what they look like when having fun together...


I only hope that they will smile in this way again soon. I have posted a classified ad in the "Lost" section of the Daily Prophet, and hope that this may bring some good news. In the meantime, we have printed off some flyers and posters to distribute in the neighbourhood, a task which I shall begin this very night, must dash...!!!

Quidditch Round 3

Here are my answers...
1. When Hagrid returns to Hogwarts after being sent to see the giants with Madame Maxime, Professor Umbridge questions him on his late return to school. She suspects that Hagrid had been to the mountains, but where does he tell her he has been?
d. South of France

2. Professor Umbridge comes to Hagrid's Hut and searches his cabin one evening (as she believes Harry, Ron and Hermione are there visiting him at night when they are not supposed to). When she walks past the place where Harry, Ron and Hermione are hiding under the Invisibility Cloak, Harry holds his breath. True or false?
b. False

3. A stately-looking witch in an emerald green shawl is one of the members of the Advance Guard who rescues Harry from Privet Drive. What is her name?
a. Emmeline Vance

4. What is the name of the witch who was killed two weeks after the photo of the original Order of the Phoenix was taken?
b. Marlene McKinnon

5. Which two fifth year Ravenclaw students does Dumbledore choose to be prefects?
d. Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil

6. Which house was Rose Zeller sorted into?
d. Hufflepuff

7. What is the color of Murtlap's essence?
c. Yellow

8. Name the Ravenclaw girl who became prefect in Harry's fifth year.
b. Padma Patil

9. According to a healer's portrait at St. Mungo's hospital, which disease was Ron suffering from?
d. Spattergroit

10. Which book did Harry give Hermione for Christmas?
a. "New Theory of Numberology"

Picture Scavenger Hunt...

Padma Patil...


Hannah Abott...


Percy...


Dumbledore's Army...


Cedric Diggory...


Extra 5 pts - What movie will Robert Patterson star in this December?
Robert Patterson will star as Edward in Twilight this December. I have to report that there are mixed view in the Twilight swap group about his suitability for this role, with some drooling and others not as convinced!

Well, I have exhausted myself with all this Quidditch playing, and need my bed. Must dash...!!!

School Report!

My dear little witch had her end of year school report sent home today. I am happy to say that my creativity seems to have rubbed off... "She is happiest when surrounded by glue, glitter, paint, etc". But so have some of my less laudable traits... "You must try not to hum in class, as it distracts everyone" and "Listen carefully to instructions". Best of all is "Try to think in your head instead of out loud"!

Happily I have not been asked to contribute to any of the current Hogwarts student reports re extra lessons in Arithmancy, otherwise I would be very stretched to find nice ways of saying "could do better"! Homework frequently submitted late, or even missed, atrocious hand-writing, and my pet hate - unexplained absences. I am also very sad to say that academic standards have dropped since my day, many students have even struggled with understanding the house-points system, to the extent that our dear headmistress felt it necessary to put an explanation in the Daily Prophet.

Some of the answers given in the Arithmancy OWL have had me in stitches. For example...


And...


I must say though that the character of the Hogwarts students is the best of any of the wizarding schools. They are all without fail friendly, polite, generous, and always ready to assist each other with helpful hints and persistent encouragement. In my view this more than makes up for the woeful gaps in academic achievement.

Well, I have to get on with some more exam marking so that the students can have their results before the summer break. Must dash...!!!

Gryffindor Quiz No.4

This was great fun, I love cryptograms... "E FM YJA DBFU," QFET KFXXG EY F VJD RJESB, WHXG YJD PHMPEYN AKXJHNK KEM QJ AKFA KB AKJHNKA KB MENKA FAAFSU QYFPB EY F MJMBYA. "AKBY PXJRB EA! MFQABX GJHXQBVW!" QPFA QNAPE. "I AM NOT WEAK," SAID HARRY IN A LOW VOICE, FURY NOW PUMPING THROUGH HIM SO THAT HE THOUGHT HE MIGHT ATTACK SNAPE IN A MOMENT. "THEN PROVE IT! MASTER YOURSELF!" SPAT SNAPE. And now my little witch and wizard are demanding a bath (little witch has a fizzball with a mermaid hidden in it) - must dash...!!!

Magical Knitting

Would you believe that a witch of my middle years had never heard of the wonderful charm called "magic loop"? I have to thank my dear patron Queen Frysia for revealing this amazingly useful spell to me in a sock pattern she sent within the most generous package ever (I seriously doubt that we will see a better one). I have been busy practicing since yesterday with the gorgeous yarn and circular needles that accompanied the pattern. Here is a picture of my progress so far... The yarn is knitting up beautifully, it is Peruvian sock wool, made with 60% merino, 20% silk, 10% alpaca, and 10% nylon for strength. It is of course in the fabulous Gryffindor colours, and I am sure you will agree it looks divine. I am impatient to finish the socks and get them on my feet and feel their softness against my aging skin. In other knitting news, I have completed another couple of hats for SPEW. One is knit with adorable pastel pink yarn which was sent to me by Miranda Moonstone in a "random act of kindness", which is a heart-warming activity taking place this term at Hogwarts. The other is knit with left over yarn from socks I knit for my little witch. Here are the pictures... Oh joy, my needles are calling me to continue mastering magic loop with them, must dash...!!!

Gryffindor House Quiz No.3

Here are my answers... Who is your favorite member of the Order of the Phoenix? Molly Weasley - I find we have a lot in common! Favorite person at Hogwarts? Neville - my heart goes out to him. Favorite spell or charm to use? Reparo - always useful in my topsy turvy home. Best and worst classes at Hogwarts? Best class is Arithmancy (I am after all a Gringotts employee), worst class is Divination (even with stuff that has actually happened I am usually last to know!) Favorite flower? Bleeding heart - it is pretty and emotionally evocative. What is your beverage of choice? Coffee, tea, latte, soda/pop? Redbush tea - tasty and healthy. Favorite muggle music? Pink Floyd - Anything by them, but I love this one especially... How many family members do you have? Immediate family is 4 - DBH, daughter (6) and son (4) Extended family is huge, I have 3 brothers and a twin sister, all married with 8 kids between them. What do you do on your summer vacation? We go camping. The kids love it. We spend a week on a christian families camp, and then a week camping with my sisters family somewhere pretty. What is your Favorite vacation ever taken? 2 weeks in the Black Forest of Germany when our youngest was a baby, we stayed on a working farm and visited lots of beautiful and interesting places. What is your favorite subject at Hogwarts? Why? Arithmancy, I just love playing with numbers. How many pairs of shoes (footwear) do you have? Which are your favorite pair? Too many! I really need a clear-out, I have shoes that I know I will never wear again! Probably in the region of 20 pairs altogether. My favourite pair currently is the Regatta velcro sandals, they are so comfy and casual. I'm intrigued to know what pairs of shoes other than footwear I could have talked about! How many projects do you have OTN (on the needles)? One - the most recent hat for SPEW that I started on Sunday. What is the oldest project you're working on and when did you cast it on? Ha, see above! I did once have a jumper that was on my needles for at least 10 years, but I frogged it after attending a set of seminars called "the completion series"! Favorite food(s)? Most things that are bad for me! Fave cuisine is Chinese. Fave snack is blackcurrant liquorice. Well, that's it for the quiz, and now I really must get some more work done on the package for my spoilee, I want to hit the 11th July mailing deadline for DA points. Must dash...!!!

Time Flies

Where does the time go? There must be some magical answer to this question, given that we have time turners, and so are able to extend time. It’s just that I’ve lost mine, and so I have had to juggle the hours in the muggle way this week, and so time seems to have simply flown by. I have of course been very busy pulling together a package for Lily Finnegan of Hufflepuff, and will hopefully be sending Specky on his way with it early next week. I am having to make sure the package isn’t too heavy for our faithful but aging owl. He should really have retired from active owl duty by now, but whenever we tentatively visit a nice retirement owlery with him, he expresses his disgust in the usual fashion (it’s a good job we have our brooms with us!). I had to make time to join in the bonus snitch hunt on the same night as my date with Mr Wychwood. It was such a fantastic night, with the snitch triumphantly found by our wonderful Headgirl, Millicent Brocklehurst. We are very grateful to Madame Pomfrey for attending to Centy during her recovery from surgery, and helping her to feel well enough to sit on a broomstick. It was very brave of dear Centy to play really, but she was determined to see us improve our house points, and so overcame her pain and discomfort to play seeker in the most exciting match of the year so far. I have also been knitting some socks for my little witch, who has complained that the wool socks I last knitted her are “itchy”. I therefore purchased some beautiful man-made yarn, which horrified my sister Emma Wigworthy, who is a self-confessed “yarn snob” and will only permit a small amount of unnatural fibres in her own projects. The yarn I have is knitting up beautifully though, and so I have decided to embrace modernity in my knitting, with my only concession to tradition being the use of wooden double pointed needles (magic wands should be made from wood after all!) Time has flown by yet again whilst I have been writing this, and I have to pack up for the family as we are visiting Grandma this weekend, I’m sure she will love to see the socks I am knitting her dear grand-daughter. Must dash...!!!

Quidditch Round 2

Here are my answers and pictures...

1. At the beginning of the year feast, who is the only person who rudely interrupts Dumbledore during his speech?
b. Professor Umbridge

2. Off what street is the alley where Harry first met Sirius?
c. Magnolia Crescent

3. Tonks’ mother had two sisters, both pure-bloods, and both left on the Black Family Tree. What are their names?
c. Narcissa and Bellatrix

4. What spell are the students studying in McGonalgall’s class when Umbrdige is doing her inspection?
d. The Vanishing Spell

5. Who comes to warn Harry and the rest of Dumbledore’s Army that Umbridge and her group of followers are coming to break up their meeting?
Answer: Dobby

6. Who are the members of the Order that met Harry Potter in the Dursely’s house during the summer before his fifth year?
c. Alastor Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Elphias Doge, Dedalus Diggle, Remus Lupin, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore, Hestia Jones

7. Moody used the Disillusionment Charm on Harry.
a. Yes

8. Which of these Death Eaters is Sirius related to?
d. All of these

9. At what age did Sirius leave his home?
Answer: 16

10. How many of the original Order members were killed (don’t include those who disappeared)?
b. 8

Picture Scavenger...

Kingsley Shacklebolt...


Bellatrix Lestrange...


Nymphadora Tonks...


Remus Lupin...


And now for some snitch hunting prep - must dash...!!!

Royal Mail!

Queen Frysia's package has arrived!!! Amazingly I was at home when the postman delivered it, having decided at the last minute to take a morning's holiday for some quality time with my little wizard (along with a visit to the dentist). My dear sister Emma Wigworthy and her littlest wizard were with us too. The excitement was shared by all of us, and here to prove it is a picture of my little wizard hugging the parcel in anticipation of the mysterious contents... And now a photo of the first peek inside... The first item literally flew out of the box, and was immediately adopted by my little wizard, who has named his new Familiar "QQ". At first we thought he meant Cuckoo which seemed a little strange for an owl, but he has put us right on this, it is definitely QQ, and is a nickname meaning "CuteCute". He insisted on taking QQ with him to nursery to meet all his friends. Here is a photo of the new pairing... QQ had been guarding a treasure trove from the House of Slytherin, a veritable stash of Gryffindor treats and muggle delights. The loot was neatly packed into a gorgeous knitted and felted bag... HRH Queen Frysia had clearly used magic to get it all in, as you can see from this picture of the unpacked contents... You will see that there was a huge pile of gifts wrapped in Gryffindor house colours. Emma had to hold back our little wizards so that I could get the above photo, as they were desperate to unwrap these exciting packages, and once they had been given the green light there were ripped pieces of red and yellow tissue everywhere! And in the middle of this adrenalin packed activity, Emma was struck by two of the seven deadly sins - envy and greed... However, as elder sister (by 5 minutes!) I was able to assert my authority and persuade her that I was the rightful owner, with very little use of fingernails and fists. This was possibly helped by the fact that she has already received 2 splendid packages from her spoiler that I have coveted. Following a quick tidying spell, the full contents of the most amazing package ever were finally laid out for full scrutiny. And here I am with the loot, helped in the modelling by our little wizards, and our family familiar gorilla (who dresses appropriately for all seasons of the year) sporting the mini Gryffindor hat which Queenie had knitted. It was difficult to fit it all into a close up shot, so I am listing the contents below this photo... And the full list of contents... QQ the knitted owl familiar Felted knitting bag in Gryffindor colours (perfect, just what I wanted) Felted yarn bag in blue (my favourite colour) Quilted needle case in Gryffindor colours (heavenly) Knit Picks Palette yarn in Golden Heather and Garnet Heather Hand dyed Peruvian Sock yarn: 60% merino, 20% silk, 10% alpaca Perfect Sock Pattern: Toe-Up Socks on Magic Loop Knit Picks classic circular needles in 3.25mm Knit Picks double pointed needles in 2.00mm Knitting accessory set: measure, stitch holders, lockable stitch markers, row counter, needle gauge, darning needles, needle point protectors Notions cylinder Retractable tape measure Beaded stitch markers (divine) presented in a lovely gauze bag Mini sock in Gryffindor colours (so cute) Mini hat in Gryffindor colours (with pom pom!) Harry Potter stickers Harry Potter figure Harry Potter tassled bookmark Bertie Botts every flavour beans Harry Potter Blood Pops (the little wizards thought these were great!) Blue teapot stationery collection: note-cards, note-bloc, journal, memo-pad Surely that must be the longest list of package contents ever posted on HSKS? Queenie's generosity has totally overwhelmed me - she penned a personal message from her royal personage saying that she had to resist the urge to include the kitchen sink! I never dreamed when I signed up for this swap that I would end up with such an amazing package. Thank you Queen Frysia for this most gracious of royal mailings. I am writing this post from my sister Emma's house, as Mr Wychwood and I are elf-sitting in order for Emma and Mr Wigworthy to enjoy an evening of nuptial bliss at a local hostelry. All the elves are asleep, and I can hear Mr Wychwood calling me - must dash...!!!

Elves in need

Have you heard about the tragic plight of house elves? Up and down the land wizards and witches have simply not been educated to know that enslaving these poor little people is morally unacceptable. They must be allowed free choice. If they choose to serve wizarding families, then all well and good, but for them to be exploited without a thought for their own wishes is simply immoral.

In some cases, house elves are worked so hard that their off-spring are tragically underweight and sickly when born (often too early), and end up requiring specialist help from the dedicated colleagues of Madam Pomfrey who work in hospitals across our land. It is these poor baby elves who have been in my thoughts much of late.

There is a group of like-minded wizards and witches called SPEW which was founded some years ago by the heroine Hermione Weasley (nee Granger) who have come up with a cunning plan to help these sickly baby elves to full recovery and at the same time liberate them from a prospective life of slavery. This plan is a very simple one - knit hats which the little ones require to prevent them from losing essential healing body heat, and gift them to the little darlings.

I have been so inspired by this plan, that my needles have been clicking away, and I have knit 3 hats already, and completed the brim of my 4th. Here are some pictures of the finished ones:




It feels so good to know that the product of a most enjoyable pastime is going to help those poor babies, and it took such a little time to knit them up. I hope that my fellow witches and wizards reading this will be inspired to turn their needles to this worthy cause, and encourage you to look up SPEW on the floo network using this portkey.

Well, that is it from me, as Mr Wychwood and I have been persuaded by our little witch and wizard to take them to a wonderfully exciting soft play area in a neighbouring town. Must dash...!!!

Patronus

Apparently Professor Lufkin has suggested that Hogwarts students are not proficient in conjuring their patronuses. Now whilst DADA is not really my field of specialism (I offer extra tuition for Arithmancy), I did feel that I could give a little guidance to students who are too shy to approach the handsome Professor for assistance.

A good place to practice conjuring your patronus is on a farm, so that you may be inspired by the number of different creatures there. My own patronus is an owl, so it will now come as no surprise to you that my preferred practice arena was a disused barn in which lived a splendid barn owl. Here is a picture of the inspiring fellow who helped me to master this particular hex.



Unfortunately our beloved family owl, Specky, has just now got rather worked up about my having affection for any owl other than himself, and has expressed his disgust by leaving a "gift" on the shoulder of my best jacket, which I will have to clean up before the noxious chemicals permanently stain it. Must dash...!!!

Gryffindor House Quiz

Another quiz to get my little grey cells working... Unscramble the words below: 1. onihexp = pheonix 2. nro = ron 3. mayr = army (at first I thought Mary but didn't know any in Hogwarts!) 4. seelway = weasley 5. hrigda = hagrid 6. ifdynrrgof = gryffindor 7. dawn = wand (also thought this might be dawn, but not hogwarts specific enough) 8. oshawrgt = hogwarts 9. busnim = nimbus (this one took a while) 10. bdulodeerm = dumbledore 11. bydob = dobby (RIP ::sniff::) 12. bugmrdie = umbridge 13. emionehr = hermione 14. rhayr = harry 15. arkreech = kreacher 16. riissu = sirius 17. dootvlemr = voldemort 18. ptrote = potter 19. hwgedi = hedwig 20. ebtahlkclso = shacklebolt Great fun! Thank you Miss Black for such an entertaining quiz. Knitting for SPEW now, and on the crown of the preemie hat, so must dash...!!!

Meme

The inquisitive Belladonna Boomslang tagged me with this Meme, and I have been itching to make the time to respond with the care it deserves, and now at last I am back in my own home and able to spend time at my magical portal. 1. What was I doing 10 years ago? Would you believe I was working for a muggle firm of yarn spinners and weavers? Their products were James Shires Yarns and Saddleworth Woollens, and the spinning and weaving sheds were located in the wonderfully pituresque village of Delph, also famous for being the base for one of the Saddleworth brass band contests. The sheds are now in use by Mallelieu's of Delph who bought out Shires shortly after I left. 2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today? Sort through my stash to find yarn for S.P.E.W. projects. Decide which pattern to knit up for S.P.E.W. and cast on. Buy parchment for the handmade journal for my spoilee. Take a peek at www.getknitted.com to find needles for my spoilee. Take photos of the latest socks knitted for my little witch to publish on Ravelry. 3. Snacks I enjoy... Butter popcorn Walkers cheese and onion crisps (chips to you Americans!) Dime bars (yummy butterscotch toffee covered in milk chocolate) Blackcurrant liquourice boiled sweets Sherbet lemon boiled sweets 4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire... Buy a country manor house Take a round the world trip Lift some Africans out of poverty Give my parents a home makeover (they don't want to move!) 5. Places I've lived.. Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK Gutersloh, Nord-Rhein Westfalien, Germany Scampton, Lincolnshire, UK Flintham, Nottinghamshire, UK Brighouse, West Yorkshire, UK 6. Jobs I've had... Baby-sitter Cleaner Cashier Accountant Daughter Sister Wife Mother 7. Peeps I want to know more about... I have enjoyed the posts of the following on HSKS and Ravelry, and invite you to respond to this Meme if you care to: Lily Finnegan Queen Frysia Lavender Durmstrang who I see has posted a Meme already Avada AbraxamCatriona Lestrange Calliope Smythwyck Now, I really must get on with my S.P.E.W. projects, must dash...!!!

Quidditch Round 1

Mr Wychwood is not entirely happy about my taking a break in the family holiday to play Quidditch, but he appreciates that it promotes marital harmony to let me have some extra leisure activities.

Here are my answers...

1. Which of Arabella Figg's cats ran out from under the car? Tibbles

2. Which of the following is NOT one of Albus Dumbledore's middle names? Ignatius

3. Which educational decree introduced a High Inquisitor to Hogwarts? 23

4. Apart from Harry, Ron and Hermione, who was the first person to enter the Hog's Head that showed an interest in Harry's Defence Against the Dark Arts classes? Neville Longbottom

5. In the first Quidditch match of the year which player attempted to score first? Angelina Johnson

6. What kind of bush does Harry hide behind to listen to the news? A hydrangea bush


7. Why is Mundungus Fletcher disguised as a woman when he witnesses the DA (Dumbledore's Army) meeting in the Hog's Head pub? He was banned from the Hog’s Head pub 20 years ago.

8. When Harry and Cho go on their first date to Madam Puddifoot's in Hogsmeade, what is it decorated with for Valentine's Day? Golden cherubs and pink confetti

9. How old is Sturgis Podmore and where does he live? 38 and number 2 Laburnum Gardens Clapham

10. What did Fred and George Weasley do to Montague? Forced him head-first into a Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor.

Picture Scavenger Hunt:

Fred and George Weasley (Together)...


Hog’s Head Pub...


Sirius Black...


Mr. Weasley & Harry (Together)...


Draco Malfoy...


And now we are going to visit a fairy kingdom to give our little wizard and witch some early practice in pixie management, must dash...!!!