Birthday Surprises

I had such a wonderful birthday on Sunday. My little witch was desperate to give me my card and present, and was up at the crack of dawn to deliver them! Mr Wychwood had to send her back to bed with instructions to wait until he gave the all clear, so I did get a lovely lie-in. I dozed from that point on though, not slipping back into a deep or lasting sleep, and so got up at about 9am, but was forced back to bed by my little wizard as he and Daddy were busy cooking breakfast for me to enjoy in bed! Mr Wychwood scored major brownie points with my present - nothing less than the Royale Harmony Interchangeable Set (Gold Plated)! Emma rang to sing happy birthday, it is becoming a tradition for us to warble to each other down the phone like this on our birthday! Then we made plans to have a thoroughly indulgent day at Nostell Priory, where we met for lunch and a leisurely wander around the wonderful regency period house. My gift from Emma was fabulous, she had made me this wonderful felted needle roll... As you can see I have already transferred my DPN's and fixed circulars into it... I have been busy myself with knitting, firstly finishing off my Plimpy Tracks socks - the design makes me think of webbed feet... Then I set to with some old stash yarn to make an outfit for my little witch's baby, she has been begging me to knit some clothes for him for some time now! So he got some trousers, a jacket and matching scarf. I was quite proud of the jacket which I knit without a pattern, using a top down raglan technique... And now I really must get on with some knitting for SPEW, those poor elven babies are in need of charity. Must dash...!!!

HSKS Kit Delivered! RAOK Received!

What an amazing weekend we had in Edinburgh, it has taken me a week to get back into the swing of work and play! And now that the early send date is passed, I feel able to share with you all that thanks to a special dispensation from our dear Headmistress, Professor Wartbobble, I was able to personally deliver my kit during our fantastic weekend to Hermione Bagnold of Ravenclaw. She is an extremely brave witch who travelled all the way from Italy with her two little wizards, aged 2 and 3, whilst having the "trip from hell". Thankfully she didn't give up, and so we had the pleasure of her company along with her wonderful boys, who I must say compared very favourably with other little wizards I have known at a similar age (mine and Emma's included!) I don't want to spoil Hermione's exclusive journalistic opportunity by posting pictures of the kit yet, so I will just post this picture of her opening one of the gifts. It felt wonderful to cheer her up with this after her nightmare journey, which you can read all about here. She is an amazing mother to look so relaxed and happy after such an ordeal! And it wasn't all one-way, Hermione had brought us all a beautiful magnet each, here's a picture of mine... Following the wonderful weekend in Edinburgh I suffered with PMS - Post Meet Sadness, but was cheered up after a few days by a lovely RAOK from Lily May Clearwater, who had welcomed us to Edinburgh, her home town. She sent me some gorgeous stitch-markers, made by her clever hands, and a pair of foldable scissors - she is clearly gifted in Divination as I had been wanting a pair of these for quite some time... And now I really must get to bed, having swapped to British Summer Time today, I need to help my body clock to adjust, must dash...!!!

Waverley Station

Wow!

Time to leave

Here is our transport, unfortunately without modifications by Arthur Weasley. Farewell Edinburgh!

Wyrd Sisters musical pipes

Bringing traditional techniques bang up to date using these pipes made in 1757.

Hermione's Dress Robes

18th century style!

Magical Artifact 2

Cauldron, circa 1850 A.D.

Magical Artifact

Sock knitting machine, circa 1800 A.D.

Professor McGonagall's Dress Robes

Right from scratch!

Trip down Memory Lane

Dolls, construction kits, miniature craft sets, books galore, but sadly no Tales of Beadle the Bard!

SPEW knitting

Emma Gorodok busy making a hat to give to a badly treated elf.

Hufflepuff Dress Robes

Elladora in her house colours!

Aerial view of Hong Kong

From my broomstick!

Magical gift emporium

Oh, which one shall I choose?

In The Great Hall

Hermione's sticky toffee pudding!

Owl mail

Emma sending messages to her Slytherin friends. Note she is in House colours!

JK's view

The view from inside the Elephant House, apparently this was the inspiration for Hogwarts.

Charming place

Stopped here for a cheering charm.

Honeydukes

Yummy!

Scottish Spinner

On the street we met this lovely lady.

Mini sock supplies!

Look what we found at Madam Malkins! Mini balls of HP sock yarn!

Gryffindor Arms

My family crest!

Slytherin Dorm

Emma in the snakepit.

Heir of Slytherin

Emma Wigworthy at her family seat.

Durmstrang

We have popped here to see our fellow students!

In The Hogs Head

Dumbledore's Army meeting in progress!

Time to go back to my dorm now though, must dash...!!!

Elephant House

I am sat eating lunch at the Elephant House in Edinburgh, where JK Rowling first wrote the wonderful story of Harry Potter. I am here with friends from HSKS, Lily May Clearwater, Emma Gorodok, Elladora Madley, and my dear sister Emma Wigworthy. Hermione Bagnold is on her way we hope! No idea if this picture will post from an email Blog post, hope so! If successful I will post a picture of the motley crew. We we're planning trips to Honeydukes, The Three Broomsticks (whisky museum), Hogwarts Castle (the city one), Nocturn Alley this evening (King Mary Close). Must dash...!!!

Quidditch Round 2

Yippee, another round of Quidditch, means that we will be hunting the snitch soon, which is so much fun. Here's my shots at goal... 1. On which day did the Order of the Phoenix come to get Harry? a. Tuesday b. Sunday c. Saturday d. The day of his 17th birthday 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? a. Voldemort b. Death Eaters c. Scrimgeour d. Grindewald 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? a. Yes b. No 4. Why did the Dumbledore's move to Godric's Hollow? a. The reason is unknown b. They were tired of their old home. c. The father went to Azkaban d. It was a better place for their children to grow up 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? a. Why the Dumbledore family moved to Godric's Hollow b. That Dumbledore was friends with Grindelwald for a while. c. Why nobody outside the family noticed Ariana much. d. The reason for Dumbledore's father's imprisonment in Azkaban. 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 Broother'. The brother buried there once owned what? a. The ressrection stone b. The cloak c. The wand d. The sword 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 b. They though he would come to her rescue c. She was a muggleborn d. Her father failed as a Death Eater 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? a. Dumbldore telling Snape that at some point Snape had to kill him. b. Snape telling Lily she was a witch c. Snape and Lily having fun in a potions class d. Snape talking to Dumbledore on a hilltop 9. On the search of the Lost Diadem, Harry finally gets to takl to the Gray Lady. Who was the Gray Lady when she was alive? a. She didn't remember because she had been dead for so long. b. Rowena Ravenclaw. c. Helena Ravenclaw. d. A girl who was put in ravenclaw 800 years previously 10. Which of these is not one of Harry or Ron's children? a. Rose b. Hugo c. James d. Victoria Picture Scavenger Hunt: Lily Ron Snape Luna Godric's Hollow Time to get some mental preparation done for the snitch hunt now, must dash...!!!

HLBOES Good to Go!

I'm very excited to tell you that my package for Luna Lovegood is ready to go. It will have to wait until Monday now though as the Post Office is closed from Saturday lunch over here! But to whet her appetite, here is a teaser photo of the wrapped contents... And now, I really must get on with finishing the package for my HSKS spoilee, who I am seeing next week in Edinburgh! Must dash...!!!

Gryffindor Arithmancy Assignment

It would seem that some of our Gryffindor students this term have been struggling with their Arithmancy assignment. It takes me back to the days when I grappled with calculus and algebra, and was so utterly dismayed when I discovered my answer was wrong. I actually love mathematical challenges, so it always a surprise to me when I come across people who don't, and especially witches who knit! One of the things that I find so satisfying about knitting is how much it relies on numbers - how many to cast on, how many stitches in the pattern way, how many rows, how many yards of yarn you need, the gauge, the needle size... This week I have had a great time knitting a pair of socks for my little wizard, to finish off the yarn I used in my own Belle Epoque socks. Not knowing how far the yarn would go, I went for knitting 2 at a time toe-up socks. This time I experimented with gusset increases to create extra room around the ankle/heel given the last pair I knitted were a little tight with just a short row heel. I had to work out how to decrease again from the bottom of the heel up to the leg whilst creating an appropriate heel shape. I loved the stitch pattern though, a simple K3P2 rib, with every sixth row being YO/SL1/K2TOG/PSSO/YO/P2, which creates a wonderful crocodile skin like effect. Here are the finished socks modelled by my very appreciative little wizard... And now I am itching to do some more knitting, must dash...!!!

HLBOES Summer SPEW project

I've just seen that in HLBOES we are contributing two-tone strips to an Afghan for a summer SPEW project. I've just checked my stash and found some yarn which I think is suitable - it came from Mr Wychwood's mother, who is sadly now too riddled with arthritis to knit any more. The pattern calls for worsted weight, whereas this is double knitting, but I think I can hit gauge by knitting with 2 strands at once. I will have to swatch (which I hate doing, it just feels like a wasted piece of knitting!) to make sure I am right about this, must dash...!!!

HSKS Gryffindor Ancient Runes Assignment

Well, at least that is what I think it is! This week we have been set the task of interpreting this piece of historic text: CVMMT GJJFZY VMJPIY; OCZMZ RVN BDIIT MPIIDIB OJRVMY CDH; NCZ CVY V CVMY, WGVUDIB GJJF DI CZM AVXZ VN NCZ OCMZR CZM VMHN VMJPIY CDH. VIY RDOCJPO OCDIFDIB, RDOCJPO KGVIIDIB DO, RDOCJPO RJMMTDIB VWJPO OCZ AVXO OCVO ADAOT KZJKGZ RZMZ RVOXCDIB, CVMMT FDNNZY CZM. Here's a picture clue to the result I got... And here is the actual text: HARRY LOOKED AROUND; THERE WAS GINNY RUNNING TOWARD HIM; SHE HAD A HARD BLAZING LOOK IN HER FACE AS SHE THREW HER ARMS AROUND HIM. AND WITHOUT THINKING, WITHOUT PLANNING IT, WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE FACT THAT FIFTY PEOPLE WERE WATCHING, HARRY KISSED HER. I started by guessing which words were "the", and using those letters I next guessed at "there" which also gave me "her", which made me think I was definitely on the right track and led me to conclude that the first word could be "Harry". The rest just flowed from then on, and was pretty much just a filling in exercise. I loved it, and it is probably the quickest I have ever done a cypher! On the knitting front I am almost finished with the bag for my spoilee, all that is left to do is lining it and attaching the handle! And so without further ado I shall get started on it again, must dash...!!!

Gryffindor History of Magic Assignment

What a wonderful time I had last weekend on the visit to Hogsmeade. I was there to chaperone the students of course who were there to let their hair down, having had an exciting week of inter-house Quidditch. Unknown to the Gryffindor students they were to be tested on their History of Magic knowledge with a surprise assignment upon their return in which they had to explain the historical significance of one of the places they had visited in Hogsmeade. Quite an easy challenge really, given that nearly everywhere in Hogsmeade has historical significance following the Voldemorte wars, and Harry Potter's many adventures there. For me, the most significant place is the Hog's Head, it being the place where Dumbledore's Army was founded. The group of student friends who joined together in defiance of Voldemort in my opinion was just as important in the war against his minions as the Order of the Phoenix, the secret fellowship of adult wizards and witches who pulled together in the struggle against Voldemort's evil campaign. But much less known is that this place was also a regular haunt of myself and Mr Wychwood, who managed many secret meetings there during our years of courtship whilst attending Hogwarts. It was a young love that has stood the test of time, and although he has many faults, he will always be the centre of my life, along with the wonderful children who are the fruit of our love for each other. So the trip to Hogsmeade was for me another delightful trip down memory lane! Well, I really had better get on with getting all my housework done before this weekend's outings. I shall be taking our little wizard and witch to the cinema tomorrow to see Inkheart, and on Sunday we shall be joining the Wigworthy's for some cycling fun now that all our little ones have mastered muggle bicycles - what fun they will have when they graduate to brooms! Must dash...!!!

HLBOES DADA assignment

Our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Finch-Fletchley (try saying that quickly!) has set some tough homework for this week, I hope I get a good score for my house! Who is the author of the books prescribed for Defence against the Dark Arts? a. Newt Scamander b. Adalbert Waffling c. Bathilda Bagshot d. Quentin Trimble When conjuring a Patronus, the user is supposed to produce what type of thought? a. Happy b. Powerful c. Sad d. Funny Who was the teacher of Defence against the Dark Arts in Tom Riddle’s time? a. Albus Dumbledore b. Armando Dippet c. Galatea Merrythought d. Phineas Nigellus Black Which Defence against the Dark Arts teacher is an accomplished Occlumens? a. Alastor Moody b. Dolores Umbridge c. Severus Snape d. Remus Lupin Which of these spells is the Full Body-bind Curse? a. Impedimenta b. Petrificus Totalus c. Incarcerous d. Impervious Lord Voldemort used Avada Kedavra on Harry Potter in the Little Hangleton graveyard. But another spell used by Harry at the same time caused the Priori Incantatem effect. Which spell did Harry use? a. Accio b. Expelliarmus c. Levicorpus d. Crucio Which of the following can the Unforgivable Curse not do? a. Kill someone b. Cause terrible pain c. Make parts of the body fall off d. Become controlled by someone Which kind of people are known to use Unforgivable Curses very commonly? a. Members of the Order of the Phoenix b. Death Eaters c. Dementors d. Dumbledore’s Army One of the Horcruxes was a ring. Whom did the ring belong to? a. Albus Dumbledore b. Marvolo Gaunt c. Salazar Slytherin d. Godric Gryffindor The creation of a Horcrux requires: a. Injuring someone b. Stealing c. Killing someone d. Using Cruciatus Curse on someone Extra Credit: Name the 3 Unforgiveable Curses. Describe how to cast each and the effects of each curse. Why are they unforgiveable and what will happen to the person who cast them? Imperius Curse - this is cast by pointing a wand at the victim and incanting "Imperio". The caster then has total control over the actions of the victim. Cruciatius Curse - this is cast by pointing a wand at the victim and incanting "Crucio". The curse causes almost unbearable pain for the victim. Killing Curse - this is cast by pointing a wand at the victim and incanting "Avada Kedavra". The curse results in a flash of blinging green light and a rushing sound, and the instant death of the victim. These curses are unforgiveable because of their dreadful effects, and because they take great magical power to resist, indeed there is no known counter-curse for the killing curse. The use of any one of these 3 unforgivable curses can result in life-long imprisonment in Azkaban. And now my DADA assignment is done, I really had better get out my text-books to swot up for my next assignment in History of Magic, must dash...!!!

Tag

I was tagged by Ophelia Ballycastle with this... 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. So here is the picture: It is my little witch, taken 2 years ago now by Mr Wychwood. She was in our bedroom with our little wizard, and they were up to mischief at my dressing table. At this stage all she had done was spray perfume, but they were discovered later looking rather fetching in my make-up and clothes! I'm going to tag my dear sister Emma Wigworthy, our other English Gryffindor student Thalia Tinkwych, our new seeker Lydia Figg, my spoiler from last term Kaae, my spoiler this term Megaera Black, my first ever spoiler Queen Frysia. Well, that's it for this post, have to get the kids tea ready now, must dash...!!!

HLBOES Hat

My big news this week is that I have finished making the hat for my spoilee Luna Lovegood in the HLBOES swap. It has been quite an adventure, as I started out making one hat, and had knit approx 6 inches when I dedided to frog the whole thing, I just didn't like the way it was turning out. So I switched to a totally different pattern, and am so glad I did, I love the end result! However, I cannot spoil the surprise by sharing it here with you until after Luna has received her package. But here as a little teaser is a picture of the leftover hufflepuff yarns I used... And now I have to get cracking with the rest of her package, must dash...!!!

HSKS7 Quidditch Round 1

Brooms at the ready! 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 year b. The Dursleys kicking him out c. 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 Shaclebolt b. Minerva McGonalgall c. 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 freedom b. 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 Snape b. Lucius Malfoy c. 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 hair c. Hedwig’s head d. 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 And now to find the snitch, must dash...!!!

HLBOES Charms Assignment

In the Hogwarts Little Bit of Everything Swap we have been practicing "vanishing" charms, in other words disappearing unfinished projects! The homework assignment spurred me on to finish knitting the socks I has been knitting for my little witch. Here is the stage they were at when the homework was set: And here is a photo of the finished socks modelled by my little witch, who absolutely adores them: Of course, I have other unfinished projects to be getting on with, not least of which is the hat for my partner in the swap, so must dash...!!!

Gryffindor Muggle Studies Assignment

Here is my offering of words (4 letters or more) made from "Muggle Studies", not a patch on Thalia's extensive list! I stopped at 100 when I was beginning to struggle. However, I am pretty chuffed with my longest word being "suggested" with 9 letters! 1. Deems 2. Diets – Muggle women are constantly doing this. 3. Digests 4. Digs 5. Dime 6. Dims 7. Duel – ancient practice of settling a score 8. Dues 9. Dust 10. Duties 11. Elite 12. Gilt 13. Gist 14. Glee 15. Glides 16. Glued 17. Glues 18. Glum 19. Gluts 20. Guests 21. Guides – organisation that helps muggle girls to “make a difference” 22. Guilt 23. Guises 24. Gums 25. Gusts 26. Legged 27. Legs 28. Less 29. Lest 30. Lied 31. Lies 32. Limes – the fruit eaten by British muggle sailors to avoid scurvy 33. Listed 34. Lists 35. Lugs 36. Lusted 37. Lusts 38. Lutes 39. Meets 40. Melds 41. Melted 42. Midges – pests, especially to muggles who enjoy camping holidays 43. Midgets – a term for small muggles now deemed inappropriate 44. Miles 45. Misled 46. Miss 47. Missed 48. Misses 49. Misted 50. Mists 51. Mites 52. Mugged – assaulted and robbed 53. Mugs 54. Mules – a muggle animal being a horse/donkey cross-breed 55. Mused 56. Muted 57. Mutes 58. Seeds 59. Sidles 60. Sited 61. Sites 62. Sits 63. Sledges – British muggles use these for sledding 64. Sleds 65. Slides – muggle girls wear these in their hair 66. Slims 67. Slits 68. Sludge 69. Slued 70. Slugged – hit on the face 71. Slugs 72. Sluts 73. Smelted – when metal has been melted to be transformed into an object 74. Smelts 75. Smiled 76. Smiles 77. Smites 78. Smudges 79. Smuggled 80. Smuggles – secretly imports an item to avoid tax or because it is illegal 81. Smut 82. Sties 83. Stiles 84. Stimulus 85. Stud 86. Studies 87. Studs 88. Suggested 89. Suited 90. Suites 91. Teems 92. Tees – used by muggles in a most peculiar pastime called “golf” 93. Tides 94. Ties 95. Tiled 96. Timed 97. Timeless 98. Times 99. Tugs 100. Tums – baby talk meaning “stomache” I hope everyone enjoyed this as much as I did! More homework to do now though for HLBOES, must dash...!!!

Gryfferin Quiz - Spoiler Helplist!

Here's a quiz that we Gryffindors have shamelessly plagiarised from Slytherin... What are your three most favorite colors? Blue, Purple, Green. What are you three least favorite colors? Yellow, Salmon, Orange. Your favourite candy? Blackcurrant liquorice. Who is your favorite Weasley? Molly. Do you knit, crochet, or both? Both, but mostly knit. What type of kit did you ask for? Bag kit. Acrylic? Has its uses, my daughter hates "itchy" wool! Who is the Gryffindor Head Girl? Millicent Brocklehurst. Name four "extras" you would love to receive in your kit. Folding scissors, Knitpicks view sizer, Shrinkydinks, Display file for patterns. What are your three most favorite scents? Lavender, Lily of the Valley, Lime. Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks? Sweet. Which Gryffindor and Slytherin students are sisters in real life? My twin Emma Wigworthy and I! Here we are in HSKS5 attire... Do you really need more stitch markers? No! But I would love some like these! DPNs, circular, or straight? Circulars for magic loop 2 at a time socks of course! Favorite yarn? Knitpicks essential sock yarn, it is lovely to knit up. Dream yarn? Knitpicks Shimmer Hand-Dyed Lace Yarn in Stained Glass Colourway. Favorite HP Movie? Goblet of Fire. Favorite HP character? Hermione. What is your favorite pattern? Currently it is the house bookscarves by Emma. I also like the fairisle pouch bags by Rosemary Waits, and would love to adapt it to make a round drawstring pouch to hold small projects like the bookscarves. Michief managed, and now I really must get to bed. It is past witching hour, and I have to be up in the morning for my little witches birthday party at a wonderful local muggle play centre. Must dash...!!!