Back to School Soon

The weeks have been busy enjoying the summer and getting myself prepared to start a new term. Sorry that I haven't been very talkative, but the moments of lots of relaxation are few and far between at this time, unfortunately :( I hope to catch up with some of you this week.

First Clue - Game #6

I thought that I wouldn't make you search too hard for this clue :) As to which potion this will be it's anyone's guess.

Which potion contains Powdered Moonstone and Syrup of Hellebore?

So Much Updating To Do

And no time to do it! I still have to post about my visit with Kari (oooppps! Can't remember Potter name) and then my crazy week as I've prepared to leave for graduation. Will be updating my muggle Facebook through the weekend, so be sure to watch if you have access!

Munchkin Camp

Today I'm taking 2 of my kiddos to Munchkin Muggle Camp. Actually, they are far from munchkins. This will be their first church camp trip and I worked soooooo hard to get them there this year. Major fundraisers and the whole bit. We still have an upcoming fundraiser in August that will bring in the funds that some of us parents were short on.

Right now the munchkins are cleaning my car. I'll try to remember to take a pic and I'll update this post with their adorable camp faces later today :)

Game Two, Part Two

Okay, for my answer I got:

When in daubt (doubt?) go to the library. The link I chose was Hermione Granger because I figured if anyone was linked to the library it would be her, but no. I was wrong.

Game Two, Part One

In the second volume of the HP books by JK Rowling, The (#1)The Chamber of Secrets, we continue to learn the incredible adventures of Hogwarts student (#2) Harry Potter and his friends (#3) Ron Weasley and (#4) Hermione Granger. Belonging to the house of (#5) Gryffindor, they attend Defense Against the (#6) Dark Arts taught by Wizarding celebrity (#7) Gilderoy Lockhart, a none-too-bright fellow who cannot even handle pixies!

In The (#8) Chamber of Secrets, we also meet Dobby a (#9)house elf for the first time. Determined, Dobby seeks to sabotage the return of (#10) Harry Potter to Hogwarts and is pretty persistent but is unsuccessful. After a few weeks at school, the deceased Ravenclaw student who haunts the girls lavatory, also known as (#11) Moaning Myrtle, shows (#12) Harry Potter and (#13) Ron Weasley an old empty diary that dropped through her ghostly form out of thin air!

Many nifty things continue to happen for the next several months… we won’t go into all the juicy details right now… however, the ending is prime reading indeed!! (#14) Harry Potter finally kills Tom Riddle’s (a.k.a #15 Voldemort) sneaky diary (which we now know is a #16 Horcrux) and saves the sister of (#17) Ron Weasley, (#18) Ginny Weasley!!!

Oh! Of course, we must mention that the thickheaded (#19) Gilderoy Lockhart unintentionally erased his own memory, so he won’t be back for book three, The (#20) The Prisoner of Azkaban…

Busy Last Few Days

As campers get settled in there are only a few who have been able to participate. Still letters or warning must be sent out. I do so hate sending out those letters, but it must be done or else the other campers don't feel the benefit of having their camp mate around.

So, a few things that may help:

Pre-date a Post
No one even need know that you are gone!! Blogger allows you to pre-date your posts, so you could write a few short posts that will publish while you are away from your cabin on vacation or otherwise. Just choose the "Post Options" link at the bottom of the Create a Post box, change the date, and your all set!

Send a Hallmark E-card
You can predate a Hallmark e-card, so that your spoilee receives a little love while your away.

Communicate When You'll Be Away
I can not say this enough. If you think that you will be away for an extended period of time let someone know! Just a simple email letting us know that you'll be away from your computer for the week is fine. This way we will not expect you to post during that week. Email your Cabin Counselor, your spoilee, and spoiler to let them know.

I hate to drop anyone from the swap, but I also need to make sure that others do not feel neglected.

Great Campfire Chat

We had a great campfire chat today! There were over 10 people chatting at one point in time. Various campers popped in and out. Several of us revealed our truths from last week and many of the answers were quite surprising!

For the record - my lie was #2. I DO NOT want to go to the Bahamas. I can't stand the heat here in California, why would I want to subject myself to humid heat? Anyway, that is my answer :)

If you are available for the afternoon/evening chat, please join us! We'd love to have you. The link is located at the top of the main camp blog and will be posted in the rav forum at the time of the swap. See you then!!

Yay, for Campfires!!!

I absolutely LOVE camping! Unfortunately, the whole camp experience as a kid only went as far as camping in an RV in my yard. I think my parents figured that since we lived in the wilderness that was good enough. Plus we were rather poor growing up - my parents could not afford to send my sisters and I to camp. So, to make up for lost time I camp as often as I can as an adult!!

Every time I go camping I like to find new and interesting recipes to cook. Some of my favorite recipe resource sites are below:

Chuckwagon Diner

Campfire Recipes

I also found a neat site on how to make an awesome pot of coffee while you're camping.

The Coffee Site

And, I think one of my favorite - camping or not - is French Toast. Yum!

Campfire French Toast Recipe

I hope that these links helped you! I know that they have made me hungry!

Whew! Took Me All Week!

But, I finally got a chance to relax in the great outdoors! I LOVE camp. I hope everyone's having a good time so far.

My Spoilee/Spoiler

I love looking through people's queue's to see all the different patterns, so I loved this exercise. We had to look through the queue's of our spoilee and spoiler and name our favorites.

My Spoilee is Cassie Grubbly-Plank/mandyknitster. 120 items in her queue!!! She had a beautiful set of mittens called Green Autumn (Druid mittens) that I loved!

My spoiler's name is Astrid Cloverleaf/msrib. Astrid only has 7 items in her queue, so it was rather easy to choose. She has a paire of Snicket Socks in her queue that are very cute and look fun to knit. Except I'm not really a sock knitter, so they'd probably take me EONS to knit.

Ten Things

Well, some of these things were just outright thrown into my trunk. Thankfully, though, no bottles were broken.

Potions - Oooogles and oogles of potions. The potions actually take up most of the space in my trunk, so putting together this list of 10 things might be rather hard. Hmmm . . . I suppose I could list 6 of my handiest potions, yes?
But, alas I'm supposed to be listing things that begin with the letter "W"
1. A copy of Wandmaker
2. My Wand, of course
3. My Wardrobe,
4. Weird Wizarding Dilemmas and Their Solutions
5. Wellington Boots
6. Where There's a Wand There's a Way
7. A copy of Witch Weekly. Hopefully, they will have some campfire recipes
8. Wolfsbane Potion
9. A little light reading for next term. W.O.M.B.A.T.
10. A copy of Which Broomstick

Well, that's lots of reading material, but what else would you expect from the Headmistress?

3 Truths and 1 Lie

This should be interesting :)

1. I LOVE country music

2. I've always wanted to vacation in the Bahamas.

3. I learned to drive when I was 13 years old.

4. I've been as far east as Oklahoma

So, whatcha' think? Which one is the lie?

Breaking News

Actually, this isn't breaking news, but it's new to me! The muggle company Xbox has shut down all access to Xbox live today because they are testing a new innovative way to interact with the Xbox. My eldest dd just told me that we won't be able to watch a movie through the Xbox using Netflix because the access is denied. So sad, but kind of excited with what Xbox is doing. Check it out:



UPDATE: Hubs told me that the problem they are having with this is that it doesn't register dark skinned people. Not even light colored Black people!! So, if they can't get it to work I wonder what they'll do.

In My Office

In my office this morning attending to camp business. Had to run out this morning and get myself a Nutty White Mocha! LOVE! But, I can only afford about one a week currently. Unfortunately, camp staff only gets paid once a month! Can you believe it? So, I have to ration out the goodies that I allow myself. But, mmmmmmmmm, is it good!

Be sure to check out the main blog because we are deciding on a DADA Professor for the summer session. There are definitely some yummy decisions to make, and I know that Wisty is itching to get starting with the DADA orientation. She's got it down perfectly. I think she already has a set orientation schedule and run through planned because she's done it so many times already. I'm perfectly at ease because I know that whomever is chosen will be in good . . . eh hem - hands!

In other news, I'm excited to have Cassie Grubbly-Plank as my spoilee for the summer. I'm sad, however, because the link that I have to her blog is not working. Oh, Cassie!!! If you read this please let me know ASAP what you blog address is. Can't wait to read it!

Also, it turns out that I did not have nargles in my sleeping bag, but Horklumps!!! They must have jumped in when I went through my garden at home.

WINGO

Well, I guess we are playing WINGO. I will have to add as I go. This is what I have so far:

Getting Settled In

Whew!!! I feel like I just blew in here on a tornado! I'm so grateful to finally be at camp and have everyone settling in. There is still a lot of work to do for me before I can really join in on the festivities, but I wanted to express my heartfelt welcome to every camper that has chosen HSKS Summer Camp this summer.

Okay, enough of that. I have to make sure there are no nargles in my sleeping bag! More tomorrow!

Last Day of HSKS7

Well, today is the last day of HSKS 7. The end of the term is certainly not my most favorite part of the term. There are lots of email owls flying back and forth, checking and re-checking lists, following up with those who are silent about their kits. The end of the swap does not overshadow the rest of the swap, though. That is why I like HSKS so much. I have also met some awesome people throughout the life of HSKS. Those mentioned below have gone above and beyond this term to make sure that things run smoothly. They have also been a great support to me in various ways and I appreciate them.

HSKS Administrative Staff

• Wisteria Lovegood/Neila (Ravenclaw) - She is fiercely loyal and dedicated. HSKS would not be where it is today if it were not for her input and willingness to get her hands dirty. Thank you!!

• Quinn aka Lavender Ackerly/Kim (Slytherin) - She is extremely dedicated and willing to help where needed. She is another one who has contributed to the improvement of each swap in which she has participated in. Thank you!

HSKS Students

• Bevin Rae Mooney/Heather (Ravenclaw) - The heart of a lionness! She is dedicated and passionate :) She has stepped in with Best Kits and offered numerous suggestions and help to improve the swap.

• Olive Bumblebirch/Sarah (Ravenclaw) - Another one who is passionate in what she believes in. She has dug in and offered suggestions on improving things and has offered tools of efficiency for HSKS 8.

• Hermione Bagnold/Donetta (Ravenclaw) - I think of her as Olive's sidekick. She is protective, she is supportive, she is heartsy, and she is awesome.

Thank you so much for bridging the virtual gap to make lifelong friends and for your dedication to making HSKS a great swap!

Quidditch ~ Round Three

1. This “Harry Potter” character’s first name comes from Roman mythology. The mythological character’s twin brother is named Romulus. What is the Harry Potter character last name?

b. Lupin

2. Which “Harry Potter” character’s first name is the Roman equivalent of the Greed Goddess Athena?

c. McGonagall

3. In ‘Harry Potter’ World, this wizard has created the Philosopher’s Stone (called the Sorcerer Stone in the US). The historical figure from the 14th and 15th centuries was a scribe and a manuscript-seller who became famous as an alchemist. Who is this individual?

Nicholas Flammel

4. What is the first name of a character whose last name is the name of a Bulgarian leader from early 9th century who doubled the country’s territory?

c. Viktor

5. Which character’s name is the name of goddess in Indian mythology?

b. Patil

6. “Where the Wild Things Are” tells the story of Max, a young boy sent to bed without his supper for his wild antics. Who created this winner of the Caldecott Medal?

a. Maurice Sendak

7. What was NOT one of the unexpected defense mechanisms that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook encountered in their attempt to rob Gringotts?

c. Anti-summoning Enchantments

8. What was Snape aiming at when he cut off George’s ear?

c. Another Death Eater’s wand hand

9. How much older than James was Lily? (Referring to Harry’s parents, not children).

a. James was older

d. 2 months

10. Food is one of the five exceptions to what magical law?

b. Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration

Picture Hunt


Patil

McGonagall


George

Huffle Homework

Who gave Harry an enchanted mirror?

Sirius

Who said, “Imagine if something went wrong and we were stuck as specky, scrawny gits forever.”

Fred


Who said, “Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Miss Granger?”

Scrimgeour


What is Ron’s middle name and what was he given in the Will?

His middle name, Bilius, is the same as that of a deceased uncle.


What does Hermione want to talk Mr Lovegood about and what is his first name.

She wanted to speak to him about the emblem he wore at the wedding. And his first name is Xenophilius


What is the name origin and what does it mean.

Greek and means a love of strange things or of strangers

HSKS 8 - Summer Camp

Some of you spent a little time with me on Thursday and caught my excitement for the next swap. Yes! Excitement is contagious! Neila, Bevin, and quite a few others have given me incredible encouragement over the last few weeks.

During the morning tea a few of us began to get excited about the theme for the next HSKS. We've decided to make the next theme a Summer Camp theme. We're still working out what types of kits we'll swap, but the kits will definitely contain items that you would take with you to camp or send with your kids when they go to camp. Our games will be different than the regular Quidditch games and we'll have a full 3 months to complete our awesome packages because the swap is going to run from Monday, June 8th to Saturday, August 29th. Join the excitement!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

I am definitely playing catch up! In the last week and a half I've gotten some wonderful pieces of encouragement from some of the students. Unfortunately, my darn camera is not playing nice and my cell's pics tend to be too dark. So, without further ado . . . .

Lydia Figg - Thank you so much for the wonderful ROAK gift! Lydia sent me a lovely set of skull stitch markers! I am a stitch marker hog, so I definitely love's me these stitch markers :) (((((Lydia)))))

Olive Bumblebirch & Wisteria Lovegood- Next I received a wonderful little card filled with encouraging words from Olive and a beautiful card of encouragement from Wisty. Thank you, you two! I am definitely encouraged and send you big hugs!!! You have definitely made my day!

House of Night

My friends!!! I've been sucked in. Yes, another awesome series has sucked me into it's vortex. If you have not had the pleasure to read House of Night I BEG you to run to your nearest Wal-Mart, Target, or Barnes and Noble and purchase the ENTIRE series. Believe me, if you loved Twilight you will definitely LOVE the House of Night series.

House of Night Website
House of Night - Wikipedia

Below is a video spotlight of the main character from the last book in the series.

Quidditch ~ Round Two

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

c. Saturday

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

b.Death Eaters

3. Voldemort had seven Horcruxes hidden in different places. Six of them were hidden at the Gaunt shack, Hogwarts, a cave, inside Harry, inside his snake, Nagini and Tom Riddles Diary. Did Voldemort hide the last Horcrux inside the Malfoy's vault at Gringotts?

b. No... not the Malfoy vault, the Lestrange vault

4. Why did the Dumbledore's move to Godric's Hollow?

c. The father went to Azkaban

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

b. That Dumbledore was friends with Grindelwald for a while

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

b. The cloak

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

a. Her father sided with Harry and Dumbledore

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

c. Snape and Lily having fun in a potions class

9. On the search of the Lost Diadem, Harry finally gets to talk to the Gray Lady. Who was the Gray Lady when she was alive?

c. Helena Ravenclaw (Rowena's daughter)

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

d. Victoria

Snape & Lily

Ron and Luna

Godric's Hollow

Bloggy Update

Come see, come see!
Jenean did a middle of the night redesign. Make sure you leave a comment and tell her what you think.

Just Jenean

Huffle Homework

Please forgive me!! I was absent last week. Family issues consumed my time last week and they still plague me this week, however, I am able to focus on my duties here at Hogwarts.

Well, on to my Huffle homework. I'm posting my portrait, which is late homework as well as the answers to the questionnaire.

I had a full length image somewhere, but I seem to have misplaced it. Maybe Kreacher has paid us a visit and snuck it away. If I find it I will post it for you to view.

Questionnaire

1) Who likes TeaPots and cat toys?
Chrysta the Cursed

2) Who wants Polyjuice so they can have Cullen Eyes?
Cliodna Trelawney wants Cullen Eyes yarn

3) Who wants postcards and a hardcover book?
Elladora Madley wants postcards from her swapmates part of the world and a hardcover copy of HP1.

4) Who wants silky terrier? It is not a type of wool but a dog.
Me!!!

5) Who would like a wicked necklace and bloody stupid jonhsan hat?
Felly Pinkstone

6) Who never had anything made for her?
Violet Starfire

7) Who learned how to knit with Maya and Soren?
Kaae and her cousin Maya learned to knit from Soren.

8) Who is Pretty as a Peacock Pattern?
Lily May Clearwater wants this shawl pattern.

9) Who does Fair Isle mittens and Tea for Toe up socks?
Mafalda Grubbly-plank asked for these things.

10) Who likes Cinnamon flavored coffee?
Antomio dela Weasley is a coffee drinker and cinnamon is the only flavored coffee he likes.

11) Who likes clever storage systems and mysteries?
Mantacora Crimson likes these things.

12) Who wants World Peace and Wool Wash?
Violette Black

13) Whose Ancient Runes notebook holds the secret of Moonstone earrings?
Mona Ravenscroft

14) Whose dog is on a low protein diet?
Selina Starfire asked for low protein dog treats for her dog.

15) Who does not have much of a ‘stash’ and favorite scent is Pine trees?
Sian Doge

16) When you go to her wish list, you find yourself surfing the net?
Suzie Weasley's wish list is all links.

17) Who really, REALLY misses Hawkins Cheezies, Big Turk chocolate bars?
Ursala Longbottom wants someone from Canada to send her these.

18) Who likes pencilthings and rosewood?
Elanor Cadogan wants fruit shaped erasers for her pencils and likes rosewood scents.

19) Russian nesting dolls and cute stationary are on this list.
Winifred Hornswaggle

20) Who likes the Seven Dwarves and the Evil Stepmother?
This is me! I asked for some Knit Picks Imagination yarn and these are the names of the colorways! ;)

Visit to the Ministry of Magic

Today I had to do my just duty and serve as a juror at the Ministry of Magic. My day started early in the morning with an Owl from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Of course, I had other things planned, but dropped everything in order to serve the magical world.

Before heading off to the Ministry, however, I did my research and checked on line to make sure that I could take my wooden knitting needles inside. You know what happens to those that take forbidden items into the phone booth? Somehow they get sucked away as you are transported from one location to the Ministry. You arrive and find yourself suddenly lighter than when you began your journey. It's quite frustrating! There was a time when I had to visit the Ministry and lost several sets of the most beautiful cherry wood stitch markers with brass rings that you ever saw! You see, brass of any sort is not allowed at the Ministry. Well, I learned my lesson.


I can't talk about the case. That's against the law, but I did want to mention that I saw Wisteria there, giggling like a school girl with Casandra Chrimsonchin. My preoccupation with what they were laughing about got my quite distracted the entire day! I think she was talking about that new DADA teacher that I haven't had the pleasure of spending very much time with as of yet. Well, wouldn't you say that a proper tea time should be announced so that I might spend time with ALL? Including the new DADA??
Announcements coming soon, my dearies!

Quidditch ~ Round One

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?

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?

b. Snape

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

4. Who informed Harry, Ron and Hermione of the bequests left to them in Dumbledore’s will?

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

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?

b. Sirius Black’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?

d. By giving him Regulus Black’s old locket

8. Who did they eventually find was in possession of the locket/Horcrux?

d. Dolores Umbridge

9. What did Harry find embedded in the door of Umbrdige’s office?

a. Moody’s magical eye

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?

d. To the site of the Quidditch World Cup

Picture Scavenger Hunt

The Dursley's House
Kreacher



George Weasley

Nyphadora Tonks

Mad-Eye Moody

Huffle Homework

I think I totally skipped on last week's homework. Hope you will all forgive me. I overloaded myself last week AND had a Mega Ton of muggle homework on top of all that. So, to get on with this week's homework:

1. Do you knit or crochet? Knit
How long have you been at your craft? Since December 26, 2005
2. Do you spin? What type of spinning do you do? Nope
3. Are there any other crafts that you participate in? Sewing and Scrapbooking, but I'm Waaaaaaay behind
4. What are your favorite yarns/fibers? Wool - Lamb's Pride Chunky
5. What are your LEAST favorite yarns/fibers? Anything scratchy synthetic
6. Are there any types/brands of yarn that you are dying to work with but haven't gotten a chance? Malbrigo, but I won't die if I never get to knit with it either
7. What are you currently working on? ??? The plans are in my head still
8. Are their any knitting/crochet techniques that you would like to learn? Mmmm . . . I haven't thought about that much lately. Too busy!!!
9. Do you have a yarn winder and/or a swift? No, but I would LOVE and cherish one.
10. Where/how to you keep you needles/hooks? In a needleholder that a sewed
11. Do you like sweets? What are your favorites? Yes, chocolate, of course.
12. Are you having a birthday during this swap? Nope

And . . . We Are Off!

Well, another great start for a swap. I'm excited that have the beginning of HSKS 7 under our belts. I can't wait to see what comes of the upcoming Dueling Club and to see the various characters develop.

And, hopefully, I will get a little more time to make updates to this blog more often! Right now I'm so tired I can't even see straight. I did, however, get my wish list up on the sidebar, so you can check that out at your leisure. Yes! Lots of bags, but I am totally bag crazy!! Wish I had more, plus it's time for me to trade out the little purse that I've been carrying around since the beginning of the last swap.

I hope that you all have a great weekend!!

Conversing with the Deaputy Headmistress

Just emailed the Deputy Headmistress and we are getting closer to announcing our list of Head Girls for next term.

We are still trying to wrap up some of the angel gifts and prizes from last term. We really hope that we'll be able to get this wrapped up soon. We certainly don't want last term hanging over our heads while we're trying to get excited about the upcoming term.

Well, it's bed time for me! All this late night planning sure can get to a girl :) Night, all!

The Halls Are Quite

But, the excitement is growing. Only a few more weeks until sign ups begin for the next term of HSKS! As some of you have seen I have already posted the activities that will take place during the next term. I also opened a Twitter account and will be keeping everyone updated often about what I'm thinking and planning. We might even have a chat or two via twitter!

Well, more planning is needed, so I'll post some more later!!

Follow Me On Twitter