Tuesday, September 30, 2008

House Quiz #1

(Note to Minee and Wisteria: I'll be working on this for a little bit, so that's why some of the questions don't have answers yet.)

House Quiz


What potion has the strange side effects of excessive singing and nose-tweaking?
The Elixir of Euphoria

What ingredient can be used to counteract the effect of the above side effects?
Peppermint

How much can you get for Acromantula venom?
100 Galleons a pint

What is the most powerful love potion in the world?
Ars Amorentia

What antidote does Harry use to help Ron when he is poisoned by Madam Rosmerta's finest mead?
A bezoar


How does Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' Owl Order Service get their potions past the security at Hogwarts to their customers?
They disguise them as perfume

What did Draco Malfoy make in Potions class when Professor Slughorn assigned them to make something amusing?
A hiccoughing potion

What spells will not work in an area affected by Instant Darkness Powder?
Lumos (light spells) or fire spells

What are the ingredients for the Draught of Living Death?
Asphodel, Wormwood, Valerian Roots, and a single Sophorous Bean

How much will unicorn tail hair fetch?
10 Galleons a hair



Extra Credit

Answering the following questions are extra credit and will earn you an additional ticket in the drawing for the prize.

Do you prefer to knit or crochet?
I prefer to knit, although sometimes I appreciate the quickness of crochet.

What is your favorite weight yarn to knit/crochet with?
I like worsted/aran weights.

What fiber contents do you most like to knit/crochet with? What fiber contents do you dislike knitting/crocheting with?
I like wool and alpaca. I love Bluefaced Leicester in particular. There's nothing that I really hate, unless it's really harsh on my hands when I'm working with it. My hands tend to be dry to begin with, so if the yarn is rough I really feel it.

How many complete pair of socks have you knit/crochet?
3.

What is your favorite item to knit/crochet?
I like bags and mittens, but I am learning to like socks too.

What is your favorite treat?
Kettle chips.

Do you drink coffee, tea, or both?
Mostly tea, but I do have the occasional cup of coffee.

Do you have an online wish list? If so, where?
I don't have one. I'm always a bit leery of wishlists for things like this--I never want my partner to feel like she HAS to buy me the things that are on it.

How many Ravelry groups are you in?
Apparently 33! I had no idea it was so many.

Is there any special item you have been really wanting, but can't find in your local area?
Um...everything? ;) No LYS for this wizard.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

HSKS6 Quidditch Round One

Trivia and pictures must be posted to your blog before the Snitch is release in order to receive House points. The Snitch will be released on Saturday. Time is still to be determined.

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?
a. Hestia Jones
b. Elphais Doge
c. Emmeline Vance
d. Dedalus Diggle

2. What animal does Bellatrix Lestrange kill when she and her sister, Narcissa, are going to see Professor Snape?
a. Owl
b. Fox
c. Rabbit
d. Cat

3. What time does Professor Dumbledore collect Harry from Privet Drive?
a. Midnight
b. 11 p.m.
c. Noon
d. 11 a.m.

4. What did Professor Sluhorn transform into when he was trying to hide from Harry and Professor Dumbledore?
a. An armchair
b. A bed
c. A table
d. A wardrobe

5. What grade did Harry get for Herbology?
a. E – Exceeds Expectation
b. P – Poor
c. O – Outstanding
d. A – Acceptable

6. Herbert Chorley, the Prime Minister’s Junior Minster, has been entertaining the public by impersonating which animal?
a. A hen
b. A duck
c. A lion
d. A squirrel

7. What is Professor Sprout’s first name?
a. Pimmy
b. Pomony
c. Pommy
d. Pomona

8. What is Dumbledore’s idea of ‘a few words’?
a. nitwit, odder, blubber rand tweak
b. nitwit, odder, bubblegum and tweak
c. nitwit, oddment, bubblegum and tweak
d. nitwit, oddment, blubber and tweak

9. Who is Marcus Belby’s famous uncle?
a. Bertie
b. Damocles
c. Tiberius
d. Savage

10. What is Snape’s mother’s name?
a. Helana Prince
b. Eileen Prince
c. Lily Prince
d. Elizabeth Prine



Pictures
Post pictures to your blogs or link to the pictures from your blog post.

Narcissa


Snape


Bellatrix


Professor Sprout


Professor Dumbledore

Monday, September 22, 2008

picture day!

I am slow posting today, I know, but Mondays have my heaviest schedule. Double Potions, double Herbology, and double Transfiguration. No wonder I don't want to get up in the morning on Mondays.

I always picture Stuart looking like one of two characters (both of whom are from Disney cartoons, so go figure). The first of these is Wart from The Sword and The Stone.


The second is Roger from 101 Dalmations.


The character of Stuart is based pretty heavily on my own father, though, and I think that Stuart definitely resembles him. This picture is of my father when he was 13, so they are the same age (and anyone who sees this picture thinks that my dad looks pretty much exactly the same 40 years later).


And so do I:

Sunday, September 21, 2008

In which Stuart is revealed as a "losey Suzie"

Well, it's official: Eugene has moved into the boys' dormitory. It's a bit strange to have another body in there, but he's a bit more lively than either Michael or Euan, so I think this will be a fun term. At the very least it is comforting to have some company in knitting, and will hopefully stop those two from taking the piss out of us.

Assuming we can break out of our unlucky mould, that is. He had a pretty terrible day today, and I wasn't much better. I lost my (nearly brand new) set of Knit Picks Harmony Options--I've only had them for a few weeks, and I've had to put a couple of projects on hold as a result. I really hope they turn up soon. :(

He's participating in the Dueling Club (which I am not because I worry that no matter how fast I knit, my owl would not be efficient enough to deliver in a timely fashion) and I have high hopes for him. He will do Ravenclaw proud, no doubt.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Concealment Charm


Yesterday I received my prize for my concealment charm last term. It is so awesome! I got a yarn cutting disk (love this), Floo powder candy, and a keychain sock blocker and mini sock pattern. It was funny because I had just told my knitting guild the night before how much I wanted one of these! I kind of feel like maybe everyone will be getting one for Christmas this year...

Sunday, September 14, 2008

All about me

Potter Name: Stuart Cauldwell (it's a long story)

Rav ID: fineskylark

I am allergic to: dust

Pets that I have: one cat, named Dorian. He's almost six months old and is huge. And a little dumb.
DSC05998


My favorite yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca in any weight. I'm not going to lie, though: I just like yarn. Ooooh, I do love Fleece Artist/Handmaiden though.

If you are a Ravenclaw, do you prefer the film colors or the book colors?: I like both. I don't have any real preference.

My favorite flavor: Umm...I like salt. Don't get me wrong, I like chocolate and peppermint and toffee, but I honestly crave salty snacks over anything else. I love kettle cooked chips, especially plain or salt and vinegar.

My favorite holiday: Umm...Hallowe'en. I love dressing up.

I would like to receive a: Surprise kit.

List your favorite brand of needles or hooks, including size and length: I really like Knit Picks Harmony lines. I just got the Options and am totally in love with them, and wouldn't mind picking up more of the fixed circs, especially in 2-3mm sizes.

Is there a brand that you are dying to try?: Not especially. The closest LYS of note is more than an hour and a half away, so I only get there very sporadically. Local yarn purchasing is limited to Wal-mart and Zellers, so I'm generally happy with anything that breaks me out of that mould.

I've participated in HSKS: HSKS4 (Serafina Stafire) and HSKS5 (Stuart Cauldwell), so this is round 3 for me.

Do you have a birthday during this swap? If so which day? Yes - I will turn 27 on November 3rd!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

House elves

There are those who might tell you that the mark of a good house elf is that you don't know that it's there. My family doesn't have one, so I was pretty excited when I found out that Hogwarts has so many working here. They're fascinating creatures. It's unfortunate that the saying about house elves is somewhat true--you really don't know they are here.

I caught a glimpse of one yesterday, though. I'd forgotten one of my books in my trunk, and I'd gone back to find it. She was cleaning up our dormroom, I think because we might be getting a new roommate. She had on a clean green tea towel, worn kind of like a toga, and she was very, very shy. She darted under the bed as soon as I saw her. I could hear her whimpering and muttering to herself down there, so I sat down on the floor and waited for her to come out.

She cried with fear again when she saw that I was still there:

"Oh-oh. You is not to be here, you is not."

"I know," I said. "I forgot my book. I'm sorry that I startled you."

"Nippy is just working, she is," she squeaked. "She is cleaning up after young wizards who are playing in the mud. She knows that they are going too close to the Forbidden Forest, but she does not tell, because she likes the tall wizard. He leaves her snacks sometimes, under his pillowcase."

"The tall wizard?" I asked blankly. A second later, it clicked in. "The tall wizard? You mean Michael, Nippy?" Michael has shot up easily a good ten centimetres over the break.

"Yes, yes, the tall wizard, who is too big for his robes already, he worries that his mother will be angry if he asks for new ones. Nippy wants to fix them but she must wait to ask Professor Dumbledore first." While we'd been talking, she'd gotten up, and started cleaning again, as though it were automatic to her. Which, I suppose, it is.

"And the smaller wizard, he is missing his family...and you, you is liking that girl. Nippy knows all the secrets, even about the Head Girl and the pretty teacher, and tries to help her wizards and her witches when she can, but she is only one elf, and is not doing enough." At this, she seemed to get upset, tears leaking out of her eyes, the shining liquid highlighting their beautiful green.

I wasn't sure what to say, so I muttered, "It's alright, Nippy." She sniffed some more, but kept sweeping the same pile of dirt around on the floor. My eye caught the open lid to my trunk, and a small pile of candy.

"Here, Nippy," I said. "Have a Fizzing Whizzbee. Please?"

She didn't say anything, so I put the candy on my bed, and ran back down to the grounds. The candy was gone when I came back, though, and I can't say for sure, but I think the area around my bed was extra clean.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

return to school

The repairs to Ravenclaw Tower were completed over the summer, and I'm quite happy to be back in my old room here. Michael and Euan ought to be returning to Hogwarts shortly, and I think we might have a new roommate this term as well.

I've decided to keep up with the knitting. My mum was over the moon when she saw the scarf I made for her last term, and I feel as though that particular brand of parental approval might be useful in the future...perhaps if I decide to engage in some underage magic.

The class I'm looking forward to most is Transfiguration, I think. It's supposed to get a lot harder this term, and that's quite exciting. There's nothing a Ravenclaw likes like a challenge.