Squee!! My kit is here!

I arrived home from a dreary day of work and a dreary stormy outside to find a box on my porch. I could hardly contain myself to get the camera before tearing into it. But somehow, I found the discipline to take pictures.

Packing peanuts!

Amazingly, the box did not just contain peanuts, but MANY finely wrapped parcels:

Inside I found a very nice note written by my spoiler, Andromache Tonks. Perhaps the sorting hat put her in the wrong house and she should really be a Slytherin, as this was her notepaper of choice:

I began unwrapping the bounty to find: Harry Potter stitch marker, coffee pot and beans markers (both so cute!), Book Beads in Ssssssslytherin colors (much needed and appreciated), TWO size 1 HiyaHiya 24" circular needles (needed for one of my new sock patterns!), and a jumbo pack of DoubleStuff Oreos which I am trying SO hard to resist right now.

Now for the yarn: 100% Superwash Merino custom-dyed for ME by Andromache's favorite local indie yarn dyer, Sharon of Stitchjones. Snakey green goodness! I can't wait to try my hand at my first pair of socks!!

Then, there was a booklet of 5 sock patterns of varying difficulties for me to master. Andromache did such an amazing job of selecting patterns that both fit me stylistically and will help me learn the elusive sock. And one of them is even a charitable pattern. Warm fuzzies all around!

Finally, the bag. Words cannot express how fantastic the bag is. I immediately slung it over my neck and shoulder (perfect fit, by the way) and refused to remove it all night. It looks perfect. She even lined it (and sewed very well I might add) in a cool green-patterned fabric that I didn't get a picture of. I may never remove this bag from my person. It immediately caught the eye of a non-knitting friend...such is the power of the bag!

Here is a shot of all the loot together:

All of these lovelies are in addition to the Starbucks giftcard and Things I Learned From Knitting book that Andromache had already sent me a teaser! I am overwhelmed with her generosity!

From the bottom of my cold, crumbly, Slytherin heart, THANK YOU for being such a wonderful swap spoiler and bringing happiness and good cheer. It really feels like Christmas in July!

Hooray for summer!

Technically, 4th of July means the summer is half over, right? But I always feel like it is officially summer when the 4th rolls around. Adorable muggle baby had her 1st birthday party yesterday on the 4th. Her first taste of cake was a big hit...she ate a fair amount of it. She did make two minor vomits a few hours later though. Too much sugar? Everything went great and she scored some pretty sweet loot.

Unfortunately, I have a cold now, so I am a bit honky and miserable. Low key day, staying in and playing with adorable muggle baby's new toys. My spoiler told me an owl is on the way, so I am quite excited about that! And my decrepit old owl made its way to Cecilia's place, so all is well.

Good day

This won't be a super long post. It was a good day! We showed our house to a family that actually seemed very interested and have a specific timeline. We took the muggling to the zoo for the first time where she got nuzzled by a baby deer and was able to pet a rabbit, a goat, and a 10-week-old wolf. We helped some good friends move into their first house. And we ate Indian food for dinner. Mmm...chicken saag.

And I've already informed my spoilee, but an owl should be winging her way very soon!

Quidditch ~ Round Two

1. At the beginning of the year feast, who is the only person who rudely interrupts Dumbledore during his speech?
a. Professor Snape
b. Professor Umbridge
c. Hagrid
d. Harry Potter

2. Off what street is the alley where Harry first met Sirius?
a. Diagon Alley
b. Little Whinging
c. Magnolia Crescent
d. Privet Drive

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

4. What spell are the students studying in McGonagall’s class when Umbridge is doing her inspection?
a. The Acquiring Spell
b. The Shrinking Spell
c. The Demolishing Spell
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_____________ (five letters)

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

7. Moody used the Disillusionment Charm on Harry.
a. Yes
b. No

8. Which of these Death Eaters is Sirius related to?
a. Lucius Malfoy
b. Bellatrix Lestrange
c. Regulus Black
d. All of these

9. At what age did Sirius leave his home?
Answer: _______16__________ (Number)

10. How many of the original Order members were killed (don’t include those who disappeared)?
a. 9
b. 8
c. 6

d. 10

Picture Scavenger
Post these pictures to your blog. They must either be posted or linked to from your blog in order to receive points.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Bellatrix Lestrange

Nymphadora Tonks

Remus Lupin

Blarrgh

I'm a bit stressed today and feel a small (okay, realistically probably much bigger than small) vent coming on. I think the main stressor right now is that my favorite muggle baby is very sick. In her not quite 1 year of life, she has had 7 ear infections, with lucky #7 resisting FOUR different antibiotics so far. That's an 8 week ear infection, people! She is a good-natured little beast and has taken ear infections 1-6 in stride. This one, though, is different. For the last 3 nights, she has been up all night yelling pathetically and collapsing on Jim's and my body. She is so weakened she won't even sit up, let alone stand. And the girl is hot. We are doing what we can, but her fever remains. Despite the fact that we were at the doctor yesterday, we will be going again tomorrow morning (Happy First Father's Day, Jim!) to find out possibly "what else is going on."

Tomorrow we are also having an impromptu-ish Fathers Day BBQ at our house. Why impromptu-ish? Well, in the past we have had my family over for Fathers Day. This year, we were going to skip that because my nephew's 3rd birthday is today, so we saw the entire family at his party. Then on Tuesday, Jim's dad sends him one of his patented vague emails saying we should get together or something. Mind you, this is not an invite to their house. And also, we never have standing holiday plans with Jim's family, as they can be rather random with whether we will see them or not. In the interest of keeping Aria's nap schedule, we suggested the "getting together" happen at our house (and also because no other suggestions were forth-coming). So Jim's parents, one of his brothers, and one sister-in-law are attending. Because we are now having a Fathers Day BBQ, I invited my parents and sister. Just for fun, we invited our best friends and their baby daughter because neither of them have family in the area. That is all well and good, but I am incapable of having an impromptu get together. Most of today was spent shopping for the BBQ, preparing food for the BBQ, and cleaning. What I really wanted was a nice, quiet first Fathers Day where I got a chance to spoil Jim and make him breakfast in bed and just have fun all day. Now he will be treated to "company is coming" wife. And also "we have a sick baby" wife.

Last part of my vent: I have some work I still need to finish and what I really want to do is knit. Sometimes I hate being a grown-up!

On a much happier note, my spoiler said something secret is coming my way this week! I love surprises and mail. That will definitely perk me up, as I've been trying to curb my obsessive buying of baby clothes on eBay and am not expecting any packages this week.

Continuing on with the happy note, I am just about finished with Murky the Murloc that I have been knitting for a friend's birthday. He looks great and should be a big hit with my WoW-addicted friend. Said friend is more WoW-addicted than either Jim or me, and I have already decided to knit a second Murky for myself because he is so cute. Aria seemed enamored of him as well.

I have been slowly collecting items for my spoilee's kit, but of course I will not reveal the details! It really is so much fun.

Quiz #3

The Hufflepuffs and Slytherins have been taking Care of Magical Creatures together this year, so this assignment is for both Houses to complete. Professor Hagrid has asked for 6 inches of parchment (say 200 words) about a personal experience you've had with a magical creature (outside of Hogwarts), or about the magical creature you'd most like to have as a pet. Of course if you chose the latter option, you should write about why you'd like to have such a creature as a pet, but also the potential problems of domesticating that magical creature. A listing of Magical Creatures can be found in your textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Good luck!ETA: This assignment is due at Midnight on Saturday, June 7th.
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I would most like to have a unicorn as a pet. First and foremost, unicorns are symbols of power…immensely appealing to my true Slytherin nature! Secondly, gaining the unicorn’s trust and affection would demonstrate to all the dedication I give to my magical studies. It is important to me to be taken seriously in my life endeavors. And as an animal lover, I would take the responsibility of gaining a unicorn’s trust very seriously. Third, unicorns are beautiful; simply put, I like things that are pretty.

The most obvious challenge with taking a unicorn for a pet is catching the unicorn. As they are naturally skittish with a predilection for women, I shall have to play up my more feminine attributes in the hope of luring one my way. If I manage to jump this first hurdle and actually catch a unicorn, I shall then have to consider how to keep the unicorn apart from any men in my life! More specifically, I shall have to devise a plan to keep the unicorn from harm of any kind: either perceived harm on the part of the unicorn (as in fear of men); or actual harm from those who would like to harvest the unicorn for blood, hair, or horns.

A meme...

At the request of my spoiler...

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
10 years ago this week I graduated high school. Wow! That feels simultaneously longer and shorter ago than 10 years. I was valedictorian and I remember driving my pink moped (a.ka. The Barbie Bike) to the high school to practice my speech. Can you say clammy hands? At the actual ceremony, I had barely started the darn thing when the tears came. It is a curse.

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today:
1) Finish a program I'm working on at work. :)
2) Take the Total Body Conditioning class at lunch.
3) Pay my credit card bill.
4) Make an appointment with the ear, nose, and throat specialist for Aria's ear infections. :(
5) Watch the 4th season premiere of Instant Star on The N. (Yes, I still think I'm in high school. See #1.)

3. Snacks I enjoy: Mmm...Starbucks Iced Chai Lattes, Double Stuff Oreos (with milk for dunking/soggifying), Cool Ranch Doritoes, smores, Coca Cola. It occurs to me that: a) two of my five snacks are actually beverages; b) while I love all of these snacks, I rarely let myself eat them (except for the Starbucks...I justify it as breakfast because it has milk in it).

4. Places I’ve lived: born in Wisconsin, moved to Germany when I was 3 (dad in the air force - I don't remember it very well), moved back to Wisconsin when I was 5 and have been here ever since. To be more specific in Wisconsin: Winneconne, Milwaukee, Appleton.

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
First, the requisite reclusive mansion. Then, take care of my family and friends, for what fun is money if you can't share it? Then I think I would wander around the world on a whim, donating money to various causes/people/institutions as the fancy strikes me.

6. Who I want to know more about:
I'll share the love: MY spoilee, Cecilia Kettleburn!