Tonight I did a little bit of finishing up some small knitting things I did yesterday.  I did them both with my HSKS swap yarn!  The little sweater was made with the yarn from my swap partner Lavender Ollivander.  And the heart was made with yarn from my Random Act of Kindess package that Ophelia Ballycastle sent me!

Check it out -

And Jimbo didn’t really seem too thrill to pose for the photo, but hey, I took the photo anyway.

And here’s a picture of my Christmas tree (see I really did get one).

After looking at this photo, it looks like I don’t have a whole lot of ornaments on the tree.  The ornaments are those smaller round ornaments, so they seem to look a little like the lights on the tree.

And I got my HSKS House award!  Check it out!

And on that note, I’m going to drink a bunch of nyquil and try and sleep tonight.

Oh!  Before I forget, tomorrow night is the luminaria down on Lake Washington and the Argosy Christmas boat.   Hopefully I’m feeling good enough to go down there for a few minutes and take some pictures!

I just found out that I won the Gryffindor House award for best kit!  This was such a fun swap and I hope to be able to sign up for it next term when I will finally win a dang quidditch game!

And a sidenote:  I just wanted to let everyone know that I’m ok.  I got a lot emails about my not being able to get a Christmas tree this year.  Thank you for all your concern.  I really appreciate it.  And it makes me realize what great friends and family I have.  I got a tree this evening.  It was $20.  All of which goes to the Dunshee House.  I’ll try and post a picture of the tree tomorrow.  Right now, Jimbo is nibbling on some of the lower branches (I’m sure I’ll see those branches later…) and Kink is drinking out of the tree stand.

Oh and for a feel good story… I was watching HBO and their Real Sports show came on.  I’m not that big of a sports fan that I would typically watch this show, but they had a story on that just made me feel like not all teenagers are bullies, gangbangers, and spoiled.  It’s sometimes had to see that when you live in a big city where there is serious poverty and on the other end of the spectrum, massive amounts of money.

And today when I got home, I found , in my mailbox, a Random Act of Kindness from the HSKS swap!  Thanks Vanesa!  When I can actually lift things again, I’ll get around to posting a photo.

As I was watching one of my new favorite tv shows (Summer Heights High) yesterday, I saw these:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLdUADcaWWo]

and then this one:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx4gj7UIQi0]

and finally, this one:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vkUAIVr2F4]

Those promos make me so happy.  And if you have HBO, please watch Summer Height High.  It’s brilliant.

I love my new scarf.  Apparently so does Kink, because the moment I put it down to photograph it, she went right up to it, started sniffing it, then rolled around on it and what I’d like to think was an effort to put the scarf on.  And I also got a cone of Gryffindor house color yarn, made ‘specially for me, by Yarnia!  I have no idea what I’m going to make it with all, but I’m sure I’ll find something.  I also got a Knitting Calendar – a pattern a day! There was also a very sweet witch night light, an adorable owl ornament (which arrived just in time for my holiday decorating), a pair of super tiny circular needles, a cute owl potholder and towel set, and some super cool stickers!  Thank you so much Lavender!  And hopefully we can meet up in Portland the next time I’m there! I think I need ot experience the wonders of Yarnia!

As for all my knitting projects, I’ve got 2 more to go.  This of course doesn’t include the dishclothes.  I’ve got 4 or so left to do.  Fortunately they go super fast, so I can get those done in no time.

I just saw a commercial for this vacuum and I wonder how good it is.  I may have to pick one up, if it’s getting good reviews.  For $40, if it works they way they advertise it, it’s worth it.

I have been doing a lot of cleaning up and throwing out of things.  I watched the Oprah “Clear the Clutter” episode and had a bit of a freakout.  So now I’m trying to be more organized and neater as well as become a bit more eco-friendly.  I’ve found the wonders of freecycle!  It’s great!  I wanted a pair of computer speakers so I could listen to my podcasts and audio books while I clean the house.  But I just couldn’t see paying for them.  It was a want and not a need.  So I hopped on freecycle and posted that I was looking for some computer speakers and within a couple of hours, someone had a pair that they were getting rid of!  Perfect!  I didn’t have to spend money and someone else didn’t have to fill up a landfill with some more plastic and electronic parts. I can’t believe I just found out about this!

I also donated 5 garbage bags of clothes that I probably haven’t worn in years.  Since I don’t really have a lot of closet space, I got a storage trunk for the foot of my bed that now holds towels, blankets and sheets and whatnot.  I’m hoping that next week I can head back over to the Container Store and pick up one of the hanging space bags to put in a few nice things that are hanging in my closet.  Along with a few other things to help keep me neat and organized.

I also bought a Chinook Book from my boss for her son’s school fundraiser.  Now that I started thumbing thru it, I’m not sure how I lived without .  It was $20 and within a few uses of the Chinook book, it will have paid for itself!

Other than that, things have been a bit slow around here.  I’ve been knitting up a storm.  Mostly dishclothes for the family.  I want to carry on grandma’s tradition of making those for family and friends.  Actually, my cousin reminded me that today is grandma’s birthday.  She would have been 91.  I think of all the things she’s seen and done in her life and I can only hope that I can have only half of her “go with the flow and be able to adjust to whatever the circumstance” attitude.

And on that note, I head back to my knitting… for grandma.

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 separtea components

1. Name your favorite magical creature, and describe why it is your favorite. My favorite magical creature is the mandrake.  Here’s why, it looks like a cute little baby or old man (depending on how long you let them grow) and as you’re thinking about how cute they are and are ready to go in for the “cootchie cootchie coo” they scream like nothing you’ve ever seen or heard of.
2. Tell us your favorite charm, spell or curse, and explain why you like it. My favorite charm is the Avis.  It’s the one that releases birds from your wand.  I like to say “Avis!” When I walk into a room at a party.  It makes me feel like I’m in a John Woo movie - that’s a Daniel Tosh reference.
3. Describe your favorite holiday family tradition – which holiday and what makes it special. Favorite holiday tradition – that’s a tough one. It would definitely be a Christmas tradition.   Perhaps it might be dad swearing the tree into the tree stand or swearing the lights on the tree.  Maybe it’s the italian cookies on Christmas eve with the family.  It’s so hard to decide.  But at least I can narrow it down to a favorite holiday
4. Name your favorite fiber-based (knitted, crocheted, or spun) finished object. I think it would be the knitted lamb I did for grandma and then I made one for mom.  I think they were the most meaningful and knit with a lot of love.  And I think my first pair of wearable socks.  Because they were actually wearable and they didn’t look like some strange wearable modern art piece.

The cats were not as excited to see me as I was to see them.  I gave them their treats from Marilyn – they each got their own blankets and two little cat mats that you can put catnip in.  Kink immediately claimed hers.  Jimbo sniffed them and then went right over to me and did his “look at how cute I am… now scratch my butt,” pose.  I also gave them their new catnip mouse.  Jimbo could careless about it.  Kink threw it all around the house… all night long.  I heard that thing hitting every surface in the house.

Today I also found out that I won our Gryffindor House quiz this week!  That was a well needed happy little bit of news.  Yeah for me!  Hopefully this means that I’m on my way to winning the elusive snitch!

There were many people that came to the viewing.  So many, that after an hour (which is all that grandma wanted for her viewing) we had to start hurrying people thru.  My aunt joked that we should have a reality show called, “Have you met my cousin?” or “Are you my cousin?”  There were a lot of 2nd cousins and great aunts and uncles. 

All in all it was a beautiful service and I know grandma is in a much better place. 

I’m almost done with the second spiral sock and I’ll post photos of the finished socks when I get back to Seattle.  We went to a yarn shop in Altamont and mom now has a new project for me to work on when I get back to Seattle.  It’s the Fiber Trents Sheep Tote.  It seems simple enough and I have a feeling it’ll go pretty fast. 

And now onto my HSKS homework.  Here it is:

 It’s a little cryptogram and needs some deciphering of this quote from HBP.

“OFXMWPOZCP DLJD APZAWP QTYO TE QLC PLDTPC EZ QZCRTGP ZESPCD QZC MPTYR HCZYR ESLY MPTYR CTRSE.”  -  SPCXTZYP RCLYRPC

I don’t remember anyone speaking in tongues in this book.  I could be wrong.  Was there a homework assignment for this Muggle Studies class where they had to watch Benny Hinn preach?  Maybe if you read the book backwords, the above quote is what you would get.  OK, I gotta be honest here, I stink at crytograms.  I’ve been staring at this thing for 2 days now and all I’ve gotten out of this is, either I’m a really bad speller or I will not ever be called upon to crack the code in some intercepted spy message.  So here’s my best guess:  “Did Magda the Magnificent just pluck you from the Milky Way and bring you down from the heavens to make my day or did you slip me some love potion in my Gillywater?” – the drunk wizard at the end of the bar in the Leaky Cauldron at last call.

Bonus 1: Who became scarred and developed a taste for raw meat in Chapter 29 of HBP? That would be Bill Weasley after his run in with Greyback.  Poor Bill.  His such a nice fellow.   Now he’s a bit more hairy than that Muggle actor – Burt Renyolds.  And like my cats, he can scratch the back of his ears with hit feet.
Bonus 2: Who developed an antidote for a birthday present in Chapter 18 of HBP?  That would be Professor Slughorn.