Thank you Pernell Auckerly

The lovely and fabulous Pernell of Ravenclaw sent me my package and I have finally gotten the pictures online! I love everything here are a few pictures but really there were so many layers to the box I couldn't do it justice with photos.





she hand dyed all those house colors herself! Aren't they fabulous! There is much more I will blog asap
THank you so much Tricia!

Cool Package!

Thank you Cliodna for such a great package. Sorry I am so late posting!

White owl arrives!

The owl arrived this afternoon. Here's a sneak peak, with everything but the socks which were on my feet when I took the picture. Full details are on my blog.




Thanks Penelope of Flitwick!

Owl Arrival!

When my husband went out to check the muggle mailbox, he got hit on the head by an owl carrying a box. Poor thing was so tired, it was just looking for someplace to rest!

I've got pictures taken, but must wait until the husband returns to upload them (I am not really very good with muggle devices that require technical knowledge - in other words, if I can't push stop or go, I'm lost!!)

But I got a WONDERFUL pair of socks in the fire colors - Gryffindor red & gold (yellow) with orange. I LOVE the fire colors, always have (I'm a Fall baby, born in New England ... how could I *not* love them???) Not sure what the pattern is, but I really like it! From the stitch size, my partner used size 0 needles, tho! And there is the most amazing bookmark in this same yarn - a crocheted fan pattern. I think I'm going to have to raid my partner's pattern stash!!

Speaking of patterns, I got FOUR of them! Not the one she used for the socks, tho. Yeah, I really like the pattern. It's a very fancy rib stitch. Since I really need socks that hug my feet, these are wonderful.

Also got TWO sets of size 0 metal dpns - now I all I have to do is find the yarn for the pattern I have that requires size 0 needles - the Bayerische.

There's a really nice project bag in warm autumn colors, a pair of knitted washcloths - one in a brick stitch, the other in a wonderful star pattern. Neither of which will get used as washcloths - they are both going on our big kitchen table. The brick stitch one will be used under serving dishes. The star one is on the lazy susan that's in the middle of the table for salt & pepper & grinder spices. It just fits. ;)

There are 2 sets of stitch markers - a heavier set in deep red & bronze and a lighter set (which I will use much more often!) in light red & a fire-polished gold. Neither set shows up well in the picture I took, but they are both very pretty. Also included were point protectors for both straight & circular needles. The straight needle set is so cute - tiny socks! You put the points in the legs of the socks!! Some bath soak crystals (stress relief & muscle relief - how *did* she know???), a small composition book, just the right size to keep in the project bag to make notes, some cherry tic-tacs (I'm telling you, my partner is psychic! Must be a Slytherin trait - mind-reading & snakes, huh? LOL)

And guarding the box? The most adorable little red fuzzy owl with yellow feet! I think I'll have to beg for the pattern. I'm sort of starting to collect owls, I think - I keep finding them tumbling around, anyhow!

Lady Felula
Gryffindor House

Who0 - hoo! Hubby took my package to the owlry today ... and it is on its way to my partner Queen Frysia the Fierce of Gryffindor (yes a tad Ironic ... who knew Frysia was the wizard equivalent to 'Smith')


Queen Frysia
Slytherin
(aka ginger gargoyle)

Nemesis takes flight

Heads up Felula!!! Nemesis is winging her way to you with you package. She should arrive either monday or tuesday. I have attached a tracking device to her so I can track her flight. Hope you like the package. I had great fun putting it together for you. Also, I did take pictures of the package before I packed it up. Have a great weekend!!!

Owls away!

Cliodna look to the sky for a big white owl!

The Owl Has Left the Owlery

Yes, I mailed my package this morning via Priority Owl Post. He is winging his way east and should arrive at his destination in a few days.

Cheers for another great swap! I hope there will be a #5!

Celestina Crookshanks
Gryffindor
4th Year

New Poll

Hey everyone - a bit of fun on my blog ... I put up a new poll:

Fantasy pet, which would you like?

Pop on over and cast your vote Ginger Gargoyle Gems

For anyone interested in the results of my last poll (age of participants in the HSS4) I moved it to the very bottom of my page ... just keep scrolling down -- my side bar is very long because of my stash lists.

Queen Frysia
Slytherin
(aka ginger gargoyle)

Moth Repellents

Grandma Beth shared the following on another list we share. I thought it might be of use to someone here, as well. All the recipes/suggestions use natural ingredients, many of which are easily grown in the average garden.

Here's a moth repellent recipe from Martha Stewart
http://tinyurl.com/6qlu7r
Another from DIY Life
http://www.diylife.com/2008/04/15/make-moth-repellent-sachets/
From TipNut
http://tipnut.com/how-to-get-rid-of-moths-with-natural-repellents/
Most of them are variations on the same herbs. I'm thinking making
several of them and stowing in my sock yarns....and other wools, too,
might be a great idea, not to mention a "smelly" treat when opening up
the containers!

This was from another list I am on. I'm already thinking that a few of
the bottles I've been saving from the recycle bin would look great with
these in them and a shear fabric tied over the top.

Or maybe sew the bags in house colors, or the shape of owls. So many
possibilities. Grandma

3 Days left!

Ok it is time to get your house elves in high gear, brush up on your knitting charms we only have 3 days left to get your soks done and send them off with the owl!! If you need anything or help with anything please ask!!!

I can't wait to see all the packages that everyone got!

buried in books

It must be that bogged-down time of the semester at Hogwarts. I'm feeling buried in writing and knitting projects, so if course it was definitely time for DD to catch that first fall cold.

These castle rooms do get chilly at night, don't they? Must make more autumn foods to warm up...perhaps a pumpkin soup?

Cliodna Boomslang, Ravenclaw

Re: Pink Ribbons

Real men get cancer, too - including breast cancer. And they die from it, just like women. So when do your family a favor ... teach the men how to do self exams. Encourage them to *do* the exams. Speak to a doctor if anything doesn't seem right.

Real men care enough to take care of their families ... *AND* themselves.


My mother died because of cancer. NOTHING in my life ever scared me more than having the doctor's office call me to come back in because of a shadow on a mammogram. Turned out to be a cyst, thank the Lady. But my family & I spent a very scary few weeks until we knew, for sure, what it was.

Lady Felula ... who may forget a lot of things, but not that.
Gryffindor House

my very first sock!

ok yall. i am sooooo proud of myself. after much unknitting and trying a few different patterns i finially finished my very first sock! i just love it so much. i hope perenelle will like them too. i started to get confused at the heel because i never done any short row knitting either but then i just went step by step and i started to see the heel developing. i am using this book called "knitting socks for the first time". it has really good pictures and was very helpful. oh yay! ok now to start sock #2. now that i know what im doing i think the second sock will go quite a bit quicker.
allitrya spelling- gryffindor

Tie a pink ribbon round the old oak tree

As a red head my earlier years were spent avoiding the color pink. With the passage of time comes some compensations. My now mostly grey hair means that pink is a spectacular color on me. So please excuse the, from head to toe, pink witches outfit.

Pink has another meaning for me. My family is plauged with cancer. My mother had multiple operations that prevented her from erupting with full blown breast cancer.

As a retired muggle nurse i have seen way too many women die from this disease.

Detection is simple. Do your self exams. Hang the reminder card in the shower. When it is time go and get your mammograms. I know they are quite literally a pain, but a bigger pain would be to lose you.

Wizards! Yes you men! One of the greatest gifts you can give the woman you love is the reminder to be an active participant in preventing that disease.

Real men wear pink.

Grandma

Is this sickness being carried by the Floo network?

I just have to ask - can you get the flue from the floo? Not that I have flue - I have an ear infection and sinus infection. But you do have to wonder...

:::DOING HAPPY DANCE:::

I'm SO glad the socks fit!! If anyone wants to make that pattern, you'll find it here:
http://jfcampbell.us/anne/patterns/show_off_stranded.pdf

I had a *lot* of fun with this swap. Couldn't believe how much I could come up with that reflected Slytherin, including the little green sneaky snake. Gods, I can remember my kids playing with those things, and I'm now a grandmother of 7, with the 8th one due at the end of this month!!

You'll find the witches hat washcloth will help to keep your hands clean while you are knitting, the hair elastic will help to prevent your hair from getting in your way, and the two scrubbies will help to keep that coffee cup clean. AND I got 'em all from just one hank of cotton yarn, except the hair elastic - that's crochet cotton.

That map of England is just over the top, isn't it? I got the original as a gift, and have only used it to make copies, so I can keep using it over and over again. I just love it! It is so perfect for HP crafting. :)

Lady Felula
Gryffindor House

Do not disturb

So beside having issues with blogger last weekend I am sick and have been in the infirmary keeping Madam Pomfrey very busy. After not being about to knit for about a week due to my ailment, I did manage to finish Bella's socks, so not I just need to wash and block them as well as the final touches on her package. I have leave from school this (Canadian long) weekend so I can go visit relatives and stay at our cabin on Galiano Island, BC for some much needed r&r and I hope to be fully recovered by then.

I apologize Slytherins that I haven't gotten your quiz out and there is a lovely prize just sitting in my dorm room waiting for it's new owner. Once I get back from celebrating Thanksgiving, the quiz will be written and up. For all you Canadian students, have a wonderful Thanksgiving, salute!

USPS says 'Delivered'!!

My partner's box was delivered today according to USPS.com. Cool! Hope you like it :) While I do have a scan of the socks, I don't have a scan of anything else ... and I have no clue whatsoever how to post a scan to a blog.

Lady Felula
Gryffindor House

Package arrives

This package arrived yesterday and I was completely thrilled. Check out the socks. I have made a rule that all new socks are worn that night. These were really warm and my feet were really happy. And I love how they fit.

Check out all of these goodies. I really like the box. There is a map on the London area on it. The mug will be happily used as often as possible. And the Slytherin mug cozy comes off for easy cleaning of the mug.

But this has got to be the best bag that I have ever received. The picture fails to show the sparkly parts of the bag. Huge thanks go to my Gryffindor pal, Lady Felula!!!