My Owl has arrived!!!

Just look at my wonderful HSKS #3 package from my upstream buddy Jennifer (Ravenclaw) There is lovely black back with little (Badger) prints lined with a lovely yellow-gold, hand made of course. Outside there is a button that reads... "Direct descendant of Helga Hufflepuff" (very cool) Inside there was a little HP friends book, HP stickers, clover DP in size 2, a pattern for "Slippery Socks" and some yummmy super wash sock yarn. But look closely at the yarn...here, this will help... Special hand-dyed yarn just for Hufflepuff. I love the colorway names. Jennifer, you rock! Thank you very much!

Yarn Bling

I just wanted Stephanie, from Ravenclaw, to know that I am still working on her swap package and thinking of fun things for her kit...constantly! A little out of focus so we don't give everything away I have your stitch markers done, your yarn selected, needles in hand, yummy treat tauting me from the kitchen and all that is left is to finish the bag. I am really having fun with the HSKS #3 challenge. I had a wonderful email from Jennifer to tell me my Owl is on the way....I can hardly wait. Will need to sneak it into the house as the current over spending in the knitting budget (for which my husband believes should be $0 and he would never believe it was a gift). Puts me in a prime position to earn this badge: The “Knitting Caused My Divorce” Badge Okay so I exaggerate but it didn't help that I did all my fall shopping and paid Katie's room, board and tuition all in the same billing period.

Done!

Lace has no stretch so they are a tad loser than I am use to but that gives room for any changes in washing. I had to modify the pattern a little to get the foot length to work for me. Toe up, short-row toe and heal and fun to knit!

Campanula almost done!

With Katie off at college and the boys out on a Scout outing I found myself with a surprise free day! I worked on stitch markers for my HSKS #3 partner and sat down to make some progress on my Campanula Socks (for Campanula KAL and August Sock-down!) I made fantastic progress getting from the heel turn to the ribbing which I plan on finishing at lunch today!!! Most of yesterday was spent around Katie and her Freshman Convocation. It was a lovely affair and a good start for her four year attachment to that institution. (Katie is on the left) ...back to work!

Proud Mom!

I need to take a moment away from knitting to puff up my proud mom chest and crow! My daughter Katie just earned her Girl Scout Gold Award!!!! It is the highest (youth level) award in Girl Scouting. The prerequisites for the award are daunting even before you get to the final project and Katie spent about 85 hours total on her final project. She creating three astronomy curriculum kits for two different school districts, orchestrated the donation of four telescopes and then spent time in the classroom and with after-school clubs teaching students and teachers about astronomy. She also spent time at Astronomy Fair, the farmer's market, and at various elementary school science fairs setting up hands on activities for the kids. She did this because she was disappointed with the absence of astronomy in the public school system and she believed that if she made it really easy for teachers to 'play with' astronomy they could incorporate it in the curriculum more often. So, I am very proud and I am sure she is glad I am not nagging her about deadlines any more!!! :-) (that's why parent's aren't allowed to advise on their own child's projects!)

I am too knitting!

So raise your hand if work get in the way of your knitting and blogging! Yep that is what I thought...not alone there! I show up and shower them with wit and grace so why do I have to run all this data... beginning of Autumn quarter is always such fun! Whee! Okay, so it has been slow going on the knitting front but I do have some progress to share. This is the Kimono Shawl from Folk Shawls that I am knitting for Mom as her Solstice gift. I needed something that was heavy enough to really work as a warm stole in Gold Hill Colorado and still be lacy enough to be interesting but not a snag magnet. This is a photo of the all over pattern. And where we are so far...unblocked The pattern is good for traveling and for visiting and knitting at the same time. If you plan on talking while you knit this one I recommend adding stitch markers at each pattern repeat. I am using the snagless tiny hair bands and they are not slowing down the knit at all. They have a lovely way of 'hopping' onto the needles all by themselves. So I am getting as much knit-blogging and Ravelry catch up as I can before the next round of Quidditch starts at HSKS #3 I am also playing with a pattern for a set of coasters for the design contest at same site. Okay back to work.

HSKS #3 Trivia Answers

Okay YES I am knitting!!! For those who are use to seeing knitting on this page it is still going on but I have some House business to take care of as well. Go Hufflepuff! 1. b. Charity Burbage - tortured and killed by Voldermort with the Avada Kedavra curse specifically and in print *** (see notes) 2. c. Alecto Carrow 3. c. The wand chooses the wizard. 4. a. to kill the owner 5. d. Jack Russell Terrier 6. a. Otter 7. a. Stew 8. In book 5, at the start of term feast, what is Ron eating +++when trying to talk to Nearly Headless Nick? c. Roast potato +++ (see notes) 9. b. ‘Three up... two across 10. d. ‘For those who take, but do not earn' Picture Scavenger Hunt You may either post these pictures on your blog OR simply link to them. Rolanda Hooch Firenze Argus Filch Moaning Myrtle Colin Creevey Trivia special notes *** See curse spell reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unforgivable_Curses (although there is the possible second answer (extra credit?) of Possibly Mad Eye Moody - While trying to help Harry escape from the Dursley's was hit full face with a curse. Voldemort was casting Avada Kedavra curese at everyone so most likely Mad Eye was killed by that curse even thought it wasn't 'said' in print.) BUT as Adele has pointed out he wasn't a teacher at that point...at least there isn't a specific reference that I can find to his status so my original answer stands with this one side note. +++ Quote from the book... “Excellent,” said Ron, with a kind of groan of longing, and he seized the nearest plate of chops and began piling them on to his plate, watched wistfully by Nearly Headless Nick. “What were you saying before the Sorting?” Hermione asked the ghost. “About the Hat giving warnings?” “Oh, yes,” said Nick, who seemed glad of a reason to turn away from Ron, who was now eating roast potatoes with almost indecent enthusiasm. “Yes, I have heard the Hat give several warnings before, always at times when it detects periods of great danger for the school. And always, of course, its advice is the same: stand together, be strong from within.” “Ow kunnit nofe skusin danger ifzat?” said Ron. His mouth was so full Harry thought it was quite an achievement for him to make any noise at all.

Christmas Around the World Swap Questionnaire!

Here are my answers for the Christmas Around the World Swap (CAWS) so if you thought a was a bit off before...well....what can I say. 1.Are you religious? No. 2.How long have you been knitting? 10 years. 3.Would you consider yourself a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? Intermediate. 4.Do you have any other hobbies besides knitting? Astronomy, travel 5.Favorite color(s)? Earth tones, greens and blues. 6.Do you collect anything? Telescopes, yard, knitting WIPs. 7.Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? No. 8.Do you have any pets? No. 9.Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate? All of the above! 10.Cookies or Sweets? Cookies. 11.Do you knit socks? Absolutely. 12.If not socks then what? (tell us about your favorite knits). I have several shawls and stole as my WIP. You can see my WIP and my Projects and Queue on Ravelry - Justafew. 13.Do you put up a Christmas tree? Yes but not until a week before. 14.Favorite holiday treats? Egg nog, cookies, pies 15.Favorite holiday smells?Pine trees, turkey cooking, baking. 16.Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional or unconventional way? My parents and I celebrate Solstice and with the kids and my husband we celebrate a traditional Christmas holiday in a low key fashion. No trips to a house of worship but we are very festive with our decorations and merriment! 17.What are your favorite holiday traditions? Spending time with the family, the family tree decorating evening with good food and music. Everyone gets a special gift ornament each year. I HATE shopping! 18.Finish the sentence: “For me Christmas is all about....” family 19.If you were a Christmas ornament you would be…….? An antique glass owl 20.What was your favorite gift you've ever received? Or given? Tough. Most memorable received gift was a restored antique school desk, my most memorable gift given were the stockings I knit for my husband and kids. I was pretty proud of them and was able to knit them in secret! 21.When do you start your Christmas? Start with Solstice and continue on through New Year's Day. 22.Do you send Christmas cards? Do you make them or buy them? Usually don't but we make tons of phone calls! The cards we do send we purchase from/to support local fund-raisers 23.What is your favorite Christmas dish? Roast turkey with horseradish and cranberries 24.Carolers are at your door. What do you do? Smile with delight, listen to the songs and then invite them in for punch and cookies (in a perfect world I would have those ready to go right? Martha I am not!) 25.When do you open presents? Christmas eve or Christmas morning?Morning! 26.Do you celebrate with family or friends or both? Family and any friends who need a place to celebrate. The more the merrier.

Needle lust!

I'm sure everyone has seen these.... They are the new Knit Picks Harmony wood needles! Now since already have the complete set of Option needles and plenty of others I am hard pressed to buy them for myself (I have double point overload) but I am curious about the 32" (US0) 2mm needles. Those I could get into those for sock knitting if they don't break!!!! For $6 I might just have to give them a try!

Back and Panicked!

So the point of a vacation is to enjoy, to relax and repair. I just got back from vacationing with my folks and the time with them was wonderful! I was pampered beyond all expectations! I was even treated to a private dinner prepared by Chef Janos ... my folks have the most wonderful friends! He just happened to be in Gold Hill Colorado working on his home there (my parents are up the street) and he wanted someone to try out some new recipes on! I KNOW!!!! If you are in Tucson Arizona you have to go to his restaurants! As soon as I dig out the camera there will be pictures elaborating the fun. What was not wonderful was coming back! I have a tsunami of work, tasks, housework, and commitments all threatening to crash down upon my head. I am fretting over the yarn choices for my HSKS #3 partner Stephanie!! I am looking for just the perfect blue and bronze sock yarn and nothing seems good enough! I want it to be a surprise for her so I won't post anything yet but here is a sneak of what I'm thinking about.....it has blue, silver and bronze covering both the movie and the book Ravenclaw color scheme. This is only one of the yarn sets for her so hopefully with two different sock yarns at least one will please her! (As you are reading this I just bit the bullet and pushed the purchase button so there is no turning back! Wow, that actually feels better!) I have some crystal bead and material set aside to start putting together the rest of her package so I'm not a complete slacker! ...more later