Oops!

I forgot to blog!!! Ack!!!
I'm still here! And, even better, I'm ready to send out my kit! I have everything all put together, sitting on the counter next to me. I just need to pack it into a box, and take it to the Post Office on Monday morning! Yay!

Week 7 Assignment

This week's homework assignment was to find and post pictures of all the horcruxes..... so, here they are!

Sorry about not posting last week.... we were in the middle of moving (still are actually) but I have internet access again! Yay!!!

Who's Wand?

Here's my answers for the Week 5 assignment

1. Vine wood and Dragon Heartstring = i. Hermione Granger
2. Walnut and Dragon Heartstring = k. Bellatrix Lestrange
3. Hawthorne and Unicorn Tail Hair = m. Draco Malfoy
4. Hornbeam and Dragon Heartstring = d. Viktor Krum
5. Ash and Unicorn Hair = g. Cedric Diggory
6. Rosewood and Veela Hair = l. Fleur Delacour
7. Elder and Thestral Hair = b. Albus Dumbledore
8. Mahogany and Unknown Core = j. James Potter
9. Elm and Dragon Heartstring = e. Lucius Malfoy
10. Cherry and Unicorn Hair = c. Mary Cattermole
11. Yew and Phoenix Feather = h. Tom Riddle
12. Holly and Phoneix Feather = f. Harry Potter
13. Willow and Unicorn Hair = a. Ron Weasley

Crazy Busy

I looked at the blog assignment for this week - um, yeah, I'm up to my eyeballs in boxes and I just can't think straight anymore! I have zero energy left right now and I really shouldn't be on the computer at all. We are moving next weekend and I am so not ready! Very excited about the new house, but I feel like I've hardly made a dent with my packing. (despite the mountain of boxes already packed and piled up in the corner)

So, unfortunately, this is it for my blogging this week I think. What have I gotten myself into!?

Week 3 Assignment - Word Association

1. Pumpkin - Pie
2. Owl - Post
3. Leaf - Tea
4. Weasley - Ron
5. Quaffle - Quidditch
6. Hallow - Deathly
7. Mad - Moody
8. Dragon - Flying
9. Crystal - Ball (my first word was actually "kingdom", but that's from my daughter's Dora-the-Explorer movie - Crystal Kingdom. ha! thought I should try to keep it HP related)
10. Trees - Forest
11. Hermione - Granger
12. Hogwarts - School
13. Burrow - Weasley
14. Dobby - Elf
15. Horcrux - Harry
16. Ministry - Magic
17. Magic - Wizard
18. Sirius - Black
19. Apple - Pie
20. Juice - Apple
21. Candle - Light
22. Ghost - Nick
23. Snake - Snape
24. Wand - Magic
25. Invisibility - Cloak
26. Tent - Camping
27. Spell - Magic
28. Umbridge - Witch! (but with a "B")
29. Dursley - Dudley
30. Prophet - Daily

Hmmm, I used the work "pie" twice..... that's what happens when you do word-association before breakfast. I'm hungry!

Time Turner?

Anyone know where I can purchase a good time turner? I looked for one in Diagon Alley, but no luck. I really need one!!! I signed up for this swap with nothing but time on my hands.... then I bought a house! We take possession on October 15th, so I'm frantically cleaning and packing right now. Can I manage to juggle my Hogwarts schedule and my Real-Life? Hmmmm, I'm sure going to try!
I've got a start on my swap kit, but I'm going to have to leave the hand-made part of it for after I've moved into the new place. (since I've already started packing my craft stuff!)
I'm feeling a bit frazzled, I admit it. But I'm so happy/excited at the same time. :)

New Term!!!

After taking a break from swapping, I'm back for HSKS 12!!!! I'm very excited to be back.... and I'm happy to be part of the "Hermione's Heroic Braniacs" family.
Things were starting to quite down around here, and I was going to have lots of free time..... but then we went and put an offer on a house yesterday!!! SQUEEEEEE!!!! I'm anxiously waiting for a phone call to see if the offer has been accepted. We have a house already, but it's in a rough neighbourhood and we want to get the kids into a better area before they start school (next year, possibly). I really, really, really hope we get this house! (and then I hope we can sell this one quickly!)

It's Here!!! It's Here!!!

An owl arrived today with my swap kit!!! I'm so excited. I know you wouldn't believe the awesomeness of everything I got, so I took some pictures to show you!

I could post a three page blog entry with photos of everything, but that would be a little too much like bragging, so I took a group shot....

I got some soft 'n silky Tofutsies sock yarn, in a very Magpie-worthy colourway.... along with the Lothlorien sock pattern. (I almost bought this pattern myself! Good think I didn't!)

There was loads n loads of extra goodies.... Chocolate (mmmm, chocolate), candies, notepads, a bath bomb from Lush (I can't even begin to explain my addiction to Lush bath bombs!), super-cute black & white stitch markers from Bumblebirch in an adorable little tin with my Magpies Jersey on it!!! (so cool) Some Harry Potter colouring posters and markers, a really neat little pyramid shaped bag, a super cool sock-blocker keychain with a maple leaf on it (yay Canada!), already adorned with a sweet little mini-sock. (my daughter insisted I put this on the Christmas tree - I obliged, but will be putting it on my keys after Christmas) and a Hedwig book bag. (these are so cool, they actually protect your books! I've been wanting one for ages)

And, saving the best for last..... An owl cabled hat and mitts!!!! These are sooooo cool! And super-comfy too!

love (1,000,000)

My little house-elf got her own little package too! I would've included her stuff in the group shot, but she wasn't giving any of it up, even for a photo.... I snuck a quick picture of her with my zoom lens while I was writing this blog post.

She got her very own knit hat (it fits her great, and she actually wants to wear it), a Dora the Explorer necklace and bracelet (you should've seen her face when she saw those!), stickers, and chocolate. The chocolate was tactfully left out of her gift, so Mommy could decide if she should have it. As you can see, I did let her have it. I was expecting super-hyper kid right about now, but she's actually having an afternoon nap. Wow. I guess the craziness will happen later. ;)

Where's Winnie

My guess for this week is Freidburg, Germany.

Where's Winnie

My guess for Winnie's latest whereabouts?

Transylvania, Romania

oops! blog neglect!

I totally forgot to blog last week! Ack! Sorry Magpies!
I'm here and I'm busy trying to work on my spoilee's kit. Everything is ready except for the handmade item. I've recently developed a really bad case of tendonitis (from playing guitar) and have been told not to go near my guitar (or knit) for at least two weeks. My doctor originally said six weeks, but that literally made me almost cry, so he then downgraded to two weeks, and then take things really slow, and if I feel any pain, to stop immediately. I've had to cheat and work on my kit anyway. It's going really slow, because I can't knit for very long at one time, but I'm determined to have it finished in time. I'm thinking I might even get it done this weekend! Wish me luck!

Where's Winnie

She's at it gain.... hopping (or flying, or perhaps aparating?) all over the globe, leaving little clues about her destinations.

My guesses this week are,

Visiting Horace Slughorn for sure.... where? my guess is Al Mamzar, Dubai.

Next, she's checking out the pyramids in Cairo, Egypt.

Where's Winnie

My guesses for this week

Mexico City, Mexico

Santiago, Chile

RioDiJanero, Brazil

Where's Winnie?

My guess for Winnie's Whereabouts this week is Tibenham, Norfolk, England.
Still not sure what all those bold letters are going to add up to, but I'm getting curious.

Oops! That was close!

Oops! I almost forgot to blog this week! Phew, that was close!
I don't really know what to write about this week.... I'm still waiting for my yarn arrive so I can get started making the handmade item for my spoilee. I'm getting impatient though, and might have to go the my LYS and get something else. We'll see if it arrives this week.
I didn't sign up for shuntbumping, but I'm having fun watching the competition... and getting inspired by the patterns they're doing. I think I might have to make a pair of those mitts.

Where's Winnie

*** Changing my guesses!!!*** I've been thinking about this very carefully, and I think my orignal guesses were off.... so I'm making new ones, that I think are more logical.

Winnie's first stop was Wellington, New Zealand,

and her second stop was Haileybury, Canada (now known as Temiskaming ).... I think.

Where's Winnie?

Judging from her recent letter, and the photo she included with it, I'm thinking that Winnie must be at the Ministry of Magic , in London, England...for now. I wonder where she's heading next?

First Blog Assignment

I like to refer to this first assignment as the "human scavenger hunt" ;)


1. Someone with the same craft as you (either those listed above or another one).
Hermione Bagnold has the same craft as me - knitting.... and dabbling in other crafts too! :)


2. Someone who was born in the same month.
Olive Bumblebirch - born in August is our wonderful assistant captain of the Magpies team! Go Magpies!

3. Someone from a different country.
My Spoilee, Perenelle Tejedora, is from the US. (I'm from Canada)

4. A new HSKS Quidditch player.
Stellwa Quinn is a brand new HSKS Quidditch player!

5. A player who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps.
Pandora Phelps has been in 4 HSKS swaps (including this one)

6. A player who has a bigger stash than you! (And if your stash is the biggest, proudly say so!)
Wisteria Lovegoods claims to have the biggest stash, while mine can fit crammed into five boxes that all fit under my bed, oh, and one drawer of my dresser.


7. A player who both knits and crochets.
My awesome spoiler from HSKS Summer Camp, Rowan Dragonsinger, can knit and crochet!

8. Someone who has the same favorite color as you.
Antonio dela Weasley has the same favorite colours as me.... Blue and Green.


I really liked this assignment. It gave me a chance to look through some other peoples projects and read a few blogs. We have a fun group here!

First Assignment (all about me!)

WooHoo!!! I tried out for the Montrose Magpies quidditch team and I made it!!!! I'm so excited! I've wanted to play professional quidditch ever since my first day on the Gryffindor team back at Hogwarts. All those years practicing have finally paid off. Now lets just hope I can make my team proud and play some mean quidditch when the season starts.

Pre-season has begun already, and we're already staring our early morning practice sessions. Here's my first assignment:

All About Me! (this is intented to help our spoilers, but all my quidditch fans can read this too, if they are curious)
Where to start? Hmmmm.... Well, lets start with the easy stuff. I'm 28, married, and I have two beautiful little girls, aged 2.5 years and 6 months. (March 2007 & April 2009) No pets. I love animals though. We adopted a really, really, really old dog from the animal shelter and took care of him for two years before he passed. It was really difficult and I'm just not ready for another pet right now. Maybe when the kids are older and start asking for one?
I'm trained as a draftsperson (structural & architectural - I've done both) but have been a stay at home Mom since my oldest daughter was born. I love being at home with my kids but I have been feeling a little bit isolated lately. (my huband has been working out of town a lot this summer) It's really great when I get a chance to talk to somebody older than two!
We're starting on my favorite season right now (Fall). I love the crisp, cool air and the frosty mornings. Ah, sweater season, love it. My favorite holiday is definately Christmas, which is a little strange I guess, since I'm not actually Christian. I was raised Christian, but have since found my own path. I do not believe in organized religion, at all, but I do believe very strongly in being a good person.
My hobbies include Knitting, Crochet (I've made some toys), Spinning (with a wheel, I'm having a rough time getting used to spindles), I've done a bit of Weaving (would do more if I had more time), Cross-Stitch (back-burner hobby), Drawing, I love reading, especially when somebody hands me a book they really like themselves.(hint, hint to spoiler)
What kinds of things do I like? Candy. Yes, I love candy. Especially those 5cent gummy candies you get at the corner store (gummy frogs are my favourite). Chocolate is always a good choice too! Mmmm, chocolate.
I don't like anything with a heavy floral scent, but I do like fresh/fruity/or sweet scents. (I wonder if that has anything to do with my love of candy? hmmmm)
I'm a kid at heart and love cartoon stuff, especially things from when I was a kid (think 80's cartoons - Ninja Turtles, Rescue Rangers, My Pet Monster, etc) And, of course, anything Harry Potter.
I love all colours.... I tend to lean towards cooler colours, blues & greens, but I also wear a lot of browns/earth tones. I will even surprise myself and choose something bright orange, or , or even pink. So, basically, all colours are great for me!
My oldest daughter loves to "help" me open my parcels... so if there's something little in there for her, she would be very surprised/excited beyond belief. ;)
That's all I can think to write about myself right now.... feel free to ask questions if I missed anything important!

Still Here

Sorry for the lack of blog posts lately! I'm still here! I've had a lot of family obligations lately and the swap had to go on the back-burner for a while. Sorry for letting my cabin mates down.