Knit Devotion

If you have never seen a night launch, they are spectacular.  This is the view from my house. We are about 40 minutes from Canaveral. So our view is quite beautiful once the shuttle is over our trees. Last night launch there was a full moon. Before the shuttle was over the trees, you couldn’t tell the moon halo from the shuttle’s halo. It was too cool. No doubt any night launch is cool!

        
In the 2nd photo, the two lights together are the booster rockets that deploy right before the shuttle gets out of the atmosphere. The light by itself is the shuttle.  It’s even better in person. You can watch the shuttle for a while before it completely disappears. 

If you don’t know, The government is putting a halt to the Shuttle program. What I understand is they want to upgrade the shuttles, which they have been talking about for a while. It’s just sad to see them go away even though they do need to, they are old and worn out.  I grew up with them, I grew up with the space program in Alabama. I even went to two schools named after astronauts (Roger Chaffee and Virgil Grissom). Like I said it’s a sad day to see them go. I’m sure the next generation will be even better but until then I look at what the space program has done and what I have seen. It is truly amazing.

Later

Wow what a quiz we have in History of Magic…

Here we go…

How many fields of magic are there? Name them.

There are 10 fields of magic..arithmancy, charms, the dark arts, divination, herbology, legilimency, medical magic, occlumency, potions, and transfiguration.

There are how many types of Magical People are there? Name them.

There are 7 types of Magical People. They are animagus, arithmancer, legilimens, metamorphmagus, occlumens, parselmouth,  and seer.

How many categories of Magic are there? Name them.

There are 4 categories of Magic. They are movement magic, vanishing magic, offensive/defensive magic, and curses, hexes and jinxes.

Give the full name of the four witches and wizards who founded Hogwarts.

Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin

Only 3 people are recorded as having passed their O.W.L.s in History of Magic. Who are they?

Hermoine, Bill and Percy Weasley

In
the books, who is the current Professor for this subject, and why is
this Professor different from the other Professors at Hogwarts?

The ghost of Professor Cuthbert Binns.According to Hogwarts folklore, Professor Binns has failed to notice
that he is dead: He simply got up from his chair in the staff-room one
morning and left his body behind.

Magic is more than anything else …. what?

Magic is more than anything else intention made reality

In what decade did Voldemart begin his first rise to power? In the 1970′s
When did Harry defeat Voldemart? First time..October 31 1981, second time..1998
In what year did he begin his second rise to power? 1990

For extra points:

Name where each of the founders of Hogwarts was born, according to the Sorting Hat.

According to the Sorting Hat,
Gryffindor came “from wild moor,”
Hufflepuff came “from valley broad,”
Slytherin came “from the fen,”
Ravenclaw came “from glen.”

Which of the founders is thought to have come up with the ever-changing floor plan?

Ravenclaw

What a great quiz. Thanks professor.

Curlatrix Black
Slytherin House

We have a little quiz for Defense of the Dark Arts. Here we go….(my answers are in red)

1. Who is the author of the books prescribed for Defence against the Dark Arts? a. Newt Scamander b. Adalbert Waffling c. Bathilda Bagshot d. Quentin Trimble

2. When conjuring a Patronus, the user is supposed to produce what type of thought? a. Happy b. Powerful c. Sad d. Funny

3. Who was the teacher of Defence against the Dark Arts in Tom Riddle’s time? a. Albus Dumbledore b. Armando Dippet c. Galatea Merrythought d. Phineas Nigellus Black

4. Which Defence against the Dark Arts teacher is an accomplished Occlumens? a. Alastor Moody b. Dolores Umbridge c. Severus Snape d. Remus Lupin

5. Which of these spells is the Full Body-bind Curse? a. Impedimenta b. Petrificus Totalus c. Incarcerous d. Impervious

6. Lord Voldemort used Avada Kedavra on Harry Potter in the Little Hangleton graveyard. But another spell used by Harry at the same time caused the Priori Incantatem effect. Which spell did Harry use? a. Accio b. Expelliarmus c. Levicorpus d. Crucio

7. Which of the following can the Unforgivable Curse not do? a. Kill someone b. Cause terrible pain c. Make parts of the body fall off d. Become controlled by someone

8. Which kind of people are known to use Unforgivable Curses very commonly? a. Members of the Order of the Phoenix b. Death Eaters c. Dementors d. Dumbledore’s Army

9. One of the Horcruxes was a ring. Whom did the ring belong to? a. Albus Dumbledore b. Marvolo Gaunt c. Salazar Slytherin d. Godric Gryffindor

10. The creation of a Horcrux requires: a. Injuring someone b. Stealing c. Killing someone d. Using Cruciatus Curse on someone

Extra Credit:
Name the 3 Unforgiveable Curses. Describe how to cast each and the effects of each curse. Why are they unforgiveable and what will happen to the person who cast them?

The three unforgiveable curses are  The Cruciatus Curse, The Killing Curse, and The Imperius Curse. The Killing Curse is invoked by saying “Avada Kedavra”. This instantly kills the person it hits.  This is illegal in any community.  The Imperius Curse is invoked by saying, “Imperio.”  This curse puts the person under the total control of the instigater in that they have no free will.  Everyone should have free will no matter their beliefs.  The Cruciatus Curse is invoked by saying, “Crucio.” This curse puts the person is excruciating pain and that person usually dies because of it. Torture is wrong in every situation. It is noted that to perform the Unforgivable Curses, the caster must “mean it”. This means that they need to want the effects a fair amount for the effects to last.  Any person who casts an unforgiveable curse will spend a lifetime in Azkaban.

Later

Curlatrix Black Slytherin House

RIP Juanita Mackey….We love you!

Write an essay about your broom.

Here’s what I had to say about that.  Sleek and sweet!

Whenever my DH has to go out of town, someone gets sick.  Unfortunately, he had to escape town to go visit his DG who is not doing well. I got to stay with the monsters.  This time it was my turn to get the crap. The other week DD had a sinus infection that went from her nose all the way down her throat. It was not pretty and the things we do for our kids would not have registered in my mind before them.  She does not like to blow her nose. So she lets the “green goop” (and I mean green) fill her nostrils and dry there.  Like I said NOT PRETTY.  Where dear mom has to clean out her nostrils so she can breathe.  UUUGGGHHHH!!!! I am so suprised it took me this long to get sick! DD at the same time has double ear infections. His, I didn’t have to clean out, Thank you!  Me….I get both. The last 4 days I have been fighting this crap while trying to keep my DS occupied. 

So here’s where the cruel joke comes in.  This morning I am finally feeling somewhat human again. I  am getting dressed and throw my back out.  NICE!!! I limp my butt to get the kids up and DD to school while DS wants to go to the park.  I don’t blame him since he has been cooped up with me for the last couple of days.  All I want to do is crawl back into bed with a pain killer and a muscle relaxer and sleep.  Can’t do that though, DH is not here and I have a monster to watch and another monster to pick up from school.

Like I said life is a cruel joke!

Later

Needless to say I haven’t done anything for HLBOES this week. But my package is almost done. I need to pick up some “orlando” things. HEHE..I have an idea for that.  Then I can mail it and I’m done with that part of the swap!

Our assignment is to write a short essay on the meanings of the House symbols.

Since my spoilee is from Ravenclaw…let’s start with that house.

The crest of the Ravenclaw House is a golden eagle on a blue field making their official colors (book) blue and bronze.  Their founder was Rowena Ravenclaw and the ghost is Helena Ravenclaw (Grey Lady).   A Ravenclaw values intelligence, creativity, wit and wisdom.  Because of the eagle, Rowling puts them with the element of air.

My house is Slytherin.  Our founder was Salazar Slytherin, who only wanted pure blood wizards to attend Hogwarts.  The Slytherin student values ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness.  And with these, the hunger for power is usually not far behind.  Our crest hold a serpent in a field of green and silver.  Rowling suggests we are the element of water. Our official book colors are green and silver.  The ghost of Slytherin house is the Blood Baron.

Next is Hufflepuff….Their crest is a badger in a field of yellow and black and corresponds to the earth element.  Their founder was Helga Hufflepuff and value hard work, loyalty, tolerance, and fair play.  The house ghost is the Fat Friar.

And last but best known because of our beloved Harry is Gryffindor.  Their crest is a lion on a field of red and gold.  Their founder, Godric Gryffindor was a very corageous man. Harry used his sword to defeat the balisk and Voldemort to save Hogwarts and the wizarding world once more.  Gryffindors correspond to the element of fire and value corage, daring, nerve and chivalry.  Their ghost is Nearly Headless Nick. 

Later
Curlatrix Black
Slytherin House
Information from Hp Lexicon and Ravenclaw websites.

The assignment is to fantasize.  Well, not that kind (ohhhh!)  Fantasize about your ideal Quidditch team.   Wardrobe, brooms, stadium, and stadium architect.

Here’s my team…..The Pindragons
Our wardrobe would be traditional style quidditch gear.  I love the look of the uniforms but the colors would be black with silver accents.  
Very quick and stealth looking.  The above pic will be our broom.  Sienna Storm, very quick, very sleek, and made out of oak.  Try to break that! (too bad it’s not bamboo…I love bamboo)
The stadium will look like the Coliseum in Rome.  Royal in architecture and to feel the energy in that place from past battles would be fantastic.  It’s incredible to walk into a place like that and feel the energy that flows from the old battles that have been there. Whether it is a new sporting arena or an old battle worn field, it all holds the energies from the past. To stand there and feel that power is like being in another world.

Here is my apparitions homework. We had to knit or crochet a bookmark (in our House colors for a bonus). I am in Slytherin House, green and silver.  I didn’t have silver yarn so I did white. If you look close you can see that I ran white yarn through the yarn overs. Close enough right?!  I do love this bookmark. It is easy and very quick plus it is beautiful. I am have plans for something different with it next time.  I will post pics later of it!

  Later  Curlatrix Black

Our assignment was to get someone to drink some “leaf-reading” tea and try to read their leaves. So my Monster is drinking some tea. I asked her to think of something important to her or something bothering her.  Here is her drinking the tea (and most of the leaves) and the leaves that were left……
    I think she was thinking about a little mouse that doesn’t live too far from our house.  What do you think?  I am worried because she was all into it and didn’t flinch when I asked her to “pose” for the experiment.
The second part of our assignment is to craft something that has to do with the proper drinking of the tea. Here is my screen printed tea towel.  You have to have a tea towel to properly drain the leaves and read them.

Later
Curlatrix Black
Slytherin House

      Our darling Charms professor gave us a fantastic assignment. We just needed to finish a crafting project we had started.  I have to say she did this assignment just in time.  I took the task of doing the corsages for my DD’s school Father/Daughter Dance AGAIN.  You would think after last year doing 200 live flower corsages on the Friday of the dance, would have taught me to say no.  Well this year we don’t have as many volunteers as we did last time. So I got to do them again. YEAH! I did get smart this year and used silk flowers instead. Only my thumbs are twice as sore from wrapping the wire from the flower around the bands. Then sticking my thumbs with the little wire in the bows. Finally bending the bands with my poor thumbs to get everything to stay in place.  My thumbs will never be right again. 
But thanks to my Charms professor…I now get points for my house.  I thank you and my thumbs thank you!

Later
Curlatrix Black
Slytherin House