Back from a magical journey

Hey guys. I've been away for several days visiting family and friends. Nothing much to add since my kit has been mailed and received (and I'm still looking forward to receiving mine!). Thought a share with you the lovely gift I received from a very dear friend. Pretty special, huh? Most of my knitting has been given away. I'm really looking forward to making something very special for myself with this yarn.

Round Three

1. This “Harry Potter” character’s first name comes from Roman mythology. The mythological character’s twin brother is named Romulus. What is the Harry Potter character last name?
b. Lupin

2. Which “Harry Potter” character’s first name is the Roman equivalent of the Greed Goddess Athena?
c. McGonagall

3. In ‘Harry Potter’ World, this wizard has created the Philosopher’s Stone (called the Sorcerer Stone in the US). The historical figure from the 14th and 15th centuries was a scribe and a manuscript-seller who became famous as an alchemist. Who is this individual?
Nicholas Flammel

4. What is the first name of a character whose last name is the name of a Bulgarian leader from early 9th century who doubled the country’s territory?
c. Viktor

5. Which character’s name is the name of goddess in Indian mythology?
b. Patil

6. “Where the Wild Things Are” tells the story of Max, a young boy sent to bed without his supper for his wild antics. Who created this winner of the Caldecott Medal?
a. Maurice Sendak - under protest.

7. What was NOT one of the unexpected defense mechanisms that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook encountered in their attempt to rob Gringotts?
d. The Geminio Curse

8. What was Snape aiming at when he cut off George’s ear?
c. Another Death Eater’s wand hand

9. How much older than James was Lily? (Referring to Harry’s parents, not children).
d. 2 months

10. Food is one of the five exceptions to what magical law?
b. Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration

Picture Hunt
George


McGonagall


Patil

My Very Wonderful RAOK

Miss Winifred Hornswaggle aka angel101580 sent me this lovely package. The lanolin hand balm is scented with orange, clove and cinnamon (some of my favorite smells!), a pair of delicate "no snag" stitch markers and a package of note cards featuring sock yarn. I especially appreciate that every items is from an etsy seller. Supporting entrepreneurs and artists is a big thing with me. Thanks you so much. Truly, it is if you knew me. Couldn't have been more perfect.

A Foodie Rockstar

True story.

This week I met the man who invented tiramisu. And he took me into the kitchen of his bakery! Seriously, if I were a squee-er I'd be sqeeing my little cold, black Slytherin heart out.

Here's the back story. A few weeks ago I found this adorable little Italian bakery that is really off the beaten path. You can tell the place is relatively new, but it is very homey and the pastry case is to die for! I've been telling people about it and have gone in a couple of time. I was extolling the virtues of the place to a grad student from Hopkins and he googled it on his cell phone, but found it listed under a different address. When I got home I checked the website to make sure I'd been giving people the correct address and while I was there I checked out the media tab.

So on my next visit I introduced myself to Bruna, Carminantonio's wife and asked if he was still baking. She assured me he was in the kitchen making the Easter breads. Several minutes later, as I was sipping my cappuccino, he came out to introduce himself and say hello.

I swear I would not have been any more impressed if it were Emeril or Martha Stewart! A very unassuming man, we chatted for a few minutes about the baked goods and holiday baking, then he invited back into the kitchen.

Did you get that? He invited me back into the kitchen!

Stand mixers that I could bath in, stainless steel tables as far as the eye could see and a walk-in oven. We kibitzed a bit about the difference between panettone (Christmas bread) and pani pasquali (Easter bread) (mostly it's just in the shaping) as he nibbled the proofed raw dough. I told him of my love for Fiori di Sicilia (literally "the flowers of Sicily" - a flavor extract of orange and vanilla) and he flourished his own orange extract under my nose.

Easter is this coming Sunday. And although I am not a Christian, Friday I plan another visit to Piedigrotta to get one of those fragrant, raisin-studded, cross-shaped loaves. Sunday morning I will have it toasted with a schmear of fresh butter and a cup of my own house coffee and no doubt feel the promise of spring.

Oh Crap!

Hester is missing! I've checked with Cass, Crucio and the babies and she's not there. I thought for certain she was off visiting friends and family - she so loves to travel. I'm practically heartsick.

I can't stay home looking for her as I have a package ready to ship of to Felly and must get to the owlery today. There's one more little thing to stuff into the aleady overfull box, I'm off to hire a professional courier. With the weight of this box, my little Buzzard would drop dead over Kansas and never make it to Oregon.

A post

Today I am not at "Beanswallows" and have s bit of running around to do. My spoilee's kit is almost finished. There is an item I ordered that is taking its sweet time getting here. I am very pleased with her bag, found a great deal on a yarn/pattern set that exactly fits her very special needs.

There are also a couple of RAOK hitting the skies today!

In the meantime, I'm pretty sure I will be able to make it to the magical island to visit with Quinn and the crew (or should it be cru?) the last weekend of April.

House Quiz Results

Fawkes
Black
Magical remedy
457 meters
Knitted cupcakes
St. Mungos
met Titus Pullo aka Ray Stevenson
Fire and Ice
One
Odin’s bird, Odin is considered the chief god in Norse paganism, the god of battle, magic, inspiration and the dead

By request - the new do

Photo does not do the color justice. Dark chocolate brown underneath and red on top.

Quidditch Round 2

Quote of the week
"I don't think death is kosher."
- Quinn

1. On which day did the Order of the Phoenix come to get Harry?
c. Saturday

2. During all this chaos with voldemort and the Death Eaters, people still had lives to live and Ron's oldest brother, Bill decided to marry Fleur Delacour? Who were the uninvited guests at Bill and Fleur's wedding?
b. Death Eaters

3. Voldemort had seven Horcruxes hidden in different places. Six of them were hidden at the Gaunt shack, Hogwarts, a cave, inside Harry, inside his snake, Nagini and Tom Riddles Diary. Did Voldemort hide the last Horcrux inside the Malfoy's vault at Gringotts?
b. No

4. Why did the Dumbledore's move to Godric's Hollow?
c. The father went to Azkaban

5. Harry and Hermione read a part of "Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore," written by Rita Skeeter. Then they met Dumbledore's brother Abeforth and he told them the same story, just with a few details changed. Which of the following did Aberforth and Rita Skeeter agree on about Dumbdore's past?
b. That Dumbledore was friends with Grindelwald for a while.

6. When Harry and Hermione visit Godric's Hollow, they visit the graveyard to see Harry's parent's graves. Harry walks by a tombstone that we later learn belong to tone of "The Three Brother'. The brother buried there once owned what?
b. The cloak

7. The Trio finds out that Luna had been kidnapped by the Death Eaters , and that they won't give her back until they got Harry Potter. Why did they kidnap Luna?
a. Her father sided with Harry and Dumbledore

8. After Voldemort killed Snape, he left the room and Harry came out from under the cloak. Snape gave Harry some of his memories all the way from when he was a child to just months before. Harry dived into the Pensieve and which of the following did he not see?
c. Snape and Lily having fun in a potions class

9. On the search of the Lost Diadem, Harry finally gets to takl to the Gray Lady. Who was the Gray Lady when she was alive?
c. Helena Ravenclaw

10. Which of these is not one of Harry or Ron's children?
d. Victoria

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Just a post. Nothing really new.

Thanks for all the well wishes. My wrists are doing much better. My business partner worked especially hard this week to give me some extra time off - which is both appreciated and frustrating. For once I have spare time and I can't knit! Agh! I have been knitting for just a few minutes at a time, being careful not to overdo it.

Also got a great haircut this week, along with a new colorway. Dark chocolate brown underneath and a very hot red on top.

I've picked up a thing or two for my spoilee's kit this week. Am making a trip to a LYS today on her behalf and am pretty sure I can get this out in the "early send" window to make extra points for THE house.