Just a few more days of freedom

As Head Mistress pointed out it is only a few more days until classes begin.  A few of us are taking the opportunity to look around the place and have a little fun.  Gabbie Clearwater, Fleur and a few others sat out on the lawn knitting socks for the house elves.  They got a real kick out of running out with pumpkin juice and cookies just to see how they were coming along.  Now that the little devils can wear new clothing they are becoming fashion conscious, of all things.  You should have seen Ottis in pink hair rollers, an old Santa hat and a piece of 1970's green ripple afghan worn as a poncho!

Heading home for the weekend.  The new chef, Havelock, has some idea about cookies with "magic" middles.  We'll see.........

Still anxiously waiting ... and knitting.

Still waiting for the owls to arrive.  Some lovely needles and a new friend should arrive just about the same time.  

Picked up my wand at Ollivanders, it's an 11 1/2 inch Maple wand with a Kelpie core!  Mr. Ollivander said maple has a very positive energy that frequently used for love spells and divination.  He also said this type of wand is drawn to people who have an appreciation for beautiful things.  The Kelpie is a water demon that frequently takes the shape of a horse.  Evidently, Kelpies have a fondness for Britton and Ireland. 

Must rest now.  Lots of homework already and my foreign exchange student friend from Primary School is coming by tomorrow morning.  I'm meeting her in the Village at Sticks & Strings for some fiber fun!  

Remind me to tell the story of  Analisa, her troll and his big square feet.  But that's for another day....

Late start to the day....

Crap, crap, crap!!!  I overslept this morning and was late for Divination.  The Professor should have seen it coming - a sad, tired, worn out joke I'm sure.  At least I didn't have to look into the blurry eyes of my Housemates who haven't been getting much sleep.  For the first time in a week everyone got some sleep.  The reason I overslept is my alarm glass was on the night table outside of the noise dampening charm I caste before going to bed.

I'm the snorer.  Madam Pomfrey promised to keep it hush, hush and gave me a charm to put under my bed.  Evidently, keeping the sound of my snoring in means keeping the sound of my alarm out.  Tonight I'll try setting the glass at the foot of my bed.

Just in time too - we all need to be on our toes.  Funny happenings around Hogwarts.  Strange weather, owls disturbed, house elves are wringing their hats, and a potentially tragic romance is blooming.

Everyone knows sweet Petunia Acromantula from Hufflepuff has a terrible crush on Augustus Cauldwell.  'Gus is a nice guy but his father is very old school.  The last part-muggle girl he dated disappeared during the winter holiday and never came back to Hogwarts.  Prissy's family was vacationing in the woods at the foot of the hills where the Cauldwell's family castle is located.  There was some talk about the disappearance happening when Mrs. Cauldwell and Gus were visiting relatives.  Anyway, I hope the Hufflepuffs are watching her back....

Weather Most Fowl

It is well past Winter Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere and today it was 70° F!   It is not right and though no one can put a finger on it, all know it does not bode well.  Owls jumped back and forth between perches in the Owlery; a rank odor rolled through the halls downwind of the first year's potions class; and my robes are hot and scratchy.  So I called Mum and she called the Head Mistress and she called the Prefect and I got permission to go into town for the afternoon!

Ran into Bella Shackleford at Madam Malkin's.  I was looking at the Whopperwear temperature-adjusting robe and she was there with her dad.  Bella and I picked out robes.  Then Mr. Shackleford went over to Flourish & Blotts to pick up Bellas books, we darted over to Scribbulus Everchanging Inks to pick up quills, ink and parchment.

We stopped in Beanswallows and had a Broomaide 2000 sports drink.  This weather is so unseasonable... and concerning.

Keeping out the draft

Was late getting back to the the Tower last evening.  My muggle friend Neville has been knitting on a scarf and naturally, when we knit together I use the muggle method.  A lot of witches turn up their nose at this slow and inefficient technique.  Truth be told, I like the feel of wool through my fingers and find it very satisfying.  This morning everyone's abuzz about Minerva's new wooly socks!  Ravenclaw Tower is cold and drafty, so fingerless gloves, slippers and cowls come in quite handy.

Before I came to school, I made these "artist's gloves".  They take a precious little yarn and are perfect to indulge in luxury fibers like the natural silk and cashmere blend I used.

Unexpected visitors

Just wanted to check in.  I was up and in the kitchen this morning by 5:30 am.  Ottis our free house-elf, and I made scones, cookies and started a big pot of soup all by 9:00 o'clock!  Beanswallows has a "no food by magic" policy.  Mom says the magic is the love we stir in by hand.  And folks do line up!  Fortunately, she has no problem with a little dishwashing charm.  My foundling brother, Yohan and his Lady Megalinda came into Hogsmead for a little shopping and sightseeing.  Ottis covered for me while Meg and I ducked out to our local yarn store.  She bought a couple of lovely hanks while I chatted with some of the sit-n-knit regulars.

Mrs Giggory and Grompton stopped by for some mulled cider and cockroach clusters.  That little small fry was so cute with chocolate smeared across his face.  Megalinda keep slipping him sweets every time Mrs. Greggory left the room - he will probably we awake half the night.

Beanswallows is closed on Sunday, so hopefully tomorrow my scarf will grow by a couple of strips.

Tired and Happy at Hogwarts

This year is going to be the best! I made my first friend at Hogwart’s.

Last night I meet the coolest girl in the Ravenclaw Common Room. Her name is Lavender and she’s a first year too. It had been a really long day and I was just hanging out by the fireplace doing a little knitting and a lot of fire gazing when she came over to ask about the knitting. Come to find out, she had needles and yarn in her trunk.  Lavender had been knitting in her room but agreed it would be nice to stretch out by the fire with a cup of tea and have some company.

Lavender said she heard from her cousin Petunia that Hagrid saves and spins the hair that comes off that big drooling dog of his, Fluffy. Wonder what he does with the yarn? Who would want a big, scratchy dog hair jumper?

Classes are a LOT harder than I thought. The reading list for this term is OUTRAGEOUS. To keep my grades up there won’t be time to do anything fun. Hey I just got an idea, maybe we could spell our textbooks to read our lessons aloud while we knit!

I’m going home on weekends to help at the Coffeehouse and if we can get permission, Lavender’s going to come over some weekend. She seems a clever sort and has done a fair bit of traveling; I think she might have family that lives really far away.

So with new friends, lots of school work and weekends at home I’ve got to juggle.

Oh,yeah. I passed Helga in the Great Hall and we grumbled at each other. If she leaves me alone, I’ll leave her alone. If I can just get through this first term without getting thrown out...

PS  Her ears look just fine.....

We all have a past

Frankly, I wasn't sure they were going to accept my application.  I got myself into a little scrape at my last school.  Nothing sinister, mind you, just an imaginative, under-challenged young witch with too much time on her hands.  I say if you act like an ass you shouldn't mind looking like an ass.

And those colorful footprint running up and down the stairways?  I had nothing to do with that.  In fact I noticed that under Cassandra Grumlepant's robes her feet were blue and Ophilia Pussyfoot's were orange!   They spelled their feet!

I've known those two since Primary School and they were always causing trouble and letting other people take the blame.  If it hadn't been for the S.M.A.R.T.S. (Superb Marks And Really Talented Student) designation, I might not have made it into Hogwarts.  

Cassandra and Ophelia saw the whole asinine incident and knew Helga had started it, but those two goodie-two-shoes never said a word!  I got a week's suspension and missed dragon flying camp.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know.  If you've heard rumors about me they were greatly exaggerated; most of that stuff I can explain.  And watch out for those too-good-to-be-true Gryffindors.  What they're really good at is not getting caught!

A New Year and already so much to be thankful for....

A very generous spirit must be a Hufflepuff characteristic because Miss Mandy Finch-Fletchley graciously offered instructions for making the HSKS4 logo a hot link.   And how exciting that so many are joining the ranks!  

Frankly, I'm not sure I can wait.  We will have to come up with a way to keep from getting into mischief.  I threatened Headmistress Wartwobble with sneezing dust in her face powder when the sign-up didn't appear at midnight eastern standard time and that was before the real waiting began!

I've been wanted to try lace and an Invisibility Shawl might be just the thing.  It would keep my hands busy and when the project was done...who knows what mischief I could manage!

Happy New Year!

Down in southern Hogsmead Village, we have a tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New years day to bring good fortune; some folks say greens on NYD bring prosperity. Last year I made this dish that combined the two and it was delicious.

Hoppin' John with a Twist

2 cups dried black-eyed peas
1 pound ham hocks (optional, to make this vegan I add 1 teaspoon chipotle for the smoke flavor)
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
5 cups water or chicken broth
2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
10 oz. bag of frozen chopped greens (I like kale, but collards work too)
Salt and black pepper to taste

Preparing dried beans by sorting through them for mis-formed beans, pebbles & other debris. Place beans in a large soup pot, cover with cold water and bring just to a boil. Turn off the heat, leave covered for 1-2 hours. Drain and rinse.

Using the same large soup pot, over medium-high heat, add soaked black-eyed peas, bacon or ham hock, onion, and red pepper. Add water or chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the beans are tender.

Remove ham hock and cut meat into small pieces. Return meat and bone to pot. Stir in rice and greens, cover, and cook 20 to 25 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with your families favorite hot sauce (and maybe some cornbread if they've been good to you!)

Makes 8 servings.