More HP Knitting

I finally finally finished my Defense Against the Dark Arts knitting project for this month. I had a blast knitting this thing. Of course there were times when I was ready to just chuck it in the bin, but I am happy to say that he is finished.

This month's assignment was:

Make something inspired by a scene from Book 6. Extra points if it’s House colors/premiere wear, inspired by Snape (the HBP himself), or inspired by a scene the prof doesn’t remember (possible, as she hasn’t been able to read HBP again, because of the crying). Or, of course, for making her laugh.

The quote from the book:

Fred, George, Harry, and Ron were the only ones who knew that the angel on top of the tree was actually a garden gnome that had bitten Fred on the ankle as he pulled up carrots for Christmas dinner. Stupefied, painted gold, stuffed into a miniature tutu and with small wings glued to its back, it glowered down at them all, the ugliest angel Harry had ever seen, with a large bald head like a potato and rather hairy feet. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The finished product:






I am so putting this atop my tree!

I Knit. And I Like Potter. So Why Not Combine the Two?

For those of you who don't know, I am part of an online community of knitters found at ravelry.com. In this community are groups, and of course, I was drawn to some of them having to do with Harry Potter (shock I know!). One group is called the Harry Potter Knitters/Crocheters House Cup. As part of this group we are sorted into our respective houses (GO HUFFLEPUFF!) and are given class assignments every month that are turned in for points. The house with the most points at the end of the term wins. One does not have to do every class. One is sufficient. However, one can do all of the classes if they wish. I completed two assignments in June. They were:

Muggle Studies - June: Make something for an object that a wizard wouldn't normally use (i.e. they use the Floo Network or Owls to communicate, not cell phones).
So here are some pics of my cell phone cozy.

Divination - June: Knit something to do with tea (leaves)/coffee.
I knitted a coffe to-go cup sleeve.

Herbology - July: Knit something to do with the wood from which your wand is made.
Well, like cancer is the sign for July, Holly is the wood. Therefore I conjured up some holly berries.

I am still working on my DADA class assignment (I'm not telling what it is until I'm finished, but I am fairly excited about it) and I will post those pics when I am finished. To be honest, I think with this one project I can knock out two other classes, as well! We'll see. :)

For Rachel - Better Pics of the Food

My sister Rachel asked to see better pictures of the food from my Harry Potter party, the Cauldron Cakes in particular. Well, here they are, sis!

The Cauldron Cakes, the Cockroach Clusters, and the Pumpkin Pasties

Butterbeer

And that's pretty much it. Sorry I don't have more, but there you have it.

Birthday and Harry Potter. BLISS!

Yesterday, as a lot of you will already know, was my birthday. It was also the US release day of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. So, as you can see, a perfect storm of Naomi happiness!

Not only did I have a lot of well-wishes from so many of my family and friends (thanks so much, by the way!) I also had the pleasure of hosting a viewing party. Some friends came over and we had a whole bunch of good, HP-themed yummies, took a Sorting Hat quiz (I, of course, got Hufflepuff! Squee!), and then we all went to go and see the movie. It was the second time for me. I found I really enjoyed it after the second viewing. I think I'm too old to go to midnight releases anymore. :D

Anyway, below are a few pics from the party, mainly of the food. Enjoy!


To decorate for the party I decided to go with a potion theme, seeing as potions played such a huge part in this HP installment. I just went to Michael's and bought some bottles. Easy-peasy. It was figuring out what to put in the bottles that proved a little more difficult. Here's is what I came up with:

Felix Felicis (made with Gold metallic acrylic paint)

Pickled Doxy Eggs (capers)

Powdered Horn of Bicorn (sand)

Monkshood (dried basil)

Boomslang Skin
(this one I'm particularly proud of. It's made of tomato peel soaked in boiling water with green food coloring and tea. It turned out so well!)

Ground Mandrake (chili powder)

The spread

My friend Jasmine (aka Prof. Trelawney) baked this cake for me. Hufflepuff! Thanks so much, Jasmine!

I am so tired after all of the merry-making, but in such a good, happy way! Thanks again to everyone!

Happy Thoughts - Day 10

Today's Happy Thoughts are brought to you be the happy thought that I have not yet had to check myself into an insane asylum due to having children. :)

Water Fights
Istanbul (the song)
Writing long notes/letters/books/novels/series
Happy dancing
Camping with curling irons
Never running out of Happy Thoughts
Flattering dresses
Long shorts
Being able to count
We've already learned the most difficult language
Extra credit
Bean tacos that...... never mind
Bon fires
Roasting marshmallows over a stove
Burning logs on TV when you don't have a fireplace (or, in the case of my dad, the Hi-Def Yule Log)
Sudden bursts of energy
Knowing what day it is
Maps that you can read
Not getting lost on long trips
Family reunions without cheek-pinchers

Happy Thoughts - Day 9

Today's Happy Thoughts are brought to you by the joy that is watching my toddler rock out to R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It" for the third consecutive listen. Rock on!

Automatic toasters
Candles
Ghost Stories
Lunch
Warm quilts
Well-lit rooms
Telling time
Ice Cream
Tying your shoes
Clean chalk boards
Redundancy
Not getting in trouble for saying, "You Suck!"
You get a lot out of playing country songs backward
Anyone can learn to country dance
Slow dances
Rugrats
Stake dances
Spanish and French are semi-similar
"I Moan" is not so terrible
Jumping on trampolines with boys
Being Evile

Happy Thoughts - Day 8

Today's Happy Thoughts are brought to you by a total slacker who was completely distracted last week and forgot to post aforementioned Happy Thoughts.

Cheerios with Yogurt
Greasy grimy gopher guts
Birdies with clean feet
Lizard tails grow back after they accidentally get pulled off
When teachers like you
Kissing up
Bad hair days will always suck
BBQs
Redundancy
People who stick their noses up in the air eventually get barbed-wire shoved up them :p
Illumination
"The Phantom of the Opera"
Voice lessons
Good friends are forever friends
When friendly chipmunks are still friendly
Daydreaming
A good night's rest
Naps (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)