Takeoff!

Quidditch is under way!

I've received my assignment - I'll be spoiling Madam Ferula McGonagall, of the Pride of Portree. And I'll be cheered on this term by Gryphon the Great, also of the Pride.

I'd thought this was going to be an easy swap, because I thought I already had a good stash of yarn in most of the team colors. But it seems I've already used some of the yarn for other projects. Or perhaps I've misplaced it, but given the state of my craft storage room (and the bats - did I mention the bats?) I'm not sure how likely I am to find it. Fortunately, my new village boasts three yarn stores, so I shouldn't have any trouble finding Quality Quidditch Supplies.

Hi, Ferula and Gryphon! I can't wait for the first match!

Wish List

Just like Muggle sports leagues, our first week of Quidditch practice seems to involve a lot of paperwork. I've gotten registered, been assigned my team (yeah, Appleby Arrows!!!), and now we're supposed to post a wish list. So here it goes:

Favorite colors: Blues, purples, greens - cool colors. Also jewel tones.
Favorite scents: Lilac, violet, spices, cool scents
Favorite yarn brands: Fleece Artist, Lorna's Laces
Favorite yarn types (wool, cotton, etc.): I prefer 100% wool for my socks, but use the blends when I like the colors. I haven't done as much knitting with non-wool fibers, but I've never met a natural fiber I don't like.
Favorite types of snacks: Nuts, gummy bears, chick-o-stix, chocolate with mint or nuts, cheesy stuff.

Specify whether you knit or crochet or both: Mostly knitting, but I've done some crochet

Allergies: Cats and black olives

Wishlists: My Amazon.com wishlist, and my Bridal Registries. I didn't register for yarn, and I don't know how many housewares are good for quidditch (although we've beent talking about getting a new broom), but it's an easy link to a wishlist!

Add anything else that you think will help your spoiler out: Hmm...I like to read, a lot. Right now we're doing a lot of work on our Craftsman-era house, so I'm looking for decorating inspiration! I do lampworking, I cook, I like wine. I have two bad dogs. I think it's fun to learn about other places, and stuff other people like. And I love gadgets!

Quidditch

You won't believe this - I just signed up for a Quidditch league! I can't wait to find out what team I'm on!

What a care package!

It's always nice to get mail at camp. No matter how much fun you're having, you miss family and friends, so it's nice to know they're thinking of you. And it's really nice to get a care package with some goodies to make camp more fun.

Yesterday was really, REALLY nice! I got back to my cabin to find a package waiting for me, from Cassandra in Hinkypunks.

I wondered why Oscar was so interested in a care package for me, but that became obvious when I opened it. Not only did Cassandra send all sorts of lovely things for me, but she even remembered the VeryBadDogs!

Here's a better picture to let you see everything. I can't believe the dogs didn't notice I was taking this, but for once they stayed out of the way.

So, I get a kit for Potions class, to make some scented bath salts. Then there's a bonus Herbology project thrown in - yarn, needles, and a pattern for the Foliage hat. There are some buttons, including one that says "Mischief Managed" (Cassie has me pegged!) and a cute little bookmark that holds a photo.

Then there are these - some tiny little trial-size skeins of Harry Potter Opal yarn. I just love the mini skeins!

And I have to show you a picture of the pouch that holds the Potions ingredients - isn't it lovely? It's a little dark, but you can sort of see that the pouch is lined with the same funky fabric as is on the strap. I think it's handmade, although I'm not 100% sure - it's definitely beautiful work!

Thank you so much, Cassandra! Happy summer!

Iraqi Bundles of Love

There's one thing all of us here at camp have in common - and have in common with a lot of Muggles - we all love to knit, and perhaps do other crafts, too.

Now imagine what it would be like if you couldn't get yarn. Or needles, or fabric, or anything else you needed. It turns out there are a lot of Muggles in that situation.

And there's a man who's trying to help some of them. An American serviceman in Iraq is collecting boxes of sewing and knitting supplies to distribute to Iraqis who need them. Because he's in the military, it's really cheap to send a box of stuff to him, so it's easy to de-stash and get things in the hands of people who will use them.

You can read all about it here. I'm having so much fun getting things together for my friend in Hinkypunks, that I'm going to make another package, for someone I don't even know. If you want to do the same thing, Mr. IBOL Guy is happy to tell you how to do it.

Dining with the Muggles

I've heard that Muggles think some of our Wizard foods are kind of strange. I guess that's a little bit understandable, if they don't know, say, that there aren't any real frogs in Chocolate Frogs. And Every-Flavor-Beans are supposed to be weird, but maybe they don't like jokes with their food?

Or maybe they do. We were at the Indiana State Fair yesterday, and found all kinds of strange Muggle food.

Like corn dogs. It's not what you're afraid of - more like a sausage covered with dough. The corn-on-the-cob, though, was exactly what it claimed to be - and so good we couldn't take pictures, because our hands were covered with butter!

But what about this? This was a really bad idea. And a really bad pizza.

Or this? We didn't even try this. Muggle food usually doesn't move at all, but in this case I wonder if the pigs wallow around in the chocolate. If they do, then it sounds a lot like Chocolate Frogs - so it doesn't make sense for muggles to think our food is weird.

You know how Mr. Weasley says that Muggles have all sorts of clever substitutes for magic? That must be what they used here. I don't think this cake was enchanted at all, it's just really cleverly decorated.

But some things made me think Wizards might have been exhibiting at the Fair. Doesn't this look like it has to have been made by one of us?!?

Slow Days

The counselors remind me that it's been awhile since I've written anything here, like I'm supposed to. That's true, but it's because there hasn't been much to write. I've hardly had any time for fun camp activities, because of all this Muggle moving stuff. Here is how my day goes:

• Wake up. Way too early, because we don't have curtains yet.
• Get dressed. In something totally random, because we can't put away clothes until we paint the bedroom.
• Eat breakfast. Preferably something the ants haven't gotten.
• Open boxes and put stuff away.
• Move some heavy things - with no magic - to make more spaces to put stuff away.
• Eat lunch. Something random, because we've combined two pantries and have to finish open things. Once again, no conjuring something else.
• Open boxes and put stuff away.
• Eat dinner. Usually take-out, because we're tired of random open things and too tired to cook. Of course, we're also tired of take-out.
• Open boxes and put stuff away. Wonder what we've forgotten to move.

Throw in lots of dog-wrangling, and you have my day - any day. So there's nothing really exciting to report.

Tonight may not be so boring. We've been watching lightning for the past hour or so. The nearest storm is 100 miles away, so it's pretty amazing that we're getting such a show. I'm not sure if I'm hoping it gets closer or not!