Common Room Recap January 28-30

This Weekend In The Ravenclaw Common Room:

• A new batch of Stars of Isis here.
• Hypercycloid started a new game...”What are 3 Things You Learned Today?”
• IsisOnEarth, our Beloved Head of House  for the last five terms, will be stepping down at the end of this term.
• pkitten is pregnant! Congrats!
• And a second batch of Stars of Isis here. Some amazing projects being turned in this month by house Ravenclaw!
• Jayanell got a new drum carder! Isn’t it cool?
• kountingsheep has designed a gorgeous crocheted shawl!
• Rromera told us some of the fascinating history of her dogs.
• Stars of Isis here.
• Purple Octopode...that is all.

Library of the Week: The Library of Congress, Washington, DC, USA

The Library of Congress (LOC) is the largest library in the world in terms of number of books and shelf space. It comprises three building—the Thomas Jefferson Building (1897), the main building of the library; the John Adams Building (1939), which contains 180 miles (290 km) of shelving (compared to 104 miles [167 km] in the Jefferson Building) and can hold ten million volumes; and the James Madison Building (1980), the third largest building in D.C. (2,100,000 square feet), which houses the Mary Pickford Theater, the Law Library of Congress, and the United States Copyright Office. The LOC is the research library for the United States Congress and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States.

The LOC’s own website has complete information about its history. Today I’d like to feature some photos of the beautiful Jefferson Building. It is known for its elaborately decorated interior. Throughout the building is a compendium of the work of classically trained American sculptors and painters of the "American Renaissance."

Here is the famous Reading Room:

Ravenclaws might enjoy the murals depicting women in science. This photo is a composite of the paintings in various locations. The sciences the murals show are the following:

Top: Chemistry, Zoology, Astronomy, Geology
Bottom: Botany, Physics, Mathematics, Archaeology

And did you hear the recent story of the Cooper's hawk in the Library of Congress? The LOC blog tells about it here, and describes her rescue.

Weekly Candles

This is the list of candles requested during the week of 1/19/2011-1/26/2011.

Long-Term Requests:

Rromera (positive vibes and she finishes her PhD thesis) 
silverwing26 (for house-related stuff) 
Ielith (for courage and good decision making. Into 2011) 
akasha111182 (needs good-job-hunt vibes and the patience to wait for responses). 
Drake (for her dad, suffering with Alzheimer’s, and for her and her family to find the strength and love and hope they need). 
JacquiG (for all good to come to her in the next Very Soon) 
Isisonearth’s friend Lisa (diagnosed with rapidly-progressing MS) 
Rchrispy’s mom and grandmother (grandmother, with alzheimer’s, has been placed in hospice care). 
tangledskein (for her mother, Violet, beginning chemotherapy on 12/3). 
Knitwit685 (for her stepmom, Kate, going through a third bout of cancer). 
Greenegirl’s grandpa’s fiancee (whose cancer has returned). 
eightofswords (suffering from a severe allergic reaction to medication). 
Queensland, Australia (from Nevelyn--Queensland is suffering terrible flooding) 
Dumelaisuzu (friend of Boppingbeth’s--going through chemo) 
RNSallyAnne (has had her foundation rocked and needs our love). 
MommyKnitz’s nephew and his girlfriend (recovering from awfulness). 
Rondaletts (for her 16-year-old daughter, battling depression) 
Alethea (friend passed away, and several other Very Hard Things) 
Seakame (grandfather passed away 1/21/2011) 
Andryl’s dad (surgery for cancer scheduled in February) (post 3) 
Bandbabe’s friends Rose and Zonda (post 10) 
Inkslinger1121 (good housebuying vibes, post 13) 
PorcupineSnuggles’ Abuela (having heart surgery) and her family. (post 19) 
Xamonster’s friend R’s mother (having surgery Friday 1/28) (post 23) 
Klio82’s MIL and her parents (post 24)


Short-Term Requests:


CrazyRedHeadChick (post 752 of old thread) ETA: Sorted! 
SarahTheEntwife (post 757) 
CCKnits (post 761) 
Cre8vladyB (Post773) ETA: Sorted! 
GazeboGal (post 776) ETA: Going along slowly and steadily, GG’s stressing a bit. 
TrigirlJ’s grandfather (post 787) Update: Doing well. Good thoughts for recovery! 
Nevelyn (post 16) (24 hours) 
Klio82 (post 24) 
SarahtheEntwife (post 26) 
HapticTraveler (by PM) 
Unrulybelle (post 32) 
CrazyRedHeadChick (post 37)

Tower History: The Fall and Rise of Ravenclaw Tower, Part 1

This is Part One of the Fall and Rise of Ravenclaw Tower.  I, Soprano1, tell this story, because I Was There.  I publish it in honor of Isisonearth, who yesterday told us that she will be stepping down as Head of House.  Without her superlative magical skill, the new Tower might never have risen, Phoenix-like, from its own ashes.

Naturally, the fall of Ravenclaw Tower began with a party! And we had reason to celebrate, too: We had won the House Cup!  It was August 14, 2010, and MightyGoodYarn awoke with a stunning headache. The Ravenclaw Common Room was a mess, and there was fondoo and champagne and virtual martini glasses scattered everywhere, but the thing that caught MGY’s attention was the cracks in the Common Room floor.

Despite Isisonearth’s best intentions in locking up the Lab during the celebration, the structure of the Tower had been compromised.  SFCorgi, TriGirlJ, MightyGoodYarn and I all put our heads together to try to figure out what to do.  Corgi suggested pectin, and I hauled out my Dark Detectors to try to figure out the cause (because naturally, it couldn’t have been too much partying!) Corgi developed a recipe for floor crack repair, and in answer to Catdragon’s query about whether anything had been left running in the lab, TriGirlJ admitted that she had, indeed, begun an experiment in there before the Lab’s closure prior to the party.  

In an act of uncharacteristic bravery, I opened the Lab door to find that indeed, the cracks were worse in the Lab than in the Common Room, and TriGirlJ and I decided to try to go in and fix it before Isisonearth awoke.  We donned hard hats and lab coats, dragonskin gloves and face masks, and plunged in.  Foxy tried to help by licking up and rolling in Corgi’s Floor Crack Pectin--apparently fur helps strengthen sealant. We rescued Selene Gazebo’s hangover remedy candies, and sealed the door from within to prevent harm to partied-out Claws and innocent NQFYs.  And we dug ourselves in until Sunday morning.  

The Mallet of Sanity may or may not have started whacking at the cracks--was that all in Ielith’s head?  Sadly, it might not have been.  And then Isisonearth came out of her office... checking in on TriGirlJ and me, she discovered that we’d locked ourselves in the Lab and that the cracks were worsening.  TriGirlJ and I could not see each other, and there was a loud, horrible noise that forced us to shout to each other.  TriGirlJ shone a light so that I could make my way past the cracks toward her.  But there was one crack that opened up beneath me and I fell in!  TriGirlJ, trying to rescue me, knocked herself silly, and both of us lay dazed and confused for long minutes while out in the Common Room, excited Ravenclaws still hearing the news about our House Cup triumph toasted Isisonearth with more champagne drunk from the House Cup, and crowned our Mad Scientist, Darwinia, who won by knitting eleventy-billion colorwork stockings.  

Ielith ran in circles, hopping over cracks and trying to calm down. Life outside the lab went on normally for some time, and then TriGirlJ finally came to and realized that I had fallen down a might big hole in the Lab floor.  Ielith suggested that TGJ knit a rope to help get me out, and so she began.  Fortunately she had knit the i-cord rope out of the glow-in-the-dark yarn we’d made in the Lab earlier in the term, because it was dark down there!  Although I was barely conscious, I was able to grab the rope, and TriGirlJ hauled me to safety.  

I was, apparently, muttering incoherent mutterings about a Rabbit Hole and Rowena Ravenclaw, and for no reason anyone could discern, right before losing consciousness I Stupefied Yakira.  And for the rest of the Tower’s demise, I was unconscious, despite MightyGoodYarn’s best efforts to wake me.  I spent the whole adventure in the Hospital Wing under Madam Pomfrey’s care, and only woke in time to sing the new Tower into existence.

Tune in next week for Part Two of the Fall and Rise of Ravenclaw Tower.

Common Room Recap January 24-27

This Week In The Ravenclaw Common Room:

• MGY wonders about baby food makers, and gets a number of opinions from Ravenclaw moms.
• ali123 explained gargoyles and grotesques.
• Warning! Incredibly cute twin picture here.
• Fricknfrack worked out the Ravenclaw Retirement home plan with Soprano1 and SMONK....yep all worked out.
• K this one is convoluted, here goes: Hypercycloid saw a mouse, Soprano1 saw a business opportunity, Hypercycloid says someone does it with goats already, SFCorgi shared interesting grazing goat fact, which was kinda funny cause up-thread she’d posted this adorable goats and Tryst photo.
• Mariacrafts wondered about children reversing their letters/numbers and got all kinds of info from fellow Claws.
• Jayanell shares how  Professor Snape impacted her real life today.
• A new batch of Stars of Isis were awarded here, with part 2 here.
• needlediva showed us her deck “for scale”
• SFCorgi offered some interesting insights into ADHD vs gifted in her own family
• fricknfrack taught us about hieroglyphs, directionality and how to find it, and GG had a funny aside.

Roaming the Castle Pt 1.

SLYTHERIN



Hello Again ‘Claws!

When I was coming back from the kitchens yesterday, I happened upon a couple of Slytherin first years who were heading back to their common room. For reasons I still can’t explain, my curiosity got the better of me, and I decided I would follow them.

After walking through a labyrinth of corridors we came upon a portrait of ‘Ethelred the Ever-Ready’. Of course since all passwords have been abolished to encourage house unity, the portrait simply looked them over to see if they were of good intent.

The portrait swung open to admit them and I followed close behind. The common room itself is a vast room, there is a kind of light which shines through the window which gives one the impression of being underwater. Of course as a fellow third year later explained to me, this was perfectly logical, as the room itself was situated under the lake. The settees and armchairs are all a vibrant green colour and there are various fireplaces dotted along the length, which makes the room surprisingly cosy. Over at one end is the fully stocked bar, which students can help themselves to. Just to the right of this is a door, when I enquired as to where it led, the 5th year gave a small smirk and said simply,

“That is where the Hotties are kep…I mean live.”

As I settled into one of the comfy seats, I managed to round up a few Slytherin’s who were more than happy to answer my questions.

I started with the First Years I had followed a small group of them were sat together busy with various Knitting and crochet projects.

1st Year: Could you explain how it works in your house after you’ve been sorted into Slytherin? I noticed you have nests, how do those work?

ChiaLynn: If the House Cup is the university, and each House occupies its own dormitory, the Nests are like individual halls within the dorm. Each one has a Big Snake (I think of her as my RA), a couple of Middle Snakes, and an assortment of students from firsties on up. They’re places you can go to ask questions without worrying that the whole entire House will think you’re stupid (which they wouldn’t, anyway - as one of my Middle Snakes, ElfLiberator says, “there are probably several other people wondering the same thing that you are.”). It also gives us firsties (and more experienced students, too) a built-in support network. My Big Snake, Sea-Jelly, sends occasional earburns to remind us that we’ve got deadlines coming up, or just to ask how we’re doing.
I’ve even gotten to meet one of my nest-mates in the wild - it turns out that Polcamilla lives just a few miles from me. (ETA: She describes the nests as sort of mentor-mentee groups, which definitely fits.)

1st Year: What made you want to be in Slytherin as an NQFY?
Rivetkitten: It’s BadAmy’s fault. We were at a barbecue, and she mentioned the HPKCHC, I mentioned being interested, and she started pitching Slytherin to me like a particularly charming Hottie dealer. And I mean, who could turn down the Hotties? (Or BadAmy, for that matter.)


Soon other Slytherin’s noticed what I was doing and came to join the knitting circle and answer my questions. Although I was pretty tempted to pull out my crochet and join in, instead, like the good reporter I am, I pulled out my parchment and quill and got down to business!


2nd Year: You’ve already done 1 term in Slytherin, could you tell us a highlight of your first year and any big plans for this one?
Joseybug: The highlight of my year was attaining Firstie Ultimate Quest (aka doing at least 18 classes, quidditch, HM Challenge and an OWL). I learned a lot and got much better at managing my knitting time and projects. Also - everyone’s enthusiasm, cheering and support made it so much fun, even if it was a lot of work.
This term, I’m planning on going for Ultimate Quest again, and am on the St. Mungo’s Express. I’m loving everyone’s excitement and enthusiasm this term!

Suddenly there was a timid knock on the door to the common room and a brave NQFY walked in, saw what we were doing, pulled out her knitting bag and sat down with us.

NQFY: As a NQFY I think that I would love to be sorted into Slytherin because….

raynebair: When I stepped into the dungeon there was so much excitement and so many things going on, it just seemed like a place where I could jump in and ride the high of being a Slytherin. The students are super nice and extremely welcoming. So much to do there and it’s never a dull moment. I didn’t feel like I’d be sitting on the sidelines looking in. There is just so much going on, it’s easy to jump right in and join the fun without feeling like an outsider!
Besides, I have 3 friends in RL in the cup and they are each in a different house. Joining Slytherin would definitely show we have House Unity whenever we get together for knit night. ;)


3rd Year: As a 3rd year, you already have some experience under your belt. What is the common room like in between terms, any exciting challenges go on etc?
Mariannewells: It was a between-term challenge in the cup that got me into the game in the first place - an April fools thread from Potions that just ran and ran. I tend to use the Dungeon rather than the common room but that certainly doesn’t stop between terms, the chatter, hotties and enablement just continues, with competitions as and when people feel like running them - girlywithatwist is very cool about encouraging everyone to try their own ideas out.

4th Year: Now your becoming old pros of Slytherin, have any of you started to take on a slightly more ‘prefect’ like role within the house? If so what? And what makes it so enjoyable for you?
jessajune: As a fourth year, I do try to use my experience to help out the firsties - especially with the creative endeavor of fitting projects you already wanted to make into the classes offered in a given term. That’s definitely an area where a bit of experience helps, and where the craftiness of a Slytherin is especially useful. It’s fun to see people realize that just about anything can be turned in with the right story - I think seeing what people come up with is one of the fun things about the Cup! I also try to be especially attentive to my nest - we all have snake nests this term regardless of how long we’ve been here, which I think is great. We’re so huuuuuge now, it’s nice to have a place you can go where there’s a smaller more approachable group for support & encouragement.

Although rubyyarn disagreed slightly!

rubyyarn: Well, I’m a 4th year, but in no way consider myself a ‘pro’. As for a leadership role, I’ve found I’m way too shy for that. I was Ambassador for the Third Years last term, then the Great Kerfluffle happened and many Snakes departed and many caught between loyalty to friends and loyalty to House. As a wise woman once said (well, sort of…) “fierce, fierce friends” have made the House Cup so enjoyable to me. I may volunteer for something somewhere along the line, but for now I’m in it for the fun :)

At this point a few of the upperclassman wondered over, and after offering me a drink from the bar and some yummy snacks, they sat down and joined in our circle. To my surprise I saw a very familiar face come join us…

5th Year: Best prank/ task/challenge you remember being created and masterminded by your house. (Ravenclaw’s had Alot bank Heist, sock monkey invasion of Gryffindor tower) Any Memorable tales?
dnatheory: I was kind of hoping someone else would step up and answer this (and I’m still hoping someone else will jump in!). I have an absolutely terrible memory, and I spent last term in Ravenclaw, so really nothing is springing to mind in response to this question.
So I’m gonna, um, answer a completely different one. The most fun, Slytheriny thing that I can think of was the invention of Doom Goat. Turpentinechai had been joking about turning the bar she runs into the Hog’s Head and getting a goat so she could emulate Aberforth Dumbledore. Somehow this led to a posting spree of goat pictures in the common room. And when I posted a few days (or weeks, I can’t remember) later that I hadn’t gotten into any graduate schools and needed a hug or a bucket of rocks orsomething, she posted a picture of a fiery scary demon-goat type thing, and told me Doom Goat (termcoined by seakame) was on my side. It was the most hilarious and warming Slytherin moment I can think of - it embodies our zany spirit and backwards way of helping each other out.

At that moment another 5th year rushed over giving an excited squeal and waving her half-finished class project about!

seakame: DOOM GOAT!!
As a fellow 5th year I have a small tale to share… During April 2010 (a break month) we all started chattering about having tea time together. When the new term started so did the “Tea Cozy Caffinated Cahoots”. We had a huge number of Slytherins making tea cozies, cup sleeves and bottle cozies, which were turned in to any class the cozy fit. It really was the start of our monthly house unity themes. Everyone was super enthusiastic and we had cozies that looked like animals, several with skulls on them, a couple of Dr. Who related ones and a very awesome pink pom-pom cozy made by Bidibid. We had fun, got to know each other more and made cozies!!


Another very familiar face gave a wave and I couldn’t help but smile!

6th Year: As a 6th Year, you have been playing along in the house cup for nearly 2 years of your life. How have you developed in your craft? Have you learnt any new skills? How has Slytherin helped you in this?
LNS: I have learned SO so much in the past 2 years (gosh, has it really been that long?)! There’s been lace, and colorwork, and socks. OMG I love handknit socks now (and so do all my assorted family members)! Oh, and I can’t forget the term that I knit a hammock. That was for DevonC’s Transfiguration class if I remember correctly. Man, this group has shaped my crafting abilities in every imaginable way! I don’t know what I would do without it (have less fun and make less stuff, that’s what)!

7th Year: Can you explain how you got all the Hotties?? How did they come about? And are there any other Slytherin traditions which you remember, which have faded out in recent years-if so, is this for better or worse?
HolyCuteness: Hehe! We actually started oogling them and chaining them to the walls, uhhh, putting them to work in the dungeon quite a while ago. Then we began having the “Hottie of the Week” contest! So much fun, so much eye candy! While we still oogle quite a bit, the HotW contests have died off. But at the same time we still see them constantly, and often times in kilts!




At that moment, a large pair of ornate doors, near to the enterance which I hadn’t noticed before opened. There was a rustle of the green velvet curtains been opened and descending down a grand staircase, out stepped GirlyWithATwist, Slytherin Head of House. The Slytherins in the common room all stood respectfully and I followed suit. She gave a nod and looked out across the common room, surveying her domain with proud yet somehow scheming eyes. Her gaze finally fell upon our now large knitting circle. Suddenly she rushed back up the stairs and into her office and living quarters. A couple of the older Slytherins gave each other a small smile.
Less than 20 seconds later, Girlywithatwist had returned, knitting in hand, run over to our group and said with a slightly goofy grin,

“Ooh! Visitors and a knitting circle! Fabulous! Mind if I join in?”

Quickly conjuring herself an extremely comfortable looking chair she settled down.

I gave a quick look around the common room and noticed that unlike the Ravenclaw Tower, there seemed to be a distinct lack of BA1’s around. I gave a slight puppy eyed look towards Girlywithatwist. Rolling her eyes at me with a small smile she relented and answered two questions for me.

BA1: Looking back to when you first started in the House Cup, what has changed? What do you enjoy most about the cup at this time, and indeed, what do you enjoy most about this house?
Where do I start? Back during the first term, there were only about 20 students per house. All of our names would fit at the top of the common room thread. I don’t even think we had Prefects back then. I do remember that we had to sign up for classes before we turned in a project and at least one student from each house had to take the class. That definitely changed as the house cup grew in numbers. I would say the one thing I enjoy most about the House Cup at this time is the unity between the houses. For example, the hat unity project that all houses are doing together this month. Ravenclaw started it and the other three houses joined in for support. The one thing I enjoy most about the House of Slytherin is the highly contagious enthusiasm that is running rampant in the dungeons.

HoH Question: As Head of House, I would describe Slytherin House, and the students within it as….
…completely and utterly crazy and fantastic. But crazy in a good way. We are cunning and clever. We are highly ambitious and enthusiastic. We are going to be a force to be dealt with this term.

A loud cheer went around the common room as Girlywithatwist finished her impassioned speech.

I gave a small smile and found myself joining in. Rolling my parchment back up and putting it into my bag, I made to leave, when suddenly there were sounds of protest from all around!

“Stay Ali123, have another drink!”

“What have you been crocheting recently, can we see?”

“Come see what I’ve been knitting!”

“Would you like to meet the hotties?”

“Tell us about Ravenclaw Tower Ali!”

I’ll say this. If this wonderful group of Slytherin’s are anything to go by then I think that the Slytherins are some of the most fun, clever and caring students at Hogwarts, and echoing their Head of House’s words, we Ravenclaw’s had best watch out.

These Slytherins are certainly a force to be reckoned with.



You know what, I think I might just take them up on that drink…

Ali123 Hogwarts Unity Reporter, signing off!