Monday, November 28, 2016

What's Happening This Week -- November 28 - December 4


Quidditch Round 4 -- Nifflers - Due by midnight POT 11/28

November Classes -- All due by midnight POT 11/30

OWLs  -- 100% due by midnight POT 11/30

NEWTs -- 100% due by midnight POT 11/30


Ravenclaw Winter 2017 Staff Application  -- Thru 12/4

House Cup Staff Application -- Thru December 6

Mad Scientist of Ravenclaw Tower -- Nominations due 12/7

Break Month Activities  -- Slytherin Advent Sock KAL
                                       Holiday Sparkle
                                       The Party Palace
                                       Cozy Color Retreat

Ongoing:

Signups for WInter 17 sorting Remembrall!

Fantastic Beasts BINGO -- thru 11/30

Great Hall Badges -- thru 11/30

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Weekly Showcase Wednesday: Fall Term is Almost Over!!!

It's hard to believe that the fall term will be over in a just a week!  I feel like I have so much to do before then.  But I took a break to look at all the Ravenclaw turn-ins, and as always, I found some absolutely wonderful projects!












There were a bunch of projects that stood out as I was going through all the threads, and they have each earned a Golden Pickodile!

extraterrestrial knit a cute little crab for Feeding of Magical Creatures:



winemakerssister spun a stunning shrimp-inspired skein of yarn for Feeding of Magical Creatures and knit a fabulous stuffed owl for Safe Handling of Magical Creatures:



FeoragRuadh knit a wonderful pair of booties for Grooming of Magical Creatures and also designed and knit a lovely pair of mittens for Healing:



CymraesCrochet sewed a fantastic rhythmic gymnastics competition leotard (I bow to her ability to sew lycra!) for Grooming of Magical Creatures:



caranam made two more beautiful needle-felted "paintings" (I just love this technique!) for Grooming of Magical Creatures and Safe Handling of Magical Creatures:



BarnOwl knit a charming herd of horses for Grooming of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies:



ShannaMarie made an awesome charm bracelet from stitch markers for Safe Handling of Magical Creatures:



akasha111182 knit a delightful toddler sweater for Safe Handling of Magical Creatures:



maggievanderstok knit two gorgeous cowls, a lacy one for History of Magic and a colorwork one for Potions:



SaskiaBr knit an adorable little cat for Muggle Studies:



specialKknits knit a marvelous headband for Potions:













I also had a little fit of giggles when I got to one class-turn in, and thus this person has earned the Darth Pickle Badge!


s2five crocheted a cute little lobster who is in disguise as Santa Claws for Feeding of Magical Creatures:




Congratulations to all the badge winners!  I'm sure there are going to be a ton of turn-ins over the next week before the end of term--I can't wait to see what everyone crafts!!!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Fantastic Beasts - And We Live With Them!


This week's Beasts have been found in the home of Xamonster!


Demetrios and Burgy napping.jpeg

Names: Demetrios and Burgy. Demetrios has been Xamonster’s beast since he was a wee kitten; he was named after a bus driver on a study abroad trip to Greece. Burgy, though older than Demetrios, is newer to the Monster Collection of Beasts; she came by way of a friend. Her name comes from the color burgundy -- legend has it she pawed at a burgundy-colored painting when she was initially adopted from the Animal Rescue League by the aforementioned friend.

Species: Demetrios seems to have several traits of a Russian blue feline (aka, “potato on toothpics”). Burgy is … something else. Another feline, certainly. Though sometimes Xamonster thinks she may be an animagus that got stuck.

Demetrios meets the narwhalrus.jpeg

Skills: Demetrios’ main skill is napping, and hiding from the unknown. He is nonplussed when presented with the great narwhalrus.

Burgy frequently tries to convince any human in the vicinity that she is starved for food and attention -- even when the food bowl is mostly full. She has been known to assist with shawl knitting.

Burgy helps with knitting.jpeg

Both Beasts mostly ignore yarn and projects that get left out. Only on rare occasions has Xamonster had to re-wind yarn that someone decided to play with. Sometimes Burgy will try to Occupy The Lap, and will bat at the end of a circular needle, if Xamonster allows it to fly freely at the end of a row of shawl knitting.

Burgy and the narwhalrus.jpeg

Likes: Demetrios enjoys long naps, food, catnip, long naps, and cat treats. Also long naps. Burgy is perpetually “hungry” and loves to be fed (despite her wee stature). She enjoys naps, and also caterwauling when she feels lonely. Sometimes they enjoy a good Cat Battle, with many leaps and bounds, if they’re both feeling frisky.

demitrios.jpg


Dislikes: Demetrios will hide from intimidating creatures, be they Beast or human. Burgy, when confronted with a large dog, has been known to find higher ground, and then smack the dog in the face a few times. (The dog in question eggs this on, because she actually likes it.) Burgy also doesn’t like cat treats, which is baffling.

Thanks for letting us know about these Fantastic Beasts, Xamonster!


Monday, November 21, 2016

What's Happening This Week -- November 21 - 27


November Classes 

Quidditch Round 4 -- Nifflers - Continues through 11/28

OWLs  -- 100% due by midnight POT 11/30

NEWTs -- 100% due by midnight POT 11/30


House Cup Staff Application -- Thru December 6

Ongoing:

Signups for WInter 17 sorting Remembrall!

Fantastic Beasts BINGO

Great Hall Badges

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Last Week in the Common Room -- Guest poster edition #2!


A scarily realistic snake cake made an appearance.

Several Ravenclaws are working their way through the HP books, some for the first time, some for the 30th.

Various methods of holding the yarn for knitting were discussed.

This term's NQFYs made a welcome visit.

The Knit Picks sale claimed a number of casualties.

Electronics and water do not mix.

CASPN for all!

Many Ravenclaws have been nominated for October trophies!!

Getting clothing -- both manufactured and handmade -- to fit properly can be hard.

Spoons were offered to those who need them.





Saturday, November 19, 2016

Geek of the Week -- Althea Sherman




Today’s Geek of the Week was an illustrator and a self-taught ornithologist whose work convinced the Iowa Legislature to adopt the American goldfinch as the state bird – Althea Sherman!
Althea Sherman was born in 1853 in Clayton County, Iowa. She studied art at Oberlin College, and went on to teach as well as continue her training as an artist. She was a dedicated observer of nature, and after her teaching career began studying and illustrating birds. She believed in studying birds in their natural habitats, rather than as stuffed specimens, and spent many years studying birds in nest boxes and maintained feeding areas.
In 1915, Sherman had a wooden tower built at her family home in order to attract chimney swifts. This led to her being the first to fully observe and document the chimney swift’s lifecycle. The tower has since become a tourist attraction.
All of her research and over 70 journal publication resulted in Sherman being elected as a member of the American Ornithologists’ Union.
Her dedication to art and to ornithology makes Althea Sherman a fitting Geek of the Week!

For more information:

Friday, November 18, 2016

Firstie (and Transfer!) Friday

 

It's Firstie Friday again! For the next few weeks, we'll be keeping an eye on the advanced studies projects that our Firsties and Transfers are turning in for the glory of Ravenclaw! 

First up, a successful mission at Central Command with some Kreature Comforts by cubejelly! 



And here's Barnowl's lovely Bowtruckle disguise!


Extraterrestrial tamed a Common Welsh Green Dragon with these FIVE pairs of machine knit socks! 


Scrappinrobyn recruited a magizoologist with her Prisoner of Azkaban scarf! 



Cn32 recruited at the Quidditch World Cup with a pot of hexagonal coins! 



And on the OWL front, ahanson08 completed this stunning Charms OWL! 


More lovely advanced studies projects will be upcoming! 

Thursday, November 17, 2016

From the Desk of the Spreadsheet Sorceresses: October Pie!


November classes are in full swing, the Order of the Phoenix Missions are due on Saturday, and our Headmistress has challenged us twice over... sounds like a time for PIE!

All October final grades have been posted and we've squeaked by with the lead for the month:
That's some pretty pie, to be sure!  November classes are very much in play, even after our Safe Handling Beaver Moon blitz (can we finally catch that werewolf?!), so One More Class will always help in these final weeks!

The Billywigs on the pitch for Quidditch Match 3 have been cleared out and we had an admirable showing:
Quidditch Match 4 is accepting up to two projects -- no yardage bonuses in play, so small projects can pack a punch! -- for one last chance to get to the pitch and support your squad.

Advanced Studies is going to be one to watch closely; NEWT and OWL completions have been eerily quiet for all Houses.  Fingers crossed for a Ravenclaw-patented late surge, and our OWL 50% turn-ins could not be beat!
Phoenix Missions are in flux-- return by this Saturday and no later, Agents!

Right exactly now, we have a slight lead in total points, but the fate of the term truly will be in its final moments!  C'mon 'Claws!  It's time for Beast Mode like never before!!  #ClawsOut4BeastMode



Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Fantastic Beasts -- And We Live With Them!


The Fantastic Beasts are spreading, fellow 'Claws! This week, we find one in the home of Advanced Studies team member Kadaddly!

Name: CiCi, aka Ceese, aka The Licker
C:\Users\kmeeker\Downloads\20160709_173110.jpg

Species: Theoretically canine (the shelter thinks she’s a Basenji/rat terrier mix) with feline tendencies
C:\Users\kmeeker\Downloads\20160709_150217.jpg

Skills: Taking up an entire Cal-king sized bed by herself, tripping humans by laying on the stairs, licking her humans’ faces/hands/legs/feet (particularly T’s), finding patches of sunshine to lay in, and chewing up the Imps’ blocks and other wooden toys.
C:\Users\kmeeker\Downloads\20161027_061338.jpg

Likes: FOOD. She’s constantly on the brink of starvation. PEOPLE! Snuggling with The Imp. LICKING! Jumping into T’s lap and licking any visible skin. She also literally follows him around the house, trying to lick his legs, feet, hands. NAPS! Sleeping under blankets. WALKS! Is it time for a walk yet?? DOGS! Dog parks. Definitely dog parks. Did I mention she loves to lick T?
C:\Users\kmeeker\Downloads\20160724_133452(0).jpg

Dislikes: BATHS. Totally unnecessary, although the brushing afterward is nice. Strangers around the Imps. Cold weather. Brooms. Brooms are very frightening, apparently. Even more frightening than vacuums.

C:\Users\kmeeker\Downloads\20160914_212000.jpg

Thank you, Kadiddly, for that profile of your Fantastic Beast! We will be on the lookout for more like him!

Would you like to see YOUR Fantastic Beast(s) profiled here? PM Omeletsmom or s2five and tell us about him. Or her.  Or them!

Monday, November 14, 2016

What's Happening This Week -- November 14 - 20


November Classes 

Class Blitz - CoMC: Safe Handling NOVEMBER 14

Headmistress Challenge 1 -- Care of Magical Crafters!
                                             Due by Midnight POT 11/14

Quidditch Round 4 -- Nifflers - Continues through 11/28

Order of the Phoenix -- Missions accepted through 11/19

OWLs  -- 100% due by midnight POT 11/30

NEWTs -- 100% due by midnight POT 11/30


Ongoing:

Signups for WInter 17 sorting Remembrall!

Fantastic Beasts BINGO

Great Hall Badges

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Geek of the Week -- Toshisada Nishida



 This week's Geek is Japanese primatologist Toshisada Nishida.


Nishida started his career in the early 1960s researching macaques in Japan, but he is most famous for the work he began in 1965, observing chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains of Tanzania. Working at the same time (but in a different place) as Jane Goodall, he was able to demonstrate that some chimpanzee behaviors were cultural, not innate.  At a time when these great apes were thought to be solitary nomads, his research showed that not only did they live in groups, they were territorial, and would even fight other groups
to defend their territory.  Nishida's meticulous and detailed observations showed that chimpanzees -- who were thought to be less closely related to humans than baboons -- shared many traits with humans, such as tool using, food sharing, territoriality, cooperative hunting, cultural traditions, and the ability to plan ahead and to conceive of others as having thoughts and feelings.  He was also among the first to observe chimpanzees using plants in a medicinal capacity.


Jane Goodall and Toshisada Nishida

For this work, Nishida, along with Jane Goodall, was awarded the Leakey Prize, which recognizes accomplishments in the field of human evolutionary science, in 2008.  He worked to bridge the gaps between Japanese and Western scientists, encouraging his students to write in English to make their discoveries easier to share. He was instrumental in persuading the Tanzanian government to declare the chimpanzees' habitat a national park and lobbied UNESCO to declare the great apes a World Heritage species.  Even after he retired from Kyoto University, he still returned to Mahale to study the chimpanzees, making his final visit in 2009.  Before he died in 2011, he expressed a wish that the work at Mahale would continue for at least another century.

His lifelong dedication to the study of our closest living relatives, his devotion to preserving the environment in which they live, and his enthusiasm for sharing his discoveries with colleagues around the world make Toshisada Nishida a fitting Geek of the Week!

Learn more about Toshisada Nishida:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshisada_Nishida
http://www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS/publications/articles/Mitani_etal_2012.pdf

Got a geek you'd like us to feature?  Tell us about them here. This term, we are concentrating on Geeks who work with Fabulous Beasts.

Top right photo By Frans de Waal - Plos Biology, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21951490