Here's a couple of cute little butterflies that visited my yard several years ago. Aren't they adorable?

Finally Spring

I think it's finally spring here in California. We've had a cold wet windy season up to now, but yesterday and today are looking perfect: blue blue skies, white puffy clouds, gentle breezes, and green fields. Here is a photo of the wind generators on the Altamont. We drove by them Saturday on our way home from Nova Albion and I was reminded of a certain someone from Arkansas who snapped a photo of them last December. And who just happens to have a birthday today. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to that very special person!

St. Baldrick's Day

When the Lord of the Manor and I first met many, many years ago, he had beautiful red hair and I always hoped one of our children would have red hair but that never happened. So when Teen2 decided she wanted red hair I thought it was a good idea. And I love the color, but maybe not the cut, but when you have a 17 year old daughter you learn to pick your battles and this was just not one of them. After all, it's just hair! Recently she surprised me again by signing up for St. Baldrick's day. It's an event that raises money for childhood cancer research. She raised $300 and on St. Patrick's day her school had a head shaving event where 30 kids got their heads shaved.

Several of the girls also donated their hair to Locks of Love, which Teen2 has done twice. It was a great cause and I'm proud of her and it's soooo easy to get ready for school in the morning. Now, I wonder what she will do next with her hair?

Nova Albion 2011

Teen2 found out about this event last week so at the last minute we decided to attend. It's a short drive from our town to Santa Clara, California where the event was held. When we walked in Teen2 thought she'd died and gone to heaven. Needless to say, I think there will be some Steampunk costumes in our future.

I too, was smitten by the genre and think I'll be a lady adventurer like the one above. Pith helmet, sensible skirt and jacket, netting on the hat for a buggy day, leather accessories. She carried a bird cage with some birds in it, but I think I might add a leather notebook full of botanical drawings and a magnifying glass instead.

The vendors all had on fabulous costumes.

And everyone was happy to pose for photos.

Check out these cute girls. Only the girl on the left is not a girl. That's Matt who we just met last week at the League of Proper Villians meetup. What a fun group! Thanks for making us feel so welcome.

Not Even In The Running

I didn't win Pioneer Woman's Photo Contest; I wasn't even in the runnning. Maybe I should have entered the Hot Cocoa roses in the above photo?

Or maybe I should have entered this vase full of soft pink roses? Or maybe I should just keep taking photos for my own enjoyment here Amongst The Oaks.

Pioneer Woman's Photo Contest

Here is a photo I just uploaded to Pioneer Woman's Photo Contest. I took this almost two years ago over at the Junior College's garden. I didn't think it was so great at the time, but when I opened it on my computer I really liked the mysterious and delicate way the leaves folded around the flower. I don't know what the prize is, but if you have some nice flower photos maybe you should enter too.

Teeny Tiny Bathroom

After a long break we are back to working on the cottage again. The Lord of the Manor installed the bathroom sink last weekend and today Teen2 and I made some curtains.

This teeny tiny bathroom is only about 3'x8' and the sink area cantilevers out over a flower bed. We made a curtain for the window and a curtain to hide the plumbing under the sink. To the left is the shower and to the right is the toilet. Now we just need to connect the water heater and we will be ready to host a guest here Amongst The Oaks.

The Annual Holiday Photo

Last Sunday we took our Annual Family Holiday Photo. We got a good one that I will be sending out, but I wanted to share this blooper with you. I set up the camera and stomped down a trail to where the rest of the family was sitting. Then I set the timer and started towards them but I fell down and was wallowing around in the snow trying to get up when the camera took the picture. That's why they're all laughing.

Good times here Amongst The Oaks.

Random Party Photos

Just had to share a few more photos from the Halloween party. Above is Myrtle before she was Moaning.

Here are spiders fleeing the castle. Remember Ron saying, "Spiders! Why does it have to be spiders? Why couldn't it be 'follow the butterflies'?"

Here are two cute students. They perfectly illustrate that costumes needn't be difficult or expensive to be effective.

Oh, here is one of my favorite costumes. She is Tonks with the pink hair and pig snout. Too cute!

These two photos show the party in the Gryffindor Common Room after they won the Quiddich cup. The music was loud, everyone was dancing, and I'm pretty sure some snogging was going on somewhere.

Here is one of the educational decrees that I (Umbridge) posted in the Entry Hall.

Here is Bellatrix LeStrange's dark mark. Pretty cool, eh?

And here are Hermione's books and a jar for S.P.E.W. donations. Of which she received NONE! What a bunch of cheapskates.

Hogwarts Party Details

One of my favorite details about Hogwarts was the floating candles in the Great Hall. To recreate that I used those battery operated candles you see around Christmas. You've probably seen them before. The neat thing about them is you can put them in your own candle holders, turn the switch on at 5pm, and every day they will come on at 5pm and stay on for about 5 hours. The batteries last for months, so even in the cold, dark days of January they still come on to cheer your evenings. I got my first batch years ago from the Lillian Vernon catalog, but I've since found them online here.

To get the Great Hall effect, I took them out of their holders, tied thread around the bulbs and suspended them from the ceiling of my dining room with clear pushpins. I was quite happy with them and I think the Fat Lady was too.

The invitations were printed in green ink using a font I found online called Hogwarts. I tried to use similar verbage to Harry's first acceptance letter. And I tried to address each one using descriptive terminology for each kid's bedroom. If we had no idea about their bedroom we used the Cupboard under the Stairs.

When the guests arrived they had the option to don the Sorting Hat and be assigned a house. We had several stickers for each house, but the Gryffindor stickers seemed to be the most popular.

We also found some Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and gave them as prizes. They are always fun. The flavors seem to change over the years. I remember getting a dirt flavored one before and I heard there was earwax and vomit too, but this year the icky ones were FISH, CHEESE, ONION, PEPPER, GRAVY, and SAUSAGE. And yes, they really taste like their names.

And Ollivander (Teen2) made a little display of wands that guests could borrow.

I hope you enjoyed visiting our Harry Potter theme Halloween party. Now, who's excited about November 19th? I know we are!

Start of Term Party

Our Halloween party last night was wonderful if I do say so myself. We had butterbeer which was quite good. We made the butterscotch base ourselves, but I think it would be just as good to use premade butterscotch syrup. Basically you blend a little syrup with cream soda, top the glass up with more cream soda, and float a dollop of slightly whipped cream on top. Just like what is served at the Three Broomsticks.

We also had Scabbers scampering around...

and Crookshanks was seen soaking up some late afternoon sunshine.

And bless his little heart, Dobby nearly wore himself out cooking, cleaning, serving and cleaning up. I heard pots and pans being clanked around in the kitchens all night long.

Dumbledor gave an inspiring Start of Term welcome speech...

and introduced the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Mad Eye Moody.
We had several promising new students; Luna Lovegood, Cho Chang, Harry Potter, Cedric Diggory, young Bellatrix LeStrange, and Moaning Myrtle.

But several characters that showed up seemed to be at the wrong party; a SWAT guy, a crack dealer, Abraham Lincoln, Indiana Jones, Dr. House, Pyramid Head, and the Mad Hatter.

This strange woman was lurking around all night with a clipboard. Does anyone know who she was and what she was up to? I don't really trust her.

House Elves Only!

You know how when you have a party and everyone ends up in the kitchen no matter how nicely you have set everything up in all the other rooms? I'm hoping this will keep a few of the kids out of the kitchen. What do you think?

It's just an old sheet with the message stenciled on in green spray paint. Then we tore it up from the bottom so you could pass through it easily. The cats are having a lot of fun with it, but I hope

I didn't just make a plaything for them. Oh well, on to the menu.