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May. 20th, 2012 09:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_aliceWe're well into the swing of late spring at Moddey Dhoo, which means we've been planting onions and beans, keeping a careful eye on our fruit trees, and eating plenty of greens and asparagus. We've managed to get through the lean months with careful planning, and still will have some food stores left by the end of June, thanks in no small part to the smuggling shipment from Lazlo. I'd rather we not depend on that as a known source of supplies every year, though, as goodness knows what may happen in the future. So this year, as with the past three, we're upping the crops we're growing (and taking a page from Molly's neighbors about vertical planting too, thank you Molly), so that we'll be prepared in case a dozen adults drop into our lap unexpectedly this year too.
Our older students with wands have been learning at a prodigious rate. Finbar and Tim have already been making noise about joining up with Sherwood, but I think we've managed to convince them to stay on for at least another six months of solid training first. And they are truly seeing the benefit of the learning they've gotten so far, and how it may be of use to them -- and given their desires, we have geared their remaining lessons towards the practical and defensive so as to help them be as prepared as possible. Tricia is learning the trade from Mellisandra, so I don't believe she's going to leave any time soon -- and Richard is rather attached to our Danny, who is rather attached to Moddey, so I think he'll be staying here as well. Lisa Nicholas and Zachary are still not of age, and once they are, they'll be free to decide either way.
Our younger students are also doing quite well. Minerva, you'd be pleased, Regina is quite knowledgeable in Latin, and their essays have improved markedly since she's taken them in hand. It's hard to believe that Felicia Saint and Freddy Bookman will be ready for their wands soon. Judith is naturally dreading the day, seeing as how much mischief her son gets into without a wand to help. Colin continues to be the master gardener in charge of the Memorial Garden, and Alec Turner has also come quite a long way -- being with a larger group of older students has done him good, I think.
Our babies are all happy and healthy, and the additional people we've added to the nursery have helped considerably with that.
We're still planning our summer -- Arthur and Molly, we'd just love for the twins to come for a visit, please let us know if that will be in the cards. Goodness knows you are more than welcome to come along too, Molly, I always enjoy seeing you, as do the children. And Poppy, as always, we look forward to your summer visit as well. We've got a whole bumper crop of babies and growing teenagers for you to look over, and I very much look forward to seeing you again. And although we don't have any boat building to do this summer, the Players are of course welcome to come and rest up for a bit! Fair warning, though, if anyone comes to visit, we might conscript you for a day to help renovate a section of the castle for new dormitory space.
Of course, Frank and I are very much hoping to be able to co-ordinate another visit with Neville and Evelyn this summer. Kingsley, I know that you and Emmaline have very generously taken on helping us with that in previous years. Will that be something you can do this year as well? I know Algernon can be a bit much, and we can always sort out other arrangements that would be less time intensive.
One wrinkle in seeing Neville and Evelyn again is that Kevin is becoming more and more talkative -- it's certainly hard to completely understand everything he says, and as he's so young, I doubt he has much to say that would be anything too complex, but it's still something that will become a definite concern. That, and it hasn't happened yet, but he could show his magic at any time. At the very least, we'll have to keep careful watch over him during our visit, as the excitement of the journey and seeing his siblings might tip him over the edge.
That's all I can think of for the moment!
Our older students with wands have been learning at a prodigious rate. Finbar and Tim have already been making noise about joining up with Sherwood, but I think we've managed to convince them to stay on for at least another six months of solid training first. And they are truly seeing the benefit of the learning they've gotten so far, and how it may be of use to them -- and given their desires, we have geared their remaining lessons towards the practical and defensive so as to help them be as prepared as possible. Tricia is learning the trade from Mellisandra, so I don't believe she's going to leave any time soon -- and Richard is rather attached to our Danny, who is rather attached to Moddey, so I think he'll be staying here as well. Lisa Nicholas and Zachary are still not of age, and once they are, they'll be free to decide either way.
Our younger students are also doing quite well. Minerva, you'd be pleased, Regina is quite knowledgeable in Latin, and their essays have improved markedly since she's taken them in hand. It's hard to believe that Felicia Saint and Freddy Bookman will be ready for their wands soon. Judith is naturally dreading the day, seeing as how much mischief her son gets into without a wand to help. Colin continues to be the master gardener in charge of the Memorial Garden, and Alec Turner has also come quite a long way -- being with a larger group of older students has done him good, I think.
Our babies are all happy and healthy, and the additional people we've added to the nursery have helped considerably with that.
We're still planning our summer -- Arthur and Molly, we'd just love for the twins to come for a visit, please let us know if that will be in the cards. Goodness knows you are more than welcome to come along too, Molly, I always enjoy seeing you, as do the children. And Poppy, as always, we look forward to your summer visit as well. We've got a whole bumper crop of babies and growing teenagers for you to look over, and I very much look forward to seeing you again. And although we don't have any boat building to do this summer, the Players are of course welcome to come and rest up for a bit! Fair warning, though, if anyone comes to visit, we might conscript you for a day to help renovate a section of the castle for new dormitory space.
Of course, Frank and I are very much hoping to be able to co-ordinate another visit with Neville and Evelyn this summer. Kingsley, I know that you and Emmaline have very generously taken on helping us with that in previous years. Will that be something you can do this year as well? I know Algernon can be a bit much, and we can always sort out other arrangements that would be less time intensive.
One wrinkle in seeing Neville and Evelyn again is that Kevin is becoming more and more talkative -- it's certainly hard to completely understand everything he says, and as he's so young, I doubt he has much to say that would be anything too complex, but it's still something that will become a definite concern. That, and it hasn't happened yet, but he could show his magic at any time. At the very least, we'll have to keep careful watch over him during our visit, as the excitement of the journey and seeing his siblings might tip him over the edge.
That's all I can think of for the moment!
no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 03:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 03:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 03:53 am (UTC)Private Message to Sirius Black
Date: 2012-05-21 03:52 am (UTC)I've been sending good thoughts your way all day long.
Re: Private Message to Sirius Black
Date: 2012-05-21 06:50 pm (UTC)Dogs don'tThat always makes it easier.But thanks.
Re: Private Message to Sirius Black
Date: 2012-05-21 07:59 pm (UTC)And I'm glad you were able to spend yesterday with people who loved you. Some of them, at least.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 02:49 pm (UTC)Sirus, Remus, Tonks -- any word on Puneet?
Also, now that you're getting a bit more settled, would a visit from Cousin Ponds along with her two young ones (Kevin and Will) be too much trouble to pull off for Bea's birthday celebrations? We can always throw her a bang up party next year with proper guests if so, but I would like to be there even if Kevin and Will cannot.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 02:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 07:01 pm (UTC)Er, yeah.
As for Cousin Ponds, I think it might make sense to have the family over. If nothing else it'll give you a chance to look at Ellie for yourself. Anyway, if we're maintaining the fiction that you're a cousin, you ought to be there for Bea's day, or later Ellie might find it strange that this 'cousin' isn't actually around for family affairs.
But then again, Bea's parents might have another opinion.
We'll have to come up with a way to get Ellie out of the house for at least a little while. I'd like to have a proper visit, too, especially if you're bringing Will.
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Date: 2012-05-21 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 08:00 pm (UTC)If I recall, you gave his parents a bit of a memory charm last time (didn't you?), so it wouldn't matter which one of us talked to them. And I could come prepared with the letters, which is what they were concerned with last time around, and have them ready to go.
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Date: 2012-05-21 05:27 pm (UTC)But Arthur and I have talked it over, and yes, we've decided we'll allow the twins to come to stay for a week during the summer. We'll come up with a cover story for them...perhaps a friend inviting them for a week long holiday, or perhaps an internship. Or--I know! We can say they've gone to visit Charlie.
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Date: 2012-05-21 05:32 pm (UTC)We're really looking forward to seeing Moddey Dhoo.
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Date: 2012-05-21 05:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 05:34 pm (UTC)I sometimes wonder if there isn't any tight situation you two can't talk your way out of...and I shudder to think of the consequences the first time you can't.
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Date: 2012-05-21 08:10 pm (UTC)but we're looking forward to your coming.
fu says hello. he's been working on testing the use of tactical bombs and sonick waves to break through wards, and he's got a second prototype of armour that non-magical people can wear that has shielding and protective runes inscribed on it. the first prototype worked fine, but heated up too much with fire hexes, so he's had to make some adjustments.
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Date: 2012-05-22 04:25 am (UTC)We've been dreadfully busy, between cramming for the Potions finals, practising occlumency, and all the rest of our regular schoolwork, but we've nipped into the library a few times to do some research for him. There's a whole collection of books on the history of magical weapons and armour-making in the Restricted Section; it was willed to the Hogwarts library about fifty years ago by a bloke who was absolutely barking mad on the subject.
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Date: 2012-05-21 08:02 pm (UTC)They'll get along brilliantly with Tricia, I have no doubt. She's been working with Mellisandra these past few months, and she got very excited when I mentioned there might be visitors her age coming to study with her too.
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Date: 2012-05-21 06:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 08:04 pm (UTC)And I would love it if you and the Players could spare a visit to Moddey this summer. You always bring the children such joy, and I know how hard it can be to travel for as many months out of the year as you do.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 08:04 pm (UTC)