February Fortescue Posted April 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Spring cleaning time. I'm cleaning my brother's home and moving out, and my home and moving in. I made a mistake. I told my best friend the Ravenclaws voted me "Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin most likely to be confused for a Ravenclaw" and he said "you ARE a Ravenclaw." I said i was a Slytherin here, and the people I've spoken to here seem convinced I am. He nearly fell out of his chair. He's started calling me "Gilda." I'm not about to explain it, but it's related to Harry Potter so you may be able to figure it out. If you enjoy Myers-Briggs, he's INTP. So was Albert Einstein. Yes - he knows that, too. I've really enjoyed how Slytherin Stroll went, and I can't wait for our House's next planned activity. I hope Slytherins will love it - I know i will Scales awarded~Max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted April 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane,In proving foresight may be vain;The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'mengang aft agley,An'lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,For promis'd joy! from To a Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With the Plough - Robert Burns I've definitely been able to relate to that mouse this week! Here I had my plans to work on my home, with a timeline in mind, and the guy I chose to play the role of carpenter says it will take 8 weekends! Oddly, I'd had several others look it over and state it was a 2 weekend job. I have since found out the guy who quoted 8 weeks plans to use the money to fund his summer vacation. I have hired a different carpenter, and the guy who was to be my carpenter can now work on the minor plumbing work i need done, and that's because he's a friend of the family. For personal reasons, I decided to not go with the Lhasa Apso. Two days after that decision, I met a lady who has a 4 week old male poodle who is black and white and whose parents are the same size as my previous poodle. He's gorgeous. It's simply meant to be. I haven't gotten ahead, HOL wise, again, but I'm not behind, either. The ducks are starting to line up beautifully..... Scales awarded~Max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted April 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2016 Working hard on my home. This weekend I'll have the electrician, the carpenter, and the plumber. They insist they can all work at the same time. My puppy was born on March 3rd and I've paid his deposit. He's supposed to grow up to be a toy sized Poodle and I'll be bringing him home April 6th. His parents are toy sized, and I met them when I met him, but you never know. I'll be perfectly happy if his genetics turn him into a miniature. I've named him Sherman. Sherman at 4 weeks: By now, most people know i really don't like puzzles. Many are a complete mystery to me. But.....while I'm certainly no Shakespeare, I can write an English Sonnet. Heck, I can read Shakespeare. Aloud. And make it sound brilliant. Scales awarded~Max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted May 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 What a month! I've been putting in 16 hour days but it has really been worth it. My home looks amazing!!! Tomorrow I finish unpacking, unpack some more Monday, and welcome my poodle home Tuesday. It's over! YES Going to post before and after photos on a popular social website. Finally I can return to focusing on HOL. I've really missed it, and am embarrassed at how much I've slacked this month. I thought I'd be way ahead of everything, but I didn't realize the extent to which the ex-renters trashed my home. Doesn't matter. It's over. Emerald Cup is going to be so much fun!!! forever Scales awarded~Max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted May 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 I'm all moved in And overworked myself in the process. Waiting for the autoimmune brain fog to clear. Sherman is adorable! My last poodle was such an alpha. Not Sherman - he has a lovely "middle" temperament. Just wish he wasn't so mouthy. He chews on everything. Loves carpet. Carpet! Scales awarded~Max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted June 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2016 I've sent in my final two Alte Senteniem BINGO stories. I've BINGO'd twice I really hope they bring back something similar next year. Sherman is a typical poodle. Three months old now. Very active in spurts. He loves to play fetch and anticipate where I'm going to throw the ball. Highly intelligent. I can teach him words, and once he knows the word, I can put it in a sentence, speak it in a conversational tone, and he still knows what I'm saying: "You have to stay. Mommy is going to leave and watch the walking track. I'll be back." He'll start twisting his head from side to side and won't follow me to the door. Then I'll hear him whine. He's only growled once, and that was at an Akita at the Vet's office. I don't think the dog heard him. He's learned to bark, but so far he doesn't do it very often. Last night I noticed him sniffing the air, which i thought was odd, until I hear the hail. And then BOOM. Big thunderstorm. He wanted to hide under the couch, but I finally convinced him to lay down. He realized i wasn't afraid, so maybe he won't be the next time lightening strikes. He gets his third booster shot on the 15th, and then he meets his very first doggy groomer on the 22nd. He may be a male, but I'm really tempted to have bows over his tiny little ears. I wonder if they'll stay short, or if his breeder cut them short? Guess I'll find out later. I know his sire had those same short ears. Scales awarded~Max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted June 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2016 I've had a blast so far, and the term isn't even finished yet! Thanks to Professors like Scarlet and Rorey I get to do more of the activities I enjoy doing, like writing, teaching, and Class Assisting. I'm on an SQL team and may even get to play, assuming I haven't worried the captain too much - I'm no Quidditch player. My puppy is at 4.5 pounds and gets groomed for the first time Wednesday. He's going to feel so much better! He already has that lamb-like crinkly fur. I can't wait to see him groomed. Scales awarded~Max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted July 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Hard to believe this HOL year has come to an end, and a very satisfying one If bad things come in threes, I suppose good things come in twos. Arianna and I are both Prefects, two of my favorite Snakes have returned, two of the people I'm closest to in church have returned from Romania,and today is the birthday of both my best friend and one of my ex-fiances (I only have two of those, so don't judge haha) Early next week I have two of one project on HOL to finish up, and two classes to finish up and submit. Emerald Cup was so much fun and it was great seeing all the participation The other three Houses have activities going on this summer and they also look like they'll have lots of great participation. There's also Summer Quidditch - that should be enjoyable, even if I do end up working the snack trolley Sherman has gotten his first fur cut and now weighs almost 5 pounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted July 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 I played in my first quidditch match Sunday, and actually had a blast I made the board, and I was told that was doing a good job for a person's first game. One person thinks I should start botting like crazy because I'd be a good player. Can't wait for Colour Burst! That's going to be so much fun!!! I really miss my Stone Cold partner this week. I've only attempted 1 Nonogram before; still the rules to Tents and Trees are easy enough, but those four puzzles? Dang..... Sherman seldom barks, which is surprising for a Toy Poodle. He first looks at me to see how I respond. Same with growling, unless it's a huge dog: he growls at those, regardless. Well, last night he barked at the tv and wouldn't stop barking until I changed channels.It was 5 minutes into a horror movie about a haunted mansion, staring Roddy McDowall and Pamela Franklin. Not a clue why Sherman doesn't like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted August 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 My first summer on HOL! Nothing like I thought it would be, so I'm watching how everything plays out. The Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff Wonderland activity is almost as odd now as the book. The Roost went down for approx. 8 hours, 2 hours before the final deadline was for the final activities, and then came back up. The thread was never closed and no new deadline has been given. I have some theories..... Quidditch has been a blast and the most fun I've had this summer. Will is an excellent captain. He always sounds like we have a strong chance of winning, and even if we don't, we should relax and have fun. And I have been :3 My puppy's black fur is turning blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted August 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2016 Counting the hours until Summer term ends Not that I didn't thoroughly enjoy most of it. Arianna was an amazing partner in Wonderland, and I was so lucky to get to team up with her! I have no idea why we haven't done that sooner. Quidditch was a blast. Will is an excellent team Captain and I had so much fun I seriously considered trying out for the team, and perhaps I will, but right now I have too much going on in the real world I still need to focus on. It felt odd with Scarlet and Max being away - it didn't feel like home. I really missed them. Thank goodness Amy was still here. To me, the most enjoyable part of the Fall and Spring terms are the classes. I love teaching and grading them I don't find that stressful in the least. I'm so excited all three of my classes have been approved, and I've been honored with being Class Assistant for two classes I think I've even chosen the 5 classes I'm going to sign up for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted September 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2016 Finally - the Fall term has arrived! Class wise, I'm taking Animagus 101 Disney Studies: The Classics Norse Myths and Legends Potions for Beginners Theory of Charms I'm thrilled to be Rorey Padfoot's Class Assistant for 2 of her classes Arianna gets to assist one as well. I doubt she'll be disappointed with either of us. I'm even getting to teach 3 classes So honored I was gifted The Marauders and Monsters in Cinema OWLS are coming up. I wonder what the reactions will be when people discover I wrote two of them? Maybe my two won't be used until next term. I have no idea. The Class Committee looks really exciting and I think it's an excellent idea! I'm a Prefect now. Oh my. I'll do my best. Scales awarded~Max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted September 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 Poor Sherman has been neutered today. I was told to not feed him. Finally I could stand his heartbroken looks and his threats to eat the dry wall no longer and called the vet's office. "We ask you not feed him because the anesthesia can make him vomit, but it won't put his life at risk." OH! He ate more than half a bowl of dog food and is currently napping. My wall is safe. BINGO is back! More stories! So many are much better writers than I am - maybe they'll contribute more as well. Can't wait to dig in and write columns for SerpenTimes I really love House newspapers, and all of the different options! Three Head Students now, and I think all three are excellent choices Scales awarded~Max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted February 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2017 My health issues have been resolved (YES) after several months of a boring yet relaxing lifestyle. I'm going to ease back in to HOL and take it day by day for this term, at the very least. I am now an ice cream free Fortescue! No sugar, very limited dairy. I have a second puppy - a Shih tzu / terrier mix named Deacon He's so adorable. He keeps Sherman on his toes. When they aren't sleeping. they're playing all day long. He's made my life such a joy. Scales awarded~Max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted February 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2018 I'm back......for good. Dang, I've missed this place! My dogs are all grown up! Deacon the Terrier and Sherman the Poodle. I'm so inspired by the Olympics, and I, too, have dreams. For the Spring Term, I know I can earn 1500 points, and probably 1700, but I'm going to shoot for 2000. Anyone with me? Hey, never hurts to dream big! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted August 4, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 (edited) Has any Slytherin kept their HOL card? I kept the information I had inside mine but not the card itself or the template. If I could borrow yours I could crop your info out and replace it with mine. Good for 20 beans to the first person who sends me an HOL Slytherin card! Ready....set...go! (And the beans go to...Prof. Scarlet Leslie-Lewis. There's a template here, on the forum, under HOL Points and Classes!) I still have my wonderful dogs, Sherman and Deacon. Sherman is 10 pounds and still a typical poodle. Deacon weighs 40 pounds. He acts like a terrier. They are best friends. I'm so excited to be back after a brief hiatus. Sometimes the real world gets messy and has to be cleaned up. Currently, I'm hoping for an upcoming peaceful decade, or, at the very least, one more manageable. Edited August 5, 2019 by February Fortescue Beans have been awarded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted October 10, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2019 Currently, DNA tests seem to really be in vogue. So many of my friends are getting their genes tested! They're curious about their ancestry and their possible health issues. I've had a DNA test completed, too. Not on me, though. On my dog, Deacon. The pet parent of his mother said Fuzzy Butt was a Shih Tzu, even though she's a weird looking Shih Tzu. She also told me Fuzzy Butt was caught with a Beagle, making Deacon a Beagle/Shih Tzu mix. No one thinks Deacon is a Beagle. Not me. Not the vet. Not his groomer. He acts like a Terrier. He looks like a Terrier. I told Fuzzy Butt's pet parent Deacon was no more a Beagle than I was. "He most certainly is a Beagle! Oh, and my neighbor explained why Fuzzy Butt looks like a weird looking Shih Tzu. She isn't a Shih Tzu at all - she's a Havanese!" A Havenese?? Uh....no.... I just had to have those DNA results! Drum roll, please..... Deason is: 25% Beagle, 25% Tree Walking Coonhound, 25% Shih Tzu, and of the remaining 25%, half is Pug and half is Terrier. I shared the results with Fuzzy Butt's pet parent. "See! I told you he was a Beagle. But my dog is Havanese, and she is definitely NO Pug!!!!" I told her DNA doesn't lie. She still doesn't believe me. Goes to show you can't always tell a dog breed or mix based off its appearance or behavior. And now that I know he's part Beagle and part Coonhound, I can see some of those traits in Deacon. There's a lesson here. I'm sure of it 5 scales awarded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted November 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2019 Happy 17th birthday, Will Lestrange! I had no idea what to get the Prefect and Quidditch ace who seems to have it all, so i stuck with the traditional cake and ice cream. Hope it's a magical day! 5 scales awarded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted March 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 I've been trying to figure out why J. K. Rowling gave Queenie Goldstein a January 6th birthday. I'm mean, Capricorn? Severus Snape was a Capricorn, born January 9th. What could they possibly have in common? That got me to thinking.... Could Snape possibly be Queenie's grandson? Queenie is a highly talented Legilimens. Snape is a highly talented Occlumens, but he can also do Legilimency. They both love muggleborns. Snape appeared to be Voldemort's right hand man, and I think Queenie will appear to be Grindlewald's right hand woman. The timeline for her being Eileen Prince's mother works out as well. And, a Queen's (Queenie) grandson is called a Prince, right? Maybe she and Jacob changed their last name to hide from Grindlewald. Just a theory. 5 scales awarded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted April 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 Say hello to Trimeresurus salazar - also known as Salazar's Pit Viper. Yes, that's his official, scientific name! He's a new discovered pit viper species, and the species was named after Salazar Slytherin. Isn't he gorgeous? Click here to read the article. 5 scales awarded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted May 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 While going for a walk yesterday and headding out towards my brother's house yesterday, I photographed this: It may be a little hard to identify, because I didn't want to get very close, but it's a bear! My brother later told me he'd been throwing out watermelon rinds close to the house. Bad idea. So hard to believe this term is coming to an end! It's been an amazing one. I've worked really hard, made some wonderful new friends and reconnected with some old ones, and am looking forward to Slytherin's and HOL's future I'd post some heartwarming "I'm going to miss so-and-so" messages, but to my knowledge, no one is leaving, which is wonderful! 5 scales awarded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted May 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2020 There's been a nest under the rafters of my porch for several years. Apparently, it is an ideal spot and the birds feel safe there, because each year, a new bird parent will add her own twigs and raise her young inside the nest. This Spring's batch flew away yesterday. I think I'm almost as proud as their momma I managed to snap a photo the day before their flight: 5 scales awarded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted July 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2020 Despite the 90+ degree weather, I I had a wonderful vacation! It was, in turns, very active and very relaxing. We visited several places and sometimes it was just me and my brother, while other times we were joined by friends. Here are some random photos which appeal to me: These two trees remind me of a bonded pair, with each being it's own individual tree, but still very much in sync. It's my favorite "non-human" photo. We did some swimming, and relaxing on a friend's boat. Several went fishing. I didn't fish - I hate worms with a passion - but the catfish and such we grilled afterwards was one of the highlights. And, of course, what is camping without a picnic table? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted August 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2020 I can't believe the new school year begins NEXT WEEK. I'm so excited – and nervous. I'm both nervous and honored for the privilege of being a Prefect. I'm going to do my absolute best. I'm equally excited Emily is a Prefect, too – I think she'll be amazing! And it will be so much fun starting out together. I already miss Amy. Slytherin just isn't the same. It doesn't feel right. I can't wait to see the list of classes we get to choose from! I could say I already know what I want to take, but once the classes are posted, my choices go from the 5 I've already thought about to include an additional 25 really excellent ones in just a matter of minutes. I'm grateful Emily loves The Tudors as much, if not more, than I do and was excited to take over the class. I still had a challenge trying to decide what I wanted to apply for, though, until a wise HOLer told me to choose what I love, because I'm going to be teaching it all term. That settled it! One of the classes is on loan. I borrowed it from an amazing professor, and he and another professor wrote the class and the assignments, and it's simply perfection. The only changes I made were to the Syllabus, and to move it to a new site for accessibility reasons. I also completely re-worked the assignments for Astrology and Harry Potter. I wanted to make it more accessible to more people, like I did with Patronus 101. If you've already taken the Astrology class, since the assignments are completely new, you are welcome to retake the class if you like, assuming the class is approved. Next week...classes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
February Fortescue Posted September 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 Posting once again as the muggle behind February.. So, I'll admit it. I'm going out of my way to avoid working on HOL stuff today. Sometimes I get the urge just to kick back, you know? I'm watching YouTube videos, and one suggests people in my area probably actually don't have any Cherokee ancestry, despite what we've always been told, and I'm thinking, "but.....her name was Martha Wolfe, and she was my grandmother's grandmother, and I know where her house was, and I know where she's buried, and...and..." Maybe I should go join some ancestry site and do some research? I pulled out the family listing of "this person married this person and begat....and begat..." and remembered the other side of my family claims to have fought in the American Revolution. I wonder how true THAT is? Well, that was really easy to find - my great-grandfather is listed on a free site, as is his father, and his father....and YES - we fought for the Rebels. I then noticed the captain's wife is from Scotland. Scotland - how romantic! And her ancestry is also easily traceable - she's a direct descendant from Robert Roy "Rob Roy" MacGregor, who seems to be some famous Scottish version of Robin Hood. I've heard of him, but don't really know much about him. I've always heard everyone has a famous ancestor. I'm not at all surprised to learn mine were scrappy troublemakers Scales awarded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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