Harry Potter

Advent 2020–Day One

We had so much fun building the Lego Hogwarts Castle throughout Advent last year that I knew I wanted to repeat a Lego project this year. So way back in February, I bought the Lego Millennium Falcon (the big one!), not only as an Advent activity for 2020, but also as a way to build anticipation for the trip to Disney World, and especially Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, that we had planned for summer 2021.

Well, you know what they say…man plans, and God laughs. He may not be laughing, but our plans…well, they went the way of COVID-19. We’re still hoping to take that trip, but it won’t be next summer. So, as a family, we decided to hold on to the Millennium Falcon until the Advent before our trip (whenever that may be), and this year, we’re going to build the Diagon Alley set I impulse bought when it came out this summer.

Instead of dividing the builds up by bag number (this time, there are less bags than there are days of Advent), we’re going to start by building about 15 steps a day. The first instruction book coincides with the first of four buildings on the street, which houses Ollivanders and Scribbulus, and tonight, Turkey built the floor and the first shelf.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how this set comes together!

Halloween in the Time of COVID-19

Halloween is the one holiday this year that looks pretty much the same to us, since our celebrations are always minimal at best. But I still wanted to make the day special, so I went to some extra effort with our meals.

We started the day with pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls. Yes, they were from a can, but they were still a treat!

I chose all of the elements of our dinner from our Harry Potter cookbook. We had braised lamb, Brussels sprouts, boiled potatoes, mashed parsnips, and butterbeer.

Dessert also came from the Harry Potter cookbook…a chocolate gateau.

We spent the day watching movies (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, because it’s about candy, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), and It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, plus we listened to my favorite Halloween episode of The Baby Snooks Show. And of course, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was played!

Another holiday in the time of COVID-19 has come and gone, but the big ones are still on the horizon!

Quote of the Day

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends.” Richard Harris as Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Quote of the Day

I think this quote applies to all of 2020:

“Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.” Michael Gambon as Professor Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The Twenty-Fourth Day of Advent

And just like that, Advent 2019 has come to an end!

The Fab Five had only one bag of pieces to add to Lego Hogwarts Castle today…#37:

There really weren’t too many details added since Saturday…mainly some more stained glass, and the roof and tower pieces:

Turkey joined the two parts of the set together, and even though we knew what they looked like separately, I think we were all shocked by how immense (not to mention beautiful!) the entire set is!

It was quite a project, and I think a fun one!

I finished off Advent with a Prosecco from Italy:

And of course I wore my standard Christmas Eve brooch:

Merry Christmas!

The Twenty-Third Day of Advent

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Here we are at the penultimate day of Advent already! Bag 36 of Lego Hogwarts Castle included pieces for the roof…tomorrow, it’s just finishing touches, and then the whole thing will be put together!

Tonight’s wine was a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chilé, which I enjoyed.

Since I have worn each of my brooches at least twice this Advent, Bunny let me borrow her newest brooch from Erstwilder’s current Christmas collection today…wasn’t that thoughtful of her, and isn’t it adorable?

I can’t believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve!

The Twenty-Second Day of Advent

The start of the fourth week of Advent (can you believe how fast it’s gone by?!?), included bags 34 and 35 for Lego Hogwarts Castle:

Tonight’s wine was a Shiraz from Australia:

And I wore my Erstwilder Holly brooch today:

The Twenty-First Day of Advent

Today the Fab Five completed bags 31-33 of Lego Hogwarts Castle…there are only four left!!!

Here’s a look at my favorite details built during the third week of Advent:

Tonight’s wine was a Chardonnay from Argentina:

Since it’s the first day of winter, I went with a penguin brooch:

The Twentieth Day of Advent

Bag 30 of Lego Hogwarts Castle included the pieces to build the Whomping Willow and the Flying Ford Anglia, plus the final minifig…Rowena Ravenclaw:

Tonight’s wine was a Merlot from Chilé. Before I started this Advent calendar, I don’t think I even realized that Chilé was a wine-producing country, but I’ve had a few varieties from there now, so not only have I enjoyed the wine, I’ve also learned something!

A basset hound brooch on a leopard print shirt…too much animal in one outfit? I think not!