| |
[Feb. 12th, 2010|02:12 pm] |
[Warded to Andromeda]
Cally told me about what happened at the Ladies League meeting. You are so much braver than I could ever think of being. And so much crazier. I hope you know I'll be worrying about you nonstop now. Please, please be careful.
I was glad to see the responses to your announcement. I've had several verbal replies from people who intend to attend, as well. I think a lot of people will be coming for Florence...and I think some who just need some sort of remembrance for people who are still like Florence was: missing and their fates unknown. I can't blame them for that. The whole world has lost so much. But for whatever the reason, I think we'll have a fair number of people there. |
|
|
| |
[Feb. 10th, 2010|12:45 pm] |
[Warded to Dorcas]
Hello, love. I hope this note finds you well.
Andromeda Tonks and I are working on putting together a memorial for Florence and Jonathan Corner this Saturday. I know you counted Jonathan among your friends, so I wanted to ask two things of you, if possible. One, we would very much like to have a picture of him to put up with Florence. Two, we have a few people to speak on Florence's behalf, but if you would be willing to say a few words for Jonathan, that would really be very nice. Could you help us with either of those?
[end ward]
[Warded to Michael Dawlish]
We're having a bit of a bad day here, and Are you busy this afternoon?
[end ward]
[Warded to Douglas]
We're having a bit of a bad day here today. Don't worry; I'm calling to see if Michael can come over to help me out a little. Lizzie is just particularly emotional today, and I think Stephen's picking up on it. It's just probably for the best if you don't come home at lunchtime. If you could get out early at all, though, it would really be a good thing.
[end ward] |
|
|
| |
[Feb. 9th, 2010|03:19 am] |
[Warded to Andromeda Tonks]
I was just wondering if you'd been able to speak with Mrs. Avery, and if you had, what happened.
[end ward]
[Warded to Sloane Vaisey, Amelia Bones, Andromeda Tonks, and Molly Weasley]
I just wanted to say hello, since I've been rather out of the mix again. I don't really even know what else to say. I've just contracted a case of cabin fever, I suppose, and wanted to talk to actual adults besides Douglas. How is everyone?
[end ward] |
|
|
| |
[Feb. 6th, 2010|01:46 pm] |
[Warded to Florence Corner]
I'm so sorry, Florence. I wanted so much to believe you had escaped. You were such a sweet, kind person, and so full of hope. I don't understand how anyone, even someone so clearly sick as that woman is, could ever hurt you.
Wherever your next lives take you and Jonathan and Michael, I hope it is a safer, kinder place than this one. I hope the same for my brother and for Benjy, too. Sometime this will all be over. I have to keep believing that. Come back when it is, and find a happier ending. |
|
|
| Warded to Benjy's Friends that Sarah knows |
[Jan. 31st, 2010|12:46 pm] |
[Warded to Quinn & Marion Banges, Madog MacDougal, Frank & Alice Longbottom, Gideon and Fabian Prewett, Dorcas Meadowes, Sturgis Podmore, Edgar Bones, Ted and Andromeda Tonks, Caoimhe and Doyle Sullivan, Malcolm Thomas, and Gretchen Davies; also readable by Michael, Douglas, and Iona]
I am very sorry to be giving this news via journal, but my trial run at telling Molly via floo call didn't go very well on my end.
Our cousin Benjy Fenwick was among those killed in the werewolf attack in Tinworth last night. Douglas and Iona are his only remaining family, so we will be handling funeral arrangements and will be sure to let you know when the wake and service are. In the meantime, we are at home to visitors should any of you wish to come by.
[Warded to Greta Catchlove]
I'm so sorry, Greta. If at any point you'd like to join the family, we're all here at Douglas's and my house. |
|
|
| |
[Dec. 17th, 2009|12:37 am] |
For two days, I've mostly stayed either busy or asleep. My husband has already made the announcement to most anyone who would care anyway. Nonetheless, I wanted to share some happy news just the same: as of Monday, we have a son.
Welcome to the earth, Stephen Douglas Cornfoot. May you always be a force for good within it. |
|
|
| |
[Dec. 1st, 2009|04:47 pm] |
[Warded Private]
One month gone by, and everything just feels so quiet.
In just two weeks or so, I'll be having a baby. Stephen Douglas Cornfoot will be coming into the world, and that shouldn't be a cause for anything but joy. But sometimes I find I can't bring myself to be happy at all, because I just miss John so terribly. Other times I am happy, just like I know he would want me to be. Still other times, I'm happy for a moment and then feel guilty for being happy and then I'm miserable all over again.
I worry that I'm being a terrible mother to Lizzie, too. She can't understand what's going on, and I try so hard to keep my moods from affecting her, but there are times I know she can tell. This afternoon I was just sitting on the sofa, and I didn't think she'd know I was thinking about John, but she just came over there and curled up next to me and I knew that she knew. I'm terrified that I'm going to mess her up somehow, going on like this. She's too quiet, and I'm too quiet, and Douglas is too quiet...it's like we've been walking through a fog for the past month. I can't decide if Stephen's going to break through that somehow, or if he's doomed by coming into the world in this time, with his family already so worn down. How am I going to be there for him, and for Lizzie, and for Douglas, and not somehow wreck everything with my own depression?
[Warded to Sloane, Charity, Andromeda, and Molly]
Hello. I just wanted to apologise for being so antisocial in these past few weeks. As I'm sure you can imagine, it's been a difficult time. I do want you all to know that I think of you, though, and I appreciate you more than I could ever say. |
|
|
| |
[Nov. 4th, 2009|12:05 am] |
[Warded Private]
Tomorrow is the funeral, and I cannot imagine how I could possibly get through it.
Douglas has been writing all day. He doesn't ever leave me in a room by myself for more than a minute or two. He is writing a eulogy, and I'm glad he'll be able to speak. I feel as if I should, but I am quite certain that if I were to try I would simply break down into sobs.
I must admit to being rather grateful that Mum has left most of the funeral arrangements to me. They have given me something to do - coordinating with the Auror department for the state funeral, and speaking with the priestess for the ceremony at Jubilee Hill, and seeing to Mum and Dad and the rest of the family. Michael seems more awake than I've seen him since the accident. Why did it take this to pull him out of that depression? It doesn't make any sense. And at the same time...I'm glad I got one brother back, at least, even as I cannot seem to control my grief over the loss of the other.
So many flowers. Flowers and music to choose, and I'm supposed to somehow figure out what to wear, and so many people in and out. There's just one thing that gets me through any of it, and that is that John always liked for things to be done right. He never stood for slacking or half-done work from anyone, especially himself, and that was what made my brother a great man. I'm going to do this right.
[end ward]
[Warded to Iona]
Is Lizzie doing all right? I just wanted to check in. Thank you so much for keeping her today; it's an enormous help.
[end ward]
[Warded to Douglas]
I love you. And thank you for everything. I can't imagine what I would do without you.
[end ward] |
|
|
| Diamonds and Rust |
[Nov. 1st, 2009|10:52 am] |
[Warded to Douglas Cornfoot, Benjy Fenwick, Charity Burbage, Doc Dearborn, Molly and Arthur Weasley, Iona Cornfoot, Gawain Robards, Edgar and Calypso Bones, Gretchen Davies, and Frank and Alice Longbottom + any NPC friends of John Dawlish]
Unfortunately, any of you who were not at the Masquerade last night have all probably seen this news in the newspaper this morning. However, I still wanted to make an announcement to John's friends this morning. Last night, my brother was killed in the line of duty.
Funeral arrangements are still being made, but I will be sure to notify you all personally when they are confirmed. For now, we are at home, but the family will start officially receiving visitors at Jubilee Hill (Floo address "Jubilee Hill") at 1 p.m. If any of you would like to come here this morning, though, I would be happy to see you. |
|
|
| |
[Oct. 29th, 2009|08:36 pm] |
Today I have been reminded of my very favourite thing about the weather growing colder: my ice roses.
Ice roses are one of my favourite flowers. They're delicate and strong at the same time, and just a little bit dangerous, as anybody who's ever run afoul of their thorns knows. Chilly and beautiful, like some kind of love interest in an E.B. Hensworth novel. I've always sort of liked that they can't be cut and brought inside, as well. There's something I envy a bit about their wildness, probably because I'm a rather conventional person myself. I like to think that maybe I have some teensy bit of ice-rose spirit within me somewhere, though.
They're unusual, as well; here in Edinburgh we're essentially at the southern border of their zone. My grandmother used to keep them at Jubilee Hill, but she had to have them in a frosthouse with the Sugarcubes and Norwegian Snowdrops and Frost Violets. Here, I can just manage to grow them outside, and I must say that they're coming out especially fine this year. I've never had so many buds, and I do believe that within four weeks or so I'll have some really spectacular blooms. |
|
|
| |
[Oct. 24th, 2009|02:49 am] |
Happy birthday one more time, John!
Merlin, my baby brother is thirty-one. I realise that most of the world knows him as a first-class Auror and does not find it at all surprising that he's thirty-one, but I'm his big sister. In my mind he is perpetually eleven years old and irritating me half to death by following me around Hogwarts, or thirteen and asking me how to talk to girls. To me, the notion of him being past thirty is just strange sometimes.
And to everyone who came to the party tonight, thank you so much! Especially thank you to Molly and Charity and Andromeda for helping me out with the cleanup. You three are absolute princesses! |
|
|
| |
[Oct. 9th, 2009|07:12 pm] |
[Warded Private]
She must have run. If anything happened to her, they would have found some evidence of it. At the very least, there would be a body. They've always just left people there in their homes when they attacked before. If they came for her, Florence must have run away with her husband. Maybe the Ministry's hiding her, since they clearly failed to protect her brother up until his trial.
That poor woman. It can't be good for her, taking on such traveling when she's pregnant. I can't even imagine how difficult it must be, to find out that her brother was a Death Eater and to know that her own life and that of her baby and her husband are in danger. I worry enough myself without any of that. She must be going nearly mad with it herself.
I hope she's all right.
[end ward]
[Warded to Florence Corner]
I'm sure you can't answer journals wherever you are, but I want you to know that we're all thinking of you here. Be careful, Florence.
[end ward] |
|
|
| Warded to Some Parents |
[Sep. 27th, 2009|05:12 pm] |
[Warded to Arthur and Molly Weasley, Gretchen Davies, Amos and Vivian Diggory, Ted and Andromeda Tonks, Marcus and Mrs. Yaxley, and a few other NPC parents of young children that this group would know from various play dates and wizarding children's events]
Hello, everyone!
A few days ago, I had a very interesting conversation with Mr. Patrice Nott - yes, the author. I was rather surprised, myself, since I generally don't think of myself as the kind of person who well-known authors decide to have a chat with. Anyway, the conversation was mostly about the state of education for young witches and wizards - those old enough to require lessons but not yet old enough for Hogwarts. While some people are fortunate enough to be able to hire private tutors or governesses for their children, many of us are not so lucky. When one then has more than one child (as so many of us do or will soon) giving lessons to children can become an extremely complicated affair. This can be especially difficult in households where both parents work outside the home, as is increasingly common.
So the question is...if there were a primary school for wizarding children supported by the Ministry in the manner that Hogwarts is, would you take advantage of it? I know that as the mother of a five year old who is very soon to have an infant in the house, it would be a huge help to me. |
|
|
| All the Weary Mothers of the Earth |
[Sep. 24th, 2009|04:13 am] |
A question for the married women here:
When you got married, did you stick with your original Quidditch team to support, or did you join in with your husband's? Or for those of you who aren't married, what would you do? Shift allegiances to keep the peace, or remain loyal to your old favourite?
I was never more than a casual Quidditch fan, so since I've been married I've been cheering for the Magpies. Douglas was more of a fan than I was, and I found it was more fun to cheer with him than to be on opposite sides, but I could also see the fun in the other. And now that I'm thinking about it, I'm curious.
I've also a question for parents of multiple children:
Did you have any trouble with older children becoming jealous of the younger ones? So far my little girl is excited about having a little brother on the way, but I'm slightly concerned that once he arrives she may not be happy about how much of my attention is by necessity taken up. Does anyone have any recommendations for how to keep that from being an issue? |
|
|
| Warded to Charity Burbage |
[Sep. 5th, 2009|06:03 pm] |
|
I was thinking I might do some shopping for your Quidditch-themed baby room idea. Is there an evening this week you might be free? |
|
|
| Warded to Various |
[Sep. 1st, 2009|10:18 am] |
[Douglas]
Please, just tell me you were nowhere near King's Cross this morning. They've just started reporting from the wireless that there was a Death Eater attack there, and that people were hurt and some were killed, and I just want you to tell me that you're far away from there and safe.
[John]
Were you with the Aurors at King's Cross this morning? Please assure me that you're all right as soon as you can. The reports on the wireless are terrifying, and I'll be biting my nails until you do.
[Molly, Andromeda, Vivian, Gretchen, Charity]
Do any of you want to come over here? I'm listening to the wireless reports on the attack on King's Cross and I'd just really appreciate some friendly company over the age of 5.
[Florence Corner]
I know we don't know each other well, but I thought of you working in the hospital as I was listening to the wireless this morning. I hope you're well, and your baby too. That's all. |
|
|
| Lucifer's Eyes |
[Aug. 26th, 2009|08:06 pm] |
I took this picture some time back. Before Lizzie was born, I think. because it was when we could still Douglas was not very happy with me for snapping the photo, but I've always loved it. I can't imagine why he was so cross about it.
( Picture! )
Really, my husband is a handsome devil first thing in the morning. I just felt I had to share. |
|
|
| Warded to John Dawlish |
[Aug. 24th, 2009|04:56 pm] |
|
John, it looks like I'm going to be short one for dinner tonight. Douglas just floo'd to tell me he'll be late and he's not sure how late he might be. Care to come for dinner? I'll make lasagna. |
|
|
| Warded to Douglas |
[Aug. 18th, 2009|03:21 am] |
|
I'm writing this down just in case I forget to mention it later on: Molly Weasley would like to have a Mothers' Night Out this Friday to celebrate being pregnant again. Could you keep an eye on Lizzie Friday evening? Molly's told Arthur to invite you all over and have Fathers and Kids night if you want. if work is going to have you too busy, just let me know - I can find a babysitter. |
|
|