Snowflake Challenge, Day 5, Plus Minerva Doll

[kelly_chambliss]

Day 5

In your own space, talk about a creator. Show us why you think they are amazing.

What a perfect way for me to combine the Snowflake Challenge with a personal project dear to me: documenting the lovely Minerva doll knitted for me by talesofsnape.

So talesofsnape is my creator of choice for this challenge. Not only does she write fine fan fiction of her own, but she moderates the one_bad_man comm, AND she is exceptionally talented as a knitter and designer. To wit. . .

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Any new business?" Minerva asked, as the first staff meeting of the spring term finally wound to a close.

Over the years, she'd managed to make it clear to everyone that she preferred a staff who did not begin to pack up before a meeting was officially over -- "You wouldn't tolerate your students behaving in such a fashion in your classes, so I know you'll understand how much I appreciate your attention until the end" -- but on this gloomy January afternoon, she could tell that everyone was eager to get going.

So was she, frankly. The older she got, the more she felt the need to minimize administrative clutter. And right now, she was also feeling the siren call of a glass of Ogden's, to be sipped in front of her sitting-room fire. Thus she waited only a few seconds before continuing, "If not, then I suggest we adjour-- "

But to her surprise, Poppy Pomfrey's voice interrupted her.

"I have some new business, Headmistress," she said.

"Yes, Poppy?" Minerva turned what she hoped was an encouraging face, but inside, her heart sank. For Poppy to use official titles meant that she was about to propose some new policy that would be good for everyone's health. . .and in the short run, at least, bad for everyone's physical comfort.

"Well, as you know," Poppy began, "the yuletide was a season of indulgence for many of us, and the start of a new year seems a good time to turn over a healthy new leaf. I've been concerned for some time about the lack of sufficient physical activity for staff and students alike, and so I'd like to start a yoga club. Yoga is good for the mind and body, it has a low risk of injury -- " and here she broke off to glare at Rolanda Hooch -- "and it can accommodate a wide range of physical abilities and disabilities."

Minerva felt relieved; a yoga club didn't sound too onerous, and students might enjoy it. "Would you like to make a motion, then, Poppy?" she asked. "To add a yoga club to the student activity list?"

"I don't intend to limit it to students, Headmistress," Poppy replied. "I think we staff need to set a good example. So I move that we establish a a joint student-staff yoga club, and I'm counting on all of you to participate."

"Is there a second?" asked Minerva, rather hoping that there wouldn't be.

"Second!" said Rolanda at once.

Everyone else shot wary glances at each other, and though no one except Snape voted "nay," the "ayes" didn't sound particularly enthusiastic.

Still, the "ayes" had prevailed. "Fine, then, Poppy," Minerva said. "Feel free to start your yoga club."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"You'll be joining, won't you, Min?" Poppy asked as they all filed out of the staffroom.

"Well, my schedule. . ." Minerva was beginning, but was not surprised when Poppy nipped that (admittedly feeble) excuse in the bud.

"Now, Minerva, you're always on about the need to model appropriate behaviour for students," Poppy said sternly. "If the staff doesn't value physical activity, the students won't. And I don't count that organized mayhem that you and Rolanda call a sport! Besides, you were quite the athlete in your younger days. Don't let yourself go to seed."

Minerva sighed. Poppy was right, though "go to seed" was hardly the expression Minerva would have used. She would have preferred, "slow down to a dignity that befits your age and position." But still. Role models were important.

"Very well," she said.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The following Saturday found Minerva in her rooms, looking at the new clothing spread on her bed. "You don't expect to do 'downward dog' in your teaching robes, do you?" Rolanda had demanded a few days earlier. "You'll need proper yoga gear, Min."

Downward Dog? Poppy had never told her that yoga included dogs. Her cat senses began to bristle.

"I don't -- " Minerva had begun, but Rolanda had waved her away. "Leave it to me," she said. "I'll get you the perfect outfit."

Since she and Rolanda did not always share the same notion of "perfect," it was not without some trepidation that Minerva unwrapped the box from Runhard's Sports Shoppe. But she needn't have feared: Ro had done her proud. The yoga outfit looked both comfortable and decorous, and it appeared to have nothing to do with dogs.

Quickly, Minerva donned the light green yoga top and. . .bloomers, she supposed they would be called. Such a restful colour, and very comfortable indeed, as were the sensible work-out shoes.

But she drew the line at walking the corridors in this kit. Minerva considered herself a strong femiwitch, and of course she had no objection to the idea of women wearing trousers, no matter how the practice might have been frowned upon in her youth. Still, she believed that the Head of Hogwarts, male or female, had a standard of dignity to maintain (no star-spangled purple robes during her tenure as headmistress, thank you) -- a standard that did not really allow for yoga clothes outside of a yoga studio.

Luckily, Rolanda knew her well (after all, they'd been together for thirty years) and had provided a lovely and appropriate matching skirt.. As for covering up her top, here was the perfect opportunity to wear the beautiful green over-robe that Rolanda had knitted her for Christmas. It came as a surprise to many people that Rolanda relaxed by knitting, but over the years, all her friends (not to mention her lover) had received the gorgeous results of Ro's down-time. Minerva, who had little patience for such delicate work, was in awe of Rolanda's skill with elegant details.

Suitably garbed at last, Minerva left her quarters to head for the "exercise studio" that Poppy had established in an empty classroom. The mirrors for the walls, the exercise barre, and the large pile of yoga mats, blocks, and balls had turned out to be less expensive than Minerva had feared; the "supplies" budget had covered the cost easily.

The yoga shoes hugged her feet without pinching, the bloomers provided welcome warmth against the chill of the season, and Minerva found herself actually looking forward to the chance to stretch her muscles and cleanse her mind and to help students do the same. This yoga plan might be a good idea of Poppy's after all.

Just as long as it didn't involve any dogs.

Comments

[elmyraemilie]

Another installment of Minerva's Closet brings another big smile. Again I say, what skill and talent! Thanks!

[kelly_chambliss]

Glad you enjoyed it! Every time I look at these wonderful doll clothes, I'm impressed anew. Just look at that decoration! Those tiny little stars, the cloak fastener, the shoes with contrasting-colored soles. Wow.