This Week I...

• finished (as much as one can say "finished") fitting my bodice sloper; it's only taken me three years
• transcribed a letter written by a UNC chemistry professor in 1861; although it contains all-too-familiar references to lost friends and loneliness, Kimberly writes with a fair bit of humor as well, especially when discussing his limited fare and the garrulous Mrs. M--
• drafted my first sleeve sloper using Donald McCunn's How to Make Sewing Patterns (1977); I broke into smiles when I beheld my finished pattern, and the amount of ease I added made for a perfect seam when sewn. It seriously brought joy to my heart! Unfortunately, it's not very comfortable when I move my arms, so it's back to the drafting board...
• composed a PSA for UNC's WXYC radio advertising the Civil War Day by Day
• finished my first draft of CWDxD's classroom resources page (update: see the page here)
• ate lots of peaches and strawberries
• boosted my HTML vocabulary with new linking codes

And here are some noteworthy posts from this week:

• Kathryn made two beautifully simple necklaces, although I'm not sure how long her secret is safe...
• Edward Porter Alexander returns to the CWDxD blog with a letter describing what happens after a battle
• also on the CWDxD blog, read the poignant letter from the father of a Union soldier to a Confederate colonel: "I wish to be allowed to come into Virginia to see my son if alive, or to search for his body if dead" 
• Casey posted a link to these lovely origami lanterns on {frolic!}
• It's been hot and fairly dry in NC this summer, but out west it's been very dry
• three summer cocktails via Dear Golden
• "What Your Beard Says About You"