• 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"

• decided on Sunday afternoon that I wanted to sew a fitted summer dress and set about drafting a bodice; of course, I got hung up on fitting. For some reason, my fitting nemesis is the upper bust area, and the same wrinkle shows up in every bodice pattern I try, one that radiates from the outer shoulder in toward the bust. No amount of fiddling seems to mitigate it--believe me, I've tried pinching out length through the chest, adjusting the shoulder slope, pinching out width through the center, pinching out width through the shoulder, pinching out the dart and rotating it to the bust dart...The closest wrinkle pattern in the books appears under the heading, "Full Bust Adjustment," which I know is not my particular problem! Is this wrinkle inevitable? Should I quit fussing and just sew the damn dress?
• finished a new page on the Civil War Day by Day blog about the First Battle of Bull Run (fought exactly 150 years ago) and started drafting a page directed toward teachers (which I am really excited about doing as this meshes closely with my hoped-for career)
• confirmed my research adviser for the Fall (and my last semester at UNC hope.ful.ly.)
• listened to my Pandora station based on one of my favorite bands, Hem
• started running regularly; I was never a great runner, but I used to enjoy running 3-4 miles a few times a week. Now I'm s l o w l y building up stamina by running for bits of my usual 2 mile walks
• got a timely reminder--more about this on Monday... 

• focused upon staying hydrated--I pour my 64 oz of water into a big pitcher and drink it down through the day
• baked baguettes and my new favorite Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal loaves
• noted Gertie's new online sewing class with great interest; while the bustier bodice is not something I see myself wearing (I prefer loose-fitting tops), the light couture techniques she teaches look immensely valuable and that these techniques are taught in one place, convenient.
• nourished my ever-growing hair with a gross but effective avocado mask (note: link opens a video) and finally trimmed my ends. Also, I noticed another grey hair!
• perused the minutes of the Philanthropic Society available through University Archives; topics under debate in the 1860s include "Who influences society more, man or woman?" "Will the North and South ever be reconciled over the issue of slavery?" "What has the greater influence over man, wine or women?" and "Is it ever moral for the Confederate army to fight on the offensive?"
• am listening to Alison Krauss and Union Station's Paper Airplane--my favorite song is "My Love Follows You Where You Go"
• nabbed a 20% off coupon for filling out the Colette Patterns survey (now closed), and I have my eye set on the Macaron
• continued weeding in preparation for my move
• continued my interminable thesis research; I finally set a schedule for finishing it, which is helping me to keep moving and not get bogged down on certain parts

And I have enjoyed these posts from around the Web:

• Have you seen this project, Her Five Year Diary: a day-by-day transcription of one woman's life from 1961 through 1965? It's new to me, but I am going to start from the beginning and catch up. You can find out more about it here.
• Gertie continues the discussion of sewing muslins (started on BurdaStyle here) and, as usual, inspires a variety of opinions. I, for one, almost always sew muslins (mock-ups) since I tend to draft my own patterns, and they do allow me to practice new techniques with little fear. I don't, however, usually use actual muslin but instead get cheap cuts of fabric from thrift stores (ugly prints or those with polyester in them, out of which I wouldn't make actual clothes)
• I found a wonderful sewing blog, Frabjous Couture (who posted the original muslins post on BurdaStyle)
• I loved Kathryn's simile, "like when a comedian's last joke falls to crickets." And look at this bovine invasion!

1. saw my mom and little sister, Kathryn, off to England for two weeks. Their itinerary and preparations dredged up memories of my own two summers in the UK--oh to go back!
2. ate a fresh apricot--doesn't taste like dried!
3. became enamored of dyeing fabric after viewing Shabd's work
4. made iced coffee concentrate following Pioneer Woman's directions
5. have been enjoying Wilson Library's blog, Civil War Day by Day
6. made a pattern from my go-to readymade tank and sewed up two versions
7. am fixing to draft sailor shorts like this Kwik Sew version DixieDIY made
8. continued my ever-looming thesis research with Levinson's Digital McLuhan
9. started listening to the cute and insightful Saturdays with Stella: How My Dog Taught Me to Sit, Stay, and Come When God Calls

• worked 44 hours
• continued reading Miriam's Kitchen (Elizabeth Ehrlich)
  
• finished reading Winesburg, Ohio (Sherwood Anderson)
• began reading The Vicar of Wakefield (Oliver Goldsmith)
• finally attended the monthly potluck at church (as well I should have since they were bidding me goodbye)
• painted my dining chairs bright white
• found another dining chair off Craigslist and now have four white chairs and one vanilla-toned chair...ah well
  
• walked with Kris and Brandon over a busy highway for an ice cream cone
• began packing my books up
• weeded out my alterations bins
• witnessed the culmination of a $300 fine at the library (check your interlibrary loans carefully, people!)
  
• settled on mints and aquas for my kitchen colors
• got in to two waitlisted classes and now am taking all basic core classes
  
• bought my pantry staples and cannot wait to use them!

• worked 35 hours
• continued reading Miriam's Kitchen (Elizabeth Ehrlich)
  
• continued reading Winesburg, Ohio (Sherwood Anderson)
  
• helped move Kristen and Brandon into their new apartment (closer to my family's house!)
• came face to face with a thief
  
• found the deal of the week at Salvo: $22 KitchenAid (sage green) with all three attachments
• found the deal of the week at Thrift Store USA: 5 yards of off-white upholstery fabric for $1.50
• dried my laundry on the sun-warmed deck
  
• ripped the hideous orange-flowered fabric off my arm chair in preparation for reupholstering it; it already looks better
• celebrated Independence Day at Kris and Brandon's new place with family and friends
  

• worked 50 hours
• ticked off a lady at Hancock's who used the adjective "smart ass" to describe those of us who were helping her
• was called "really pretty" by a little girl at Hancock's
  
• finished reading Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery) and fell in love with Gilbert all over again
  
• started reading Winesburg, Ohio (Sherwood Anderson)
• continued reading Tolkien: a Biography (Michael White)
• finished every bit of nasty paperwork associated with the upcoming school year--including my loan application and financial aid consent form
• finally finally finally sent in my thanks-but-no-thanks letters to University of Kentucky and University of Maryland
• painted my computer cart a disappointing green
  
• used the amazing new copier at the Crisis Pregnancy Center which duplexes, sorts, and staples the wad of papers one shoves in it
• found some fabulous deals at local thrift stores including a tea pot and a large glass canister ($3.19 for both) and a J. Crew sundress ($2.25)
• recovered my dining chairs
  
• am just beginning to understand the attitude of thankfulness
  

• worked 44 hours
• continued to read Tolkien: A Biography (Michael White)
• started to read Anne of Green Gables (Lucy Maud Montgomery)
• finished reading Babbitt (Sinclair Lewis)
• met a lovely girl named Heather at the library
• found an affordable three-shelf rolling cart for my computer!
  
• worked on a little something for my kitchen
• implemented a new tidying system for my terribly cluttered bedroom: every time I enter, I put away three things (no more and no fewer)
• took advantage of Tropical Smoothie Cafe's National Flip-Flop Day giveaway
  
• signed up for the summer reading program at the Central Library
• discovered I was calling a regular patron by the wrong name for months
• ate buttery-smooth cookies-and-cream ice cream at Bergey's with Mom and Kathryn
• witnessed the completion of Mom's book cart (more on that!)
• made progress on my furniture makeovers: prepared my dining chairs for painting and bought upholstery fabric; speared Dad's tire with my scattered upholstery tacks