TChem: hahahahaha. "Train synchronicity."

The Holmes I have is a hardback so I don't think that would work so well. I'm still thinking on the books: I know I want another novel. I want something that is either historical or (better) was written in an earlier time.

I may just grab a couple of the Inspector Alleyn mysteries I've not read yet and take them, though.

Just as you want to synthesize mauvine to dye things, I've always wanted to be one of those people with dyepots simmering full of walnut hulls or calendula flowers or something. Or lichens. Especially lichens - we have tons of lichens that grow around here but I don't know if they're the right species for dyeing. (Of course, I'd be dying already-spun yarn, but these days it's easy to find dyepot-ready yarn).

I always tell my general biology students - when we are discussing lichens - about how they were traditionally used as a dye in Scotland. No one's every seemed terribly interested by that though for some reason.

(Actually, one of my dreams is to have like a shed or a summer-kitchen or something where I can do Really Messy Craft - like dyeing, for example. And I'd love to have a potter's wheel and kiln - I messed around with one some in high school and it was lots of fun, even though I never took enough time and practice to get really good.

Actually, you know? I guess I do feel kind of a lack of Really Messy Craft in my life right now. Baking comes close but that's done in the kitchen which needs to be cleaned up and purified after. I would prefer a situation where I could just leave the mess and only clean up periodically...)


Well, I submitted my grades this morning. There's a certain feeling of finality about that. I have a student coming in at 10 (if the fog's not too bad for her to drive) for some academic counseling (next semester's classes) and then I am going to go home and do my typical pre-vacation house cleaning. (This is done for several reasons: first, this is one of the few times I really have time to clean. Second, having the floors all scrubbed and crumbs all gone and everything food-related totally sealed up prevents Ant Infestation if it's warm enough while I'm gone for such a thing to be a risk. And finally, it's nicer to return to a clean house after vacation). I also need to put away the wool sweaters I wore during the cold snap, I am STILL having carpet-beetle issues but it seems keeping them sealed up in plastic boxes is protective.

(I wish there were some simple way - not involving things really toxic to humans - to deal with carpet beetles. I mean, other than moving out all the furniture and super-cleaning the floors. I mean a chemical way. But I've not found one yet).

I also have one Super Sekrit Project I want to finish and mail off. I MAY post a picture before I leave on Monday.