Update!

A lot has been happening!  I'm in NH/VT for the summer on what I'm calling a "working vacation."  Awesome job and fantastic views wherever I go.  Like this one:

and this one:

Things I'm reading:  The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver.  Looooove it, but it's super long so I don't see me reading anything else this summer.  I'm a slow reader.  

Knitting:  Trying to write up a pattern for a cardigan thing I made up.  Here's a blurry photo of it:

If you think you'd be interested in test knitting (or would like a better photo to see if you would like to be a test knitter) let me know!

Watching:  Well, I watched Lady and Tramp the other night.  It was entertaining enough.  

Eating:  Apples and peanut butter every day for lunch.  

Today: going to a farmer's market in VERMONT (I love saying that.  I'm going to Vermont....)

Also:  Know anyone who is looking for a book conservator?  I'm looking for a job.  Actually it doesn't even need to be a book conservation job, I'll do (almost) anything at this point.  Answering phones, cleaning floors, mowing lawns, I'm there.  Trying to stay positive and open, as you can see....

Public Service Announcement(s)

I really hate bandaids, I think they're disgusting. I don't understand how they help the open-wound situation, they might keep it clean but they're also creating a warm, dark, moist environment – don't germs love that kind of thing? Or at least that's what I'm thinking when I'm wearing one. And then they fall off every time you wash your hands, and even when you don't wash your hands they just start to fall off for no good reason when you're grocery shopping or something like that and it's really annoying.

And then las week I tried to hack my finger off with a chisel. I'm fine, I was assured that I did not need stitches, but I should use these butterfly bandaids. 

 They worked great to keep my disgusting wound from popping back open (sorry if that just grossed you out), but only for awhile because they kept falling off, I went through 5 in about two hours.

But then I found liquid bandage. Have you tried this stuff (or superglue, I'm sure that works just the same)?   It's awesome. 

 You paint it on to your wound and it creates a protective seal around it and glues it back together. Envision putting clear nail polish on a cut, but without the weird factor (well, less of the weird factor.  And probably less of the chemicals too, although I'm not sure of that).  No gross bandaids to make wounds fester, no taping bandaids to your hands to keep them from falling off, and I can wash my hands as often as I'd like! I do have to reapply every hour or so, but I'm okay with that.

I just wanted everyone to know about this in case you didn't already.  I'm never using a normal bandaid again.  

Also, keep your hands BEHIND the chisel. I'm not a woodworker for a reason.

And finally, a note to all Boston Tourists: Please let passengers OFF the train before you get on the train. Calm down, the train will not leave without you!  I promise!  

Happy Creepy Mother's Day!

still living

Please note:  I'm still alive.  Just getting ready for graduation, applying to every job in the world, looking for a place to live, etc etc....

Also....

Went to a parchment making workshop at Pergemena, most of it was disgusting

But some of it was less disgusting

We had a huge party for my friend to help her raise money to run in the Boston Marathon (It was a success!)

 And my book got into a two year traveling exhibit.  And when I know more, I'll tell you were to visit it!

Prints

My new favorite woodblock printer.

Kawase Hasui - Benton Shrine

Doggies

For my birthday, my awesome friend Anna gave me the book "Knit Your Own Dog," because she knows that knitting and dogs are my two favorite things in the whole wide world.

This book is great.  The patterns are really thoughtfully put together, and the end result really does look like the dog you were trying to put together.  But I wouldn't quite call these patterns "easy-to-follow" as the cover states.  It includes pretty advanced techniques and when you're finished with the pattern you have about 12 tiny dog parts that look nothing like a dog, and assembling them is not always the most straight forward thing.  But, if you're an experienced pattern reader you will be able to figure it out; if you're a beginning pattern reader, be sure there is someone near you who is an experienced pattern reader who can explain things.

Anyway.  Anna also loves dogs, especially border collies, so of course I need to make her one:

He lives in the bindery now, his name is Bookie (HA!)

And just because this photo is on my desktop, here's my doggie, when he was a puppy:

I need to knit a version of Quinn next.  

And here are some teeny tiny boxes I made, because this photo was on my desktop too.  

Also, a photo of board-tacketing in progress.  

Television

I don't care what anybody says, I like watching TV. I own a TV, I watch my TV, and a lot of time I just have the news on for company. I love the news, especially local news that is really cheesy and lame.

Things that I enjoy watching

New Girl: At first I thought this show was dumb, and it is kind of dumb, but it's funny and I watch it. And I think that Zooey Deschanel sounds pretty and has a cute name.

Parks and Rec: Wow, this is one of my favorite shows. It will always make me laugh, always.

Castle: Also one of my favorite shows. Love Nathan Fillian. My mom likes crime shows, and honestly most of them and really cheesy and lame, but we both agree on this one.

Rizolli and Isles: Also a crime show, also really good.

Kingdom: This is a British show that I watched on Hulu. It was soooo good!! It's about a lawyer in a small town in England and it's charming and British and it has Stephen Fry. Sadly, there are only 3 seasons and it ends on a bit of a cliff hanger.

Doc Martin: I just finished watching the first 4 seasons of this on Hulu, and although there is a 5^th season since I'm not British I can't watch it yet and it's tearing me apart. It's about an awkward doctor, also in a small town in England (apparently a trend in British shows).   Even though Martin is an ass, I still love him. Why? How did the writers accomplish this? It's brilliant.  

I want to live in a small town in England now.  They're all so cute and charming.  Think any of them need a bookbinder?

Right now I'm watching the news.

For dinner tonight I made chicken and broccoli without the chicken. I also made it with sushi rice, which is delicious but has very little nutritional value. Just like real take out Chinese food.