Steady

There has still been no knitting or real crafting of any type around here at Orchard Ranch, but there has been one bit of progress: I bought and assembled a sturdy 45-inch bookcase.  Right now it's in its proposed spot and has the "entertainment technology" set up on it -- the television and DVD player, plus the telephone, all plugged into a good, solid surge protector.  The arrangement of shelves actually looks kind of nice!  The power cords will be hidden by shelves or books, but still accessible.  I'm thinking that tomorrow afternoon we'll start putting some books in it, and see how much of the dining room we can reclaim from the stacks of boxes that have been taking up space since June.  If we need more room for books, I'll just have to set up some shelves in the dining room, but I'm hoping to have the living room more or less in place soon.  Once the books are in, I'll tackle the curtains that have been languishing here, needing to be shortened.

The Emperor was not a ton of help with this, but I've pretty much resigned myself to it being a solo act.

The weather's been warming up and it may stay warm for the next week or ten days, and I'm glad.  We got the Magic Snowblower out of storage and put it in the garage facing outward, but it still snowed the next day, just in time for me to have to clear off the car (in 50-mph wind) to go to school.  It's been nice ever since, though, and the snow has mostly melted.

After a somewhat frustrating start, school has been going well.  I received official notification that my tenure file has passed the latest round with a thumbs-up, so there are only two more steps to go.  I hope to hear the results soon.  I'm still working on that online course, but I'm about six weeks ahead of the students.  I try to do some of it every day, with the idea that I'll have it completely finished soon.

Steady as she goes.