It’s funny–the part of staining the desk that I thought would be the hardest and take the most work (the main body, what with its overall size, thick sealant on the top, and carvings requiring more intricate sanding work) has gone the fastest. It’s sucking up stain so well that I’ve achieved the same color depth in two coats that took seven coats on the drawers. I should be able to put sealant on it tomorrow afternoon, and I need to buy one slightly longer screw for a knob (the wood on that part of the drawer is thicker than on any other drawer) and then I’ll be done! The knobs aren’t quite as cool or unique as bird skulls, but they’re way more functional. Every time I look at it, I get a little thrill because it could have been a disaster but instead it turned out lovely, beyond my wildest hopes for it. Pics forthcoming!

…back to packing.