Progress Report Week 32
No progress reports for the previous moon; because I haven't really had the time. I've been travelling all over Equestria transcribing and studying earth pony oral traditions. I know Twilight's not going to be pleased with that, but I think she'll understand.
Thanks to one of the journal readers, Allium Harvest (who apparently has become quite the fan), I received word of a storyteller out in the remote hamlet of Clydesdale, Black Salsify by name, who turned out to possess an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Earth Pony folklore in its old forms; so I rushed out to convince him to regale me with his tribal lore. An extremely elderly gent, barely mobile, but still sharp, with a razor wit (and more feisty than is probably good for him, the old rascal; quite the mare-killer in his own day by all accounts, particularly his own). What a treasure trove of tales, and so happy to learn of my interest in them. He even knew a few in Old Terran, and is probably the closest thing left to a native speaker! What a joy to work with! I spent almost two and a half weeks listening and writing. Dozens of stories, some familiar, a few I've never heard before, and many unusual variations on well- and moderately-known tales. At first I thought I'd keep them for my own reference, but I quickly realized that doing so would be immensely selfish. Twilight is assisting me in drafting a paper for the Canterlot Anthropological Society. I must send a letter of thanks to Allium Harvest for putting me on to his neighbor.
Not much else to write about. I left Muffins in Fluttershy's capable hooves, though she was so obviously happy for me to return it was almost heartbreaking. I think next time I travel I'm going to take her with me. I just can't bear to leave her alone again for so long. Was hard being away from Rosie for so long too. She told me she met a very nice stallion, and there might possibly be something between them. I hope so, she could use some romance in her life. She won't tell me who, though. "Don't want to jinx it" she said. Silly superstition, but I'm hardly going to argue over something so trivial. Besides, she's just so cute when she's struggling to keep from spilling the beans.