Last night, Ben loaded 500 pounds of coke from the NTBA into the van so we could try some stuff on our ownHe then got to upload it at home. Large sons are a blessing... He also discovered the joys of the weekly hammer-in, where people let you come play in their shop and even explain to you why what you are doing won't really work. He got about 1/3 of the way into converting a railroad spike to a knife and even made a scroll. (I did a couple too, including one on the 45 to see if I could. These will be going as steak flippers to St. Barbara's Old Country Christmas.)

 
We are probalby the only house on the block with a quarter ton of coke next to our catapult in the year. (The blade shape and center scroll are Ben's)

Also this week, and we lack pictures because we each assumed the other had a camera, Noah was inducted into the National Honor Society at his school. So Wednesday he got to attend classes in a jacket and tie and to worry if his father was going to behave at the ceremony or not. ( I did.)