You can teach an old dog new tricks

This weekend I spent my time watching 2 children lament about the summer being over. My almost 13 year old actually cried when I refused to let him sleep over with some kid who just got back from Vegas. I don't know about y'all, but having a lazy learner hang out two nights before school starts with a kid who just got back from partying in sin city was not happening on my watch!

We spent the day instead at Staples buying school supplies.

"How could you do this to me, on my last day of vacation, forcing me to go buy school supplies?"

"How could I do this to you? Do you actually think this is my idea of fun, dragging you around when I can be someplace else knitting?"

Somehow that always sobers them up.

I did get to complete 1 sock during the many, many hours buying back-to-school clothes and classroom supplies.

I must also bring this to your attention: I LEARNED KITCHENER

After going to 3 supermarkets and two drug stores and not finding safety pins large enough to do that toe trick I mentioned previously, I realized that I was spending more time looking for safety pins than the time it would take me to rip out and reknit the toe if I screwed up the seaming. Thanks to the description in the book, Sensational Knitted Socks, that somehow penetrated whatever sewing/seaming phobia I've had since a dreaded 8th grade Home Economics class. I can now say with assurance that you can learn anything just before your 50th birthday!

Oh, and today was the first day of school! It's the most wonderful time of the year!