Benjamin Patrick

Thursday, October 6, 2:02pm, 7 lbs 3.2 oz, 20.5" long, healthy lungs.  Mom and baby are doing fine; pray for a little issue with Mom's spinal block and for Benny to start eating even better. We are very grateful for the doctors and nurses of Immanual-St. Joseph's for their care of us, and more to God for protecting us from things which evidently could have gone wrong very quickly. (yes, this means that W.B. and others are going to need to pick up the slack in childbearing!)

On the light side, our next larger child, Sammy, borrowed Benny's cap and looked like he was off to the Shul to study the Torah.  Regarding that cap, it's a pima (long staple) cotton yarn that just feels like butter in a knitter's hands--or on a baby's hands or feet.  If you pick up "taking drugs administered by (knitting) needles not prescribed by a doctor," as the local blood center would ask you, my wife and daughters highly recommend this.

Walnuts; W.B., the U. of MN (and I'd guess Iowa State U. too your way) has great recommendations on processing them.  You can cut the husks off while green or wash them with gravel to remove them.  My eldest also figured out you could remove it by stepping on it, but with the problem that your feet will turn black on the bottom--use gloves or shoes while handling.