And then there were two!
As
I related last week, we bought our first martial arts sword in anticipation of using it in class and at the double stick/broadsword workshop tonight. As you can see, one sword for the family wasn't enough, and we decided to go with his and hers weapons. The second one is nearly the same size, but it's made from two pieces of metal, riveted together, and it's thinner and has a lighter blade and handle.
It would probably be best if this second one went to Malaya, since it's a bit lighter, and I took the first one, since I'm a bit stronger and more used to heavy stick. However she prefers the feel and heft of the first one, and she's already done some decorating on it with red and blue paint, so apparently she's keeping that one. I like the lighter and faster feel of the second one better, so it's all good.
Jinxie just likes the smell of them, as does Dusty. Especially of the very tip of the hilt, where cheap ribbons were tied on initially. What they're smelling with such fervor is unknown, but they certainly do go at it. Jinx liked the smell of the very tip of the new blade as well, and spent a good two minutes rubbing her cheeks against it and actually sort of biting at it, last night. I have no idea what it tasted like, but thanks to some recent scientific breakthroughs I think we can safely rule out them dipping the sword into sugar before sending it over from Taiwan.
And as a completely unrelated bonus, here's a photo of one of the family of spiders that busily form huge webs across our back patio. I have no idea what type it is, but apparently a whole litter of them hatched out there some weeks ago, since there are 5 or 6 of them spinning between the houseplants and the heavy bag and the patio table, and they are all identical in appearance and size. This one is the only exception, since it's a bit larger, and I assume therefore the best web-weaver.
