TaaaaDaaaah!

Jesse launched a site for his drums and other instruments!

Check it out at Jesse Djembes

A Burst of Creative Energy

Jesse arrives at home and suddenly there is creative energy flying in every direction.

He got here on Saturday evening and on Sunday he made four shinai's. A shinai is a big padded sword thing that he uses to fight his sibblings. He's been taking fencing and traditionally a shinai is a bamboo practice sword used in days past by warriors in training. Here at our house the kids just use them to put welts on each other and induce much laughter. The boys have been thwacking each other with gusto. Heather engages for a while and then opts out contentedly.

New Flash: After 20 years of parenting our offspring, I have a deep insight. Listen for it... Boys play differently than girls do! You can thank me later for this wisdom.

Back to Jesse's creative energy--

This morning he finished the rain stick he was working on yesterday evening. It's about four feet long and it has a really nice watery sound.

This afternoon I see him out in the garage cutting plywood for a new cajon (drum.)

The kids have grown up with total access to a shed full of saws, hammers, nails and wood scraps. Jesse gets such a happy feeling out there in the sawdust. It's nice to see and it brings a pleasant vibe to the house.

Drum Boy

Jesse always has a million ideas of new things to make. Especially new drums.

Last weekend he was down to visit and he spent most of his time in his Grandpa's woodshop making two tongue drums.

This photo is of him tuning the first one. Seriously! He would shave little bits off the tongues he had carved out to perfect the pitch. It sounds really pretty.

So one night Trevor ended up picking up his guitar and Colin played one of Jesse's little djembes that he made some time ago, and Jesse played the new tongue drum.

Since I play no instrument at all, I danced. I'm sure you would have been inspired if you had seen me (!)