George H.W. Bush donates socks to Roman Catholic diocese fundraiser

July 15, 2013: Former President George H.W. Bush applauds during an event to honor the winner of the 5,000th Daily Point of Light Award at the White House in Washington. (Reuters)

Former President George H.W. Bush says his wife is getting fed up with his flashy socks, so he's donated an exceptional pair of bright, cactus-themed socks to a church fundraiser.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland says the socks that Bush wore in a photo with former President Bill Clinton in Kennebunkport, Maine, last month will be auctioned off Oct. 26 at its Harvest Ball.

The socks include a letter of authenticity in which Bush wrote: "I absolutely love a crazy pair of socks ... Barbara, on the other hand, has had enough."

The Harvest Ball helps sustain the diocese's Harvest magazine. The magazine, sent free to its readers, has a readership of about 70,000 in Maine.