Robotic Season

The first two pictures are taken in the pits area.

It is the first day of competition, making sure

everything connects.

The picture below is a set up of the field.

Carlin's teams robot is the blue one on the

far side of the field.

The picture below is what you see quite often

on the field. (Carlin's team have on the yellow shirts.)
Sometimes you don't have much time between matches

and you work on fixing your robot and hope it runs again

by the next match. In this picture they were next up. They

had to repair a chain. Other teams really pitch in to help wherever!

The first Saturday in January the Robotics Team learn what their game is. This year their game is soccer. Heads get together as they begin to plan the robot. All the guidelines have to be studied. An overweight, oversized robot can be disqualified from participating. No one wants to spend weeks building a robot that can't participate!

The kids get to work designing, building, programming, electrical, etc.... They are at school until 7p.m. every day and all day on Saturdays. This year Wayne got involved with the team and he would go in at 4 and spend the evening down there.


I'll post a few (of the many) pictures getting ready and participating in the competition this last weekend. This weekend will be their second competition.

Wayne's Projects

From this beautiful (ugh-lee) router table
--to a much nicer larger table

Lots less mess too!

This was a fun project!

Stacking trays made this fall
Love the corners

Wayne made this stand for his folks

Spalted maple and black walnut

Teacher's Appreciation (last week)

This project was fun, but a lot of work! I do want to make them again someday. I am in the PTO at school so we try to do lots for the teachers. A lady brought in her chocolate fountain and parents sent in fruit for it. It seemed to go over very well!

No. 2?!

Our neighbors have mentioned several times that they wished our outhouse (trash can shed) was in their yard! She has always wanted one for her gardening tools. We had enough wood left over from the old shed so Wayne built one for them. In the pictures the floor and storage bench all look the same. There is a bench that lifts up for storage underneath. We cut a hole in it to make it look authentic--and then put a black painted board under it so it looks like a black hole!

Latest Weekend Project

This past weekend Wayne and Carlin took out an old Herb Garden. (minus the herbs) We inherited it when we moved here years ago. When we took out some bushes we had placed them in the garden, but over the years the bushes have grown so much that we could no longer see across the yard. Surrounding the garden were old railroad ties. I love having it all out of here. It will be fun come springtime to see how many old bulbs come up in the yard!

Next stage

(above) supervisor!

Helpers?!

One happy kid! Finally getting to drive!

This past weekend we (Wayne) got to put in the next stage of our new flower bed area. I love how open it is with the old shed gone and the outhouse added. The dirt pile looks much better now!

Looks like things are piling up......!

While our ditches were getting cleaned out I had them dump some dirt back here. There was only sand where the old shed was and I want a flower bed in here.

Clock Works! (Part II)

Some time ago I posted Clock Works. Just this past weekend we got the last piece finished on it. Our neighbor painted advertising on the bottom glass. These kind of clocks were used as advertising clocks. The info was from my SIL's family. It really completed the clock!

Have a Seat....

Wayne kept busy with this little project while we were in MN. I never thought I would love an outhouse.....but this one is just perfect!
It is made of cedar from the shed we just tore down. Looks much cuter, too! It has the moon in the door and the crooked vent pipe on top.
Actually, it's to keep the garbage cans in.
Does anyone know what the moon in the door means? Or a star in the door?

Another Eyesore Gone--Almost!

We (the guys) worked on a project that we have wanted to do for the past thirteen years! The old shed behind our house is now history. It has been replaced by the new addition. Now is the clean-up, but at least the biggest eyesore is gone!

Clock Works!

(here's the revised version)

We have recently become the new owners of an old, old, clock. It is dated 1907! Imagine the stories it could tell. The glass in it has a wavy look--hopefully and most likely the original. The picture on the top right is what it looks like so far.
There are a few more details to be added yet--a minute hand for one--but I will add those at a later date. "Time is ticking!"