On the Bike Path

It has been quite a while since we have posted a cycling video..this is almost the first time we have gone out riding this year!! We are determined to get ourselves back in shape and do some good rides before the season is done. We are hoping to make it back down to Mattapoisett Mass or Little Compton, RI -- or both, before the season is over. So stay tuned and we will be posting more videos of the Adventures of Ben and Pappa

ALS Challenge

Ben And Pappa Take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on the beach in Onset, Massachusetts.

First Real Flight Lesson

This past Sunday morning at 8:30 AM Benjamin began his flight training in earnest. His first lesson, which he paid for himself, began with some information in the office, then onto the preflight inspection of the aircraft and then off into the wild blue yonder. Don Turrell who is the flight instructor at North Central Flight Center has just the right temperament to match Ben and they have hit it off well. Ben spent an hour in the air and about an hour on the ground. He is excited and looking forward to his next lesson. The people at North Central couldn't be nicer. I like that in this video, while Ben is taking off, for the first time, Don seems to be fussing with his iPad. . . .didn't seem to bother Ben.

First Flight

Ben and Pappa, and the family went off to North Central Airport in Smithfield and Ben had his first flight lesson. Ben did a Discovery Flight with instructor Don Turrell from the North Central Flight Center and he had a great time. Hopefully this is the beginning of a pilots license . Ben's plan is to be a Navy pilot and graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. This is the start of that plan.

Click Here for a link to Ben's flight plan 

Checking everything out - Click image for larger view

Ready for take off - Click image for larger view

Woodworking Adventures

Scroll saw work - Click image for larger view

This weekend Ben and Pappa had lots of chores to do, and we got them done. In between the chores Ben wanted to make a garden tool box for his Mom for Easter. We got a set of plans online and went to work. Ben did 99% of the work with Pappa's guidance. In the process Ben used the scroll saw, table saw, drill press, thickness planer, sander and many hand tools including a very fine toothed Japanese hand saw (one of Pappa's favorite tools) and clamps, lots and lots of clamps.

Pounding in the dowels - Click image for larger view

The cool thing about his project is that it had no screws or nails in it at all, it is held together with glue and dowels. We made a jig to make sure we had proper alignment of the dowels. and everything was cut at either a 7º or 14º angle so we had to be very careful about making things square.

Trimming the dowels flush - Click image for larger view

We started this about 9:15 in the morning - glueing up some boards to make a piece of wood large enough for the ends. We clamped it up and did some chores while it was drying. And we went back and forth all day from woodworking to chores, we did some concrete patching, and painted the front porch took down storm windows and other things, even made a quick trip to the Home Depot (no Saturday is complete with out at least one trip to the Home Depot, or at least to the Benny's) --- and of course Pappa did not get a photo of the finished product - sloppy work Pappa. We finished up by 5:30 just in time to color Easter Eggs -- Mom was very pleased with her Garden Box. . .

We found the plans and the video of how to make this here - Woodworking For Mere Mortals

Another First Place! 2 Years straight!!!

The Blue Ribbon 

The team of Ben and Pappa did it again. . . . Pappa pointed the way and Ben ran with the project and garnered another first place this year for his research into Solar Energy. Using a parabolic reflector ben boiled, cooked and set fire to things. . . way to go Benny

Drawing a parabolic curve

We are creating a pattern for a trough solar reflector to generate steam or hot water using only simple tools.