Flippin' Eggs

Ben and Pappa cook up some eggs with a new "OrGreenic" non stick pan. Pappa got this pan for Christmas, replacing his trusty Teflon pan. Things stuck to it the first few times he used it, but it is becoming seasoned so it is more slippery now. Pappa never uses a spatula to flip things, just the slippery pan. You can see by the clock on the stove - this is a very late breakfast. . . . lazy guys on a Saturday morning.

Playing Clarinet with Shirley

On Christmas Eve Ben and Shirley played for a while entertaining everyone. Ben did a great job, and so did Shirley.

Ben Plays at RI Statehouse

Ben Prepares for concert - iPhone photo by Carol

Ben and the Sacred Heart Band performed a Christmas Concert today at the Rhode Island Statehouse in front of the controversial 'Holiday Tree". Best clarinet players in the world, but I may be biased.

Ben and the tree

Working on the report

Ben working on report

Over the weekend Ben had a report that was due and he asked me for some help so we worked down in the studio. Ben's assignment was to build some supporting materials for a book they read called "Extra Credit" about children in Illinois and Afghanistan. . . looking up images on the web gave us some surprises.

The Trebuchet!

During the height of Hurricane Sandy Ben and Pappa finished their working model trebuchet. Ben explains its use in this short video. We are shooting clay balls. The garage is a mess as we brought in everything from the yard because of Hurricane Sandy.

Stacking Wood

Ben and Pappa Stack wood, with a little help from Nana too

Back on the bikes

Ben and Pappa are back on the bikes.  This was a quick 9 mile ride along the East Bay bike path with a stop in Barrington to get Ben a Cookies and Cream ice cream cone. . . The first part of the video is a bit foggy as the camera had some condensation on the inside of the housing which we remedied at the ice cream shop. And yes, Pappa almost falls down when he dismounts at the ice cream stand. . . . we had a good laugh.

Click the title at the top of the video to view at YouTube and in full screen HD

North River Finished

The North River all done

Ben finished his model of Fulton's paddle wheeler steamship the North River. Tonight she got her final coats of paint and stain, some rigging and put on her stand. (Pappa made the base as a surprise for Ben) This project is due on Monday so Ben still has a bit of time to finish it up and finish his presentation board. She has a brass tubing stack and a medicine bottle boiler and we even found a small anchor in our box of ship parts.

Looking at the bow

A proud captain

Painting the rooftops

Painting the roof of the forward cabin

Trimming the rigging - finger nail clippers work well 

Staining the deck

Trying to be very careful

Getting into the tight spots.

So this is likely the final installment of the North River Project. Thanks for stopping by.

Making the North River

Fulton's North River 

Ben's homework assignment was to build a steamship 'of the colonial period' - but this is as close as we could come. when finished this will be a model of Robert Fulton's first working steamship, the North River, which sailed in 1807. We found some pictures online and I drew up some plans for Ben. He has been making this boat for his class project. I try to guide him but from time to time we both seem to get covered in glue - but we sure are learning a lot about paddlewheel steamships.

The bow planking

paddle wheel parts

Pappa holds while Ben glues

fitting a paddlewheel

the first fitting of both paddles

Sanding the stern

even more sanding

Paddle wheels with axle

The house and stack