Family Reunion Part Four - Beer Rejected by Raccoons

We eat well at our family reunions.  One night it is brats, for which cheap beer is necessary for marinade.  Another night it is fish tacos.  This requires us to catch fish.  Once cleaned the fish guts need to be disposed of.

There have been several bear sightings in the area so I figured we'd take the fish guts out a safe distance into the woods and set up trail cams to see who or what came to eat them.  A can of the cheap brewski was added.  I do appreciate our local varmints.

Here's an after hours customer....

He was havin' none of that cheap swill....

I think this last image just shows him with the tail end of a bluegill sticking out of his mouth, but if you told me that raccoons have both large fangs and a demonic forked tongue I'd likely take your word for it.  Anyway, it seems he did not care for the beer.

Family Reunion Part Three - Play Ball

Three generations.  Two Canadian provinces and four US states getting together makes for a pretty good All Star Team.  The "Raccoons versus Everyone" shirt is a nice touch.  A number of us had not played ball in many years including a young lady who started the game with two cleanly fielded plays at first base.  I told her: "You have proven your worth.  You may join this Family".

Family Reunion Part Two - Dogs

 Young Dogs.

They just gotta chew on things.  They sure love sticks.

But in a pinch they'll chew on anything.  This inner tube is no longer OK.

But us old dogs, we just wanna snooze in the sun.

Family Reunion Part One - Shoes

 

A whole bunch of people.  Some of them bringing more than one pair of footgear.  On the other hand, this is not the only shoe drift on the premises.  The one on the lake side entrance has more sandals and flip flops.

They are Coming......

 

4th of July 2023

I usually commemorate the day by putting up a picture like this:

It is apt.  Nothing wrong with tipping the cap to both patriotism and capitalism, albeit the second part inadvertently involves enriching a China that wishes us little in the way of good will.

But I think this is a better sentiment for the day.  Photo taken at a Coach Pitch baseball game.  Obviously there is some variation in age group, interest level, and attention span.

But everyone is enjoying a perfect evening in their own fashion.  Its a small town, these kids all know each other.  I'm getting to know them too.  There's a kid who is advanced enough to hit screaming line drives but still gets a little tearful when they are caught (to the surprise of everyone including the kid who caught it).  There's always a kid who doesn't really want to be there.  Often as not they are a star a year or two later.  And the diminutive third baseman you see above.  He did something that over a half century of baseball experience did not prepare me for.....attempting a hidden ball trick!

Different.  The same.  Everyone enjoying things in ways that only differ in style rather than substance.  Happy 4th of July, America.

Robot Road Trips

 Summertime and it is much easier to get the kids and robot out and about in the community.

Students try out a "DaVinci" surgical robot.

Visiting a place that has the biggest printed circuit board facility in America.

Doing a podcast!  

The Campfire for which we sit

Doing a demo in a very narrow hallway space............

Obviously at 3M.

An absolute candy store for our build and wiring crew....the local electronics recycling and refurbishing facility.

To be very much continued......