Old climbing and caving hardware...

put to creative use as a wind chime, utilizing various types of pitons suspended on Kevlar thread. Admittedly it takes a good gust to get these iron relics clanging against one another, but the sound is a nicely pleasant ringing in several different tones.

Pitons from the past, manufactured by the Great Pacific Iron Works: Angles, Lost Arrows and Bugaboos dangle from a wooden armature.

It's small but fierce...

and I expect this newly finished (but unpainted) Wildman Punisher Sport high power model rocket to put on a good show at the upcoming Sod Blaster VIII launch event over Labor Day weekend. I’m now running computer simulations using different H and I impulse engines in order to anticipate its performance during flight and to determine the proper ejection charge delay timing. It really is rocket science!

This fiberglass model rocket stands three feet (one meter) tall and weighs 1.9 pounds (0.9 kg).

Sod Blaster VIII is approaching quickly...

and I am about to begin the internal epoxy fillets in this fiberglass model rocket build that I intend to fly over the Labor Day weekend. “Unprecedented” safety precautions are being taken at the event this year at the sod farm in order to minimize the fire risk. Good.

Looking into the business end of the Wildman Punisher Sport model rocket with a 29 mm motor mount. Note that the fins go through the body tube and attach directly to the motor mount for maximum structural strength. Both internal and external epoxy fillets have to be applied before the aft centering ring can be cemented into place, fully sealing the bottom annular section of the rocket.

DoorDash delivery by Mama Osprey...

with a teeny serving of carp this evening, trying to coax Junior into flight. It worked!

American Osprey (Pandion haliaetus).

Junior is clearly not happy with the tiny portion size. Not putting up with the squawking, Mama takes flight nearly immediately.

After consuming the meager morsel, Junior exercises its wings and immediately takes flight off the platform! Godspeed!

Digitally recording the heartbeat of groundwater...

rising and falling in my rural water well, a HOBO water level data logger is placed in the 300 ft (91 m) deep well as part of a regional project. This intelligent device stores and transmits water level data by Bluetooth, and corrects for atmospheric pressure effects. Hey, it’s the 21st century, you know.

Former colleague Dr. C. Pritchard (EWU Geology) measuring the static water level with a well sounding tape and preparing the data logger for installation.

The water level measuring tape indicates the static water level is 223 ft (68 m) below the lip of the metal collar. The data logger is the shiny metal device and will be suspended by a cable to nearly the bottom of the well, hanging slightly above the pump.

Having driven both Zodiacs and Zambonis...

it is imperative that one continues training and honing their skills through time, so today I once again took the magnificent Zamboni out on the ice at the University Recreation Center. It was a terrific review on the operation of the boxy behemoth conducted by geology undergraduate student Silas. Informative and fun!

Silas backs the Zamboni out of the garage and onto the ice.

Yours truly behind the wheel, zooming along at 5 mph (8 kph)! Although I wanted to feel the wind in my hair, I wore the ball cap to keep my hair out of my eyes at this blistering speed.

Driver’s point-of-view over the long hood. It does take some real skill to command this three ton beast but it pirouettes on a dime.

But, honestly, Zodiac MilPro MK4s are way more fun to drive! Happy geologist and Zodiac captain examining turbidites at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, in 2018.

Secure behind a ceramic sun face...

and clinging to the cedar siding is a solitary bat, hanging head down next to my secret house key. It clearly prefers solitude as opposed to occupying the nearby bat house with more than 200 residents.

Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus).

Here’s the bottom of the two-chambered bat house this afternoon with 40+ individuals peeking out in this image. It’s crowded in there!

Bats need friends! If you’d like to build and successfully locate a bat house the classic guide was published in 1994 (now out-of-print) and co-authored by my late wife: Bat House Builder’s Handbook.

Big Brother is spying on you...

with remotely operated and solar powered Flock cameras, engaging in unconstitutionally broad and warrantless surveillance of all citizens. Eight such spy cameras have been installed in my rural community in eastern Washington in a clear violation of civil liberties, and seemingly in violation of state law as well. Shame on the mayor, members of the city council and police chief. George Orwell's 1949 novel 1984 was meant to be a cautionary tale and not an instruction manual for government!

Flock spy camera violating the 4th Amendment.

20 August 2026 UPDATE: All eight Flock automated license plate readers have been deactivated in the community and will be dismantled, this according to the police chief. Privacy rights and common sense prevails! I’m not sure if my repeatedly contacting him, the mayor, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office and local newspaper exerted any pressure to reach this proper decision.