Spring Update: Robots, Birds, Deck, and Van Gone

It has been a while with no exploring, so thought we should post an update.

After retrieving the van from Florida, we turned it in to a dealer and ordered a new one. This will have a smaller footprint, solar panels and lithium ion batteries to facilitate off grid adventures in the future. They are popular right now, we ordered it in February and the factory said to expect a five month lead time.  We'll post all about it when it arrives. It will be based on a Dodge Ram Promaster, not another Sprinter Van, so we might need help coming up with a new name.

Here's what we've been up to in the meantime...

We helped out with a local high school robotics team for the sixth year in a row. Team 900, the Zebracorns, had another good season on the FIRST Robotics circuit. Beth put in six day weeks from January through May, insuring that students could get to the lab. Between bus runs, she worked on a haptic feedback system to help drivers understand time without having to take their eyes off the field. I was fortunate to accompany the team to all four competitions and help the students learn event photography. Noah even took time out from NC State to travel to all the in-state competitions as a volunteer, so it was fun to spend some time with him. The team made it to the State competition at Campbell University and won several awards including the District Chairman's Award.  The programming team pushed new boundaries being one of the first teams in the country to  implement ROS for control of the robot.

The great students and mentors posed for a picture during the Palmetto Regional in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

We, and our equipment, match the stripes on the team's zebracorn mascot.

Harmony was a big part of the spring as well. Heart of Carolina A Cappella is honored to be the NSC champion chorus for 2018. Delivering singing valentines was fun, as usual. We did a big concert with the amazing GQ and have done two fundraiser concerts for charities. The new moto is Harmony for All, and we have ladies singing with our, formerly all men, ensemble. Eight part harmony presents new challenges, but can be fun.

Back at home we've been fixing up the backyard. With holes in the liner patched, the waterfall is flowing and our little pond holds water again.

When Beth wasn't working in our yard, she was preparing publications for the Chapel Hill Garden Club Spring Garden Tour. They had a great weekend of tours and donated a big check to the North Carolina Botanical Gardens.

Decking that was rotting has been replaced and we cleaned, stained, and sealed the boards that still had some life left in them.

Found a screen room kit at Costco and can now enjoy the deck without become fodder for the local mosquito population. The 350 bolts went together faster than we expected. Kudos to the kit designers.

Having the deck cleaned up we've been watching the backyard wildlife. This tufted titmouse is a year-round resident.

Not sure of the name of this visiting songbird. Let us know in the comments, if you are familiar with it.

Foxes are living in the neighborhood! This is one of two viewed from our deck. They don't seem to mind us watching them as long as we stay still. The click of the camera shutter, caught this one's attention.

We hope you are all enjoying spring and are looking forward to new adventures this summer.