SeedProjX

Saw this little guy outside my daughter's window. Grabbed my Bugs and Slugs guide and got ID down to American Spider or Orb Weaver. Searched genus name for Orb Weaver (Araneus) and Wikipedia had a European garden spider (Araneus diadematus) front and center. I think that's a match. Excited to pursue IDing common species that we live with everyday and yet know nothing about. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araneus

The idea is to have a table that makes doing field microscopy a bit easier. I still have to work on a few pieces to make setup faster. For one, disassembling the body of the microscope currently requires the undoing of every screw and bolt. I'm considering cutting a channel in the base of the wood so that the body can be mere loosened and then taken off. The same cannot be done for the phone holder (arm). It would make the construction too weak. Additionally, I have to consider what components to use instead of binder clips (or use different binder clips). The clips were not supporting the slide or microscope as flatly, but I'm sure the table wasn't flat either so that is an added factor. It functioned, but the aesthetics are bad. Lastly, I am learning that each step forward is satisfying, and not the least reason due to the next set of questions that present themselves. Of course, I still have refinements with the table and Smartphone Microscope to consider (and maybe...

I was a little disheartened when I discovered some portable tables under $30 that were far nicer than what is shown here, but after constructing this one I can confidently say this one has some advantages. Number one, setup is a cinch. Slam the post in the ground and sit the clipboard atop. Construction is a cinch, too, and that counts for something in these projects. Lastly, none of the components is single function. The clipboard retains it's original function, and the pipe can be used to hold a camera, as well as be a post for an emergency tarp shelter. Additionally, slender emergency objects may be stored in the tube, and it can be used as an emergency channel for collected water. Ok, really starting to stretch it, but tubes are really useful! The Build Charlotte schedule 40 PVC tubing used, 1/2 in. Cut about a 1/2 in piece of tube to secure to the clipboard with crazy glue (sanded the flattest PVC end before gluing; applied glue to PVC and clipboard, had acerone on ha...

What's seen above is a Carolina Silverbell, one of 21 trees in my neighborhood that I became more familiar with on a Sunday morning stroll with my daughter. The venture took a little over an hour, and it was worth the price of admission (though, admittedly, my daughter didn't misbehave and it was under 80°--I would have paid a higher price!). I used the Silverbell pic because it captured the outing for me. The "bell" is seen in swing, telling us there is more going on than leaves and bark (which is what I primarily use to remember trees). It was also a great example of how trees are named. Indian Cigar, Trident Maple, American Smoketree; these are all names that when seen on paper activate the imagination and pique the curiosity. When the tree is seen, I say, "Ah, now I see why it's called that". The Silverbell was just the most fun. Indian Cigar was a very close second, but that's not the name that was on paper (Southern Catalpa). Below are...

Interesting morning. Interesting in that it was inane. I never knew what I didn't know until I scooped my backyard's soil into a collection jar. I also collected small pebbles which seem to span the entire surface layer of soil, and 9 plant species coexisting in just about every square foot of the yard. And I don't know anything about any of it! I noticed that there were many of tiny crawly and hoppy things, some with wings, in the soil. They have yet to be collected. In the soil there was a speckling of off white and I wonder if those happen to be larvae of one of the species. The rocks appear to be metamorphic but I have no idea if they are something to consider of geologic importance or if they are an off-site addition to one or another of the iterations of the house. But the plants ruled the morning investigation. They utilized a variety of strategies to make their claim to turf. There were 2 clover style runner plants, 2 grasses (at least 1 of which was a runner,...

Demoslides https://m.carolina.com/protist-viewing-supplies/demoslides/FAM_131011.pr For the viewing of aquatic cultures of protozoa.

Home Made Stereo Microscope Using Binoculars https://goo.gl/images/XEGq55 http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/uster/uster.htm What a great idea. This is a DIY home naturalist, Home Depot enthusiast's dream. Seems really technical, though.

The tape on slide may actually be the best for the field. Not sure how to transfer specimen for long haul, if even possible. Sheet protector tried for cheap slide potential, but opacity and particular construction obscures. Crazy glue dries really clear and fast, but is messy (fingerprints). May be some potential with using nail polish with no slide cover. Dried really pretty on sheet protector (clear; but still have to check for bubbles). Dilute Elmer's still too milky, but specimen is preserved nicely. Also, must consider having a field "table" to work on. Everything must be placed "just so" to facilitate the work. Debris and fingerprints must be avoided but difficult. Must increase skill with forceps. Happy to discover that the Carson field scope can work with rubber band secured to slide. That will come in handy.

Crude solution, not functional, but useful as a basis for discovering what works. Need to refine z axis motion to make stable while adjusting, also need to make stage adjuster, at least with x axis movement. Wanted to stick with a classic scope frame design but may have to move to a box solution.

#1 Google hit for "TN amateur naturalist" http://tnnaturalist.org/ Memphis Chapter, has good contacts from the biggest Naturalist institutions in Memphis. http://tnnaturalist.org/4-Memphis.html Promo of program from TN State Parks https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program The books I got from Memphis Library (Ben Hooks), the 500 section (574) on the 3rd floor. It will be good to reach out to some of the Memphis Chapter folks and see what I get back. Have to think through what "reaching out" means.

This was a first step in getting the naturalist expeditionary kit going. Shoulder strap h had to be sewn, as well as a hole in the main compartment needed to be patched. Used Singer iron-on patches and patched both sides of the hole as there were two different materials (leather and some kind of meltable polyester). I've had this sack since middle school! Still going!! We'll see how the sack holds up as both fixes seem tenuous, but my guess is that they will last a while if they are considered during usage. Note: the domino thimble was essential in this repair and was not utilized until bloody thumb injury. In addition, the right shoulder strap was damaged by the melting of the iron. I thought the entire construction of the sack was cotton, but a heavy dose of plastic was involved in its making.

The screen frame is put together with a staple gun. Recall: paint sticks and window screen are materials. Cut stencil using xacto knife on print in screen protector push pinned to cork board with manila folder as protection. Plastic stencil was placed without adhesive in screen. Acrylic paint (what Jess used for Sadie's mural; from Home Depot-$3.50) was dilute with water and put in insect repellent spritz bottle (dilution was few drips of paint to ~20 mL h2o). Old t-shirt sprayed and baked at 400. What's pictured here survived a wash. *Note: don't bake for more than 1 min. Charred shirt and emitted what was likely toxic fumes into the house.

I wish it weren't a battle and that we could live in perfect peace. But birds have inhabited my she'd because of roof ventilation access. They've crapped all over my shed, on my gear. I'm sneezing uric acid from my nostrils. There's only one thing I can say to this hostility: this means war!

I used some longer paint sticks and window screen. Scored measured wood prior to saw cutting. Used Pythagorean Theorem for 2 equal sides (a^2+b^2=c^2) for 45° triangle (isosceles). Used staple gun to join rectangular frame together. Made a screen about 10"x3". See CYC OUT for cut out used to make first t-shirt. Will have another post with the green spray paint prep.

Emblematic of the work I'm trying to do with ScreenPrinting using stencils. The first project was done with the Summer Learning Academy students as they had to each make logos for their houses and spray paint the logos through the cut stencils. Plain old paper, printouts, sheet protectors, xacto knives, black and white spray paint, and ratty t-shirts were used for this project. Worked! Logo using the following website: https://www.1001fonts.com/stenciled-fonts.html?page=2&items=10   WC Wunderbach Rough Bta by Christophe Féray Transporters team logo using a font from site and a hand drawn car cut from cardboard.  Engineers logo using a "reverse approach". Sprayed "STEM" and "ENG" positively from stencil, but then covered the letters with 3D printed sprockets and sprayed a variety of colors to have very unique shirts. What it looks like to apply spray paint through the stencil.  Not sure how the shirts will hold up, but I have one with a couple logos...

Here is a screen shot of a screen print template I plan on using for my first stencil-ized screen print. Use Spraypaint, or paint water mixture and spray through stencil cut sheet protector onto medium  Cooper Young Cycling