Four saintly friends

Some photos with captions:

First, I mentioned a while back an exhibit at the Science Museum which models synapses and dendrites. This is it. Sam's in heaven.

Second: Another example of the greatest rule of toy-making: You can't improve on a simple cardboard box.

Third: At the other end of the spectrum, two photos of the new Rainbow playset in our backyard. Rainbow, based coincidentally in Brookings, SD, makes excellent, redwood structures. And they stand behind them: They warranty all pieces against insect damage, so I need merely take a piece in to the local dealer and they will fetch me a new one for free. Not that I will necessarily need to--Ron has tooken excellent care of it.

I hesitate to call it our not because the transaction isn't final, but because it's still very precious to Katie and Sarah, shown here playing with Sam for a little while after dinner. We are in their debt--they have a lot of good memories of it, and wanted it to go to family friends.

Also shown: Ron and Dave, and Dave's colleague/student Greg (strong as an ox). They gave three hours of sabbath time to finish breaking it down, transport it, and rebuild it in our back yard. Such friends are as good as gold. (Thanks also to John, who helped for hours last weekend in the main disassembly phase.)

Finally: Sam on a new trail (to us) at Mendon Ponds.

What a weekend!