I just don't even know what to say.
That's a first, I guess :-)
Thank you all, truly, for your support, your kindness, for rallying around the Blue Yonder Ranch. I can't find the words to tell you how appreciated all of your emails and comments are. It does my heart so much good to know that folks from so many different walks, with so many different outlooks and ideals can come together despite those differences. Doesn't that just give you hope?
For all the politico dribble going on these days, all the promises of change and pledges to unite, you guys are the ones who really make me believe that things are gonna be alright. So thank you.
And you know, since it was so very heartwarming to experience such an outpouring of support, I thought I'd stir in a little more controversy.
I give you, ant burning.
Kidding, only kidding, no actual ants were hurt in the making of this photo. There might could have been, but the ants are far too fast :-) He only managed to toast a few leaves, but he thought it was super cool.
Please don't write to me about forest fires or your third cousin's brother in law's nephew who wound up with third degree burns over 80% of his body by playing with a magnifying glass.We supervised closely, and then put it away in a top secret location, pinky swear.
My guys have been really itching to learn more about the power of the sun. Their friends have some super cool solar panels on their house. We've also noticed the ones atop all the "School Zone" and "Low Water Crossing" signs about town. So, when my middle boy bought himself a solar calculator (voice activated spy agent communication device) at the dollar store, their fascination with the sun became an all out frenzy.
They didn't believe me when I boasted that I could focus the power of the sun on a single leaf and burn it straight through. I do so love having a few tricks up my sleeve :-)
Afterward, we did some research and they came up with a modified solar cooker design.
My son, the skeptic, thought maybe it would just be sitting in the sun that did the cooking - that it didn't really make a difference if the mallow was in the cooker or not. So, we decided to set up a control bowl of marshmallows and put a thermometer both in the "oven" and next to the control bowl.
We got the oven up to 180 degrees, while the control thermometer hovered around 109.
Smores were had by each and every happy solar chef, while we talked about how what is fun for us can be life saving, and truly a blessing for people in less developed countries. We've also been doing lots of thinking and sketching out possible new designs to try and test.
Learning is just so very delicious!
