Osmosis.

With my phone unable to make blogging easier, I obviously went on a bit of a hiatus. Some ideas came to me during that time for good posts, but some were a bit time dependent, and now the moment is gone.

I did a neat demo a couple weeks ago with my science 10's about how water moves across membranes. In the past, I've used eggs, but it's really messy... you need to dissolve the shell off first (which takes 24 hours in vinegar), and then wait minimum 24 hours to see if the eggs change size in different concentrations if salt water. But the shell-less eggs are very fragile, which leads to the messy part.

This year, I used gummy bears. Already this demo is cooler. There is the possibility of eating something. Basically, if you put a gummy bear in tap water, it will swell up. And fast.

What happens is there is a high concentration of sugar inside the gummy bear, and no concentration outside. This difference in concentration is known s a concentration gradient, and typically what would happen is the sugar would diffuse out of the gummy bear (diffusion is movement of particles from an area of high concentration to low). However, gummy bears are made with gelatin, which does not really dissolve in water very well, and the gelatin traps the sugar inside. Since the sugar can't get out to equalize its concentration, water flows in.

The result? Monster gummies. Within an hour you will notice a difference. The ones in this picture were left for about 8.

Green is original size.

Happy Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all!

My Christmas turned out amazingly relaxing. Christmas Eve was the big party with lots of family friends, and then Christmas Day was pretty low key- presents with the family and an amazing turkey dinner.

Trying to avoid Boxing Day shopping by doing some cleaning. Not that I want to go shopping, but I need to pick up a few things, and do not want to brave the crowds. Ah well. I guess that means I can relax a little more...

Giant flock of waxwings swarms over the house.

Tromping through the snow to raid the woodpile.

Centerpiece.

Adorable little earrings from Dom.

New TV for my kitchen! I now have DVD capabilities!

Bonding.

Decorated gingerbread men today with my father.

I have all the artistic talent of an 8 year old.

Christmas Goodies.

Last weekend, I did some Christmas baking with my friend Michelle, and last night I did a bunch more. (truffles, check. Candied popcorn, check. Candy wreaths, check) Goal of today is to attempt to recreate my grandmother's ginger creme cookie recipe.

My grandmother rarely ever used recipes that were written down. She would change a recipe subtly, but never recorded the changes in her recipe box. The result is that I have all of her old recipes... but most turn out NOTHING like they did when she made them. I've managed to reverse engineer a cookie she called Honey Fruit Snaps, but so far no luck with the ginger cremes.

Holidays.

Thank goodness the week is over. Christmas break starts today, and it couldn't come sooner. This week felt extra long, with pressure to finish up everything, school concerts, holiday shopping, and sadly dealing with the emotional trauma that everyone in the educational community felt in the wake of the tragedy in Connecticut last week.

I am thankful I can look forward to peace and quiet for the next two weeks. Punctuated by some shopping and holiday baking.

Breakfast of champions this morning with Dom... Nutella and bananas on rice cakes!
(I got a replacement phone that actually works, and celebrated with this frivolous picture... Not that I think anyone cares what I had for breakfast...)

Trimmed.

Tree is trimmed. Old fashioned wooden ornaments plus a few random home mades (grandma's knitted santas... Anyone?).

Muppet Family Christmas playing in the background? Check. Christmas platypus? Check. Festive feelings? Check.