Homeschooling Is Life! - Snowflake who?

• Jan. 25, 2009 - Snowflake who?

Have you and your kids read about Snowflake Bentley? He is one of my favorites! A real inspiration! There are some wonderful children's books written about him.

Well, a few years back I started trying to photograph snowflakes myself. I got some wonderful shots and you can find links for them on my sidebar.

This morning brought a wonderful flakey snow to our neck of the neighborhood and when my eldest daughter greeted me she said "Mom, you need to go out and take photos of the snowflakes on the chickens!" So I got all dressed in warmer clothes, hat, mittens etc., and grabbed my camera.

The dog followed me outside and she was quickly covered with lots of beautiful well defined snowflakes. Unfortunately she wouldn't sit still for me, and the chickens had decided to stay in their coop. No luck. I actually haven't had much luck taking macro photos with my "new" camera, (Christmas 07 gift from hubby) but I have been determined to get some more snowflake photos!

It was really cold out, but I took a scrap of black velour out and set it on a saw-horse. It quickly began to collect lovely delicate, intricate snowflakes. I tried to get some shots and was very quickly frustrated. So I stomped in the house, got grumpy and decided I had better go back to school.

After a cup of coffee and a cooling off period, I got out my user guide and figured out the macro. Then I tried again. Not much luck. Then I remembered I had a filter (8X) macro for my old non-digital camera. I taped it on and went back out. Some success!

After breakfast I put the whole kit-n-kaboodle on the tripod and tried again. I am pretty excited about these flakes! I think you will be blessed.

The rainbow streaks on these are from the sun coming in at an angle~

Isn't God just so amazing??

If you've done anything special with snowflakes, please let me know! There are so many great things you can do; make paper snowflakes, woven snowflakes, online snowflakes etc. Hope you'll share!

Here is a previous photo.

~and one here too!

~and make your own snowflakes online. Caution; very addictive!

Nancy

photos © Nancy K. Baetz 2009

Comments

• Jan. 25, 2009 - Beautiful!

Posted by WordLady

Hi, Nancy,

Wow, those are some amazing pictures! That was perseverance to stick with it and succeed. Thanks so much for sharing.

A timely blog with snow in our neck of the woods... :-(

God bless!

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• Jan. 25, 2009 - heehee :-)

Posted by Melly Mel

That is absolutely amazing. I love how your kids get involved in YOUR projects too, not just you toting things around for them. :-)

Remind me to tell you some time about the snowflake I made my mom years ago that always brings snow when she puts it in the window......

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• Jan. 25, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Aah, here's your explanation of how you took the snowflake photos. There's a web site about categories of types of snowflakes. I looked at it before Christmas and I think it was in a Christmas e mail from TOS. Fascinating! Someone categorized snowflakes into types. Wow. But even so, never are two the same. Awesome with the sunshining through them making a rainbow.

I don't know why HSB is not letting me login... so I'm anon now.

Marie

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• Jan. 28, 2009 - Snowflakes

Posted by homeschoolingKatt

Oh Wow...Sooooooooooooooooo amazing !!!!
The kids were totally amazed when I showed them your pictures. My son can not believe they are real...lol
My daughter and I love taking pictures of nature. She got a camera for Christmas. I would never have thought of doing the snowflakes...of course we havn't been blessed with much snow here in Southwestern VA.
Thanks for the inspriation.
Vicki

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• Jan. 28, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by floridasunsets

I loved reading about Bentley! What an interesting man! You did a great job with your own snowflake experiements, by the way. Very cool pics!
Betty

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• Jan. 30, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by mandmvinson

Hi Nancy,
I'm new to HSB and I really enjoyed looking at your snowflake photos. I called my children in to see them and they were amazed, as well. My 10 year old son said, "How does God make them like that? That is a true miracle!" Wow, out of the mouths of babes!
We so enjoyed seeing the photos. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Melissa

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• Jan. 31, 2009 - Love your blog

Posted by teena6

Hi, Nancy. Its been awhile. My computer is so slow... we are still on dial up so I have trouble loading the big blogs. The great ones! :) Your snowflakes are beautiful! Going to look at your links cause we would have to make some as it never snows in our neck of the woods! :(

have a blessed weekend.
Teena

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• Feb. 17, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Eyebright

Those are stunning! What gorgeous designs! It is so hard to imagine that each one of those minute pieces of art is different. Yes, God is truly amazing.

Yes, I am eagerly awaiting spring. It is just seems so much more inviting, and pleasant.

Have a very bright, very cheerful day!
Miss Eyebright

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About Me

Hi There!

Welcome to my blog.
How nice of you to drop in. What is this all about you say? Well, take a look and see.

Just like the plants springing forth we are following the Son, soaking up the living water and pulling the weeds. We can't wait to see what will bloom THIS growing season!

Oh, and just for fun, I will tell you a little about me, since that is what this space is for. :)

I am a mother of four lovely kids who are perfectly human in every way. They are sinful, selfish, loving, happy, grumpy, excited, capable, frustratable, (I know, that isn't a word but sometimes I make up my own) and sometimes contrite, and just like their parents. But they are ours and we think they are all keepers!

We have homeschooled them all since birth with the trial and error method. I think they all have "made the grade" and they are now 17, 14, 12 and 10 years old.

We're not experts, except in the area of making mistakes and living to tell about them and hopefully learn from them! We hope you will find some encouragement here as you read about the seasons of our life as a homeschooling family.