-15 F, -26 C

[asakiyume]

Friends know what that means--frozen soap bubbles!

One problem is that the bubble fluid freezes right on the stick:



Another, more major problem is that I can't both be blowing the bubbles and taking the photos, not easily or well, anyway, and not while not getting frostbite. Also, I just am not that clever a photographer. Enough of the protestations. Here is my best attempt to show how the frost spreads over the bubble:

see the mottled look? Each is a frost flower


Sometimes, though, they freeze clear:



In this fragment, snagged on a twig, you can see a star here and there in the nebula

Comments

[yamamanama.livejournal.com]

I knew you'd be doing that.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Yep, I like my winter routine.

Are you trying it?

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of you when I saw the forecast! If I'd thought of it, I would have gotten bubbles at the store.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

You can use just dishwashing liquid (Joy or whatever) and water!

[danceswithwaves.livejournal.com]

If it freezes on the stick, how do you get the bubbles to form? Do you blow them inside and wait for them to drift outside?

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

If you blow fast enough, you can get the bubbles out without it freezing on the stick--it's only if you dawdle!

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

Have you found any tricks to getting bubbles that survive? I tried this yesterday, and 98% of my bubbles popped the second they touched anything. The frozen fragments were pretty, but I had been hoping for a few more survivors.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

After trying it with just dishwashing liquid and water, I went online and got a recipe specifically for doing frozen soap bubbles, and that recipe included corn syrup. Just now my husband and I used it, and the bubbles lasted much longer--but I think so many factors contribute, like if there's wind, for instance, and how cold it is (because even though it works below zero, it works best at -4 or lower). Here's the recipe, though: (link to page) (http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/schoolzone/try-this-out-frozen-bubbles.cfm). It's in milliliters; I just eyeballed it: equal parts soap liquid and corn syrup, and then close to seven times as much water.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Oh, those are terrific! (And that's what that slope looks like, without the foliage!)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Yes, and it's very slippery! I can "ski" down it in my boots.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I had never heard of frozen soap bubbles until you posted them a couple of years ago; now every time I see them, I think of you!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I know I post about them like every year, but I love them so much!

[syomsong.livejournal.com]

That's cute! Have you made snow angels?

- Here +2 C, no snow.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

(I love your icon)

No snow at all this year, or only no snow at present?

It's going to rise above freezing tomorrow, they say, here, and much of our snow will no doubt melt….

I have made snow angels! I loved doing that as a kid. Nowadays I'd only do it if I put on snowpants (waterproof, quilted trousers--did you wear these as a kid?) Fortunately I have a pair--in fact, I was wearing them this morning, and while I didn't make a snow angel, I did slide down a hill on my bottom :-)

[frigg.livejournal.com]

They are so cool. :)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Just now my husband blew some, and I manned the camera--if any of those shots come out, I will post them, too--they are prettier, in a way, because now the sun is up and they were sparkling and rainbow colored!

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Frozen soap bubbles! Always so lovely. The last picture especially, with the soap bubble hovering in front of the woods, like it's about to begin a journey.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Later in the morning, Wakanomori blew some, and I chased after with a camera, and the ones he blew were so *big*, and the sun was sparkling on the--it really was like they were small space ships.

[readthisandweep.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous!!! :)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

They're amazing and beautiful. It very rarely gets cold enough here to think about trying it. And by "rarely" I mean once every 20 years or so.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

It doesn't get cold enough here every year either (though it used to in my childhood--but back then I didn't know this neat trick)--but pretty much every other year?

[wuweibaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you for these. Stay warm!!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Feeling *very* grateful for working furnace!

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

OMG, how beautiful and awesome and...dang, that's so bitterly cold! But beautiful, yes.

I'm almost finished reading Pen Pal, and I just want to thank you for writing that book.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

By midmorning it was warmer--not warm or anything, but not as cold as at 7 am.

I'm so, so glad you've been enjoying Pen Pal. That makes me so very happy ♥

[sovay]

Those are absolutely beautiful, even the exploded ones.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the exploded ones are almost snowflake-like. Which reminds me… I have some pretty amazing hoarfrost photos to post….

[lorigami.livejournal.com]

that is so cool!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

It's so much fun--I remember when I first saw photos of frozen soap bubbles. It had never occurred to me that such a thing was possible. Now I look forward to days when I can try to make some.

[lorigami.livejournal.com]

that is so cool!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Wow! I had no idea you could do that!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I didn't either, until about five years ago!

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

How lovely!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Not bad for both blowing the bubbles and manning the camera. If you search online, you can find some really spectacular photos and videos, though.

[inspirethoughts.livejournal.com]

Oh this is so wonderful...As you said you need someone to take the pic while we make the bubbles...It isnt negatives here yet to make bubbles... Everything is ready to make the bubbles though. :P

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Yeah, by midday here it was too warm, too. Just hold on to your supplies and wait for a cold day!

[behindpyramids.livejournal.com]

Oh this is so so cool. I've always wondered what it would be like to blow soap bubbles that would freeze!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

We'll have to get you to spend part of a winter in a cold place, so you can try it :-)

[dinahprincedaly.livejournal.com]

Beautiful and crazy

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Yep--crazy winter crazy ^_^

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Utterly gorgeous.

Nine

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Frost constellations charted on the bubble's thin skin!

[egg-shell.livejournal.com]

That is so neat! Thanks for posting this. I had never heard of it before but will try it next week - supposed to be minus 0 then.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Do give it a try; it's very fun!

[amanen.livejournal.com]

these are all so cool

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Have you had subzero F temps there yet? Wait, you were saying you're all about celsius these days. So: any -17.7 C temps, or lower? (No hurries to answer this…)

[bondo-ba.livejournal.com]

This is the coolest thing ever. Just thought you should know.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, it's a good way to entertain yourself if you've got super-cold weather.