In and out of the house with sample bottles, containers, slides, and tweezers, collecting pond water, moss, sap, but also cat hair, MY hair, dust (I knew there had to be some reason for having dust in my house!) ... the past few days have been a flurry of scientific activity around here, as the boys (and girl and their parents) see the natural world in a new way, through a microscopic. Santa really got the boys a super present this year, one we've all been enjoying immensely the last few days.
Tom started assembling this present when he found a cheap second-hand kids' microscope set, with pristine accessories but a broken microscope. He then kept an eye on this US-based company, which offers high-quality products at discounted prices (as well as a dazzling range of new microscopes), until this marvelous reconditioned microscope from the '70s, recently decommissioned from a university lab, became ours.
So right now, in the warmest spot in the house, by the fireplace, next to the bread dough, is a family of microscopic brine shrimp eggs that (we hope) are hatching!
