Snowflakes

Today the high temperature was 79 F (26 C).  It felt a little strange doing a little Christmas decorating for my classroom while the temperatures were so warm.

This evening I made paper snowflakes with Peter.  Making snowflakes is a winter tradition that I resurrected around the time I was finishing high school.  Snowflakes were a cheap way to decorate in college, and they made great shadows when the sun shone through them on the window.  Today I made my first snowflakes of the year.  My first one turned out really well.  The second one was for Abby because she wanted one with a stable and manger, similar to one I already have in my apartment.  After doing one like that for Abby, Susan wanted one as well.  So I made Susan an angel, a stable with a manger, and a star above the stable.  I don't consider myself an overly artistic or creative person, but I like to say that my creativity comes out when making snowflakes.

To finish the evening, I read Susan and Peter a 'bedtime story.'  I read the book Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin.  It is the story of Wilson Bentley who spent his life trying to capture snowflakes for the world to see.  He photographed hundreds of snowflakes over the course of his lifetime.  It has the main story with sidebars of historical fact.  On the last page are three of the snowflakes he photographed, which fascinated and amazed us.

It was an enjoyable evening.  It was fun to once again share my snowflake tradition with others - making snowflakes is more fun when done with friends.