My Commonplace Blog

I like the super-cold weather — when it doesn’t overstay its welcome. But after I’ve worn both pairs of flannel-lined pants for several days each, subzero temps become a little tiresome.

So the hubs and I cheered ourselves up with frozen bubbles during the recent cold spell.

Temps below zero with a nil wind create the best results.

But single digits with a mild breeze (doesn’t move your hair, really) will do.

Usually I use store-bought bubble juice and I drink something hot at the outset. This produces steam-filled bubbles that drift upward and after a few seconds shatter spectacularly, releasing a puff of steam.

This time I used a homemade brew (water, Dawn, and Karo Syrup) instead. The goal is bubbles-on-the-ring that crystallize. They also capture lovely reflections of light and surroundings as they freeze.

The post-bubble phase, however, has little charm.

Still, it’s a lovely thing to look at for a fleeting moment, even when the bubble looks like it could look back at you.