Dissapearing reappearing ink

On By CarynIn Craft

We’ve had Pilot Frixion pens in our house for a few years because they were recommended for my youngest as something that makes an easy dark mark, but is erasable. (We keep a stock of #1 pencils as well.) I recently found out that it is the friction heat from the eraser that “erases” the ink, and microwaves can make the ink disappear as well. Time for an experiment!

Test paper, with marks from a standard Pilot G-2 pen, and six different colors of Pilot Frixion pens
Test paper, with “Pilot” erased with the attached Frixion eraser
Test paper after 1 minute on high in the microwave (the red and orange were positioned in the center of the microwave turntable)
Test paper after a night in the freezer (I forgot about it!)

The regular pen ink behaved as expected, with no change after exposure to heat or cold. The Frixion ink does disappear when “erased” with the attached eraser, but also when subjected to 1 minute on high in the microwave. We found 1 minute to be the minimum time required. The best part is that when the paper is placed in the freezer, all the ink reappears! There is some fading, but it is all quite readable. I have cycled the paper four times through the heat/cold process, and the writing is still visible after a couple hours in the freezer.

I have been using these pens to write on greeting cards because I can erase. Hm. If mailed a card to the north during the winter, I guess those mistakes come back. Good to know.

Pumpkins

On By CarynIn chickens

The annual pumpkin carve and hen feeding was another success. Rather than carve our pumpkins early and risk rot, we carve them on Halloween then take them out to the chickens the next day.

This year’s pumpkin art
Hens tucking into the fresh pumpkin

The chickens appreciate the gesture.

Caught on camera

On By CarynIn Cats

Mr Tom, my neighbor’s cat that likes to hang out in my meadow, also like to stand on the fountain bowls to get a drink. The trail cam caught the image when he tipped over the bowl.

Mr Tom precariously getting a drink of water
The moment it came crashing down

The trail cam even caught the droplets of water suspended in the air.

I do need to rework the fountain, make it more purposeful and less ramshackle. I’m not sure if that means gluing the bowls to the stands, or doing something completely different. Hm.

Bones

On By CarynIn Wildlife

My eldest was following a cat through the back woods and found a collection of possum bones. This is the most complete skeleton that has been found on our property, there was even a vertebrae! The pelvis is a new find as well.

Possum bones

My eldest washed the bones, then soaked them in a 50:50 solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water for about 10 hours. When they are dry, the plan is to use them for a color wheel for a school project. Definitely my kid.