About this time of year you can see Christmas Tree lots sprouting up everywhere. You may have already purchased your tree and decorated it. Inevitably, during the Holiday Season, a falling glass bobble will “bite the dust” and crack upon impact with the floor, furniture or other hard object. At first this can be a sad occasion, but to the innovative mind, a mirrored interior might be thought of as a new “survival” tool.

Yep, this concave semi-sphere has a focal point that is quite effective. By aiming the open interior toward the sun, you can use a dark fibrous tinder to create a coal. I recently found a broken ornament and decided to practice this method. Although the sun’s rays are at their weakest around Winter Solstice, I was able to ignite my tinder, even in sub-freezing weather. Quite a feat for such a small device. Well, needless to say, this achievement made me glad. So, don’t be sad when your ornament falls. Give this solar method a try and you’ll be “glad” when smoke begins to rise from your tinder and you pull it away with a glowing ember.