I’ve a long history with candlelit
catastrophes in my life, starting
with the Styrofoam Christmas
centerpiece I made in Girl Guides.
I was so proud to have made
something festive, that when I
lit the candle to show my Dad
it toppled over while burning.
The Styrofoam caught fire, that
stuff burns like nothing else, and
the entire molten mess poured
itself onto the coffee table. I have
a vivid memory of it burning, and
you think I would have learned my lesson then. Not at all, not me.
There was the time I mixed some scraps from a left over soy candle into a smaller container and left the room only to come back and see flames that were over 18 inches high shooting towards the ceiling.
The elderly neighbour who left a candle burning in a plastic holder, making thick black smoke pour into the hallway, and slowly asphyxiating him all night, he could have burnt down our building, or died.
The burning candelabra that I knocked into my Dad’s suit at our wedding, not once but twice. And frankly just too many more incidences that rather worried me enough to swear off candles forever.
I’ve had more then my share of near misses, last minute ditches, and saved by the bell moments with candles, and for years I used the cheap plastic battery operated tea lights instead of candles.
That is until I discovered wax flameless candles with timers, they are so lifelike, flicker, and turn themselves on, and off, and there is no danger or burning down the house. I have them all over, they are not cheap, but if you purchase them at a big box, or on sale you can add to your collection quite easily.
My candlelit catastrophes are quenched with these simple to use battery operated beauties, and I don’t need to remember to turn them on and off, they do that themselves…no more crying over spilt wax, no more flaming worries.
We hear about so many house fires caused by unattended candles at this time of year, it might be worth considering switching, and it would be worth the peace of mind.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I really have to get some of these miracle candles too !
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in Holland they had such amazing coloured candles, good quality, and cheap compared to Canadian prices back then .. I still have a chest FULL of them!
But I'd rather be safe than sorry .. you are a walking lesson in candle havoc ? girl ! LOL
Joy
Love all these pictures : )
I do battery operated candles. Except the one on the stove. I figure on the stove is quite harmless. If for some reason the glass would break, the stove won't catch on fire. Maybe a waxy mess but no fire. I remember my parents talking about lit candles on Christmas trees. Now there is a fire waiting to happen.
ReplyDeleteJen- I have had about the same luck with candles that you have had....I scorched a newly shop-refinished secretary by forgetting a candle was burning on it-it burned down to the glass and made a big scar on the top of the secretary. I burned a hole in our dining room table and I set the kitchen curtains on fire when a pan where I was MELTING wax caught on fire...uh-huh. I need to get some of those battery operated babies! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI use those special glass holders for my candles. Great phototos!
ReplyDeleteCandles make me nervous, too. Never had incidents like you, but have been burned twice in my life, so fire, in any form, makes me very nervous. Love the flame-less candles too.
ReplyDeleteAll I want for Christmas is ... some of those candles!!!! (I adore your succulent in the pail too).
ReplyDeleteI have had a few mishaps with candles too.. all my fault for not thinking in advance what COULD happen. I still use them but try to be extremely careful and when in doubt, I use the battery operated ones..
ReplyDeleteI have always worried about the candles. I usually use the jar ones that are self contained but not always. Sometimes I have dozens of candles lit at one time.
ReplyDeleteI did get up in the middle of the night once and found a candle burning in my main bathroom. Some dumb girl that was here with my son's friends had lit it and left it burning. I was really choked about that.
When we had our dog there were never any candles down low enough to be bumped.
So far the worst that has happened is I have wax melted onto my tablecloths and contrary to what everyone advises to remove it...none of it works.
I don't have any of these yet, but I saw some yesterday.
ReplyDeleteWhat a timely post.
ReplyDeleteI a cautious with candles and use Yankee candles exclusively. I have more trust in their quality control than those seen in the holiday decorations' aisle.
I'm with you Jen. All I use are those flameless candles. One year I had a gingerbread boy fabric garland hanging over the big mirror in the bathroom for a Christmas party and about half way thru the party, we smelled something. The garland had fallen onto the top of a lit candle and was on fire. Luckily, it did not much damage but scared me. So, I'm a huge fan of the flameless candles.
ReplyDeleteJudy
Those flameless candles are so well made now that you can't tell if they are real or not. I admit I am a candle fanatic, but I only light as many as I can keep track of - I got a chuckle out of some of your candle mishaps, and you are right, we need to be very careful - to think they used to light the Christmas trees with candles. My mother always talked about how they would do it with a bucket of water nearby and the tree would only be lit for about 5 minutes... Ann
ReplyDeleteI have never had candles going unattended as that is my worst fear a house fire started by them or anything at that matter . I use candles that are in a mason jar from this company http://www.spartacandles.com/ They are awesome and smell wonderful ! I do like the candles you have created here though soo pretty ! Glad you have found a safe way to have candles for you lol .Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteYes, you have the same kind of history as I do. I haven't found those candles yet, but will look when I am out and about. I do have lots of the battery votive ones. Thanks for posting this warning.
ReplyDeleteI've only had one incident with a candle getting out of control. But I discovered battery operated candles several years ago, and I LOVE them. I have several, and they are so handy, especially those that work on a timer too.
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures!
I definitely should get some. The other day, we blew out a candle that kept smoking and the smoke alarm went off.
ReplyDeleteAnd I left another candle going the other day while we tootled off to bed. Luckily Don saw it and put it out.
So maybe its time for me to invest in some of these!
xo
Claudia
I prefer real candles, but I watch them. I try not to use batteries, except in the digital camera. Too much toxic metal ending up in landfill.
ReplyDeleteWe love the battery operated candles. We have 2 sets that come on in the evening and go for 5 hours. It's perfect and they are very realistic. Sweet hugs...and stay away from matches! lol
ReplyDeleteOh my. You sure have had your near disasters with candles over the years Jen! I read about another blogger who uses this candles too. I must have a look for them here especially with the timers on them. I'm always burning scented candles but it's nice to have non scented ones for atmosphere and at dinner time.
ReplyDeleteI might need some of those..I have emergency candles only..we use them when the lights go out. I cannot stand many of those terrible perfumey smells from fragrance candles. Michaels has some Cinnamon fragrance potpouri the other day..it drove us from the store:()
ReplyDeleteToo funny. We do battery operated outside. They look perfect from the street and we aren't in danger of burning down the neighborhood :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't used burning candles for years. Mostly due to allergies but also due to worrying about nosey kitty's whiskers getting burnt! They make some fantastic looking battery operated candles now-a-days. I have them on my Christmas list this year actually. :)
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a happy week Jen!
xo Catherine
I haven't had any candle mishaps, but last Christmas we were at a party where the candle in the front hallway was left unattended. It burnt all the way down and its holder caught fire. Thank goodness someone came along looking for their coat to go home- otherwise it could have been serious. There is a lot to be said for the safer battery operated models!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! I love candles but have safety concerns, too, especially because I have a small child and a large active dog. I will follow your advice and buy some of these!
ReplyDeleteLove your white candle - adorable!
I'm not a candle burner either, so these would make wonderful alternatives! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had any candle disasters but we have had an alcohol disaster (no, it does not involve drinking). When our older kid was about 8 we "helped" him with his science project. How about seeing at what temperature different liquids will boil? Guess what we discovered: alcohol doesn't boil, it bursts into flame! Fortunately no one was hurt and damage was minimal.
ReplyDeleteI have to laugh at this post because we have yet another thing in common. I have had to self-impose a ban on fire for myself unless I'm a) outside at a firepit; or b) at the hearth. Before I was married, I managed to inadvertently light my own bed on fire with a glowing match head that flew off a match I'd just used to light a candle (I flicked my hand in the air to put out the match and the end flew off into my sheets when I didn't know it). Luckily, I wasn't in the bed when the flames started and I got it out by smothering it with a blanket. Several incidents after that proved I have horrible luck with those darned match heads. Needless to say, we use lighters now.
ReplyDelete