Thursday

[clevermanka]

Three of five rooms mostly unpacked. I did too much too fast, but I'm not psychologically capable of resting in the middle of chaos so... Right now I'm so beat I can't even read fic as planned. So I'm just sitting on the couch zoning out and (sometimes) listening to music. And burning a candle.

While packing up my shit at the old place, I made the decision to finally start burning this collection of glass pillar candles I've been building since my baby witch days (c. 1992-1995). I used to visit botanicas every time I went to a big city and picked up some gorgeous ones. They're all the old-fashioned kind, with pasted-on colorful paper labels instead of the solid-tint inked ones I see now. The wicks have fallen into the wax on a few so I'll have to dig them out in order to burn them. If there's ever been a time to burn Official Help candles, this is it. Here's today's.


Isn't that beautiful? Beautiful! It still breaks my heart a little to burn them because I'm never gonna get replacements for these. But hey, Impermanence! The Transience of Being! Also I feel like we could use all the help we can find right now. I don't have any rum or cigars, but here's hoping Papa Legba hears me anyway and opens the door for positive change.

Today's dump on cm.net.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

*h0opes with you*

Candles

[writedragon]

When you've burned the wax, consider putting reusable and/or rechargeable LED candles into the glass holders. Then you can use them anywhere safely (like lined up on a windowsill or wherever you might usually avoid due to fire danger). Modern LED candles are quite nice, some are dipped in actual wax, and many even have computer chips inside that let the "flame" flicker in a random pattern so they are gentle rather than annoying. That way you can enjoy the artwork of the old-style candles for as long as you like. :)

[moodsong]

What is your candle collection like?

[clevermanka]

🤞🕯🙏🕯🤞

Re: Candles

[clevermanka]

...why did I not think of that? 😆 Seriously, I already had plans to buy a couple for a lantern I have sitting on the floor. Cleaning out the wax and soot without fucking up the label will be a bit of a chore, but much better than tossing them! (if you have suggestions for that, I'd appreciate it!)

[clevermanka]

When I get them all unpacked, I'll take some photos for you.

[naye]

🕯️🕯️🕯️<3

[clevermanka]

😚❤👍

Re: Candles

[writedragon]

This probably isn't a new suggestion, but here's what I do. I try to scrape out residual wax while it's still warm at the bottom using an old table knife or something, then finish wiping out the container with paper towels (which usually takes care of the soot in the process). If the wax gets too cool and hard, I put hot water in there to soften it, drain the water, and go at it again. Some people swear by freezing (supposedly the wax shrinks and pops out), but I always feel nervous doing that with glass. Honestly, if you get most of the soot off, a little wax in the bottom probably won't hurt a fake candle, and if you're concerned about getting wax into a switch or mechanism on the bottom you could set a piece of felt or cardboard under the fake candle, atop any residual wax. In other words, it might be fine just to leave it in there.

Re: Candles

[clevermanka]

Pouring the hot water inside would keep it from damaging the paper label, too. Padding the bottom to protect the switch is a good idea, too. Thank you!

Re: Candles

[writedragon]

<3

[kazoogrrl]

I'm getting more into using up the things I've been holding on to for one day/just in case.

I ordered some of the Untamed bath bombs from the site with the trope candles, because I am picky about scents and don't want to get stuck with something I don't like. I am about to buy some plain beeswax pillars and votives from a local Ren Faire vendor who could probably use the sales. Other than that I like the Roland Pine candle from NYC's Soap and Paper Factory (discovered them while following my nose at the Union Square Holiday Market 2 years ago), and recently picked up some Shoyeido incenses to try out. I do have a bag of IKEA tealights around because they are so useful.

[clevermanka]

2020 has really driven home the idea of "use it while you can" for me and it sounds like I'm not alone.

I hope you like the smells you ordered! Do you have non-large business recommendations for incense? The person I used to buy from (15 years ago when I could burn incense) isn't in the business anymore.

[kazoogrrl]

I bought straight from Shoyeido, whose US location is in CO. Other than that I have a random assortment from my local pagan shop. A friend recently told me that the Vampire Court of Houston sells incense on Etsy as a fundraiser, which I find incredibly charming. No idea if it's good stuff, though. https://www.etsy.com/shop/VampireCourtHouston

[khellekson]

Burn them! And revel in the impermanence of life.

[clevermanka]

Yep!

[brandywine28]

Hooray for the transience! Seriously. The fun I've cheated myself out of, the fics I haven't read, the beauty products I haven't used -- all under the guise of "saving them for a rainy day". It's criminal! (And I know it's criminal and I keep right on doing it! Gaahh!)

[clevermanka]

Embrace it with me, friend! Pinky promise? 😉

[the_lucky_nun]

I want to encourage the using up of things stored away for a later day or only used for special occasions. There is a joy to looking at a beautiful mug, and there is a greater, different joy in drinking from that mug and letting it do what it's meant to do. Same goes with candles, soap, and lotion, all that stuff.

[clevermanka]

YES! I always loved wearing my vintage clothes for that joy. I just never felt, idk, moved to burn the candles. Maybe I was saving them for now.