A Time For Candles

I love candles! I love the flickering light, light that makes every woman more beautiful. I love dining table candles, candles placed on the mantle, outdoor candles on the deck under the stars, with friends and good conversation.

I love the word “guttering” as it relates to candles. Candles seem to inspire the poet in us.  Geraldine Brooks said, "His spirit is like a guttering candle”.  Guttering refers to a candle that is barely staying lit. A guttering human would be indecisive, vacillating between staying or leaving, yin and yang. It congers up the images from Elton John’s “Candle In The Wind.”

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in

In 2009, I discovered flameless candles. They are battery operated and rechargeable; have the soft light of a candle, but not the disadvantages of melted wax on the tablecloth, smoke or the danger of a candle catching a blowing curtain on fire. Best of all, flameless candles are kid-safe.

Three years after my discovery, flameless candles now come in many varieties.  One variety gives off a soft light. Another looks like a melted candle or taper, yet flickers and comes in colors that complement any décor. There are scented candles of cinnamon, vanilla, sea breeze, sandalwood, forest or floral spice.

The flameless candles with timer or remote may be a must own.  Imagine the convenience of a timer to light your candles before you come home or automatically light each nigh fooling others to think you are home while on vacation.  Choosing a candle with a remote allows you to change the candle from flickering to steady on or dim or brighten the candlelight from across the room.

I love the look of lanterns around a pool in the evening. Now you can have battery powered candles, shimmering through beveled glass in metal lanterns. Now you can have battery operated Christmas wreaths and lights and branches and outdoor wall sconces. All have LEDs that last up to 450 hours.

Candles have always been special. Why not light a candle tonight for a loved one who has passed, or soak in a tub with a calming candle and a glass of wine, or light a candle in the window to see your spouse home to safety?