Photo by Elizabeth Halt
Photo by Elizabeth Halt

do not read this post if you are a fire(person)

October 27, 2011

DSC_1883

i left my beeswax votives burning while i ran upstairs to get the vacuum the other day.

on the way, i got distracted by the internet. ("on the way" being a stretch, of course, since the vacuum is in the room at the top of the stairs and my computer is neither in that room nor on the stairs.)

such a pretty pretty outcome, but such a bad bad idea. i can see all the ways in which this could have gone wrong.

i am leaving it there for a while, exactly as it is, as a reminder that candles should not be left unattended. (ok, also because i think it's pretty, but definitely as a reminder.)

Filed under
daily life

7 comments... (add a comment)

  1. Ann Bimberg

    I did that once too. Glad to say I haven’t since, so hopefully you won’t either.

  2. I am scared of fire. I had an “incident” as a child with a lamp. I am on edge the whole time someone has candles burning!
    Anne

  3. Marcie

    What a wonderful sculpture the melted wax created. Sometimes – it’s okay to leave them unattended?..to burn brightly and freely?

  4. tammy

    well…. not as bad as the lady in the apt complex where my husband and i lived when we were young. she put some vaseline or some kind of oil in a double boiler and then left the apt… the fire gutted her kitchen and she got a brand new kitchen… nicer than the other!
    just sayin.. tho not a great idea marcie!!!
    unless you want a new kitchen. lol.
    it is beautiful though elizabeth.
    see? you’re creative without even trying to be!
    love,
    tammy j

  5. Tracy

    Such a pretty effect… but, oh, what a good reminder, Elizabeth! I have candles lit all the time, and especially now during autumn/winter and should be more mindful. Thank you for this VERY important public service announcement. Because it’s tricky with certain types of candles–one moment burning away nicely, turn you back a moment and then it’s nearly burning a hole in the carpet! :o/ Be safe, be happy ((HUGS))

  6. Stephanie

    I get sidetracked like this so very often (all day long)…in fact right this minute (or 20 minutes ago) I walked into this room to grab notebooks and such that needed to be packed so I could head out the door. The computer beckoned me to come sit and catch up though. :)

  7. Oh, I love this. When Cory and I first moved in together, he told me I couldn’t burn candles in the apartment. Hmph. But I convinced him to let me light a couple one night when we had guests over. Around 3:00 a.m., I went to use the ladies room only to find a candle burning. OOPS. So…I blew it out promptly and told him he made a very good rule, thankyouverymuch. (FTR: I do burn candles now, but I’m very responsible. I only burn them in the kitchen, during the day, and only for a short time.).
    I am a respectful firefighter’s wife. :)
    And *that is a very beautiful photo!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *