Darkness can seem romantic, or
exciting, or fun - for a while.
Here, though, it starts getting dark outside around 6:00
- 6:30 pm year-round, and it gets dark inside much earlier. That makes for some
really long evenings. Most of us have to work, and come home to a dark home.
Battery-powered lanterns and flashlights
are the safest, but you can use candles if you don't leave them unattended and
are sure there is no gas leak. Don't put them near curtains or inner shelves.
Put a piece of foil underneath the candles to protect your furniture, even if
they are in a holder.
We keep a large supply of baby food jars and tea lights
- lined up at the top of the entertainment center, they reflect from the ceiling
and give off a nice light.
Hang sconces on the walls to hold
candles. If they have reflective backs, they will give off even more light.
I have sconces on two of my kitchen cabinets as well as in the hallway,
and use smoke-free oil candles on them.
Kerosene lamps give off more light than
candles and for longer periods of time. Be sure to store the kerosene in a cool
place away from children or pets. They should not be used inside, but I keep
them just outside the windows (one on each screened-in porch).
"Tiki"
torches are great outside - especially if it's too hot to be in the house.
You can set one right outside a window to help light the room, or anchor
one on a balcony. Besides, they're festive.
Install outdoor solar lights.
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Lighting without Power