There is a commercial on TV right now with the line “Ah, the relaxing sound of nature.” Yes nature does have a relaxing sound. But which one sound in nature is the most relaxing? To me that would have to be a small water fall. Just thinking about one helps to relax me. I guess that is why water fountains have become so popular. Its either that or the fact that they can help mask the unwanted noise of city life.
No matter what the reason, water fountains have become all the rage. And not only with city dwellers, but those in the suburbs and even rural folks as well. Why people in country feel the need to mask noise, I’ll never know, but they do. The only problem I find with water fountains is that they make me want to run to the bathroom ( Oh give me a break, I’m almost social security age, and if I can find humor in that so can you!).
No matter the reason for the popularity of water fountains, they are a big business. The less room the bigger the water fountain, or so it seems, according to the gentleman (I’ll call him Mr. Z) that I was talking to at a home improvement super store. He told me that his store put in at least 25 water ponds with nice size water fountains this past summer year. And all of them were for people that lived in town. Mr. Z thought it was amazing that the smallest yards had the biggest ones.
Now I happen to like the sounds of nature, so I have no trouble picturing a pond with a water fountain in my yard. And we have a lot of room to support one too. But according to Mr. Z, people who have land usually go for the table top or wall mounted water fountains. What kind? The most popular one is a lion head water fountain.
Ponds do require some work. Cleaning and keeping clean can be a hassle. Then you also have to mess around with chemicals, for the ph, killing larvae from all types of bugs, and keeping the moss and scum at bay. And if you want fish in your pond, you really have to be careful, to much chemical can kill and so can not enough. Then if you add plants, it can get even more confusing. I think I just talked myself out of the pond I wanted in the back yard!
Yes, I think a table top or wall mounted water fountain would be best. Less work, no chemicals and the soothing sound of running water. If I get one for inside, the cat could use it as a water bowl. If I get on for outside, it could be another bird bath, a source of entertainment for both of us and the cat. Yes, I am really considering getting one. I’ve even started checking them out, both on line and in stores. And the more I see of the lion head water fountains, the more I like them.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
I Love the Outdoors!
I love the outdoors. To me, that is the next best thing to heaven. No place else can I feel as close to my Lord as I do when I am either in the woods, or playing in the dirt in my garden. And I try to respect nature and help it when I can. I don’t let my hubby take down all the dead trees in our woods. We need to leave some for the birds and other creatures that live there. In that way I am respecting nature.
By helping nature, we feed the birds and whatever other creatures happen to come into our yard. We also try to put back whatever we have taken. We have planted several trees on our property. And we have also tried to prevent some trees from dying, by cutting any vines that happen to be growing up them. That alone is no small task. In our woods we have wild grape, poison ivy and oak, honey suckle, and several others I have not identified as of yet. Some of the vines are bigger around than my fist!
In my flower beds I try to plant things that are non evasive and that all winged creatures like to eat or suck the nectar out of. I even have broken pots for frogs and other insects to hide or nest in. Not all my plants get dead-headed in the fall either. That way the birds that stay here year round will have some seeds to eat when we don’t get to the feeders as fast as they thing we should. It can be very entertaining to watch a bird land on the dead flower and it slowly droop to the ground.
I also have a lot of birdhouses all over the yard and even into the woods. Most of them were unfinished wood birdhouses that I painted and some are store bought. I have a lot of fun buying the unfinished ones and doing them myself. It is a great way to pass the winter months when I can’t go outside because of the weather. I have downloaded some plans so that hopefully the hubby and I can build some birdhouses in the spring. The internet has also provided me with ideas on using everyday “trash” and turning it into birdhouses. It should be fun to try doing it, and it is recycling.
Yesterday afternoon my hubby hung up my newest store bought birdhouse. It looks like an old canteen! And this morning while I was eating my breakfast, I was watching Mr. Wren inspect it. I am sure it passed his inspection because I latter watched him take some dried grass and small twigs into it. Now I can’t wait for spring to arrive and eggs to be laid in it. The activity of the wrens is fascinating to watch. For some reason our wrens prefer the southwestern side of our house. While the sparrows like the northeastern side. But I have seen them living in houses next to each other in the southeastern side of the yard. Go figure.
By helping nature, we feed the birds and whatever other creatures happen to come into our yard. We also try to put back whatever we have taken. We have planted several trees on our property. And we have also tried to prevent some trees from dying, by cutting any vines that happen to be growing up them. That alone is no small task. In our woods we have wild grape, poison ivy and oak, honey suckle, and several others I have not identified as of yet. Some of the vines are bigger around than my fist!
In my flower beds I try to plant things that are non evasive and that all winged creatures like to eat or suck the nectar out of. I even have broken pots for frogs and other insects to hide or nest in. Not all my plants get dead-headed in the fall either. That way the birds that stay here year round will have some seeds to eat when we don’t get to the feeders as fast as they thing we should. It can be very entertaining to watch a bird land on the dead flower and it slowly droop to the ground.
I also have a lot of birdhouses all over the yard and even into the woods. Most of them were unfinished wood birdhouses that I painted and some are store bought. I have a lot of fun buying the unfinished ones and doing them myself. It is a great way to pass the winter months when I can’t go outside because of the weather. I have downloaded some plans so that hopefully the hubby and I can build some birdhouses in the spring. The internet has also provided me with ideas on using everyday “trash” and turning it into birdhouses. It should be fun to try doing it, and it is recycling.
Yesterday afternoon my hubby hung up my newest store bought birdhouse. It looks like an old canteen! And this morning while I was eating my breakfast, I was watching Mr. Wren inspect it. I am sure it passed his inspection because I latter watched him take some dried grass and small twigs into it. Now I can’t wait for spring to arrive and eggs to be laid in it. The activity of the wrens is fascinating to watch. For some reason our wrens prefer the southwestern side of our house. While the sparrows like the northeastern side. But I have seen them living in houses next to each other in the southeastern side of the yard. Go figure.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Our Binoculars
If you enjoy the outdoors, you more than likely have a pair of binoculars. We have three pairs, one is always on the back porch, one by the kitchen table, and one pair in my car. I also have a monocular that I keep in my bag. We aren’t nosey, we just like looking at what ever wildlife we happen to see. Birds are a big favorite here right now.
I first learned how to use binoculars when I was much younger. My Dad used to go hunting a lot and liked to “check out” an area before hand. Believe it or not, he wasn’t looking for prey, it was the lay out of the land that he was interested in. You know, where roads, paths and buildings are. My Dad has always been and will always be a true Boy Scout, he believes in being prepared for any situation.
There are so many different types of binoculars it can be difficult to decide which ones are right for you. First you have to decide what you are going to be using them for. Then you need to know who will be using them the most. Does the main user have any special needs? Or if it one pair for the entire family. Are there any children who will be using the binoculars?
The numbers, 10x40, can determine what the binoculars are best suited for. The first number is how many times the subject is magnified. The second number is the width of the front lens measured in millimeters. Usually the higher the second number, the sharper and brighter the image. But the first number is the one that can throw you off. I highly recommend that you do not go with any number higher then a 10x if you will at anytime use the binoculars as hand held ones. The higher the first number, the more shaking from hand holding is visible. The shaking is from a number of possibilities, the weight of the binoculars, your blood rushing throw your veins, or just unsteady hands. Unless you spend the extra money to get a pair that has image stabilizing.
If you are looking for kid binoculars, you need to keep in mind that a child’s eyes are not the same as an adults. What I mean is that they are not done “growing” or maturing. And also the child’s face is smaller so the eye pieces may not match up with the child’s eyes. I have found that light weight, compact or semi-compact work best for the younger set. Also, get waterproof, not sealed binoculars. I’ve heard the “sealed” will allow more dust inside of them.
When my son was young, I bought a pair of Vivitar binoculars for him. They were semi-compact and lightweight. Both he and I used them as our birding binoculars. It took a very short time for him to understand how they worked and what he needed to do to enable himself to see clearly. To me, they were the ideal kids binoculars. But to my son, they were our bird watching binoculars.
I still have those Vivitar binoculars, they are kept by the kitchen table now. Look almost new and get used almost daily. I couldn’t have made a better purchase.
I first learned how to use binoculars when I was much younger. My Dad used to go hunting a lot and liked to “check out” an area before hand. Believe it or not, he wasn’t looking for prey, it was the lay out of the land that he was interested in. You know, where roads, paths and buildings are. My Dad has always been and will always be a true Boy Scout, he believes in being prepared for any situation.
There are so many different types of binoculars it can be difficult to decide which ones are right for you. First you have to decide what you are going to be using them for. Then you need to know who will be using them the most. Does the main user have any special needs? Or if it one pair for the entire family. Are there any children who will be using the binoculars?
The numbers, 10x40, can determine what the binoculars are best suited for. The first number is how many times the subject is magnified. The second number is the width of the front lens measured in millimeters. Usually the higher the second number, the sharper and brighter the image. But the first number is the one that can throw you off. I highly recommend that you do not go with any number higher then a 10x if you will at anytime use the binoculars as hand held ones. The higher the first number, the more shaking from hand holding is visible. The shaking is from a number of possibilities, the weight of the binoculars, your blood rushing throw your veins, or just unsteady hands. Unless you spend the extra money to get a pair that has image stabilizing.
If you are looking for kid binoculars, you need to keep in mind that a child’s eyes are not the same as an adults. What I mean is that they are not done “growing” or maturing. And also the child’s face is smaller so the eye pieces may not match up with the child’s eyes. I have found that light weight, compact or semi-compact work best for the younger set. Also, get waterproof, not sealed binoculars. I’ve heard the “sealed” will allow more dust inside of them.
When my son was young, I bought a pair of Vivitar binoculars for him. They were semi-compact and lightweight. Both he and I used them as our birding binoculars. It took a very short time for him to understand how they worked and what he needed to do to enable himself to see clearly. To me, they were the ideal kids binoculars. But to my son, they were our bird watching binoculars.
I still have those Vivitar binoculars, they are kept by the kitchen table now. Look almost new and get used almost daily. I couldn’t have made a better purchase.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Illegal Aliens
I just had an idea. Why don’t we, this country, help to make all people feel more welcome? We can give them free medical care. Give them money to live off of. Provide them with housing. And make sure all government agencies (federal, state and more importantly local) have or have access to translators so they will understand all that we offer them. We have to make sure that they know they are welcome here, so we will not make them pay taxes either.
Oh, wait. We do that already don’t we. We give it all away to illegal immigrants. Not to those who have come here openly and honestly. But to those who sneak into this country. I am starting to wonder if I would be better off being an illegal. If I was, I would not have to worry about getting sick. I would just walk into any hospital get the best medical attention possible, get whatever was needed and leave. No bill to worry about. The government will pay it.
If I was an illegal, I wouldn’t have to worry about heating, electric, water or anything in the house either. All the utility companies have programs that will help me pay for all of that. I have yet to meet one U.S. citizen that makes under $1,000 a month (before taxes) get that kind of help. And there are hundreds of thousands of them. Maybe they would like to become illegal’s with me.
If I were an illegal, I could work at my job and have more money in my pocket. I would say I have more dependents then I actually do, and I would not bother filling any tax returns. Why should I? I used either a made up social security or someone else’s. So how are they going to find me? I won’t stay in one job longer than two years, three at the most. Besides, the documentation I am using belongs to someone you has already left this county, and there are at least three other people using it also.
Want to become an illegal with me? You can perform all kinds of petty crimes, and what is the worse that will happen. They catch you, put you in a detention center - heated in the winter and air conditioned in summer, plenty of food to eat, TV and radio in your own language, a bed, and nothing that you have to do - then after about three months they deport you - put me on a bus, train or plane so you can go “home“ for a visit, and then you sneak back here when you are ready to go back to work.
If you want to make sure that you can’t be deported, have a baby in this country. The government can not and will not send you back to wherever it is that you came from. Why? Because the baby is a U.S. citizen. Not dual citizenship, but a full pledged, 100%, U.S. citizen. The mother and child get the best medical care that money can buy, and they don’t have to pay one penny for it. The bleeding hearts in this country will not split up a family.
The few times I had the opportunity to travel to other countries, no one went out of there way understand me. If I got lost or needed any kind of assistance, the police did not have translators or access to them. I was a visitor in their country, there for I needed to learn their language. I wasn’t trying to take anyone’s job or anything close to that. I was a tourist, and I didn’t plan on staying to help deplete the national resources of the country. And most of the time they let me know that they would be more than happy to see me, and all Americans leave their county.
You know, I wouldn’t mind if we gave more to the tourists, or even the legal aliens, but we don’t. We give it all to the illegal aliens. And I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m tired of it. Either treat us, the U.S. citizens better than illegal’s, or maybe we should all become illegal aliens.
Oh, wait. We do that already don’t we. We give it all away to illegal immigrants. Not to those who have come here openly and honestly. But to those who sneak into this country. I am starting to wonder if I would be better off being an illegal. If I was, I would not have to worry about getting sick. I would just walk into any hospital get the best medical attention possible, get whatever was needed and leave. No bill to worry about. The government will pay it.
If I was an illegal, I wouldn’t have to worry about heating, electric, water or anything in the house either. All the utility companies have programs that will help me pay for all of that. I have yet to meet one U.S. citizen that makes under $1,000 a month (before taxes) get that kind of help. And there are hundreds of thousands of them. Maybe they would like to become illegal’s with me.
If I were an illegal, I could work at my job and have more money in my pocket. I would say I have more dependents then I actually do, and I would not bother filling any tax returns. Why should I? I used either a made up social security or someone else’s. So how are they going to find me? I won’t stay in one job longer than two years, three at the most. Besides, the documentation I am using belongs to someone you has already left this county, and there are at least three other people using it also.
Want to become an illegal with me? You can perform all kinds of petty crimes, and what is the worse that will happen. They catch you, put you in a detention center - heated in the winter and air conditioned in summer, plenty of food to eat, TV and radio in your own language, a bed, and nothing that you have to do - then after about three months they deport you - put me on a bus, train or plane so you can go “home“ for a visit, and then you sneak back here when you are ready to go back to work.
If you want to make sure that you can’t be deported, have a baby in this country. The government can not and will not send you back to wherever it is that you came from. Why? Because the baby is a U.S. citizen. Not dual citizenship, but a full pledged, 100%, U.S. citizen. The mother and child get the best medical care that money can buy, and they don’t have to pay one penny for it. The bleeding hearts in this country will not split up a family.
The few times I had the opportunity to travel to other countries, no one went out of there way understand me. If I got lost or needed any kind of assistance, the police did not have translators or access to them. I was a visitor in their country, there for I needed to learn their language. I wasn’t trying to take anyone’s job or anything close to that. I was a tourist, and I didn’t plan on staying to help deplete the national resources of the country. And most of the time they let me know that they would be more than happy to see me, and all Americans leave their county.
You know, I wouldn’t mind if we gave more to the tourists, or even the legal aliens, but we don’t. We give it all to the illegal aliens. And I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m tired of it. Either treat us, the U.S. citizens better than illegal’s, or maybe we should all become illegal aliens.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Memories
There are so many memories in this house. Some of the memories are so sad and heart breaking I cry as if that event just happened and I‘m reliving it all over again. But there are a lot that bring a smile and of then end with side splitting laughter as if it too had just happened.
One on those memories happened bout 4 years after we moved into this house. I don’t remember what started it but it ended in a water fight in the kitchen. My cousin was here after she had had a “fight” with her mother, my older brother was involved and so was I. Like I said, I don’t recall how it started, but it was a big water fight. The spray hose thingy at the kitchen sink got used and then the garden hose was brought in! We were laughing and spraying each other and everything else that got in the way. By the time my Mother walked in everything and everyone was drenched. Mom didn’t act mad or upset or even surprised. She just told us to cleaning things up when we were done and then she left the room.
I can also remember my Dad painting the front porch. Battle ship gray was the color he always used. The porch was a wrap around one and Dad started at the point furthest from the front door. He was just about done when the neighbors cat, Tux, came walking around the side of the porch. As Tux picked up each paw, he shook it and placed it back down. Dad just watched. When Tux got to the bench by the door, he jumped up onto it, walked across it, leaving gray paw prints on the white bench. Dad just calmly watched Tux, knowing that he would more than likely have to do the whole thing over again next weekend.
My sister was acting out all the parts in everything she was reading at one time. Romeo and Juliet, the dagger seen, at the top of the steps. She calmly closed the book and set it down before she came tumbling down the steps. Before Mom and I could react to the noise, She was heading back up the steps to finish the scene! All Mom told her was to be more careful with the books she was reading.
One of the more recent side splitting memories happened about ten years ago. Mom decided that it was time to redo the kitchen. And being a do-it-yourself type of family, that is how we did it. We went to the home improvement store and bought the cabinets, sink, paint, and everything else needed. We did 95% of it ourselves. We did call in a plumber to hook up the sink and put the new dish washer in. Long story short, everything is done except for the painting. My son, my daughter, my one niece, and I were doing that when it ended up as a paint fight. Thank goodness for latex paint. We were covered in paint. There are pictures to prove that this actually happened. But I don’t know how to import them, so you will just have to take my word for it. The kitchen didn’t look half bad when we were done cleaning everything up.
One on those memories happened bout 4 years after we moved into this house. I don’t remember what started it but it ended in a water fight in the kitchen. My cousin was here after she had had a “fight” with her mother, my older brother was involved and so was I. Like I said, I don’t recall how it started, but it was a big water fight. The spray hose thingy at the kitchen sink got used and then the garden hose was brought in! We were laughing and spraying each other and everything else that got in the way. By the time my Mother walked in everything and everyone was drenched. Mom didn’t act mad or upset or even surprised. She just told us to cleaning things up when we were done and then she left the room.
I can also remember my Dad painting the front porch. Battle ship gray was the color he always used. The porch was a wrap around one and Dad started at the point furthest from the front door. He was just about done when the neighbors cat, Tux, came walking around the side of the porch. As Tux picked up each paw, he shook it and placed it back down. Dad just watched. When Tux got to the bench by the door, he jumped up onto it, walked across it, leaving gray paw prints on the white bench. Dad just calmly watched Tux, knowing that he would more than likely have to do the whole thing over again next weekend.
My sister was acting out all the parts in everything she was reading at one time. Romeo and Juliet, the dagger seen, at the top of the steps. She calmly closed the book and set it down before she came tumbling down the steps. Before Mom and I could react to the noise, She was heading back up the steps to finish the scene! All Mom told her was to be more careful with the books she was reading.
One of the more recent side splitting memories happened about ten years ago. Mom decided that it was time to redo the kitchen. And being a do-it-yourself type of family, that is how we did it. We went to the home improvement store and bought the cabinets, sink, paint, and everything else needed. We did 95% of it ourselves. We did call in a plumber to hook up the sink and put the new dish washer in. Long story short, everything is done except for the painting. My son, my daughter, my one niece, and I were doing that when it ended up as a paint fight. Thank goodness for latex paint. We were covered in paint. There are pictures to prove that this actually happened. But I don’t know how to import them, so you will just have to take my word for it. The kitchen didn’t look half bad when we were done cleaning everything up.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Moving
I am at my Dad's place right now. I have a lot of memories here. As well I should, we moved in this place in 1961. Before that we lived about 4 blocks away on a street that was only two blocks long, but had over 250 kids living on it. Always someone to play with and something to do. But this house was different. Located on one of the busiest streets in the bourgh, hardly any kids, and nothing to do. One good thing about the house, we were less than a block from the elementary school we went to.
We moved here because my Dad's mother was very sick and dying from cancer. She really couldn't do to much for herself or her youngest son (who still lived with her, never married and in his thirty's). The doctors had done all they could at that time, and besides, my grandmother decided that it was time to die. She believed that a person only lived so long and then they were on borrowed time and she was afraid she was using the time that belonged to one of us four grandkids.
When the house was purchased, a lot of work had to done on it. It was a 5 bedroom with one bath. We needed another bedroom and another bath. The breakfast room was to be converted into the extra bedroom and bath for my grandmother. The kitchen and the existing bath both need a major renovation. Neither one had any updating since probably the 30's. And of course we needed to paint, sand the hard wood floors and get them refinished.
It was a lot of work, but I think we all pulled our own weight. We spent weeks not only working on the house along with the contractors, but also packing things up. We did have two homes to move into one, so everything had to be gone through, checked and double checked. Then the two old homes had to be made ready for the new owners. It seemed like years before we were ready to actually move in. I know it took about three months for the “new” house to be ready, but for us kids it was the longest wait we had ever experienced.
I can remember the Saturday we finally made the move. My Uncle was over for breakfast and in the back of his car was filled to the very top with boxes. We were so excited. I'm not sure what we thought would happen with this move. Did we expect to see some magic or something? To be honest with you, I don't remember being that excited before that day. Christmas didn't even come close. You can imagine how disappointed we were when we were told that we would not be there for the big move!
We were being sent to the movies! Instead of moving, we went to the movies! I'm sure someone out there has heard that saying,”Move while they are at the movies.” Well that is what happened to us. Our parents moved while we were at the movies! We all laugh about it now. But it was quite an experience.
We moved here because my Dad's mother was very sick and dying from cancer. She really couldn't do to much for herself or her youngest son (who still lived with her, never married and in his thirty's). The doctors had done all they could at that time, and besides, my grandmother decided that it was time to die. She believed that a person only lived so long and then they were on borrowed time and she was afraid she was using the time that belonged to one of us four grandkids.
When the house was purchased, a lot of work had to done on it. It was a 5 bedroom with one bath. We needed another bedroom and another bath. The breakfast room was to be converted into the extra bedroom and bath for my grandmother. The kitchen and the existing bath both need a major renovation. Neither one had any updating since probably the 30's. And of course we needed to paint, sand the hard wood floors and get them refinished.
It was a lot of work, but I think we all pulled our own weight. We spent weeks not only working on the house along with the contractors, but also packing things up. We did have two homes to move into one, so everything had to be gone through, checked and double checked. Then the two old homes had to be made ready for the new owners. It seemed like years before we were ready to actually move in. I know it took about three months for the “new” house to be ready, but for us kids it was the longest wait we had ever experienced.
I can remember the Saturday we finally made the move. My Uncle was over for breakfast and in the back of his car was filled to the very top with boxes. We were so excited. I'm not sure what we thought would happen with this move. Did we expect to see some magic or something? To be honest with you, I don't remember being that excited before that day. Christmas didn't even come close. You can imagine how disappointed we were when we were told that we would not be there for the big move!
We were being sent to the movies! Instead of moving, we went to the movies! I'm sure someone out there has heard that saying,”Move while they are at the movies.” Well that is what happened to us. Our parents moved while we were at the movies! We all laugh about it now. But it was quite an experience.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Candle Lanterns
Candle lanterns are one of the safest ways to use a candle. You put a candle into a lantern, light it and you don’t have to worry about the wind, if you are outdoors, or the dog wagging his tail, if you are inside. And lanterns can be so stylish and decorative today. You can find just about any design or color to match you own taste, décor or mood. For your own safety and peace of mind, never leave the room when the candle is lit.
My favorite candle lantern is a white Moroccan lantern I got recently. I used it on the back porch during the summer with a citronella candle to help deter the bugs, and put just a little light on things. It is fancy, but not overly so, and it blends in nicely with the white wicker furniture we have. I can hang it up or set it on the table. It can be used either indoors or out. I really do love my white Moroccan lantern.
Lanterns are not a new idea. They have been around for centuries. In days long gone, before electric lights, lanterns and candles were the only source of light that people had. In movies and TV shows that take place in the “old west”, you can see them being carried out to the barns to check on the live stock, and used in the cabins to light up the room. It was usually more practical, and cheaper, for people to use candle lanterns than to use oil burning ones.
Back during the revolutionary war, it was considered a waste of material to use any good metal to make lanterns, that was needed to make guns and such. So back then, not to many people had good sturdy lanterns. And street lights when used, were usually buckets of pine pitch hanging from poles. They weren’t on every corner as we have today, just the busiest cross roads. So candle lanterns were very valuable and prized possessions.
Lanterns can have a bad rap though. They say it was Mrs. O’Leary’s cow who knocked over a lantern and started the Chicago fire. But I believe it was actually sparks from a chimney that started it. And besides, if a candle is contained in a lantern, the flame can’t come in contact with anything! Now I don’t recommend that try to start a fire by knocking a lantern over so please do not try it. But just think about it.
My favorite candle lantern is a white Moroccan lantern I got recently. I used it on the back porch during the summer with a citronella candle to help deter the bugs, and put just a little light on things. It is fancy, but not overly so, and it blends in nicely with the white wicker furniture we have. I can hang it up or set it on the table. It can be used either indoors or out. I really do love my white Moroccan lantern.
Lanterns are not a new idea. They have been around for centuries. In days long gone, before electric lights, lanterns and candles were the only source of light that people had. In movies and TV shows that take place in the “old west”, you can see them being carried out to the barns to check on the live stock, and used in the cabins to light up the room. It was usually more practical, and cheaper, for people to use candle lanterns than to use oil burning ones.
Back during the revolutionary war, it was considered a waste of material to use any good metal to make lanterns, that was needed to make guns and such. So back then, not to many people had good sturdy lanterns. And street lights when used, were usually buckets of pine pitch hanging from poles. They weren’t on every corner as we have today, just the busiest cross roads. So candle lanterns were very valuable and prized possessions.
Lanterns can have a bad rap though. They say it was Mrs. O’Leary’s cow who knocked over a lantern and started the Chicago fire. But I believe it was actually sparks from a chimney that started it. And besides, if a candle is contained in a lantern, the flame can’t come in contact with anything! Now I don’t recommend that try to start a fire by knocking a lantern over so please do not try it. But just think about it.
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