a pleasante afternoon

melting bees wax over an apple wood fire

This is the best time of year...when the fields are finally at rest, the leaves turn deep reds and yellows, the crisp chill air calls for a sweater and boots and the scent of wood smoke curls down from the chimney.

a pleasant afternoon to dip candles down in the old orchard.

~~~

The candlewicks are measured out by eye, cut and then tied onto long sticks with a knot on the end,

then slowly dipped into the melted wax,

lifting them and straightening by gently pulling the knot

at the bottom while they're still warm and letting them cool.

new candles cooling in between each dip into the hot bees wax.

of course, there's my naughty kitten,Willow, underneath....

batting at the candles while they cooled.

~~~

Katie & I visit and dip the candles together.

The grandchildren climb the old apples trees and eat their lunch sitting on

the branches with the kittens.

We take turns dipping.

It becomes a rhythm, dipping, straightening and hanging them to cool.

The air is crisp on our cheeks, the hot fire smokes and crackles, we hang our sweaters and shawls on a branch and decide that we should tie more wicks, it being so pleasant out.

the nearly finished candles after cutting them from their dipping sticks.

I warm a large knife and cut their ends on a wooden cutting board.

I stack them on the pantry shelf and in old baskets to store.

They smell heavenly and make no smoke and do not drip.

~~~

By the end of the afternoon, the wind has come up and the sky begins to turn a deep indigo. Storm clouds hang over us so close we could reach up and touch them.

We gather everything up into baskets and let the fire die down.

We made nearly enough candles to last through the long winter evenings in just one afternoon.

An afternoon of family and togetherness.

and afternoon spent that won't be forgotten, carrying on our traditions

with the children under the old apple trees

down in the old orchard.

Our traditions are just simple things

but ones that the heart never forgets.

I hope this finds you all enjoying this lovely fall with those you love

and making some

wonderful memories.

love,

Christine