How to Make Candles Using Old CrayonsWritten by LeAnn R. Ralph
As featured in story "A Candle For Christmas" from book: Christmas In Dairyland (True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm) (August 2003; trade paperback) http://ruralroute2.comMaterials: • 1 wax carton (quart) (milk, fabric softener, or orange juice) • 1 pound of paraffin wax • 4 or 5 old crayons • two trays of ice cubes • a double boiler (or an empty coffee can and a saucepan) • 1 piece of ordinary white package string about six inches long. Caution: Do not heat paraffin directly over burner. Paraffin is easily combustible. Use a double boiler or a two-pound coffee can set in a pan of water. I put coffee can on top of home canning jar rings (the rings, not flat lids). If can is not set on top of something, concave bottom creates a vacuum when water begins to heat up, plus if it’s on bottom of pan, it's just that much closer to burner. Trim top part of carton off so that what remains is about six inches high. Cut string so that it is six inches long. (To make a wick that lasts longer, try braiding three pieces of string together.) Melt paraffin wax over medium heat in a double boiler or a coffee can in a pan of water. Use three-quarters of a pound for a somewhat smaller candle or use all four squares for a larger candle. Once water begins to boil, it will take 10 or 15 minutes for paraffin to melt. Break crayons into small pieces and add to paraffin. If crayons are added first before wax is melted, color makes it difficult to see if all of paraffin is liquefied. Use a pair of tongs (a scissors works, too), and dip string into paraffin. Dipping string will ensure that it is coated with paraffin since ice cubes may prevent some sections from coming in contact with liquid wax. Hold string so that it is in middle of carton and fill carton with ice cubes. Pour hot paraffin over ice cubes.
| | When Family Members Are Reacting Differently to the Loss of Your PetWritten by Susan Dunn, MA Clinical Psychology, The EQ Coach
The loss of a family companion animal is difficult, and my heart goes out to you. We come to love our animals and feel a deep sense of loss when they die. Some people tell me they’ve felt more grief over loss of their dog than of any human being in their life. It’s not always recognized by others, but those would only be people who have not lost an animal companion they loved. Or I should say, who loved them. They give us unconditional love that helps us thrive. When we find out our pet is going to die, we each react differently. Each of us experiences grief in a different way. Maybe your partner is angry, and you are tearful, and you are both dealing with impending death of your animal companion in your own way. The stages begin with denial (shock) and then move on to rage, I believe, but it's a spiral, or an onion, not linear. It comes in waves and doubles back and different feelings are layered in there. It is normal to not “hear” that your pet is going to die and it’s normal to be enraged that nobody cares, nothing can be done, and it can’t be fixed. And also to be angry that you and animal are suffering so. Some individuals are more prone to turning tender feelings into anger, and sometimes we just don’t want to talk about it. In fact, and this is particularly poignant, one of reasons we love our animals so much is because when we're upset they'd don't ask us why. They just stick around and love us, same as always. Remember general family EQ guidance that all feelings are welcome here, though all actions are not. Your partner is an adult and is in charge of his or her own wellbeing, as you are of yours. As with any adult, you can accept and acknowledge feelings, and can make it known you’re available to talk with. If there are any behaviors from this anger that are destructive in any way, then seek help. You can also use, “When you say X, I feel Y. Please do Z.”
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