Last night we didn’t use the electric lights and instead opted for our first of many oil-lamp nights. Missy’s mom and dad brought us some fantastic oil lamps from their place in Ohio, including a really neat one that goes on a stand, which swivels around on the wall. The stand has a reflective plate behind it to direct the lamp light to wherever you need it in the room. I’ve never seen anything quite like it, but it must have been a welcome invention back in the days before widespread electricity.
We also had the fireplace going since it had been an overcast day and the air was nice and cool. For two hours I read while she knitted – and the dogs were snoring while the cats were purring on our laps.
It might look a little dark in these photos, but in reality it was plenty bright enough for me to read without straining my eyes and for Missy to get her needles in and out of the stitches as she knitted. I also slept like a baby last night after such a relaxing atmosphere.
How To Put Out an Oil Lamp
First off – here’s how NOT to put out an oil lamp: Do not try to lift the glass globe off to blow it out and do not try to turn the wick down into the container. Even though the lack of oxygen would ‘probably’ keep it from starting a fire, you just never know… I wasn’t crazy enough to try the wick-thing, but I was dumb enough to try to take off the globe. The lamp had only been on for about two minutes at the time. How hot could it be? YIKES! Blisters.
The right way to put out an oil lamp is to cup your hand over one side of the globe (but don’t touch it!) and blow in from the other side using a short, strong breath. I say short and strong as opposed to long and drawn out like with birthday candles.
PS: See the curtains Missy made the other day? Three floor-length panel curtains – total cost: $16.
Oh…I’m so jealous. With all the changes around here lately-I just don’t think my husband and boys are ready for this one. I can dream though!
Jana
Have a question for you. Have you guys gotten homesick yet? missing your friends and family?
Just curious because when we moved out in the county where we live now, I loved it and never even missed my neighbors of 16 yrs. It was weird. But I will say this, we’ve probably gotten less sociable because when we come home, we just hate leave…lol. And we always have that to-do list looming….
Oh and I forgot to tell Missy….very nice on the curtains! Wasn’t it pretty easy just to sew the rod pocket? Bam and done!
Sandy,
She went a step further and made some little ruffles on the top of those curtains. I think it only took her about an hour to do them all though.
Neither of us has really lived “home” in many, many years. We sort of traveled all over the place.
But yes, I can see us getting cabin fever during the winter if we haven’t made any friends our age around here by then. It seems like that 30-something window is when everyone leaves the country and they don’t come back until they’re in their mid-40s.
Well, one thing about the farm, you can always invite your family and friends out for a visit and a work weekend. You’ve got yourself a win-win situation. You get company and help and they get fresh air and sunshine!
Charming and bucolic in a simple way.
Oil lamps are awesome. To get the most out of them try a couple different trims on the wick.
Here is a link to an OIL lamp “primer.”
Check out the “Cleaning and Trimming” section.
http://www.alpharubicon.com/primitive/oillampsstryder.html
It’s from a “Survivalist” website, but it comes up near the top in a Google search for oil lamp wick trimming.
You have given me an idea with sewing the curtains. I want very long panels and I know they are very expensive. I wil look into buying the fabric.
My home has a sewing room that was an addition to the home. When I moved in, the curtains were sewn, but by an elderly lady, so they weren’t exactly modern enough for my taste.
Oil lamp light is so sweet and simple. Like candle light and I think it’s good for the soul. Makes us slow down a little bit and enjoy the semi-darkness and calm. I think you guys are doing great! Keep it up!!!
I have been wanting to get some from Lehman’s! Hubby not as interested though. I suppose I should be happy we’ve at least lowered the electrical bill due to cutting back on AC.
– From another simpler-life seeking housewife
Just found your site and I’m LOVING it! But I have a question about the oil lamps. I have a few and I really love them… but I also have some concerns.
1) They burn liquid paraffin which is a petroleum product. So what do you think about the relative environmental impact of oil lamps vs. electricity. We buy all of our electricity from renewable sources so this one leaves me feeling torn.
2) What about safety? I did the same stupid thing you did and burned my fingers pretty darned good… it had been a few years since I had used it and somehow it just seemed like I should put it out the same way I lit it. Oh well… but the more salient safety concern is what if the cat knocked it over?
Anyhow, would love to hear your thoughts on the above… Thanks for a wonderful blog!
Hello Rebecca,
Those are some legitimate concerns you have. Regarding safety, we either hang ours way up on a wall or up high (fireplace mantel) where children and cats aren’t going to get to them. We also have a fire extinguisher in the room (just in case).
Lamp oil is a liquid petroleum product that is designed to burn cleanly in lanterns. It has been further processed and refined so that it doesn’t produce as much harmful smoke, soot and other pollutants. While I’m sure it is not “good” for your health to have oil lamps burning all the time, two hours at a time once or twice a month is something I am more than comfortable with. In terms of the environmental effects – just because you don’t see the coal burning when you switch on your light-bulb doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.
That oil lamp with the reflective piece is just awesome. I would love to have a few oil lamps some day when we live in the country.
The curtains are beautiful. I really love that fabric! I’m trying to teach myself to sew right now, so I can make sweet things like that for our home.
[...] to give me along with a bunch of other really cool things being passed down in our family, like oil lamps. My room now kind of looks like someone barfed up cross-stitch all over the place, but I like it. [...]