Ice Candles – How to make them.

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When we moved to Canada, I was in my 40's . It didn't take long to meet a new group of new friends. What got us all together in the beginning was skiing. We spent around 15 to 20 years, filling a van or two with friends and we would go to Springville NY to ski at Holiday Valley. At New Years we would have a pool party at my best friends house. It was cold (freezing cold) but we wore our ski clothes, and BBQ'ed by the frozen pool in the back yard. There was a fire pit and lots of chairs. We ate, drank and were merry... My best friend and I were always looking for something to make that is different. I'm not sure where we got the idea. See the photo above. Its an ice candle: (three of them) 1) start with a slightly flared out smooth bucket 2) fill an empty wine bottle with sand and pebbles for weight 3) Put the wine bottle in the middle of the bucket 4) put twigs, berries. evergreens or what ever you can find in your yard or nearby park around the wine bottle. If you noticed we put put wine corks in one of them. But they float so not a great idea. 5) Then fill the bucket with water and put it in the freezer. (we had a big freezer in the basement of my house.) 6) We usually left them in the freezer for a few days to make sure they were completely frozen. 7) When ready to use, take them out of the freezer and let then stand in the house until the outside thaws enough to slide the ice out of the bucket. Same with the wine bottle. (or run hot water on the outside of the bucket.) 8) Now you have a ice ring – ours were 8 to 10 inches tall. 9) For the party we just put the ice around the pool and put a candle in inside each one, The flame from the candle shined through the ice and it was very pretty. They would last until it got warm enough to melt the ice which was usually spring. Not only easy to make but fun to use and certainly a conversation topic. Oh, And to be used outside at all times, they will make a mess inside your house.