I've made the ice votives many times but didn't have a digital camera until recently. I use the 5 gallon pails from my works foodservice. It's real handy to have a porch door right off my kitchen where I make them! In Minnesota they can be outside for a long, long time! When I see large pillar candles on sale I buy lots of them since the votives are just too small for my ice candles (or what I call ice luminaries). I first saw the idea on Rebecca Kohls show (Rebecca's Garden). Thanks for posting the snow candles; I'm off to see if I still have my bundt pan!

Sheryl, your house looks beautiful! :-) My MIL isn't ready to "pass the baton" on holiday dinners yet, but neither is she willing to invite my folks to their house (or come to my folks' house). So we had two thanksgiving dinners this year - one with DH's family at MIL's house on Thurs, and one at our house for my family on Saturday night. I really enjoy having my family over to our house - we have more room, a bigger table, I have a dishwasher. ;-) Our table is big enough for 6-8 place settings, plus all the various serving bowls and platters, so serving things "family style" isn't a problem. It all worked out very nicely this year at my house, and everyone had fun. I let people bring things into the kitchen from the table, but other than that I do all the clean-up. My mom and sis stood out there chatting with me, but I assigned any tasks and made sure things were done how *I* wanted them done (and *I* loaded the dishwasher...I have a system for fitting lots of stuff in there. LOL). They're still amazed that we don't actually have to wash dishes by hand after a meal at my house (I use dishwasher-safe dishes for just about everything...and the pots and pans are fine in the sink until everyone leaves). After I get the food put away, I gently "drag" everyone *out* of my still-messy kitchen back to the table, which has been wiped down, or into the living room to chat. The nice thing about my kitchen being closed off from all other rooms is that the mess is "out of sight", so it doesn't bother people. ;-) It all works pretty well, really, and I finish cleaning up when everyone goes home. Christmas is going to be...uh...interesting this year. *eyeroll* Christmas eve we *have* to be at the in-laws house, so that's that. I have the priviledge of having christmas eve off, so I may stop by my parent's house that afternoon for a bit to drop off some goodies for their evening meal. Christmas morning we're having brunch at my parent's house at 10am - I expect some dissention from the in-laws for that, but oh well, my parents deserve our time too. Then Christmas evening we'll probably end up back at the in-law's house again...*sigh* Wears me out just thinking about all that time spent between two houses, and very little spent at home. Thank goodness we both go to a friend's house for New Year's eve, and have for years now, so neither set of parents expects us for that, and we'll probably just split up on New Year's day...DH can visit his parents, and I'll visit mine (and my grandparents, who generally come up then). *sigh* Holidays are the only thing that really stresses me out about being married...not that I didn't expect it, but I was hoping that everyone on both sides would get along well enough to spend holidays *together* in one place, since we all live in the same city. Maybe someday...

I suspect that the varnish will burn, but I am not sure it is a good idea. It is bound to smell bad & may give off toxic vapor.

Nice progress, but I agree it would be better lowered at some point, and possibly loosened up. With of course that metal box someplace where your husband doesn't sit. :) Both rooms that are experienced mainly when sitting and low ceilings can be dealt with by mounting wall decor relatively low, and in the case of the latter letting attention focus below so that a ceiling can sort of "soar" without notice above.