Al ‘HONEY-LITE CANDLES by Ed & Jean MacKenzle By rights, candles should have become extinct the day that Edison energized his first electric light bulb. But they didn’t. In fact, more decorative candles are made today than ever before. And that’s good news for Glenn and Marilyn Finley of Creston. The Finleys, with their daughter Shannon, run one of the Kootenay’s most interesting industries — Honey-Lite Candles. This sweet-smelling business, which transforms surplus beeswax into attractive candies, is located on the outskirts of Creston, : just south of the junction of Highways 3 and 3A. The Honey-Lite factory and showroom is open from 9 to 5:30 daily, offering free tours enthusiastically conducted by Glenn Finley himself. As the showroom door tinkles open, the rich, sweet scent of honey wafts into your nostrils. A carnival of colour greets your eyes. Tapers, neatly paired in plastic envelopes, parade along the walls. Gold and apricot candles march in company with salmon, Christmas red and burgundy. Shades of blue blend into olive, green and mauve. These are hand- made tapers, painstakingly crafted in the traditional manner. In addition, modern novelty candles molded of paraifin enliven the show windows and shelves. In a wide variety of | ‘shapes and shades, they are displayed as centerpieces or featured in unusual holders, some made locally of juniper or apricot wood. But although the Honey- Lite products are appealing to both nose and eye, it is the workshop tour that is most intriguing. Wax for the candles comes direct from Alberta beekeepers to the Finley workshop, where it is melted and cleaned. In its natural colour, the wax is a golden-beige. This is fine for use in dark coloured tapers, butin order to “take” many of the popular pastel hues, the wax must be “bleached” to the colour of pale par- chment, - Though pure beeswax. candles may be ordered, most of the Finley’s products include 30 percent ’ paraffin, The beeswax and paraffin mix — up. to 500 pounds (225 kilograms) at a time — is melted in a large dipping vat set in the floor of the workshop. While the wax reaches proper tem- eg ts oe — stringing w wickin cord to the required len th on the metal dipping racks, Each of the racks in turn is plunged into the molten wax, quickly lifted out and allowed to cool. This process is repeated until layer by layer the candles grow around the wick to the desired thickness. — 2, ENTERTAINMENT, THE HERALD, Wed. Apr. 20, 1977 A TRAVEL BRITISH COLUMBIA FEATURE After the final cooling the = candles are cut off at the « - bottom, leaving them joined = in pairs by their wicks. Each one is then crimped in the “baser” in order to shape the bottom to fit into a candle holder. The pale, graceful columns of wax are dipped in pairs into the colouring tanks which contain powdered dye melted in pure beeswax. In an instant, the plain candles are transformed to glowing beauty. One of the most popular designs is the Renaissance Twist, formed by flattening the still-soft taper in a wooden press, then quickly twisting it into a fluted spire. Some tapers are softened and shaped in a modified “s”, form known as the Baroque. Others are melted and joined at the base in a U-shape or even a candelabrum effect. Glenn’s favourite style is the ‘courting Candle”, made by winding a tall thin taper into the shape of a coiled spri “When the boy friend comes to call,” Glenn ex- plains, “Mother Pulls up a section of coil and lights the candle. When it burns down to the coil — that’s the time to say Good Night!” Beeswax candles, long- burning and deliciously scented, were one of the earliest inventions of the ancient world. Today, centuries later, the venerable art of can- diemaking lives on at Creston’s Honey-Lite workshop. a (This Roam at Home article is one of a series provided by Tourism British Columbia.) Bad News “Mrs. Bell,” the doctor told the woman he had just examined, “I have good “news for you.” “I’m glad to hear that,” the young La- dy replied, “but Pm Miss Bell,”’ “Miss Bell,” the dac- for continued, “I have ba news for you.” : See The Light Sit up all night wondering - where the sun went and sooner or later it will dawn on you. Sure Thing Telephone caller received " this reply when he asked weatherman to verify that it would rain before dark: “Surely. | have a ticket to the baseball game, ! lost my umbrella, the kids are having a pienic and the wife _ ishosting a lawn party.” ee What For? Young salesman spent half an hour explaning to . farmer why he should invest .on set of books on “How To Farm Successfully.” When he had finished, farmer walked away with one com- ment: ‘Nat me, son, 7 ain't farming half as well now as iknow how!" It’s Canada’s ~ Choice. It’s Canada’s favourite five-year-old rye whisky. Say Seagram’s and be sure.