The Cozy Mystery List Blog

I am always on the lookout for scented soy candles. I don’t actually light them, though. I scoop the soy wax out of the candle jars and put the wax in tin containers which I buy at Michael’s. I then put the tin container on one of those little coffee cup warmers, and let it “simmer” throughout the day. (It never actually simmers, my coffee cup warmer is just hot enough to melt the wax, letting the aroma fill the air.) I just love the soft scent that permeates through the house. I know, I know… and yes, I am VERY CAREFUL! My coffee cup warmer has a bright red light on it so that I am very aware of when it is on… I never leave it on while I am gone or at night. But, I do enjoy it during the day. (Obviously, I don’t have a cat that can jump up on the kitchen counter and I didn’t do any of this when our children were young. Also, I have never put anything on my coffee warmer that has a sticker on it… like a price tag, etc.)

It is a bit of a drag to have to scoop out the wax from the original candle container, and then to have to continue to change the wax out of the tin when it loses its scent. But, it just one of those things that I am so used to doing that I don’t think anything about it.

I have different candle scents for the different times of year… cinnamon and spice for the autumn, pine and a soft mulberry for the winter months, and I alternate between hazelnut coffee, lemon, and lime during the rest of the year. (I may not be diligent about dusting and polishing, but my house sure smells lemony clean!) Of course, I have tried some scents which none of us like, but I think that I now have our selections down to scents that all of us like… or at least that none of us dislike!

We moved here over fifteen years ago, and I think that the lack of four definite seasons has made me look for ways to create some types of environmental differences which can mimic the seasons… adding the scents of the seasons into our home is just one of those ways.

Man!!! It is hot right now in San Antonio! I am already thinking about the coming autumn and winter months. Of course, our autumn months are not at all cold… but at least they don’t feel clammy, humid, and HOT! So, having said that…

I do not watch television channels devoted to selling products during the year. I simply don’t enjoy shopping, and I am not a collector of anything other than (mostly cozy) mystery books. But I have to confess that as the fall approaches, I start “peeking in” on a few QVC shows to get ideas for gifts that I can give as “gift fillers”… the types of things that can be included amongst the “main gifts” that I send out>>> little things that can be added in to make a nicer presentation>>> sort of like stocking stuffers. Things that aren’t too big or expensive. Things that can round out the big boxes that I send out.

Anyway, let me get to my blog idea for the day… Tomorrow night (Thursday, 24) QVC is starting their “Christmas in July” sale… and, since I never watch television live, I have already set up my Replay machine to tape all of the shows that look interesting to me.  I’m hoping that I am able to get some ideas (and purchases) of doo-dads for all of the people on my list. And, perhaps just seeing QVC’s fake snow might make it feel a little cooler outside!

PS>>>> A Replay machine is like a TIVO. I prefer the Replay since (I think) that it’s easier to navigate. Unfortunately I think it went the way of the Betas, 8-Tracks, and laser discs!