August 19, 2009

Storing Sun Rays.

Some of you might remember that I purchased an unusual solar lamp about a month ago.
Made out of clay, it looks like an interesting candle holder. However, it contains a solar panel that catches the sun light during the day and emits a warm, yellow light upon the onset of dusk. The most intriguing feature about this lovely solar lamp is the fact that it flickers, simulating a candle.

The White Nights officially ended on the 7th of August and this means that the amount of sunlight is decreasing as well. However, it is still sufficient enough to charge all my solar lamps. I have had a lot of enjoyment from all of them over the course of the summer, particularly this new one.
I have placed it just outside the large window next to the main entrance door. Its warm flickering light makes my entrance inviting after the darkness settles over the neighbourhood. Additionally, it can be seen both from the outside and the inside of the house, thus functioning as a sort of a nightlight, casting a magical, almost ethereal light across the staircase during the darkest hours of the night.

18 comments:

Hilary said...

Very cool. A never-ending candle.. ish. Just when does the sun set there now? It seemed you had so little night at one point early on in June. Now I'm wondering about the changes.

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

I really like this lamp and am glad that you are still getting enough light to charge it up. So pretty!

Claus said...

It does look as if it had a candle in it! Very cool! I'm thinking it could be a great addition to Halloween outdoor decoration for those countries that do celebrate that date. Thanks for sharing!

Shelly's Style Shop said...

I really like that lamp. I need to buy me a few of them. ;-) I like the idea of it flickering, simulating a candle. I love candles but where I live you can't burn them outside because it's too windy! Great post!

xoxo, Shelly

Sumandebray said...

I was actually waiting to see the lamp in action. It really does look very nice.
It is good to see that the night becomes dark at night. Where I live is full of Light pollution. If we draw the curtains the room becomes quite illuminated at night with the light coming from outside.

Diane said...

So pretty!

I have to admit, I'm looking forward to the shortening days... it's a good thing I live in a place with seasons, eh? :) XO

Reading Tea Leaves said...

Those solar lamps are great - since your original post I have been looking out for one, but no luck so far. Dusk is falling around 8ish here now. I miss the light nights but on the other hand I like the change of seasons!
Jeanne
x

steviewren said...

How many hours of sunlight does it need to stay light all night? I like the fact that it illuminates your entrance. I dislike coming home in the dark so much that I bought energy saving light bulbs and leave them on around the clock. If I had a personal handy man I would have a timer installed.

Mahmud Yussop said...

The flickering effect is very beautiful. A great garden accessory.

Zuzana said...

=Hilary,
so good to see you back my friend.;)) We still have some fair amount of light, but about 3h less than in June. Furthermore, as the phenomenon of White Nights has ended, it "feels" much darker than that as well. The evenings are no longer light and this week I have started to turn on the light for he first time this season around 9PM. I no longer observe a light sky in the horizon and the skyline is pitch dark about 10PM... No well, I guess give it another year and all of its will return, right?;)))
xo

=Jill,
yes, we will have light from 6AM to 9PM, but it is fading very fast, each day about 10 minutes less.:((
Glad you liked the candle-lamp.;))xo

=Claudia,
agree with you on all accounts; in fact someone commented on it previously, stating that it looks like a Jack-o-lantern.;)) Unfortunately, comes November, the sun is pretty much absent and the lamp will be no longer on light by then.;)) Always glad when you stop by.;)) xo

=Shelly,
ah yes, living in the desert, it mus be dry and windy. Yes, these would do so well in your garden I bet.;)) Thank you for your always kind comments.;))xo

=Sumandebray,
that must be so odd an fantastic at the same time, that the nights are light due to artificial lights of the city! Ah yes, here it can become really dark, pitch dark in fact.
So what about stars? Do you ever get to see stars in your city? I sure would miss seeing those. I see them every night, if the sky is clear, out of the roof window just above my bed.;))

=Diane,
you must be the only one I now looking forward to short days.;)) I need to talk to you more so that this optimism will rub off.;)) But I agree with you on the seasons, they are in fact magical.;)) xoxo

=Jeanne,
sorry to hear that you can not find the lamps, I guess they are more common up here north where we have so much summer daylight. Here it starts to get dark around 9PM and is completely dark around 10PM, so we have a bit more light still.;)) xo

=Stevie,
it depends on the lamp. Some of my solar lamps stay lit all night if the weather is sunny, even now. That means at least 10h of daylight. This particular candle is lit through most of the night, but no longer in the early morning. But it is because it only gets direct sunlight for about 4h.
I know what you mean about hating coming home to a dark house - I did exactly the same thing when I first moved into my house.;)) xo

Zuzana said...

=Mahmud,
thank you so much; and I agree, it makes the garden so much nicer when it gets dark.;))

Beverlydru said...

I'm going to look for one of these. Surely they sell them online somewhere. This is a great gift idea too. Thanks! Our days are shortening already as well and that makes me sad. I love summer. Hot I can handle! However, it's not very motivating on the exercise side of things. Each season has its highlights.

Zuzana said...

=Beverly,
I agree with you, I love summer too and I love particularly the humid heat.
But I also know the magic of season you talk about.;))
Good luck in the "candle" hunt.;))And thank you so much for stopping by.;)

Unknown said...

very cool candle! your blog is so fun to visit. so much to learn.

Sumandebray said...

I used to see the stars while I was in my country. It was a small city where I grew up. I could see the stars and made a thousand wishes looking at the falling stars. But here in Dubai.. all I can see is the Sun and the Moon. Yes get moonstruck at times!!!!!

Zuzana said...

=Doreen,
thank you so much, what a kind thing to say.;))xo

=Sumandebray,
to see the sun and the moon ain't half as bad.;)) In fact, here in winter we often don't see the sun or the moon for weeks, due to the never ending cloud cover.;) And our geographical position.;)

Maria said...

That is lovely!

Zuzana said...

=gaelikaa,
thank you.;)) xo