Getting around to some of the household items which need to be addressed. Figured out the cause behind the spectacular spark show immediately follwed by ceiling fan demise in my master bedroom.



The item pictured is the receiver for the radio transmitter which controlls the light and fan. You can see that the black junk escaped from some circuitry. Once that stuff escapes, you can't ever get it back in.

 

When I moved in to my house, I removed everything brass/gold in color (ewww) and replaced it with brushed nickel or stainless inside and antiqued bronze outside. Except for the light at the front door; the bronze lamp I got for there was too tall to fit. My n'hood association got on me for leaving the brass lamp by my door, but I couldn't find anything that matched my other bronze fixtures w/ alabaster globes that fit.

Solution: I found a black and bronze outdoor jar lamp at Home Depot ($2.85). Instead of using the jar it came with, I took a hole saw to the bottom of a tea candle holder and used it as the globe ($6.99). It's a little on the small side, but it works. I wanted to turn it facing up, but the wife wanted it hanging down. Pick yer battles. :-/

 

I always called it the "magic smoke."