Random Tired Thoughts

I got home around 8 this evening.  It was a tiring drive made easier by a couple of Tim Keller Sermons and conversations with kids and grandkid.  As a side note on that last personage, there's nothing quite like hearing your best childlike voice telling a six week old via speakerphone all sorts of earth shattering stuff to keep you grounded in whats really important.

This trip contained lots of important stuff.  Pertinent peoples knew about it, but I spared any would be burglars who would have robbed my house the agony of being greeted by my husband and his pack of dogs by not announcing it on facebook.  Seriously -  one might rightfully expect to get bit or get stung sneaking  around my house uninvited.  But I digress.  Remember, I am tired.

Everything is still soaking in:  two days of intense classroom instruction by some of the nations top instructors and taking the most brutal test of my life;   hanging out with one of my best girlfriends that I see once or twice a year;  my mom working on my ingrown toenail  (ok, I know that was gross but she's the only one who can do it without causing me great pain);   going off road with my mom and then my cousin to see my dad's favorite deer plots; seeing a struggling church rally and trust God for survival, bringing home a boatload of stuff for ministry purposes.

Good Stuff

Good Memories

And Responsibility.

To whom much is given much is required.

I have been given so much.  My dear sweet husband has supported this seemingly insane endeavor to become a Master Beekeeper and now that it's almost complete (a bit of paperwork to tidy up) I've got a new sense of responsibility to pursue my two beekeeping related passions -  1) education with the purpose equipping more beekeepers so  2) Africanized bees will be held  in check.  Call it eco-activism or whatever, but it's driven my train for a few years now.  Maybe now people will listen to me.  If one person can be saved an excruciating stinging experience or even death, it will be worth it.

And even more important, if one person can be pointed to the Creator Who's design of the little bee is equal to our own, all the better. 

Running with the Ball

Have I mentioned that sometimes God just drops awesomeness in my lap?  It happened again this week.  I was in the Wal Mart parking lot when the phone rang and a fellow beek  (slang for beekeeper) asked "Hey, you want my extra Hawaiian queens?"

Do I want Hawaiian queens?  That's like asking if I want to live long and prosper, a new SUV, or a winning lottery ticket (not that I play the lottery mind you).  But yes, I wanted them!

The deal with a Hawaiian queen in February is, it gives you a serious head start on your bee year.  A good honey crop is imperative on having healthy hives with many, many bees.  And the sooner said hives can build their population from the winter slump, the more bees will be ready to start making the sweet golden stuff when the surrounding nectar producing flowers are in full swing.  The new queens will allow me to split my existing hives with vigorous layers so that I'll have many more bees to make honey with than I would have growing my own  queens. It's a good thing. 

So yes.  Hawaiian queens are my lapload of awesomeness this week.  Live Long your Highnesses, and Prosper!

No Moss on this Rear

A few years ago I heard a snippet of a talk on the radio that really, really, caught my attention.  The speaker was recalling an old preacher man speaking to a him and his peers, a group of fresh faced college boys who had yet to experience life beyond a dorm room.  The talk went like this:

(Imagine a elderly voice with a couple of rocks thrown in for graininess)  "You know, most Christians sit on their rears year after year and say,  'God, show me an open door!', and they sit with moss growing on their rear.  But not me.  I say "God, if you don't want me going through that door you better close it!',  and there aint no moss growing on this rear"

My Becky and I loved it and adopted it as a motto which soon turned into a life principal.  She went on to a college in the far north, married a great guy and together they are looking and working toward of life of service to others as they complete their studies.  No moss there.

Here on the farm, you'd think things would ease up a little with all the kids gone, but that doesn't seem to be the case . . . you see, these wonderful doors keep opening up . . . and God keeps holding them open.  I love it and have seen some truly amazing things in 2011.

In May I fulfilled a life goal of ministering to the homeless with my Cindy through her church in Memphis.

I saw God start a new,  long prayed about chapter in her life. That was wayyy cool and there's more to come!

I've had opportunity to minister in other unexpected capacities.

My bee business has adopted a charity/ministry organization.

Wonderful, smart, talented and gifted people have come alongside me in learning and working with bees.

I've embarked on a dream of becoming a Master Beekeeper along with two friends.

I think I've taught more than I ever have.

My 16 year old sidekick is becoming a leader and a teacher too.

My grandmother heart is starting to awaken at the possibility of an adoption.

Amazing internet sales after a candle went viral.

More opportunities to fill in for my Extension Agent Mentor.

Blessed reunions with people from my past.

Meeting two favorite authors -  one a high school role model, the other a new found treasure.

I'm sure there are others and I may come back and add more later.  I mostly just wanted to get this written down while it was fresh on my mind so I don't forget 2011 as the "No Moss" year.  What's really ironic about that is that I've got TONS of moss left over around here from Becky's wedding!

Looking Ahead

It's been a while since I wrote about bees. Yes, I still have bees and I love them very much. This is a busy time of year for beekeepers. Even now wild mustard is growing on the sides of the road and it won't be long before we see dandelions pop up in our yards. These are all fresh food sources for the little honeybees who have been cooped up inside all winter long.

Right now I've got about 250 honey supers in my yard waiting for me to clean them. They're not mine, but belong to a beekeeper friend of mine and I get the propolis in exchange for going through them. It's a trade I'm happy to make.

Justin, my 16 year old sidekick, went to Auburn University with me today for the annual Beekeeping Symposium there. With around 400 in attendance, it's the most that have ever gathered for a bee event in this state. With about two thirds of them being new beekeepers, it said a lot of GOOD about the state of beekeeping in Alabama. We split up for a lot of the sessions, him taking more beginner courses and me learning everything else I could. What follows are highlights and a string around my own finger to help remember everything!

First up this morning was a request to do the children's program at the State Beekeeper meeting next October - twice. This will be a pleasure. I've done lot's of children's programs, love kids and have a fun presentation. (Dancing anyone?) It looks like I may be sharing some research on the business end of things I'm currently doing too.

The Master Beekeepers Program excites me. Alabama is actually working on a program for this and once it's finalized and implemented I should be able to be grandfathered in for at least 80% of the qualifications. Dreams do come true!!! Since Justin is getting bees this year he'll be able to go through the program in about 3 years as well starting as an Apprentice. I'm excited for him.

Soap - with as many soap classes as I've sat in on you'd think I'd have made my own by now, but that's soon a thing of the past. I've got a hot process batch in the works and invested in a mold, so we're on the way. No more melt and pour.

AHB . . . Africanized Honey Bees. We were SO UPSET in our part of the state to learn of the death of our GA neighbor last fall from these devils. Well, it turns out he had collected swarms from Central Florida and taken them home to start his own bee business . . . . . if you know anything about Florida's feral bee population and even a hint of the magnitude of this poor soul's mistake . . . The good news is that ALL of his colonies were eliminated so we should still be a few years out on that problem.

And while we're on that topic our local association should be having an important guest speaker the next few months to address that issue since our corner of the state could very well be first to have to deal with them.

Next week I'll start working the hives in preparation for spring honey flow. Between feeding, swapping brood chamber and splits I've got my work cut out for me. My commercial friend will be teaching me to graft as well. While the jury is still out on which queen rearing method I'll finally settle on, I'm just thankful to be back at this threshold for this year. Life is good. Bring on the dandelions, bring on the bees!

Love in a Jar

This evening I got into my stash. Yes, I have a stash. It is kept in a box in a bottom cabinet and nobody gets into it but me. And I only get into it on special occasions.

I’ve had an occasion or two recently to get into it. A visitor came last week and knowing the gentleman’s fine taste, I broke out the box. Only a connoisseur would appreciate it, and he did indeed enjoy the samples he selected.

I got it out again this evening. I had acquired several new specimens to add to my collection and needed to rearrange everything. As I did I thought back over the last several years. I generally don’t partake in the evenings as I did tonight, but somehow I couldn’t help it. Call it the lust of the flesh or whatever, I love my Honey.

Yes, I love Papa Horton with all my heart, but I love my collection of fine, and some rare honeys too. I have specimens Australia, New Zealand and Italy, and quite a few gourmet American honeys. My most recent gourmet acquisition is (Black) Titi, harvested by the above mentioned gentleman who is an outstanding beekeeper.

I couldn’t help but think of all the love that went into this box – the strawberry honey from Mr. Joe’s pollination experiment, the creamed peach honey from his backyard. Several beekeepers from around Alabama have donated samples of fine honey to our club and my kids have blessed me with unusual honeys from their travels. I have an ole timey jar of chunk honey thanks to Brian; cranberry honey from New England compliments of Mike. Cindy started it all with a jar of Outback Honey from Australia. Becky was with me when I found the Michigan Star thistle and Basswood honey.

The Bible records several instances when honey was given as a gift of goodwill. It makes sense. I had to smile as I thought of all the love and goodwill I’ve received over the last few years. Today was a rough day for me and the honey, while I know it was good for me, was only part of the blessing. No matter what you call it, it’s still love in a jar.

Spring Swarm Tutorial

It's spring here in the south and the bees have started swarming. I caught two swarms within walking distance of my office yesterday. Many people go their entire lives without seeing this awesome phenomenon of nature. Unfortunately many who do are ignorant about what they are witnessing and make unwise decisions when this happens. Honeybees provide a valuable service to humanity by pollinating 80% of our food supply. Bees are now threatened which means it's up to us to go above and beyond to protect them. Many times people will call a pest control service to destroy a honeybee swarm out of fear or ignorance. That's why I write - to dispel fear and educate.

First of all - DO NOT PANIC! A clump of bees on a tree limb, post or flat surface will not stay there permanently. Bees will wait in a clump for scouts to find a suitable new home for them. Unfortunately it sometimes winds up being in the walls of a building where the bees are eventually exterminated. This is why the next thing is important: CALL A BEEKEEPER. A beekeeper will put them in a hive designed especially for them and will take care of them.

If you do not know of a beekeeper in your area you may contact your local law enforcement who may know of one and also your local extension office. Many areas have beekeeper organizations that may be found on the internet.

In the meantime, enjoy the show. I don't advise that you get close to them, especially if you're allergic, but they are fascinating to watch. A queen bee whose pheromone is the unifying factor in the clump is somewhere down in there and every bee is tuned to her. When they reach their new home they'll build comb, the queen will lay hundreds of eggs and they'll continue just as they've done for hundreds of years. Your part in this is to make sure the new home is one where they'll be tended and cared for.

60 Minutes and Disappearing Bees

Let me wear a shirt with a beekeeper logo in public and I guarantee questions and comments. "I heard about the disappearing bees!" "Have any of your bees disappeared?" "Have they found out what's causing the bees to disappear?" (Worse yet . . ) "Did you know cell phones are killing bees?"

Hold it! Stop! Yes, there is a problem. And it is a serious problem we all need to be concerned about. If nothing else Colony Colapse Disorder (CCD) has brought much needed public attention to the importance of the humble and much taken for granted honeybee. Since the second airing about the problem on 60 Minutes last Sunday night I can't leave the house without hearing about it. It's a good thing.

So here's the scoop. My bees are fine. They are experiencing the normal life cycle, climate changes, pests, challenges, ups and down of bees, but none of this disappearing stuff. For that matter there are no known cases of CCD in Alabama. This can be verified with our Department of Agriculture.

CCD has mainly affected migratory bees. Your next thought should be "what is a migratory bee?" Bees are kept either in stationary hives or migratory hives. Stationary hives are in permanent locations and are rarely if ever moved. Most hobbyist beekeepers maintain stationary hives. Once the local nectar flow has ceased bees in stationary hives take it easy - there's no mad rush to build a massive population or gather nectar and pollen.

Migratory bees on the other hand are moved from crop to crop to crop all during the year. They may be on watermelons for six weeks during bloom, then corn for four weeks to pollinate it. Every time they are moved they have to reorient their location to the sun and learn their way around. California's bees have been so decimated that beekeepers from many states truck in hundreds of hives for almond pollination. These bees don't get much of a break. Finish one job and go on to the next. It's a vital part of our food production.

But the bees in migratory hives are the ones being affected by CCD. It was recently announced that they've found residue of over 40 pesticides and crop chemicals in the comb of migratory bees. That's a lot of stinking toxins. And commercial beekeepers aren't known for rotating comb but have reused it indefinitely in years past.

Combine that with the stress of getting no rest . . . in human terms I'd probably get sick and go off to die somewhere too if my house was toxic and I couldn't stop and rest.

I'm not saying that's why the bees are disappearing. Research is still continuing and already they've found a virus that weak colonies are susceptible to. And CELL PHONES AREN'T KILLING BEES. That wild claim was based on research that had nothing to do with cell phones and the scientists were ticked. The good news is that beekeepers all over the country are now implementing comb rotation practices and actively looking for other ways to protect our bees. We have no control over many things, like the farmer who sprays his vegetables or the neighbor who puts bug killer on her flower bed, but we can do everything possible where we are with what we have to nurture and protect these little gifts from God. We're in deep trouble if we don't.

What a busy week! I don't know about others, but I used to think you worked all week and spent the weekend doing "whatever" that included church on Sunday. Weekends are still time to break out of the routine for the most part, but as it adult it seems I work harder on weekends catching up on all the work I let go during the week! Last weekend was that way and this weekend coming will be little different. Saturday is the 13th annual Beekeeping Symposium at Auburn University, and while it will be great to catch up with all my beekeeping buddies and enjoy the classes, I'm also committed to helping with a huge meal and teaching a workshop. So it's won't be all play, but I'll enjoy it nonetheless.

Much of this week has been devoted to web work and product development. I found a graphics designer who is scheduled to have my new product logo ready mid February. We're excited about this - it's been a long time in the works. I've got a new candle design almost ready for the store and have made a few dozen more tubes of Fire Ant First Aid. As soon as I get confirmation I'll have shows lined up for March and April as well. Dates are to be announced!

It's hard to believe we've only got a week left of January 2008. Even with the cold there has been plenty to do keeping Norman's books, cutting out quilts for my mom, picking out pecans and running kids too and fro. I've a new bee helper, a boy from church who loves nothing better than to be outside catching chickens and the like. We spent a warm Saturday checking hives for food reserves. One was doing poorly and we took measures to keep them safe and fed. Hopefully they'll make it. We've had colder temperatures this year with temps dropping into the twenties several times. Montgomery even had snow!

So there has been a lot to do. Norman and Becky have seen to the cows. He's staying wrapped up with LocalHelpWanted and truck sales. Becky has been occupied with school, music, the school yearbook and friends as time allows. She had her senior portraits taken last night. She's going on a missions trip to Costa Rica this summer and is getting started on her fund raisers.

We found out yesterday that her cousin, Zack from Phoenix, is going too. What's that saying Cindy had . . . . "Horton, party of FUN." Yes, it's a missions trip and it will be serious, but where two or three Hortons are gathered together a party usually breaks out! I have no doubt the laughter will break down barriers so God can really speak to the kids. It will be good and I wish I were going!

I may not be going to Costa Rica but I am going to Auburn. Dr. Tew asked me to teach a workshop on Gardening at the 13th annual Beekeeping Symposium Feb. 2. I've been doing a lot of research for that. Earlier this week I scrapped my original outline and started from scratch with something that flows better. Phillip Carter reviewed it for me and gave it a thumbs up. Now I've just got to get the power point part of it done.

Workwise I'm happy to announce new packaging for Fire Ant First Aid. It took a bit of creativity to make it happen but it's now available in .15 ounce tubes. Westside Pharmacy has already switched their inventory to the new size and I've got to make more before I approach the other stores. I REALLY like it. The tube is small enough to keep in my pocket and I don't have to touch it to apply it. It always bothered me a bit that I seemed to waste a little when I wiped my fingers after applying it. The other plus is that it's much more affordable.

Another interesting thing with Fire Ant First Aid - I've used it with wonderful results on two spider bites this year. My friend Joe told me they were brown recluse bites but I can't confirm that as 1) I didn't see the spiders and 2) I didn't have the classic necrotic symptoms. But I did have small painful ulcers with huge red whelps around them. Both times I applied the cream, covered it with a bandage and repeated that step several times. The redness went away within a few hours and I discontinued treatment once the ulcer made a scab a couple of days later. They heal slow, but thank the Lord, they DID heal.

Blessed Saturday

Today has been one of those Saturdays I live for. Let me rephrase that, I don''t live for Saturdays, but once in a while I have one that leaves me quite fulfilled. Today was such a one. I didn't accomplish everything I hoped to do but that's ok. What was done was worthwhile. Highlights:

Hitting the Mother of All Good Yard Sales. Good products, good prices. Among other things I purchased three cast iron skillets (0ld seasoned ones!) for $2.75. Sweet!!!

Cooking for the masses. I have breakfast for our Sunday School tomorrow. Part was cooked today, part will be tomorrow.
Chased chickens off the porch

Cleaned Sewing Room. It needed it bad.
Set up table for Beck's studio.
Awesome quiet time with God.
Chased a chicken out of my kitchen.

Cleaned back porch, sort of.
Reorganized screen porch, at little.
Decorated front porch. It looks real nice now.
Fed the cat.

Hauled stuff to the barn.
Took clean empty supers off beehives and put them into storage.

Scored points with the cows by giving them hay. Lost points with the horses by not letting them bully the cows to get said hay.

Mowed the grass.
Made supper.
Loaded more stuff in the truck to move

Stung Norman and myself. Yeah, that sounds strange. I did confer with L. Thompson about it beforehand as he's the apiatherapy expert. Norman had been wanting me to do it for something like a wart on his arm. I had something similar on my calf so took a hit too. It's one thing to get a random sting when you aren't expecting it. Picking up a buzzy little girl with a pair of tweezers and deliberately putting her pointed little rump in a specific spot is a whole different experience. It's not easy to pick up a wiggly bee without squishing her. Anyway we each took one sting tonight. Monday we'll each take two an inch apart on either side of said wart thing, then three in a triangular pattern around it on Thursday. He called it "circling the dragon." After that we'll see what happens or what else needs to be done.

The best part of the day was laughing and working with my family. Beck was gone most of the day but Norman and I had a good time doing stuff. He followed me around the yard on the big tractor for a while just for laughs while I was mowing. Passerby had to think we were nuts. I'm glad to have that done as it will make getting pecans so much easier. Looks like a bumper crop this year.

Presently I'm fixing to (that's a southern term for "about to") pass out. I'll finish that cooking in the morning before church. G'nite all.

Since I had to write a report for our local beekeeping newsletter I'm giving it double duty by republishing it here. The event took place one week ago today and what I didn't mention was that I taught one of the workshops. My topic was Teacher's Toolbox and it was basically sharing ideas for people to talk to groups about bees. I was the only regular club member from our area. One of the state inspectors let me ride up with him (thank you Randy!) and Rachel brought me back Friday night.

The other thing I didn't mention was that I played a couple of numbers (harmonica) with that bluegrass group. Wicked good fun worth staying late for!!!

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State Meeting Report
Ros Horton

This Year’s Alabama Beekeeper’s Association annual meeting was the best I’ve attended in three years of going to this event. Ron Sparks, our state Commissioner of Agriculture spoke to us at the opening. He acknowledged the importance of honeybees and pollination and shared how he helped with his grandfather’s bees as a boy. He pointed out that it was Alabama to catch China importing tainted and toxic products to America several years ago when we found their honey contained unlawful chemicals. Many Chinese products since (fish, toys, baby products, etc.) have followed suit. He also announced the state’s intention of setting up our own laboratory for honey and bee related testing.

Dr. Jerry Bromenshenk was our main speaker and he shared the background, techniques and technical development of using honeybees to find landmines. The University of Montana pioneered research in training bees and is working in partnership with civilian companies to do this around the world. This project is close to his heart as it has the potential of saving many lives for many years around the world. The same techniques used to find landmines are being applied to research for finding meth labs and buried human remains.

Another nationally recognized speaker was Dr. Elizabeth Cantrell, a naturopath physician who spoke about the health benefits of honey, stings, etc. This presentation was a bit disappointing to me. Everything she presented was a generic version of the information we received at our September meeting when Lawrence Thompson spoke to us on the same topic.

There were several breakout sessions during the day that included soap making, lip balm and candles. Even though I’ve attended these type workshops before I always learn something new.

Kelley’s, Rossman, Brushy Mountain and Daniel’s Scientific were all present with many products. If nothing else attending a statewide meeting is a great way to save on shipping costs. Many nice door prizes were given out and the day ended with a steak dinner and fine bluegrass music. Even though I was only able to attend the one day, it was well worth the trip and I look forward to going back both days next year on October 10 and 11, 2008.

It's Monday Again

And I can barely move. It's a good kind of soreness, the kind you experience at the end of a hard task, almost a sort of euphoria.

I spent the weekend extracting honey. This is the first time in all these years of beekeeping I've tackled the task by myself, and as things turned out, the largest extraction to date. I'm guesstimating that by the time I strain what's in the bottom of the big extractor and the cappings finish draining we'll have around 300 lb. The task itself is not that difficult, for me it was just a lot of lifting and repetitive motion. I'm feeling it mostly in my right shoulder from all the uncapping.

This was a good learning experience for me. I extracted on the screen porch with the cracks around the door sealed (with a towel) to keep curious bees out. It worked well. The weather was wonderful though I did have to shut it down earlier than planned Saturday. Once it got dark the bees that were trapped inside with me (the few that had come in with the supers) started buzzing around the light on the ceiling fan directly above me. That wasn't good. Also the honey practically refused to sling out because of the dropping temperature. So I had to finish Sunday afternoon when it was daylight and warm.

Another thing I learned was that the right equipment makes the task go much faster and smoother. I borrowed new uncapping knives and an uncapping tank this time in addition to the club's electric extractor. I couldn't believe how fast the uncapping went. I had several buckets of uncapped frames waiting on the extractor by the time it was all said and done.

Next time I'll cover my tables with plastic as removing melted wax wasn't fun. I'll enlist a vacuum cleaner for the bees that are trapped inside with me. They all congregated on the screen attempting escape and left yellow bee poop on the ledge under them. And I'll definitely cover the floor with paper.

Today all the curious bees that were trying to get in are feasting. I put the uncapping tank outside for them to clean before I tackle it with soap and hot water. No need letting all that honey go to waste when they will gladly remove all the sweet sticky stuff.

It's been a long time since I stayed up so late on a Friday night. One of the things about growing older is that I fancy my sleep. It's not a lazy thing, it's just that I function much better when I've had a good night's sleep, and I like functioning. I don't fancy ceasing to function.

It's been a tough but good week. Norman turned 51 without a lot of fanfare. We made him the coolest plaque ever . . . "When Chuck Norris goes into a sauna, the sauna sweats." It will go on the door of his new sauna.

Kammi and Naomi spent one morning with me. We had a great visit while designing and making two Indian dresses for Naomi. They're learning about native peoples right now. It blew me away when Naomi recognized and understood the purpose of Uncle Norman's "sweat house." She's so adorable and looks like a princess in her moleskin (white) and buckskin (brown) dresses. Her Mom did a good job on the designs.

As I write I just put about 5 quarts of honey in the oven to heat up. I'll cool, strain, mix and jar them tomorrow to make cinnamon creamed honey, a fall favorite around here. Its a big seller too. Last year I pestered every beekeeper I know trying to find light honey. This year I bought five gallons from Jeff Dayton in Tennessee. It's some fine tasting stuff. I'm experimenting with a couple of pints my mom dug up from somewhere as well. It don't have nearly the taste Jeff's has.

And I'm extracting tomorrow too. I've had 3 supers in the freezer a few weeks and robbed three more today. By the time I get the hives here on the farm robbed I should have in excess of 200 lb. I plan to extract on the screened porch. I think as long as I stuff rags under the door we should be ok as far as bees trying to get in. My bee room in the barn is currently a wreck in bad need of cleaning and organizing. And the weather's so beautiful the screened porch will be nice to work in. This time I'm using two extractors, the club's electric one for the bulk of the honey and the little hand crank job for the light honey

Workwise the week has been frustrating. We've wound up changing out both the modem and router at work. I liken working without internet to working with one arm and one leg tied behind you. It's worse than tough.

One bright spot is that Norman has got most of the 200 LocalHelpWanted.net sites up and running. It's the absolute most awesome job board ever. And we got our first check from a customer for the site. I'm tempted to frame it!

Our kids Dennis and Toni will be parents of an active little boy soon. Tony might be 100 lb. soaking wet so this has been quite an ordeal for her. And my friend Connie's oldest son and his girlfriend will be baptized Sunday - talk about an answer to prayer! He was very hostile to the gospel when he left for basic and God did a beautiful work in his heart.

And our professor friend made it back safe from Malaysia where he shared the Christian faith with ten accounting students who had "no religon." He's got a knack for making friends wherever he goes. One of the young ladies cried when he left.

I can't think of anything else. G'nite all!

CCD Cause Found?

It's out, though it's not conclusive. Colony Collapse disorder has been linked to Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus. While it is probably not the only cause, it has been found in affected hives. More study is on the horizon in continued research about this. More information can be found here.

Today was my second day this week playing with bees. It's been good for my heart in more ways than the mild aerobic workout I invariably enjoy. I spent most of yesterday with our state inspector who my eleven hives a thumbs up and good bill of health. We found one to be queenless which was remedied by giving them young brood to grow a new queen. Then today someone gave me a small swarm which I'll merge with the same hive. Either way they'll have a queen.

Today was spent teaching with fellow beekeepers at Landmark Park. It was a lot of fun as usual and our new teaching tools were a great help.

I've nothing profound to say today. Some days are like that - full and rich but not necessarily profound. That's a good thing. I think if we had to deal with outstanding events, outstanding thoughts and outstanding people every day the profound would become mundane, hence the mundane is key to our appreciation of the profound.

Last night however was profound. Mr. Elmore Herman who is the current president of the Florida Beekeepers Association, spoke to WBA and it was a most excellent meeting. We hope he returns often. As close as he is (40 miles from Dothan) several times a year wouldn't be too much. The other profound bee item was that the amendment I proposed and lobbied for within WBA passed unanimously. It puts me out of office this December but will be good for the club in the long run.

The other profound things had to do with people - profound conversation with a friend, and a surprise visit by our Cindy. Good things!

I don't know it it's profound but I had an ionized foot detox yesterday. It was very painless and relaxing, till I saw the water. I'll spare you the disgusting details but suffice it to say that it was so effective I hope to do it again soon.

Today is business as usual, sort of. My friend Donna is finishing her first sandwiched quilt, that is, one with a top, lining and batting. It's been a delight to work with her. She has the capability to become a world class quilter.

And I'm back at my desk on the computer playing instead of balancing accounts (can you say "blech" !?) From the looks of my pile I'll be here a while. (Blech!) Another work related item is that Terri's dad went to hospice and they put him on morphine drip this week. We continue to hold them up in prayer. She told us some months back that he had made peace with God so we pray his homecoming will be as easy as possible for the whole family.

Mike will marry one week from tomorrow. What a blessing! We're getting another daughter!

And the work on the back part of the house is coming along very nicely. You can tell it's an actual room now. I think we've got a color picked out and will be looking for tile here soon, after the wedding no doubt. I've been making cheesecakes for the reception like crazy the last week - 8 made so far and I sacrificed one of them for last night's bee meeting. It was the new white chocolate raspberry flavor (my recipe) and there was none left. Not even a scrap. I've concluded that I like shortcake crusts better than graham, but will be doing graham for the New York ones I'm making tomorrow. Transporting these things frozen to Pensacola is going to be the biggest challenge.

No more rambling! All the talk about food has made me hungry and besides that, duty calls!

It's close to 11:pm and I will be leaving the office pretty soon. It's been one loooooong day! It seems like it's been a very long month for that matter, but the calendar tells me that next Sunday is my turn at the jail, so I guess we're on approach for the end of the month.

Tomorrow will be a special day. I'm going to relax, relax, relax.

I'm nursing about 15 bee stings right now. We moved the porch hives last night, something I hope I never have to do again. The contractors started on the house and there was no way my porch would get screened in with those things there. (Sweet that my grandmother's wicker sofa became available the day they started!)

What I learned is as follows:
1. Wear the big suit. It's too easy to get stung in the tight suit.
2. Lighten the thing up as much as possible. If it means robbing honey a day ahead to return it later do it.
3. Make sure your entrance covers are the right size.
4. Make sure everything's tight - no escape holes or skewed top covers.
5. Make sure you can back the truck up to your load and unload spots.
6. Good help/good company make a tough job more enjoyable.

Naturally this is not an all inclusive list, but it will give you an idea of some things done right and some things done wrong. Live and learn!

Memorial Day 2007 was in a word, memorial. It wasn't the typical holiday where you plan to be a bum and do nothing more than pig out all day, but rather we had planned to work and our guests had too. Three of us tackled robbing bees and extracting honey. Others took over in the kitchen and somewhere along the line Norman kidnapped all the young ladies and went horseback riding. The day ended around 10 pm after the guys had done some major destruction to the yard with the tractor and a chain saw and everyone finally tuckered out. We all agreed it was one of the best days ever. There was lots of love, lots of laughter, the company was good and there was lots of good conversation. And yes, there was lots of good food too.

I remember such times from my childhood. Some of my best memories are days on my grandparents farm when the family gathered to butcher a hog. Even though I didn't understand why they wouldn't let me do anything involving a sharp knife I'd be given a job and would do my part. It gave us dignity and a sense of having done something worthwhile. And the talk and jokes with family members forged bonds that have lasted a lifetime.

The family that comes to my house is very different. They're not family of blood but family of kindred spirit brought together by the grace of God. Our work is different too, but I hope and pray that the good part, long after the honey is gone and the grill is rusted, remains a sweet place in our hearts and minds that will go with us forever.

All I know about Colony Collapse Disorder, aka CCD

Ahh yes - my favorite topic. - - - - NOT!

I'm asked about this almost daily by non beekeeping people. All the articles have got the public actually CARING about bees. This is a good thing. They've been mankinds underappreciated little caretakers and servants for centuries. We rob and eat their honey, make candles and cosmetics from their wax, and feast on food they pollinate whether directly or indirectly. It's time we cared. So here's the lowdown as I know it today, 5/10/2007.

#1 No known incidents in Alabama. :)

#2 and I quote:

"Good story for sure, (speaking of a mass hysteria cell phone article) except that the study in question had nothing to do with mobile phones and was actually investigating the influence of electromagnetic fields, especially those used by cordless phones that work on fixed-line networks, on the learning ability of bees. The small study, according to the researchers who carried it out too small for the results to be considered significant, found that the electromagnetic fields similar to those used by cordless phones may interrupt the innate ability of bees to find the way back to their hive. Those searching for answers for the recent disappearance of millions of bees in the United States - what researchers are calling colony collapse disorder - jumped on the possible explanation though there was one particular, cellphones and cordless phones emit different types of radiation and what you learn studying one type is not necessarily significant to the other, according to the researchers. We cannot explain the CCD-phenomenon itself and want to keep from speculation in this case, Jochen Kuhn, a professor in the physics department at the University of Koblenz-Landau in Germany who co-authored the bee study, wrote in an e-mail message. "Our studies cannot indicate that electromagnetic radiation is a cause of CCD. "If the Americans are looking for an explanation for colony collapse disorder, perhaps they should look at herbicides, pesticides and they should especially think about genetically modified drops, said Stefan Kimmel, a graduate student who co-authored the study last year with Kuhn and other professors It's not my fault if people misinterpret our data, said Kimmel. Ever since The Independent wrote their article, for which they never called or wrote to us, n one of us have been able to do any of our work because all our time has been spent in phone calls and e-mails trying to set things straight. This is a horror story for every researcher to have your study reduced to this. Now we are trying to force things back to normal." Herald Tribune

#3 University of Ohio claims it's related to stress (so what ARE the stress factors???)

#4 Other universities are looking at the above mentioned items: possible residual pesticides in comb, modified crop dna, contaminated pollen, etc. Nothing conclusive announced to date.

My personal gut feeling is that regardless of specific "causes" that the poor honeybee is groaning under the curse of sin just like the rest of creation. They've gone about their business pollinating the food we eat for thousands of years with little appreciation and lots of abuse. Remember those sweet romantic upside down baskets they used to keep bees in called skeps? You harvested that honey by immersing the skep and drowning the bees! I'm not the only Christian to consider that disappearing bees may be a contributing factor to the end time famine that has not happened yet. It's a frightful thought, and while I love bees, I have to cry "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!" about the whole issue. God's plan of ultimate redemtion WILL go through, but dark times are ahead till that happens. In the meantime the bees DO matter and as a steward of God's earth part of my job is to take care of them to the best of my ability. It's a mandate I hope everyone else takes seriously now.

Ok , now I'll get off my soap box.

Wow - A week into May already! I'm happy to report that today is exquisite. Last night was cool and it's in the upper 60's right now. It looks like my bees are starting to venture out into the sunshine - a very good thing considering we're in the thick of honey flow. I added supers to two hives this morning and moved a crowded nuc into a deep. I'm hopeful to do the same for some of my other hives at the farm this afternoon.

Church was good. Pastor's message yesterday morning hit the bulls eye on laying aside weight and sin and running the race. I had never thought about Paul's greatest fear being the same as my own - that of doing something that would dishonor the Lord. I want God's grace and mercy to be magnified in my life - not his justice because I do something stupid or sinful. I find myself being pulled in directions I should not go a lot more often than I care to admit these days. I have no trouble admitting stuggle - I'm just not keen on saying what struggle(s). God knows. Best that this lady have many secrets I guess.

And my stupid back is out, or at least giving me fits. I felt like I was 12 again when Dr. C told me one leg was shorter than the other last week. Thankfully he can and did fix it - it's just the residual pain and tenderness that are so daggone aggrivating. So I move slowly and carefully. But I do move. I want to find a strength training routine. We've got the equipment - I just don't want to tear something else up using it. The machines at the ladies gym contributed to my present situation so there's no going back there. Oh well . . .

Ros out for now. Blessings to all.

Taking it to the Next Level

Which in my case would be intermediate. But it is nice to be beyond "beginner" as a beekeeper. It's been a while since I had difficulty finding a queen. That's not to say it won't happen, but I'm finding her without looking more and more.

The really BIG news is that I've successfully raised queens! I have to honestly and sincerly thank Lonnie Funderburg who gave me a book on rearing queens and told me quite frankly to quit worrying about it and "just do it," exact words. So I did. I caught that queen, boxed her up to lay eggs where I wanted her to lay them, transferred them to a place where the workers would give them royal jelly and was rewarded with three virgin queens. That necessated the need to pull out that split deep and give them a place to call home. It'll be a couple of weeks before I see how their laying patterns are. They've got to mate first. Bill Miller gave me a link about artifical insemination of bees. I can see it's usefulness for genetic purity of queens especially in light of the aggressive dna of africanized bees. The drones die either way.

Since I'll be handling queens sooner or later I've got to learn to mark them. I guess that's next.

Becky is in Memphis for the week. She and Cindy will be working on music and have an appointment with a recording studio next Saturday. The appt. is here and Mike and Heather are coming in for Easter too. It will be nice. I've got a rough few months ahead of me as Terri will be working long distance via internet for an undetermined time. Her dad is a widower, has terminal cancer and as the only chld she's staying by his side. Can't blame her. I'm glad we can be flexible that way.

In other news, I realized this morning that scripture sanctions the medicinal use of alcohol. It's been under my nose all my life, Proverbs 31:6. Interesting that it was predicated by statements that Solomon should not touch the stuff. Go Bathsheba! I have to love that woman. So now when the kids tease me about my homemade cough syrup it shouldn't be so bad. Hey, you may think you'll never swallow again but the mess works!

I started Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge last week. I'm on chapter 2 now. So far so good. It's a fresh look at womanhood and while I appreciate the author's frustration with trying to live up to some ideal of the perfect woman, I was a little disappointed that she picked on the Prov. 31 woman. I really think it's because modern thinking is that you have to do ALL that ALL the time to be the right kind of woman. NOT! There's no way she could keep that candle going all night with small kids. She's be passed out from sheer exhaustion just trying to keep up with them. And it's not likely she was running a home based business while suffering morning sickness either. Give the woman a break. The things listed there were done over a lifetime. Bathsheba was old or dead when Solomon wrote that. He knew her godly character better than anyone and this chapter reflects what he knew about the woman he admired most in life. And I suspect that between his honoring her with a seat at his right and writing of her nobal character he hoped to silence the accusations against her that continue to this day. I'm sure I'll have more comments after I've read more.

My other muse today concerned Deborah. I've pretty well concluded that some of the old guard in the bee club is gone for good due to the fact that they can't deal with a woman president. That is sad and I would challenge my critics to criticize by doing something better. As a "mother in Israel" Deborah rose to do what was needed during a time that the men did not. God blessed her and made Israel victorious through her leadership and the courage of another woman, Jael. So far God has blessed this bee thing I got myself into. He's given me wisdom to help others as well as the bees. It's been an avenue for blessing on many levels. We're facing a possible crisis right now and I've already got a plan to deal with it should it be needed. Deborah's are a good thing. Don't be a crybaby Barak or a weasel Heber.