O Holy Night!

Truly, He taught us to love one another--His law is love and His gospel is p.e.a.c.e....

Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in His name, all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With ALL our hearts we praise His holy name!!!

Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more procaim!

* * * * *

And we have seen, and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world!!
I John 4:14

This is an intermittent post...haha

Just thought I'd grab your attention....did I spell intermittent correctly???

If you've seen my feeble attempt at posting for 30 consecutive days, you've seen that I've failed twice....so..I will try ONE MORE TIME..after the new year has arrived. I figured by 1/11/11 I should have my head on straight and be able to successfully post for 30 straight days...so till then..intermittent posts!

BUT, if I fail yet again, it will just prove my persistence in trying. (Doesn't necessarily mean my head is not on straight, mind you!)

This afternoon I witnessed a new kind of birth. There were 6 of us gathered around a table in the conference room of the Dougherty County Ag- Extension Agents' office. We hashed out the By-laws of our "yet-to-be-named" Bee Club. If you are NOT a beekeeper, you probably just laughed a little out loud..if you ARE a beekeeper, you are saying "hooray-- another club is born..we will have a better world soon!!" (NOW is the time to laugh!!)

It is exciting to me to be "in on the bottom board" of the beginning of this hopefully-excellent resource for area beekeepers.

So, while my bees are eating up their sugar syrup, keeping warm in this freezing weather, I am cheering them on to stay alive so we will have another good year!!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Day # 28 My windows are naked!!

When the contractor told us "we would not know" our house when he fininshed with it, I have to admit--I shuttered--

Shuttered because we are getting new windows---other wise I would have said "shuddered" (get it??)

N E WA

Seven of the nineteen windows are in, and I cannot wait to see if I can really recognize my house when he is finished...I hope you all can find your way back here!! ;0)

Right now, there are no window treatments on the windows and I feel like I'm living in a fishbowl....a COLD fishbowl.... I don't like to swim in warm weather--much less cold...

But soon the house will be wrapped in energy efficient-double-paned-new windows.

Celebrate with me!!

Day # 29 Baby, it's COLD outside!!

It's 29 degrees here in south Georgia, and I mean, it is COLD outside...I just keep humming 'let it snow let it snow let it snow" to no one in particular...mostly because the song starts out with the 'frightful weather' bit.

We are in the process of saying goodbye to 38-year-old windows, replacing them with windows that keep the cold out. YAY!! I am thrilled that when the spring time gets here, we will be able to open all the windows in the house if we want to, because none of them will be stuck together, and all will have screens. I am hoping more for a long springtime than a white Christmas!!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas-- in our town, anyway...Perhaps we'll get a tree up THIS weekend.....we haven't waited this late to decorate in many years. I'm really OK with it. The reason for the season doesn't lie in the beauty of ornaments, but the 'ornaments of our house are the friends and family that decorate it'

Yea, that's the spirit!!

sweet dreams!!

Day # 30 Whew!! I thought it would never happen!!

yea.....right.....


Well, after two attempts at continuously bloggging for 30 days in a row, I thought perhaps I was just not approaching it the right way...perhaps I should just count the days down, instead of count the days UP....so..

Today is day number 30...

I'll just mention that sometimes a hug is all that is needed...no more...no less....

For every negative /'bad luck' thing there is, there are at least two positives....

I am glad to be able to hug--makes me think of an old ditty:

I love you ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, a bushel and a peck.......................
a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmm good night!!

Day 12: Is it REALLY December???

Well, just like airplanes and bluebirds, TIME is taking to the air....it just keeps on flying around...and around....and around....I cannot believe it is already December!!

My 5th grandchild will be born this month. I am so excited!! I cannot wait to take to the air myself, and see the newest grandbaby! All in 'due' time...get it?? due time? ;0)

Now it is time to rest for a moment...having finished the third 12-hour shift in as many days, my legs are ready to sleep--with the rest of me, of course.

Just one more load of laundry in the dryer, and I'm 'outta here'.

Sweet dreams! And I'll see you in the morning!! ;0) (You know who you are!)

Day #11 What's in a name?

Craziest thing these days....people at work are calling me the"bee lady" and asking all kinds of questions regarding honeybees. I just love it!!

Nevermind, I have not been a beekeeper a full year yet and never mind I only have 2 hives, and nevermind my bees had no surplus honey to share with me this year....My picture has been in the local newspaper and my talking self on the local TV news, so there you have it: I'm a bee lady.

When the anesthesiologists I work with tell my patients "you are going to feel a bee sting" when they inject the local anesthetic --I ask them if they've ever been stung by a bee, or was it REALLY a wasp or yellow jacket...because...after all, honeybees are not hostile insects (unless you are trying to take what is theirs...) (I'm trying to 'take up for' the bees!!)

I'd be pretty darn hostile too if you try to take what is MINE....just ask me for it OK???

So, yes, I do talk to my bees--all 60,000 of them--collectively , of course. I like for them to know my voice, and bee glad I'm there. Is this ridiculously silly? Yes, I do beelieve it is....but I can pretend they are grateful for the mansion they live in, or the sugar-water I make especially for them since there are not many flowers blooming--haven't heard of a 'winter nectar-flow' in these parts. I am hopeful that next summer will be a banner year for honey aand that my bees make it through the winter to enjoy the summer!!

What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, and honey by any other name would taste as sweet! I don't mind being called the 'bee lady' 'cause I know who I really am!! ;0)

Day # 10 emptiness

I have absolutely nothing to write about. This makes me think of a "creative writing" class I had in high scholl, in which the teacher's assignment was to just write...We all had spiral notebooks--some flashed brightly colored ones---in which we would make daily entries. We could not JUST SIT THERE....we had to write, whether or not we had a story to tell.

You know, some people talk like that...they just talk whether or not they have something to say...and some folks shop like that--whether or not they have a shopping-mission.....(I HAVE to have a mission when I shop....although I don't always 'stick' to it...sometimes I start out on one mission then switch over to another one!)

When I think about the millions upon millions of people on the face of the Earth today, each one has a story...the cashier at the grocery store has a story, as do the meter-reader lady, the receptionist at the doctor's office, the baby-sitter, the fellow who is jogging down the street, or sits in his recliner in front of the TV set at the end of the day.. (Is it still called a TV set)?

We ALL share something is common...a sort of blank notebook to write our story...a beating heart...the ability to smile...or not....

I think it is pretty cool that God already knows what our story is...and loves us just the same.....everyone...no more no less.

What's your story, morning glory?

;0)

Numero nueve.....

Well-----------------

This is the 9th consecutive day I have posted.

I am exhausted, but not as angry as I was yesterday.

So, now I smile.

My foot is better...my children (and theirs) have a roof over their heads, and food to eat.

Uh-oh--I forgot to make bee syrup today. I should do it NOW before my bees run out. It wil be cold this weekend and the bees will be tightly clustered-they've worked all summer for the stores of honey and pollen to carry them through....I'll just help them with a little syrup--or as much as they need!!

Yall have a sweet tomorrow, ya hear?!!

;0)

The Good 'Ole Days

Day # 8

Once upon a time, no one locked their doors.

At least that is what I am told. I KNOW there was a time when I did not lock

my car door everytime I got out. Who in their right mind would take something from someone else's car?

Now,

I lock my car door even in my own carport, because there is rampant theivery around here.

In days gone by, we trusted people we did not even know. There seems to be a shift from 'trust everyone' to 'trust no one'. How did this happen?

AS angry as I get at injustices all around, I am reminded that God is supreme...He is in control.

These are the good old days. These days are all we have...can't change the past--can only change the future by what we do today...the present. What do we do with these days? Do we make them "the good old days" for those we leave behind?

What is the best way to do that?

I think, by removing the locks on our minds and hearts, and by

loving

more, these days will be remembered as the good old days....

Hot Water!

Day # 7 I am curious where the expression "to be in hot water" came from. My feet are in hot water right now...literally...I have them soaking in hot water with Epsom salt...right here under the desk where my computer is.

I did this earlier today, and it seemed to help my sad, sore foot. So, Epsom salt it is for me, right now.

I guess there is any number of things, that when placed in hot water, don't fare so well...like lobsters and crabs, like carrots and peas, and eggs--and coffee beans--wait a minute. Hot water and coffee beans seem to be my fav combo right now--except the most profitable for me is hot water and epsom salt. I think it is funny that Epsom salt is really something called magnesium sulfate...which is something we, in Labor and Delivery use to stop preterm labor. I am on a "mag soak" instead of a Mag drip....(only L&D nurses would find that funny).

Well, it is that time of night when I think I am funny, but I'm not REALLY funny at all, so I think I will "hit the hay" now....................................................................................................................
good night yall---and stay out of hot water, unless it will help you!!

Day #6 Shuffling the topics!!

I know, I know...last night I said "next up--shuffle the cards"...

Well, I changed my mind to "shuffle the topics", and here is why:

Day # 6 on the first list is--

"A picture of something that makes you happy"

So, the secret is out--honeybees make me happy.

The particular honeybee in my photo is 'on' my broccoli I let go to seed.

I took the photo in March of this year...before I had beehives.

When I think about all the work honeybees do, and how thousands and thousands of them work together,

I wonder why can't so-called normal folk can't do it?

It does make me happy when people CAN and DO work together....

smiling.....

no complaining.....

really helping each other.....

like tonight with the dinner prep and clean-up...

yay!

all done!!

Day #5 Shuffle

I have been shuffling around at work all day today...I think a bone in my right foot might be broken...snagged the 'pinkie' toe on the 'fridge Wednesday night, and the color purple is blended with blues just under the surface of my skin.Ouch!!

Speaking of shuffling....what are the first 10 songs on your ipod>shuffle-mode?

Here are mine this time around:

1. "Holy" (Nichole Nordeman)

2. "Immanuel" Amy Grant's Christmas Album...an old favorite!!

3. "Language or the Kiss" Indigo Girls

4. "Watershed " Indigo Girls

5. "Just Like a Woman" Bob Dylan

6. "For Emily,Whenever I May Find Her" Simon and Garfunkel

7. "I Try" Macy Gray

8. "Every Time You See Me Cry" John Elefante

9. "Waltz of the Flowers" Tchaikovsky

10. "1 2 3 [Studio Version]" Indigo Girls

Interesting to me - I rarely listen to Indigo Girls anymore, but Nichole Nordeman is a 'staple'....

next up:

Shuffle the cards!!!

Fullness

Day # 4

................From the Fullness of His grace, we have all received one blessing after another..........

John 1:16

Wow! As traditional as it is, Thanksgiving Day is an exciting new day every year! And, today was another beautiful day. The weather unseasonably warm for November (80-degrees) and a gentle breeze and partly clouded skies. We always have turkey and ham...sweet potato casserole and cornbread dressing to eat...other side dishes vary from year to year, but we are always so full. Still so full the pecan pie has NOT been cut into yet.

Full. Containing all that is normal or possible...not deficient or partial...complete....

Whether I am refering to my stomach, or my life, I am full. I am full of the riches God has blessed me with...I am so very thankful.

I hope you have had a day of thanksgiving to our God, provider of life and so much more!!

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God...

Ephesians 3:19 (New Living Translation)

Cinderella

Day #3
The challenge is to post for 30 straight days....when I heard the clocks...all 4 of them...sing the Westminster chimes to the tune of midnight, I rushed to log-in and post Day #3...does it STILL count if I started the post at midnight???? uuuuggggghhh!!! I not very good at this!! (and good night!!)

A Song in my Heart

Day #2 Music is so very vital!! I could not choose a favorite song for the life of me!! However, a tune that is 'rattling' 'round in my head and slipping out over my lips is a tune by Nicole Nordeman....I am a fan of Nicole Nordeman--here is just a snippet of one of her songs, that holds so true to my heart:

"I want to leave a legacy. How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering. A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically, and leave that kind of legacy. "

Well, that is just the chorus...I am particulary struck by the line: Did I choose to love?
I hope the song in my heart is a celebration of having chosen love!!

Mmmmmmmm Mmmmmmm Good!!

Day # 1: What does your house smell like, right this second?

Cornbread.

My house smells like cornbread right now and I can almost taste sweet creamery butter dripping out of the corner of my mouth. I just took the 10" iron skillet filled with cornbread out of the oven, and the aroma of what will be dressing in a few days is mmmmm mmmm good!!
I don't get to slather it in butter, but it surely would be good...

The recipe for my cornbread dressing comes from an old acquaintance back at Campus View Church of Christ in Athens....it is never the same from year to year--I ususally do 'a little something different'. Right NOW though, the aroma of the cornbread has never been better.

I will resist the urge to sneak a piece before I get the coffee-maker ready for the morning..when a new favorite fragrance fills the kitchen, and sends me out the door to the job I love...good night!

Day # 20 Playing "Catch Up"

Whoa...didn't expect THAT one, did ya now??? I have been debating whether or not to continue my blogs in order--using the lists of one (or both!) daughters' topics, or just jump right ahead to day # 20. It really doesn't matter anyway, since I have failed the "30-day Challenge". We went out of town, and I didn't have computer access for 2 days. So, if the 'math' is correct, you have deduced that I was home in time to post at least one blog entry yesterday. Very good Watson.....I am one of those types who, when fail, just concede. Like when I was on a diet, ate the vanilla-cream-cheescake with caramel topping, and commenced to finish off the oreo cookies, croissants, and that little dab of Turtle ice cream. THAT way, there will be NO MORE desserts in the house, and I can start anew the next day...so....with all that unnecessary chatter, perhaps I will start anew with the postings...

Just to prove I CAN post 30 days in a row, tomorrow will be my new#1 and I will use any topic I choose. Is it OK to make up my own rules, since I am out of the other game?

I have started cooking for Thanksgiving...no--I have started preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. I have measured out and bagged up most of the ingredients, because it is too early to crack the eggs, but since I have to work 12-hour shifts on Tuesday and Wednesday, time is of the essence.

I dream of having all my children together again, but it won't be THIS Thanksgiving. Yet, I am deeply grateful for the love I feel, whether or not they are here. And deeply grateful they have loved ones with them where they are. Can't wait till Thursday!! ;0)

Day # 16 Dream home is not a joke!!!

I'm combining my daughters' topics..kinda..sorta...

"Tell a joke" and "Dream Home" have turned into "Dream Home is not a joke"....which is true. I have dreamed of camping out often at Dry Creek farm, and now there is a 'camper' at Dry Creek to make the camping easier. I actually like tent camping, but NOT tent camping by myself...so now that the *land yacht* is in place, my sweetie and I can listen to the crickets and frogs from the comfort of a soft bed...campsite- dream -home...no joke!!

Day # 15......When you grow up...

Just curious..can you teach an old dog new tricks?

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a teacher. I did not know then, that you did not have to be in a classroom to be a teacher. As a matter of fact, I've learned things from people who did not even know I was "in their classroom"......watching. In a way, that sorta makes us ALL teachers--because someone is always watching.....

I am thinking that I probably never will really grow up--- because if I am, I would have probably done that by now, don't you?

Day # 14 ...a picture you love...

I have spent so much of my very limited time trying to find THE picture I love...but , alas, the topic is "A picture you love". This helps, because when I looked through alot of photos, there are so many I love, for so many reasons----I could not choose just the right one.
Why did I pick THIS one? mostly because I love it!! ;0)
The memories it evokes are as warm and sweet as fresh apple pie...uh.....where did THAT come from??? Oh well....
lovely, isn't it?

Day # 13 Goals

G........get to work on time in the morning


O ........occupy my thoughts with those that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely,

admirable, excellent and praiseworthy!!

A........aim to be kind


L ........Love one another......

So, there you have it!

^^^^^I have alot of other goals, but I thought it would be cute to line it up like that ^^^^^^^

Yall have a good week, ya hear?!!!

Day # 12 What you believe...

I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows.
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night, a candle glows.
I believe for everyone that goes astray, someone will come to show the way--I believe....I believe.
I believe above a storm the smallest prayer can still be heard.
I believe tht Someone in the great 'somewhere', hears every word.
Everytime I hear a newborn baby cry, or touch a leaf, or see the sky--then I know why I believe........

These are the lyrics to a song I used to hear my daddy sing....I "googled"it just to see who REALLY gets the credit (cuz I know it wasn't my daddy!). I'll give them due respect now: Erwin Drake- Irvin Graham- Jimmy Shirl-Al Stillman.)

I used to love to hear my daddy sing...and see him smile...and watch him 'flirt' with my mom at the kitchen sink....even if he was a little 'tipsy' sometimes....(boy would my grandmother have a fit if she saw THAT in print!) The last thing I heard him sing was "Amazing Grace" at his church--he did a solo from the pulpit. I wonder if it was Father's Day or some other so-called "special" Sunday..I really don't remember, but I DO remember his singing....
I miss him and do believe I'll see him again in heaven.
There is a whole bunch of other stuff I believe......perhaps we can sit down and talk about it sometime.....

uh-oh Day # 11 con't

OK--here's the low-down...
I like Jeopardy, Law & Order, "Pickers" and several other shows--like Amazing Race, and American Idol...I just don't know how to upload a photo of them yet, and I don't watch them often enough to keep up--for example, I missed the last 3 weeks of Amazing Race, but I'm not bothered by it, and don't do the DVR thing...
So--YES, I like TV, but NO it is notso important...much rather listen to musica!! ;0)
(If I were computer saavy, I woudl insert a big smiley face here...?Natalie? you left too soon!!)
;0)

Day # 11 Don't let it happen to YOU: Favorite TV shows....

If you look really hard, you can see a "wolf face" in the deer prints and grass tufts.

This is a picture I took hanging out the window of the truck, on the way home from Dry Creek Farm. You really should have seen it, because in my limited photography skills, even with a great camera, I could not do it justice. I don't know if the chill bumps I had were from the sheer beauty of the sunset, or the wind shear going 65mph with my head and camera hanging out the window....

This is a picture of a sweet little piece of land I call "baby face meadow". You would have to see the aerial view of this land to understand WHY i call it that. I like looking at it from the ground level though--except when it is under water--like it was last winter, for many, many weeks. It is beautiful, and the trees sing "day-dreaming" music soft as snuggly fleece.



This is a picture of a honeybee that appeared this past spring on our broccoli that I let go to seed. I took well over a hundred pictures of this bee... I mean, for over an hour I was following this bee with my camera, experimenting with different exposures and angles. I am fascinated with what I see honeybees doing.

Well, I obviously don't watch too much TV, (the Atlanta Braves won't be back on the air till Spring Training starts)...don't let the TV take away your outside fun time. The time you spend enjoying His creation... oh no--don't let it happen to YOU!!!

Day # 10 Something you're afraid of.....

....gas grills used to scare me....I was afraid to light them. You should have seen me---torn between the excitement of surprising my husband with a grilled hamburger and the sheer fear of the grill exploding because I lit the entire gas tank and blew up the entire neighborhood. Our grill had a little hole underneath the "body" that you were supposed to stick the lit match in, and the grill would just light up. the second I stuck the match in I would turn around and run around the patio--just waiting for the BIG BOOM.....(it never happened..duh...) Instead..I would breathe a sigh of relief and put the meat on the fire!! ...I know, I know...I DID say I USED to be afraid of gas grills. The one we have now kinda/sorta lights itself up. I feel safer.....the whole neighborhood feels safer.

Truth is, when I wonder what I am afraid of I think of Psalms 56:11 and smile!!

Day # 9 talkin' bout a new kid in town.....

This is the "new kid in town"

Isn't she cute???

Day # 8 A place I've traveled to....

well, well, well......a place I have traveled to..a place I have traveled to...hmmmm... let's see....

I have been to lala land a few times...you know--that place where you can't exactly remember why you got there? Like standing in front of the opened refrigerator door, just staring into the cold space trying to remember WHY you opened the door???
Or, like walking down the hall and when finally reaching the end, not being able to remember which room to go into???
Or....like losing your train of thought, and having to go to lala land to retrieve it...(like I just did).
Yes, I am a well-traveled person. I have visited my share of foreign countries, (my share being ONE), various states on this mainland, and nooks and cranies you don't even want to know about---but still-by far--one of my favorite places is...lala land!! ';0)

Day #7 Something you're glad you did this week

this week is just getting started:

I'm glad I'm a taking a day off this week. ....

I enjoy so much of what I do, I could name any thing and be glad about it... I am not as good a writer as my children, so this 'reading' is probably pretty boring...not so glad about THAT, but am very grateful for all around me-near and far.

I am going to be glad I went to bed early tonight.....sweet dreams!!

Day #7 Favorite Movies

First of all, I can count on both hands how many times I have been 'out' to the movies in the last ten years....that is, if I can remember.

The top 5 favorite movies I have ever seen span a "more-than-10-year" period.

In no particular order, "Princess Bride", "The Sound of Music", "Dream Team", "Out of Africa", and "The Game" are the ones that rise to the top. I'll watch them all over and over again, if I have ironing to do, or some other "must-do" item that I can do while taking in a movie. I'm sure on any given day, this list could change...but in this moment, that's the list.

Day 6b What are you reading?

Today (and everyday I am able), The Bible, specifically, today, some of Ezekiel, Hebrews, Proverbs and Psalms.

tomorrow, I'll add "Cross Talk" by Dr, Mike Emlet. It should be arriving in the mail!!

Good night all!!

Day #6 A Picture of something that makes me happy......

WHOA...I don't have time for all those pictures...even if I COULD get a photo to post. I am a happy person, even looking at a blade of grass makes me happy...(means I am outside, in good weather!!)

So, by now you see that a photo DID actually post--only took about 5 minutes, so this is an exercise in patience--which ALSO makes me happy.

Should I explain WHY the above photo made me happy? It is my hard-working hubby laying pipe so we can get water from the well to any of the spigots he set up. He is the smartest man I know when it comes to getting anything done. He finds out the right way to do it, and just does it. Better than a "NIKE" commercial...he just does it. He can fix anything from broken sprinkler heads to electrical circuits--NEW ones--which scares me to death. I always say "You be careful with that electricity stuff--it is NOTHING to play with." I KNOW he isn't going to re-wire the ceiling fan with the 'lectricity' going...still scares me though.

Just being on the farm, working our butts off really makes me happy. Laying over 700 linear feet of PVC in the red Georgia clay was a real work out...we were really happy that day!! ;0)

Day # 5 Turns out there ARE two lists..........

One was sent to me, apparently to prove to me she was using a list.....but then again, she always uses lists, so I should have never doubted. (BTW--she always completes her lists too....I only make a list to see if I can remember where I left it!!)

OK--so--day #5 topic is...dun du du dah....
YOUR SIBLINGS

I have two-both younger-one male-one female.

My brother would give me the shirt off his back if I needed it. I have seen his generosity in HUGE ways, none of which HE has told me about. When you read about things people do for others, and a verse something like...Matthew 6:3 comes to mind, I think of my brother. It's not at all like MY left and right hand not knowing what they are doing, because, they usually really don't know what they are doing....My brother is more scriptural about it than I.

My sister is one of my heroes. She is the bravest one of the three of us, I think. She has never been afraid of anything that I can remember.....maybe she is just a better actress than me. I do remember a VERY long time ago (when she was in the 5th grade) she was already able to take care of herself. She had long hair that my mother would braid every morning before school. There were some bold classmates of hers who would try to touch her hair because it really was pretty ...and soft...anyway she kept tellig them that if they did not STOP touching her hair, she would hit them with her purse. Little did they know her cloth purse had an empty mustard jar in it, and it did'nt take but one "whack up side the head" before my sister's class mates took her very seriously. She is brave...I would never have done that. I would have cried. IN E WA....

Some folks have a whole bunch of siblings, some have none. ...well, not REALLY none, because if you are Christian, you have lots of brothers and sisters!! I really like His plan!! ;0)

Day #4 whatev....so I did a crazy thing...

OK so this "post-a-day" challenge apparently doesn't have as many rules as I thought. I see two very special people taking part in this challenge, both with different topics.....I thought the rules were the same for everybody. I am going to make up (or borrow) posts from now on...
I did a crazy thing....last night I opened the bid at a "live" auction, because no one was saying a word...no one wanted the 'prize'. I just thought everyone was being shy, but leave it to me to "help" things along a bit with an opening bid...at a live auction...
As it turns out, the opening bid and closing bid ended up being the same bid..
So here I am with an item I don't need. Don't even ask. YOu'll know soon enough!!

Day #3 first love

I am trying hard to think of the first time I knew I loved....a dog named "Repeat", perhaps...am thankful love has repeated itself in many ways through out the years!!
(barely sneaked day 3 under the wire--going to sleep now!!
Happy birthday to my first born....love you so very much!!)

Day #2..."Meaning behind Your blog name"

simple....my initials are KMB, and I am a beekeeper..so my blog name is "K Bee"..simple....;0)

oh...the blog NAME..."Honey Bee Haven"..well, it is fairly generic, and I have learned there are several blogs with the same name... I intended this blog to be a 'sort of' journal for my beekeeping experiences. I haven't really kept up with it THAT much, but it's nice to know it is here...

competitive spirit!!

I have taken the challenge up to post every day on this blog, for 30 days...

First introduce myself: KMB, follower of the Christ; a wife, a mom, Nona.... a lover AND a fighter...all in the right situations.....

Next, I am supposed to post a recent picture (can't seem to upload ANY photos right now) and list 15 interesting facts:

1. The banana nut bread I just took out of the oven has NO nuts in it.

2. I don't always follow recipes to the "T".

3. I am so very fascinated by the phases of the moon (it's about 13% full tonight, and waning).

4. I am able to find "good" in any situation I find myself in.

5. The fact that 75% of the 'facts' I have just posted, begin with "I" is unsettling for me.

6. The banana bread smells really good right now!!

7. There are 4 clocks in my house with the Westminster chimes all singing 'eleven' o'clock presently..love the differing tones.

8. I should be in the bed sleeping right now (I have a very broad view of what is "interesting"!!)

9. I have loved the game of baseball for as long as I can remember.

10. I have 2 hives of Italian bees, and hope to bee keeping them for a long time.

11. I own at least 5 harmonicas, and enjoy playing them.

12. I still miss Dixie Bell, who was not even *technically* my dog. (thanks DB)

13. I just completed a quilt, and have another one started.

14. I have learned that sometimes, things left unsaid are louder than things spoken.

15. I know that in the end, everything will be OK, and if it NOT OK, it is not the end.

..that banana bread really is smelling ....g o o d ...

The summer really has been a hot one....this morning when I spied on my bees, I found NO queen in one hive--but several queen cells. I took a few of the queen cells out--but left a couple. If there is no queen (no eggs or larvae either) I think I'll just let the workers make their own--like they would do if I were not watching....that hive is not going to make much honey this year anyway. After all, both of my hives started out brand new, no drawn/pulled out comb, so the bees had to work real hard from the start. Maybe next year.....
My mentor says I will probably get something--after all, the golden rod is about to bloom, and with blooms come pollen (ah-choo) nectar and honey...we'll see 'bout that!!
Next year could prove to be profitable, honey-wise. Like my grandaddy used to say "I'm a next-year man my self".

OUCH!!! I forgive you!

Well, today was a busy learning day for me. I {treid} to help in the beeyard, after checking my hives....which, by the way, are doing GREAT!! It is terribly hot down here dn a usual, I did not have my gloves on...not because of the heat, but because my bees are very gentle adn have never stung me when I was in their hives....Today though, I forgot to use the frame lifter and pushd a couple bees with the back of my hand when lifting a frame. I did not know I was doing that till they hit me..one on the back of my right hand, and the other on the index finger of my left hand. My finger is so swollen, I cannot bend it all the way. I wish I could upload a picture because then you could testify my hands look funnier than my younger daughter's sunburned hands in San Diego...we'll see what tomorrow brings!!

New Moon night!!

What a whirlwind weekend!! Spain won the World Cup, I had a birthday and my baby daughter and her husband made their last trip here before their first child arives....soon, but not TOO soon!! (hehe). I will be checking on my newest queen and her hive tomorrow morning, and supplementing the old hive with some "dessert" since he nectar flow is down..it is so hot and dry here. Too early for fall blooms, but the clover is long gone and very few blooms about the hives!! I get so excited thinking about visiting my bees. Hope all is well with you all!!

K Bee

Checking on the girls in the morning!

Tomorrow morning I will check on my bee hives...see if the new queen is behaving. I am hopeful. Can't upload the photo of the swarm in the early spring...it will just have to wait for now!

WOW! Photos!

I am not sure what I did differently this time, but photos posted!! They are of the installing of the bees...this happened on March 31st, and that is the "official" start date of my beekeeping status...I am enjoying a book titled "Langstroth's Hive and the Honey-Bee" by L.L. Langstroth. The subtitle is "The Classic Beekeeper's Manual" and it was originally published in 1878 (J.B. Lippincott)under the title "A Practical Treatise on the Hive and Honey-Bee" It is so fascinating--many references to God, which I find refreshing!!
Lord-willing, there will be more photos to share....
Bee happy!! ;0)

Why can't I post my photos?

I have photos of the 'installing' of the bees, but for some reason, they will not upload.....today I plan to go back and 'check' on the girls,specifically to see if the queens are 'laying' or not. Last week my mentor pulled wax off the frame and told my bees to 'behave' becasue the wax they were building was not uniform...5 bees came out with the frame-lifeless-so i wonder if hey got teh message:
Build that wax more uniformly girls, because it is better for you in the longrun....

A SWARM!!!! A SWARM!!

I saw my first bee swarm last Friday....at Dry Creek!!I have several good photos, --thanks to the telephoto lens my sweet hubby brought home to me a few weeks ago! About 30 feet high is a cedar tree, and way out of reach for THIS inexperienced bee-keeper to try to capture...they were there on Friday on the way TO the wedding, but gone on Sunday evening on the way home...I just wonder WHERE they took up residence.

CURRENT MOON

moon info

the old bee tree

I'm trying to upload a photo of the old bee tree, but for some reason, it isn't happening....need to experiment with this blogging thing !!

trying to decide...

I am contemplating exactly WHERE to put my bees....I have a few options but want to do what is best for me to be able to sustain my hives....there is so much to learn!!

I will pray and see what is best. The bees to replace on Dry Creek Farm just might have to wait another year!!! The bee tree is still empty--seem like a good swarming place!!

The impetus for the aspiration!

Today we were able to go to the farm, to clear the fire breaks for the spring burn. We found the old hollow tree that housed the bee colony, but it was empty....I think..

"The boxes are ready!!"

today we finished painting the bee hives--2 of them....2 deep brood chambers and four supers...2 hive stands, bottom boards, inner covers and outer covers. Now I am waiting on the bees....2 3-pound bags, each with a marked queen.
Photos to come when I learn how to do this!!
My newly found "bee friend" told me I needed to stop calling them 'boxes' and start calling them "hives" so I will soon be a beekeeper...but not till I get the bees--my new girls!!