I come from a long line of beekeepers. I love the little gals. I just don't like them buzzing near my ears. So I am always reluctant to "go through the bees" when I am asked.
Recently, I said yes. Be Brave Be 40. You know?
I donned my suit.
I held the box with the new queen.
I tried to stay calm despite the buzz bys.
I survived. The old queen - not so much.
(Actually, the new queen was replaced too. She wasn't doing too much.)
Ironically, the same day I went with dad to replace the queen, there was a terrible accident nearby involving a tractor trailer full of beehives. It broke my heart because so many were lost.
I appreciate these little workers. Delicate and so vital to our ecology and agriculture. They need to be protected and cared for and sometimes that requires the dethroning of a Queen and maybe a better truck driver...
On a Sunday afternoon, I find it quite blissful to craft. I will throw caution to the win and not worry about dishes or picking up.
As luck would have it Rosie girl was down for a good nap. That called for Play-dough for the the boy and felt flowers for the mom. That was the plan. That was what we did we made a huge mess between the 2 of us. Of course I was left to clean up the bulk of it.
I think we call this a Pinterest Win. On Mother's Day we went to Lowe's and picked up
terracotta pots and potting soil. Hubby assembled.
I just needed to figure out what flowers to put in there. A couple days later, I went out looking for flowers and this is the final project.
I liked the stacked look so much I did this variation on a theme with my herbs... I am pleased with the outcome. Though, I do need to stay on top of keeping them watered.
The cries could be heard around town. It looked as though all the figs trees had not survived this cruel and cold winter. There was talk of just digging them up.
I had to have a look for myself when I was in town. It looks like time and a little more warmth is what they needed. Little buds of green were emerging. What a relief. Though many branches were lost. There is still hope of figs this summer. We can hope to "taste and see that the Lord is good".... good to the fig. Good to those that love this tasty morsel.
I wonder that myself. Violet has a life of leisure. She probably had someone else nurse her babies too. I on the other hand... Don't get much time to myself. I am always on call and I am frequently being called. Many times and simultaneously. It can be draining.
Thanks to my mom, I got to go to the Downton Abbey display going on at Winterthur without my sweet children. The weekend prior we all went. The children were not enthused and I took my little raisin eating tyrant out and had a little pity party because I had been looking forward to seeing this and I could not get a good look at anything.
So to have the chance to go back and read everything and examine the details was so nice.
It was also a lovely day to walk and enjoy the grounds the weather was perfect and I sat for some time watching other people's kids feed the koi fish and I didn't have to worry about them falling in- like I would have if my kids were there.
I enjoyed watching others enjoy themselves. I walked down to one of my favorite spots. A spot that beacons to a kind of girl who likes to walk on rocks that have water coursing near it - even if it is only a little trickle.
It didn't matter to me that I didn't have on appropriate shoes.
I made the most of the day. I soaked in the sun. I revealed in the breeze.
I enjoyed my break away so I could recharge my weary self.
Little Boy and I were walking down the street while visiting my parents. It was the Eve of Memorial Day weekend, which means in my hometown the street names change to honor the fallen soldiers from the town. So I pointed out to him that this week, this is "Sgt. George Snyder St" because his aunt and uncle lived nearby. (They try to pick the street closest to their home or a relative's home)
I explained to him that Pop-pop John and George knew each other when they were young boys and that George died in a war and that Pop-John went on to have kids and grand kids and live a good life to honor his friends who didn't make it home. Now Pop-pop John and George are back together with Jesus and the angels in Heaven.
Of course the whole time I am misty-eyed and struggling to speak but I carried on because that is what Grandpop would want. He would want me to teach Little Boy in the simplest of terms. Then, every year as we encounter Memorial Day, go over it all again with him so that the knowledge, gravity and reverence for these lost men and now the departing great-grandpops will plant itself deep in his heart.
That is the kind of heart I want for him. To remember the sacrifices and legacies of those who went before him so they won't be forgotten.
Recently, I said yes. Be Brave Be 40. You know?
