Sad Tidings

I just made a very depressing visit to the bees. I was so happy to be headed out to see them. Three kids were napping and the weather is fine after so much rain. I had visited them a week ago and had some suspicion that the new swarm was queenless... now I am pretty much sure.

They did have pollen and nectars stores... and they had been doing a little comb building. But I didn't see any eggs, larva, or capped brood (bees about to emerge from metamorphosis). What I did see were big capped domed cells scattered all over the comb.That could mean either they have viable queens cells that could hatch a virgin queen. Or, in response to long-time queenlessness a worker or several workers have started laying. But, because workers don't have fertilized eggs all they can produce is drones. I suspect it is the later senerio, because if there had ever been a laying queen there would at least be some capped brood getting ready to join the work force. I snapped a couple of pictures in hopes of really taking a closer look back on my computer screen but I didn't get good shots through my veil. I'm feeling sad and don't want to be a Negative- Nancy, so I'm going to log off now and do the laundry. It's just such a bummer. This is my last remaining colony. I joined the other sad hive with this one last week in hopes that the infusion of comb and bees could help the swarm colony out. But, it appears not. (Hence the blue tarp behind the smoker.) Oh well. There's always next season, right?

It's hard to make out 'cause of the blur, but if you look you can see the bumps in the comb I was referring to above.  drone comb or queen cell? 

Just a Few Things....

It's summer time and I am finding every manner of bug imaginable inside the house. Roaches, ants, flies, night crawlers (I hate them the most), millipedes, spiders, and on and on. If it creeps and crawls it's within these four walls. I am oddly sanguine about it. Surely they will all just march themselves back outside without infesting our home, right? Perhaps beekeeping has calmed my jitters when it comes to bugs.

Georgie checking out a fly in one of Normy's very cool birthday gifts.

It's summer time and my baby boy turned five. FIVE. This is astounding. He is talking more and more each day. Not just words but phrases and sentences. He grins and his face splits in half, proof that somethings will never change with each year that passes. He received birthday cards in the mail from my aunt and grandmother during his birthday week. For days on end he carried those to cards clutched to his chest dancing around the house chanting: "My birthday! My birthday!" He is sweet and stubborn. He hugs me and tells me, "Missed you, Mama" Which in Normy-speak means "I love you." He beats up his sisters in joyful play. Gleefully body-checks every child within  a three-foot radius. He loves puzzles and building things. He is obsessed with marble runs and anything with wheels. And now thanks to his crazy parents, he LOVES He-Man. Sure it's a violent cartoon, but at least there is a moral at the end of each episode. ;-)

The first of many shamelessly purchased birthday cakes!
What's shown here is NOT his Official Birthday Crown but one of the dozen "party hats" made for all the kids.

It's summer time and I am once again reminded to try to Play More & Clean Less. This has been my motto for three years running. And now that Normy's preschool days are behind us, each and every day is our own to claim however we see fit. The freedom is intoxicating. We still have some semblance of rhythm most days, but between flood waters keeping Smoochy working odd hours, sunset at nine o' clock, and play-dates that extend well past "nap-time," we seem to be carving out a new rhythm. Life is good.

A new rhythm that includes plenty of time with my new camera! My hubby is terrible at scheduled gift-giving. Birthday, Valentine's, Mother's Day, anniversary, nada. But, the man ROCKS at crazy spontaneous gifts. Like, the SLR I have been coveting for YEARS that materialized in his hand Sunday afternoon. I'm so excited about it I can hardly stand myself. I had pretty much decided I was done birthing little Smoochys, but I may have to change my mind just so I can have one more newborn to photograph with this camera. I tell ya', the thing is smarter than me.   It definitely takes better pictures on auto than I can by manipulating all the controls. I had spent enough time with my old camera to get the best results fully manual. I have a lot to learn with the new one and have been digesting the manual the last few days. I can't wait to really feel comfortable with it.  But, in the mean time check out some of my favorite shots:

OK, this is a lame post, but today is a catch-up day around the house, and I thought I should get caught up here too. Washing, cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, cooking... Catching the f up so we can go out and play for the rest of the week! Love to all!

Many Hands Make Light Work

My folks were reminded of this picture after reading yesterday's post. The moral: as kids grow-up they get over thinking it's cool to help with laundry.

Slave Labor or Little Helpers

I’ve been thinking more and more how to get the kids involved with work around the house.  I don’t believe there is any such thing as a free lunch and I know people have better self-esteem when they pay their own way. Little kids especially WANT to help, and I want to capitalize on that by not only showing them that they can but it feels good when they do. I want my kids to know that work isn’t something awful to be avoided at all cost but something that is fulfilling in a way that nothing else is. As Normy and Georgia are getting older I have started glimpsing their capability and readiness to handle some real and meaningful responsibility. But, how should I ease their way into the world of work?

Part of me chafes at the idea of a chore chart (which I think is the standard at this age.) Firstly, it’s just another thing for mom to organize and keep track of (and complain about!). More than that though, I think it sends kids the wrong message. Like, if you check these boxes you’ve “done your part” and nothing further is required of you. Instead I want my kids to always be on the look out for a way they can pitch-in. I think it’s too easy for them to slip into the mindset of “I don’t HAVE to help Mom sort the laundry… That’s not my job. It says so right here on the chart.” (Of course this is the hypothesis of a woman with three children none of which is capable of wiping their own ass. So, there’s that.)

 But, I’m already starting to see Georgia take up that line of thinking. When we pick-up toys before naps I’ll say, “Normy, you put all the blocks back on the shelf and Georgia, you are in charge of cleaning up the (play) kitchen.” To which Georgia inevitably responds:

“That’s my part, then I’m DONE!”

Um… No.

I’m not into bribes and carrots when it comes to housework either. (In the grocery store it’s a WHOLE different story. Popsicles for compliance is a regular bargain.) I don’t think Normy should earn a quarter for setting the table or Georgia should get to watch a movie in exchange for putting away her freshly laundered PJs. WE as a family, have to work together to make the home run. True, the kids didn’t have a choice as to weather they were made part of the family so, if they want to join the circus or a traveling band of gypsies that can be arranged. But, if they do want to hang out here than we are in it together. We work as a group for our continued survival; the way Mother Nature intended the human race to thrive.

But like I mentioned earlier, I’m in the sweet spot of mother-dictated-chores. Now when I tell Normy he can put away the clean silverware and pass me the clean dishes from the dishwasher he sees it as a cool new test of his dexterity and matching ability. It’s not a task, but a game. A game he can do and Georgia can’t. A game he can do WITH MOM! I know it won’t always be this easy. But, my hope is that if I can let go of my neurosis about things being done efficiently and “correctly” maybe I can get out of the way and let them develop the confidence to know they CAN make their own bed, hang up their own clothes, and clear the table. 

 I’d love some feedback. How do you do “chores” in your house? (I hate that word and NEVER want to use it.) What do you wish you had done with your kids when they were small. What works?

We start 'em young around here.

My Day is Made

While washing dishes I saw a bee land on some flowers right out the window. I dried my hands on my skirt and rushed out camera in hand hoping to get her picture. I did not. She flew away (probably camera shy.) But while I was out I thought I'd better check out the garden. Lots of weeds, my tomatoes and peppers are going great, and sadly one of my two remaining watermelon plants has mysteriously vanished as though it never existed. I didn't see any bees, but I did see this amazing bug in the snap peas. Who is this guy? He's beautiful. I hope he's not looking to eat my garden...

I went back to washing my dishes a little sad I hadn't seen any more bees when who should appear out my window again? 

Life is sweet.

Happy Weekend!

A Bit About Growing

When I step back and really look at what's grown-up all around me since the start of spring I feel a little silly getting as excited as I do to see the few plants I started finally begin to flower. Mother Nature, in all her power, has brought forth all manner of plants that have gone from seed, to shoot, to foliage, to flower, to seed, and now receded to let a whole NEW crop of different plants take their place. The purple creeping charlie flowers that used to carpet our min-forest's floor have made way for a sea of wild strawberries. The wild fringy weed with the little cluster of purple flowers have almost all wilted away. These only to be replaced by tall stalky monsters with big waxy leaves that will very soon begin sporting drooping clusters of juicy mauve berries. (I really need to learn the names of all these plants.) In contrast, all the plants I started from seed in my basement back when the earth was still bare have only begun to loose the look of a seedling. But, I am elated that they are growing none the less. 

My ornamental cabbage. 2 inches tall. Started April 5th.

God's ornamental cabbage comes up past my waist and appeared out of nowhere. Very humbling.

I have always wanted to garden. When I was in middle school or high school (I can't remember which) I used to keep a little journal of different flowers with their latin names, growing conditions complete with images snipped from gardening magazines. I never actually PLANTED anything. That would have actually made sence. Instead I just daydreamed about rows of bachelor buttons (centaurea cyanus) and snapdragons (antirrhinum majus). I acquired this love of the idea of gardening from my grandparents. They had a spectacular garden. Rows of corn, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes... The veggies and the gladiolas were my grandfathers specialty. And my Grandma, my Grandma loves flowers. Some of my most treasured memories of her are the times we spent in her flower garden picking flowers and taking them back to her kitchen to make arrangements. No matter what season it is my grandma has fresh flowers in her house. I think I need to start doing that. OK, I take it back. I did plant something once. One winter when my grandparents were visiting us in Florida they bought me purple and yellow posies that we planted out front of our house. But, that's about it. There has been the odd mint plant and a couple cacti, but this is the first year I have ever planted seeds other than the beans in a dixi cup in elementary school.

I don't know why it has taken me so long to get my hands dirty in the garden. It seems like a shame actually that I've waited all this time. But, there is only looking ahead. So, I'm going to enjoy each moment I can steal to go outside drink in the sunshine, get my blood sucked by the mosquitoes, and make something grow. I have plans to expand my little terrace garden next year as well as reclaim the weedy plot of ground right out by the front of our garage and turn it into an herb garden. 

Currently the only landscaping I've done here is this pot of basil.  (Does that count?) Next year it will be a dreamy herb garden. I choose the adjective "dreamy" on purpose. 

The kids and I made a trip to the Lauritzen Botanical Gardens this morning and I was totally inspired by the geometrical multi-colored herb designs they had going over there. Sadly our trip ended quickly as the mosquitoes there were almost as bad as in our woods. I couldn't get many good pictures of the kids as I was too busy defending myself and Lola from those blood-thirty winged beasts. (The Missouri River is flooded, there is water every where. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the mosquitoes...) 

To discorage the big kids running off without me, picking flowers, and generally being terrors I encouraged them to hold on to the ribbons.

It didn't work.

There is so much to be inspired by and so many possibilities to day dream about. For now I just have to focus on my little plot and my small successes. Like the lovely yellow flowers on my cucumber plants! It may be that it will get to hot for my snap peas and kale before I get to harvest anything. The deer may come and trample my ornamental cabbages and eat the tops off my carrots. But for right now, right this second I have a garden. 

I wonder if the bees have visited here?

Hello Peas!

Bumper crop of wild strawberries this year: the birds are happy. 

The Perils of Life in a Forest Paradise.

I love my house. I love my life. I am lucky beyond measure, and I know it... But, there is a cost to life in paradise. I just got back from what I call a walk-about. I go out, walk around, look at what needs to be watered and weeded. Take a peek at traffic over at the hives. You know, that sort of thing. It's usually deeply soothing and satisfying. But today, I couldn't be out more that five minutes. It wasn't the heat. Though it is a blazing hot day here in Nebraska. It wasn't the poison ivy, though that little beastie of a plant is a scourge. Whenever I see a my creeping three leafed nemesis I can't help but mutter, "Ivy. You bitch." 

One of these is and one of these isn't. Can you tell which plant is the poison ivy? I play this game every day.

No, what literally sent me running for shelter was the mosquitoes. 


Please believe me when I tell you that for me to be driven inside by mosquitoes that means they are thick. And big. And mean. I grew up in Naples, FL where I was woken regularly as a child by the roar of low-flying mosquito-spraying planes. Smoochy and I've lived in southern Georgia with a retention pond in our back yard. I GET mosquitoes. But this is off the charts. These bastards are bigger than the baby robins we have living in our trellis. 


While I was out just now, I was hoping to catch a picture of the honey bees collecting water from our pond to use to cool their hive, but instead all I saw was millions of new mosquitoes climbing from the water like a black cloud of blood-sucking evil. OK, not really but you know that's where they are coming from. And though I didn't see any honey bees I did snap these pictures of the lovely water lilies the frogs are riding around on these days. 

Speaking of honey bees collecting water: Saturday I took the kids to the Arbor Day Farm for a picnic lunch and adventure. (You should visit there, it is AWESOME.) We stopped there on the way home form picking Normy up from a very special visit he made solo to spend time with his Grandma (Smoochy's Mom.) Anyway, the kids had a blast especially playing at the outdoor play area they have. The farm is also home to an observation bee hive. Plus, the surrounding area with all the orchards, supports many many colonies of honey bees. This was apparent at the faux-stream the kids were playing in. There must have been at least twenty or thirty bees collecting water there. My kids were so cool about it. After all the times they have heard, "If you leave a bee alone she'll leave you alone!" They just went about their play as though the were butterflies not honey bees dancing around them! See the bees play so nicely with my kids was one of the highlights of an all around great day.

So, back to the mosquitos. They are really ruining our plans for non-stop outside fun this summer. You know what I want to do about it? Get some ducks. I wonder how many ducks our little pond could support? I wonder if it would really help? I wonder if my parents in Florida could catch us a couple of Muskovys and ship 'em over? They live wild all over the neighborhood I grew up in. Talk about an ugly duck. But, they are renowned mosquito munchers and I read on Wikipedia just moments ago that they are nice on the dinner table. I can't really see myself over-wintering a migratory animal. That seems crewel. Much better just to eat it. Hey, come on! I know plenty of people who say they'd rather be put out of their misery than go through another winter in Nebraska! 

Image shamelessly stolen from here.

I don't know. It's going to take a lot of convincing to get Smoochy on board with ducks. I think they would be an awesome addition to out fledgling homestead, but he has some doubts. Like how we would protect them from raccoons if their wings are clipped? Or how are we going to keep 'em here if we don't clip their wings? There is some research to be done for sure. But, I'm ready to try anything to get the skeeter population under control.


Like a Bat House! Did you know a single bat can eat up to 1000 skeeters in an hour! That is awesome. Where are all my bats? We had TONS of bats at our other Omaha house. I can't believe with all the other animals like deer, muskrats, birds, squirrels, and whatever else is living in our back woods that there aren't some bats out there too. What the heck? Why are there so many fricking mosquitoes out there!!!

Photo taken moments before I captured this little guy with a colander and set home free outside. The next bat we found in the house didn't do so well. Smoochy smacked him mid-flight like he was hitting a home run with a shop vac extension. Good times.

Well, that's enough rambling for now. The kids are waking up from their naps and I have to figure out how to keep them entertained INSIDE. Please excuse my typos, I don't have time to edit.

Enjoy the following pics of the kids playing at Arbor Day Farms. (For the Grandparents)

Photos taken with my phone. Pardon the quality. Though I am perfectly capable on taking three kids on an Arbor Day Adventure I am not capable of lugging my camera around at the same time. Oh well.