The birds and the bees---well, mostly just the bees

I want to be a beekeeper.

 

I want to spend hours watching tiny little insects fly in and out of a hive gathering pollen.

I want to put on a crazy looking white suit and open up the hive and pet my little bees and hum to them and tell them what a good job they are doing.

I want to see little eggs hatch out and become drones or workers or virgin queens.

I don't even care if I get stung in the process.

I've wanted to keep my own bees ever since I was a little girl and my great uncle would bring jars of honey comb from Mississippi where he kept bees.

After one bite of REAL honey---you'll kick that little cute store bear to the curb.  Your taste buds won't be satisfied with anything except for the real thing.

We've been hooked on real honey for a while now.  We've even gone as far as to become picky as to say, "Oh, I like the honey from the jar made from blackberry plants better than this stuff."  I know---we are honey snobbs. 

This is why I have to raise my own bees.

On Saturday I got just a little bit closer to reaching that goal.

I went to the Kentucky State Beekeeping Association Bee-School and for six hours listened to experts talk about bees and the future of beekeeping.

It wasn't enough time.  I could have stayed all day.  I could have stayed a week.

Now, I have some big decisions to make: 

• Should I order bees or catch my own swarm (sounds like more fun). 
• Should I use a beeswax foundation or go foundation-less.  This guy says foundation-less.
• To treat or not to treat.  Thinking not treat because Kent Williams doesn't treat and he's a Master Beekeeper and he invented his own hive tool.  AND he kind of reminds me of Silent Bob.
• Do I supplement their food?  If so what with?  It just seems to UN natural
• Top Bar Hive?  Medium?  What size?  Buy or Build? 

Okay, so maybe I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do.  I want to bee keep as naturally as possible.  I want to catch a wild feral swarm of bees who have been keeping themselves alive for generations without special sprays or foods and I want to care for them in an environment as UN artificially as I can possibly get without using a hollowed out tree trunk. 

Since I won't be able to do this until next year---I'm going to spend this year studying up.  Hanging out with some people who have their own hives and aggravating the dickens out of anyone who has ever owned a beehive and reading books probably a lot like this one and this one.

Just what I needed, A Nice Spring Manicure

Spring.  Nice to see you again. It has been a long time.

What a relief.

My husband jokes that I am like a flower. He says I stay in hibernation all winter and that I finally come into blossom at the same time as the crocus.

Although I've never thought about it that way---he is right. I pretty much hide in a deep dark hole and complain about winter until the daffodils and crocus start to poke their little heads out of the ground.  Then I do too.

Then I feel like a new woman. I start to get excited. I start new projects and dream, dream, dream about gardening.

This year was no exception. The first pretty day A. James and I went out to my grandfather's house where our garden will be this year.

We had pulled up the 50 tomato stakes the day before (we are moving them to another spot---crop rotation) and I cleaned off the old, dead vines while A. James dug in the mud.

It was a lot of work and almost every finger had at least one blister----but it felt great to have it done.

At home we cleaned out our small raised beds in the backyard and found a few unexpected visitors. Some of my lettuce had re-seeded itself and I have three nice size lettuces already growing in the back yard. Seeing life against so much death and debris is a welcome sight. A. James was excited about all of the tiny little snails and slugs inside the wheelbarrow----I was a little less excited about all of the slugs. She asked "why" when I asked her to move them to the back corner of the yard. I told her that slugs and snails like to eat garden food and our strawberries so we should move them elsewhere.

She then---very wise and enlightened--- said these words.

"Mama, we can't eat all of this food. We have to share with the slugs and snails. Be nice and share."

Just when I thought she wasn't listening to anything I was telling her.

She is right.

They always say plant enough for you and the bugs, deer, and other wildlife too. Even after I explained that the slugs could find something else to eat---she says, "But lettuce is good. They like lettuce. Let's plant some just for them to eat."

So I guess I'll be planting fancy organic lettuce for the slugs this year.  You've won slugs---enjoy your lettuce, but the minute you start in one mine I'm waiting until she is asleep and I'm going to put out my beer slug traps.

Is it spring yet?

So.

Sick.

of

Winter.

Seriously, I'm pretty sure I have seasonal affective disorder.  It isn't fun.


Most of the time I just want to sleep.  I don't even like going outside.  Most certainly can't make myself work on my BOTM quilt.  Which is due really soon. 


Blah.



Don't worry.  We bought new light bulbs.  I should be okay.

 Plus, I keep myself busy by planning for it to be spring.  I've ordered seeds from Baker Creek and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange this year.  Also, have a few seeds I saved from last years crop.

This is my first time ordering from Southern Exposure, but they come well recommended in my Master Gardener's group.  The prices are a little cheaper than Baker's Creek, but there isn't nearly as good of a selection.  However, I thought I'd give them a chance and order most of my seeds from them.


However, Baker's Creek has so many unique seeds I couldn't pass up ordering from them.  So I ordered a few different seeds (like the Kiwano-African Horned Cucumber) from their store as well.  Plus you always get a free pack of seed with your order.  Who can pass that up?!

I'm wanting to grow potatoes this year and I'm trying to decide what to do.  I've heard a few of the older people say they just plant store potatoes.  Then again, I've also heard that this can bring in unwanted diseases.  I really, really want to plant some blue potatoes.  Have you seen these?  I'm determined to make blue mashed potatoes.

Here is a sneak peek at our experimental seed starter/grow house.  N. James has been dreaming this up for a while.  Basically, it is two of those stackable plastic drawers from Lowes with some 100 watt Natural Daylight Bulbs.  We are using two bulbs per drawer.  We lined the drawers with tin foil and wired everything into an old curling iron cord. 

And yes.  I mean "we."  I learned how to strip wires.  No one was harmed in the process.  I did burn myself on the hot glue gun, though.

Now, just waiting for my seeds to arrive so I can start them in their new home.



When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion



New Garden Friend

Fall is in the air which means garden season is over.  It is time for apples, pears, pumpkins, cider, bonfires and camping.  I received a ton of garlic to plant, but I must wait about another week to put it in the dirt.  The squash, cucumber, and cherry tomato I planted up the trellis of my porch was starting to wilt so I decided it was time to take it down.





As I was reaching up to grab the last of the squash vine I noticed that there was something very much alive still on the vine.  Depending on where you are from, you might call her a garden spider, an orb weaver, a writing spider, banana spider or corn spider.  Since I was a little girl I had one build its web outside my bedroom window every year until I moved out on my own.  Even after I was gone I knew I could expect to see one of the beautiful and unique webs with the "z" in the middle if I came and visited my old room.  Since I've moved away from the country I have missed the appearance of these startlingly beautiful arachnids.  I was very shocked to find one outside my house in the middle of town.

I moved her to under my kitchen window in hopes she would stay there and build a web.  She sat on the bricks for the rest of the day, but by that morning she had created a huge web across my large kitchen window.  She has become somewhat of a family "pet"---or as much of a pet as a giant outdoor spider can be.  Every morning when A. James gets up she runs to the kitchen to see if the spider is still there.  She likes to peer out the window and examine her and ask tons and tons of questions.  When a bug finds itself in her web she jumps up and down excitedly and shouts, "She has caught a bug, she has caught a bug!"  This prompted me to check out The Spider and the Fly from out local library.  Now she says, "Welcome to my parlor said the spider to the fly."  It is morbidly funny.

She has laid two egg sacks so far.  However, I read that they can lay anywhere from 1 to 4 and she is getting quite large again.  Unfortunately, she will die with the first hard frost---but her babies will hatch out in the spring.  Until then we will continue to watch her and learn what we can.

Where things start to slow down and I get a little sad

Lovely Dish from CSN Stores

Since early June we have been going non-stop trying to preserve what we have grown from our garden. I suppose this is just what happens when you plant sixty something tomato plants. I’ve canned so much nearly every cabinet and closet in my house is full. After I ran out of space in the kitchen, I started filling up the cabinets in the laundry. When I ran out of room there I just started stacking up jars of salsa, diced tomatoes, peaches, and preserves in my hall way closet. If I do anymore canning this year I am going to start shoving jars under our bed or we are just going to have to build an addition onto the house. (If my landlords are reading this don’t be alarmed. I am only kidding). Luckily, things are starting to slow down now that summer is coming to an end.


A few weeks ago I was brining home ten gallons of tomatoes several times a week. My husband and I were staying up until the wee hours of the morning canning pretty much anything you can possibly make using tomatoes, and I was looking forward to the day my kitchen would be free from tomato debris. Now that the day has arrived I feel so lost. The counters have been liberated from little jars cooling, my kitchen sink isn’t cluttered with bowls and measuring spoons and my pressure cooker has moved from its place of honor on the stove to back under the sink. My kitchen is clean and I never thought I’d be so depressed about that.

You would think I’d be accustomed to this happening by now. This day comes and goes every year and while it signifies the arrival of fall and the end of the summer heat, I always hate to see the garden go. There is just something so sad about seeing the rows of tomato plants, once so huge and bearing so many fruits dwindle down to nothing. I am glad to have my kitchen back to normal, but I’ll miss it smelling like cilantro and tomatoes. Until Yankee Candle responds to my letters and makes a “Salsa” candle, I’ll just have to wait. There is still much to be done in the garden to prepare for next spring, but my favorite part has already passed. I guess now, the only thing for me to do is flip through seed catalogues and dream big for next year.

Sneak some Zucchini on your Neighbor's porch Night

Well, the day has arrived. The 20 something zucchini plants we planted in my Papaw's garden have started to bear vegetables in what will only be described as later as "The year that we had so many zucchinis we went crazy." So, now I am on the look out for some great squash/zucchini recipes. Also, does anyone had any success canning either?

When reading John Seymore's awesome book The Self Sufficient Life and How to Live it, I chuckled to myself when reading the "how much to plant" chart. A family of 4 should plant 2 zucchini/squash plants and 5 tomato plants. My Papaw plants over fifty tomato plants every year and this year we have over twenty squash plants.

Obviously, my Papaw has never read Seymore's book.

Ha! The good part is we always have a lot to go around. It is nice to be able to give away vegetables and know that you are helping out. Also, we eat like Kings in the summer. Yesterday, I am proud to say---we had not one, but two entire meals where nothing we cooked was bought. The fish N. James caught last week and the vegetables all came from the garden. Even the jam was canned from last year!

Summer is for the grill!

The first summer after I'd given up meat I felt a little left out. Everyone is always grilling hamburgers, steaks, pork chops---I didn't really have much. I would sometimes buy Morning Star or other frozen processed burgers and hot dogs, but they weren't that great. I didn't look forward to eating them. Now, I feel quite the opposite.

Black Bean Burgers, Kidney Bean Burgers, Portabella Burgers, Spicy Chickpea Burgers---oh, my.

There are so many different varities to choose from and make. Really, why settle with the same boring burger every time? Try something new! I'm looking forward to making some carrot and zucchini burgers. I found the recipe here. Also, I've posted it below for those who are interested. If you make some, let me know how they turned out!

Carrot and Zucchini Burgers

1 large onion, minced
3-4 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1 1/2 C. grated carrot
1 1/2 C. grated zucchini
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. ground coriander
2 tbsp. natural peanut butter
2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 C. fresh bread crumbs
1 egg
Salt and pepper, to taste
olive oil, as needed

1. Saute onion and garlic in a lightly greased skillet until onion starts to soften, about five minutes.

2. Add carrots and zucchini and saute about 10 mins more, til veggies have softened.

3. Stir in the cumin, coriander, cilantro, and peanut butter (you can also use tahini). Mix. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and let cool 5-10 minutes.

4. Dump veggie mixture in a medium mixing bowl. Add egg and breadcrumbs and mix until well combined. Add more breadcrumbs if needed.

5. Shape four veggie burgers from mixture. They should hold together decently well.

6. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a skillet. Add burgers and cook about five minutes a side, until browned and cooked through.

Never get tired of doing little things for others. Sometimes, those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.

To me it seems that most of the "news" I hear is usually bad----or depressing. Then again, we have not had a television for over a year so maybe I am just not accustom to it. Occasionally, when I am somewhere and the news is on I find myself thinking, "Good grief?! No wonder people are depressed! How can they not be hearing this all day?! "

I'd like to think that the reason behind this isn't because there "isn't any good news" to report. I say this as I cross my fingers. Hopefully, it is just the unfortunate circumstance that "good news" doesn't sell. This too, is sad---but not nearly as unfortunate as the alternative. Sometimes, after an especially bad day/week/couple of weeks---- I start to feel rather sad and wonder to myself, "Is there anything good going on?" Then, out of the blue---random acts of kindness!

Don't you just love it?

I was lucky enough to have not one--but several--come my way. Right when I needed them the most.

First off, I get an email from a friend asking if I was still interested in getting a safety razor that I had blogged about in March . I had pretty much given up all hope of every having that obscure dream come true! What do you know? We are planning on making a trade of vintage sheets for the razor soon.

Next, Tracy from Sew what... found some tomatillo plants I had been searching for. I have asked so many nurseries about these plants and been told the same thing---"You are not going to find any of those around here." I had even attempted to start some from seed, but sadly, they all perished. Three times. Then, out of the blue---I get an email from her saying she not only found some plants, but bought them for me :) How sweet.

Then, I get a package from Erin from Erin Compton Designs with some goodies thanking me for spreading the word about her blog and giveaway. How kind! I've come to the conclusion that crafty people are some of the nicest people around. So check out Erin's blog and her Etsy shop. She is so talented and sweet. Thanks again, Erin. Really, the package made my day!

goodies from erin! wallet and onesie!

In the busy-busy lives that most of us live in it is so refreshing to see someone take the time to stop and think of others. It is so much easier to "look out for numero-uno" and just worry about yourself. But, we should just worry about ourselves? Right? It just makes sense. This will make you happier, right?

Well, let's do a little research.

Science says "no"
Buddhism says "no"
We are more more "blessed to give than to receive" according to Christianity
Just about anywhere you look you'll find someone telling you to stop being so selfish and open you eyes.

Thanks guys! Lindsey, Tracy and Erin for cheering me up and reminding me to above all, be kind and give!

Need some inspiration? here are so many wonderfully inspiring quotes and stories about kindness, I can read these all day.

How much bread can one family eat? Or the story of my life.

My husband likes to joke that I was born about a hundred years too late. He is probably right (please don't let word get out I said that). I do to enjoy things that most women my age (and people in general) tend to scoff at. Not to mention that I use words like "scoff"---seriously, who in the past one hundred years has used that word?

I really enjoy baking and making things from scratch. I just found these from scratch websites here and here and am just downright chomping at the bits to make my own Vanilla Wafers. I have a bread machine, I know that is technically "cheating"---but, I use it all the time and do make yeast breads by hand (and kitchen aid stand mixer) on occasion.

We use so much flour that my flour canister has graduated from a little white container that sat on top of the kitchen counter to a 5 gallon bucket from Rural King. We buy a 25 lb bag of flour from Sam's Club at least once a month. The last time my little cousin was over we were making cookies and she spied my flour container and laughed at me. She is seven. This was timely because my self-esteem had been hovering around normal, and I'd been meaning to knock it down to negative 1000 (to quote comedian Mike Birbiglia).

I just used the fact I was bigger, older, and wiser to turn the tables, "Hey kid, do you want to make cookies or not?!" Who is laughing now?

Problem solved.

In addition to baking and intimidating young children, I also love to garden. I don't mean getting a pot, filling it with potting soil, and putting some petunias in it. I think I might be the only person alive who doesn't like petunias. I mean taking a shovel and digging about a billion holes in the ground putting in little seeds and treating them like they are your children for the next two to three months.

My Papaw has always put out a h-u-g-e garden. We are talking like 25 squash plants and around about 50 tomato plants. This doesn't even include the rest of the garden. By the end of the growing season, he is practically begging people to take something---anything home. Last year we *helped*---not very much because A. James was still very young and impatient. However, this year we mean business.

We started about two weeks ago getting everything ready and on Sunday we put the last of the tomatoes in the ground. Everything is in the ground; green beans, onions, garlic, squash, zucchini, cabbage, peas, okra, popcorn, sweet corn, green beans, watermelons (three varieties), melons (two varieties), peppers (bell and hot), cucumbers (straight 8 and pickling), gourds---and tomatoes. Cherry. Roma. Jet Star (52 of them). Right now it doesn't look like much. Just a few big spots of muddy earth with some sticks haphazardly stuck here and there. With the exception of the tomatoes and the peppers (which we bought as plants) you can't even tell that anything is living.

Just give it a few weeks.

Today I checked out the book "Too Many Tomatoes, Squash, Beans, and Other Good Things: A Cookbook for When Your Garden Explodes" from the library in anticipation. If everything goes as planned, I'm going to need it.

 

Take a deep breath and count to ten

Deep Sigh

My day has been too long, and it is just 3:00. Without going into too much---and very un needed---detail, I have spent entirely too much time today scrubbing up bodily fluids out of the carpet from either the a) dog or b) A. James. Both of them apparently ate something (hopefully not the same thing, but then again who knows) that upset their stomach and they have been attempting to flush it out of their systems (and into my carpet). A. James seems to be doing better. She hasn’t had any Exorcist type episodes since last night.

Hmm. Now that I think about it that might have been too much information anyway.

Well, on a happier note my seeds are growing like---well, like seeds are supposed to. I started cucumbers, tomatillos, tomatoes, bell peppers, banana peppers, and eggplants under a grow lamp. This is our first year using a grow lamp to start the seeds. We converted the heat lamp I had used for my ducklings by just switching the bulbs.

The difference is amazing. I’m so impressed I think I am going to start some more seeds early. I’m not real sure what though. Maybe watermelons, we always get impatient waiting on those to get ready. I’ll have to check. Melons might be one of those that are “not recommended” for starting indoors.

The cucumbers are getting scary big, and I’m not sure exactly what I am going to do with them. I am about 100% sure it is still too cold to transfer them outside. I even started them 2 weeks after the *recommended* inside start time, but they are still taking over. I had almost given up on the peppers but they have started to poke through the soil in the past day. Just waiting on the eggplants now.

Pretty mean, Spring

Boo. So, we were granted about a week of beautiful weather. I pulled out my sandals, was ecstatic about not wearing a coat, took A. James outside and dusted off my gardening tools. I even raked the leaves off of our strawberry patch in the backyard for goodness sakes! Now this?! Rain, rain, rain, rain. All weekend. I guess you can't have spring without the spring showers, but I'm not too happy about having to wear a coat again today. Tomorrow we are supposed to have some sunshine again. I bought A. James a shovel tonight being very hopeful (although it will probably end up being too muddy to dig anything).

I've even cleared off my sewing table to make room for our tomato seedlings. We bought grow lights and everything. Before you gasp and say, "no sewing?!" I've just moved it to the kitchen table. I guess no one will be eating there for a while. On the subject of sewing, I've been assigned a swap partner for the spring swap hosted by Pricilla at Little Miss Heirlooms. I guess I'll stalking my partner's blog soon to make sure I get things right. I'm super excited about it. The swap, not the stalking.