Monday, April 6, 2015

BEE MAGIC

Many years ago, in a haggling conversation, a friend said to me: "you know just a little bit about everything don't you?"

Good gosh Phil....I hope so!!!

But it wasn't until a few years ago that I came upon my first bee hive swarm.  Have you ever seen one?  It is truly an incredible sight.

The most interesting thing about the first bee swarm I saw, was where it was located.
I was just beginning the HPO and eager to do any kind of local news story that came my way.  People knew this, so they called me when interesting things happened.

A call came that a bee swarm was in a tree
I grabbed my camera and headed to the nearby town of Gruver
to a house called the Gruver house
the house of our son in law...only they weren't dating yet

a few years later
we purchased 822...over the phone, site unseen (inside)
the night before we were to go look at it,
I dreamed that Grace and I were growing lavender and had honey bees

we discovered this wild hive on the picnic table in the backyard the next day

since the beginning of our renovation
we always planned to put in a hive
Jason the Bee Man (the keeper who came to rescue our hive)
told me when we got ready, he'd bring us bees

we 

are

ready

it's taken several years for the yard to finally not be under heavy construction


so that a bee hive could thrive undisturbed

we spent Easter weekend

putting the hive together

Mr. PV laid a brick foundation for me

and put it together...it was very simple
we put in in the southwest corner of the yard, out of the way
where someday it will be shaded by the meandering branches of the red bud trees
very near to roses and lavender

luckily I still have a jar of honey and comb that Jason the Bee Man left me

I smeared a little on my new hive
because when bees swarm
they like to be places other bees have been

I have my fingers crossed that we will catch a hive
the natural way
and it will be a great story to tell

It makes me happy to think that the stories about us and the things we know a little bit about,
will include....
a little 
BEE MAGIC


19 comments:

NanaDiana said...

My uncle, one farm over, was a bee-keeper. One time, after visiting him, we went over a narrow back road. My father had his arm hanging out the door of the car and my mother swerved slightly. My father's arm hit a bee hive and it came through the window into the back seat. My brother was stung once- me-not at all. We walked back to my uncles farm. He put on his gear, drove our car back to his farm and smoked them and then transferred them into a hive. (we had to leave the car).

That winter, when my mother would turn the defroster on one or two dead bees would come flying up out of the vent by the windshield. It always freaked me out. lol xo Diana

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

We lived in an apartment in Southern California in 1979. A bee swarm moved into our outside walkway within a 1-day period. A bee keeper took them away. A few months later we moved to a rental house and found a few weeks later that there were bees living in the outside wall. We could actually hear them. Again, a bee keeper was called and soon removed them. Never before or since have I seen bees swarm. Just a fluke.

Anonymous said...

I am so excited to see how this all plays out,,, please please keep us updated!!!You are the perfect example of how we WE create our own reality! I we can dream it, we can DO it!!!

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

I will follow along and learn more :-)

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Well Gina sounds like a dream come true. I've always thought having bees and growing Lavender would be an adventure I would enjoy. I look forward to reading your future bee posts. When my brother and I were kids we saw a wasp swarm from a hive my brother hit with a stick ... What can I say except he was young and dumb. I was not strung but my brother was rushed to the doctor with many stings.
xo,
Vera

Sarah said...

Gina, I think this is exciting! I've never had a hive, but I'm happy to say that bees seem to like my garden. I always wonder where their hive is.
I look forward to following along with your adventure.

Unknown said...

Another blogger friend of mine also has hives on her property and loves them. I'm so happy your dream came true - do you also have lavender?

handmade by amalia said...

How utterly wonderful for you! I'm a little bit envious here, but as I couldn't whistle if my life depended on it, perhaps the bee business is not for me. Still, how wonderful!
Amalia
xo

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

This is really neat.xoxo

Anajá Schmitz said...

Olá!
Menina do céu, eu morro de medo de abelhas. Sempre fui perseguida por elas. Quando era criança e morava no campo, não saia na rua pois lá existia muitas colmeias. Gosto do mel, mas não das abelhas. hahah Outro dia fui atacada por abelhas e parei no hospital. Vejo que as colmeias são muito bonitas ai em seu país.
Bjos tenha um ótimo dia.

chateau chic said...

This is so interesting, and it'll be fun to get to see your beehive grow.
Mary Alice

Artsy VaVa said...

That's so exciting! I can't wait to hear more about your bee adventures. It's so interesting that honey will attract them to your hive. Very cool.

bj said...

How fun this is going to be..keep us all updated as I can't wait to drive to your beautiful home to buy a couple of jars of HONEY...with a bit of comb included.
When I was a little girl, my daddy owned a small blue plate special cafe...just 3 doors down was a little shop that sold raw honey and bars of comb. He was a beekeeper and sold his rewards....The last time I was in my hometown, I checked to see if the little shop was still there...I was hoping a son or daughter had continued with it but...it wasn't there. By then, I was starving for some honey and had to stop and buy some at the groc store...:)

designchic said...

How exciting is this?! Cannot wait to see and hear more about it. Keep us posted!!

Karena said...

That quote is Too cute Gina, my daughter has bees and I love it when she brings me honey!!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Dual Vision!

Leslie said...

I smiled with that first comment at the top;) .. yep, wisdom is something that is acquired with time. There is so much goodness in the honey. What fun this will be. You will have to keep us posted on how it's going Gina:) xxL

Down On The Farm said...

My husband used to raise bees a long, long time ago. Anxious to see when your new bees show up!!

Brandi said...

Much respect to you and your hubby! I hope your new bees arrive soon. Excited to follow along, from afar... LOL!!

Marissa said...

My goodness Gina
Wow- I can't wait to hear more about the bees
Hope you get many bees.