We really are more exciting than this blog professes to be at this point. Oh, well. Life goes on...

Strange Food Choices

Annie: Mom, when you were little and you ate a cow tongue, did you wash the slobber off first?

Holly: Um, yeah. Thanks Annie, I think I'm going to be sick.

(next day, in a phone conversation)

Holly: Mom, when you fed me cow tongue when we were little, did you wash the slobber off first?

Susan: Well, of course I did. To prepare cow tongue first you have to peel off the layer that the taste buds are on.......blah, blah...texture like spam....blah, blah....insert more gross descriptions here......sandwich spread...blech...

Holly: Um thanks Mom, I think I'm going to be sick.

To BEE or not to BEE

Earlier this week, while coaxing my child to begin his homework, I happened to glance out the window. Much to my surprise, I saw my entire colony of honeybees flying around my backyard. Literally thousands and thousands.

Shortly after I noticed that they were ALL out flying, they started clustering back on the hive. I sat out on the grass and watched as every last bee marched back in. Strange...

A beehive naturally swarms when the colony has run out of space. The honeybees will prepare a new queen and the colony will split leaving some in the hive while the rest 'swarm' and seek out a new home.

I think my girls were doing a dress rehearsal.

Happy Happy Birthday Jackson Dear!

Jackson turned 7 on Thanksgiving! He is becoming quite a handsome young man. While we were gorging ourselves on turkey and stuffing, Papa's whole family sang 'Happy Birthday'! Later that night, we had Papa, and Mindy and her family over to eat pizza and devour the amazing 'Toothless' cake that Mindy sculpted for Jackson. Afterwards, the kids watched 'How To Train Your Dragon'.

4/24/10

For about two years now, I have been learning about beekeeping. During 2009, I attended monthly county beekeeper association meetings. I also ordered the supplies to build my own beehive. On April 24, 2010 my package of bees were delivered!
There is a professional beekeeper in town that drives to California every Spring to pick up millions of bees. I ordered 1 package from him. The package is about the size of a shoebox and is rated to hold three pounds of bees and one queen. The day that he dispensed all the orders was a highly anticipated day for me. I didn't want to show up too early with all the eager beavers. I also didn't want to be too late and make him wait for me. So, halfway between the two extremes, we went to the designated warehouse to get my package.
After a year and a half of researching beekeeping and building my own hive, I knew I would be fine walking into the building to pick up the girls. I wore long sleeves and long pants to discourage any curious bees from exploring. I jumped out of the car and headed towards to building. BUZZ, buzz, BUZZ. I started walking away from the building to shake off the one bee that was showing interest. Deep breath. I again started walking towards the building. BUZZ, buzz, BUZZ. I turned around and walked away from the building. Deep breath. Try again.
I jumped back in the car and refused to roll down the windows.
Scott, knowing that I would never walk into the building to retrieve my bees, got out of the car and headed toward the building. My knight in shining armor was wearing shorts and a short sleeve shirt that day. After a few trips back to the car to ask me questions through a barely opened window, he came out carrying my package of bees with his bare hands!
That evening, we shook the bees into the beehive. I suited up. Seriously, I laugh at myself now because I looked like I was prepared for an atomic bomb. Scott stood by and watched me go through the process to install the girls and the queen. He didn't have any protective beekeeping clothing on. Partway through, he commented to me that one of the bees had been climbing all over his forehead and temple. Seriously, I was the one chickening out!
Since then, I've become more relaxed checking on the bees.

4/18/2010

Nine days before our tenth wedding anniversary we blessed our beautiful baby boy. Grandpa and Grandpa Davis made the long road trip to be here for the blessed event! We also had Dan and Ember with their three kids, Mark and Melanie, Grandpa Stevens, Trevor and Mindy with their three kids. Brock and Terra with their little gal. I fed everyone multi grain pancakes, individual breakfast casseroles, orange juice and strawberries. Yum! Kind of earthy and healthy, but it I saw Trevor have seconds on the pancakes. They must have been good!

Scott and I had originally dreamed of embarking on a tropical cruise to celebrate ten years together. Being blessed with Evan has been so much more of an adventure for us. We wouldn't trade him in for a tropical cruise any day. Now, maybe we should start dreaming of our 20 year anniversary cruise!

Facebook

I got kicked off Facebook, by Facebook. What gives. Yesterday I was just fine. I even chatted a bit with my sister. This morning, I got notice that my account has been disabled. What gives!!! How am I suppose to keep tabs on everyone that 'friended' me? Should I re-sign-up or just count it as a blessing in disguise. What will people think of me if I digress back into the dark ages before Facebook times? The roars of laughter can still be heard for days when someone finds out that I still don't pack a cell phone. What to do, What to do....