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.