1) My grandfather passed away last week. This is the sweet man who was married to this lady. After 71 years of marriage, they left this world within two months of each other. His passing is truly a celebration. While losing my Grandma was a bit unexpected, Grandpa had been sick recently and for years was not himself. The thought of them reunited, whole and in the presence of Jesus has kept tears at bay. This time love and peace are dissolving my tears before they begin. How can I be sad? Instead, I am thankful and looking forward to coming together with family to reminisce his person and life.
2) Everywhere I look I see flowers and green! Each year this overwhelms me. Out of dullness, comes life and vibrant color. The birds, insects, sprouting plants, young chickens happy as can be in the chicken tractor, blueberry bushes accepting their first rains (in our yard, anyway)...it all leaves me so happy and hopeful and keeps me from wanting to leave our yard. Like, ever.
3) Four more weeks of school. Four more weeks of school. Four more weeks of school. The kids are actually doing fine with it- it's me that's struggling. I want to be doing other things! The mild weather and all things related to number two above leaves me feeling restless and giddy. Like I've had too much coffee. Oh, wait. Maybe it is the coffee...
4) I am living, breathing and dreaming honey bees! We placed our order and are expecting two hives worth of honey bees in a couple weeks. I cannot tell you how excited and nervous I am. More than any other hobby we've started, this one is the most exciting for us. We've been thinking about beekeeping for years. Jamey built the first top bar hive last year but we didn't feel quite ready so we put it off a year. He's built a second one, the bees are ordered and I've been reading and watching everything I can get my hands and eyes on. I have SO much to say on the subject, but for now I just want to say that I am in utter AWE of God's creation of these little creatures. Awed, stunned, amazed, impressed and incredibly humbled.
Much more about this (and other things) coming soon, but for now, I need to hit the books again. And tend my own little brood.
Enjoy this beautiful time of year!
Love,
Jane Pin It
Oooh, I'm a little envious of your green and blooms! We don't have that yet (Vermont). It's still very much in the dull brown stage, but at least the buds are becoming visable!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear more about the bees, I think I'd like to have a hive, too. Love raw honey!
1. Hugs to you and your family as you celebrate your grandfather's life.
ReplyDelete2. All this talk of spring is making my chest ache. I miss the changing of the seasons.
3. You can do it!
4. I can't wait to learn how the bee project goes!
I am so ready for end of school, too. Won't be long now.
ReplyDeleteHi. I've followed your blog for a while now, because we seem to have a lot in common! My husband and I live in the country and we also are trying to live on what we grow.
ReplyDeleteWe just got our first two beehives about two weeks ago! After we moved to the country we let some friends keep their hives out here and paid us "rent" in honey. My husband spent a year reading about bees, building his hives and basically has had bee on the brain for ages... and last Friday the guys split their hives with us and now we have two of our own! It is really exciting, and bees are just one of the most amazing creatures in nature. I hope you enjoy your bee adventure! We've loved having them on our place and all the honey!!
I posted about our hive splitting process on my blog, you can check it out if you like! http://not-quite-a-farm.blogspot.com/2013/04/we-have-bees.html (I promise this is not me trying advertise.)
Your blog is lots of fun, thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Rachel- what great pictures! You all need to follow her link and check out her bees:-).
DeleteSo excited to hear that you're getting bees. Can't wait to learn from you. :)
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear of your loss, though I understand the positive side of it, too. Amazing that they were together for 71 years!
ReplyDeleteI would love to keep bees! But my daughter is in her totally afraid of bees phase, and our yard is not big enough that she can go outside and be far enough away from a hive that she doesn't have to worry. Not even sure we would be allowed to keep them where we live. If the girl ever gets over this, I will have to research it!
good luck!
Good for you about the bees!! Can't wait to learn more about your next venture! I always enjoy every single detail about all of your projects. Blessed be your grandpa and grandpa. I've often heard that spouses of many years pass on within weeks of each other. God is so merciful to us. Hang in there. We don't have any spring or spring color and I am dying here in Chicago area so be glad you have color to feast your eyes on. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteI understand your enthusiasm for the bees. My husband (PaladinPrepper on YouTube), built a top bar hive last fall, but we decided to wait until spring to order bees. I'm so glad we did, because this winter was so hard. Just last week, a friend mentioned that he had bees in a rental house he was about to tear down, and that he wanted them out. My husband gathered his courage, a rudimentary bee keeping suit, and his bee vacuum, (that he built himself), and he went and got the bees out of the house. He put them in his hive and so far, so good. We're so excited. I hope they stay and that they thrive.
ReplyDeleteWe have five hives of bees and have been "beekeeping" for about four years. Good luck with your new venture!! When you get to know your bees - they will "tell" you what they need!!
ReplyDeleteOh that's so exciting about the bees! I've been wanting them for a LONG time. Maybe next year!
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Bees would be amazing! I am so excited for you! I have been in awe of bees since I watched an episode if Moody's science series on them. They are truly one of God's most stunning creatures!
ReplyDeleteWe just lost our raw honey source because his bees all got sick. We'll say a prayer for yours! Please keep us up to date!
I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. I can't wait to hear about the bees!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your grandparents graduating into eternity! What a joyous occasion for them!
ReplyDeleteLove your spring pics! Can't wait to get out to our homestead and enjoy the Lord's creation!
I am equally fascinated by bees ... but not for the same reason as you are. Our bees - carpenter or wood-boring bees - have taken over our deck! The females bore perfectly round 1/2 inch holes, and then trails to create nests, into the deck. The males, or "soldier bees" then guard the nests by dive bombing us when we attempt to enjoy our deck! The nerve of those little buzzers! lol. Oh, and then the woodpeckers come and peck open the trails to get to the larvae. Truly amazing how much damage these guys do! Now we have to replace the top rail of the deck with plasteak and the ballisters with metal! =\
Loving your blog ... and especially your friendly reminder below! HA HA HA HA!! That's great!! =)
Jane, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of you grandfather. And I am glad that you are rejoicing in his reunion with your grandmother. It is wonderful to have such close family and amazing memories. And good luck with the bees! God bless, Dawn
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