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Working Bee

A visit to my daughter’s home in Alabama allowed me the opportunity to take note of her husband’s beekeeping duties. I now understand how my yummy gift jars of honey are created.

I donned the protective suit (which didn’t fit me because my daughter is a size small), but the hat sufficiently covered my head. I tagged along as a ‘wanna’ bee.

Interesting facts:

The drone (male bee) does not have a stinger and has to be fed by the nurse bees.

The hive contains one queen bee, thousands of worker bees, nurse bees, guard bees, and housekeeping bees.

Honey is harvested once a year around June.

It is important to learn about bees because they play a crucial role in our environment.

The Bee Hives

My son-in-law displaying frames of bees.

Honey Money – the finished product.

 

. . . . . with honeycomb.

 

 

The word honey is mentioned 61 times in the Bible. (NIV)

John the Baptist survived on honey.

As much as I enjoy honey, I’ll leave the beekeeping duties to the experts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With urgency in his voice, my grandson called me last week and asked if I could come over to his house. He and a friend found a stray kitten while riding their bikes. According to both boys, the kitten had one eye. I stopped everything I had been doing and drove at record speed to my daughter’s home. My grandson’s friend along with this friend’s brother and sister stood wide-eyed watching my daughter assess the health condition of a tiny orange fur ball, already confirmed a male, and named One-eyed Willy.

The kitten’s eye wasn’t missing, but sealed shut due to some type of infection. The little thing had sores on his behind. We decided to give One-eyed Willy a bath in Dawn dish soap to kill fleas. I raced back home for my cat flea comb and mite medicine as the kitten’s ears were filled with mites. After an hour of removing fleas and mites in a tepid bath and rinse, the kitten began to purr. An outdoor makeshift bed was created for him along with a dish of warm milk, water, and soft cat food. He didn’t seem old enough to eat solids, but scarfed down the meal.

Needless to say, after a veterinary visit, Willy is a member of my grandson’s household and free from fleas and sickness.

Thank you, boys, for stopping to aid a kitten in need. You could have cycled on, ignoring the situation. So many animals are left to fend for themselves.

Please neuter or spay your pets, and when seeking a furry member for your home, check out local pet rescue adoptions and the Humane Society. This little guy will be forever loved.

Luke 19:10

“For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest post by Beverly Robertson, author of Bible Brides: Trials and Triumphs

My friend, Beverly, worked on a church garden given from her mother’s memorial fund.

Gardens are special and relaxing. Their beauty can brighten the spirit. That’s why I’m glad my mother’s memorial gift was used to create this charming spot. She loved birds, flowers, and giving to others. Mom would have been pleased this plot honors all members who have gone to be with the Lord.

The vegetation had been removed when the foundation was repaired. So we brought in black soil and planted shrubs and a variety of flowers. An attractive boarder framed the garden with plenty of added mulch. My family was to find a bird bath. Then a dedication would follow.

My siblings were all here for the celebration. No small feat as they came from far away, one even out of the country. Just the day before the dedication, we found a fountain decorated with birds where water bubbled in the middle. We liked this better than a bird bath, and a member wired it with a timer.

Many people have remarked how soothing and enjoyable it is. We live such hurried and stressful lives anything that can bring relief is a blessing. If one stops to listen to the gurgling of water and view the beauty of flowers and greenery, it can calm the soul.

You can learn more about Beverly at: http://www.authorbevrobertson.com

robertdb@speedconnect.com

 

Guest post by children’s picture book, young adult, and new adult author Deb Gardner Allard.

CRAFTING GOURD BIRDHOUSES

There are few things that brighten dreary days when my heart is troubled, but one thing does the trick–working on craft projects. As my focus drifts to creating, I forget about burdens and think about the person who will receive my handiwork. Surprising someone always tickles my heart.

One of my favorite projects was a gourd birdhouse. Pat Reiter and I got the idea when we attended a writing event at a restaurant in eastern Michigan. A unique red-barn style shop was part of the facility. As if the place needed more charm, a large wagon wheel decorated its front yard. After lunch, Pat and I decided to do some serious browsing, but we didn’t make it far. A nearly overflowing bin of unique gourds by the door snagged our attention. Some of the shapes and sizes were perfect for birdhouses or feeders. I purchased two and couldn’t wait to carry my treasures home.

Unfortunately, the gourds needed to dry before removing the seeds and goop on the inside, so I tucked them away on a shelf for about a year.

The next spring, when I finally sat down to begin work, my excitement swelled as I scoured the internet for ideas. Pinterest has tons of painted gourd projects as well as instructions on how to make birdhouses/feeders. I scanned through pictures for a few days before deciding on the right design–a sunflower with leafy vine.

The new project took several days to complete due to waiting for coats of paint and varnish to dry. That gave me time to find the right size mailer box and card.

I was beyond excited when I finally sent the finished project to Pat. She’s someone who enjoys making crafts for others–fun things like Christmas tree bulbs decorated like snowmen, decorative gift bags, and much more. She’s sent me things over the years that have blessed my heart. I was excited to bless hers.

To my surprise, once she received the gift, she hung it over her porch and took pictures for me to see its new home. Her enthusiasm brought me overwhelming joy.

I haven’t had time to work on crafts these days. My life seems to get busy in spurts, but one thing I know for sure–thinking about brightening another person’s life is a surefire way to distract our own minds and fill them with joy.

You can learn more about Deb at:  http://debgardnerallard.com