keljonma's Front Porch - Settling in and adjusting

[keljonma]

RAIN! It figures, since it is TR's day off. He is also scheduled for days off this week-end, and the forecast calls for more rain/thunder storms. Blah!

This morning we tooled around town and got some errands done. Then after lunch, I went to Mary-Martha Circle while TR stayed home and practiced his violin.

The other women finished tying the quilt they were working on last week, while I sewed faces on 7 teddy bears made by another woman. The bears will be blessed by Pastor Meredith on Sunday and Pat and Ron fly out on the 15th. TR and I are taking them to the airport.

This Saturday, we are getting a load of horse manure. One of Pat's friends has 16 horses and is still trying to get rid of last year's muck, so she can move this year's muck away from the barn. Lucky us!

Have fun!

 

[keljonma]

A real mix of rain, overcast skies and sunshine since I last posted. We have really humid weather and Titan is sticking by the oscillating fan. I can't say I blame him. Today TR gave Titan a bath to help him cool down a bit.

The bees are busy drawing beeswax in the 3rd super I added. This week-end I saw a number of drones flying in and out of the hive. Man, those boys are gawky! When they fly they sound like B52 bombers compared to the personal plane hum of the workers.

Lots of brown, white and yellow pollen still coming in. Plus I have noticed that quite a number are bringing in nectar/water and no pollen. Soon it will be time to add a honey super.

We have a Beek club meeting on Saturday, but TR has to work so he will miss it. A fellow beek member is also a master gardener and she will be discussing what flowers and plants to add to our gardens/yards to attract bees.

This morning TR and I took Pat and Ron to the airport - they are on their way to Liberia for their son's wedding. Pat will be back July 3rd and Ron at the end of August.

Tonight we have a meeting for the team for WOW at the Lake for July. Our WOW at the Lake this summer will only be held 3 times, and TR is only available for the July 27th session. This year, the worship will be held at 10:30 and then we will have a potluck picnic for anyone interested in staying. There will be pontoon boats available for fishing or boat rides or people can fish off the deck at Don and Laurie's place.

Our church is under some transition, as Pastor Josh will be leaving at the end of June for his own church. Our pastoral committee has not yet named a replacement. So worship service at the church will be at 8:30 and 11:00 except on the 3 Sundays WOW on the Lake is held. Then there will only be an 8:30 service at the church and the WOW at the Lake service will be at 10:30. The WOW2 service at the biker bar will still be at 11:00 every Sunday.

The WOW2 service recently started offering free breakfast buffet (all the food is donated). TR & I went on Sunday, and it did seem a bit strange to me to be eating scrambled eggs and bacon while singing praise songs....but the idea is obviously popular, since attendance at the worship service has doubled since the buffet began in May.

Last Sunday I started a new Bible study about Daniel. It is being facilitated by Laurie.

In July, Pat and I will be going to NY for the wedding of one of her nieces. This niece lives in the same town as TR's sister, so Pat and I will meet her for lunch one day. Then on the way home, Pat and I will be stopping in Dunkirk to meet up with some of her friends at the Christian camp there.

I will be gone from July 9 through the 12th -- I hope TR survives on his own. I think I will make up some meals and freeze them, so he doesn't have to worry about meals. We have tons of food at home, but if it isn't made into something, he just doesn't recognize it as a meal.

Well, I guess I better get a move on... we still have to get home and eat dinner before heading to Don and Laurie's for the WOW at the Lake team meeting.

Have fun and have a great week!

 

[Farmfresh]

Kel I just love your in dept bee updates! It helps me live and learn vicariously through you until I can have bees of my own. Keep up the good work!

 

[keljonma]

Thanks, FF! I am enjoying the beek experience!

Today at our monthly Beek Association meeting, one of our members (Maxine) spoke about attracting native bees (mason, bumble, sweat, squash bees). These species of bees have relatively short life spans. Maxine is a also a Master Gardener and her presentation was very informative.

TR missed the meetings, since he is working. We are in the mid 80s today with sunshine, so after I leave here, I'm headed home to check on the bees. Maybe, if TR is home, I'll get some pics worth posting.

 

[Beekissed]

Kel. just sittin' down on your porch to exchange howdies.....

Love the bee info also!

 

[keljonma]

Hey, Bee! How have you been? I am so glad to see you're enjoying the porch swing.... hope you had a chance to get some iced tea while you were here.

I am really enjoying working with the bees. Since we got our bees, just about everybody we know has had bees or known someone else who did.... One of the things I really like about rural living; lots of people to call for assistance!


Did you finally get started with bees this year as well?

 

[keljonma]

This year has been strange....

We have lost the majority of our veg garden to critters and rain and are now in the process of replanting. The garden is fenced, boarded, surrounded by Titan's fur, and has yellow caution tape around it. If we could afford an electric fence, I think I would install one. We are instead, changing the fence completely over to plastic deer netting. Hopefully that will help.

The weather has been strange as well. The temps in June have been as high as 88 and as low as 50!

We had a tornado hit in our county this week, just 15 minutes NE of our place. All we got was really hard rain (4 inches) and 50 mph winds.

Titan is slowly losing interest in most everything but food and sleeping. This week he started experiencing tremors when he stands for long periods of time.

Our computer is acting up at home and I am lost without it.

Last week, God blessed me with another bday and TR made it grand. I played with the bees that day and TR got some great pics, which I will post in a bit.

 

[Farmfresh]

Happy Birthday! It seems like all of the BEST people have a June birthday!

 

[TanksHill]

Happy belated birthday!! Sorry to hear about Titan. I agree that the weather has been strange. We are in the high 60's here. I know I should not complain but it's not normal.

g

 

[lorihadams]

Happy Birthday to another June baby!!! There are a ton of us on here!