Be Thou My Vision

I've started reading one of the books I hope to finish this year: Then Sings My Soul by Robert Morgan. It is a book of 150 stories related to or supporting a traditional hymn. One of my favorite hymns was originally written by an unknown Irish poet. Mary Elizabeth Bryne translated the poem into English in 1905. And according to Robert Morgan, Eleanor Hull of Manchester, England restructured the poem into verses. Soon afterward the verses were set to "Slane" - a traditional Irish folk song.

When one tries to peer into the future one finds that the past and present are filled with bombing & guns over Palestine and Israel, a war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, earthquakes and flooding, avalanches, bitter cold and deep snow fall in the United States, and economic troubles throughout the world. Many countries are battling drought, starvation, political unrest. In spite of these turbulent waters we, as believers in Christ, have an anchor, a rock, a stronghold to calm the sea. The boat may be rocking. The waves may be crashing. But when your stomach is troubled and nausea sets in...you need not worry. A veteran sailor always looks to a stable landmark when the waters are rough. So too do we.

No matter what the future brings may this hymn be my prayer. I pray too that your soul will be comforted and quieted. May you and I both keep our vision on the Lord in this world of change and chaos.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word,
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son,
Thou in my dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Resolutions or Goals?

What is the difference between a resolution and a goal? At this time of year it is inevitable that people will announce this or that resolution to start the New Year. They will make elaborate statements. They will strive in their minds to attempt to make a change in their habits, lifestyle or personality. They will rarely have a plan... and hence, most resolutions end up abandoned... the promised hopes a washed in vagueness, defeat, and failure.


Today I am posting a picture of my family. Although a year old it catches us at a time joy. My son had his piano recital in a historic home with beautiful gardens. So we took the opportunity to try to capture one of those elusive family photos. Every year it is one of my goals: to get us together wearing something presentable and everyone smiling. I know, it's a lot to ask. This was as close as we could get. Not perfect. But presentable.


I like to make goals. They help me to focus. I've learned over the years that my goals often do not get completed... they are usually too lofty. But that's OK. I've learned that it's OK to have unobtained goals as long as one is still on the road to getting there. I've found that it usually takes me about three times longer to accomplish something than I thought it would. Here are some of my goals for 2009. Yes, I know there are a lot of them. That's fine with me. In fact, there are many goals not written in this list. They too will be worked.


“Big Personal Goals”

Successful Farmer’s Market (i.e., make a profit!)
Set up banking account
Lay out growing plan and plots
Plan 2 hours everyday of weeding, pruning, maintaining (5-7 AM?)
Pick and clean vegetables and fruit Friday afternoon and pack truck
Purchase table, signs, pop-up tent
Pick fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs Saturday 5-6AM and pack truck
Leave by 7:15
Ledger books? Monitor time and materials
Music (hammered dulcimer, flute, guitar)
Practice 15 minutes 5 days a week on each?
Diet (healthy, balanced and whole)
Eat what you grow
Drink more water
Eliminate pop? (This could be hard... I really enjoy my Dr. Pepper)
Teaching (University and personal)
Complete teaching plans and PowerPoint slides for class
Grade papers at work – do not bring home!
Gardening
Flowers and fun
Mulch
Reading books (fun, educational and edifying)
Why the Universe Is The Way It Is (Hugh Ross)
Then Sings My Soul (Robert Morgan)
The Cell’s Design (Fuz Rana)
Who Made God? (Ravi Zacharias & Norman Geisler)
Quiet & Prayer Time
When? Where? What? This needs attention!
Clean home
De-Clutter! Take stuff to Salvation Army
File as it comes in
Clean as you go
Get the children involved
Organize
Train and play with Katie and Kapow


This list doesn't mention getting the other house ready for sale, painting the chicken coop, homeschooling the children during the summer, teaching them to swim, and many other things. So it is not comprehensive. That's okay. It's a start. And that is why resolutions...I mean, goals, are made.


"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." My prayer and hope is that these goals are His goals not mine. And if they are outside of His will then I hope and pray that they never get achieved. In fact, I hope that I am sensitive to His leading and remove them.

May you enjoy the end of the year and look forward with anticipation the coming of Spring and the New Year. Many happy goals....


Today's Journey Joy - making goals

Christmas Family

Merry Christmas! This year we ventured up to the "best state in the union". You know, Wisconsin. It is so beautiful. The drive was exciting and spectacular to behold. The bluffs of southwestern Wisconsin rose high above us as we traveled. We drove to my Dad's home. It had almost been 2 years since I had seen him and so when he called and asked if we could come up for Christmas I immediately made plans.


Uncle Dave was a big hit. My daughter clung to him and sat on his lap and tickled him. Our son never had someone tickle him so long and so often. They both commented, "I love Uncle Dave." Aren't uncles great? Every child should have one so tireless...

The Christmas celebration was heart warming for me. Spending time with my brother, two of my four sisters, and my Dad made Christmas special. Seeing my nieces (one with two children!) and remembering how many times I held them as babies and toddlers was neat as well. Eating ham, special cheesy mashed potatoes, green beans, fruit salad and crescent rolls brought to mind our family traditional meals. No fudge bottom pie though. We were given the responsibility for dessert and a refrigerated pie does not travel in the car for four hours very well. So we had super duper chocolate chip cookies and peppermint cookies. My aunt Sonija lovingly sent lefsa with my brother (Uncle Dave). Good memories. As a child we would wait plaintively at the dessert table eyeing the lefsa. Yum. We did the same as adults. Yum. As good as I remember. I will definitely have to learn how to make this dessert. It is part of my Norwegian heritage that I hope my children will also enjoy into their Christmas tradition.

We drove back home last evening... had to get here before the storm arrived. It was close but we got out of Wisconsin before the icy snow started to fall. Although it would have been fun to spend more time with my Dad, it was good to be in my own bed with my most wonderful husband and a ten year old boy who snuck into bed with us. Making our own memories aren't we?

Merry Christmas.


Today's Journey Joy: Christmas and family

Morning Snow

We are greeted today with wet fluffy beautiful snow. The weatherman says that the winds will soon blow and howl. But for now the snow drifts softly onto the branches, piling high. It is a lovely site. Especially from the warmth of our home.

Katie, our English Shepherd, wants to know why I don't play. Ah, my dear, chores await me. The usual morning chicken feeding, cat loving and puppy (yes, you Katie) petting are calling. Today the chickens get the broken Christmas cookies and the scraps from last evening's dinner. Also the fire needs pulling forward, dishes need washing, children need bathing. During the day we will be preparing for the festivities. Christmas Eve service. Practicing the flute duet. Wrapping the last presents. Packing for our trip to grandpa's home in Wisconsin. Time to play will have to wait my dear puppy. In the meantime play with your brother Kapow. Roll in the snow and frolic over the drifts. Catch snowflakes on your tongue. I will watch periodically and enjoy your wonder of life.

Today's journey joy: Playful snow

A Decade of Joy

A decade ago. How can it be? Does time really move so quickly? How can one moment he be a tiny little baby snuggled in my arms and the next be a boy of ten dressed in his favorite Keen clothes? It's his birthday. Ten. A decade old. And I tricked him. With candles that don't go out. It's the third time he's tried to extinguish these. "Mommy, are these trick candles?" Can't fool him.

He's grown to be a energetic, intelligent, reflective and contemplative young boy. Not much escapes his attention. He may appear to be in his own little world at times. But he's paying attention. I know. Later he'll say something related to what we were saying.

Never a dull moment. I remember when he was three. "Mommy, I don't understand calculus." Huh? What three year old even knows that there is a math concept such as calculus? "Mommy, I'm going to invent a time machine." Yes, I believe you could. "Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a baker." At 5 years old that was his dream. Today it is different. "Mommy, I want to be a computer programmer." He's already working on it. Daddy helps him. Soon they will be working together on Visual Basic. Will he grow to be a computer programmer? A baker? A scientist? A pastor? A musician? A farmer? A teacher? (He's always correcting my grammar mistakes). A researcher? An astrophysicist? He wants to develop a teleporter. Just yesterday he commented, "Mommy when I invent the teleporter would you like to be the first person to travel?" "Ahhh, no thanks son. I think I would like to be the 1000th person." He replies, "Yeah, perhaps I should practice with inanimate objects first. What if I develop a teleporter that transports just things?" "Oh son, I think you will put the UPS man out of business." "Just think" he replies, "You could order stuff on the computer and in moments it could be on your teleporter pad."

I remember when he was a tiny little baby. Daddy would sing to him and carry him endlessly in his arms. Every night I would sing him to sleep with, "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you. And give you peace. And give you peace. And give you peace forever." I would pray that God would mold this boy to be strong, courageous, sensitive to others and to Him." Perhaps one day my son will invent something amazing. Perhaps not. But amazing he is.

My first born son breathed his first breath on December 20th, 1998 at 12:24 in the morning after being two and half weeks late and after being induced 12 hours earlier. It was a rough beginning. Back labor for hours. Exhaustion. Tears. And suddenly a beautiful crying baby. An hour later we were all tucked into our beds and settled down. My wonderful husband in the guest bed, me in my hospital bed and our son in the bassinet between us. Finally some rest. We closed our eyes, breathed deeply, and "Whaaaa!" We looked at each other and laughed. It was just as friends had said. No rest for the weary. But it has definitely been a life of joy.

Thank you God for our son. Thank you God for Your Son. For without Jesus, "God with us", there would be no joy, no everlasting hope. Thank you.

Today's Journey Joy: First born son

Brrrrr... COLD bunny...hop,hop,hop

The snow is blowing... the temps are falling. How long has it been since we have had such a frigid day? The high was zero degrees Fahrenheit. Now it is back to minus two. The wind blows; the harsh sounds whip around the corners leaving drifts and snow dunes. Even the bunnies are too cold to come out and play. I dread having to go outside but the chickens and dogs beckon. They need food and water. Thankfully the chicken coop is insulated with a couple of heating lamps set on a thermostat. It's been 30 degrees in there for the past few hours. (We have a digital thermometer which transmits to the house.) Their water is probably frozen. I should go soon.

But this morning's musings at church have led me to ponder once again... just what were the surroundings of Jesus' birth? Why do we celebrate such a birthday? He came with such little pomp or circumstance. A young pregnant woman, a new husband, a farm stall. No room in the inn. No room anywhere. Was it cold? Was it snowing? Raining? Windy? Did God provide for His little one by using the warmth of animals to protect Jesus from the harsh cold of a birth outside?

We celebrated hope today. Jesus came to bring us hope. True hope. Without God becoming Emmanuel... without Jesus growing and learning... without His teaching and demonstration of love... without the Cross... without the resurrection... all would be cold and dead. We would be cold; we would be dead. Yet there is a Spring. There is hope.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I'm found,
Was blind but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear,
the hour I first believed.

My chains are gone, I've been set free,
My God, my Savior has ransomed me.
And like a flood His mercy reigns,
Unending love, Amazing Grace

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine.
But God who called me here below,
Will be forever mine,
Will be forever mine,
You are forever mine.

(John Newton, John P. Rees & Edwin Othello Excell; Chris Tomlin & Louie Giglio)

Today's Journey Joy: Hope

Celibacy by Compulsion

Brrr... the temperature is plummeting. Winter has arrived. The thermometer fell at 5:24 pm this evening. Throughout the day it was a balmy 26-28 degrees. At 5:24 the wind came rushing in with a roar. The coldest evening is upon us. -3 degrees Fahrenheit is cold no matter where you call home. Our poor black kitten "Blackie" seemed unaware of where his toasty warm home was. It was covered in snow. So in the snowy blizzard my husband and I ventured out into the drifting and blowing snow. I carried Blackie and walked him over to the igloo covered in mulch and snow. He was very happy to run in and meet his fellow kittens. He should stay warm now.

But that is not why I write tonight. Celibacy by compulsion has little to do with placing Blackie into his home. But it does have everything to do with our roosters. Due to their socially inappropriate behavior (attacking and breeding every hen they can get their beaks on) they have been placed in confinement.

Yesterday I went to the coop to find a poor hen pecked, de-feathered and dead in a nesting box. Those reproductive driven guys killed her. My heart sunk. I can not stand by and watch animals suffer. That was it. Something had to change. The roosters are too young to butcher but too old to hang out with the hens.

So we placed some chicken wire between some on the roosts. Now the roosters plaintively lust through the wire. Do I feel for them? Not really. In three weeks they are off to the poultry processor to fill our freezer. Strange how the thought of the rooster's demise doesn't seem to bother me... well, with the exception of one of them. Mr. Rooster will be replaced this culling. He's still less than a year old and should be still good for the stew pot. But he was our first rooster and we have many fond and not so fond memories of him.

But alas, the boys will have to be content looking through the wire. They have been placed in solitary confinement pending their "sentence". Meanwhile, the hens are at peace. There is no more screeching for help from the defenseless hen. And hopefully there will be no more suffering deaths.

Tonight we are pleased that the chickens are safe, the kittens are in their igloo, the dogs... well they're still running around outside... eventually they will snuggle up into their igloo and keep warm as well. We are warm, fed and content. It's time to cuddle together read a good book and drink some hot chocolate.

Today's Journey Joy - separated chickens

Pounding

I did it. It's been a long road. But I finally did it. I pounded the final grade into the university computer this morning. My semester course work is finished. No more grading papers, writing tests, preparing presentations, entering scores. The Fall 2008 semester is done. What a relief.

I remember when I was a student (many years ago) when I thought "Sure, Professor so-and-so gives us all this work and she (he) only has to grade it..." Whine, whine, whine. Now being on the other side.... well we "professors" whine, whine, whine about it as well. But really there is a lot more that goes into teaching at the university level than it might appear. I've been doing this now full time for 2 1/2 years. "They" say the third year is when it starts to get a little easier. Really? It was a lot easier when I was an adjunct. Prepare the class, give the class, give the test, grade the test. Done. Being full time requires meetings, meetings and more meetings. And many more academic duties.

The course load is heavier and the sense of responsibility for the ultimate program weighs heavily on me at times. These students will one day have a professional degree. The information and concepts they learn today will impact not only their future but the future of their clients (may be even me!). Have I bestowed in them a sense of wonder? Can they marvel at how amazing the human body was made? Do they see the grotesqueness of disease and pathology? The foreignness... the unright-ness of it? Have they caught the passion and joy of caring for people holistically? Physically, socially, emotionally, mentally and spiritually? Have I modelled compassion, empathy, competence, and professionalism? Are they excited about their future role? Do they see it as a job or a ministry?

Solomon once wrote: "...Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh." (Ecclesiastes 12:12) My students would probably agree. Perhaps I would as well.

But today instead of weariness I will chose joy. Today I will ponder my questions and gaze at the woodpecker. I'll drink my coffee and savor the cookies I finally was able to bake. I will clean the dining room and wash the floor. I'll rock in the chair and read the Word. I'll play my flute and peacefully rest. Yes, studying is a weariness. But Solomon goes on to summarize... "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Today's Journey Joy: final grades

Laying in the Thorns

Eggs... aren't they supposed to be in the nesting box? I found these this summer in my raspberry patch. Mrs. Hen had found a nice cozy, secure place to lay her eggs. No wonder our egg count was low. She wasn't broody. She didn't keep them warm. She didn't protect them. Eventually they would get old, develop sufficient gas, and break (explode) with a nasty (sulfur smelling) odor. All that work... with no benefit. If she had laid them in the nesting box they would have at least gone to some one's table. Laid here they are good for little. (Well... actually I did the "egg test" and only seven had to be thrown away into the compost heap. The rest my family ate.)

I am wondering.... do I hide my "eggs" in a seemingly safe and beneficial spot? Am I harboring them... keeping them... using my time and energies and abilities well? Or am I like Mrs. Hen? Doing what seems natural and good? But in fact it is not. Will my "work" find it's way onto the compost bin or explode with a nasty smell?

I find lately that I am in a place in life where self evaluation is needed. Are my chosen activities and priorities the ones that will eventually lead me (my life) to joy and peace? Are they consistent with the truth? Are my short term goals leading to the ultimate goal of a life that has been God glorifying? Do I really follow the paths that direct me to His pleasure? Does God see my choices and say "I've made this wonderful cozy nesting box for you, why are you laying in the thorns?" Am I laying "my eggs" in hidden corners and dead end roads? Will my energies and passions result in superfluous activity and result in smelly compost? Or will they be jewels in a crown? "Well done" is what I long to hear.

"You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16: 11)

Today's Journey Joy: reflections

The winter coop

Chicken

Known for its feather and wings and legs,

The chicken lays eggs and eggs and eggs!

Known for the comb atop its crown,

The chicken lays eggs of white and brown.

Known for its strut when taking a walk,

The chicken lays eggs! Ba-a-awk! Ba-a-awk!
Meish Goldish

We built our chicken coop this summer.... should have been spring. Like many of our "good" plans we should have started earlier. The baby chickens came in early April. They were so cute and fluffy. We put them in the basement with two heat lamps, a chick waterer and a baby chick feeder. They grew... and grew... and grew. They ate and ate and ate. They chirped and chirped and...clucked. And all that time they deposited droppings after droppings after droppings (did I mention they were in my basement?) Eleven (yes, I said eleven) weeks later the coop was finally finished. Well, not quite. We hadn't finished insulating the roof or putting the sheathing on the ceiling. But it was close enough.

We had built in it in front of the garage so it would be close to all the tools. So the great moving day was exciting. My husband somehow attached a big chain around the coop and I drove the tractor. The coop slid beautifully in its skids. Eventually we put sturdy railroad ties under the coop and set the windows.

How did I know it was moving day? The chickens found out they could walk up stairs. When the first rooster entered my kitchen I said, "That's it! Either outside or off with your head!" They opted for outside. And found they liked it out there much better. (After many days of scrubbing and disinfecting the basement eventually got cleaned...never again will baby chickens live in my house).

Today it is snowing. The coop is snug and warm. In fact, the outside temperature is 28 degrees but the coop is 51 degrees. The chickens do not like the snow. Probably too unpredictable... blowing here and there. Pelting them from above. So I don't even open the door... it just makes their home cold.

I never finished painting the coop. It's primed (mostly) but I never had (or made) the time to finish it. Ah... something to do when spring arrives. In the meantime I will enjoy their wonderful brown eggs and their funny antics.

Today's Journey Joy: warm and toasty chicken coop

Tucked in

Two weeks ago, before the big first snows, I was able to tuck the bees in for the winter. We had a relatively warm day (45 -50 degrees) and sunny. The eleven hives needed some attention before the cold of winter arrived. I quickly opened each one, placed a medium empty super on the two deeps, placed a piece of newspaper or thin cardboard on the top of the frames and poured 4-5 cups of granulated sugar on the cardboard. This technique allows for excess humidity to be absorbed on the sugar and cardboard and gives the bees some food if their honey stores run low during the winter. The next time we have a break in the cold (about a couple months from now) I will check on them again and probably add more sugar to some. This technique worked very well last year - 100% survival rate into the spring. I'm hoping for at least 50%. Some of the hives don't look as strong as I would have liked them to be at the end of the summer.

I'm wishing today that I could be "tucked in." I am tired from the never-ending work... at least that's how it feels. Everyone seems to have desires for my time and energy. My plate is full.... but cracking under pressure. Too much is piled high and there are few energy stores to tap. I wish that the house was clean, the laundry done (including the ironing), the garage empty of the things that need to go back to the shed, the papers graded, the scores tabulated, the final exams given, and every student successful at the university. I wish that the Christmas program had every part assigned and all the music picked out and practiced. I wish that the senior pastor search committee was making some decisions. I wish that there was more time to play board games and do needlepoint. I wish I could find space for my new scroll saw. I wish that the chicken coop cleaned itself... perhaps my children's rooms as well. I wish....

The beehive appears restful. In fact much is going on in there... if only we could see it. The quietness of the outside activity is not reflective of the inside activity. The bees are busy keeping warm and dry. They must keep their numbers high enough in order to make it through the long cold winter. Occasionally, on a warm day a few will come out and fly. "Cleansing flights" they are called. But today when the snow blows and it is cold... well, they are bundled up into a cluster generating heat... surviving.

So like the bees I will generate heat and survive. My wish list does not get done by me writing. But it does get prioritized. I'm thankful for this journaling today.

Journey Joy: Wishes

Red sky at night...

The old nautical saying states red sky in morn; sailor be warned. Red sky at night; sailor's delight. Well I'm not about to do any sailing.... something about the water being hard enough to walk on.... not very conducive to boating or sailing. But the red sky is beautiful. It has been a cold, blustery and snowy day today. My daughter's school closed 2 hours early and her Christmas program scheduled for tonight was postponed. But as you can see the weather is improving. The clouds have departed and the sun is shining (if ever so briefly). As I write this the sun has set and night has come. The winter wind is howling and the outdoor wood furnace is smoking trying to keep up with the demands my warm-loving family is placing on it. The dogs are still enjoying the snow and the six or seven cats have found the "igloo" we buried in the mulch pile to keep them warm on cold windy nights like this.

I should be making supper... or any of a hundred other things.... but looking at the sunset and sky from the comforts of our cozy little warm living room was comforting. I am oh-so-thankful for the blessings we have been given. New thinsulate coveralls with a great attached hood, a tractor with a super snowblade, a wood burning furnace with a huge supply of ready fuel all stacked up next to it, children playing together, and promises of a yet-to-be-made supper to fill our tummies.... these are blessings and joys. May you too find some joy in the sunsets around you this evening.

Today's Journey Joy - blessings of warm hearts, rooms and tummies

First snows

The first snows started gently falling last evening. At 2:30 in the morning our English shepherds got their first taste (literally) of snow. Jumping and frolicking. Barking and laughing. Dancing and playing. They circled each other. Caught each other's tails. Skipped and laughed around the swing set.

At sunrise the snow was still falling. The tree limbs clung to the wet beautiful snow. The snow piled higher and higher on their branches. The white cedar boughs hung heavily. It was a winter wonderland. Calming. Refreshing. Renewing. Restful.

My son and our mama cat went for a late morning stroll after church. He's becoming quite the photographer. Clicking here. Shooting there. I thought his pictures would be blurry and uncentered the way he was zipping around. They turned out wonderfully. In fact I may "borrow" some. ☺

May you find the quietness of falling snow and the warmth of love in your hearts and home this evening. The snow is still falling.

Today's Journey Joy - First snow

Sad sunsets

It is with sadness that I write today. Not a personal sadness... an empathic sadness.

I wrote once about my neighbors. They are kind, generous, and friendly people. She has a passion for flowers, gardening, and especially, horses. He is hardworking and (I swear) has almost every machine or toy that a small farm could ever need!

A little over a year ago one of their two horses contracted a very serious illness (from opossums). My neighbor literally fed this horse out of her hand. She once told me that she would stand next to Peppy and pretend to chew so that Peppy would know what to do. She would give him the medicine that the vet prescribed, clean his stall and bed him with special bedding, and love on him. This nursing was long term. I think she said she helped him like this for over a year and a half. But finally one day midsummer Peppy could go on no more. A sad, but necessary, decision was made and my neighbors asked the vet to come out and assist Peppy in a painless entry into death.

We had the privilege of digging a horse sized hole with our backhoe. My husband very efficiently dug a wide 10 x 10 foot hole about 8-9 feet deep. And our neighbor gently placed Peppy in his burial place. After my husband buried him we had a spontaneous little funeral. My daughter and son, my husband, my two neighbors and I bowed our heads and thanked the Lord, the Creator of all good things, for the life and love of this horse. I recall that we asked God to comfort our friends. It was indeed a very special time.

Why am I sad today? My neighbors have been searching almost 5 months for a new "older" horse for Rocky (their remaining horse). After seeking and handling and riding numerous horses they finally had chosen the special friend for Rocky. My neighbor told me recently that she would go over to the stable where this beautiful mare was and ride her everyday for at least an hour. This bonding and friendship-making lasted several weeks. Last week the new horse was brought to her new home.

All went well. The new horse and Rocky were instant friends. My neighbor said "it was like Lady and the Tramp". The two horses would snuggle and muzzle up to each other and share food. A match made in heaven. But then the unthinkable occurred. An accident. Unforeseen. Unpreventable. The new mare somehow got cut on a gate. Perhaps she was resting by the gate and moved her head into the electric wire and jumped. It is unclear. But she was injured. The vet of course immediately came over to render aid. Pretty straightforward. Stop the bleeding; suture the wound; apply antibiotics. But apparently something was amiss. That evening, the "Lady" died. Embolism? Head injury? We will never know. But what we do know is that Rocky is alone again and my neighbors are very sad.

My husband's backhoe services were used once again. They buried her right next to Peppy in the cherry tree grove. The children and I were unable to attend. But my husband said it was a sad, sad burial.

If you are a praying person, please pray for comfort and rest for my dear neighbors. I wish my arms of hugs and words of comfort could make "it" all better. But I know that only the God of all Comfort can calm the soul and bring joy once again.

Today's Journey Joy - empathy

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is fair, whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is commendable, if there is anything of excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy - keep thinking about these things. Likewise, keep practicing these things; what you have learned, received, heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you." Phillipians 4:8-9

Cock-a-doodle-dooo!

Before we got Mr. Rooster this spring I thought that roosters only crowed in the morning. You know, "sun's a-rising and rooster's a-crowin'?" Ha! Not so. Maybe Mr. Rooster is different from other roosters... but he crows whenever the feeling comes. He does crow in the morning... a nice wake-up call and reminder to his "harem" that the day is just beginning and that they are "his." I open the chicken house at around 7:00 am... right before the kids and I go off to school. All the chickens and Mr. Rooster come charging out anticipating a day of roaming and scavenging. Moments after escaping from their hutch, he's off and crowing. It's quite nice. Calms my soul and puts life in perspective. It sure is wonderful when there are things in life that are pleasantly predictable. Mr. Rooster's crowin' is one of those pleasantries.

Unfortunately for my two children Mr. Rooster thinks that moving people (especially children and any handy man that might come around) are fair game for showing off his prowess. He fluffs right up and jumps a little and then charges. If he's close enough he'll jump about two feet off the ground and kind of head butt you. Occasionally he'll use his talons to scratch... that's what the children don't like... well...and the fact that something is chasing them and intent on hurting them.

My son has a system down now. Whenever he goes outside and Mr. Rooster is free ranging, my son will take his super soaker. If Mr. Rooster charges Mr. Rooster gets a good water soaking. Poor Mr. Rooster is not very pretty all wet... in fact I think he's a little embarrassed. He struts away, shakes his feathers and.... yes, you guessed it.... crows. Always trying to be the ruler of the chicken yard (even if he was defeated and looking quite silly).

I wonder how often I crow? I don't mean just raising my voice... I mean, how often do I attempt to assert my "prowess," my authority, my rule... like Mr. Rooster? Pretty silly looking he is all wet and defeated. Pretty silly looking I am. Do I talk big? Exaggerate? Try to make myself bigger and better than I am? Hmmm.... today I am reminded that there is only one Lord. And I am not Him.

Lord help me to know myself well enough to be humble in spirit, words and actions today. Give me a good soaking when I'm "crowing."

Today's Journey Joy: Crowing roosters

One of these things is not like the other...

Snowy, our cat, decided that the chicken house was a nice comfy cozy place to hang out. I'm not quite sure what the chickens thought of him sleeping next to them. But he sure looks comfortable.

If you're wondering: No, he didn't lay an egg. ☺

Today's journey joy: Unexpected and funny surprises

Unassuming Joy

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139: 14-16


One of the most wonderful things about having children is experiencing their wonder of life. Surely one can see the joy of amazement in my daughter's face. "Where'd this pumpkin come from mommy? It's heavy." I respond, "We planted the pumpkins in the garden this spring. They grew. Don't they look lovely? Maybe this weekend we will make a pie." She looks at the little sugar pie pumpkin with wonder. You can almost hear her thinking, "How does this round thing become pumpkin pie?" But she simply states with excitement, "Yum!" It doesn't matter the long hours of weeding, tending, planting and harvesting... there is simple and unassuming joy in the eyes of my special daughter.


It is so much fun to see her smiles and experience the joy of life through her. So honest, sincere, pure. A love of life and people. A hugger of friends and animals. Trusting...happy... content.
"Fearfully and wonderfully made" indeed. What would a world with children and adults with trisomy 21 look like? Happy, hugging, content, observant, sometimes impulsive; sometimes contemplative, life embracing, people embracing, loving, fun, restful and slower paced. The world would be absent of the frenetic pace of work, achievement and success. Anxiety, bitterness, burnout and double talk would be a thing of the past. Politics would be straight forward, bosses would work along side and enjoy the process. Life would be full of music and dancing. Hmmm.... maybe we would all be better if instead of 23 pairs of chromosomes we all had an extra one on our 21st?

Today's Journey Joy: embracing the embracer of life - my daughter

Sunshine Flowers

I am drawn to daisies. They smile. And one can not help but smile back. They are "happy" flowers. If my whole garden was full of different kinds and colors of daisies and if I could keep them blooming all summer... I'd be a very happy gardener. Closely related to the daisy is the sunflower. There are literally dozens of varieties of sunflowers... short, small, red, orange, yellow, ones with pollen and ones without, tall varieties and giant varieties. I (once again) tried planting the enormous sunflower seed bearing giant grey sunflowers. They can get to 12 foot tall!

Our sunflowers easily have made it to the 10 foot height. They are planted right in the middle of the garden... 10 rows of 50 feet each. Enough sunflowers to feed our chickens for a while (or at least that was the plan). I'm having a little difficulty keeping them standing tall. Perhaps they are not meant to stand erect when they are so heavily covered with flower and seed. The poor heads are now turned toward the ground and the thick stems are bending with the weight. About half the "patch" is either falling down or down on the ground. I'm still hopeful that they will set seed (always the optimist).


But who can not smile at the large towering sunflower? When they were in full bloom as you see them here the area was humming with bees... mostly bumble bees. They have a very low hummmmmm and buzzzzzzz when they fly. Whereas the honey bee's flight sound is a gentle, higher pitched beautiful buzz. I'm getting better at distinguishing between the two.

In a few weeks I'll post our harvest from these yellow marvels. In the meantime I will hope for seeds and enjoy the beauty.

Today's journey joy: Sunshine Flowers

We could learn a lot from a bee

We could learn a lot from a bee.

1. Family comes first.


The success of the hive depends on everyone. Each bee (person?) has a role to play regardless of age or ability. And each role is just as important as the next. No one bee is valued above the other. But if some one or something threatens the hive (the family or the country, if you will) then everyone defends the hive... even to the death. The success of the hive is top priority.


2. Work is important.


Whether you are a nurse bee, guard bee, or worker bee (and normally as a bee you get the opportunity to do all three) you are special and your work brings health, well being, and protection to your family. Everyone works. A bee that doesn't work eventually ends up thrown out. Consider the poor drones at the end of the summer. All the male bees (drones) are pushed out of the hive at the end of the summer... drones only eat and inseminate queen bees. They neither toil, clean nor collect anything. So they are expelled from the hive. Work is life. Life is work. And if you've ever watched a bee do her work then you will realize that she works with eagerness, enthusiasm, and direction.

3. Bees co-exist with harmony.

As she travels from flower to flower the worker bee collects pollen (you might notice the yellow pollen sack on this bee sitting on the nasturtium flower). Collecting pollen is sometimes an untidy task. The bee buzzes from flower to flower dropping bits and pieces of pollen from each flower on to another... what a wonderful and efficient way to help plants fruit. Without the fruit there would be no seed. Without the seed there would be no plant. Without the plant there would be no flower. And without the flower there would be no pollen or nectar and hence, no bee. Bees co-exist with nature.

4. Bees know when to replace their leader.

When the queen is no longer laying eggs well, or is exhibiting unusual and detrimental behavior to the health of the hive she is killed by her subordinates. They "supercede" her and replace her with one of her own offspring. In essence the new queen is the half sister of the old queen. The new virgin queen is born several weeks later and then mates and begins the new "government" fresh with energy and vitality.

Questions to ponder: Are our priorities in line? Is our first priority the preservation and success of our family? Do we approach work as joy? Or is work a four letter word in which life exists around? Do we experience the satisfaction of a job well done? Have we given it our all? How have we tended the garden? The environment? The lives around us? Do we work or co-exist in harmony? Or do we try to master everything (even to our peril)? And lastly, do we as a people know when to replace our leader?

I find it interesting that the hive naturally replaces their leader from someone in the same family. The hive realizes that the queen is not well... she is not good for the hive. But her traits, genetics and characteristics are still important. One doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to know where this line of thought is going. We know that President Bush has done some wonderful and spectacular things for our country... but...(not wanting to be pessimistic) it is time to replace him... not with a totally new "type" but with one with similar values, beliefs, and vitality. It was those characteristics that made the hive great to begin with. So our new leader should be one that recognizes and believes (therefore acts upon): (1) family (country) comes first (to defend at all costs), (2) work is valuable (those who can work, should work), and (3) environment is fragile and must be worked with in harmony within the cycle of life. Seems pretty simple. Pretty fundamental. Pretty bee-like.

We could learn a lot from a bee....

Today's journey joy: the example of a bee

Carrots

I'm wondering if every fruit and vegetable in the fall is orange? Muskmelon, squash, pumpkin, and... carrots. Well, not every carrot is orange. This year I planted some of those "purple carrots". I thought they might add some aesthetics to my salads. The "skin" is deep purple but the center is orange. When they are cooked or heated they turn orange... actually I think the purple just comes off.

I dug up the carrots on Saturday. Would somebody remind me to please plant longer varieties next year? These are delicious and very colorful but quite difficult to peel. I like to make "carrot noodles"... at least that's what my daughter likes to call them. As you peel the carrot the peel comes off in a long ringlet. Pretty cool. Ahhh, not these. These were short little strokes that took a long time.

I put the carrots (both purple and orange) into my quart canning jars, added a touch of salt and placed them in the pressure cooker for 30 minutes at 10 pounds of pressure. We will have yummy carrots this winter. Now if only I could get the next bushel of carrots peeled and canned....

Harvest Labors

"When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:36-38)

The days are shorter; the skies seem bluer; and the nights are crisp and cool. The geese are practicing & congregating for the trek south. The blackbirds are noisily chirping and flying, in what always seems to me, to be a swarm. The mosquitoes are almost gone and the ticks are back. The monarchs lazily flitter from clover to clover but always in a southwest direction. The hummingbird buzzes by. Even the bees have changed their daily routine. There seems to be a bustle in the air... hurry, hurry, hurry.... not much time left... gotta get that last taste of nectar; that last bit of pollen. Busy, busy, busy. Please don't interrupt... gotta go. One doesn't need a calendar to tell us that autumn is here and the cold sleep of winter is fast approaching.

You can see that my "terribly sincere pumpkin patch" has indeed turned orange and is ready for harvest. The vines are withering and the orange fruits are readily apparent. But the pumpkins are not the only things ready to harvest. The fall raspberries are still in good fruiting; the blackberries are just coming ripe (I tried a new "everbearing" variety this year); the butternut squash is yellowing fast; the massive muskmelons are aromatic; the tomatoes seem to be nonstop; the pinto beans are dry (with the black beans, black-eyed peas and cranberry beans right behind); and the carrots are ready. I am struck today with what it means to have a huge harvest (thank You, Lord!) without having enough laborers to harvest it. There are only so many hours of daylight in a day. Only so much time to do everything..... Between parenting children, washing and pegging out three loads of laundry, dishes, meals, and feeding chickens, cats and dogs.... well, that doesn't leave much time to harvest. Beans needed to be picked and shelled, screened and placed in jars for their 24 hour freeze. And most pressing today, the carrots needed to come out of the ground. If left too long nasty, horrible, worm-like things attack the carrots from underground and destroy them. The carrots come out slimy and insect eaten. But if taken out promptly very few uglies attack the carrots. (I'll write more about my carrot adventure tomorrow or the next).

When there are no laborers to harvest what happens? Then those who are harvesting work extra hard, extra long, extra fervently...resulting in extra tired. But even worse (to my frugal and efficient mindset) the harvest rots. It stays in the ground and worms destroy it; it stays on the vine and over ripens; it stays in the garden and animals or birds attack.... but regardless of its end, the result is rot....waste....ruin....

Is that what Jesus meant? Will lives end up in ruin... in death... in waste... because there were no laborers? We are indeed like sheep without a shepherd.... without direction, protection, & purpose... when our lives (the fruit) is left on the vine to rot.

Jesus had compassion on the masses.... do I? Do I look at the news with apathy when damage or destruction impact a people or a nation? Or is my heart moved with compassion to pray or to act?

Perhaps the most sincere pumpkin patch is sincere simply because it was seeded, cultivated, loved and harvested. Without a harvest the pumpkin vine was only a weed....

Lord, teach me to have a heart of compassion and love... and please, send out laborers.

Today's Journey Joy: harvesting

Generous Neighbors

How can one describe the generosity of a friendly neighbor? All too often today people don't even know their neighbors... not even their names. I am grateful that we live next to a wonderful couple. From the day we moved in to our little farm next to theirs they have been so friendly, supportive and generous. They have been blessed with having a farm that has mature cherry and apple trees... bunches of them. She is passionate about orcharding in a natural, pesticide-free manner (sound familiar?). Two years ago they offered us an opportunity to pick apples.... we picked bushels and bushels. In fact we made 50 quarts of applesauce that year! This year the apples are plentiful again... and once again our generous and kind neighbors have given us apples.


The children are older now... two years ago when we were picking apples, my young son decided he would try tree climbing.... a new adventure for one who didn't like to get up on the top bunk of his double bed. He had a great time climbing the branches of the old apple trees and "bending" down the branches for us to pick. It gave him confidence and a sense of adventure. This year he was more helpful in the actual picking (and eating). I think he actually enjoyed himself. These apples are Ruby Reds... sweet and somewhat crunchy. We picked several bucket fulls. And once again made apple sauce. I think we have canned about 14 quarts so far.

Another reason why I enjoy picking apples from our generous neighbor... the company. I love listening to her stories, her love for the farm, the livestock and her gardens. Perhaps one day I'll take pictures of her flower gardens. Our bees frequent them often. Good for us and our honey (and of course we share!). The company is not always human though. We are often visited by flying insects (mostly bumble bees), flies, butterflies, birds and, as you can see below, a very friendly older horse. This is my neighbor's horse "Rocky". He's a wonderful and friendly horse (it is said that pets resemble their "master's"personality.... I'd say that is true here). He enjoys the apples as much as we do. Rocky handles well and even lets my unpredictable daughter pet him. She adores Rocky. Of course we have to get a horse too (according to my daughter). Perhaps.... in the future... but I'll have to get my neighbor to teach me about caring for one. I've only ridden horses... never taken care of one.

So I'm thinking today about the great joy I have in sharing and experiencing the bounty of summer fruits. I seem to be at a loss for words. It is difficult to communicate the warm pleasant feeling.... sort of like... well, like.... warm cinnamon apple sauce.

Today's journey joy: Generous and Kind Neighbors

Honey Harvest (Part 2)

"Pleasant words are as honeycomb, sweet to the soul." (Proverbs 16:24)

Earlier I wrote about our adventures with the 2008 honey harvest... it was basically uneventful... no stings, no angry bees, an easy time essentially getting the supers from the hives. And if you recall we found that our honey harvest was less than we had hoped (I also wrote about some speculations about the reason that happened). After we got the frames into the honey house (i.e., our basement!) we discovered that not all the honey was capped and in fact some of it still had too much water content. If honey is extracted with too much moisture it easily ferments... not a problem if you're trying to make mead, but if your aim to sell honey... well, one's customers might frown. So my husband cleverly came up with a dehydration-station. A make-shift room made out of a shower, a dehumidifier and a bunch of shower curtains / plastic. After a week the honey was well within the specs to harvest. So last weekend we extracted the honey from the frames. Above you can see my husband using an electric uncapping knife to remove the caps of wax over the honey. The cappings fall into the uncapping tank (which is a bi-layered "tank" that allows the honey attached to cappings to fall below - some say that the capping honey is the sweetest - I tend to agree). After the frames have been uncapped, I placed them in the extractor. We have been blessed with a large 20 frame motorized radial extractor. It makes the work of extracting super easy. I remember when I first saw our friends extract honey. They have a nice manually operated tangential extractor. They would turn the crank as fast as they could for (what seemed to me) to be a long time. Then they would turn the frames around and do the whole process again.... a great work out.... but I'm too old for that kind of work (at least that's the excuse I'm giving today!)

So anyway, I put the frames in the extractor and tried to balance their weight so the whole machine doesn't walk the floor like a washing machine out of balance. We close the lid, turned the motor and watch the honey "spray" out of the frames. A few minutes later we slowed the motor down and then spun them the other way. The whole extracting process probably took only 5-10 minutes (with no sweating or achy joints involved!).

The honey was strained using a double stainless steel strainer. The strainer gets most of the wax, bees debris and stuff that was on the frames out of the honey. Then the honey is stored in big 5-6 gallon honey containers and left to settle for a few days. The extracting process allows some air into the honey and if one were to bottle this new extracted honey there would be a bunch of air bubbles in the containers.


So since today is a very rainy day and I can't pick beans, squash, or raspberries and it is certainly way to muddy to be weeding the strawberries, I thought today would be a good day to bottle the honey. It's not difficult but it sure is sticky and sweet (of course I have to sample the "drips"). I simply grab one of our bears and open the honey gate and fill the bear. The process just repeats until the honey in the container is drained. Sometimes the children help me but today I did it myself.

We bottle Papa (16 oz.), Mama (12 oz.), Brother (8 oz.) and Baby (6 oz.) Bears. I placed the fall honey next to the spring honey to show the differences in color. The spring honey (we call "apple blossom honey") is much lighter than the fall honey (we call "autumn gold honey"). The last picture is one of the whole "family." We hope to sell some of it this year. Usually all I have to say is something like "Local honey makes a great and unique stocking stuffer." Sometimes I remind potential customers that this honey is from our hives which have no chemicals or harsh treatments (like many commercial honeys) and that since it is local they would be supporting their local economy. If they suffer from allergies I also remind them that research shows that local honey may help their symptoms.


Selling honey is not the only reason why we have become beekeepers. It just seems like the right thing to do. The berries need pollination and the bees make many products (honey, comb, pollen, propolis and wax). They have an amazing structure to their colonies. Perhaps one day I'll write about the many life lessons I have learned from watching their behavior.

God made an amazing insect with amazing abilities. And throughout history honey has been a valued and sought after commodity. Remember the Israelites? God promised them a land flowing with milk and honey... sounds like a good recipe for ice cream to me!

Today's journey joy - Autumn Gold Honey

A "terribly sincere pumpkin patch "

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. " James 3:17

Linus is probably my favorite character in the Charles Schulz's Peanut series. He is sensitive to others, strong in his faith, unassuming in his relationships and bold in communicating his morals. I still choke up today when Linus tells the Christmas story on that big stage all by himself.

Perhaps not very "Christianly" Linus' attraction to the Great Pumpkin is humbling. The story is told that every year the Great Pumpkin (kind of like a Santa Claus figure) visits the world over to find the most terribly sincere pumpkin patch and when he finds it will bestow great gifts to the children who wait for him. Linus is ridiculed and laughed upon for his faith in this mystical, unseen, and unbelieved figure. Yet Linus is steadfast in his faith. This year, he says, his field will be the most "terribly sincere pumpkin patch" and this year the Great Pumpkin will rise from the field and.... well, you know the rest of the story.

My pumpkin patch has survived the vine borers (after a little surgery on the vines) and seems to be victorious in the battle against the squash bugs (you know, those nasty little critters that look like they have armour on them). I planted nastergiums in hopes of keeping those critters at bay. I think it helped some... There are many large pumpkins out there. I counted at least a half a dozen from one hill alone and each one looks over 18 inches in diameter. They sure are fun to watch grow. The photo above shows them when they were still green... they're starting to turn orange now... a certain sign of autumn fast approaching. But I wonder if my pumpkin patch is sincere?

What will I do with these pumpkins you ask? Not much really. I usually give some away, use some for decoration and occasionally carve them in pretty fall patterns. I planted a different kind of pumpkin to harvest for eating. It's a small yummy sugar pumpkin that makes great pie and bread. They're not as impressive to look at being only about 6 inches in diameter... but they make great eating. Also, my friend Stacy suggested that roasted pumpkins seeds make a wonderful snack. Perhaps I'll try that this year too.

But getting back to sincerity.... I am struck today how important being sincere is to the Lord. Now this sincerity is not the kind that one can conjure up and "really believe". That's not what God is talking about here... there are many people who are sincere.... sincerely wrong.... but the sincerity that God speaks about is centered on His wisdom and His love. Sincerity doesn't stand alone... it must be intertwined with the other characteristics of a follower of Christ.... then one has truly obtained some Godly wisdom. The pumpkin patch reminds me... Linus reminds me... that although sincerity is important it is much more important to know the One from whom faith is centered on. A life changed by Him and centered on Him .... a heart and life that is pure, peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, impartial and full of good fruit. Lord, may I have a sincere heart today... may it reflect Your wisdom.

Today's journey joy - sincere Godly wisdom

Corny

"Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." John 12:24

This spring, (or should I say early summer) when I finally planted the big garden, I didn't know if I had gotten the sweet corn in soon enough. It was the third week of June when my husband and son tilled the soil and made furrows. The corn was planted by hand three feet apart in 50 foot rows . This year we planted 10 rows of "luscious" corn - a supersweet tricolored sweet corn. It seemed to grow very well and soon seemed to be tassling and making corn. Two weeks ago we started getting some of the "early" maturers... yummy! But then this past weekend, as if the corn knew fall was fast approaching, all of the corn became ripe. On Saturday, I picked and shucked, blanched and cooled, cut and finally scooped 14 quarts of decobbed sweet corn into freezer bags . On Sunday I did 15 more quarts. And there are still three rows left standing!


The corn is supersweet and most delicious. Almost dessert-like. There have been a few surprises when some of the cobs have been shucked (a green or brown worm with insect detritous near the end - yuck... although the chickens love it!) but not anymore than usual.... even inspite of planting late. I remind myself that when one grows fruits and vegetables in concert with nature, one must be prepared for a few unpleasant bugs.

I love the aroma in the house when sweet corn is cooking. I also love the satisfaction and joy I feel after putting 29 quarts into the freezer. We will certainly enjoy this bountiful harvest well into the new year.

Have you ever stopped to wonder about the amazing simplicity of it all? Take a look at one of those sweet corn cobs. If left on the cob to dry each one of those kernels could be an entirely new corn plant... each one. Amazing. Jesus pictures us as a kernel... a seed. If left unplanted it remains only a seed... yes, it has potential, but it remains only a seed, a single seed, nonetheless. But if planted.... if buried (as if dead), if covered in soil and watered... a miracle occurs.... a small sprout emerges....new life emerges.... abundant life erupts. It sometimes seems counterintuitive to me how the Lord asks me to do certain things. Like choosing to die to self, turning the other cheek, loving your enemies. But the fruit is plain to see for those who obey. There truly is "joy in the journey and freedom for those who obey." Teach me today Lord to embrace Your promise of life...beautiful and sweet.

Today's journey joy - Abundant life

Possibilities

I've been contemplating why the honey harvest this year has been so small. We had expected about 250 pounds of fall honey. But it looks like it will be around 50 pounds. In the spring we got about 40 pounds of delicious light colored honey from two established hives that we called "Apple Spring" honey (since we live across the road from a 15 acre apple orchard). It was the first time we extracted spring honey and I was surprised at the color. Last year's fall honey was strongly flavored and beautifully golden.

We ordered 5 packages of bees (3 pounds each) in late April which seemed to do alright once they got established. Unfortunately they had to stay in their little cages for almost a week (it snowed unexpectedly) before I could hive them and 2 out of the 5 lost quite a few bees. Needless to say, the bees didn't like being confined that long and took awhile to recover. About a month after that 4 of the new queens were superceded (replaced) which put them back even more for numbers. And then my two established hives from last year started a cycle that any beekeeper dreads... swarming. They swarmed four times each this summer. We caught half of them and now they are in their own hives and seem to be doing well. The picture above shows the first swarm from the hive... in fact, the first swarm I had ever seen in person. It was 30 feet high in the box elder tree located near the hive. It was huge! All those bees leaving the hive... all those workers going elsewhere.... a sad day. It's not so bad if you can get to them and hive them.... but thirty feet high is a little too high for this beekeeper. I tried to lure them down with some bee bait - lemongrass oil - but 2 days later while I was thinking about how to capture this humongous swarm they went aloft and flew away. It was very amazing. Here I was sitting on the tractor with my daughter and suddenly we were surrounded by bees flying about 10 feet off the ground in a wave like pattern. We followed them as far as we could but they flew out of site. I was sad to say goodbye.

The month of May and June seemed to be full of swarming. I almost dreaded looking at the bee yard. I would come back from checking on them and shout, "Time to get the tractor.... suit up... it's another swarm." And like I said we were able to get four out of eight of the swarms. Most of them weren't as big as that first one up in the tree though. We put them in small five frame nuc boxes until they started making baby bees and then moved them to a more traditional deep box.

Then at the end of June two of the new packages superceded their queen again.... yikes, another three week wait before new bees were born.... and now the numbers were really dwindling. Hard to make honey without honey workers.

So my contemplations about the small volume of honey this year bring me to believe that it was due to swarming and superceding. But like most bee keepers I am optimistic about the future.... at least now I have 11 hives that should make it through the winter (hopefully)... but even if only half live I can make splits of the spring bees and at least get back to the same number of hives and they will not have to draw comb before they can bring honey in. So as the usually optimistic bee keeper I will say "Next year should be better!"

Today's journey joy - Hope for a fall honey harvest