News from two doctors.

I heard from Dr. Drone that some interloper wild bees took over the hive this fall. I haven't been out to see them (on account of baby) but we've had such a mild winter, I'm confident they're doing okay. I've written "GO TAKE PICTURES AT BEE YARD" on a note in large, marker letters. Once i find that note again in a few months, I'm sure that will happen.

Pictures or no, I'm excited to imagine actual honey this year. I've been eating a lot of oatmeal with honey and almonds this winter and I've convinced myself that eating my own honey that I steal from bees with my own hands and put into a container that doesn't look like a bear will be the most delicious thing ever.

In a related story, I was discussing baby food allergies with our pediatrician and she mentioned that kids aren't actually allergic to honey, and that the recommendation to avoid it in infants is due to several botulism outbreaks from a few years ago. I'm nodding my head, like, yes, we don't like botulism, yes! And she adds, "so unless you're planning to feed her honey processed out of someone's backyard, it should be fine."

And then I'm nodding my head, like, yes, I am planning to feed her honey processed out of someone's backyard!... but maybe not until I've eaten a significant quantity myself? What is the social etiquette for telling your pediatrician you plan to feed vaguely questionable items to your child? Or is this a need to know basis?

Bee Barn

About two months ago a tornado swept through this heart-shaped state and decided to make a giant mess. An even bigger mess than a normal tornado, because this one hit a barn holding several 50 gallon drums of honey: the Wooster Honey Bee Barn.

image facebook snatched from the bee lab

That's what it looked like at first, you can see more pics of the mess and the resulting clean up here.

But I like to look on the bright side of things: Dr. Drone was a key player in the aftermath and he has a keen eye for salvage. A new/ancient smoker is coming my way!

Goodbye Dr. Drone, Hello responsibility.

Well, Dr. Drone is off on his way to Costa Rica until September. He left me with a list of common bee paracites and the phone number for his mom in case of emergency. It’s very comforting to have someone’s mom’s phone number for emergencies.

Now the responsibility of the hive is totally on myself and Mr. Holt. I couldn’t promise not to kill the hive in his absence, but Mr. Holt and I did swear to have an equal biomass waiting upon his return- 2 pounds of bees could be exchanged for 2 pounds of, say, kitten. Or clams. We'll just see how I feel.

Dr. Drone shows off in full regalia by our hive.

Looming responsibility

Dr. Drone contacted me today to let me know he's turning over full hive responsibilities in a few weeks. He'll be heading to Costa Rica for the summer to study some monkeys. Just like a primatologist- always jetting off to the jungle, leaving us human primates to fend for ourselves. He is making me a list of "common bee parasites"...

It had never occurred to me that I may need to protect my bees from anything other than bears. I haven't seen the list, but whatever organism that could take on a hive of busy bees is a tough foe indeed. Let us hope I never need consult the list.

I still haven't received all my equipment from the beekeeping company either. I'm getting a little concerned because I will need my own smoker to soothe those bees once Dr. Drone is away collecting fecal matter and taking notes on whose balls got scratched by whom. I suppose in a pinch, I can call upon Mr. Holt to attend with copious amounts of cigarettes. Chain smoking for the common good is something he might really get behind. We'll probably get those bees so addicted to nicotine smoke they'll get all irritable and start bumming quarters in the yard to get a pack.




Our corner of the bee yard. Isn't my hive the prettiest?