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The last post ended on a bit of a dejected note where we felt like pretty lame beekeepers. And, right on schedule the bees, adding insult to anticipated injury, swarmed again on Monday 5 May 2014. A primary cast of a good 20,000-30,000 bees. But miracle of miracles, instead of going to their usual high … Continue reading
The little %#&*$@s are starting early this year! We had our first swarm, the garage bees, on Wednesday 30 April 2014: You don’t get so much the sense of size and density with this amateur video as you do the sound of it. The sound of it is what usually attracts your attention. These bees … Continue reading
Or so the bees thought a few days ago when we had a little spell of warm weather here. They were buzzing all over the hives, and I even caught them at some ivy blossom, just window shopping, mind you. Glad to see them on these rare days of winter, because I can then breathe … Continue reading
That is a question I and at least one other reader of this blog asked after my last post, Spoiled Honey Made Good, a title taken from a recipe in an ancient Roman cookbook. Before answering it from a modern perspective, it would be interesting to know what the Roman perspective was, because according to Apicius … Continue reading
Sumer is icumen in, Lhude sing cuccu! Groweþ sed and bloweþ med And springþ þe wode nu, Sing cuccu! Awe bleteþ after lomb, Lhouþ after calue cu. Bulluc sterteþ, bucke uerteþ, Murie sing cuccu! Cuccu, cuccu, wel singes þu cuccu; Ne swik þu nauer nu. Sing cuccu nu. Sing cuccu. Sing cuccu. Sing cuccu nu! … Continue reading
“Mummy, what is privacy?” I was going to put ‘grandma’ originally, but thought, nope, because kids are growing up right now who do not know and will probably never know what privacy is. But I know someone who does. Although I should be posting about birds, bees etc (indeed these posts are a bit backed up in … Continue reading
The first hives of which I can find pictures are almost trees in their simplicity. At a guess, some hollow tree full of bees had been plastered with clay and carried into the bee garden, laid upon stakes and fitted with a movable plank front … The interesting point is that the honey is being cut … Continue reading
What’s not to like about that selection? Something for everyone, I say. My usual musings around holiday time, ‘for me [primarily] or for you for anyone or of course for no one to make what you or he will of them.’ (Remember Fern Hill? Then you should like these words about poetry from which the quote is … Continue reading
A truly happy post while I am still digesting what’s been going on bee-wise around here (another swarm Sunday, sigh…). All the gruesome details and pics will be along towards the end of the week. In the mean time, those who have read this blog know that I have a category-Queen Bees-reserved for articles about … Continue reading
auspex 1. An augur of ancient Rome, especially one who interpreted omens derived from the observation of birds. 2. In ancient Rome, a religious official who interpreted omens to guide public policy auspicate, auspicating 1. To begin or to inaugurate with a ceremony intended to bring good luck. 2. To give a favorable turn to … Continue reading
My Latin Notebook 