Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Saving The Bees

I can go for days without picking up the newspaper or switching on the television news. 

Really!! Who wants to see that kind of doom and gloom? 

I leave that reading and watching up to Rob and if there is anything of concern that needs to shatter my perfect little world of raising my boys, collecting eggs, clinking up a woolen project or watching the timer for my bakes in the oven he will be sure to let me know.

My little world has been all perfect and filled with the rays of summery sunshine until dearest Betty had asked if I had flipped to page 3 on Tuesday mornings paper.

We have been planning on 'raising' bees for, lets just say, "quite some time now". It's a little on-the-side-line-passion I have had for years. We need bees for food (in a nutshell) thus without the love of the bee we would die!! Although very vague and dramatic as I am  it is still true. Bees are needed for pollination thus the farmers of fruits and vegetables rely on these beautiful buzzers in order to grow luscious crops to feed us. 

Not only that but they are also the makers of my most sort after beeswax and honey that I covet!

So now, can you imagine my gasps brought forth as I read page 3 with headlines 
"Disease Threat For Bee Farmers"

Let me elaborate a little more ~ The story line goes like this.

The disease (AFB aka The America Foulbrood Disease) that has taken out the buzzers in parts of the Western Cape is threatening to descend upon us here in little Kwa Zulu Natal.  Now for those of you who are unaware of this disease... Its ugly! It is a bacteria that infects the bee larvae which results in their death. The bacteria then releases billions of these nasty spores into the the environment. There is no treatment for this and it is so highly contagious. So contagious in fact that the bacteria is carried in the honey products, your bee farming equipment and on other bees too.

"This disease has the potential to wipe out all the bees in South Africa." ~~~ I sob!!

So... now... what can I do?

I know that our little natural hive of buzzers that we have in the thicket of our bamboo forest will have to be moved into a man-made hive. Thanks to Betty's husband who will be aiding us in this. We will  then have to register our new hive!! And our new hive will have to be monitored on a regular basis. 
By who? At this point in time I am not a hundred percent sure.

This will be a project we will have to grow and nurture not for ourselves as our thoughts were in the past but rather as our place on Mother Earth to help save Bees.

Angie xxx

Monday, January 26, 2015

Worms And Worms







The weekend blessed us with glorious weather..

Well, if you can call 40 degree Celsius highs in the shade glorious! I shouldn't complain really, it was the first weekend in quite sometime where we haven't been gallivanting off somewhere into town to get supplies for the start of the boys new school year and the skies haven't opened up to our Summer rains...

So, yes we were blessed.

We have been meaning to clear up and move on our compost patch to just passed the fence line and open up a new piece of happiness next to the babbling brook for a special quiet and restful picnic spot. And folks, this weekend we finally did it! Move, the compost heap, that is, and clear the area for said picnic spot. It is still a work in progress - I cant wait to get to prettying it up with...... wait - you will have to wait and see!!

Back to clearing the compost heap...
Compost Patch + Garren = squeals of delight as he discovered gazillions of worms.. Big fat and juicy!! Treats for our girls and guy as they haven't been able to do much free ranging of late thanks to the galloomfing Buzzard prowling the tree tops.

One day when I grow up I will get a fancy camera that can take beautiful photos of those moving unpredictable chickens!!! But for now *sigh*... I will keep trying.....

(I think there were like 271 chicken pics taken just to get these few!)

Happy new week darlings...


Angie xxx



Friday, January 23, 2015

First Day Of Big School








 I have been through this already twice before and one would think that by now I would have gotten used to the emotional-roller-coaster-ride-of-a-day that the first day of grade one would bring. 

But no! Not I....

While I sit here and try to make sense of how to put those emotions into words, I am watching as the photos of Garren's first day ever so slowly upload.

Our little lad all dressed up smartly with cap, tie and blazer (that is slightly over sized). A face that only shows a slight hint of nervousness the rest playful and impatient excitement to get this journey on the go already! Of course with best friend by your side how could you not fear a single adventure ahead.
Does this child of ours not know that all these wondrous firsts will be the lasts for me?

Of course Joshua all of 14 going on 41 would have none of the pesky mothering on his first day of high school. He was safe in the hands of Rob who is so technology challenged that of course not one photo would be taken! 

Angie xxx

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

And So We Begin Again









I have no words....

Except to say this ~

To all our children who have waved goodbye to late morning slumberings and dirty barefooted playful lazy Summer holidays....
May your first day back at school be blessed with much excitement and wonderous new adventures!

Angie xxx

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