Bees, Banners, Shopping, & Memes...

Mar 27, 2008 08:57

- Pastor came out to check on the bees on Tuesday. He said the hive looks to be thriving, so he added another layer to give them some expansion room. Of course, before he came over I went out and raked some of the weeds away and managed to get my first bee sting in nearly 17 years -right on my left temple! Ow. Actually, it hurt way less than I was fearing (Yellow Jackets are FAR worse) and actually left me feeling pretty good. Of course, yesterday it started swelling a bit -likely because I rubbed it when it itched- and today I woke up looking like Quasimodo. No joke. O_- Ice packs ahoy!

Anyway, on with the bees.

Here he's just removed the inner cover. (That's the new empty box on the ground).


Here's a shot inside the hive. For reasons I can't remember, he had left two frames out of the deep box when it was added last summer. The bees have happily filled it all in with comb -honey at the top and brood down below. For that reason he wasn't able to rotate the boxes like he hoped, so he just added another layer on top. He scraped off the honeycomb that was on the inner lid and gave it to me; it tasted very light -like the way springtime smells.


Closing it all up again...


Everything seems quite good with the bees; they're storing plenty of food and from the looks of it there is a good crop of brood being laid daily. Hopefully it will continue this way!

- Pastor sent me a pic of the Easter banners I made, so I'll share it with you. :)



They turned out pretty close to my mock-ups, so that's good. I'm more excited about the Pentecost banner I'm doing next, as it has an interesting and colorful design -not my design, but a good one nonetheless. ;)

- I went shopping for jeans yesterday and came home with five shirts, two pairs of shoes, and some new underwear. I did try on some jeans but none of them were any good -either too tight in the waist or thighs, or either huge bootcuts that made me look knock-kneed. BUT. I did find five shirts that I really like! One is a "nice" button-up 3/4 sleeve, while the other four are very boobalicious, LOL. I'm sorry, I have boobs! Two shirts have short fluttery sleevecaps and two have no sleeves, so I'm going to need to work on reducing my arm jiggliness and evening out the color. Is there a way to pale my forearms instead of tanning my upper arms? The sun is great for creating energy in plants and animals, but terrible for human skin!

Anyway. I also got a pair of comfy mules and a pair of red "leather" sandals since I don't have any warm weather shoes. They're pretty cute and actually make me feel a little better about myself -I may be gargantuan, but my feet are still size 8.5/9! :P

I also went with my aunt and cousins to Berkeley on Monday. We had a good time looking around Ikea (I got new silverware!) and I even managed to get some fabric there that I'm either going to use for a dress or for couch pillows. There was an awesome fabric store that we passed on Shattuck that I'm planning to go back to and spend a few hours in. We had a great lunch at the all-vegan restaurant Herbivore, and then drove around the UC campus looking at the housing. I think everyone was a bit worn out from Easter, but we had a good time. :)

- 50 Random Things Meme

1. Do you like blue cheese?
Never had it, but I kind of doubt I'd like it. I tend to like the mild stuff like Monterey Jack, Pesto Jack, Caraway Jack... you get the idea. ;)

2. Have you ever smoked?
The short answer is yes. But I never did it right (didn't know how to inhale). It was dumb anyway and I only did it because I had a crush on a guy who smoked. Never change your ways just to impress someone!

3. Do you own a gun?
Technically, yes. Two, actually. A .22 rifle and an old Spanish (i.e. crap) revolver that is busted, so it's little more than a prop. Well, a prop you can dry-fire. :B Ian and I are going to be taking some training courses and may get a handgun of some sort -I like revolvers and he likes the semi-automatic pistols, we'll have to see who wins. And since I've always been a better target shooter than him, heheheh...

4. What flavour do you add to your drink at Sonic?
What is this "Sonic" you speak of?
Actually I just googled it and apparently it's a drive-in chain. Never heard of 'em.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Not nervous really, just forgetful. I'm the type that waits until I have a limb hanging off or blood spouting before I go to the doctor, so when I do go I try to write up a list of all my ailments. But I always forget to mention something. I just really, REALLY hate having to give blood for lab tests. I've grown worse and worse with that and I think my body reacts accordingly (or perhaps it's the other way around). It didn't start out that way! But now if they have to take more than a couple vials I get all panicky and then really embarrassed because of it.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
To quote The Great Outdoors, "they're made of lips and assholes!" And they are. But damn if the smell of the flavoring they add to them doesn't get you drooling!

7. Favourite Christmas movie?
Die Hard, LOL. Or Scrooged. Perhaps MST3K's Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Some kind of fruit juice or water. I've been getting V-8 Frusion Strawberry & Banana by the case from the Grocery Outlet lately, and it's wonderful!

9. Can you do push ups?
If you make me. :\ I prefer different core and arm exercises.

10. Do you know the secret to a happy life?
Faith, hope, and love. Working with your hands.
And a good job doesn't hurt either.

11. What's your favourite piece of jewelry?
I really like my wedding ring; it's a simple white gold band, and it's developing a nice patina of scratches just as I hoped. I also have a diamond necklace that Ian gave me that's pretty special for a number of reasons -I only wear it once a year or so though.

12. Favourite hobby?
Working with my hands.

13. Song you're listening to right now?
Loituma: Levan's Polka
It is addicting! D:

14. Do you have A.D.D.?
No, just mild OCD and occasional episodes of Spoonerisms (always amusing :P).

15. What's one trait you do not like about yourself?
My ginormosity.

16. Middle name?
Louise. Ugh.

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
1) When is Ian gonna call? (he's late)
2) Planning to shop for jeans today (*groan*)
3) Wondering if I should order some stuff online since it doesn't seem to be stocked around here.

18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
I went to the feed store and bought the usual 50# duck/chicken feed, 50# of cracked corn, some collars and brushes for the soon-to-be-mine goats, and a new air-tight container for dog food. Thrilling, I know.

19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
Water, V-8 Fusion, nearly any fruit juice.

20. Current worry?
That things cost too much.

21. Current hate right now?
That things cost too much! D:<

22. Favourite place to be?
Home, the farming areas of the county, the coast, hiking in the redwoods, Jack London's home...

23. How did you bring in the New Year?
*checks LJ*
Uhh, I don't remember -obviously nothing exciting. We did get an awesome new couch in January though!

24. Where would you like to go?
All over this meme, LOL! Sorry, MST3K got the best of me. :P
Anywhere that's rural and not too hot or too cold.

25. Name four people who will complete this:
How would I know?

26. Do you own slippers?
Not technically slippers, but I wear a light pair of shoes in the house -they're new "ballerina"-style shoes that I got a couple weeks ago at Target. Very comfy and kinda cute (though they make my feet look really long and narrow), but I don't see how anyone could wear them all day, they just don't have enough support.

27. Last magazine you read:
Domino. :\ Every now and then there's something neat in it, but I'm not renewing.

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
Never had any. I'd think they'd be too cool to the touch. At least, all the silk pajamas I once had were too cold to wear in winter.

29. Can you whistle?
Yes, in and out.

30. Favourite colour?
Rust red.

31. Would you be a pirate?
Maybe the romantic ideal of a pirate, but a real pirate with the smell and the venereal diseases? No.

32. What songs do you sing in the shower in the morning?
I only sing in the car. :P I do sometimes whistle or hum in the shower though -but I do that everywhere.

33. Favourite girl's name?
... I have a hard time with girl's names, I've never found one I've liked for more than a little while.

34. Favourite boy's name?
Jacob. Not Jake, Jacob. I've liked that name FOREVER and a friend of ours stole it for his kid! B:<

35. What's in your pocket right now?
Lint.

36. Last thing that made you laugh?
My cat hitting my dog.

37. Best bed sheets as a child?
Like to sleep on? I don't know, cotton? Isn't that all you get as a kid? All I have now is cotton -regular and flannel.

38. Worst injury you've ever had?
My torn meniscus, I guess. I don't think toothaches count as "injuries," otherwise toothache trumps all.

39. Do you love where you live?
Absolutely. It's a gorgeous rural area, but unfortunately the rich snooty types have taken it over and only want wine. I hate wine. And I hate rich snooty types that love wine.

40. Cat lover or dog lover?
Both. But I am more partial to Mr.Poo for his snuggleable size -if Pippa were calm I'd snuggle her, too.

41. Who is your loudest friend?
Probably Ian, LOL. He doesn't realize how loud he gets when he imitates other people or movies.

42. How many fish do you have?
Last time I could see them I still had three goldfish in the pond.

43. Does someone have a crush on you?
I sincerely doubt it. And if they did, how would I know?

44. What is your favourite television show?
Our local PBS just picked up some new history program that was pretty cool. Nova and Nature are the old standbys. And MST3K, but it's not on anymore (obviously).

45. What is your favourite book(s)?
The ones that teach you how to do things. :)

46. What is your favourite sweet ?
Whatever I'm in the mood for. Sometimes it's those sour fruit sweets, and other times a dark chocolate bar with almonds really hits the spot.

47. Favourite Sports TEAM?
I don't follow sports. When I have to, I go with the 49ers for football and the A's for baseball (yay for Bay Area unity, LOL) -but I'd much rather watch a good baseball game than a good football game, there's just too many guys running around.

48. What song do you want played at your funeral?
I have seriously never even thought about this. All I know is I want to be cremated, I really don't need a funeral service.

50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
Wow, why do I feel so awake when it's so early?

- Three Things Meme

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Michelle
2. "Hey, you!"
3. ...

THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU'VE HAD:
1. michelleheran
2. mlheran
3. :B

THREE THINGS YOU'VE DONE IN THE LAST 33 MINUTES:
1. Freaked out after seeing the swelling that's developed from a bee sting two days ago.
2. Wondered if I should get an eyepatch to cover the swelling.
3. Googled bee sting remedies.

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. Pajamas (lazyyyy... :P)
2. House shoes
3. Glasses

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. Taking care of the animals.
2. Working with my hands and/or learning something new.
3. Snuggling with Ian.

THREE IMPORTANT OBJECTS:
1. House?
2. Computer
3. Books

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS:
1. Buckethead
2. Clutch
3. Assorted soundtracks :P

THREE WAYS TO BE HAPPY:
1. Search for truth
2. Have faith
3. Stop and look around you

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS AT PRESENT:
1. Loituma: Levan's Polka (I CAN'T GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD)
2. Buckethead: King James
3. Tom Petty: Learning to Fly

THREE NEW THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS:
1. Fasting
2. Riding my bike into town without dying
3. Hiking with goats!

THREE EMOTIONAL THINGS YOU LIKE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX:
1. Intelligence. Oh wait, you said "emotional"...
2. Strength. Yes, emotional strength.
3. Being comfortable with expressing all emotions, not just the manly ones.

THREE THINGS YOU JUST CAN'T DO:
1. Carry a tune.
2. Deal with spiders -they are either flung (if on me) or squashed (if near me). It's a knee-jerk reaction, I can't help it.
3. Discredit truth.

THREE THINGS YOU MISS FROM YOUR PAST:
1. The sense that time passed really slowly.
2. Talking with my mom.
3. Being small. :P

THREE REASONS WHY YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE:
1. Genetics
2. Environment
3. Choice

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Making things with my hands.
2. Working/playing outdoors.
3. Reading.

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Build a goat house! (need to mow the field and get supplies)
2. Lose about 100lbs.
3. See normally out of both eyes (pokes swelling).

THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING:
1. Artist/Craftsman (and I'm not considering it, I'm doing it)
2. Farmer
3. Multi-millionaire (*sings* "Which of these things is not like the others...")

THREE CARTOON CHARACTERS:
1. The Warner brothers and their sister, Dot.
2. Foghorn Leghorn and the little chicken hawk guy.
3. ...uhhhh, Beast.

THREE BOY’S NAMES:
1. Jacob
2. Roland
3. ...uhhhh, Link! :B

THREE GIRL'S NAMES:
1. ...
2. ...um...
3. ...I've never found a girl's name that I like for very long!

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. Set things right.
2. Drive/hike/ride through the Western states.
3. Make a living doing what I love.

THREE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO TAKE THIS QUIZ OR DIE PAINFULLY
1. ...
2. ...
3. ...whatever.

bees, memes, life, projects

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