Jars of Honey - From first hive - Tom's Post

Fred, 

I hope its ok with Travelin’ Gal to send you a post about my first honey! I attached a photo that Dad took, he is so proud of me.  

I wanted to thank you for all you help - without you I’d wouldn’t have been as successful with my first hive. 

And yes, I remembered what you told me, that when the weather starts to cool down that it is very important not to take too much, being sure to leave enough honey for the bees to eat so that they survive the winter. 

Oh, I almost forgot, Miss Gray gave me an A on my term paper about raising bees - hope you are having a good time on your trip and say Hello to everyone.

Tom, Apprentice Beekeeper

Wild Ride up the Valentina River with Fred

Fred has an old friend, Hector who runs an Eco Tourist Inn/Lodge about 10 miles up the Valentina River.  To get to it we hired a flat bottom boat and ‘buzzed’ up the river.  What a ride! And guess who was waiting for us - the kids of course!  Fred had pre-arranged for all of us to spend 2 nights in a group lodge - built up on stilts - due to the occasional flooding of the river.  His friend is renovating his boat dock, so the kids will be "hired" out to do odds and ends for him to pay for our stay.  

I am going to help out Hector's wife Betsy in the kitchen, she is canning up the last of the season's vegetables - this will be a new experience for me - since the only canning experience I've had is when Julia and I pickled all those red onions last year.

Heavy rain fell that night but we were all snug and cozy and dry!

The next morning we ventured out for a tour of the area.  The kids found the remains of a stone structure, while Fred and I followed a path that led up to the top of a small hill - what a view!

Later we met up with the kids at the ruins; Fred thought that the ruins were from a mill that had been in the area when he was a kid.  I didn’t want to question his memory but if there had been a mill at this site I thought more remains would be there.  To me the ruins looked much older.  I bet there was an interesting story yet to be told.

Day 1 of Walk About - Slow Start

Fred and I got off to a very slow start, the kids were ready to go so they took off leaving Fred and me to pack the van. 

Then of course we weren’t even out of the town limits and we had a flat tire, Fred just rolled his eyes at me and said ok Honey, let’s fix that flat and get a move on! 

Later that afternoon after we had a picnic lunch that Georgia had packed for us we finally made it to the river and found that we were not the only ones waiting for the ferry! 

A gaggle of geese were on their own walk about with their young ones......

More Short Stories Coming SOON!

Sarah's grandfather, Fred, is known as "Beeman" - he is the local beekeeper in Putney - Peagarden Park - for the Community Gardeners - without him - well his bees do all the work!  but Fred does know how to keep those bees Happy!

He has recently take on an apprentice - Tom.  Tom is the baker's son; their bakery "A Taste of Honey" is famous for their honey pastries.  Fred decided it was about time to train another beekeeper for the gardeners.

The Community Gardeners meet for breakfast on Saturday mornings at the "Skillet" - topic for next Saturday is "Bugs" - and "Companion Planting".  Yes this does mean getting out of bed to be there by 7:30 AM - but the food is good and the "bantering" as to who will grow the largest pumpkin this year has already started!  

And they are getting ready to plan their annual Road Trip(s)!  Voting for places to visit will take also take place this Saturday!  

Oh, yes these days I am residing at the Grand Moor Inn and Bear and Sand Cat are with me - and during the day we are hanging out in - a tent - on the new Lot - at 1919 Joplin Street; so drop by or drop us a line or send us an e-mail "sandyspantry@yahoo.com"