Mom and Dad had honey bees when I was young. For the most part, the bees took care of themselves and their honey. When intervention was needed, it was always fascinating to me. I remember being curious about tools and techniques, well moderated with the desire not to get stung. Extracting the honey was a great project!
Once the honey was moved indoors, going in and out of the house was a cautious undertaking. The less docile bees where flying up against the screen door, trying to protect their stockpile.
I must have gotten a stern directive not to get honey spread around the house. I remember being told how difficult it was to clean up honey.
At some point I got honey into my bangs. I clearly remember that I was aware that this wasn’t a desired outcome and that honey was very, very difficult to clean up. Even parents had a hard time cleaning it up. The best thing I could do was to take care of it myself. Water certainly wouldn’t remove it, because if it did, honey would be easy to clean up. I took the next best method and cut the honey out of my hair before it became a bigger mess.
I discovered a swarm of bees in a tree west of the house by their buzzing. I don’t remember very clearly, but I think the bees weren’t our own. I do remember being very proud that I could do something productive…I was the one to find the bees!
All of the photos above are from Mom’s album, labeled March – August 1979. The photos were taken by Mom, Dad, or Eddie. The color photos are dated July 7, 1979.
The photo below is from Mom’s album, labeled Fall – Winter 1979. Someone has short bangs!
Bee keeping seems like a great idea, especially when I read a good book about bees or beekeeping such as A Book of Bees or The Secret Life of Bees. Then I remember all of the half-started projects around and get more realistic about a project that involves live insects. (I’m being optimistic, the projects are only 23% started.)
p.s. Thanks Jessie, for the book recomendation that hopefully has lots of good bees in it!
Robbie says, “That’s awesome!”
Charlie says, “I love you! That is cool!”
I am impressed with your jar filling and problem solving.
Do you think that I must have figured out that parents don’t know how to solve everything? No need to bother them with something they can’t help with!
Fun to see these photos again, and remember honey harvesting.
This is a fantastic story! I like the pictures and your recall. I think it should be seen in a magazine such as Reminisce, or Country Woman.
Thanks Holly. I am lucky (most of the time) to have prolific photographers around me. 😉
Great pictures … and stories. You three kids were so adorable – your short bangs and all.
Did you think you’d ever see evidence of my brothers with more hair than I?
Fun pictures! Have you been giving Clara hair cut advice? Her bangs were in her eyes so she cut them herself. Down to a stubble right in the middle of her forehead, but she says they are better now….