Fun In The Sun

It is 96 degrees today. Here's what is going on in the backyard. Landen is cooling off! Maybe I will take a trip thru the sprinkler. Remember how much fun this was when you were a kid? Grandpa is joining in the fun.

Graduation Day

Alex's Kindergarten Graduation

I can remember when Alex started Kindergarten . He was very, very small. He has grown much bigger now, he learned to write his name and numbers, and ABC's. Alex has made us Proud. He is ready to move on to First Grade!!

Honey Bee Swarms

So my phone rings yesterday morning, and it is Larry , one of the members of the Beekeepers Association. He explains to me he has a swarm he has caught. Swarming is a natural part of the development of a honey bee colony. Swarming is a method of propagation that occurs in response to crowding within the colony. Honey bee swarms may contain several hundred to several thousand worker bees, a few drones and one queen.

Larry wants to give me this swarm of bees today. I am elated! Of course I will come out and pick them up. He has quite an operation going on as you can see from the pictures. He even has eight more hives at a nearby orchard. Now I have a hive crib, a nuc and a swarm. I'm in seventh heaven. You guys should really try a hive or two. Join a Beekeepers Association, and the rest is history.

Starting A Flower Garden

When you begin your flower garden, it's easy to think that all you have to do is get your plants into the ground, and with the exception of weeding, watering and cutting your plants back each season, your garden is done. But here's what really happens: The first year, your new perennials are underwhelming-the clumps small, the flowers sparse. By the second year, you'll see more flowers and better growth. But in the third season -watch out- your plants look like they're on steroids, and you look like an accomplished gardener. After that, many plants get bigger each season, while the odd one does a disappearing act. Responding to inevitable change is the challenge and that's why veteran gardeners often say that no flower garden is ever really finished.

Look What's In The Backyard

Oh how wonderful!!! Yesterday I saw the neastest thing. Mallard ducks in our backyard. Each year the ducks and geese fly back and forth right over our place. It's not a fly away, but there is a pond close by that they are taking advantage of. You know they love to swim? I am assuming they are taking a break before flying north. I told you, the country is the place to be.

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Wild Indians

It's that time of year. Seven days of school left, and the Indians are restless. These three boys, my grandchildren, have a problem with attention and focus (don't we all,) because of their higher activity level. I have found out they need more opportunities to move around-both in actual physcial activity and in how they learn. It's not one size fits all. The same goes for each of these brothers. We all learn differently. Today we are going to the park, if I can get an agreement on it. Two votes out of three win. Hang in there boys and girls, school is almost out. For you too teachers!

Dancing Wind Berry Farm

William & Julie Kratts

1289 Rockfield Browning Rd.

Rockfield, KY 42274

270-535-7237 Dancingwindberryfarm@gmail.com

Dancing Wind Berry Farm features Blueberries and Raspberries grown with A.L.A.R.n-O (As Low As Reasonable non-Organic) natural methods.

Blueberries will be available the first of June. We would like to offer you first chance at our premium hand picked Blueberries by pre-ordering. (Harvest yields are beyond our control. Pre-ordered berries will be supplied first.)

Place orders at 270-535-7237 or dancingwindberryfarm@gmail.com

Picked up at Dancing Wind’s Berry Shoppe: $4.00/pint container, $20.00/5# box

Delivered to your location: $4.50/pint container, $21.00/5# box

U-pick by reservation: $3.00/pound

Other items for sale: NYState Maple Syrup (made at Julie's Aunt & Uncle's Cuba, NY farm).

Julie's homemade Strawberry Jam (made from strawberries hand picked in Portland, TN).

Raspberries will be available at the end of the summer.

Dancing Wind Berry Farm is Kentucky Good Agricultural Practices certified, Kentucky Food Product Sampling certified, a member of Kentucky Proud and the Kentucky Blueberry Growers Association.

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Mom Turns $97 Into $5,130
Mom spills secret on how she makes $5,130/month online, part time.

This is my friend that I help pick berries for every year. Please join us in buying and picking these exquisite berries.

Yikes! Nosema

Yesterday I was out looking at the Hive Cribs, and come to find out that the Nuc that John brought me on Friday has Nosema. Nosema is a common protozoan disease that affects the intestinal tracts of adult bees, is kind of like dysentery in humans. Yuck! You can see it on the front of this hive.I called John this morning and we are going to wait a couple of days and see how she goes. I am giving them Fumagilin-B, but unfortunately when the symptoms are visible, it has gone too far and is difficult or impossible to treat.

These bees aren't going to beat me. I am going to win. Even within this short time what has happened so far. The Running Away (To join the Circus?) and the Nosema. I am up for the challenge.

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String Finale Concert

Last night we watched 350 students from 18 different schools in 3 districts come to WKU Diddle Arena for a String Concert. Our grandson Dylan was included. They're toting their violin, cello, viola, and string bass. The Orchestra sounded superb.

Dylan will be attending a string camp this summer. A pleasant sweetness was heard through the whole event.

How Does One Describe Herself

It's about doing what you love, living passionately and authentically. It's about seeing beauty everywhere, even with all this rain. It's about finding and creating balance in life. Attitude seems to be everything. For everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. I find that when I live simply, love generously, care deeply and speak kindly, life is pretty good.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain. It's a hard lesson to learn. It's not what you gather, but what you scatter. That in itself tells what kind of life you have lived.

Hope all you bloggers out there had a great weekend. Ours was chalk full with friends and family. Enjoy this rainy day! I just wish it would stop raining, but in all things be thankful!

A Few Thousand Friends In A Box

Today, John brought my Nuc box. As you can see, it consists of 5 frames. It is a colony that had been working well for a time and the bees know and are related to their queen. The frames contain honey and pollen and eggs and larva. The frames were pulled from a working hive. This is the nucleus of a hive. If you feed the bees and keep them happy, they already have a good start and will stand a better chance of success than a package.

Right now I am a total novice, without experience. I have high hopes, though. This time next year maybe I will have more hives.

Have a great weekend!

My post from yesterday should be restored per Google. I guess the system went down and I lost yesterdays post.

ToodleBug Farm

Jennifer, Alex and I are picking strawberries today. Well, not so much Alex. I love the experience when you can go to a u-pick and enjoy plucking each berry off the vine. You know exactly what you are getting. It is 90 degrees and hot, but I am not complaining. After all, the best tasting strawberries are the ones u-pick! This weather is suppose to hold out one more day. I just wish my garden would dry out so I could get my tomato plants set.

Have a berry nice day!

Strawberry Whipped Sensation

4 cups fresh strawberries

1 can of Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk

1 tub Cool Whip

I am using a chocolate pie crust. Mash berries and mix with cool whip, and condensed milk. Freeze for 6 hours. How easy is that?

School Is Cool!!!

Here comes the end of the school year- a time to celebrate how much they've learned.

This K thru second grade are displaying their love of country. What a great way to end the year.

Well done Alex and Landen!

This Is Why I Love To Live In The Country

The urge to live in the country besets most of us sooner or later. Spring with grass vividly green, buds bursting and rhythmic whistle of frogs. But the basic one is escape from congestion and confusion. Here we can be turned out to run and race, kick up our heels and enjoy life. We have owned three farms, and now have settled in a country setting of a little more than an acre. Which by the way, at times I wish for the farm days. I loved the sweet smell of hay. Walking in the woods and just sitting on the porch when time permit. Have I convinced you yet?

Last night we went to the bee keepers meeting, and I gathered a wealth of information. Most of those farmers are chalk full of good ideas and they know what works from their experiences. I think I found a mentor. She has been keeping bees for three years and said she would love to share all the knowledge she has gotten so far. We exchanged phone numbers and I am ready to communicate. Basically this hobby or cash crop is done mostly by men. That makes it more challenging to me. Although it is opening up to women. I suppose on the farm the women were busy with cooking, cleaning, canning, taking care of the children and so on it goes.

Will catch you later. I have to make sure my bees are not out of sugar syrup. Have a great day. I hear rain is coming in soon. I thought I was going to get my garden planted, but so far it is not dryed out from the last round of storms.

Happy Mother's Day

Remember when you were a child and used to make your own arts and crafts in school. You'd dedicated your art work for your mom? Remember the priceless smile on the face of your mother when she saw whatever you had created with your own two little hands and then said"I love you" as you handed it to her proudly.

As Mothers Day approaches I always go to the Scripture Proverbs 31:10. A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands, She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sasches. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her; Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears (respects) the Lord is to be praised.

Listen To This

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGMG_PVaJoI&sns=em

In these difficult and strange times, I think this may give us some answers.