I Smell Honey

I decided to open the top of one of the hives today. The aroma of sweet honey was there to greet me. Unfortunately a bee was too! He followed me around the yard, and finally stung me on my scalp. Ouch! Those nasty little buggers.

David is moving the fence for the chickens.

 The chickens waiting to claim their new grass

 The chickens are hot today. I gave them an extra bucket of ice water

Dylan is thirteen this year 

 Second planting of beans. Now we need some rain to help them grow.

 Tomato plants and second planting of squash, cucumbers and pumpkins.

Don't you just love these chimes? I have them hanging in a tree going to the backyard. I found this cute item at Hobby Lobby on sale for 50% off.  

BEANS

If I had to choose one vegetable to grow, it would be green beans. They are a staple in our house. I put them in soups, stews,  a stand alone dinner item. Beans are wonderful plants, providing benefits to our bodies and our garden soil. Beans do not grow well as seedlings or transplants. They are best sown directly into the ground as a seed. Beans are a fairly non-picky plant and gets along nicely with almost everything else. I usually can 60 to 65 pints per season. That usually last me till next growing season.

This Memorial Day

Our deepest thanks to those that gave all. To those that paid the ultimate price during service to this country. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.
" The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission." John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Amen to that!

Awards Day at McNeil Elementary School

 

Congratulations Landen. Looks like Landen received 3 awards yesterday. Way to go Landen!

 

I have talked about my friend Julie, the one who has over 500 blueberry bushes, well now she has strawberries. I picked 10 pounds Friday. They are delicious, and good for you. I froze the majority of them with a few left to eat. Soon it will be blueberry time. I love this time of year. All the good fruits and veggies coming my way.

Beautiful Wild Flower Of Summer

 

Look what's  growing in our back field. Wild buttercups! They are so pretty and the bees love the pollen. At least something is growing back there. I have tried for years to grow vegetables, but that area is low, and stays wet for a long period of time. The buttercup as their name suggests, their flower is often cup like. They are yellow and have such an intense, golden glow. As beautiful as they are, fresh buttercup plants are actually poisonous. The flowers, seeds and leaves are all toxic. 

 I love this extra seating area. It looks so inviting. I bought this chiminea last year with the two chairs, and wanted to make another place for extra guests, or in the evening when we sit by the fire.

Another chick born yesterday. The mother is still setting. Bessie has been a real trooper. She has taken this baby under her wing too. Now there are three that she is in charge of. She is a great mom!

Fruit And Herb Scents

It's no secret that one whiff of a flower or food can take us back in time, eliciting certain memories that take us right back to a specific place, person or even a popular song from the past. For an example,  that's  all I have to do is go back to my childhood home, and I can smell the roses and lilacs in the yard. As a child, our yard was small, but packed full of flowers. Mom squeezed in every bush and plant that she enjoyed and loved. I would take roses every week to the nuns after lunch. We didn't have a cafeteria back then so I walked home for lunch. My mother would go in the backyard and pick the most fragrant of the roses and then wrap them in waxed paper for me to carry to the nuns, where they would put my roses in a vase, and put them on the desk for all to see. I love my childhood memories!

 Honey Butter

Honey butter is commonly served with cornbread, biscuits, muffins and pancakes, but it's good on virtually everything. Just whisk together 4 parts room - temperature butter with 1 part honey. Because the sweetness of honey can be highly variable, play with the ratios to find one that's to your liking. And for a more complex flavor, try adding a bit of vanilla extract or cinnamon.

Lip Balm

8 Tablespoons coconut oil
3 Tablespoons bees wax
1.5 Tablespoons honey
4 to 6 drops lavender
Mix all together and let harden over night. Use forefinger to put on your lips.

 MAMA

 MAMA & BABY

BABY ON MY KNEE

Be fruitful and multiply! That is what is happening here at the Stalker home. First there were 5. Now there are 11. 5 teens, 4 born on Easter Sunday, 1 born the day before yesterday and 1 born today.  Baby chicks are so cute. I just want to hold them all day. Mama is still on the nest, so apparently she is going to hatch more. They know when to abandon the nest. So I guess more chicks are on the way. What will I ever do with all these chicks? What if I have all roosters? I have 2 now and they don't get along. HELP!  Anyone interested in a baby chick?


 

Born Yesterday!

Bessie, my wild hen, brought into the world this baby chick. Isn't it cute. Finally Bessie gets to do what she does best. Be a mother.

 

A yearly survey of beekeepers, released today, shows fewer colony losses occurred in the U.S. over the winter of 2013-2014 than in recent years, but beekeepers say losses remain higher than the level that they consider to be sustainable. More than three-fourths of the world's flowering plants rely on pollinators, such as bees, to reproduce, meaning pollinators help produce one out of every three bites of food Americans eat.

Everything Works If You let It!

I am truly excited about honey this year. Though I have had two swarms, I am counting on my bees in hive 2 to pull me through. I can just taste it now. I love the smooth flavor and absolute honey goodness. Here's the thing: raw honey is a perfect substance, straight from the hives. It doesn't need messing with. It doesn't require filtering, or any additions or subtractions. It needs nothing. I let my hives work it out. I don't requeen. I don't feed them sugar water. I don't wrap the hives in winter. I just let nature handle it and it seems to work perfectly.

I have been noticing that most people that I am acquainted with have both bees and chickens. Okay, I've accepted that all of you are not going to become beekeepers, despite my best efforts to persuade you to put on a veil, pick up a smoker and a hive tool! Some of you are allergic. Some of you just can't understand how I can enjoy playing with critters that sometimes sting me. Its the honey that makes me go back time and time again. So is there anything you can do to help save the bees? Absolutely! The five plants bees love the most are; Borage, Eschium, Goldenrod, Mesissa and Tansy. Go to your local Nursery, and pick up some of the plants I have suggested to do your part in saving the bees.

 

BANANAS!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Mothers Day! I know I sure did. My son and daughter spent time with me. We went to church together, and then met for a wonderful lunch. I truly enjoyed their presence, and I thank God for the wonderful children that I have. I am very proud of them.
They're often the fruit of choice to athletes looking to boost their electrolyte levels and get a quick energy boost, but bananas are a whole lot more than just a sweet treat or a pleasant addition to a morning smoothie. Rich in vitamins, mineral and other beneficial compounds, bananas boost brain power and also calm the nerves. Like many other whole fruits and vegetables, bananas are an excellent source of fiber. Happy Monday!

Why Strawberries Are So Good For You!

The strawberry is called the Queen of all fruits. When you take a step back and really look at the fruit, you can see why. Its appearance is simply impressive. The large berry is packed with powerful antioxidants. Our strawberry season starts in late May in South Central KY. I usually pick 20 to 30 quarts of this red wonder. Making jams, jellies and freezer bags full for the winter time. Overall, enjoying a serving of strawberries offers overall body benefits, like potassium, B vitamins, C and fiber.

The Surprising Health Benefits Of Potatoes

Regular white potatoes are one of the most controversial vegetables from a health prospective. I was always told to eat red potatoes. In reality, however, organic potatoes grown in good soil and prepared properly i.e boiled or baked, not potato chips or fries, are full of vitamins and iodine.
In the 19th century Ireland literally lived off of spuds. Potatoes are still a starchy vegetable. Put olive oil or butter on your potato. What more can you ask for? Yum!  

 The First Iris of Spring

Adding Peas To Your Diet

There are three major types of peas. Garden peas, snow peas and snap peas. I love peas as you can see. I planted seven rows which will yield an all winter supply. Peas contain the green pigment chlorophyll. Peas are a good source of fiber, and a half a cup of green peas contain 11 mg of vitamin C.  In addition, peas lower ones risk of heart disease.
Happy Monday!



Durable And Weather Resistant

I don't think so. Long lasting protection. No on this count too! This is our screened in porch floor. I painted it last year, and as you can see, it is peeling off. I have the can and I am taking it back tomorrow to Lowes. I am so disappointed. This paint is flaking all over the place. I don't need another job. I have plenty of projects as it is. I aim to find out what the problem is and I will let you in on the solution Monday! Have a great Sunday. 

Bluebells

This picture doesn't due my bluebells justice. They are so pretty, and I love them mainly for their clusters of bell like blue flowers. The second reason is; a good friend of mine, Shaleen  died in a  motorcycle accident several years ago. I dug them up at her farm to remind me of her. As they are woodland plants, I have them in the front yard under a bush. Bluebells usually bloom from late Spring to early summer producing green stems and eye catching clusters of blue bell shaped blossoms. They are shade loving plants. Oh how I love my Bluebells!