Devouring Global Resources?

A tribute to a new hobby & recent injury.

Music & Lyrics: 帅巴J

A Letter To Her Majesty, The Queen:

I am amis,
for I am not as
things seem from high aloft

to collectors
of the nectars
and the stamen pollen soft

Not big and bold,
As the Marigold
Nor Delicate, as a Rose

Sloppily,
not even a poppy.
You will have no yellow nose.

I have not
fear, and drink no beer
so not to offend with breath

Yet Anger
bests and deliver thefts
of body parts and single death

garden troves
and the wooded groves
soft fertile bedded soil

do play home
to the many who roam
yet not I, with all my toil

reason tells,
from many hells,
to pacify our argument

for we can
plainly see we must
leave behind this very torment

let this cease
and look to a peace
I no longer wish to be stung

I only ask
when I wear my mask
for some honey on my tongue

—-

Ukulele, Banjo 1, Banjo 2, Percussive Knee Slapping: 帅巴 J

Springtime means lots of activity at the hive, or some I’m told.

As this is our First spring time with our bees, I’m still quite eager to watch what happens with the colony, how things change, and what I might do to make the bees, well, happier. I often consider the answer to the last question is to leave them alone, not mess with their hive or take their honey, but that’s not good enough for me.. I want to Engineer them.. in that wholesome organic natural happy way.. HA!

Today’s hive evaluation was two weeks and two days since I last opened the hive and I expected much to have changed. I had added a second deep two weeks ago and had fiddled with the frames a bit, moving one brood frame up and replacing it with an empty, undrawn frame (all plastic). Today, I found what I imagine ALL beekeepers find when sorting through the boxes. Manic Depression. :)

The Manic:

1. The hive is growING! The size of the hive has increased significantly and according to the amount of brood on the frames will continue to do so.
2. I’ve got a great number of drones walking around and activity within the hive is high, with bees on every frame.
3. They’re making honey, lots of it, even after all those rainy cold days. They’re going to survive!

The Depressive:

1. They’re building comb perpendicular to the foundation. Pulling out a few frames, I’m finding they’re not building comb along the foundation, like they have in the past, but out, off the foundation. Perpendicular to the rest of the hive orientation. As the comb grows in size it covers more of the foundation, but I did not get the impression they wanted it to. with nooks and crannies all over the bulging comb, it’s become quite the maze for the colony and a significant change from the ordered one, two, ten of the parallel frames. But, it seems there is not much I can do aside from buying wax foundation, which I’m reluctant to do. Though I’m considering empty frames – no foundation… hmmm
2. They’re building brood between upper and lower deep. Golf ball sized collections of brood have cropped up along the bottom of the upper deep and, obviously, the top of the lower deep. Each group has four to twelve cells in it and after pulling frames out today, I found that any activity in the hive decimates these cells and their contents, very little of which was honey or pollen. Sadly.
3. They’ve got mites. I’ve seen a couple of mites in the past. One here on the ground, another at the entrance, and once on a bee that I couldn’t track down fast enough to confirm. However, yesterday I snagged one bee with it’s red-headed guest, got a photo of it and confirmed my fears. Now to treat or to leave be?

While these things are a bit daunting, I’m still excited to see how the colony changes throughout the year as I become more aware of the activities of bees.. a strange and fascinating little insect.

Kira and I flew out to Colorado to celebrate Holly’s birthday. We didn’t have much time before leaving to put together a present for her, so Kira picked up a tent from REI and I, well, royally slacked.  Just before leaving the house I felt perhaps I’d get a break while we were there and I could put down a couple of tracks and some lyrics to celebrate her 20th.  Sadly I learned, after talking with Kira, it seemed we wouldn’t get much of a break from any of the weekend excitement once we landed and recording was going to be futile.

However, we’re not considered the quitting type, usually. So, within the confines of an Boeing 737 300 series aircraft, in seat 13 D & E, and somewhere over Nevada at 30,000 feet, I set up shop. I expected this was the most privacy I would get throughout the next four days.

Ultimately, the song could use some work, BUT I think this could turn into something quite remarkable. I saw Apogee is making a XLR to iPad interface and I could see mile high recording incorporating the sounds of flight, passenger AC, and the unpredictability of *DING* resonating through the microphone, accompanied by the inability to truly master tracks and massive feedback potential. I like to think of it as the recording parkour.  It’s going to be HUGE! mark my words.

Enjoy -

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As the film says, “don’t worry, we’re awesome.”

On Saturday we woke up in Stockton and drove East in search of snow. We found it some 40 miles later when we came through the Orvis Cattle Co. Ranch Property. Yet, we pushed through because it just wasn’t cold enough. Up through the foothills we sped. Then we got pulled over, given a warning, and the remainder of the day was spent at reasonable speeds until we arrived in the sleepy town of Arnold.

In Arnold we stopped at the Humane Shelter Thrift Store, stocked up on things we didn’t need, like a rock tumbler – sweet! and then over to the local ACE where we acquired a shovel and blue disc. Then up into the neighborhoods looking for the perfect runway (with parking). After dotting about the whole town we finally pulled into a development with large threatening signs for visitors to stay away. It was here that we made our camp for the afternoon.

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It was here, we sledded.Thus, the film.

K-Lou’s offering for today’s Valentine’s Day musical production.

Lyric notes available upon request.

Written by K-Lou; Vocals: Kira Lou; Keyboard: 帅巴 J