xx

Comb honey and The xx are on my mind. What's on yours?

Camper Bees

So, I am a big mess of freckles, salty hair, and bathing suit strap tan lines...don't you love summer?
Swimming, BBQs, fireworks, new friends-summer on Cape Cod is the best. I am in love with this life.
I have been working with 4-H Camp Farley to have some bee hives (I posted pictures earlier in the year). This is a small article written in our local paper about the project.

A Persian Dream

Rosa rugosa or 'beach' rose

The black locust is blooming...the wild brambles are blooming. The air on Cape Cod is perfumed with these blossoms, salty winds, and Rosa rugosa. It is like a Persian dream.

Black locust

These are the sunny days with cool nights and white linen. Blessed be.
I have been swimming a lot and have gained lots of freckles!  Salty skin, messing around in boats, green grass and warm sunshine.

This time 16 years ago I was pregnant with my Olivia!

It is lovely to have the affection and nurturing support of family, friends, and community. They ask about the bees and are curious about the process. Their interest fuels my interest. I have been reading about pollen production. Do you harvest pollen?

I get lots of feedback about chemicals, due to the professional work I do (serving on the Barnstable County Hazardous Materials Team). This app https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/GrowSmart/id881636448 is appealing to me. It was developed by the hazardous waste folks out in King County, Washington. It is always nice to be noticed...so, I was recently (6/10/14) awarded a "Champion of Toxics Use Reduction" by the Massachusetts State Senate and the State Legislature, along with an official recognition and a citation for my work. My work as a very small business beekeeper is aligned with my "real" job at the county.

Rep. Timothy Madden and me at the State House in Boston

The bees are happy, the black locust is a big nectar push for them! It's been quite dry and I have to be mindful of making sure they get enough water. I use a fish tote and a block of wood for the watering.
Life is beautiful and delightful and full of mystery. #grateful

All my love, Kalliope

Two women

"There's a marked difference between acquaintances and friends. Most people really don't become friends. They become deep and serious acquaintances. But in a friendship you get to know the spirit of another person; and your values coincide. Friends may disagree, but not about serious matters. A friend will stand for you when you are no longer able. A woman can say to herself, "'If I die, I know that my friend, my sister friend will be here to hold up the banner."'
-Maya Angelou
Died May 28, 2014

“One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, "'What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew i would never see it again?”'
― Rachel Carson

Born May 27, 1907

Snapshot

Second deeps on and filled feeder buckets

Gearing up to check the bees

The horse chestnut is blooming on Cape Cod...

Horse chestnut in Sandwich, on Route 6A

As are the bluebells.

This Narrow Land is Paradise.

It all works out for the best

What an action packed weekend!
I went to the Brewster Herring run on Friday, it was totally packed with fish! The shad bush and the beach plum are in bloom, so it's all in synch. Cod cheeks, oyster, quahogs, and Chablis at The Squire was a great start to the weekend. Chatham was crazy busy, like August.

Fish ladder at Stony Brook in Brewster

You know when you say "yes" but you want to say ,"no?" I had that sort of weekend but it turned out fine. The Town of Mashpee had our election, for which I volunteered. It was an early morning, and I saw some lovely people I have done this with in the past, and, voter-people from my town. My warden is someone I have wanted to be friends with for the past couple years but I haven't extended myself. This past election I asked if he was wanted to play this summer and he said "yes!" I look forward to skiffing and gunkholing around Popponesset and learning to tie flies.
Later that same day I went to volunteer at the Woods Hole Film Festival. The movie was, 'The Off Season." A bit of a thriller! I adore WoHo beyond repair and it's always nice to zip down. The weather was beautiful and I kept my top down in the car all weekend.
I checked the bees and they are doing great. Almost ready to put the second deep on. I'll do that before I go to California. I collected some comb for lip balm. Honey lip balm at the farm stand, yo. I filled the feeder buckets in all  but one hive (hive 1 and 4 were not empty). It was nice to hang with the farmer too. We are connected at many different spots, but mostly at the hip.

Kalliope and Farmer Tim

The black locust is blooming, along with lilacs, dogwoods, dandelions, buttercups, autumn olive, and such-like. It's really freaking green, hot and sunny. Yay!
I picked up some asparagus, fingerling potatoes, and flounder for lunch, pan-fried with a lemon, saffron and butter sauce. So good. Between great meals, new friends, happy bees, and awesome Vinyasa Flow, well, life is sweet.
All my love, Kalliope

Honeypot Hives today

Checking on the girls at lunchtime....