The Bee's Knees

62 and raining.

I miss having honeybees. There is something completely satisfying about a busy hive nestled under a springtime tree, the hum providing the perfect music for this time of year. There are still some wild bees around our place, very likely from a swarm from our former neighbor, who gave up on his bees and left them to their own devices. We would like to have hives again, but the cost of replacement bees nowadays makes beekeeping almost a rich man's hobby, it seems. But maybe one day we will dive in again, because it just seems odd not to have a hive or two on the place.

Yesterday someone said something about a thing being "the bee's knees". A funny saying, when you come to think of it. What does it mean, anyway? And where did the saying come from?

A quick google search turned up the following: "The phrase was first recorded in the late 18th century, when it was used to mean 'something very small and insignificant'. Its current meaning dates from the 1920s, at which time a whole collection of American slang expressions were coined with the meaning 'an outstanding person or thing'. Examples included the flea's eyebrows, the canary's tusks, and one that still survives – the cat's whiskers. The switch in meaning for the bee's knees  probably emerged because it was so similar in structure and pattern to these other phrases." from Lexico.com .

I have never heard the expression, "the flea's eyebrows" either, but I kinda like it--so descriptive of a tiny thing, isn't it?

Then I got to thinking of other sayings about bees. We all know sweet as honey, of course, and it's self-explanatory, and about how some cultures go out to tell the bees when someone has passed away. But how about the one that says if a bee enters your home, a visitor is coming? Or if a bee lands on your hand, that's good luck? There are plenty of others, such as:

Using bad language around the bees will get you stung. Similarly, you should never argue around bees. These make sense to me, as animals, and probably bees, can sense the change in atmosphere when someone is angry or scared. Maybe we put off a certain scent, or pheromones, when we're angry.

Bees should be told when someone dies, marries, or another important event occurs. They should also be introduced if they get a new beekeeper. 

If a bee comes in the house, don't try to force it out. Just leave a window or door open so it can leave on its own.

A bee landing on your hand means money is coming to you, and a bee on your head means great success is in your future.

image from wikimedia

The name Melissa comes from the Greek, and means "honeybee". I know several ladies named Melissa, and I wonder if they know this little fact. The name Deborah also means "bee".

Bees are considered symbols of loyalty and diligence. Which makes me think of the expressions "working like a bee" and "busy as a bee".

Most of us have heard that "A swarm of bees in May is worth a load of hay, a swarm in June iss worth a silver spoon, but a swarm in July is not worth a fly". This is because the bees will not have time to make enough honey to survive the winter if they swarm in July. Of course, in warmer climates, this old saw doesn't really hold true.

 This old proverb really gets to the point, doesn't it? Words are like bees – some create honey

and others leave a sting. And an old Arab proverb says, "When you shoot an arrow of truth,

dip its point in honey." 

So with all of that, I'll buzz off for today, leaving you with this, one of my favorite songs by Judy Collins:

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Family Reunion

52, overcast but some sun later. Humid.

One reason we worked so hard on yard and gardens last week was because we would be away for 3 days at my family reunion. Isn't it funny how hard we will work to get ready to be away? I wanted to leave the house clean and tidy, the porch clean and pretty, the lawns mowed and the gardens in as good as shape as possible, so that when we came home we wouldn't be behind on any of it. Of course, when we got home, the grass needed to be mowed again, the weeds had thrived, and Larry immediately tracked up the porch with muddy boots. Ah me. Still, it was much better than it might have been if we hadn't done all that work, right?

I came home with more plants too, so in addition to pulling more weeds I have plants to put in. We found the most marvelous greenhouse in Elkins, WV, called Mary's Greenhouse, and I was in heaven walking around there. There was one whole greenhouse just for herbs! I found the parsley and rosemary I've been looking for, that beautiful new peony and lots more besides. About 200 dollars worth, actually. Cringe. I've spent a lot on plants this year, but it has dawned on me that I only have a few more years, probably, when I will be able to do this work, and I have always put off buying plants I want because of the cost. Now I am determined to have the gardens I have dreamed of, if only for a few years. I don't get manicures and pedicures, I don't drink a lot or do drugs, I don't gamble or get my hair done, I don't buy many clothes and most are used anyway, I don't go out much or go to concerts--so this is my vice, and so be it.

But wait, I intended to write about the reunion! It. Was. Wonderful. There were not as many people as there have been in the past, due to many reasons. Some had graduations to attend, some had the state track meet in which their kids were competing. One had a broken hand, and one sister and her husband came down with Covid just days before the reunion. But we were so glad to see those who could make it. Several of my nieces and nephews came with some of their children. Cousins from Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina came, as did my dear Aunt Georgette, who will celebrate her 88th birthday this year. I was thrilled that two sons, three daughters-in-law, one sort-of son-in-law, and 2 granddaughters were able to join us this year--it made the weekend extra special for me that they made the effort to be there. Perhaps next year there will be more people, now that life is somewhat normal and they all know the reunion is on once again.

Sisters Mary, Judy and me.

Even though the kids are older, the creek still draws them like a magnet.

Catie gets her hair braided by her granny Judy.

Cousin Ken discussing his prison ministry with Sandy and Grace.

A great confab going on here!

Granddaughter Haley with my nephew David. 

In our cabin:

Look at this fabulous light fixture!

On the porch of our cabin.

Only 2 of my 12 siblings came, which was kind of disappointing, but we seem to have dwindled down to a core group of 4 sisters who are committed to the reunion, with the others occasionally attending. I felt so bad for my sister who had Covid as I know she really looked forward to the weekend, but I did call her from the park and we had a nice long chat.

The nicest thing about the weekend was the connections being made and re-established. Several plans were made to get together by different ones, which made me happy because as scattered as we are, maintaining contact is not so easy. But with social media we've been able to stay in touch, thank goodness, and now there will be more visiting in the future.

There were two things that were quite different from past reunions: no little children, and lots of dogs. At our first reunions, there were so many children, and several pregnant mamas, but after 15 years of these gatherings, the littles have grown up, some are married, and pets have become a big part of people's lives, perhaps because of Covid? 

We are all looking forward to being together again next year at Lost River State Park. It was something we all needed, I think, and we came away feeling well loved and peaceful. 

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Coming Up for Air

55 this morning, cloudy and light showers. Weekend was hot, in the high 80's, with a storm yesterday.

Friends, the past couple weeks have been such a blur I am not even sure where I left off writing here. Mainly, it's been garden work. We've been planting again, squash, cucumbers, beans, and corn, and today, in this cool, cloudy weather, Larry is putting in our first tomato plants. We're a little behind there, but we were away over the weekend and I didn't want to plant and let the poor things fend for themselves in that high heat and hot sun.

So what's been going on in your lives? I haven't even been reading my usual blogs, so I have catch-up to fo there too. I hope everyone is still well and thriving. Tell me what you've been up to.

The weather has been perfect off and on for pulling weeds, and I have done a LOT of that. Especially that ubiquitous gill-over-the ground, creeping Charlie, ground ivy or whatever you call it. I've pulled several wheelbarrow loads, and Larry has helped too. We have it pushed back a bit but will never be truly rid of it. A pity that it's so invasive, because it's really a pretty little plant.

So here's some photos of the gardens. I've posted most of these on Facebook, I think, but I know that not all of you use that platform.

This is a drift rose, so named, I think, because of its spreading habit. I would love to have more of these. The photo doesn't do justice to the variation of peach and yellow colors.

This rose, and the yellow iris, both came as gifts from a young friend. 

Self-sown lamb's ears. Years ago I got a start from a friend, and apparently there's no end after you once have it because it self-seeds easily. It's great for color and texture variation on the garden.

A cheap rambler rose, bought for a dollar about 5 years ago. Behind it are self-sown daisies and litte pink primroses that also self-seeded.

Same rose, different view, with a few Dame's Rocket on the left.

This is my newest peony, not yet in the ground even. I've added 4 peonies to my gardens this year, and hope to continue to add them--such beauty and fragrance.

Another rambler, that was once a tea rose,but got killed back to the rootstock. It's in entirely the wrong place, and every year I think I'll get it moved, but it never happens.

The Japanese iris are just starting to open. 

More peonies, this one planted a couple years ago.

And the old-time white peony. This one got knocked to the ground by rain, so it's now in a bouquet in the house.

This is about 1/3 of the tomato plants from my greenhouses. Some are quite large, others still small but very sturdy. Larry is planting these today.

Also planting these today--Better Boy hybrid. They're a good canning tomato. We have many heritage varieties, though--Black Crim, Cherokee Purple, Dr. Whyche's Yellow, Belgium Giant Pink, Brandywine Black, Yellow Oxheart, some others. Also black opal cherry, a red cherry, and yellow pear.

What's left in the greenhouses:

Those pots of small plants in the front are rhubarb I'm growing from seed. Who knew you could do that?? We'll see how this goes.

This is a new garden this year, or rather an extension of an older one.

Garlic also self-seeds here, and this area looks like these will be especially nice.

I wish I coud remember the name of this rose. I planted it two years ago, and the deer kept eating it back. So I covered it with chicken wire last fall, and this year put a metal chair over it. So far so good.

How about these little primroses? They self-seeded from another bed and here they are, thriving in that crumbled sidewalk.

Spiderwort only opens in the sun, and according to folklore, the flowers turn pink when radiation is in the air or soil.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Still Here

59 and clear; rain expected tonight. Hot week, highs in the low 80's.

I'm still here, but up to my ears in work of all kinds--painting furniture, gardens, booths. The days are flying by.

Here are a few photos of our new booth. Garden pics coming soon, I hope. As soon as we can get off this treadmill.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Moving Days

58 and cloudy, looks like rain ahead. 

We're using this rainy week to move into our new booth, which means multiple trips to Marietta to pack and load out the old space. It's a lot of work, and I am so glad we gradually downsized our 5 spaces at Marietta mall into one. But the new space at Farmhouse Market Finds in Ripley is coming together slowly. I can already see we need more furniture in there, so that will be my focus next week--that and gardens, if the weather dries up. 

So back on the road again this morning See you later.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Still here--and in the gardens

52 and cloudy, cleared up around 10. Rain expected later today.

Hard to believe I haven't written a post in almost two weeks, but then it's been that kind of life lately. Super busy with gardens, booths, grass, painting furniture. Here's my Facebook post this morning, and it pretty much defines what we've been up to:

"It's been a wild few days. Friday I worked at the antique mall. Saturday we drove to Columbus and Wooster picking up furniture and other stuff for our booths. Sunday I worked at the mall again, and we went our for a great dinner with family to celebrate Derek's birthday. Yesterday was another long road trip to pick up auction buys and begin emptying our booth at Marietta. We loaded the van full...this in preparation to move into a new space in Ripley, which is only 12 miles from home; Marietta was almost 70 miles away. We got home in time to do some mowing, string trimming, and caught up the laundry. Today I will be finishing up re-potting greenhouse plants, getting some flowers in the ground and finishing up the string trimming before it rains. I hope. April was our best month ever in our booths, and May started out well too, with rent covered on the first day of the month. Onward and upward! Photo is the beautiful Ohio River, taken Sunday evening on our way home."

We did have our first salad from the washtub I filled with dirt and planted with radishes and lettuce. Indescribably good. 

Asparagus is coming in too. When stringtrimming this morning I found that both currant bushes planted last year are thriving--I really thought one of them had died. The raspberries I planted last fall are doing well too, and in the perennial bed I started last fall, peonies and astilbe have taken hold. The other plants didn't make it, but at 75% off I expected some loss. A few lavender plants from last year are also still alive, a miracle since they seldom survive the winter. However, all the beautiful rosemary plants succumbed. Still, a couple sage plants are struggling to come back, as is the thyme, and some Veronica also survived the winter. Chives are thriving and in the veggie garden the potatoes are growing fast, as are the peas, onions, and cabbages. Beets,  carrots, kale, radishes and more lettuce are all up and growing.

Larry's potato patch is looking good so far.

This is the big veggie garden, with peas, onions, and potatoes so far. This will have corn, peppers, beans, limas, and tomatoes eventually. As sunflowers, and maybe some butternut squash if we have room. Late corn will replace the peas and onions in July.

"My" garden--this is the one where we're experimenting with no-till on the upper end. The center is tilled and has cabbages, spinach, bok choi, celery plants, along with the seeded carrots, beets, lettuce, etc. This will be mulched eventually. The lower end has not yet been tilled. There are some leeks in there that survived the winter which I will pull soon and make into soup, then this will be tilled for cucumbers, squash, and some cherry tomatoes. Probably a few other things as spce permits. That's the compost tumbler in the center, and the strawberries are in theupper middle in two steel containers.

The big flower bed has nothing blooming at the moment but that will change this week as the irises begin to open.

I haven't done anything with this garden except cut the growth. The upper end will be tilled and planted in wildflower seeds, the lower tilled or hand dug carefully and planted with herbs. This is where the chives, multiplier onions, Veronica, calendula, raspberries, currants, and a few asparagus live.

This part of my flowerbeds is always a headache, but come fall I will plant it full of spring bulbs. Then in summer, just containers as the maple tends to pull all the moisture in summer.

The clematis opened this week. It's twenty years old and not very big because of the maple, but it's so pretty.

Afew tulips are hanging on, and the last bud on the re-blooming iris has opened.

The long view, after I finished up my trimming.

Here you can see the strawberry tubs. I may do a whole row across the garden with them.

So all is well in the gardens. In the booths at Ravenswood, sales have been hot, hot, hot, and we've scrambled to keep stocked. I've painted several pieces in the past week, and all have sold except I think one bench. I'm working on a dressing table, piano bench and a dresser now, and we brought home another Hoosier-style cabinet to refurbish as the one in our booth sold. Here's the piano bench in progress--it's now a pretty robin's egg blue, just waiting to be waxed.

My doctor checkup last week was excellent, blood pressure and all blood work very good. I feel better than ever, and I sure hope this continues. Even the arthritis seems to have settled down some. The only issue I have is my poor old stomach that hurts all the time, but I have an appointment to see about that.

I am sure your lives have been just as busy--springtime in the northern hemisphere is certainly filled with things to do.  Leaving you today with this little bouquet picked in a hurry while working out there.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.