Beesness...

Honeybees working - May 31, 2009 002
Originally uploaded by beeman_3366

I've been working with honeybees for quite some time now. It all started when I was a boy and would sit down with my Grandfather on warm, sunny summer afternoons, and he would get my attention every now and then as he would spot a honeybee landing on a white clover blossom in the grass, which would remind him of the days when he used to have hives of bees where he used to live in the country side, and how he would smoke them with a bee smoker to calm the bees down before he proceeded to examine the colony for honey. He also handed down to me one of his handy devices, a queen & drone trap, which I will add a picture of in an update. There were many things that my Grandfather shared with me about beekeeping, and needless to say it aroused my curiosity and I had taken interest, and now I continue the tradition that my Grandfather left me on.

I owe much thanks to my Grandfather for his encouragement, help and wisdom in the fine art of keeping bees, but most of all, I want to thank God our Creator for the health and strength to enjoy what He has provided me.

God bless!


Update:
This is the old drone trap that my Grandfather handed down to me. Notice the bars...the spaces between them are just far enough apart to allow the worker bees through and thereby trapping the larger drones and queen bees. It is rare that you catch a queen bee, because most of the time the new queens come out during peak egg laying time, which is at about this time in May and early-June, from there on, the queens egg-laying ability will be determined by the number of drones that are present near the hives entrance. In most cases the worker bees will take care of the drone population the closer to autumn it becomes, or the beekeeper can do this his/her self.


These are the honeybees in the wire cage before I put them into the hive that are in the top photo, which I received in the mail on Saturday May 30, which was yesterday. They are called package bees, and the bee suppliers, or apiaries sell the bees by weight - 2 pounds, 3 pounds, 4 pounds and so on. In the center is a queen cage where the queen is separated from the rest of bees in order they can get used to her scent before she is released, but usually has three or four attendant bees, or nurse bees placed inside the cage with her. This is usually done through a slow method of release...in the queen cage, there are three slots drilled on one side of a block of wood and on each end are holes with pieces of cork placed in each hole, and a piece of screen placed over the open side where the three slots were drilled. On one end, where the very last hole is drilled, sugar candy is placed there, and when the cork on that end is removed the worker bees have to eat the candy out before the queen can be set free and start laying eggs, this takes approximately from 4-6 days, depending on how fast the worker bees eat the candy. If the queen is not released within eight days, then the beekeeper can take the cork out on the open end, the end without the candy in it, and let her free.

Wednesday Hero Blogroll 5/20/09

Sgt. Christian E. Bueno-Galdos
25 years old from Paterson, New Jersey
3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade
May 11, 2009


On Mother’s Day, Eugenia Gardos made a tabletop shrine to her recently deceased mother — surrounding her photograph with silk roses, a small white rosary cross, two votive candles and a prayer card of Senor de los Milagros, the patron saint of Peru.

The next day, May 11, she added her son's picture to the shrine for the dead.

Sgt. Gardos was killed along with five fellow servicemen; Army Spc. Jacob D. Barton, Army Maj. Matthew P. Houseal, Navy Cmdr. Charles K. Springle and Army Pfc. Michael E. Yates Jr. in the attack on Camp Liberty.

"The first time he left for Iraq, when they would read the lists of the dead on the news, we used to hold our breath, praying he wasn't on it," his mother said. "I don't understand how he could have died this way. I just don't understand it."

Sgt. Galdos had emigrated with his family from Mollendo, Peru, as a child and had been a U.S. citizen since high school. His mother, two older brothers and older sister recalled how he used to hand out candy to children in Iraq the same way he always did in Paterson — never making a trip to the corner bodega without a group of neighborhood children tailing behind, knowing he would buy them candy or a soda.

"We were all here at home," Carlos Bueno, Sgt. Galdos's father, said. "I was getting ready to go to bed when I heard screaming downstairs. I ran downstairs and everyone had thrown themselves to the floor, thrashing around, screaming."

Bueno said he does not feel bitterness toward the man accused in the shootings, whom he described as "mentally ill."

"We want people to know we're proud of our son's Army, but if my son had died in war we would be able to handle that," he said. "But not to die in this manner."

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.


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Wednesday Hero Blogroll 5/13/09

Spc. Robert Hamilton


Spc. Robert Hamilton, from Corpus Christi, Texas, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, prepares to bandage the thumb of an Iraqi boy in Ula Market in Sadr City, April 19. The boy cut his thumb while preparing meat at a local butcher shop.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Spring-Time Part IV

Last weekend I ventured to the National Forest area, and on the way home I stopped to take a gander at the trout at the Trout Hatchery...These are golden rainbow trout, a result of selective breeding. It's quite a story, but here is the result...

Please take note: The water was not as clear as I would have liked, as we have had nearly two weeks of considerable rainfall, so the water was high, and the water is pumped in from the stream which was silty...



Looking downstream, or south on the North Fork of the Cherry River...



There were several areas, like this one where the water was pouring down the mountainside from all the rain, and actually made for waterfalls of sorts...There was another stream like this one where I had spotted a mink travelling up and down the stream side trying to find food...although, this time, I believe the high water must have filled his home, as they live in the sides of the banks of streams in holes, where they sleep and raise their young...



This is a photo of the dogwood tree in the yard that was in full bloom that I had taken after returning home from the trip up in the high country...



Well, a week has passed and spring is in high gear, the tiny green leaves coming out on the trees in the forest are growing fast...this is a stand of beech trees grouped together, notice the uniformity of leaf pattern closest in the photo...



I'm waiting on the soil to dry so I can pull the weeds and clumps of grass away from the new onions coming up. Over the years I have added many piles of grass clippings to the soil to amend it and enrich it...



Hostas waking up...



These are wild dogwood trees in full bloom in an abandoned farm-field that is now grown over...



These are two different types of blue-purple wildflowers growing in different areas...




Another bright white trillium from two weeks ago...



Not real sure what these are, but they sure grow dense and green...I will see if I can figure out what it is...



This is some sort of yellow flower growing near a spring, which I will show you next...



I have been by this spring many times, and I have never known it to go dry...notice how the moss grows really well on the rocks around and in the center of it, and the greenery at its edges as opposed to the slower growth on out...



It is spring migration season for many species of warblers, and I happened to get a glimpse of this prothonatary warbler passing through...look to the left and center of the photo and you will see a yellow spot in amongst the greenery, it has a black-cap and throat color. I wish I could have gotten a more close-up view, but I hastened to take the spare of the moment caption...

(Note: Clicking on the image will give you a better view).

(Editor's Note: Correction - I apologize, but I had mistaken the hooded warbler for a prothonatary warbler, yes, it's a hooded warbler, hence the black on top of the head and on the throat.)



Finally, this is one of my favorite spots...this is rushing, clear and cold, Tom's Creek..



Spring is my favorite of the seasons, with Autumn a close second. Thanking our Creator for it every step of the way. We should never take for grantit the health that we are afforded.

Update: Almost forgot about the two little wildflowers that I found in the woods early this spring. I consulted with my National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, and seem to have identified them. I will list them in order from top to bottom. 1. Marsh Blue Violet 2. Wild Geranium. Both grow in distinctly different habitats. The 2nd flower, the Wild Geranium grows in thickets and meadows near woodlands mostly on dry ground, while the 1st flower, the Marsh Blue Violet grows near streams or a body of water, wet ground. Hence, "Marsh" Blue Violet.

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Obama Chooses to Ignore America's Roots

May 7, 2009 was our National Day of Prayer, and every President since its inception by commencement of our Founding Fathers, have observed the special day. However, Barack Obama chose not to acknowledge publicly the day in which we pay homage to our Creator, imploring His blessings on our Nation.

This will only add fuel to the fire of atheism already weakening our Nation's image in the world, but most importantly, before Almighty God who has sustained our Nation through immense hardships, and given us protection from the many enemies we face.

It also poses questions as to Mr. Obama's true faith, is he really a "Christian," as he says he is? Well, I will tell you straight up front, that my opinion of his faith is that - No, he is not a Christian. Obama has denied the faith in not only choosing not to participate in the National Day of Prayer, but he stands for murdering unborn children (abortion), and he is an activist for the perverse lifestyles of homosexuals ... and he not only stand for them, but he appoints people to office who stand for, and will legislate those things. And even though Mr. Obama says he is a "Christian," he makes another mistake by ignoring his duty to witness, and further putting his faith in question.

Barack Obama's image seems to be more in line with either an Atheist, or a Muslim. He makes himself appear an Agnostic by his decisions, but moreso an Atheist, than anything.

In ending, a little history for Mr. Obama ...

Civil Governments in all ages have consecrated special days to prayer and the public worship of God. This national custom has a Divine origin and sanction, and was designed, and is eminnently adapted, to give religious culture to the national heart and conscience and to exert a beneficent influence on the civil and religious interests of a people. The Hebrew commonwealth had three great annual religious festivals, besides days of special prayer and worship, occasioned by national exigencies and the judgments and marked interventions of God.

In America we all have the freedom to worship, and hold whatever faith that we have ... but that is only possible because of our Christian nature, which brings that freedom.

So, it can be said, when we lose Christianity's influence, we will no longer be America, which stands for the freedom that Christianity brought to Her shores!

Mr. Obama could learn a lesson or two from that!

God bless!

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Update On Pepsico Boycott Progress

Some good news...

It's been quite some time since we'd written on this, and with this new entry, it seems the work is paying off...

Pepsico has been contacted by a Traditional family values organization, and may be considering discontinuing their support of the homosexual agenda. This is largely due to the efforts of A.F.A's (American Family Association's) Boycotting of Pepsico earlier in the year, in January. This story from OneNewsNow.

If you would like to join the Pepsico Boycott petition drive, here is a link to an earlier thread titled - Pepsico Supports Homosexual Agenda in which a link is provided that will take you straight to the sign-up page.

Update: In addition, Pepsico's address is provided in the link if you should wish to voice your opposition to their support of the homosexual agenda by writing to them.

Continue to voice your opinions, and make it known that we are still One Nation Under God and were founded solely by a Christian people, and our Constitution is a Christian document, which the liberal homosexual activists want to destroy.

We are living in perilous times, folks, and if we want to preserve our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor handed to us by our Forefathers to defend, then we must do just that and make our voices heard.

It may seem of little or no consequence to a person on an individual basis whether we speak out or not, but that is our duty as followers of Jesus Christ who issued the Great Commission for us to go into the whole world and make His ways known.

God bless!

Update:

Recently, Pepsico has expressed their support of the homosexual agenda publicly with an "in your face" approach, by running ads in the magazine called Out, a periodical that is filled with nude and semi-nude photographs of men in suggestive positions.

Some statistical background on Pepsi.Co reveals that:

1. Pepsi.Co is a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. (Ford, McDonald's and Wal-Mart withdrew from the NGLCC when asked to do so. Pepsi.Co refused.)

2. Pepsi.Co requires its members to attend diversity training classes promoting the acceptance of homosexuality.

3. Pepsi.Co financially supports "gay pride parades" in cities across America.

4. Pepsi.Co gave a total of $1,000,000 to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). HRC gave hundreds of thousands of dollars in an effort to legalize homosexual marriage in California.

5. Pepsi.Co uses its TV commercials to promote the homosexual lifestyle.

This is an affront to make accepted a lifestyle that has been condemned from the beginning of time, and only serves to further degrade, and disemboweling the only institution by which our society is able to stand and be strong, the institution which God firmly ordained in the beginning, and only acceptable to Him - marriage between one man and one woman.

Please contact Pepsi.Co and tell them to stay neutral and remain silent on issues pertaining to our sacred institution of marriage.

You can call Pepsi.Co at 1-914-253-2000 or 1-800-433-2652

This news update coming from AFA (American Family Association).

As always...

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God bless!

Wednesday Hero Blogroll 5/6/09

1st Lt. Michael A. Cerrone
24 years old from Clarksville, Tennessee
2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
November 12, 2006


Cerrone's men said in written statements of remembrance that he put their safety and welfare first. He lead from the front and all of the paratroopers would "unquestionably" follow him into battle.

His platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Ronald H. Berryhill, said Cerrone was more than a leader, but a friend and "little brother."

He remembers the first day Cerrone got to the unit. At the time, he was shy and quiet. But after a few months, he became more outspoken.

"I am truly blessed to have known him and to serve under his leadership," Berryhill wrote. "He will never be forgotten. I will carry him with me always and I will always watch over his platoon. We will make him proud of his boys."

Sgt. Cerrone was killed when a suicide bomber detonated the bomb he had strapped to himself in Samarra, Iraq. Also killed in the attack was Specialist Harry "Buck" Winkler. You can read more at BLACKFIVE.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.


Thanks for visiting Conservatives United!

Country-Side Snapshots

I and my brother took a ride for the weekend and decided to take some pictures of the country-side, and of course, I took a break from the driving along the way to sneak down in the woods and take a snapshot or two of some more woodland plants as they are appearing along Spring's way...Hope you enjoy them.

This is a photo of what is termed - Mayapple...with "May" in there I assume because it emerges near to the month of May...



This next photo is a picture that I had taken of a farmer's Belgian Draft, or work-horse...



This is a photo that I caught of a deer peering through the brush in an opening, which looks to be, like the horse in the above photo, in spring shedding of the long hairs that is their winter coat, into cooler fitting apparel...



I am sorry and apologize for not writing much on political matters; in all honesty, I have not had much interest in writing about politics. Although I am aware of the things that are happening, and that Mr. Obama is making some very disheartening decisions regarding his appointments to his cabinet as well as the Supreme Court, which I knew, as well as many others knew would happen.

So, perhaps I will try from time to time on writing posts on current events, but right now, it just seems to be a situation where not much can be said until we get closer to a new election which would favor renewal of Republican gains in the House and Senate for 2010, and ultimately, 2012.

As for now, let us enjoy God's majestic work in this most anticipated and waited for Spring time.

God bless!







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