There is Always a Fly In Paradise!

So...it was a beautiful afternoon to go boating.  The sun was glistening off the water and there was a cool breeze moving through the field flowers.  We gathered our poles for fishing and headed down to the boats.

Camille has a unique style!

We were pleasantly rowing along..

The boys in one boat

Us Girls in the other

And the flies came.  They are relentless in their attacks.  The worst is when you stop hearing them.  That means they have landed on your back and are about to bite you!  I was paddling, trying to beat them back with the paddle which just made them more aggressive.  Dog gone it!! we were in paradise.

So a good life lesson to learn early.... bring a tennis racket for big flies.

The hogs are not tiny any more.  Bet you didn't know that if you scratch a pig/hog on its side with a stick, it will fall over on it's side!  

It is important not to fall in love with something you are going to eat!   

Some down things about them...when they press their nose against you, which is always covered in mud, you are left with a large mud smear on your leg.  They will bite your toes if you wear flip flops to feed them!  They are too cute to not make pets out of them!!

Now for the bees

I just had my wintering inspection which took me 2 hours for 2 hives.  This is beginning beekeeper time.  My hives were cleaned of the hive beetles I had seen earlier.  I learned I have hygienic bees and they are addressing the mite problem.  This is not a hobby, this is hard work.  After finishing checking the entire first hive, I was ready to throw in the towel.  I was sweating so much I couldn't see.  And the boxes  that I had to lift off and then put back on were very heavy.  I was questioning my commitment to continue as we moved to the second box.  All the books I have read about people lovin! the bees - not happening to me.  I am still at the intellectual stage of inquiry wrapped in some fear!  But I did have a wonderful feeling of achievement knowing the bees were heathly.  I had over one new beekeeper like myself, and my bee mentor to help me. 

It turns out we all drive subaru's..maybe I could recoup the cost of this business by sending subaru this picture!

Alyce and I are loving selling  honey at the Charlottesville Farmers Market.  We have met so many people who have left their day jobs to get back in touch with themselves, their families and change their ways of life.  They are mostly in their 30's and are hardworking risk takers who want a life that brings them back the earth!   Alyce and I are becoming quite knowledgeable about honey and it's medicinal qualities.

We occasionally help my son with his fish market when he needs us.  We are so cool!

Last week we both changed our drivers license to Virginia license!  I don't have that 'pinch me' feeling anymore.  I keep finding new wildflowers that I must learn about; I brought out my fly fishing poll; fall is coming; ... and we live in wine county!!

There may be flies in paradise..but it is still paradise.