... I donated a sum of money to Heifer International.
I did not do this out of the kindness of my heart, I did it because I had read if I donated a certain sum or over I would receive a special limited edition little booklet called Practical Handbook of Bee Culture, with some Observations upon the segregation of the Queen by Sherlock Holmes. I'm quite the fan of Laurie R King's Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell books you see.
Well, it didn't arrive and I figured I'd buggered up the international currency conversion or they'd run out of copies or some such, swallowed my disappointment and moved on.
Well, colour me happy, it was waiting for me on the doorstep when I got home today.
I'm tickled pink!
O, and the icing on the book, signed by the author!
I quote: "Chief among the everyday miracles within the hive is that of how the first bee discovered the means by which watery nectar, vulnerable to spoilage, might be made to keep the hive not only through the winter, but through a score of winters. Can one conceive of an accidental discovery, a happenstance that arranged for the hive sisters to be arrayed en masse at the mouth of their hive, fanning their wings so vigorously and for so long that the nectar they had gathered evaporated in the draught, growing thick and imperishable? And yet if not an accident, we are left with two equally unsatisfactory explanations: a Creator's design, or a hive intelligence."
I did not do this out of the kindness of my heart, I did it because I had read if I donated a certain sum or over I would receive a special limited edition little booklet called Practical Handbook of Bee Culture, with some Observations upon the segregation of the Queen by Sherlock Holmes. I'm quite the fan of Laurie R King's Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell books you see.
Well, it didn't arrive and I figured I'd buggered up the international currency conversion or they'd run out of copies or some such, swallowed my disappointment and moved on.
Well, colour me happy, it was waiting for me on the doorstep when I got home today.
I'm tickled pink!O, and the icing on the book, signed by the author!
I quote: "Chief among the everyday miracles within the hive is that of how the first bee discovered the means by which watery nectar, vulnerable to spoilage, might be made to keep the hive not only through the winter, but through a score of winters. Can one conceive of an accidental discovery, a happenstance that arranged for the hive sisters to be arrayed en masse at the mouth of their hive, fanning their wings so vigorously and for so long that the nectar they had gathered evaporated in the draught, growing thick and imperishable? And yet if not an accident, we are left with two equally unsatisfactory explanations: a Creator's design, or a hive intelligence."
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7 comments:
I vote for hive intelligence. Congrats on your score. We are giving gifts from Heifer this year, too.
Cool book...may need to find it, as I am considering a hive of mine own.. Peter doesn't know yet, but I think it would be great. I had a friend that had two hives once, and we managed quiet well for the odd pot of honey.
Oh, and then there's the fact that honey is bee vomit.
Fine with me. I use honey in my tea every day, and don't have allergies anymore.
I celebrate every honey bee. Bzzz!
Congrats on the delayed reward!
Heifer is a very good organization.
This is one of their learning center locations and it is right here in Central Massachusetts:
http://is.gd/52lsg
Anything we can do to support honeybees in light of their terrible crisis is a very good thing
- Lee
Zoomie, me too.
Roo, it's only about 6 pages of elegant words on bees, not actually any use for keeping the buggers. If you do get a hive, get an Omlet Bee Hause http://www.omlet.co.uk/products_services/products_services.php?view=Bees
Cookie, I'm cool with a little posset of bee puke now and again, good news on the allerties!
Lee - ooo, noice!
Omlet! - of course, one of our friends have their Eglu. Although I would have preferred a more bee-hive sort of hive and something less bau-haus..oh well, good option and classy sort of looking. Will look out of place in the garden but a contender
Roo, ooo, get one of those woven wicker ones, very rustic and charming!
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