Of Moose and Honeybees

There are several ways to get to the Shelburne Farmers Market from Heavenly Honey Apiary, and today I chose the route that would take me over Lewis Creek so that I could cross the covered bridge.

One mile into my commute, as I rounded the corner by the log cabin home, (the one with pristine landscaping that I always turn my head to admire) BAM, right in front of me was a moose. I gently pressed on the breaks; moose looks at me, then darts back into the field. I freeze. From my rear-view mirror, no one's coming up from behind, so I linger. Excitement runs through me to meet this beautiful creature—again.

I say again, because four years ago, while getting my morning coffee with my co-worker Laura, we see through the kitchen window a yearling walking by. We stepped outside to follow this skittish toddler down the driveway. It appears a bit dazed and confused, probably having only been kicked out on its own from mama cow just days before. Yearling trots across the road into my neighbors yard, only to vanish into the woods.

I could be wrong, but I think that today's beauty just might be the grown-up toddler from 2007—still skittish.

Needless to say, I had to call Scott on his cell, in a very giddy voice, to tell him what I just saw. Then I called my dad, "Yes dad, there really are moose in Vermont, and Monkton!" I was tickled pink and grinning for the duration of my commute.

Setting up our booth was lots of fun. We have two new tables to display our products and honeybees. We own a new banner for our booth so the market patrons from across the field can look our way and see that we sell honey! I just have to tell you that it is always exciting for me when our visitors start to arrive. Today I heard "Ooh look wasp!" and from another "Yikes, look at that", as they point to the observation hive. Then it's the kids that just melt my heart with their inquisitive nature, asking question after question. I take out a piece of wax comb; place it in their hand for their fingers to explore. I show them pictures from the bee calendar; oh how they love to look at the queens and then try to fine one in our hive.

I had to leave Scott at the booth alone for the last hour and forty-five minutes. I had other duties today with the Vermont Beekeepers Association, as it was their annual Winter Nucs workshop. Michael Palmer teaches beekeepers how to make double nucs using brood and honey frames from their existing hives, and adding a Vermont raised queen (which are hearty and produce stronger bees to survive our cold Vermont winters.) We have had very good success these past two years using this method, it has helped to advance our colonies in the spring.

I organized the registration, and was on hand to help everyone get their woodenware and two live Vermont raised queens. This had me sitting outside in the beeyard at the Burlington Intervale for two hours. During which time a honeybee landed on my neck and visited for awhile, and then relocated itself onto my shoulder, probably washed itself a bit, (as I've observed from prior bee visits) before flying off. I let a few fellow beekeepers know where my EpiPen was, "just in case".
 

Call me crazy, but today I was thrilled to encounter the honeybee on my body, just like the moose cutting off my path. Both demand my attention—one owing to its grand size, the other petite but just as impressive when it comes to its endurance.  Having a collision with either of them can be dire depending on the situation . . .

I'm glad the Creator created them both, and that they both crossed my path today!