Tales from the Hive

Last night I watched Tales from the Hive, a NOVA documentary.   It's a very well done movie that covers the lifespan of the bee, with incredible cinematography.     From the queen laying eggs, to mating, to collection of pollen and protection of the hive, it's all covered.  

The bee perspective shots are really cool ... and you can read on the NOVA site how they were made.  

I actually watched this with my three kids (ages 10, 13, and 17) and I was surprised that everyone really enjoyed it.    Definitely recommended!

The Start of an Obsession

My wife will be the first to point out that I tend towards obsessive behavior.    But it isn't like I cover every thing in sight with beads or spend day in and day out for years making pipe cleaner dolls.     I just have a singularity of focus, over and over again.    One year my obsession may lead me down the path of growing grapes, the next year goats, on to photography, a diversion to saltwater aquariums, and so on.    

So, what's the agenda for this year?  Bees.  Yes, bees!    This one really isn't a whim ... but the expansion of a thread of agriculture that has been woven through all of my obsessions over the past 15 years or so.   Raising bees is something I've been thinking about for years.   And it really seems an inevitable path that lead has led me to this point.    So, this is the year that I will devote to learning to become a beekeeper.    And this is the blog where I hope to record the process, for my own reference and perhaps for the benefit of other "newbees" that may stumble upon it and learn a thing or two from the many mistakes I am sure to make!