Beekeeping 101

Saturday was bee day!

Jim went and picked up the bees from someone in Holland and then I met him so we could take the bees out to his parents where he's keeping them. It was worth getting up early in the morning for!

I've learned alot about honeybee's and they are very peaceful to watch! I brought along his digital camera and was snapping away!

Here they are waiting to be taken out of the van:


Their new home:



Jim (who at first balked at having his picture taken then soon realized he wouldn't have a choice. I am a scrapbooker after all!)



Inside the nuc box






It was really cool to see. I got buzzed a few times but it was more curiosity I think like who is this? Does she have pollen? Nope, she doesn't lets move on.

No one got stung either, honeybees are very docile unless something gets them riled up but they are no where near the agression level of yellow jackets!

Flip Flop Summer Tour '07

As promised, here is an update on the concert from last night.

Pat Green was the opening opening act. I had seen him before when he opened for Keith Urban and thought he was ok but didn't do much for me. He also had a broken arm that night and couldn't play his guitar but seemed to have fun in spite of it.
Last night was totally different. He was alot better and I was impressed. I don't know how much was related to his broken arm last night but I really was impressed with him. He's not my favorite artist but I like some of his songs and he's very energetic and enjoyed interacting with the crowd.

At one point he was trying to get everyone up on their feet and most everyone was and then all of a sudden he calls out a "blonde lady in the white shirt, yes you hon. Get your ass up!" It was so funny!

Sugarland was next up and they did awesome! I really wasn't sure if I was more excited about seeing Sugarland or Kenny this year. Sugarland was supposed to be out with Kenny last year but ended up pulling out and Carrie Underwood took their place so I was ok with that.

This isn't the greatest picture but you can see how they were set up, using the Amusement Park theme from their Enjoy the Ride album. I really wanted to bring my camera with zoom lens but didn't want it to be taken away from me, we snuck in the small digital instead. I think next time I will take my chances with my camera. Worst case scenario is I put it back in the car.



They also had one of those fortune teller like things set up with the crystal ball in it, like in the movie Big. That was what Jennifer Nettles was in when they came out and opened with my favorite song, Settlin'.

I really enjoyed their set and was happy they did Baby Girl and all the hits plus a couple other songs from their first album.

Between sets, waiting for Kenny



The theme this year for the pre-show "videos" that Kenny always has was Pirates

When it got started they were doing the video with director Shaun Silva as "Captain Silva" dressed like Capt. Jack Sparrow and then they started playing AC/DC Shook Me All Night Long and they had "Kenny Cam" which was Kenny holding a video camera showing his view as he's walking through the Van Andel and getting ready to take the stage. It was really neat, showed him in the vibe room, walking with the sound techs and showing some of them goofing off, Pat Green tipping a beer to him, Jennifer Nettles leaning forward to mug for the camera and then his boots as he was walking up the stairs to the stage behind the curtain, the crowd was really into it and it was so noisy with everyone screaming and singing along with AC/DC and then they started with Kenny's opening song, Beer in Mexico and then the curtain dropped:




and we were on the way to about 2 hours of pure Kenny entertainment! It was a great show and I have to say I think it was the best yet. He always talks about how he tries to make each show better every year and I think this year he outdid himself! I had such a great time and so did Jim.

One thing I hadn't seen yet at one of his shows was ladies throwing their bra's up on the stage! Kenny picked one up and kinda looked bewildered then took it over to one of his band members and hooked it on his mic stand! Each time he caught or picked up another bra he would take them to the band and put them on their mic stands or on their heads it was so funny!

I will say that if I was in that little area between the stage like some lucky people were, that I may have tossed mine up there too *lol*

Overall it was a great night which I knew it would be!

Here are a few extra pictures (for what it's worth) for Heidi who really needs to come out here next year so we can party at the concert together:

Tonight is concert night

Tonight is the Kenny Chesney Flip Flop Summer Tour concert!

This year he's got Pat Green and Sugarland along. I've seen Pat Green when he opened for Keith Urban and he was ok but not my favorite. I've not seen Sugarland yet so I am excited about that!

Should be a fun night, good thing I took tomorrow off from work to recover!

All fixed!

I stopped at the salon after work tonight to get my hair fixed since I've been obsessing over it all day.

She fixed it, then I got in the car and was checking it out and it still looked a little off. I did a little trim in one spot when I got home and I think I'm good now.

Ack!

So I got my hair trimmed up on Monday along with highlighted. I thought yesterday that one side of my hair seemed a bit longer than the other (only on the side and not too noticeable) and thought maybe it just didn't curl under enough. This morning I was drying my hair and it still seemed off - I think she forgot to even me up on the one side!

I'm now obsessing about it, you don't notice it if you aren't really looking for it, but I notice it and it bothers ME. I really want to go and get it fixed but I feel bad going in because I don't think she did it on purpose.

Ugh.

Hair

I had my long awaited hair appointment tonight after work!

I was desparately rooty and in need of highlights and a trim. I get partial highlights and by the time she's done with it it looks like all over - but at half the price! Can't beat that. I'm all trimmed up and blonde.

I got home tonight and Willow immediately started sniffing and climbed up to check out my hair, he loves the smell of my hair when I come from the salon.

Other than that, it was a Monday. I have a short week this week as I'm taking Friday off. Thursday night is the Kenny concert!

Growing up!

Can you believe that this little fur face




has grown into this?



Willow is 7 1/2 months old and naughtier than ever! His newest thing this week was he learned to get up on the kitchen countertops and now he likes to show you how proud of himself he is by parading down the "catwalk". Silly kitty.

This is big sister Abbie, and she has lost some winter fur but she's got a few more cats to shed I think!

Picture to share

Remember way, way back when I said I did my first altered letter and I'd share a picture?

I didn't forget! Ok, yes I did. But I remembered and have it now :)

This was my first altered letter...

Geocaching

Today Jim and I set out to the lakeshore to do a couple of geocaches. Last weekend I went along with him and the boys and did some locally. At one of the ones last weekend we took a travel bug coin and decided to take it to visit Lake Michigan.

For those that aren't familiar with travel bugs here is some info: Travel Bug FAQs

At our first stop we found the area where the cache was hidden but there were a few people fishing so we decided to go to the next one and then come back.

While at the first one we did see a swan in her nest and then a few feet away the other swan was hanging out:





The area where this first cache was:



The second cache in the area we found out was in Pere Marquette State Park which is right on Lake Michigan. It was nice to walk through the sand and while I found the area this cache was, Jim was the one to find where it was hidden.





Me with the GPS

And some extra's, this is Pere Marquette State Park on Lake Michigan

Excerpts from the dog and cat diaries

I've seen this before but it seems fitting given the weekend episode with the lack of cat food :)

Excerpts from a Dog's Daily Diary

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!


Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling
objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my
strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an
attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.

Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I
was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However,I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and
snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am
certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now ...

I'm getting old!

After work tonight I stopped to get my eyebrows tidied up (gotta love waxing!) and I went to the place I get my nails done, cheaper than where I get my hair done plus it's in the same strip mall as the tanning parlor.

I get in there and the girl asks if I wanted to wax my upper lip too. :::blink::: Excuse me? I was like, do I need it? She said well you could a little and there is a small black hair starting.

Wait a second. I don't have black hair, I'm blonde. I kinda got upset and said well yeah just fix it! Make it go away! Is this what happens when you get older? I know I have a birthday coming up but seriously.

Anyhow, I got my eyebrows done and my upper lip done. I didn't even know I needed it but I'll add it to the routine I guess, though now I'll be inspecting that area constantly to see if it grows back.

For now I'm telling myself that black hair was a cat hair. Abbie has black fur. Not too far of a stretch.

An open letter to all cats

You.will.not.starve. if you can see the bottom of your dish. Yes, I am aware that I just filled your dish up last night with the last of the cat food. Yes, I have more cat food and it's in the trunk of my car. Maybe if you didn't eat so much I wouldn't have to buy really big bags and then leave it in the car because it's too hard to carry in with tons of other things.

It is also not acceptable to try and wake up your owner at 8am on a Saturday morning when she has a chance to sleep in to let her know that you did not ration your food for the night and ate it all in a panic.

Once again, you.will.not.starve.to.death.

Staring at me is not going to make me go get that food any quicker for you. Once you let me wake up and get some caffine I will most likely go and get your cat food but I do ask that you don't try and escape into the hallway when I try to open the door to bring the food in. This is not a smart move on your part. You know who you are, Willow.

:)

Concert update

So the Kenny Chesney concert is fast approaching, May 10th! Jim put the set of tickets for the 2nd show (May 11th on eBay) so if you want to go to that show please go bid on them :) He said if they don't sell we may have to go twice. That would be really hard on me and such a sacrifice! *heeehee*

I can't remember if I blogged about this or not but I did get tickets for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill too, in July. They are playing in the round and I didn't get tickets the day they went on sale but about 3 weeks later I was looking and found really great seats really close to the stage so I went for it. I had not planned to get them since they were a bit expensive and I have seen them before - but that was like 8 years ago. Now that I did get them I'm getting excited about it.

I don't know that I will hit 7 in '07 kinda like my 6 in '06 last for concerts but 2 is great so far :)

Don't drink the water!

There is a boil water advisory for my area right now. There was a dip in the water pressure at the water plant and there is a fear of bacteria in the water so they are telling everyone in our area to boil our water before drinking it.

We can still do laundry if we use hot water, run the dishwasher since it runs with hot water and shower but can't drink it unless it's bottled or boiled.

I boiled some water tonight and have it in a pitcher in the fridge and got some odd looks from Willow and Abbie when I was using bottled water to fill up their water dish.

Willow was particularly sad this morning when I didn't turn on the faucet in the bathroom sink for him to drink from and play with - that is our routine.

They fixed the problem on Tuesday but are taking samples to make sure everything is safe so we may be able to use the water again on Thursday.

Definitely a city mouse

On Sunday this big city gal spent the day in the country! Jim invited me to the annual family Easter Egg/Scavenger Hunt. A little late this year since there were conflicts scheduling but the date was perfect, 80ish degree weather and sunny! Doesn't get much better than that at the end of April.

Anyhow, this was at his aunt and uncle's place and they have what I like to call a petting zoo! A bull, cow and twin calves, 4 horses, a donkey and barn cats! I had fun petting the cats and horses and looking at everything else.

I also got to meet his aunts and uncles, cousins and newphews and nieces. Everyone brought a dish or two to pass and something to throw on the grill and a lawn chair to hang out in. It was really nice to just mingle and enjoy some good food!

After we ate his uncle took everyone on a hay ride while the easter eggs were hidden for the kids and then the scavenger hunt for kids and adults. After that we took another hayride, this time over to this place called devil's soupbowl which is a huge thing that looks like a soupbowl. Several people climbed down it and then had to go back up the other side. I was content to just watch and walk over to meet everyone :)

On the way back we got stuck in the sand because the 4 wheel drive wasn't locking in. Everyone got off the trailer (we were sitting on hay bales) and were able to get the truck going and the 4wd locked in.

It was nice to spend the day outdoors and get some sun and meet the rest of his family. As his son said, all that's left is to meet the family in Kentucky!
I didn't get teased too much about being a big city gal and I really enjoyed my day out in the country! I still dont' think I could ever live on a dirt road but I would agree to living out of the big city a bit ... I'm making progress :)