A Sweet Sunday Afternoon

I think it comes as no surprise to any of you that I recently ventured back home to gentle Paducah.  While vacationing at Chez Gould, I got to spend priceless (can I use that word or does Mastercard have it trademarked?) time with family and friends.  Combining a sticky hobby and a blast from the past, we had one sweet Sunday afternoon.

My Daddy (affectionately known as Papa Jim to most adoring fans and friends) is truly a modern Renaissance man.  Or, when you take a quick gander at his hobbies and their ancient pasts, you could say that he is just simply (although there is no "simple" to anything he does) the epitome of a Renaissance man, one that would truly make Ol' Bess (Queen Elizabeth I) proud.  Daddy has, within the past 5-10 years, added "Beekeeping" and "Honey Production" to his resume (one that by no means is kept to just a single noteworthy page...wink wink Rob and Kath).  To the best of my memory, it all began because he wanted something to pollinate his wildflowers in Souther Illinois.  Where there's a will, there's a way.  And as my Daddy does, Go big or go home!  The next thing I remember, were the recurring phone conversations during study breaks at Sewanee:  

Daddy:  "I am a father!"

Me:  "Well, as the middle child of your brood, I am well aware."

Daddy: "No, I got a new beehive!"

And that was quite often how our conversations started.  Many years later, and several sticky situations under his belt, he still works hard to provide for the hives, cultivating a warm home and plush lifestyle for his wee ones.  Just like he did for his first set of often sticky yet sweet children.  

But with bees, comes the honey.  And for that, he had a plan too!  Now I am no stranger to his beekeeping or honey process.  I have built and painted the bee boxes.  I have stapled the foundations into their wooden trays.  I have even spun the honey on yet a past Sunday afternoon.  Not to mention that Tim has contributed and was even stung by a bee his first trip to the farm.  But where does Daddy find the time to maintain such a time-consuming hobby (besides the cheap labor)?  A sweet Sunday Afternoon.

This particular Sunday, on my trip home, was especially sweet.  Not only was I able to help but we also had friends from (what feels like) a previous lifetime:  the Ballegeers.  The Ballegeers daughter and I were friends way back in our pre and early teens.  However, a change in jobs moved the family up North.  Although Gail and I continued to see each other, it has been at least since say High school?  Now, Papa and Mamma Ballegeer have moved down to Southern Illinois and are currently becoming quite the beekeepers themselves.  Thus, with the full bee boxes in tow, Daddy, the Ballegeers, our friend Dee and myself set out to free some honey!

When honey spinning time rolls around, the garage is laboriously transformed from said garage into a sterile, honey factory.  But before you peruse the pictures below, I would be remiss if I did not offer a reminder that I, myself, am no professional beekeeper and thus provide the disclaimer that I may not have my facts 100% straight.  Contact "Rub My Tummy Honey," headquarters Chez Gould with any questions.

Spinning Honey: A Sweet Sunday Afternoon

Checking out the equipment, Mr. and Mrs. Ballegeer look on.  

Full Bee Boxes

The foundations in the bee box

Honey!

A Rogue bee

Using a heated knife, Daddy slices off the wax to free the honey.  FREEDOM!!  (yelled loudly with a Scottish accent)

Dee tries her hand at slicing.

Mr. Ballegeer

The discarded wax.

Uncapping any remaining wax.

Foundations in the spinner ready to spin the honey.

Mrs. Ballegeer spinning the honey.

Checking the progress to see if all of the honey has been spun out.

Empty foundations.  Success!

Honey at the bottom of the spinning machine.

Draining and filtering the honey through cheese cloth.

Once the honey is completely filtered.  It is ready for consumption!  

The aftermath/ dreaded cleanup

Not ever child (although our particular families have experience in the biz) can say they have seen the full production of honey.  From feeding the bees to eating the honey, it sure is a labor intensive hobby!  Luckily for me, I have parents who are willing to do the work to provide us with fresh honey.  Does it get much better than that?  Eat your heart out Winnie the Pooh!