Candle Bee

We went on a field trip to pick up some bee's wax and wicks, awhile back. Sure, we could have picked them up at a craft store - but it seemed more exciting (and less expensive), to take a field trip, and drive right up to the sweet spot. This place has been around a long time. I went there on a real field trip, when I was in second grade - so you know this place is really old...It's been around even longer than I have.

It smells so good in there! Buyer bee-ware, though - there are real bees on the premises.. One followed the salesclerk into the gift store, mistaking the sleeve of her floral blouse for the real deal - the salesclerk was sensible though and just calmly walked her back outside, sending her on her way. I imagine she must get that a lot.

There's a teeny little gallery of honey memorabilia, up in front, with pictures of the original business, and the founder, Mr. Nephi Miller, 'the father of migratory beekeeping,' no less. You can tell from the pictures, he must have taken his role very seriously. Oh, those wacky Victorians. Wonder if he ever let down his hair and called his wife 'honey?'

 ^{Actually, I'm not sure if that's him  or his accountant, or some other serious man...} 

Anyway, Mr. Miller must have learned a thing or two, from watching the bees, though... He must have thought about how it would take just one bee, an awful long time, to gather enough pollen to make enough honey to last through the winter, then make all the honeycombs to store it in, all by herself... but with a whole hive full of bees, working on it, they could get a lot more done, in a lot less time.

 As it goes for the bees, so it goes for the beekeepers. One beekeeper by himself, may not gather a whole lot of honey - but a whole lot of beekeepers, moving their hives around to warmer climates, then bringing their honeycomb all back to one place - they can bottle up a whole lot more honey, that way.

It might take one person an awfully long time to roll 103 or so candles, all alone too. But get five people together to do it in one sitting, and it takes hardly any time at all... it's a lot more fun that way, too.

Many hands make light work. Must be where the notion of quilting bees came from.

I have no idea where spelling bees come from, though...despite their excellence at concocting honey, their superior sense of direction, superb engineering skills and their reputation as hard workers - when it comes down to it, the buzz is, the one buziness bees can't seem to do - is spell worth a darn.

Oh well, guess we can't all bee good at everything. Though that doesn't mean we shouldn't try - and maybe working together, we might make things good enough... 

^{Alone we can do so little - together we can do so much~Helen Keller}

^{There is a crack in everything - that's how the light gets in~Leonard Cohen}

  

Comments

[Caroline]

Oh Honey you are Beeing truly funny
So sweet too...

(I beelieve the Victorians all looked serious because their cameras had little pixies in them and they played tricks if they thought the viewer was laughing at them... )

[Kate Robertson]

I have done trips to get beeswax too. I love the hand journal page. Such fun.

Kate

[stephanie]

What a treat! I BEELieve in working together...like those busy worker bees. I am enjoying watching our wild bee hive come alive when the weather warms.

AND, my favorite quote here by Leonard :)

[amber]

That sounds fun! I love honey. Yums. I also like this art-work, here...The elements.

:)

[pam aries]

What a great field trip...sweeettt!!!! ha It had to BEE fun just buzzing around the store. Okay..enough. Thanks for stopping by to see me! Peace and love!

[pam aries]

I love that Leonard Cohen quote I have it written where I cansee it all the time. ...and your hands painting!

[Lisa Swifka]

Hi remember me?
There is something so sublime about many hands working together. To chat while creating anything...bee it candles, quilts, art projects, even cooking....makes it joyful experience indeed. I can see why you'd want to venture for the real deal.
I think of you lots and hope to get back to regular blog visits now.
Love and hugs,
Lisa
XOXOX

[Imelda / GreenishLady]

What a sweet post! And I too am really taken with that hand-art in your journal. Beautiful!

[elsa]

how fun tinker! fun field trip and fun, delightful insight...and i love the quotes.

[Janet]

I like this "just bee-cause"....and your hand journal page is great!