Last weekend we hived two new packages and attempted to install a new queen into our failing swarm hive. We’ll see today how everyone turned out! I am continually impressed by how the amazing cohesiveness and intuitition of a honeybee hive. The more I study them, the more I want to learn. The more I want [...]
Archive for April, 2011
18 Apr
Bee Happy
Hard to believe, but it’s that time of year again when the beekeeper really starts rolling. We have an order arriving on Thursday which will contain two packages of bees and one extra queen, which will hopefully round out our small homestead apiary to four hives. Since I did such a poor job of updating [...]
8 Apr
Elijah’s Birth Story, Part V
The next days and weeks were filled with joys and challenges, as is the case with any new family. Christy and Robin stayed for a total of almost 24 hours, battling exhaustion at the end to make sure Elijah was healthy and ready to spend his first night safely in our arms. Breastfeeding was a [...]
7 Apr
Elijah’s Birth Story, Part IV
I was told that from the time the options were presented until the time we made a decision was about an hour. But all I remember from that time was lying on the bed next to Rob, sleeping deeply in between contractions and waking to endure them. I lost all sense of time. I had [...]
6 Apr
Elijah’s Birth Story, Part III
[Note: This part begins a challenging time in my labor. But as you read, know that I do not regret birthing at home or naturally, and will absolutely do it again next time. I don't believe these challenges were a result of not being in a hospital, but rather were a necessary part of my [...]
5 Apr
Elijah’s Birth Story, Part II
We awoke with the sunrise and I realized the contractions were still present, although not as strong as when we went to bed. It was unseasonably warm in Tehachapi—in the upper 50s—for a January day. We gathered the dogs into the car and headed to a favorite breakfast spot, a local diner named Kelcy’s. I [...]
4 Apr
Elijah’s Birth Story, Part I
Elijah—his name means “God is The Lord.” His middle name, Dolan, came from the beautiful late Sr. Peg Dolan, a living saint who frequently reminded us that each one of us is “a Word of God spoken only once.” This is the story of the day that this Word, our little Elijah Dolan, was breathed [...]
4 Apr
Back
I’m not sure why it was so hard for me to blog during my pregnancy and postpartum period. I think part of it is because I have so much difficulty writing during times of intense emotion…(?) In any case, I’m back. For the first time since at least September, I feel “myself” again. I feel [...]
Just a joyful Catholic girl trying to live as simply and consciously and gratefully as possible in this beautiful, amazing world...and bringing as many as possible along for the ride.
