One of my frustrations is that I can't post to my blog, nor see photos in other blogs.  Well, this morning Joe helped me get set up so I can post via email.  So now I can post more frequently than once every 3 or 4 weeks.  (Hopefully)

The colony of bees I cut out from under the balcony of that fancy house is doing quite nicely in a hive out at joe's place.  Within a week, I had another one that I removed from under a playhouse.  It is a huge colony with tons of bees.  They are in a hive next to the balcony one.  Both are looking healthy and happy, but I will have to feed them all winter because I had to remove most of their honey (it is too heavy to tie the combs into a new hive).

I wonder if I can post photos via email?  I'll try to put a photo of the bees under the playhouse foundation.  <<DSCN1005.JPG>> What you can’t see in the photo is that each of those 22 combs go back about 30”.   What makes it even more remarkable is that it is all new comb – less than a year old.  The bees are thus very productive, and they were remarkably gently.  Good bees to keep around!

Last week my Mom-in-law fell over and broke her pelvis.  I am just backup for her, but the experience has had big impacts on Liz and I.  Liz is terribly stressed over having her mother in the ER, so I am trying to be supportive and not add to her stress.  One impact is that all of a sudden Liz and I are the only ones home.  Wow, that's different.  We were just getting used to having our sweet grandkids under foot all the time, with Yoe and Yessica hanging around, and Mom lurking in her apt. and now we are alone.  If we don't watch out, we'll have to actually talk to each other.  :-)

Just a week ago, Liz and I took off on a wild weekend with the Taylors going to San Antonio for no better reason than that we haven't done anything together recently.  We spent a lot of money, but it was nice.  We did one thing I didn't even know you could do - visit some of the other missions besides the Alamo.  It turns out there were 5 missions in San Antonio.  The best preserved is Mission San Jose, which we spent a couple of hours touring around.  Here is a review:

"Except for the Alamo, all of San Antonio's historic missions constitute San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Established along the San Antonio River in the 18th century, the missions stand as reminders of Spain's most successful attempt to extend its New World dominion northward from Mexico. All of the missions are active parish churches, and all are beautiful in their own ways. Start your tour at the stunning Mission San José (6701 San Jose Dr. 210/922-0543), the "Queen of Missions," where a National Park Service visitor center illuminates the history of the missions. San José's outer wall, Native American dwellings, granary, water mill, and workshops have been restored. Here you can pick up a map of the Mission Trail that connects San José with the other missions. Mission Concepción (807 Mission Rd., at Felisa St. 210/534-1540) is known for its frescoes. Mission San Juan (9101 Graf Rd. 210/534-0749), with its Romanesque arches, has a serene chapel. Espada (10040 Espada Rd. 210/627-2021), the southernmost mission, includes an Arab-inspired aqueduct that was part of the missions' famous acequia water management system."

The aforementioned Acequia is mostly in decay, but there is a section that still works and they use the water to run the restored Mill at M San Jose.  I really enjoyed that, because it is all mode of wood, with only a little ironmongery to fasten critical junctions.  But all the controls, gates, and valves are made of wood.

We will have a small, but merry group for T-day: Yoe & Yessica and clan, Ruthie, Liz & I.  I heard that the food channel has an article on "brining" your turkey, so I printed it out.  The ladies here at Citi say it makes the turkey very, very moist, and that sounds pretty good.  I am cooking the turkey and the sweet potatoes this year, and I'll try it.

J Earl J