Bee Affectionate

As mentioned in my last post, when I attended the spring Beekeeping classes through my local community college, I feared being able to care for such a small animal and not causing it harm. After only my first session of the autumn class, I feel I must give it my best efforts.

This class was only my second time to be exposed to the hives in person. It was my first time to help open a hive. A fellow classmate who already has bees gently guided me and had me fully assist in opening the hive and removing the boxes. I was shocked at my heartfelt affection for these wee ones. We both worked very hard not to squish any of them. We managed to take off three boxes, test for varroa mites, and put them back only taking one sweet life.

If you’re an animal person, you probably have some sort of heartfelt or gut reaction to one species or another, such as dogs, cats, cows, or birds. I’ve always felt that for most furry creatures. But I was shocked from my toes to the top of my skull that I felt the same affection that I do for my cats regarding these buzzing bees. How could something with such a stinger pull at my heartstrings and make me all gushy for their sweet little faces? I don’t know, but the affection is real.

I must see this through and become a Beekeeper if at all possible.

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Bee Adventurous

I am on a “Bee Adventurous” journey. I hope to keep two hives of bees starting in the Spring of 2019. I am taking classes now, so that I might be able to keep them and not kill them.

These are some photos from the first time I was ever near bee hives up close and personal. They are from April of 2018, this past spring during my Kalamazoo Valley Community College Beekeeping 101 class. I was nervous, not about getting stung, but about hurting them.

Our sessions and lessons were on how to keep them alive, but up close and personal, they are so very small! How on earth was I ever going to be able to move 40 pound frames and not take their little lives when I set them down?

Well, more to come on this topic later. Will I or will I not overcome that fear?

 

Possible Breakthrough

I know, crazy, stupid late, but I just had a half hour of crazy, amazing progress with my basement kitties. They came to watch me play Blossom Blast and Farm Heros on my phone.

They’ve never noticed before. I could pet them as they watched just now. A half hour straight with no food. Petting them! Pulling their ears, rubbing their noses, scratching their necks! And they stayed for another 5 minutes of petting when I was done!

No phone photo of the event (used real camera, but not downloaded at this hour), because my phone was the interaction. Including three from another time because they are so beautiful to me. (Willow on left; Poppy to right. Which doesn’t mean Poppy is always right, sometimes she’s wrong … or maybe just naughty like the kitten she is.)

So excited! Maybe getting closer to being full house cats.

 

Pet, Pet, Learning to Love

Friday, May 10th was a day of great progress! I’m not sure if it’s because I was out of town most of the week to work, or if it was just the right time, but Poppy let me pet her from head to tail, and then asked me to do so about five more times. The next day, was the same thing at both meal times!

Progress feels slow, but this was a HUGE change for her! Willow lets me pet her while she eats daily and sometimes after she’s full, but this was Poppy’s first time ever without trying to scratch my hand into a bloody mess while giving me the evil eye and hisses. She doesn’t hiss or growl a warning, but she goes straight into a hard smack with her claws long and sharp. Although, she’s been keeping the claws sheathed more often when she wacks me and then hisses her angry message, so clearly this was massive progress.

I am enjoying a cup of comfort juice (often referred to as coffee) and the delightful company of these good cats this fine day.

 

To Pet from Tip to Tip

There were two firsts with our new kitties today. It seems to be taking forever to tame them, but then I realize that there is progress daily, I just can’t always see it.

Both of the firsts are with Willow today. She allowed me to pet her from the top of her head to the tip of her tail … twice! She didn’t even hiss, spit, bite, or smack me. Yeah! She is so soft, and her fur is thick.

The second first was playing with Willow. Poppy LOVES to play with a long toy that we have and flick around for them. But Willow has been hiding the last couple of weeks when Poppy and I (or mom) play with her. But this week Willow has been hanging out around the room – watching from a safe distance. Tonight, she gave it one fun pat before running off and hiding again. For her, that’s progress, and it’s so good to see her play!

It’s still taking much longer than I’d like, but they are improving and becoming accustomed to us.

Mamma Willow and Baby Poppy

Poppy jumps down if I do ANYTHING to upset her, like blowing my nose or using the TV remote. Mamma Willow keeps eating right along, and only gives me a kind glance as if to say, “finally, a meal to myself”. But soon enough, Poppy moves in again, and often pushes Willow out of the one bowl and into the other. The joys of motherhood.

Mamma Willow

Baby Poppy

 

It’s a Start with Kitty Taming!

I am so excited! It took all of my being to remain calm and quiet at the most beautiful sight tonight! The girls BOTH came out to eat while I was sitting nearby. A first!

Last night Willow showed her face to me for a moment although she wouldn’t eat in front of me, and earlier today my mom saw Poppy go up to sit on the top of the stairs while my mom was in the basement, both good steps in the right direction.

But tonight was the first of many goals, and it is now achieved. It’s taken one week. Praying the rest might go a little quicker. It was a long week.

This is a big step in a long process, but so very glad to see progress. Of course, their first trustworthy human paved the way for today’s good news. Thank you, Caitlyn!

Moral of the Story: Don’t Give Up!

Poppy

Willow

 

Joy’s Toy

My Joy kitty will be 13 this year. She has played with toys on and off over the years, but she’s really taken to them in the last six months or so. She moves them around the house at random, usually between the living room, dining room, and her (my) bedroom.

At Christmas she became obsessed with a Santa hand puppet my mom puts out for the kids each year. She was so taken with it that we’ve allowed her to keep it when we packed up the Christmas decorations. It’s about half her size, but she carries it around with great pride.

I don’t get it, but whatever floats her boat and keeps Joy joyful is good by me.

PS: She doesn’t yet know about the kitties in the basement. Merry knows somethings going on, but she’s not quite sure what just yet.

Moral of the Story: Live and let live when no one is harmed. Live life with Joy.