I've been a beekeeper for 14 years. In those years, I have captured three of my swarms. Let's call that a good track record as a beekeeper's job is to prevent the bees from swarming. I'm sure there's been a few that got away. There's a saying: A first year queen will never swarm. A second year queen may swarm. A third year queen will most definitely swarm. I don't mark my queen so I don't know how old she is. This means I'm always on alert for a possible swarm.  What does it mean when bees want to swarm? ...

Paris is one of my favorite hobbies, if a city can be a hobby. But why not?! Thus, I love discovering new places to add to my ever-growing "must-see" list of things to see and do in the City of Light. My latest discovery makes me want to grab a sketch block, buy some paint and head straight to the banks of the river Seine to capture that light. Just take a look at this video and you'll know what I mean.     The Impressionists emphasized the effects of light in their paintings. Because of their lightness and transparency,...

We've all read that honey is good for us. Here's a refresher on why... 1. Honey contains anti-oxidants which could help prevent some cancers and heart disease. 2. "All honey is antibacterial because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide," said Peter Molan, director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. 3. Ancient Olympic athletes would eat honey and dried figs to enhance their performance. More modern studies have shown that honey does help athletes recover quicker than other sugars. 4. The best part of having a cold is that teaspoon of...

Plastic is not the first material I think of when looking for a rug. But if you're looking for a rug that looks beautiful enough to be inside but is safe to be outside, then I have something for you today. And of course I simply couldn't resist the honeycomb print. Made in Sweden by pappelina, the honeycomb rug is woven out of plastic. The company adheres to strict environmental regulations and does not use any dangerous softeners or harmful heavy metals in production. Pappelina's products have a long life and need little maintenance, thus saving on natural resources. As you...

I'm not a coffee drinker but I do love my tea, especially when it's homemade. The mint is just starting to poke it's head out in my garden. It's not quite ready for picking yet, but when it is, I love to make this ginger tea with mint, lemon and honey. And it's oh so good for you! Why? Ginger - Ginger root has a very high level of antioxidants and contains chemicals that may reduce nausea and inflammation. Mint - Peppermint oil seems to reduce spasms in the digestive tract, thus helping to alleviate digestion. Lemon - Lemon contains...