Author Topic: Smallest Blueblood Getting Used to The Bee Yard (Read 16108 times)

blueblood · « **on:** March 11, 2014, 06:16:59 pm »

My youngest daughter (11) has expressed an interest in the yard and working with the bees. So, it was 68 today and bees were in high gear. She geared up in my secondary suit, rolled it up all over and headed back. She learned how to start a smoker and how to approach the hives. We opened a hive to take a look but didn't dive in too far. I want to take baby steps with her on this because I am afraid a sting would cancel any enthusiasm growing in her now. I really wanted her to try feeding the bees honey with her bare hands but she didn't quite feel comfortable today. We had fun though. I could live in my yard...love being back there.

Edward · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2014, 06:19:30 pm »

Its great to let the kids feed a bee

Jen · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2014, 06:40:02 pm »

Blue! That was Great! What a peach she is!

Gotta get a beesuit for my graddaughter...

apisbees · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2014, 07:06:16 pm »

Good to see. Mine figured at a young age that because I didn't suit up they didn't need to either. They got the occasional sting but not to many. The oldest was 2 when she bent down to look in the entrance and got stung on the lip.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2014, 08:06:30 pm »

AWESOME!! I wish I could go back and get that chance.. I will have to make do with starting... NOW!
Well done Blue!

blueblood · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2014, 08:09:28 pm »

Thanks all! I have wished for three years now that someone would have introduced me to bees when I was her age. I feel lucky to have started at 39! By my figures, some of you ole coots encourage me to dream of at least 35 to 40 more years of this.

Thanks Jen, she is indeed a peach. She is the exclamation at the end of all four girls.

Edward · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2014, 08:17:09 pm »

iddee · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2014, 10:23:09 pm »

Just let her grow at her own pace. If she's only comfortable 50 feet from the hive, allow it. As time goes by, she will go sit on it and pick up bees just for fun. Rush her and she will back off and never be comfortable. She has to do it at her anatomical speed.

PS. Good of you to allow and encourage it.

blueblood · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2014, 11:01:07 pm »

Wise words Iddee, wise words.

rrog13 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2014, 11:54:38 pm »

Quote from: blueblood on March 11, 2014, 08:09:28 pm

... the exclamation at the end of all four girls.

Blue……..That’s awesome! I have four girls also. My youngest is 13. She doesn’t have a lot interest in tending to the hives in the bee yard but does come over every once in a while to check things out. On the other hand, she likes to do cut outs….

It’s great to see her have fun with it. I enjoy every second….makes me smile.

blueblood · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2014, 01:16:13 am »

Thanks RR, makes me smile too...

Perry · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2014, 07:38:31 am »

I was 40 when I first discovered bees, but I hope to make up for lost time. My son is 12 now, but hasn't shown any interest since taking his first sting a few years ago. Time will tell.
I agree with letting her decide how fast she wants to proceed, and good on you for providing the opportunity for her to do so.

kebee · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2014, 08:04:56 am »

Great to give her the desire to get to know bees and nature, thanks for giving her the opportunity.

Ken

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2014, 07:57:30 am »

She's a cutie, blue. If she continues to go back with you, you might invest in some gloves that fit. She won't be able to help much without some gloves that fit.

blueblood · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2014, 01:21:34 pm »

Thanks Bakers, I actually have small Meyers gloves in my shopping basket with Mannlake. Going to get a small suit my wife and any of the girls can wear. Good call.

blueblood · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2014, 10:50:51 am »

Employed her to the task of priming and paining some nucs yesterday. The only prize here is that she chose her favorite color to paint the nucs.

Jen · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2014, 12:24:22 pm »

Oh My Gosh I just love seeing her paint! That just gave me the idea to let my 5 year old granddaughter help me paint my 6 new mediums ~ Ha! Thanks! I'll get pics as well

blueblood · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2014, 01:00:04 pm »

Your welcome but beware of the mess. I found paint on my kitchen cabinets and the door going into the garage from the kitchen. I am a really picky painter. I found several drips where she put it on too heavy. I had to backtrack on a few comments. $:-\$ She started to tear up....but, all ended well.

Jen · « **Reply #18 on:** March 23, 2014, 01:06:31 pm »

Awe bless her heart! My granddaughter and grandson come from a family where art is messy! cooking is messy, gardening is messy...

We allow plenty of room for messes.

blueblood · « **Reply #19 on:** March 23, 2014, 01:40:03 pm »

I am learning to have patience with that...I promise. I mean, look at the door behind her. That is where we allowed her to draw/paint whatever she wanted. It's a door that leads into the east part of our home. Who let's their kids draw on the doors? Ha!