HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - ARTSY PHOTO FUN ON THE DECK

I was drinking a glass of water when I spotted my dear other half after the last few sips, which started a trend. So, next thing, out came the cell phone.

Our sweet niece I have been close to and loved dearly since the first time I set eyes on her as a wee little girl, and…

honorary nephew. It was the first time we have met and by the end of their vacation he was one of the family. He also has a lovely sense of humor and had me laughing out loud several times (I love a good laugh). Of course, we mustn't forget his daughter. She was inside the house at the time I got the idea for these photos, but she was/is a sweet young lady.

We had a lot of great times chatting out there.  Weather cooperated, not too hot. Tallied up to several hours during their stay.  Happy times and great memories for the memory box.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Sunday to you all!

SWARMING BEES IN WILLIAMSBURG

I saw an extraordinary sight when we visited Williamsburg with our family a few weeks ago. They had gone off to explore the town, Gregg was looking for a much-prized parking spot as it was very busy, and I was having my usual sit-down on a bench while waiting for him, enjoying the warmth and sunshine, and people watching. 

I don't know what made me look up, maybe it was the sound of them, I don't know. 

I raised my head and there they were, literally thousands upon thousands of bees. I think I must have heard them first and I gasped at the sight of them. I couldn't believe what I was looking at. I had never seen anything like it before. A dozen bees at the most on a plant I was photographing. You can click on them to enlarge for better detail.

For some reason I wasn't afraid that they were going to sting me. I was mesmerized and I quickly looked to see if anyone else had noticed them. I couldn't see anyone with their heads turned upwards like I was. I was sitting on my own of course, and everyone else seemed to be busy with their families, small children, dogs, etc. I felt like I was in a world of my own with all those bees putting on the best show. They seemed to be heading in one direction. This went on for at least ten minutes as I followed their movement. It was the most surreal experience I have ever had. It seemed as if they were all only a few feet above my head, probably higher but not so high that I couldn’t get these photos with my cell phone.  And then they were gone!

Gregg found the following info online. (He had joined me not long after they had disappeared, and our family an hour later.) It read as follows:

"What you witnessed is almost certainly a mass swarming event, likely involving honeybees, and here's what is probably going on.

Late April in Virginia is peak swarming season for honeybees.

When a hive becomes too crowded, the old queen and about half the worker bees leave to find a new home. This swarm can involve tens of thousands of bees.

The bees swirl in the air (sometimes for 5-15 minutes) as scouts search for a new nesting site. It is dramatic but usually harmless - swarming bees are gorged on honey and less aggressive.

It is a natural, healthy behavior for a thriving hive. Beekeepers actually hope to catch these swarms, as it is a way to grow or start new hives.

I have gone on a curiosity adventure in researching these very important, beautiful little creatures. Some facts I knew, others not at all.

A single bee can produce 1 tablespoon of honey in its lifetime.

683 bees fly roughly 32,550 miles to gather 5.93 lbs. of nectar from about 1,185,000 flowers in order to make one 9.5 oz. jar of honey.

(Now, you can take all these little bits of info with a grain of salt as I found them all over the internet. I went to dozens of websites. Once on that curiosity journey, I found it hard to stop.)

Did you know that honey contains a substance that helps the human brain work better?

Did you know that the honey is the ONLY food on earth that can sustain human life alone?

Did you know that a teaspoon of honey is enough to sustain human life for 24 hours?

Did you know that propolis produced by bees is the most powerful natural antibiotic.

What is 'propolis’?

Propolis, also known as "bee glue," is a sticky-like resinous substance produced by honeybees from plant sap, combined with their saliva and beeswax. Bees use propolis to seal cracks in their hives, protect against pathogens and maintain temperature and humidity. Humans have used propolis for various medicinal purposes due to its antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Historically, propolis has been used for wound healing, treating infections and even as a component in embalming.

It is available as a supplement, ingredient in topical creams and ointments, and in oral products like mouthwashes and throat lozenges.

Propolis may help with various conditions like cold sores, swelling and sores in the mouth, and may even slow blood clotting.

While propolis has shown promising results in research, the claims about its medicinal properties haven't been fully supported by scientific evidence, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Did you know that honey has no expiration date?

Did you know that to gain 1 kg. treasure, you need the nectar of more than 1,000,000 flowers?

Did you know that bee grazing is the healthiest food in the world? (Bee grazing is also known as bee pasturage or bee forage, and refers to the vegetation that provides honeybees with nectar and pollen resources. This included flowering plants, trees and shrubs that bees use to collect food for the hive and for the production of honey.)

Did you know that pollen can have over 1500 colors and shades?

Did you know that bees are the ONLY insects that produce food for humans?

Did you know that in peak season a healthy Queen Bee, according to Penn State Extension, can lay more than 2,000 eggs in a day, which is more than her own body weight in eggs? 

Did you know that bees flap their wings more than 11,000 times per minute?

Did you know that the only honey that can be enjoyed by people allergic to beekeeping products is manuka honey?

Did you know that manuka honey is the best honey for women?

Did you know that acacia honey is not sweetened.

Did you know that a bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1,000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime?

And there you go, again more information that you probably want to read about. However, I am always fascinated, and I like to read back on my posts about such things. 

I would definitely check up on these facts if you want to expand your knowledge even more.

Thanks for taking a look and 

I hope you day is going well.

THE FAMILY SPENT A DAY IN NEW YORK ON MONDAY, APRIL 21ST, 2025 - PART 2

Everyone wanted to try a New York Pizza. Son had either been here before or had heard about its excellent reputation, so this was one of their first stops. By all reports it was excellent.

Our niece found 'The Rock' and had her picture taken with him (outside Madame Tussauds as you can see - they did not go inside but were glad for the photo op).

On a more somber note, everyone wanted to pay their respects at The 9/11 Memorial. 

They all found it very moving.

From this very sacred place they headed to The Empire State Building.

This level was not far below the observation deck with the family looking at the New York skyscrapers far below. Our niece is center and her partner is to her left with his daughter walking towards them also on the left.

Her cousin took this photo of our dear niece.  I wondered who on earth was brave enough to clean the outside of all those windows! 

I found this very famous photo from 1932 showing men eating their lunch - which I have seen several times over the years...

but I have never once seen a photo of the man who took their photo. Another brave man with a great head for heights. I love those shoes!

Son took a selfie with the city far below.

There is a King Kong exhibit here, which they visited, depicting the scene when King Kong climbs the Empire State Building from the old 1933 movie. The photo below is one I found online. Our son told us that this famous primate moves from window to window, not the hands obviously but it all looks effective.

Son had a good time being goofy... 

and enjoying time with his new friend King Kong.

The next photo shows a shot of the top of the building taken by son again. This was from the observation deck I believe...

and one of son at the top and outside.

More views of all those skyscrapers.

By this time it was decided to make their way back to the car, as they still had a bit of a walk to get there. They arrived home not too long before midnight, thoroughly tired but very happy at all they had seen that day. We heard all about it the next day, and it was a lot of fun listening to them.

I have other photos to share from our family's visit and will put them on here as I get them put together. They were in NYC on the Monday and were leaving for home the following Friday. We let them set their own pace for the rest of the week.

I hope you have enjoyed your quick trip into New York City. 

Thanks for visiting and have a great day.

A TRIP DOWN TO NORTH CAROLINA - PART 5 - PEA ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

We made our way to Pea Island one of the days, and I sat in the shade overlooking the parking lot. I could see everyone coming and going. My niece is in the center of the photo below, her partner and his daughter are standing on the right. 

What I learned at this website was that the Visitor Center is on the north end of Hatteras Island on Highway NC 12. There are restrooms and a walkway to the beach, with informational trailheads for those who enjoy nature walks. The visitor center is definitely worth a visit as you will see the different animals and birds you can expect to see in each season. I didn't go inside this time but remember it being very worthwhile. Parking is free!

I didn't explore much but researched where and when you can see the birds and other wildlife in this area. It is considered to be one of the premium spots for such things. My information came from various places online.  I have provided links to several.

"The best time to see birds at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (North Carolina), is during spring and fall migration, particularly in the early morning. While birding is good year-round, these seasons offer the greatest variety of species and the most exciting birding opportunities."

“Migration (September-November): thousands of waterfowl, shorebirds and land birds gather, especially after strong cold fronts, making for excellent birding, this according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.”

"Spring Migration (March-May): as birds migrate north, you'll find a wide array of species passing through, including pelagic birds off Cape Hatteras Point in late May. (I had to look up ‘pelagic.’ The word means relating to the open sea. An example given: “The kittiwakes return from their pelagic wanderings.”)

Summer: while birding is still good, temporary closures around seabird nesting colonies might occur.

Winter: Pea Island is a wintering ground for many migratory waterfowl, including tundra swans, snow geese and various ducks.

Time of Day: the early morning is generally the best time as many species are most active and vocal at dawn.

Specific areas within Pea Island:

North Pond: a popular spot for observing various waterfowl and shorebirds, especially in fall and winter.

Salt Flats: provides viewing opportunities of birds in the Salt Flats area and North Pond.

Outer Banks: considered a premier spot for wintering migratory waterfowl along the Atlantic Flyway, according to The Outer Banks of North Carolina."

There are other links with information about the area here and here and here. Hopefully I haven't repeated any as my brain was a bit foggy at the time of putting this together. If I have, I will correct later. 

The plant below growing in the sandy soil is called Cutleaf evening primrose, especially beneficial to native bees and it is native to the U.S. You can see better photos at the link.

Next is called American searocket, also native to the U.S.

Lastly, a collection of Largeleaf pennywort.

It was growing through the slats on the bench we were sitting on, and we also saw them on the ground.

I am grateful for all the information given by these websites. If you click on the links you can read more.

That's all for now. 

I hope you have enjoyed it.

Thanks for visiting and 

I wish you a great day.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - VISIT FROM OUR OVERSEAS FAMILY STARTING AT THE AIRPORT - PART 1

 Hello family and friends, my blog break is over. I will be sharing several posts from our recent visit from our dear niece, her partner and his daughter. I thought they were really nice to say they didn't mind me putting their photos on here. I have always been very close to my niece since the first time I met her when she was a wee baby, and when I met her partner and his daughter, they were as nice as could be, with delightful senses of humor. I grew very fond of them over this holiday. We all had a marvelous time and it went all too quickly, but we have great memories and many photos taken during their visit.

It all started at Washington-Dulles International Airport and we arrived early. It has been quite a while since we were there to pick anyone up. As expected, we found the arrival lounge busy, with many people expecting loved ones off countless planes. Fortunately we found a couple of empty chairs.It was such a happy atmosphere. As each planeload of passengers made their way out of the customs area, the excitement was palpable. We watched as several families/friends greeted each other with such joy and excitement. We waited for their plane to land, and a text finally arrived from our niece to say they were in line at customs and that it would take forever. But at long last they came through the doors, and wouldn't you know it, with all the excitement we didn't think of taking a photo. Our arms were too busy hugging each other. But I did remember to take this on our way back home.

I wasn't sure what they would like for their first meal here, and we thought of taking them out to a nice restaurant but as you might guess, they were very tired after their journey. So, we said we would order in, and everyone unanimously voted for pizza. We picked it up on our way home at a local family-run place. Our son went to the same school with the owner's son. You can visit their website here. I get nothing in return for this, but love giving people a good rating when it is well deserved, and we get consistently excellent food. We can purchase a variety of pizzas by the slice, and they also have wonderful salads.

The new table Gregg put together worked out great, and I meant to take a photo of it all set up but forgot. I will do that down the road somewhere. There were napkins but forgot to take those out of the cupboard and no one seemed to mind the kitchen roll. We were all so happy at being together. Knives and forks were set out and that pizza was thoroughly enjoyed.

My niece holding her glass up as we took one last photo before tucking in.

The first request on their bucket list was to see an American shopping mall (I think the ladies might have had something to say about this).We took them to Tyson's Corner the next day. I am still not able to walk around too much but I sat in one of the food courts and found an empty table and enjoyed people watching. Always a fun pastime for me. Husband and son sent me a few photos...and they came back to keep me company. Neither of them are shoppers for places like this, but once our family had the lay of the land, they left them to enjoy the mall. The Easter Bunny looked very tired...

but perked up as soon as this cute little girl visited.

You're not taking my photo are you son?

Oh, okay!

We sat right outside the Panda Express and Charlie's was a few doors up, but I only felt like a coffee son brought back with him. Great coffee from I forget where. Not one of the regular names you see, a new place.

Our dear daughter-in-law finished work and joined us. Then everyone came back and there was a group photo Gregg took.

There's a lot of American pop culture on German television and the youngest member of the group had heard all about Crumbl Cookies. Fortunately one had opened up not too far away from us, so we were able to stop on the way home one day.

A pose for friends back home.

I was told they change the cookies to a different variety weekly, with the exception of the chocolate chip. The cookies are quite big and some are cake-like.

Mine was this one with small easter eggs on top.

It was excellent!

I may be getting timelines confused as strangely I neglected my journal during the time they were here. I couldn’t keep up truth be told. So we did all of the things in my posts. Just maybe not in the order I put down.

That's all for today but more coming.

Thanks for visiting and I hope your day is a great one.