beebiz
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Bruins sent me a PM this afternoon in which he asked if I kept bees or if "beebiz" was because of something else. After so many of you enjoyed the true story that I told about me, my Granddaddy, and the stone, I decided I'd post this true story as well. I hope you, my brothers, enjoy it!!
For years, I had wanted to keep honeybees! I could remember my mother's father doing so when I was a very small boy. I remembered the good time that he had working with his bees. And, I remembered even better the marvelous taste of the honey that he would harvest from them.
But, the hobby had always been a bit cost prohibitive for me. Every time I would get within sight of having enough cash to get started, something more pressing and/or important would arise and deplete the funds.
I don't remember the particulars concerning exactly how, but I learned of an elderly gentleman who had to quit keeping bees because of his health. I was told that he had a tremendous amount of equipment and might be willing to part with it in such a way that I could afford it. So, I went to see him.
Sure enough, he had mega amounts of hive bodies, medium supers, honey supers, frames, and foundation (all parts that make up the honeybee hive). And, much of it was brand new... had never been assembled or painted! Additionally, he had a bee suit, gloves, a couple of veils, a couple of hats (all of which fit me like I had ordered them for myself), and a smoker.
After spending over half of the day with the old gentleman, talking bees and life, and looking through all of his equipment, I finally told him that I needed to get back home before my wife got worried about me (fat chance... she knows two things... one, I'm long winded... and two, she's just not that lucky :lol: ). "But, before I go... I'd like to know something," I said. "There's no doubt I'd love to have what you've got. But, I just don't know how in this world I could financially afford to buy everything you've got. But, maybe I could afford to buy enough for a few hives. How much would you take for the clothing, smoker, and enough stuff to make up 5 or 6 hives?"
The old gentleman lifted his cap with one hand and brushed his eight to ten remaining hairs back toward the back of his head; then, placed the cap back on his head. This coupled with the look on his face, told me that he was doing some serious calculating!! And, I should probably brace myself!!
"Well... you do realize that if you had to go and buy everything I have here, it would cost you several thousand dollars, right?"
I assured him that I was aware of that. I told him to name his price. And, I said that if I could meet his price, I would be back early Saturday morning to get the stuff.
Then, he thought some more as he once again did his ritual with his hat and hairs. He finally said, "Tell you what... you got a trailer you can pull behind that truck or yours?" I said that I did. "You show up Saturday morning about 7:00 AM with your truck and trailer. And, we'll talk price then!" I agreed and left.
Saturday morning, 7:00 AM found me knocking on the old gentleman's door. He came outside and instructed me as to where to put my truck and trailer. And, after doing so and exchanging pleasantries with him, I asked if he had come to a decision about the price.
He told me that he would tell me what to load and I could do the loading. As for price, he said that he still wasn't sure. But, he said that he'd think about it as I loaded things. He also said that he was sure that I would be able to afford his price.
Once we had the truck and trailer loaded... each rounded full... and, I had everything tied down, I again inquired as to his asking price for the items. He said that he still didn't know for sure. But, said that I still lacked a good pickup truck load of stuff getting it all. "You go unload that stuff and get back here quick as you can. And, we'll talk price then."
In a way, I dreaded this. I was so afraid that I would get the stuff unloaded at my house only to find out that I couldn't afford it; then have to load it back up and take it back to him! But, I did as I was told... without question or complaint.
When I got back, the old gentleman still hadn't decided on a price. And, despite my protest, he insisted that I load the balance of the items on my truck. Seeing that the old gentleman was at least as hard headed as I was, I finally gave in and did his bidding.
Once we finished and I had the load tied down, I made one final inquiry as to how much I owed the old gentleman for everything I had gotten. Once again, the old gentleman did his dance with his hand, hair and cap. And, by this time I had half way figured out that this was the old gentleman's way of aggravating me and keeping me in suspense!!
Finally, he said, "Son... based on what you've said and what I've seen, I'd bet you don't have the cash to pay me what I would want for all that stuff. But, I hate to see it sit and rot down in my barn. So, tell you what I'll do. If you will promise me that you will use and enjoy that stuff and will promise to bring me a couple quarts of your honey... when you can spare it... all of it is yours... no charge!!!"
I couldn't believe my ears!! I asked the old gentleman if he was sure he wanted to do that. And, he assured me that he was. I promised him the two things that he asked for. We shook hands. And, I went home.
Over the next few days, I went through the items that the gentleman had given me. And, I took inventory of everything. Then, based on what I knew the items would cost if bought new, I guestimated how much everything would have cost me if buying it new. It was upwards of $8,000!!!! And, for what... not one thin dime more than my gas and time to get it, a promise to use and enjoy it, and a promise of a couple quarts of honey... once I could spare it!!!
Needless to say, the old gentleman got all the free honey that he and his wife could eat!!! And, they got it up until the day that they died!!!!
Now... for the rest of the story.....
Just a few years ago, I began getting in bad physical condition... quick! And, I knew it wouldn't be long and I would no longer be able to care for my bees and their hives.
Through a friend of a friend who was a friend of a friend... and, so on, I learned of this young (mid twenties) fellow who was interested in the hobby, but couldn't afford to get started right. Ring a bell?? It did with me!! Long story shortened a bit... I got in touch with the guy and invited him out to my bee yard.
Each of the three times that he came, his eyes danced and his mouth watered as he admired my bees and hives. Each time, he told me how much he wanted a setup like mine... some day... when he could afford it.
As he was getting ready to leave at the end of the third visit, I told him that I had sold my bees and hives to a fellow who didn't have the means to move them all. I asked him if he would be interested in earning two hives of bees and some spare equipment for himself by moving the bees for me. He eagerly assured me that he would. I told him when to come back and to make sure he had a long trailer with him. He said he would.
The night before he came, I went out to my bee yard and closed all the hives up so the girls couldn't fly the next morning. That way, I'd be assured that very few bees would get left behind when they were moved. As I closed them up, I did so with tears in my eyes. But, there was joy in my heart for what I had planned.
The next morning, the young man showed up with his pickup and trailer. When we got out to the bee yard, he asked if I would tell him which two hives would be his. I told him that I wasn't quite sure yet. "Let's get'em loaded up first. Then, I'll inspect them better and let you know," I told him.
After we got them all loaded up, I walked around and looked at each one... as if I were inspecting all of them. Then, I stood back and looked at them. Finally, the young man asked me if I had been able to decide which two hives I wanted to give him.
I crossed my arms across my stomach and said, "You know... I can't tell much difference between these hives! So, I guess I'll give you the last two that we loaded. Is that alright with you?"
He said that was fine with him. Then, he asked where the rest of the bees would be going.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have the address. So, I really don't know!"
I wish you could have seen the look on his face!! He was obviously bewildered and just a tad upset! All that work... and, I didn't even know where they were going!!!
Then, I asked, "You got a penny you can give me?"
He reached in his pocket, pulled one out, and handed it to me.
I said, "Son... I gave you those two hives in exchange for hauling these bees to their new home. And, I don't know the address where they are going... because I don't know your address!!" He now had a very, very puzzled look on his face!! "You see, I just sold the rest of the hives and equipment to you for one penny!!"
He teared up as he hugged my neck and thanked me repeatedly!!!
The next afternoon, he came back and got the rest of my beekeeping equipment. And, with the exception of him bringing me some honey on two occasions, I never saw him or my bees again.
But, rather than think of this an ungrateful young man, I prefer to think of him as being so busy with taking care of my girls that he just hasn't had time to come back and visit me! I at least hope this is the case!!
So, the short version of the answer is, yes, Bruins... I used to keep bees. But, I don't anymore.
Robert
For years, I had wanted to keep honeybees! I could remember my mother's father doing so when I was a very small boy. I remembered the good time that he had working with his bees. And, I remembered even better the marvelous taste of the honey that he would harvest from them.
But, the hobby had always been a bit cost prohibitive for me. Every time I would get within sight of having enough cash to get started, something more pressing and/or important would arise and deplete the funds.
I don't remember the particulars concerning exactly how, but I learned of an elderly gentleman who had to quit keeping bees because of his health. I was told that he had a tremendous amount of equipment and might be willing to part with it in such a way that I could afford it. So, I went to see him.
Sure enough, he had mega amounts of hive bodies, medium supers, honey supers, frames, and foundation (all parts that make up the honeybee hive). And, much of it was brand new... had never been assembled or painted! Additionally, he had a bee suit, gloves, a couple of veils, a couple of hats (all of which fit me like I had ordered them for myself), and a smoker.
After spending over half of the day with the old gentleman, talking bees and life, and looking through all of his equipment, I finally told him that I needed to get back home before my wife got worried about me (fat chance... she knows two things... one, I'm long winded... and two, she's just not that lucky :lol: ). "But, before I go... I'd like to know something," I said. "There's no doubt I'd love to have what you've got. But, I just don't know how in this world I could financially afford to buy everything you've got. But, maybe I could afford to buy enough for a few hives. How much would you take for the clothing, smoker, and enough stuff to make up 5 or 6 hives?"
The old gentleman lifted his cap with one hand and brushed his eight to ten remaining hairs back toward the back of his head; then, placed the cap back on his head. This coupled with the look on his face, told me that he was doing some serious calculating!! And, I should probably brace myself!!
"Well... you do realize that if you had to go and buy everything I have here, it would cost you several thousand dollars, right?"
I assured him that I was aware of that. I told him to name his price. And, I said that if I could meet his price, I would be back early Saturday morning to get the stuff.
Then, he thought some more as he once again did his ritual with his hat and hairs. He finally said, "Tell you what... you got a trailer you can pull behind that truck or yours?" I said that I did. "You show up Saturday morning about 7:00 AM with your truck and trailer. And, we'll talk price then!" I agreed and left.
Saturday morning, 7:00 AM found me knocking on the old gentleman's door. He came outside and instructed me as to where to put my truck and trailer. And, after doing so and exchanging pleasantries with him, I asked if he had come to a decision about the price.
He told me that he would tell me what to load and I could do the loading. As for price, he said that he still wasn't sure. But, he said that he'd think about it as I loaded things. He also said that he was sure that I would be able to afford his price.
Once we had the truck and trailer loaded... each rounded full... and, I had everything tied down, I again inquired as to his asking price for the items. He said that he still didn't know for sure. But, said that I still lacked a good pickup truck load of stuff getting it all. "You go unload that stuff and get back here quick as you can. And, we'll talk price then."
In a way, I dreaded this. I was so afraid that I would get the stuff unloaded at my house only to find out that I couldn't afford it; then have to load it back up and take it back to him! But, I did as I was told... without question or complaint.
When I got back, the old gentleman still hadn't decided on a price. And, despite my protest, he insisted that I load the balance of the items on my truck. Seeing that the old gentleman was at least as hard headed as I was, I finally gave in and did his bidding.
Once we finished and I had the load tied down, I made one final inquiry as to how much I owed the old gentleman for everything I had gotten. Once again, the old gentleman did his dance with his hand, hair and cap. And, by this time I had half way figured out that this was the old gentleman's way of aggravating me and keeping me in suspense!!
Finally, he said, "Son... based on what you've said and what I've seen, I'd bet you don't have the cash to pay me what I would want for all that stuff. But, I hate to see it sit and rot down in my barn. So, tell you what I'll do. If you will promise me that you will use and enjoy that stuff and will promise to bring me a couple quarts of your honey... when you can spare it... all of it is yours... no charge!!!"
I couldn't believe my ears!! I asked the old gentleman if he was sure he wanted to do that. And, he assured me that he was. I promised him the two things that he asked for. We shook hands. And, I went home.
Over the next few days, I went through the items that the gentleman had given me. And, I took inventory of everything. Then, based on what I knew the items would cost if bought new, I guestimated how much everything would have cost me if buying it new. It was upwards of $8,000!!!! And, for what... not one thin dime more than my gas and time to get it, a promise to use and enjoy it, and a promise of a couple quarts of honey... once I could spare it!!!
Needless to say, the old gentleman got all the free honey that he and his wife could eat!!! And, they got it up until the day that they died!!!!
Now... for the rest of the story.....
Just a few years ago, I began getting in bad physical condition... quick! And, I knew it wouldn't be long and I would no longer be able to care for my bees and their hives.
Through a friend of a friend who was a friend of a friend... and, so on, I learned of this young (mid twenties) fellow who was interested in the hobby, but couldn't afford to get started right. Ring a bell?? It did with me!! Long story shortened a bit... I got in touch with the guy and invited him out to my bee yard.
Each of the three times that he came, his eyes danced and his mouth watered as he admired my bees and hives. Each time, he told me how much he wanted a setup like mine... some day... when he could afford it.
As he was getting ready to leave at the end of the third visit, I told him that I had sold my bees and hives to a fellow who didn't have the means to move them all. I asked him if he would be interested in earning two hives of bees and some spare equipment for himself by moving the bees for me. He eagerly assured me that he would. I told him when to come back and to make sure he had a long trailer with him. He said he would.
The night before he came, I went out to my bee yard and closed all the hives up so the girls couldn't fly the next morning. That way, I'd be assured that very few bees would get left behind when they were moved. As I closed them up, I did so with tears in my eyes. But, there was joy in my heart for what I had planned.
The next morning, the young man showed up with his pickup and trailer. When we got out to the bee yard, he asked if I would tell him which two hives would be his. I told him that I wasn't quite sure yet. "Let's get'em loaded up first. Then, I'll inspect them better and let you know," I told him.
After we got them all loaded up, I walked around and looked at each one... as if I were inspecting all of them. Then, I stood back and looked at them. Finally, the young man asked me if I had been able to decide which two hives I wanted to give him.
I crossed my arms across my stomach and said, "You know... I can't tell much difference between these hives! So, I guess I'll give you the last two that we loaded. Is that alright with you?"
He said that was fine with him. Then, he asked where the rest of the bees would be going.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have the address. So, I really don't know!"
I wish you could have seen the look on his face!! He was obviously bewildered and just a tad upset! All that work... and, I didn't even know where they were going!!!
Then, I asked, "You got a penny you can give me?"
He reached in his pocket, pulled one out, and handed it to me.
I said, "Son... I gave you those two hives in exchange for hauling these bees to their new home. And, I don't know the address where they are going... because I don't know your address!!" He now had a very, very puzzled look on his face!! "You see, I just sold the rest of the hives and equipment to you for one penny!!"
He teared up as he hugged my neck and thanked me repeatedly!!!
The next afternoon, he came back and got the rest of my beekeeping equipment. And, with the exception of him bringing me some honey on two occasions, I never saw him or my bees again.
But, rather than think of this an ungrateful young man, I prefer to think of him as being so busy with taking care of my girls that he just hasn't had time to come back and visit me! I at least hope this is the case!!
So, the short version of the answer is, yes, Bruins... I used to keep bees. But, I don't anymore.
Robert
