Honey Bee Rescue

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Honey Bee Down

So there I was, minding my own business... Well, actually, I wasn't minding my own business.

I was in my backyard checking on the resident garden spiders. I've been watching them and learning by observation, but that's a story for another blog post.

A honey bee was caught in one of the older, tattered spider webs. He struggled to break free as he wiggled his legs against the confining threads. I took a quick look around, it seemed this spider web was abandoned. Or, so I convinced myself.

I understand the law of nature. If a spider already had the honey bee and was munching away, I would lament, "Oh pooh. Score 1 for the spider, 0 for the honey bee. Poor honey bee."

Since there was no spider in sight and none moving in for the kill, I decided to interfere. 

Help Has Arrived

I spied a forlorn leaf and scooped the bee out of the sticky threads. He was pitiful, unable to fly. He could barely walk as he fell this way and that on the leaf.

I remembered the sugar-water-on-a-spoon honey bee remedy that I saw on Pinterest. A way to help a honey bee that was exhausted and far from home. It seemed a little far-fetched, but I pinned it on the off chance it might come in handy.

Now was the moment.

I carried the leaf holding the honey bee back to the house. I briefly thought about bringing him inside, then changed my mind. If he had a sudden recovery and started flying about, we'd have another problem of how to get him back out safely. I set him down on the patio next to my sliding glass door.

I bolted into the kitchen and grabbed my sugar container. I poured a spoonful of sugar in a small bowl, added warm tap water, and stirred to dissolve the granules. I stepped back outside to find my honey bee still lying there. He was constantly falling over as he tried to walk. I maneuvered the spoon in front of him. He held on to its edge. He appeared to take a long drink. Or was he just holding on? Hard for me to tell.

He pushed off from the spoon and staggered about on the patio. He fell into a concrete seam and couldn't get out, I helped him up with the leaf.

Recovery Process

He was still staggering and falling over. I was worried. Perhaps I would simply bear witness to his demise. But then, he started to preen himself, cleaning his little antennae. Surely this was a good sign?

After more cleaning, he lied down, tucked in his tiny wings and bowed his head. I swear he took a nap. I know honey bees sleep, having seen photos of it (on Pinterest again). Maybe he even had a miniature honey bee dream when he gave a tiny jerk.

This had to be encouraging, since I usually saw dead bees with their wings open. On the other hand, maybe he was bowing his head as he prepared to die. 

I waited.

He awakened, legs started moving again. He was stronger, less staggering. Another careful cleaning of his legs and antennae. I wondered if he needed more sugar water and placed the spoon in front of him. Nope, he didn't want it. I retreated with my spoon, watching.

He buzzed his wings. Now it really seemed like a good sign. He walked forward with determination. He buzzed again. Suddenly, he lifted straight up and flew away into the blue sky. 

Honey bee rescue accomplished.

The Smallest Amongst Us

“... mysterious and little known organisms live within walking distance of where you sit.
Splendor awaits in minute proportions.”
— Edward O. Wilson, Biophilia
 

Moral of the story: some things on Pinterest really do work. 

 

The first image is from the fable: The Spider and The Honey Bee

The Heart Of A Lion

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Cecil The Lion

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
 

All of us have lion hearts. Sometimes we have to find them.

Cecil The Lion

Cecil the Lion – with his black mane, was a major attraction and beloved animal in the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. He was a source of national pride.

He lived on protected territory and was part of a University of Oxford research program.

He was illegally hunted and killed. The hunters were well aware that what they did was illegal. Cecil had a tracking device that the hunters tried to destroy, unsuccessfully.

The lion killer bragged to a waitress that he "killed the biggest lion in the world."

Great, so none of the rest of us can enjoy that lion? Could you be any more selfish?

Jimmy Kimmel weighs in on the killing of Cecil the Lion.

It's an entirely uneven fight. He killed something and proved his power? Seriously? Shooting a gun full of bullets kills any and everything. That's a given fact and no big surprise. He acts like this makes him important. How can that possibly make you superior?

What if the hunter had said instead, "I saw the biggest lion in the world and look at this photo." Wouldn't we all be able to share in the joy of it and pat him on the back?

Trophy Hunting Of Endangered Animals

What destruction must drive through someone's heart to need to partake of trophy hunting? Hearts devoid of compassion and love, unable to empathize or grasp the pain or suffering of others. The hunters try to justify their actions with defensiveness.

Trophy hunters purposefully use the key word "took" instead of "kill" in an attempt to lull others into thinking it is less violent than it is. That is exactly the word the killer of Cecil used in his letter to his dental patients.

Fighting Our Causes

All of us have political and ethical issues that are near and dear to our hearts. One issue is not more or less valuable than the other. Certainly, one single person cannot carry the burden of every single issue that exists. If this is not an issue that speaks to you, that is your right. 

Working together, on all our different issues, hopefully our combined efforts will change the world for the better.

Because change is needed. Desperately.

“Since 1986, WildCRU, now with over 50 researchers, has grown to be one of the largest and most productive conservation research institutes in the world.”
— WildCRU

WildCRU (Wildlife Conservation Research Unit) is the conservation group that was tracking Cecil. WildCRU is part of the University of Oxford, within the Department of Zoology. You can visit their website to learn more about them or to donate to their work.

The Tears Of A Lion

Sometimes an issue is so difficult to face and full of sorrow that we turn away. It can be difficult to fight or even direct positive energy, because the situation causes us great pain or makes us angry. These are the moments we have to remind ourselves to keep going forward.

We have to walk through that pain or anger. We can't let the darkness stop us from moving into the light, exactly what darkness would want.

We have to find the heart of a lion within us.

Loving And Caring For Our Animals

Some people belittle those who are fighting for Cecil the Lion, for caring so deeply for animals. It's okay to love our animals and our planet with all your heart. 

Our animals need our help. They don't have our human voices to yell about the wrongs, nor the money to make people listen.

We are their voices.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
— Anatole France
 

Say Hello To Pluto

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Pluto Fly By

Hello there, Pluto.

It's nice to finally make your acquaintance. That’s an understatement. It's awe inspiring to finally see you.

NASA hit it out of the park with these recent photos of Pluto. The spacecraft, New Horizons, zoomed by at a blistering 30,000 miles per hour relative to the dwarf planet's surface. Snapping photos and gleaning information like nobody's business.

It will take about 18 months to receive all the information transmitted by the tiny spacecraft that is all the size of a grand piano. A tantalizing feast of treats will be savored over many days by the scientists at NASA.

Pluto is about two-thirds the size of Earth's moon. We have already begun to identify icy mountain ranges extending as high as 11,000 feet  on this mysterious planet. 

“This graphic presents a view of Pluto and Charon as they would appear if placed slightly above Earth’s surface and viewed from a great distance.
Recent measurements obtained by New Horizons indicate that Pluto has a diameter of 2370 km, 18.5% that of Earth’s, while Charon has a diameter of 1208 km, 9.5% that of Earth’s.”
— NASA
 

The Sun Shines On

NASA was on a roll with delights for us mere mortals. They also captured this new single shot of planet Earth in full sunlight.

The photo on the left was caught in 1972.

The photo on the right was snapped in 2015. 

Over forty years is a long time in between selfies.

The difficulty with this particular selfie is that you need to have the sun to your back and be in the just the right position to grab this shot as you're zooming past.

Most of the images we have seen of Earth since 1972 have been composites.

“In order to view the Earth as a fully illuminated globe, a person (or camera) must be situated in front of it, with the sun directly at his or her back.
Not surprisingly, it can be difficult to arrange this specific lighting scheme for a camera-set up that’s orbiting in space at speeds approaching thousands of miles per hour.”
— Astronaut, Scott Kelly
 

Observer Effect In Outer And Quantum Mechanics

Tracking the images and wealth of information that NASA makes available to us is a humbling and yet enlightening experience. Keeping the solar system in mind helps us to keep things in perspective.

Insights into our solar system remind us of the vast connectedness we have to everything.

Talk about a perfect example of "the observer changes the nature of what is being observed" within quantum mechanics. Passing by Jupiter, the spacecraft New Horizons gained a push in speed from its gravitational force. The effect for Jupiter was that its years are now slightly shorter. 

“Jupiter lost as much kinetic energy as New Horizons gained, causing it to fall a little closer to the sun. A year on Jupiter today is slightly shorter than it was before — all because humans wanted to get a good look at Pluto.”
 

That's a stop and pause moment.

Marbles In The Sky

Back to our dear Pluto.

Finally, we have a completed family portrait of the planets in our solar system.

Yes, we are running with the idea that Pluto counts as one of our planets. Besides, look how nicely our planets line up in this pattern of nine.

We don't care what anyone says, Pluto, you'll always be a part of the family.

Maybe you're the eccentric relative we always wonder about. The one whose story never quite matches. We’re all good with that. We love you anyway.

Cheers.

The Bamboo And The Sky

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The Bamboo And The Sky

If I were to tell you, your essence is that which is held
inside the hollow bamboo.

If you lift that bamboo up and behold the sky,
where is the division between the vastness
and that which is you?

It is always One.

It is just that you begin
to perceive only the bamboo case.
You think that outer shell is you.

You need to move back to the hollowness,
to the emptiness, and in that moment,

You are the entire vast sky itself.

–Leslie Anneliese

 

Northern California Pirate Festival

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A Pirate Festival Calls Our Name

Arrgggh, me matey, 'tis time to weigh anchor and sail into Vallejo, California.

We be joining a motley crew of pirates, swashbucklers and buccaneers. There be officers of the Royal Navy who claim to keep order 'round here and barmaids to keep us all happy with a bit of brew. We be going back in time to the high seas of piracy.

It's the Northern California Pirate Festival.

Northern California Pirate Festival

Arrgggh, me pirate matey, 'tis time fer a pirate gathering in the port of Vallejo.

Aye, ye be hearin' right. This gathering celebrates all things pirate and is an annual event in June.

This festival purports to be the largest pirate celebration in the country and 2015 marked their 9th year. Like any festival of this nature, there are food booths, shops and wares, music and entertainment and just plain relaxing. Here's my own little video.

Vallejo is an ideal venue for this event. Participants, excuse me, pirates benefit from the bay breeze that blows off the water. It cools many a pirate's brow as he lifts his tricorner hat. 

Join The Pirate Fun

If you're a fun-loving pirate who likes a good sword fight and to say argghhh, this is the place to be. You'll only feel out of place if you don't have anything of a pirate-nature hanging off of you.

Costume shops in town sell an inexpensive packaged pirate outfit like the one I bought some time back. I saw my outfit walking around on children and dads of all sizes. In this first picture you'll see me in the packaged costume. (The extras such as hat, belt, pistol and belaying pin are additional purchases.)

The downside of a mass-produced, lower-cost outfit is synthetic polyester material. Not particularly healthy to wear and it certainly doesn't breathe when you're baking under a Californian summer sun.

Prepare Ye To Don Pirate's Clothing

You arrived without a pirate outfit? Fear not. There are vendors on the premises happy to deck you out in period clothing, albeit for a pretty farthing. 

Thanks to the plethora of vendors and booths, I updated my pirate outfit this year with a 100% cotton shirt and a gorgeous Hunter's vest. I also exchanged imitation gauntlets for leather ones.

While some complain that shopping makes the event too commercial, I find it convenient and helpful. I can't imagine it's easy to find high quality gauntlets at our local Target. 

Pirates And History

We're not talking only pirates here. The time period is the 1700s. Let's not forget those who chased after the pirates too. Members of the British Royal Navy delight us with their handsome uniforms; ladies of pleasure welcome one and all.

Costumes For Everyone

Speaking of ladies of pleasure: one thing you have to prepare yourself for is the sight of "heaving bosoms" as they are called in period writing. Some may think this is great, others not so much. Many costumes are historically accurate, including the bosom lifting corsets and laces. 

The Beginning Of My Pirate Tales

How did I even get involved in pirate fun? Check out this post Talk Like A Pirate Day where I detail the beginning of my slide into the life of a pirate. It all started innocently enough when I worked at a hospital that celebrated this illustrious day.

You may be asking what does a Pirate Festival and a meditator have in common? It's all about taking the light with you wherever you go and whatever you do.

As I say in another post, "Aye, even a pirate can meditate."

It is all about harmless fun and dancing and learning about this period of history.

Set Sails For Adventure

For those who share the love (or at least the idea) of the sea and swashbuckling, the Pirate Festival is like coming home, settling in where you belong amongst your mates.

Slip back in time and sharpen up yer sword skills.

We Sail At Dawn

Arrrgggh, me fine salty dog, will ye be joinin' me and me mateys as we stroll the fine decks of our mighty, glorious ships?

What say ye?

Permission to board is granted.

Set sails for adventure!

Food For The Fourth Of July

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America Celebrates Its Birthday

The Fourth of July is just around the corner. Holiday displays in the supermarkets are set up to tantalize shoppers with outdoor foods and drinks.

Isn't this a gorgeous American Flag Pie created by King Arthur Flour? I dream of creating it one day. It may remain a forever dream, but in the meantime, it's nice to see.

If you're willing to tackle this pie adventure, here is the recipe for the American Flag Pie, made with strawberries/rhubarb and blueberries.

Time To Start Your Grills

Fourth of July in America.

Start your grills. Friends and family gather 'round for picnics and barbecues.

Grilled corn on-the-cob (with barbecue or herb butter), sizzling hamburgers and hot dogs are all de rigueur. Dedicated meat-eaters splurge on tri-tip beef. Vegetarians don't have to feel left out. Tofu burgers make a fine alternative.

Everything can go on the grill, not just meat. Vegetables and fruits also grill up pretty. A fun television show from The Food Network features recipes by Bobby Flay, the acclaimed grill master.

How about grilled peaches with cinnamon sugar butter? Sounds delicious, doesn't it? Click on the link for the recipe.

Summer picnic food on the menu:

Baked beans
Juicy watermelon
Chips and dip
Finger sandwiches
Fruit salads, and
Everyone's version of their famous potato salad

The Great Mayonnaise Debate

Family feuds have started over potato salad. Dill or sweet pickles? What brand of mayonnaise do you use?

People stand firmly entrenched in their mayonnaise camps:

1) Best Foods (west of the Rockies) or Hellmann's (east of the Rockies) – same company, same mayo, different name per regional distribution. 

2) Duke's mayonnaise has Southern roots and is also found in some states further north.

3) Kraft mayonnaise has a nationwide distribution.

4) Dare I mention Miracle Whip? Some argue that it's not even mayonnaise, but Miracle Whip has a strong, if not beleaguered, following. Take a look at this Tumblr account that proclaims in a joking manner, Miracle Whip and Proud Of It. Miracle Whip was created in 1933 by Kraft as a less expensive alternative to mayonnaise.

Rest assured, never the twain shall meet. Each brand has a dedicated cult following.

 

Here's a fun tongue-in-cheek story for your amusement.

The Family Mayonnaise Incident

We are a Best Foods mayonnaise family. In our corner of Washington state, that's our mayo. For decades we remained true blue to Best Foods.

Recently, my sister returned home from an 18-month job assignment in Tennessee. She was living south of the Mason-Dixon Line and Duke's is the mayo of the South. She divulged that she had tried, and liked, Duke's mayonnaise.

To make matters worse, she had the audacity to bring jars of Duke's mayo home with her. Even her husband was perplexed when he saw the alien mayo jars in her bags.

Oh, the shock. This was akin to heresy. My own sister, cheating on Best Foods. She admitted feeling a little guilty about it. 

After her heartfelt confession, we welcomed her back into the fold. She was home again in familiar territory and surrounded by Best Foods. Let bygones be bygones.

And then, our nephew ordered a big jar of Duke's mayonnaise from Amazon and sent it to my sister as a birthday present.

The saga continues...

 

Summer Activities For The Fourth

The Fourth of July is dedicated to picnics and summer fun, such as swimming, boating, hiking, and, not to be forgotten, naps in a hammock. It's a holiday, so some healthy relaxation is included on the menu. Reading a book in a hammock rates high on my list.

 

patriotic cookies recipe

 

Happy Birthday – USA

Does all this food talk make you hungry?

I know I'm ready to treat myself to potato salad and other picnic delights.

Let's raise a fork and a patriotic spiral cookie in honor of the United States of America.

I'll see you at the picnic.

If We Break It, We'll Fix It

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Incidental Findings

"You need a biopsy, Tara," the pulmonologist advised as he fiddled with his mouse to bring up the CT scan on his computer.

"Yes, a biopsy" he repeated, focusing on the flat screen. "The nodule in your lung has gotten bigger in the last three months." Clicking on the mouse, he enlarged one area of the black and white image. "See," he pointed to the offending nodule, "the ground glass aspect has a solid component in it now, measuring 5 by 7 millimeters."

An abdominal CT scan that itself was normal, turned up an incidental finding of pulmonary nodules. Incidental findings. Things you weren't looking for, but found nonetheless, and now required that you follow up.

They both stared at the follow-up scan that showed "significant interval growth" in just three short months. Localized to the right middle lobe of the lung.

Just A Biopsy

A lung biopsy.

A long needle pushed through your chest wall to gather tissue from deep inside. Not a simple venous puncture.

The overshadowing and unspoken fear? Lung cancer.

The frustrating part? She was a lifetime non-smoker.

Risks of the procedure?

"Well, the usual," he intoned. "Infection, but that's unlikely." Right. Any time something punctures your skin and digs into your body, you have a risk of infection.

"And a collapsed lung," then he quickly added, "but that really is unlikely. You're strong and healthy, Tara. It's not like you have COPD."

Tara wasn't feeling terribly strong or healthy at the moment. Her gaze fell on the lump of her black purse sitting on the floor beside her. She really needed to replace that. She had promised herself she would buy one that wasn't black, now that she was free to have any color that tickled her fancy.

With retirement finally reached a month ago, she dreamed of a new purse that wasn't "regulation." She hadn't gotten around to that yet.

We'll Fix The Complications

And in the unlikely chance it happened? A collapsed lung? What then? She pictured herself positioned on the CT scan machine, lying on her side in the midst of the biopsy, suddenly unable to breathe.

"Don't worry, we'll fix that," he stated as a matter of fact. "We'll insert a chest tube and admit you to the ICU to give your lung time to reinflate."

Tara had to smile to herself. Medicine is so linear and mechanical. If we break it, we'll fix it and if we break it again, we'll fix that too. Because that's what we do in medicine. We fix things.

For all the frustrations with reductionism in medicine, there are wonderful aspects. Broken bones that could handicap us for life are carefully mended with the use of ultrasounds. High blood pressures that could slam our hearts to a crashing halt are coaxed down to reasonable levels with pills.

Medicine puts us back together, extends our lives, makes us prettier.

Medicine also finds incidental things, especially with the myriad scans, x-rays and ultrasounds that we order. 

Sometimes, that's a blessing. We find something, we take care of it right away. 

Other times, it's nothing and off we run on a wild goose chase.

It was possible it was only inflammation. That's what her radiology report said, "inflammation versus malignancy." 

It's Your Move

She would need to hold space in her meditations for this one.

Tara was clear that her meditation didn't guarantee a rosy outcome. Still, the inner support comforted her. It was hard to explain. Unlike medicine, the richness of the support accessed was not linear or mechanical.

She supposed she could choose to do nothing and let nature take its course, whatever that may be. Cancer or not. Maybe this was the end of the ride. How do you know when it's time to say goodbye?

Taking a deep breath, she looked down and placed one hand in her heart for clarity with her choice. When she looked up, their eyes locked, and she nodded consent to the biopsy.

For some reason, not any particular one she could identify, today was not the day to do nothing. 

"We'll find out what those cells are up to," he nodded back for emphasis.

"Alright," Tara whispered when she added a final pen stroke to her signature on the consent form, "Let's do this."