Anthony’s Bee Obsession
My husband, Anthony, has always been fascinated by bees. He’s captivated by their vital role in the environment and, of course, he loves honey. But it goes beyond that—he has a genuine passion for protecting and caring for these incredible creatures.
Arizona Blues and Carolina Dreams
When we lived in Arizona, our neighbors threatened to kill any bees Anthony might bring onto our property. He was devastated. But then we moved to North Carolina, and one of the first friends we made here turned out to be a Master Beekeeper! He had multiple hives and years of experience. Anthony was ecstatic! He was like a kid in a candy store, eager to learn everything he could.
Beekeeping 101
Although I wasn’t quite ready to become a beekeeper myself, I encouraged Anthony to visit our neighbor and learn the ropes. Our kind neighbor suited him up and took him out to the hives for some hands-on experience. Anthony was in bee heaven! He was so excited that he even asked our neighbor to give my brother a tour when he came to visit. They even got to witness a hive splitting due to the presence of two queens! My brother, who surprisingly doesn’t even like honey, was just as captivated as Anthony.
A Bittersweet Farewell
Fast forward a year, and our wonderful beekeeping neighbor is moving away. We’re heartbroken to see them go. Not only were they great friends and neighbors, but they also watched our dog, Benji, whenever we were out of town. Benji adores them—he’d probably choose them over us if he had the chance! They treat him like royalty.
The Buzzworthy Inheritance
The silver lining to this sad news is that our friends offered us their bees! We will officially be beekeepers by the end of December 2024. Our friends were initially surprised that we were serious about taking the bees, but I assured them that Anthony was completely committed. As soon as he returns from his business trip, we’ll be relocating the hives to our backyard.
Ready to Get Busy
I’ve discovered that North Carolina has fantastic resources for beekeeping equipment and support. Our Master Beekeeper friend also recommended the books “Beekeeping for Dummies” and “The Backyard Beekeeper, 5th Edition: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden” as a great starting point. Wish us luck on this new adventure, and I’ll keep you updated on our progress!
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