This picture detects what I’ll look like when I finally get stung. It hasn’t happened yet, but I can’t say the same for poor HHH. Friday morning was one to forget, and quickly.
The Bee Lady and her fiend, Anti-Mite Man, came for a visit to our hives early Friday morning. Bees these days all suffer from an invasive mite that infects the bees and weakens the hive. Every few weeks during the summer, the Anti-Mite Man comes equipped with oxalic acid gas, which kills the Verona mites and any others hanging about.
Now, bees don’t think kindly to people inserting gas into their hive and then covering the opening with the wet towel for five minutes. Whether or not they remembered this man, I can’t say. All I know is that when the hive was opened, the bees became very unhappy. It could have also been caused by the fact that no smoke was used before opening the hive.
At any rate, I was raking a good distance from the hive when an angry bee tried to sting me. Thank goodness my long hair was in the way and I flew into the house, unscathed. But, HHH had been standing near the hive without his bee-keepers suit. Our usually kind, sweet, and docile bees went for him.
As he was swatting and asking them to back off, he accidentally knocked off one $2500 hearing aide into the tall bushes while making it to the back porch. By that time, he had been stung six times, once in the face above his eye.
After coming in to remove the stingers, HHH again tried to go outside and they were on him again, as he suffered through two more stings. At any point, this situation could’ve become deadly. I was glad the epi-pens were on the counter at the ready. Luckily, there was no immediate reaction.
As our friends were leaving, the bees were still on the attack, getting HHH two more times, at which point his very expensive Maui Jim Sunglasses fell to the pavement and shattered. Repair cost — $100.
Now, I have a very dejected husband with one good ear, no sunglasses, AND the possibility of and episode of anaphylactic shock. We both returned to the house wondering how this happened???? Our bees are so docile, they often settle on our hand and look around before they fly off. Well???? Wild animals are unpredictable. Today wasn’t the day to make them angry.
After going out to breakfast, we both decided it was a day to lay low and hope for a better Saturday. Watching TV while enjoying Chinese food, we were thankful things weren’t worse.
Now, having four younger brothers, he did something silly. He texted them with the news. They all found it very humorous, asking if they could view all existing videos. Somedays, there is no respect in this world. Especially from kid brothers!!!!
Whatever you do today, remember bees aren’t always docile. Even the quiet can become combative if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bee keeping is a hobby that can kill. Rule #1. When handling bees, suit up. Thank goodness HHH lives on to tell the tale.
More tomorrow.