Autumn is awesome
With spectacular colors
Breathtaking beauty
Bob’s former student, Victor Salazar, treats us every week with his “Friday Fotos.”
This “Pond in Maine” was in his last batch of pictures. It’s so spectacular, I just had to share it.
Thank you, Victor.
Our brilliant bushes
Greet friends who come to visit
Soon color is gone
Winter comes too soon
When everything turns to white
Meantime dance in leaves
Love,
JanBeek
I can say goodbye
I can hug and squeeze them tight
Send them on their way
… and Hello to Autumn!
October is here.
Yes, I can say
Hello to cooler days
and colder evenings
(but we’re not ready for the snow yet!)
Seasons come and seasons go.
Company comes and company goes.
But family (ah yes, family) stays in our hearts forever
regardless of how many times we have to say goodbye!
To what are you ready to say goodbye?
And hello to what?
Tell me!!
Love,
JanBeek
Yes, I often write about honeybees.
Why?
Well, if you have been a JanBeek follower for any time at all,
you know that my hubby, Bob, is a retired beekeeper.
Not just a hobbyist, but a full-time bee guy
with as many as 2,000 hives
back in the late 1980’s & ’90s and early 2000’s.
Even after retiring here to Montana, he worked for several years with local beekeeping hobbyist, John White. Bees are a part of Bob’s DNA! His dad was a beekeeper and his brother was, too. Now he has three nephews and a grand-nephew keeping bees big time.
So, it was no surprise to me when I received an e-mail today from someone wanting me to post on the topic of honeybees again. She sent me a letter and asked me to put it on my blog. I’m happy to do so. Here it is:
“Hi Jan,
I hope your day is going well!
I came across your website and noticed you shared a lot of information on beekeeping. I thought our guide could be helpful for your readers.
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the world by commercial gardeners. However, many pesticides – including insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides – harm pollinators and other beneficial insects.
To help educate those in the farming and gardening industries about this toxic chemical, we’ve created a comprehensive guide with organic, and homemade; and a second guide with agricultural alternatives. please take a look:
drugwatch.com/roundup/glyphosate/
drugwatch.com/roundup/cancer/
I thought these guides would be beneficial to share with your community. Would you consider adding that as resources to your website https://janbeek.blog/tag/honeybees/ to inform people about this critical matter better?
I appreciate your time and look forward to your response. Have a great day!”
Nicole Nunez (She / Her) | Outreach Coordinator
1 S. Orange Ave. Ste. 201 | Orlando, FL 32801
So, let’s all do our part to protect
our honeybees,
our trees,
and our fresh water,
okay?
What do you say?
Hugs to you on this Fabulous Friday.
I hope you’re staying warm.
It’s 15 degrees outside my Ennis home
– and snowing.
Oh my what a difference a week can make.
Take a look:
Oh my, those images are too large to show the total difference.
I need to learn how to post them smaller,
but I was trying that side-by-side feature.
It’s kinda neat… you can see more of each image
by using the middle arrows to slide it left or right.
Anyway, you get the idea…
Bee Warm!
And bee good to those bees!!
Sending lotsa love your way,
JanBeek
Are you ready to go trail riding?
I have a deal for you!
We are selling “Lucille”
And her sturdy trailer, too.
Beautiful “Lucille”
“Lucille??” you question.
That’s what you named her?
Yup, like Lucille Ball…
A redhead -and no one tamed her!
On her, we’ve had a ball!
We’ve enjoyed her a lot.
But, for health reasons now,
We need something else in her spot.
So, if you or a friend
Is interested and can come,
We’d love for you to take them
Though it makes us mighty glum.
Check out our listing at
bozeman.craigslist.org/tro/d/ennis-bigtex-trailer/7669210550.html
Spread the word for us, OK?
Come to Ennis, Montana and meet us –
You’ll never regret the day!
TazE (our Boston Terrier) with Bob & me
Meet “Charlie!”
Our TazE already said her good-byes
And now Lucille will make way for “Charlie.”
He’s our new blue addition –
And no, he’s not a Harley!
We may be crazy sportsmen,
Loving to get outside and play,
But our “Lucille” trail riding days are over.
Are you interested in taking her out someday?
Oh, and Happy Autumn to you, my friend!
It’s a gorgeous day with blue sky & puffy clouds.
I love seeing all the changing colors.
Go up in the mountains to view them… avoid the crowds!
Hugs to you,
Thanks for visiting
JanBeek
Yesterday I peeked out
from the downstairs back door
surprised to see the signs
of our changing seasons
Signs of autumn
Sparkled from the plant
That’s hanging over the
Newly installed dry well
Orange leaves among the green
Remind me that summer
Is drawing to a close
It’s been too short
Inside, the sunflowers
from friends, the Conklins,
and Sue Newell’s ladybug card
brighten the table
The warmth of sunshine
And the grasses in the field
Beckoned me outside
To see beyond the yard
These “weeds” have their own kind of beauty
Browns and greens mixed with gold
Certainly spell the coming of fall
Alas, stores already sell Halloween
Our view of the Madison Range
beyond the field is spectacular
The clouds are ever changing
Giving our Big Sky character
We can sit inside here
and look out in amazement every day
At God’s marvelous creation
Never tiring of our Montana wonderland
Thank You, God of All Creation
For the beauty of this earth
Help us to be good caretakers
And never take these gifts for granted.
Amen
Thank you for visiting today
Have a Fabulous Friday!
Don’t forget to go out
and marvel at your September beauty, too!
Love,
JanBeek
September blows in with its many promises
Of new beginnings and of endings, too.
Away with sandals, sunscreen, summer scorchers,
Mowing lawns, trimming hedges, trips to the zoo.
Enter colors rich in autumn hues,
Football mania, school admissions, taxes due.
Welcome loved ones who waited to visit
Until the bustle of summer was behind you.
September promises the joy of learning
New ways of navigating challenges that spring
Up unexpected as we explore new venues,
Putting the old behind, welcoming each new thing.
Each season has its own kind of newness
And this one is certainly no exception.
September ushers in a ton of TV shows
That viewers hope to see with clear reception.
But staying in and looking at some screen
Is not what this season’s all about.
The outdoors begs you to explore
September’s promises – take a new route.
- There’s winter, spring, summer, and fall. Just like the natural seasons change, so do the seasons in our lives. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “For everything there is a season.” It also tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “ [God] has made everything beautiful in its time.”
Paint a word picture for me here
Of what you hope September will bring.
I’m looking forward to our visitors –
Family always makes my heart sing.
What’s in store for you this September?
Thanks for visiting JanBeek.
Happy September first to you!
If you have time, listen to this beautiful song sung by my favorite singer from my high school and college days… Liquid Velvet!! The year Nat King Cole recorded this was the year I graduated from college and began my teaching career! Yup, an oldie, but goodie!!
Jem Croucher, Poet’s Corner introduced to me today a new poetry form. Her blog beautifully described “In the Autumn Now” in an aaab rhyme scheme.
For those of you unfamiliar with those poetic descriptors, the aaab scheme means the first three lines all rhyme, but not the 4th one.
The fun thing about her last line is that it was the poem’s title and it was repeated in each of the four stanzas. Brilliantly done! (There are probably other rules to this rhyme form, like 7 or 8 syllables to create rhythm on each line… but I’m not sure I can do that! So will just go with the rhyme scheme and number of lines for now.)
I’m going to try my hand at this poetry form, but as you know if you saw my post yesterday, we – here in Ennis, MT – are “In the Winter Now.” Alas, our fall colors are buried under several inches of snow. Beautiful, but – oh my – too early for me!
October snow fell softly
October snow – unseasonable
Way too early – unreasonable
Return of colors – unfeasible
In the Winter now
Lack of wind – delightful
Snow in clusters – rightful
Blue sky returning – eyeful
In the Winter now
Howling winds return – disappointing
Wind chimes play – enjoying
Returning storm looms – annoying
In the Winter now
Tasting falling snowflakes – purely
Venturing out in the snow – securely
Getting skis ready – prematurely
In the Winter now
Wanna try your hand at this poetic form?
Go ahead … give it your best shot.
It’s fun!
For a really good example of the form,
check out Jem’s
In the autumn now
It’s delightful!
Send your poem to Jem Croucher
She’d be delighted to hear from you.
Speaking of fun –
Look at that photo of us –
100 years ago –
Ready for winter!
Hah!
See ya later.
Stay warm.
Love, JanBeek
Today is National Smile Day.
Our glorious Montana Colors
will sure give you something to smile about!
We took a drive from Ennis
up into the Tobacco Root Range
up North MeadowCreek
above McAllister
where our friends,
Mary & Paul Carlson live.
The colors along the roadside
were so glorious!
I got out to take this picture
instead of looking though
our cracked windshield
like I did on that first photo.
We visited Paul and Mary at their house.
We met a new friend as we were
traveling up to Paul’s little cabin.
Paul & Mary invited him
to come on home with them.
This piece of old mining equipment
was found abandoned along the roadway
leading up to their house.
A friend helped them haul it into their backyard
The mining apparatus
fits perfectly with the remains of
this old mining shed
(that’s also in their backyard).
It was probably built in the late 1800’s.
The views from their backyard
are breathtaking!
They just completed this fence
last week – attempting to keep the deer
out of their greenhouse and flowerbeds.
Mary inherited this old barn
when she bought this mountain property
Paul uses it now as his “Man Cave.”
It’s where he creates magical things
with all his woodworking equipment.
Paul took Bob & me up to see
the property he dreamed about
as a kid… and the cabin he and
nine of his friends built there
-around 2005 –
(same year we came to MT).
Many happy memories are tucked in here!
The road leading to/from the cabin
is lined with wonderful aspen
that shine their gold this time of the year.
Some farmers raise cattle in this high country.
Autumn is a wonderful season
It brings with it colors galore
I love the fall leaves and scenery
I hope you can get out and explore
Do get out before all the leaves drop.
Pick up your pup and take a hike.
Tell me about your choices:
Which of the scenes did you particularly like?
See ya later, my friends.
Bee well!
Love,
JanBeek
I love October
When the leaves change their color.
Hold off the freeze, please!
Too soon icicles –
Winter comes too early here.
Hold off for awhile!
God bless the colors
That brighten our autumn days
Now, please stick around!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
Have a lovely October first!
Yesterday was a day to read, relax, and mind the advice of my Unity devotional… rest, recharge my battery, my whole being. I didn’t blog… but I took time to slow down and take breaks. I wasn’t totally alone. My friend, Julie, came by for a few hours and helped me empty my china cabinet in preparation for when we have to clear out all our dining/living room furniture to have the floors redone. Here is the inspirational message that asked me to “experience the peace and tranquility that rejuvenates me.”
Summer’s behind us
Leaves are turning bright colors
Welcoming Autumn
Quiet’s essential
To hear the angels singing
Rejoicing in God
Aloneness is grand
If you realize one thing:
You’re never alone!
Take time to wander
An imaginary path
Jesus by your side
Treasure the silence
Embrace precious aloneness
Feel the Holy One
Recall beginnings
Embrace blessed aloneness
Rekindle yourself
Know you are perfect –
Made in God’s perfect image.
Embrace Aloneness!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.
See you tomorrow (God willing).
Sending gentle hugs and quiet moments of peace
(My bruises are almost all gone!!)
Bob’s in Alaska for the next 7 days.
Pray for his health and safety, please.
And remember … walk on with hope in your heart
and you’ll never walk alone!
Thank you, Andrea Bocelli, for the gift of your voice, your music, your heart!!
Hugs to You !!
Inspire to Love
Let the SonShine!
You inspire me to respond
Learning to Live; Living to Learn; Learning to Love; Living in Love
