Help People Affected by Hurricane Harvey

American watched as Hurricane Harvey stormed ashore over this past weekend.  What started out as a Tropical Storm quickly morphed into a Category 4 hurricane.  It left a path of destruction along the Texas Gulf Coast.  From small to large, no town could stand up to the force of Harvey.  Houston is experiencing catastrophic flooding.  Every day, the news and social media show water rescues by 1st responders and volunteer groups.  Last time I checked, over 27 million Texas residents were somehow impacted by Hurricane Harvey.  

The best ways to help victims of Hurricane Harvey is to give to charities that are in a position to help.

Here are just a few of the places to donate.

American Red Cross

Direct Relief

Americares

Catholic Charities

Houston Humane Society

Houston SPCA


Having a child attending college in Texas makes it all the more personal for me.  Below, I've listed information on the Texas A&M Galveston (home of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy) Hurricane Relief Fund.  

TAMUG HURRICANE 

RELIEF FUND

Due to the outpouring of support from the Aggie community, Texas A&M University at Galveston has partnered with The Texas A&M Foundation to channel donations to help our students, staff and faculty who have been devastated by Hurricane Harvey.

Anyone who would like to donate can give online to the TAMUG Hurricane Relief Fund. Your gifts will help support immediate needs, such as housing, food, clothing, transportation, and other services. One hundred percent of donations to the TAMUG Hurricane Relief Fund will be used to help our Aggie community.

Thank you for showing the strength and resilience of the Aggie Spirit, especially in times of disaster.

TAMUG Hurricane Relief Fund

I'm back....from my two year vacation

Oh, my! It has been awhile....why I waited over two years to start writing again is mind-blowing.  Four kids, my husband, my basset hound, and life [in general] have kept me away. 

A few things have changed since I've been gone.  I got a new basset hound named Hoover, who I love and adore.   I turned 50...yeah!  I got bees...bigger yeah!!  My eldest graduated from high school and is now college bound...YEAH!!!

For today's post, I guess I'll talk about my bees.  I call them "my girls", and I love all of them. I would say I probably have around 50,000 (yes, really) buzzing around my yard.  And no, all my neighbors aren't knocking on my door telling me that one of my bees stung them or their kids.  My neighbors are thanking me for abundant harvests in their gardens and thanking me, even more, when I share the marvelous honey that my girls made.   I truly wouldn't have it any other way.  

I bet you are asking yourself, "How did Tracey become a beekeeper?"  Actually, it was easy.  I took classes at the Cleveland Metroparks.  The latest class be found by clicking on this link.  I just love the Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association.  Honestly, I would have killed my girls the very first day without them.  They taught me absolutely everything there was to know about being a novice bee keeper.  I buy my bees and most of my bee supplies from Queens Right Colonies.  When I don't have the time to drive out to Spencer, Ohio, I have been known to visit Rural King for frames and other miscellaneous items.

Before I go any further, I should say that I will admit that I am "that person" that talks about bees at any and all social gatherings.  #BeesAreTheBest

Against my better judgment, I have attached a [long video] of my first "bee transfer."  Keep in mind that it was early spring in Cleveland (you can tell as my yard looks really bad) and it's my first-day having bees so I'm totally covered to protect myself from a sting...that never happened. So when you first get your bees, they come in this little plastic cube.  The queen is in there as well, but she's separated from the rest of the bees.  Its a long story, but take the bee class and they will teach you all you need to know.

 Hope you enjoy the video!

Tracey's 1st attempt at a bee transfer link can be found right here!