10: McFall-ing in Love

truebizzhive
Sep 18, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Apr 28, 2024

Api-Journey Day 3

This was my coolest day yet!

Today I am thankful for the rain. While the rain makes for less enjoyable vacation activities in general, it was the reason why I had such a cool experience.

My sister-in-law, Joan, and I went exploring and one of my pre-plotted stops was a "honey stand" named McFall Beeyard. I was so excited when I found it!!

Shut up at take my money!

Joan is setting up her own YouTube channel and I was her first inspiration piece.

She took videos of our time and compiled them; I added the text later that evening.

Like most small bee business owners, they (presumably) sell their largest amount of products at events like fairs and Farmer's Markets, so when not attending these events, they have a charming little stand in front of their house displaying some of their products where people can come buy and purchase them and leave money on the honor system.

I was explaining the concept to Joan as we trekked through the lush residential area and found their charming honey stand.

It was raining, but we didn't care. We got out of the car and excitedly sorted through all their showcased honey...when I say "we", I mean me. This crazy redheaded bee-lover must have been an amusing (or terrifying) sight looking like a half-drowned manic honey addict.

Joan seemed to enjoy my excitement, so she started

taking pictures and videos.

Then a wonderful woman that I later learned was Dorothy McFall approached us while she was adding something to the shed for another customer to pick-up, and she was just wonderful. She seemed so genuinely kind and encouraging of my new obsession interest in beekeeping. She stood in the rain with us and let me accost her with questions. She told me that she and her husband lived there at the property, had about 80(?) hives, some of which were there and the other group at another location. I asked if I could see her hives, knowing that the bees would not be active because of the rain, and she seemed happy to host.

I've learned since I began learning that hives should not be approached from their front entrance or in the direct flight of the bees because the guard bees will perceive the approacher as a threat and attack (makes sense).

Well, since the bees were indeed huddled inside their bee boxes, I had the rare opportunity to walk right up to their entrance. I helped a couple pretty ladies who had fallen on their backs (probably their wings were heavy from the water) and at least one seemed grateful. #winning

Dorothy then brought out a framed display of a couple of the Asian Giant Hornets, aka the "Murder Hornets" that have been found in this very area. I've notice a lot of mention of these jerk-wads while being Washington, so I assumed that Dorothy had the display

because of the close proximity. Wrong! She later disclosed that the original nest of these invasive pests was discovered in one of her hives!

The documentary "Attack of the Murder Hornets" was about

their experience with the Murder Hornets attacking their bees. I told her that I hadn't seen any documentaries on it because I figured it would just make me angry. She told me to watch it, then she'd tell me the rest of the story. Oh that tease! Of course I need to watch it now.

McFall Beeyard was planning to attend a market today but it was cancelled because of the rain...for which, I am so grateful!

In my Hindu-ish Bee Religion, I'm always in search of wisdom.

Dorothy McFall was incredibly laid-back in addition to kind and accommodating, but still offered a brilliant piece of wisdom by her lighthearted comment in reference to my new business: