Lack of brillance amazes me!

[mixofsam]

Don't wear a black fleece/fuzzy jacket and not smoke your hive (I was being lazy). Just wanted to peek in to make sure the queens were released in each hive. They thought I was some kind of furry animal (bear I'm guessing) nosing around their hives. I have one of those cheap tie-down veils. They were zinging me and trying to get under my veil. They seemed to get tangle up in the fleece and started making this unerving buzzing sound right at my neck line (where the veil/fleece meet). Glad no one was around to see me running in the field flailing around like a banchy! Lesson learned....but I'm sure there will be many more bee endeavors where I will question my intelligence.
Chris

[hoodswoods]

The ONLY time I've been stung on my hand was wearing my grey construction gloves in a moment of stupidity. I've worked the hives gloveless plenty of times - don't be a bear - wear your veil to avoid losing an eye, a white long-sleeved shirt and your pant legs taped shut - the worst sting I had was on the back of my thigh from a bee climbing up my pants leg (could have been worse - eh?).

[NasalSponge]

I work my hives in a black polyester FedEx shirt all the time with no issues....the main problem here was not using smoke.

[HONEYDEW]

Glad no one was around to see me running in the field flailing around like a banchy! Chris

Been there done that, I swear one day I'll take flight....

[Oldbee]

If you opened the hives on April 21, that was one of the few nice days that we [So.Wisc.] have had recently; still the temperature was only around 53-60, and that being for a few hours out in the sun. The long period of cold and cloudy weather doesn't allow the bees to get out and do what honey bees do. This may have contributed as to why your bees were a bit ornery. I have probably done what you did and not light up a smoker when just checking to see if the queens have been released in just a few hives. I don't recall the bees being defensive but it was during nice warm weather. I allways wear something white though and a veil of course.

[summer1052]

Somebody here on the forum used to have a signature line with something about "Mother Nature is a tough teacher. She gives the grade first, and then the lessons," or something to that effect.

If that's YOU, please remind me of your quote! It's great.

I think all of us have done something as equally brilliant as this at least once. Down here in AHB country, you usually don't do it twice! As long as you learn from your moment, you won't have any need to repeat what my Dear Daughters call, 'The Bee Dance'.

As an aside, as a red-headed Irish woman, I must ask what you think is WRONG with screaming like the Ban Sidhe? ("Banshee") There's a time and a place for screaming about death, and being chased by an entire hive that thinks you are a (stupid) bear is a perfect opportunity, IMHO.

Sometimes I think the survival of the human race is exactly what DIS-proves Dr. Darwin's theory!

*wink*
Summer

[LoneDrone]

In the 70s one of my PawPaw's workers had the bright idea to tie-dye his bee-suit. Heard that it didn't work out for him exactly the way he had intended!! lol

[snapper1d]

About 15 years ago my brother gave me a hat from the lumberyard that was purple.Nice hat!!! I had it on one day when I went to the apiary and I smoked the hive and opened it up.Man!!! Bees dont like purple hats!!! The didnt sting me at all but they did flog that purple hat.I took it off and gave it a fling and the bees followed it and I went on and worked the hive with no further problems!!!Being foolish I did the same thing again once after that with the very same reaction!!! I have not even tried it for a third time!!! I guess I am not too old to learn something new!!!!