The mechanic two blocks from me has a blooming honeybee population. He collects honey and gifts it to customers with their service. When he discovered the hives, he called the city and they said they would remove them by destroying them, so instead he embraced them and became their caretakers. As a bonus he says they are natural security.
So not releasing this week, but embracing.
Thank you for this beautiful space Amber, looking forward to celebrating with you later.
I’m letting go of my need to please others which always leaves me out in the cold. I’m clinging to my optimism, my support for all women & the democratic principals I was raised with. I’m starting a new job in June with the hope that I can do even more to support my loved ones & these causes close to me. There’s gonna be some shakeups along the way when I don’t lay down like a rug for others. I trust I will make it to the other side and be an even stronger braver mother my boys deserve in this world. Let’s go girls!
Also like European people, the European honeybee often outcompetes and displaces native bees. There’s approximately 3600 different species of bee in North America and many of those are extremely rare and little-studied. Habitat loss and overuse of pesticides as well as competition with nonnative species make it hard for our little buddies. One way to support them is by planting native plants and garden plants that aren’t treated with chemicals and to try to avoid pesticides at all cost. But the best thing that can be done for them is to protect their wild habitats. Check these homies out https://www.xerces.org/endangered-species/wild-bees
I was coming here to also promote The Xerces Society. They gave us a grant last year and we have planted 80 native pollinator plants on our place. They have lost funding in this whole debacle, so need members and donations.
I’m letting go of the hold my abusive ex-husband has had over me and my daughter the past 11 1/2 years through family court and child support. Yesterday I received a “notice of withdrawal of attorney of record” from my abuser’s attorney. That man has helped my ex torment me through lies and frivolous litigation, which caused severe anxiety, depression and CPTSD while navigating family court self- represented. Knowing my abuser no longer has an attorney to hide behind to justify his actions was a HUGE weight off my shoulders and a big step in my healing journey. Thank you for providing this space to share.
Good riddance to the Toronto Maple Leafs. I feel I could write this every April/May, but I am so sick of them losing in the playoffs in spectacular fashion and constantly letting me down. I'm almost numb to it at this point. I knew they were going to lose Game 7 and was almost relieved when Florida started scoring so I could turn the game off and put on a movie.
Fun (?) facts: They are 0-7 in their last 7 Game 7s. They are 2-13 in elimination games. They have the longest drought of winning the Stanley Cup, making the finals and the 2nd longest drought of making the Final 4.
I've even started betting against them in the playoffs, because might as well make money off the misery. And sports gambling is another thing I have to let go of, I deleted the DraftKings app.
I wish I could completely let them go and stop being a diehard fan, maybe check the standings once a week/once a month instead of watching/following every game, but I can't- my biggest fear is I'll finally quit them and then they will start winning.
Despite my hatred of the Leafs right now, I am going to Toronto in six weeks. I will go to the Maple Leafs store. I will spend lots of money. So this is an aspirational let go at this point...or they could actually start winning when it counts? The Braves have won me two World Series, surely you could go on one deep playoff run that doesn't end with me having an existential crisis.
I'm one of those people who become, let's just say a miserable excuse for a human being when we don't get sun every once in a while. I think it's my Greek blood. My mother and I used to "worship" the sun. Instead of sun screen we used baby oil, and iodine (yes), and then used a thing covered with foil to reflect even more sun onto our poor, baking skin. This May has been the coldest, grayest May in many years (I'm in NY). A couple of days ago it finally got to me and I'm barely holding on. I may have to let go of my basil - that was doing beautifully when I planted it mid month and now . . . not so much. And the hummers, who bring such joy, have vanished! I'm told not to worry, they will be back, but I want them NOW.
On the topic of bees and pollinators, when I started my huge garden in Maine in the late 1990s (herbs, flowers, and a few veggies), there were lots of bees of all types. And the ancient crab apple in the back yard was buzzing so loudly you could hear it from the porch. I would go stand under the branches covered with blooms and bees that reached right to the ground to experience the wonderful, enlivening energy of the bees! After about 12 years or so, the bees were essentially gone. I remember one early summer, the comfrey was blooming (and bees love comfrey fleurs) and there was one lone bumble. Just one! It make my heart hurt. All I could do was cry. I remember hundreds of monarchs and swallowtail butterflies, and now one or two if I'm fortunate. it's so sad. And so frightening.
I would like to let go of mowing my lawn with a gas engine push mower and use a scythe. My mower broke down after I'd mowed half my lawn and the half I haven't mowed is now so out of control the cops are going to throw me in jail over it. The lawn won't magically mow itself while I'm locked up, though it would be incredibly awesome if it would. Anyway, I've seen videos of people mowing lawns with scythes, and it seems like a peaceful, relaxing, and eco-friendly way to do it.
They have non-motorized push mowers too. I've heard the new ones are way easier to use than the old ones I remember from my childhood. Or you could get a goat. LOL
Thank you Amber for this enlightening and depressing factual information.
Love bees. Hate disaster mongers.
Meanwhile, last week I got a job assignment but lost a lovely lady. And this week, I completed the job… but also GAINED BACK the lady, and i’m much the better for that.
Letting go of the pessimism that arises in the gaslighting of the MAGA acronym and its spin-offs. Embracing a light-hearted, dark optimism each time I encounter one of these new four-letter words: YES, we can indeed make our lives, our communities, our relationship with other-than-human beings, and our planet great and healthy again ❤️
Ah, the bees. We live in Sonoma County, which by geography and stats is the 'real' wine country (we do love Napa, it's beautiful), but the history of this area is agriculture, and without bees...there ain't no ag'. And like many other life forms in this world, studies and research continue to reveal just how sentient bees are. It's a privilege and Zen joy to sit in our small garden and be with them, and our responsibility to keep them healthy. We might need to create a national bee awareness day... Happy Bee-Day Amber!
This week, i wanna let go of hiding behind sth in order to not do sth. Last Friday, while i was with my parents in our villa-garden, at some point, i changed my clothes and went into the garden to help my parents in picking cherries before the sunset. Although THEY picked more than me, i was happy that i didn't hide myself behind my German practice materials, and helped them even a bit.
I agree with the bigger message here. We need to protect the integrity of our voting system and be thoughtful about who gets to vote. This is key to stopping harmful Republicans from taking major offices like the presidency. It will also help keep them from gaining power at the state and local levels. Right now it’s clear that only Democrats are committed to advancing justice, equity, and real progressive change. Maybe we should even consider not allowing Republicans and libertarians who oppose our values to run for office.
Amber, your love for bees really shines through! Don't give up hope - there's so much we can do to help our buzzing friends.
Here's some good news: we have over 4,000 native bee species in North America! These gentle bees are amazing pollinators and rarely sting. Many live alone in small holes, not big hives.
A few more bee-friendly groups to check out:
Planet Bee Foundation - focuses on native bees and teaches kids about pollinators
Wild Ones - helps you find the perfect native plants for your area
Pollinator Partnership works across North America with tons of free guides
Every flower you plant matters. Every person you talk to about bees matters. Your garden can buzz with life again!
Keep planting with hope. The bees need voices like yours! 🐝🌻
My neighbor keeps bees, and we talk about it a lot! Some small things everyone can do personally to help is not weed as much. Maintain the natural growth in your yard to preserve the ecosystem for them. Plant indigenous flowers. And buy local! It helps your immune system, allergies, and supports someone working hard to keep bees alive.
The mechanic two blocks from me has a blooming honeybee population. He collects honey and gifts it to customers with their service. When he discovered the hives, he called the city and they said they would remove them by destroying them, so instead he embraced them and became their caretakers. As a bonus he says they are natural security.
So not releasing this week, but embracing.
Thank you for this beautiful space Amber, looking forward to celebrating with you later.
Sending love and strength out to you all.
I’m letting go of my need to please others which always leaves me out in the cold. I’m clinging to my optimism, my support for all women & the democratic principals I was raised with. I’m starting a new job in June with the hope that I can do even more to support my loved ones & these causes close to me. There’s gonna be some shakeups along the way when I don’t lay down like a rug for others. I trust I will make it to the other side and be an even stronger braver mother my boys deserve in this world. Let’s go girls!
Pardon my swearing Noelle, but fuck yes to all of this. 🙌🏻
Also like European people, the European honeybee often outcompetes and displaces native bees. There’s approximately 3600 different species of bee in North America and many of those are extremely rare and little-studied. Habitat loss and overuse of pesticides as well as competition with nonnative species make it hard for our little buddies. One way to support them is by planting native plants and garden plants that aren’t treated with chemicals and to try to avoid pesticides at all cost. But the best thing that can be done for them is to protect their wild habitats. Check these homies out https://www.xerces.org/endangered-species/wild-bees
I was coming here to also promote The Xerces Society. They gave us a grant last year and we have planted 80 native pollinator plants on our place. They have lost funding in this whole debacle, so need members and donations.
Yeah they got hit hard and are doing such vital work for the charismatic and uncharismatic invertebrates alike.
I’m letting go of the hold my abusive ex-husband has had over me and my daughter the past 11 1/2 years through family court and child support. Yesterday I received a “notice of withdrawal of attorney of record” from my abuser’s attorney. That man has helped my ex torment me through lies and frivolous litigation, which caused severe anxiety, depression and CPTSD while navigating family court self- represented. Knowing my abuser no longer has an attorney to hide behind to justify his actions was a HUGE weight off my shoulders and a big step in my healing journey. Thank you for providing this space to share.
Thank you for sharing this Danielle 🩷
Good riddance to the Toronto Maple Leafs. I feel I could write this every April/May, but I am so sick of them losing in the playoffs in spectacular fashion and constantly letting me down. I'm almost numb to it at this point. I knew they were going to lose Game 7 and was almost relieved when Florida started scoring so I could turn the game off and put on a movie.
Fun (?) facts: They are 0-7 in their last 7 Game 7s. They are 2-13 in elimination games. They have the longest drought of winning the Stanley Cup, making the finals and the 2nd longest drought of making the Final 4.
I've even started betting against them in the playoffs, because might as well make money off the misery. And sports gambling is another thing I have to let go of, I deleted the DraftKings app.
I wish I could completely let them go and stop being a diehard fan, maybe check the standings once a week/once a month instead of watching/following every game, but I can't- my biggest fear is I'll finally quit them and then they will start winning.
Despite my hatred of the Leafs right now, I am going to Toronto in six weeks. I will go to the Maple Leafs store. I will spend lots of money. So this is an aspirational let go at this point...or they could actually start winning when it counts? The Braves have won me two World Series, surely you could go on one deep playoff run that doesn't end with me having an existential crisis.
Excited for the Zoom today, Happy Birthday!
I'm one of those people who become, let's just say a miserable excuse for a human being when we don't get sun every once in a while. I think it's my Greek blood. My mother and I used to "worship" the sun. Instead of sun screen we used baby oil, and iodine (yes), and then used a thing covered with foil to reflect even more sun onto our poor, baking skin. This May has been the coldest, grayest May in many years (I'm in NY). A couple of days ago it finally got to me and I'm barely holding on. I may have to let go of my basil - that was doing beautifully when I planted it mid month and now . . . not so much. And the hummers, who bring such joy, have vanished! I'm told not to worry, they will be back, but I want them NOW.
On the topic of bees and pollinators, when I started my huge garden in Maine in the late 1990s (herbs, flowers, and a few veggies), there were lots of bees of all types. And the ancient crab apple in the back yard was buzzing so loudly you could hear it from the porch. I would go stand under the branches covered with blooms and bees that reached right to the ground to experience the wonderful, enlivening energy of the bees! After about 12 years or so, the bees were essentially gone. I remember one early summer, the comfrey was blooming (and bees love comfrey fleurs) and there was one lone bumble. Just one! It make my heart hurt. All I could do was cry. I remember hundreds of monarchs and swallowtail butterflies, and now one or two if I'm fortunate. it's so sad. And so frightening.
I would like to let go of mowing my lawn with a gas engine push mower and use a scythe. My mower broke down after I'd mowed half my lawn and the half I haven't mowed is now so out of control the cops are going to throw me in jail over it. The lawn won't magically mow itself while I'm locked up, though it would be incredibly awesome if it would. Anyway, I've seen videos of people mowing lawns with scythes, and it seems like a peaceful, relaxing, and eco-friendly way to do it.
They have non-motorized push mowers too. I've heard the new ones are way easier to use than the old ones I remember from my childhood. Or you could get a goat. LOL
happy birthday
Thank you Amber for this enlightening and depressing factual information.
Love bees. Hate disaster mongers.
Meanwhile, last week I got a job assignment but lost a lovely lady. And this week, I completed the job… but also GAINED BACK the lady, and i’m much the better for that.
Letting go of the pessimism that arises in the gaslighting of the MAGA acronym and its spin-offs. Embracing a light-hearted, dark optimism each time I encounter one of these new four-letter words: YES, we can indeed make our lives, our communities, our relationship with other-than-human beings, and our planet great and healthy again ❤️
Happy belated birthday!
Ah, the bees. We live in Sonoma County, which by geography and stats is the 'real' wine country (we do love Napa, it's beautiful), but the history of this area is agriculture, and without bees...there ain't no ag'. And like many other life forms in this world, studies and research continue to reveal just how sentient bees are. It's a privilege and Zen joy to sit in our small garden and be with them, and our responsibility to keep them healthy. We might need to create a national bee awareness day... Happy Bee-Day Amber!
love you and the bees 🐝💛
This week, i wanna let go of hiding behind sth in order to not do sth. Last Friday, while i was with my parents in our villa-garden, at some point, i changed my clothes and went into the garden to help my parents in picking cherries before the sunset. Although THEY picked more than me, i was happy that i didn't hide myself behind my German practice materials, and helped them even a bit.
I agree with the bigger message here. We need to protect the integrity of our voting system and be thoughtful about who gets to vote. This is key to stopping harmful Republicans from taking major offices like the presidency. It will also help keep them from gaining power at the state and local levels. Right now it’s clear that only Democrats are committed to advancing justice, equity, and real progressive change. Maybe we should even consider not allowing Republicans and libertarians who oppose our values to run for office.
Amber, your love for bees really shines through! Don't give up hope - there's so much we can do to help our buzzing friends.
Here's some good news: we have over 4,000 native bee species in North America! These gentle bees are amazing pollinators and rarely sting. Many live alone in small holes, not big hives.
A few more bee-friendly groups to check out:
Planet Bee Foundation - focuses on native bees and teaches kids about pollinators
Wild Ones - helps you find the perfect native plants for your area
Pollinator Partnership works across North America with tons of free guides
Every flower you plant matters. Every person you talk to about bees matters. Your garden can buzz with life again!
Keep planting with hope. The bees need voices like yours! 🐝🌻
My neighbor keeps bees, and we talk about it a lot! Some small things everyone can do personally to help is not weed as much. Maintain the natural growth in your yard to preserve the ecosystem for them. Plant indigenous flowers. And buy local! It helps your immune system, allergies, and supports someone working hard to keep bees alive.