2/17/12

Breakfast with my honey.



Photo Lisa Porter
This is one of those posts that you think will just take a minute.  You suddenly have a bright idea for a story.
Photo Lisa Porter
So you grab your camera, pretend to be a food photographer, stylist or something. Tell your people to relax, try to ignore the raised eyebrows, remind them again that this will just take a second and that it’s not about them anyway!
Photo Lisa Porter
Then take a breather to enjoy a healthy breakfast. Smile. Take note of everyone's schedule & the lack of interest in your blog post. Smile some more because your creative juices are flowing. Pour yourself another cup of tea, grab your camera and disappear to your creative place.
Photo Lisa Porter
Before you know it…it’s noon and real life is calling!
PAUSE
Photo Lisa Porter
PLAY
This was supposed to be a quick morning post!
As I was about to say hours ago… I love the taste of raw honey and MR. swears by the health benefits of a daily tablespoon of bee pollen!
So I decided to do a little research.
Photo Lisa Porter
{Honey contains a variety of flavonoids and phenolic acids, which act as antioxidants, scavenging and eliminating free radicals. Generally, darker kinds of honey have higher antioxidant content than lighter.} The National Honey Board
All I know about bee pollen is that bees collect & carry it in pouches on their hind legs!  Sound appetizing?
Photo Lisa Porter

R. Krell's paper on Value Added Products From Beekeeping published in 1996 is an excellent resource on bee pollen. I found this via a great blog called My New Roots.
Photo Lisa Porter
A & F Country Market in Ventura sells bee pollen to my California friends.
Anthony and Frank (A & F), own the roadside business that sells out-of-this-world fresh items!
Bee Pollen at A & F Country Market in Ventura California photo by J. Garbee
A small percentage of the population is severely allergic to bee pollen (particularly if you are allergic to bees or other bee products). Please use caution and common sense before introducing this food to your diet. My New Roots
Photo Lisa Porter
By the way, do you like granola?  Our favorite blend below is served up every morning at El Rancho de Los Caballeros ~ a dude ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona where we stay when we go home for the holidays!
Photo Lisa Porter
It’s their secret recipe and I was thrilled to no end when a blogger friend passed it along!
Photo Lisa Porter
Back to bees.
Brushy Mountain Bee Farm
It’s best if you buy locally grown organic raw honey whenever you can. Locally grown because it’s produced by bees which are from the environment in which you live and fresh raw honey will also be tastier, and more potent.
via Oregon Wine Trail
It is always best to grow or consume foods from the area in which you live as they contain the immune-stimulating properties needed for your body to adapt to its environment.  Pretty smart huh!
 tractor by Alexandra Grablewski   And, when you buy from local independent farmers you help keep them in business, which is good for your economy.
Photo Lisa Porter
Besides honey & bee pollen, I could go on & on buzzing about all the gifts that bees bring to the table. I told you…better grab another cup.
honey via Oregon Wine Trail
My favorite being beeswax candlesBeeswax candles naturally clean the air, are drip-free, burn with a very bright flame and for a very long time!
Photo of Tall Natural Bees Wax Tapers via YourBeeswax on Etsy
Lorrie Tranberg makes these beautiful all-natural beeswax candles at home in California and offers them through her Etsy store, Your Beeswax.
Tall Natural Beeswax Candles by YourBeeswax on Etsy
According to the guys at This Old House, beeswax gives a fantastic polish to wood, metal, concrete counters and more.
I personally love Briwax.
Check out the This Old House list of 10 uses for beeswax here
I now have a whole new respect for apiarist but have no desire to turn my backyard into an apiary.
  Central Bee Keepers Supply
The only things bee-related in my backyard are bees, pollen, and decorative bee skeps.
 I love bee skeps!
Renee Granier, co-founder of the blog Under Spanish Moss offers this beautiful French bee skep at her shop, LaCaze.
LaCaze bee skep via Under Spanish Moss




It’s the weekend my friends so I will leave you with this… Always remember & never forget to…

AA1

Links to love.
My New Roots

YourBeesWax
Briwax
This Old House
LaCaze
Ranch de Los Caballeros
The End.