Trek Ride for Breast Cancer

On October 9th, AJ and I traveled early in the morning to Palm Coast FL (Flagler County of the east coast) to particpate in TrekWomen Ride for a Cure...aka RIDE. We signed up through PC Bike and found the staff friendly, accommodating and inviting.

We did the 25 mile trek and really enjoyed the ride on A1A and the established trails.
The area is loaded with trails and is very bike friendly.

We headed over to the beach following and had a great lunch at Golden Lion (thanks for the rec)....fish tacos and wrap...yummy!

The day could not have been more beautiful and we decided it would be nice to make a weekend of this next year!

October is....

Breast Cancer Awareness month. So we try to get involved because we have Grammie still and are appreciative for the advancements in survival. pinkfiretrucks.org came through Gainesville and it was moving that firefighters were so committed to this cause. Look for them in your town...they have a traveling schedule.

AJ receives Boy Scouts Life Rank...in March

Yes, I am just a little bit behind in getting my blog updated but AJ completed the requirements to advance to Life in Boy Scouts back in March 2010. He is looking forward to searching for an Eagle project in the next few years......while completing other requirements.
I am very proud of him to say the least!

Bee-Loved * Bee-Blessed * Bee-Mother

Bee-Loved * Bee-Blessed * Bee-Mother

Yesterday, AJ and I joined Cindy and Mary to spend a full day of extracting honey, wax and propolis from the hives. We gathered at Mary's home on Paynes Prairie and used her husband's wonderful barn for our operation. Here is our pictorial journey.

Teaching the "smoker" prep - oh the smell of burning dry pine needles...now on to the hives.

Now on to the barn for extracting of raw, unprocessed, unheated, filtered HONEY, beeswax and propolis.

We were excited that from two different hives came two different tastes and color of honey. The top row is the light honey and had a mild sweet taste; the rows below are darker (wax was darker also) and has a more distinct taste of orange blossoms (or what came to mind first).

I know why it is called liquid gold now. From 26 frames (what holds the combs where the honey is made in the comb) from three supers (boxes that hold the frames which make up the hive), we bottled 27 - 16 oz and 47 - 8 oz jars. We extracted very little propolis and the wax is currently draining of honey, to be used soon in lip balms.

I am truly grateful to Mary and Cindy for this wonderful experience....as we continue to learn, AJ and I are continually amazed at the wonder of the honey bee. They are amazing little creatures with a specific mission and I cannot imagine where we would be in the world without their plan.

Perfume - Dish Swap 2010

Group 1

Group 2

Due August 1st, two perfume swap groups spent prior months blending essential oils, absolutes, resins, etc to individually create magnificent essences to share with 11 other people.
The results are astonuding and so unique that it gives any perfumer a run. I am so enjoying these wonderful perfumes and hope everyone in the swap will as well.

Thank you to each particpant! They are obviously passionate about their fumes!

AJ's team takes 1st place at SECME day

AJ and his team received 1st place in the mousetrap car event for the Alachua County middle schools. On March 27th, the University of Florida College of Engineering held this annual event for the area schools.

He also received ribbons for 3rd place in water bottle rocket and math.

He and Grampie had a great day together!

50 mile cycle ride on the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail

On April 24th, AJ, along with other scouts in our troop completed the 50 mile ride to complete the cycling merit badge. The counselor awarded them with a Tour de France water bottle (resently returning from Europe) and ice cream!

Here is AJ with his #1 supporter - MOM!

Scoutreach Bike Tour - hummm well......

It was cancelled on April 11th but we went anyways! We all completed around 34-36 miles on the A1A roundtrip St Augustine to Marineland. Beautiful weather and followed but a great lunch at the snack shack at Anastasia Park.

Scoutreach Bike Tour

We wil be headed to the Florida coast of St Augustine to bike ride for Scoutreach - reaching out to other young men to give them an opportunity to join and enjoy scouting.
The date of the ride is April 11, 2010. AJ has set a goal to raise $500 and plans the 30 mile ride (maybe the 100 mile). 35% of the pledges goes to him to help pay for summer camp.
He appreciates all contribtuons, no matter the amount.

SNOW!

On February 12th, AJ and I traveled with three other BSA troops to Davis WV - Timberline Resort....for a frigid weekend.

We had a wonderful time !