Review: The Bee Book

The Bee Book by Fergus Chadwick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another fun book to read about bees. My favorite chapter was the chapter about attracting bees. I have to build a bamboo bee house, the clay bee house, the wood block house, and the pallet hotel. And I wish I could plant every one of the plants. Bring on the bees.
I also liked the two pages about changing comb. In other books I read that its good to change brood comb ever 2 years or so but, I don't recall those other books saying how to change the comb. So it was interesting to read about the Bailey and shook swarm method. I learn something never every time I read another book about bees. Bees are awesome.
I have not kept bees in a beehive so I don't know if I would like it or be any good at it. I do want to try keeping bees. It sounds so interesting. I do know one thing. I like growing pants and I want to plant plants that will attract bees. This was defiantly worth the read. The pictures were nice to look at also.

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A new OatmeaBreakfast song called microwave

I thought writing a song about a microwave would be a good idea. You the listener will have to be the judge of that.I did not get the song mixed as good as I would have liked. I wanted people to be able to hear the lyrics. I can hear the lyrics on my computer so I hope other people will be able to hear the lyrics. I wonder if I could write a song that will make people laugh. I will have to try sometime. Anyway I hope that if you listen to the song that you enjoy it. Goodnight from OatmealBreakfast. Until next song.

Review: Bees, Wasps, and Ants: The Indispensable Role of Hymenoptera in Gardens

Bees, Wasps, and Ants: The Indispensable Role of Hymenoptera in Gardens by Eric Grissell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wish I knew it all. I am glad I don't know it all. Because if I now it all there would be a lot in world that no one would know anything about. Before reading this book I had never heard the word sawfly and had no idea what they were. Insects are amazing that's all I can say.
My favorite chapter about the book was the one about planting a garden for Hymenoptera. That's not the exact name of the chapter but, its what the chapter is about.
I wonder how much information entomologists memorize. And how much information that have to look up in a book or on the internet.
Reading articles saying that insects were declining made me want to know more about insects. And I am glad I have read books about insects. Now all I need to do is plant a garden to attract hymenoptera so I can see them up close. I defiantly will need a field guide to identify them.
This was a fun book to read.

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kitchenSink OatmealBreakfasts new song

I had the idea to write a song about a kitchen sink that had dishes in it that needed to be washed. As I myself had washed a sink full of dishes I figured I had the right experience to write a song about a sink full of dishes. Does that make the song any better probably not. I thought about what types of sounds are made when washing dishes as that is what I wanted kitchenSink to sound like a person washing dishes in the kitchen sink. Does kitchenSink sound like that. No way. But, I tried. I hope that if anyone listens to kitchen sink that they get it stuck in their head for a whole day. And I hope that they tap their feet to kitchen sink. I also hope that they will listen to the song while washing dishes. Goodnight from OatmealBreakfast.

Review: The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden

The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden by Kim Flottum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have also read the 4th edition of the backyard beekeeper. So I thought why not read the 3rd edition.
Bees are one of my favorite subjects to read about. I was thinking about when I grew sunflowers years ago I remember seeing bees on the sunflowers but, I had no interest in how the bees lived, what they ate, how long they lived, how many bees were in a hive. Back then I had no idea bout bees. And if I thought about bees I assumed that there were only honey bees or bumble bees.
I am glad I got interested in bees. They are fascinating insects that are so interesting. My world is so much better know that I know a little bit about bees. One day I hope to become a beekeeper. I can't wait to see if I like beekeeping and if I am good at beekeeping.

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refrigerator OatmealBreakfasts newest song

Review: Fruitless Fall: The Collapse of the Honey Bee and the Coming Agricultural Crisis

Fruitless Fall: The Collapse of the Honey Bee and the Coming Agricultural Crisis by Rowan Jacobsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had heard about colony collapse disorder before reading this book. I knew that the bees would disappear from the hive with no trace. That is about all I knew. Its was so interesting to read about the investigation into colony collapse disorder. I thought that there would be an identified cause. Maybe there is now but, not when this book was written. If I were a beekeeper and my bees disappeared without a trace that would scare me.
For me this book was a page turner. I liked reading about Kirk Webster and how he went from using chemicals to breeding Russian honey bees. I also enjoyed the appendix about some beekeepers using 4.9 millimeter cells instead of 5.4 millimeter cells. In that same appendix the author wrote about Dennis Murrell and how he used top bar hives and had less Verroa mites and diseases such as chalkbrood or was it Nosema or was it diseases. The discussion about California almond orchards was also interesting.
I was not sure that this book would be that interesting to read when I got it to read. After reading Fruitless fall I can say for certain that I am glad I read it. Bees are amazing.

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Review: JavaScript Absolute Beginner's Guide

JavaScript Absolute Beginner's Guide by Kirupa Chinnathambi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had seen the word closures but, had no idea what it meant. After reading the closures chapter I think I understand the concept. I also liked the chapter that described the browser tools. What can I say about the book? It was a quick read. I liked that. And after reading the book I think I will actually start writing javascipt code instead of thinking about writing javascipt code. I have thought about writing javscript code for years by the way.

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sugarCookies OatmealBreakfasts tasty new song

Who doesn't enjoy eating sugar cookies. I know I like sugar cookies. All that frosting on top. Tasty. I hope that anyone who listens to this song finds it as good as the best tasting sugar cookies you can buy. I hope the songs makes you want to go out and eat sugar cookies. I hope the song makes you want to listen to the song over and over. Goodnight from OatmealBreakfasts until next time.

Review: The Beekeeper's Problem Solver: 100 Common Problems Explored and Explained

The Beekeeper's Problem Solver: 100 Common Problems Explored and Explained by James E. Tew
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always enjoy reading about honey bees. I liked that this book was a fast read. For most of the book there is a question and then the answer. And on the page opposite it there is a picture with a small amount of text.
I hope I know more about answers to honey bee problems after reading this book. I wish my brain were like a photocopier and could remember everything I read. Its not. I wish books could be downloaded to my brain like software for a computer. It can't. Maybe in the future.
Two answers stood out to me. One was about problems with aunts. In another book I read about putting the legs of the hive stand in cans and filling those cans with motor oil. This book says that the aunts can get past that so that solution does not work all the time. And the other answer was about laying workers. Another book I read said to shake the the workers off the frames away from the hive and the laying workers will not be able to make it back to the hive. This book says that the laying workers will be able to make it to the hive. So shaking the workers off the frames away from the hive does not work. At least I have remembered some of what I have read in other bee keeping books.
I enjoy reading about bees so I enjoyed reading this book. Now all I need to do is remember what I read so that I will have the information when I need it.

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Review: The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster

The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster by Sarah Krasnostein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had read an article about Trauma cleaning in a magazine years ago. That is why I wanted to read this book. Reading about all the challenges that Sandra Pankhurst has had lot happen in her life and that she has made it through those challenges is inspiring to me. Its amazing that with all her heath problems she is able to work.
When faced with a problem I want to give up. I tell myself that I will never get through any problem I face because I don't have an education, Or I tell myself I am not a hard working, Or I tell myself I never finish anything I start. But, when faced with a problem Sandra keeps on going.
I was surprised to learn that the hormones that Sandra takes will shorten her life. If I read the part of the book right. I am sure I did.
It was also interesting to read about Sandra's clients. I don't know how anyone can live in that type of filth. I know I think that I need to keep things because one day I might sell them for a lot of money. But, I could not stand to live in a big mess. At least I hope I never would be able to. But, if there was some bad event in my life who knows I might become a hoarder too.
I think Sandra has lived an amazing life. I have often wondered if I could work as a Trauma cleaner. I am not sure. I might not be able to take the bad smells or see blood. or cleaning up the scene of a murder. But, I would like helping people in their hour of need. Making their lives a little cleaner.

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