The Beeswax Department at Gretchen Bee Ranch

Today we attended a friend’s service at a local nursing home and we learned one of our dear friends, Mary, had passed away. It was hard to learn but not totally unexpected as she’d recently had a double fall and some other health issues. But her sweet roomie was so heartbroken. They had become best friends. We hugged K and cried. Well, I cried with K. I’m a big crier.

Nursing homes are incredible places of love and friendships and acceptance. We are learning so much these past two years of our ministry. We are so humbled and blessed to be accepted and loved by our friends in the care facilities we visit.

After the service, Mark and I sat together and made a list of all the friends we’ve lost these past two years while they were in a care home. We don’t want to forget them. 💟

Time flies for sure. Our bee biz started about 18 years ago although Mark Gretchen has kept bees on and off for over 40 years. I’ve done bee work with him for about 20 years. Maybe a little more.

I still remember key moments in our . Getting the big honey house built. Getting two big 10,000 (not 100) pound honey seasons in a row after a big 2011 drought where colony loss was heavy but thankfully not for us. Getting our first batch of 100 smokers and being told we’d never sell all them smokers, only to have another shipment needed the next season. Maybe it was sooner. Oh and then there’s the first Mann Lake Bee & Ag Supply order. And the first maxanthoneyequipment order. The first, second, third and more orders of protective gear. Wonderful memories.