Honeybees/Honey and cornbread 

Posted in Circleville, Family Stories by

imageWhen I was in high school in Circleville, Ohio my science project was on honeybees. I had the opportunity of knowing an apiary who lived fairly close to us. He was willing to teach me everything I needed to know and allowed me to use his equipment and even gave me an inside bees hive that I kept in my bedroom closet. Now this decision limited a lot of my friends from spending the night. But not Betty McManes! Since this project lasted a long time she was able to spend many nights with me and we would go off to sleep with the soothing sounds of the bees happily humming away. One time I had them outside in the driveway and some of them escaped, but luckily I was able to catch the queen bee and bang pans together and the others followed her back to their hive. Many years later my daughter, Heather Atkinson, had to do a science project and, you guessed it, she did the honey bee project as well. During the fair some of the boys thought it would be fun to open the hive and let the bees get out! Well, get out they did and they were on everything! Covering all the other kids exhibits so the school called and Heather and I carefully gathered them up and put them back in their home. The bees were very docile so it was easy to do, but during the rest of the fair we had to have someone stay and guard the hive. Both times this meant an “A” for the class and I even got to go to the state competition and that was fun too.  From everything I’ve read the honey from the bees not only tastes good but it’s good for you. Especially if you eat honey made in your area it helps with allergies.  I use it to sweeten my tea and it’s great on peanut butter sandwiches. The last time I was in West Virginia, David Yaussy, had on the table during our meal a jar of honey sitting with the cornbread. I had never had it that way but when I tried it, it has not been the last time. It’s great that way. So experiment with honey! It’s good for you and helps with your sweet tooth craving!🐝

Note: Andrea Hinds is the daughter of Betty McManes Payne and she now has honeybees of her own. Isn’t it funny how things in life come full circle?

8 thoughts on “Honeybees/Honey and cornbread ”

  2. Because we shared the same bedroom growing up I definitely remember those bees! I thought it was a little creepy sleeping with them. I was always afraid they would get out and sting me! I was introduced to cornbread and honey butter 40 years ago at Marie Callendars and have been serving it ever since. It’s delicious!

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  4. Memories!!!! Daddy used to keep bees when I was a child!!! I remember one time when he had found a wild bee tree and decided to cut it down, take the bees and honey. He took all of us kids with him that night, (because you had to do it at night, so that you got all the bees, without the queen bee, all the others would die)he dressed in gauze and had a head covering with clear mask to see, and a smoker to keep the bees from flying. We tramped miles in the woods, no trail, to the tree, cut it down, then you had to get the queen bee, put her in the new hive with some of her honey, and the rest of the bees. The next day we went back and got the rest of the honey, The bee tree is a tree that is hollow inside. This one had a LOT of honey! Then when you had a hive, and a new queen bee was born, the bees would divide, and you had to have a new hive for the new colony. Yes bees are called a colony. Haven’t thought of these things in years! Thanks for reminding me! Love you guys!!

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