the bears and the bees

 

Contrary to her bear nature, Little Bear isn't a fanatic about honey. She has recently discovered the joy of peanut butter, as have my pants, my hair and the window sills. She dissects her prey, I mean sandwich, with the precision of a surgeon, carefully peeling apart the slices of bread and then licks it clean of peanut butter. Sometimes she eats the bread, but most of the time it is abandoned in ragged pieces on the plate. Recently I've begun adding just a dollop or two of honey, and after a tentative lick, she proceeds with her usual enthusiasm.

Have you ever noticed the differences in honey? At one point I blithely purchased honey at the grocery with nary a thought as to the source. It wasn't until my friend, Phil, began keeping bees that I gave it much consideration. The average grocery brand is actually a combination of honey from a variety of hives, and as one of my friends put it, is only good as an addition to yogurt. Or when you're desperate, was the implication. 

My favorite honey is orange blossom or clover which I buy from the organic Amish farmer when I head north to visit my mother. During my first trip to the farmer's market here, I purchased a small jar of honey from a local farmer that declared, BLESSED BEES! across the front. The jar was $8.00, and my mother muttered that it cost that much to have the preacher drive out to the hives every day for a blessing. The honey is good, light and sweet, but at that price it should have healing properties.

For Little Bear, honey and peanut butter is only an appetizer. Real breakfast consists of her favorite food, bacon. The bear is a bacon bandit. I have to place the cooling strips high up on the counter or else she steals them. She acts like she'll share, but I know better.

 

Comments

[Amy O]

Sim! Im going to look for that bacon STAT. Theres nothing we enjoy more around here. ;)

[Amy O]

Hi, Margo! Ive only had a small bit of tupelo, but I remember how light it was. It was a clear gold color, like the epitome of what honey should be. 

[Margo]

I want to get me some tupelo honey, see what that tastes like.

[Rebecca]

That girl looks more like you every day! And whisper this little tip in her ear from me: Neuske's bacon. It's the best EVER. You can probably get it at Whole Foods.

[Kendall Grey]

Little Bear is SO cute. Such sweet little cheeks! I miss those cheeks on my kids. They grow up too fast.

I don't have a very discerning palette (sp?), but I had some really good honey in Australia. Well, *everything* is good in Australia. Sigh. My dad has a friend who raises bees for honey. I'll ask him for a jar next time and see if I can tell the difference between that and store-bought. Probably not. Hahaha!

[Janet]

Bacon...our favorite food group! I wonder what it would be like in a peanut butter sandwich? Bear bliss?