Mar 29, 2019

For the bees

I read an article about making water available to bees during summer and it sounded like a good idea.  Whether it was another phony baloney story or not, who knows?  Since the little guys need to land in order to drink, using a shallow dish with stones works well.  If what I read is wrong, who cares?  I love the color and iridescence of these.
 
 I found stainless steel dishes and old pans at the now defunct flea market which will work great.  More easily cleaned than ceramic and unbreakable, they make a great water source for the deer and other wildlife. So I purchased these glass (not acrylic) beads to fill the pan with and I think it will also look pretty (was surprised at only $1.60 each!).  Something attractive to set their fuzzy butts on when taking a sip.  I wondered why some of the dishes were so thick, my brother explained that they are insulated stainless plates used by the hospital to keep patients' meal plates warm.  But when they hired a food service, all were thrown in a dumpster, not even metals and plastics are recycled.  He said he was shocked at what hospitals throw away (that would not be harmful or contaminated) that missions or clinics could use.  I am attending a fundraiser tomorrow for a friend's son that is going to Ghana with Medical Brigades.org. 
 
Pat Catan's got new items in for Easter and spring, and the store is pretty well stocked except for some items that are depleted in their warehouse.  They had loads of the square sets of three paper mache boxes, and several bins of the heart shape and small talls.  If I can find the heart label of the blue ponies and it prints well, I may get a few more of the boxes before they are all gone.  I think the small talls would be nice with a pincushion top and I plan to cover them with paper or fabric.  The short rounds covered also, maybe a berry top.

 
Another one of my favorite samplers that you don't see very often, Mary Haslehurst from Scarlet Letter.  Different than any other I've stitched with its freehand side stitching and the flame stitched top which I really enjoyed.
 
Yesterday my nephew went to the dentist for a molar extraction, and was told to immediately visit his doctor.  His heart rate was going up and down like a yo-yo which was never caught before.  He is in a lot of pain with the tooth and can't have it pulled until the issue is diagnosed.  On April 8 he will have an echo and a monitor, two days later a stress test along with two others I never heard of.  Since he is Type 1 and 48 years old, they will give him a thorough work up.
 
Regarding the Medicare plans I previously mentioned, I chose the BC supplement that requires no co-pays for tests, hospitalization, ER, doctor visits, nothing.  It is more expensive and you forfeit any amount toward dental and a yearly eye exam with glasses, but since I'm not sure what else may develop this year, I thought it best to have full coverage.  I can change at year's end back to an advantage plan if I choose.  My thinking - I pay for full car and house insurance, why not myself?  More peace of mind than anything.  I also had to purchase a part D Rx plan and the only two drugs I take are quite expensive so I will fall into the dreaded donut hole in a few months.  Mark chose the advantage plan (which includes prescriptions)  from Aetna called Coventry and will pay $0 per month.  Excellent plan with low co-pays and you even get a $50 allowance per month from CVS for over the counter items!!  And $250 toward dental!  And glasses/contacts with exam!   I plan to join the same at year's end once all the tests and doctors are over.  Today is the last day to make a change so we made it! 
 
Hope your week went well.  April is upon us!  Rain today, my husband is golfing in it.
 
Thanks for visiting!

p.s.  Those cookies are melt in your mouth, more cakelike, and it may be hard to form a ball because of the soft batter and that's OK.  Very old recipe!  Original was a little different and rolled in cinnamon sugar, we love this recipe more.
 
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10 comments:

arcadia said...

That sounds great that you can go so easily from a Medicare plan to another... here any is very expensive (I'm 49 and it's around 120 for a good coverage) unless you are a government employee, but for everybody else if you jump from a contract to another, they have those 3 to 6 months when you can get no coverage for a bunch of things (just a basic coverage)... Did I mention I hate my country ? I bet I did, a million time

Arcadia
https://pretendingthatiamdoingwell.blogspot.com/

wenda j said...

I set out water for the bees, I use marbles, for that sparkly look. Sometimes I will add a touch of honey, birds gather as well. But the honey will attract the occasional wasp, but that really doesn't bother me too much, I can jump out of my chair and run inside if they get too aggressive. Love your blog, I have been reading for years, you inspire me to do many things better. Thank you.

kelley said...

I am so doing that for the bees...thank you! Lovely sampler as always...

diamondc said...

Hi Marly: We have a bird bath the bees land on the side of the bowl, its a resin bowl so they have something to cling too.
I have Blue Cross Blue Shield, I love it I have the Advantage plan but only pay three dollars for prescriptions, each state have their own plan I guess, we pay high premiums, but well worth it we did not see a bill for Mikes triple bypass three years ago, I did not see a bill last year when I was in hospital.
I would think that it would be the same across the board, I also have part D, so sorry you will be in the donut hole, thankfully its just once.

Catherine

Anonymous said...

I am a beekeeper and it is nice in the summer for the bees to have sources of additional water. It takes a lot of water for the girls to make honey and keep the hive cool in the summer! If you want to attract bees, scenting the water is better than putting something in it that will attract varmints or mold. In the spring, I use lemongrass essential oil in my empty hives to attract bees to the area. I also put it in a fountain that I have, and you would be surprised how fast they find it!
Your sampler is wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
Susan

C M Designs said...

Am so glad you're getting insurance coverage. Have had Anthem BC and BS for years. Am happy with it. Didn't have to pay anything for cataract surgery and am hoping I won't have to pay for the weekend that I was in the hospital recently. Haven't gotten a bill of any sort yet. Keeping fingers crossed.
Good idea to give the bees a drink. Never thought that they would be thirsty. The squirrels get in my bird baths with their muddy feet. Guess they need water too.
Have a happy weekend.
Charlotte in Va.

Lisa B. said...

Hi, Marly. Just wanted to let you know that I experienced the same issues on several occasions. when I had been at the dentist. I never knew why it happened to me until I had to have major surgery and the same issue came up. The surgeon figured out it was from the epinephrine in novocaine. So, when I next had to see a dentist, I told him not to use anything with epinephrine. Guess what? No more heart racing and slowing. Just something FYI.

That sampler is gorgeous. Love your posts. Lisa

Heritage Hall said...

Congratulations, Marly, for getting in under the wire.. and for having the gray matter to figure it all out so well. Have to be a Philadelphia lawyer... OK, you
have tempted me with another wonderful sampler at Scarlet Letter, a favorite source.
Thank you for the nudge to furnish water for the bees...love the glass beads idea.
Hope all goes well with your Nephew and that you all have a relaxing weekend.

Barb said...

I hope your nephew is doing better. We have a niece with type 1 and she has had many problems. Love that sampler. You have stitched some beautiful things!

Pam in IL said...

My mom has the BC supplemental plan. It might be more expensive, but for all her medical issues, it has been so worth it and it does cover her eye exams, just not the refractory part. Dad had it also, and the extended benefits for his hospital stay and long term hospital stay after his stroke (7 weeks total) were completely covered. According to the hospital benefits administrators, the BC plan was the only plan (at that time) that had such coverage. Praying for your nephew.

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