Invasion of the Bees

Friends, we are in the middle of what appears to be a drought in my small corner of the world.  We are in the most desperate need of some rain - something we've not had in about 15 days or so.  Much of my yard has been reduced to dirt and dry, brown grass that crunches beneath your feet.  I have not even mowed this week.  Other than sporadic clover stalks (which somehow still manage to thrive) there is little to mow.

Yes, it's been hot (and dry) for several days.  Today, the water in our pool almost crossed the boundary of feeling refreshing to feeling more like warm bath water, which is not refreshing - at least not to me.  

We weren't the only ones trying to cool off a bit.  During the hour I was in the pool I killed and/or fished out 21 - yes, TWENTY-ONE!!! - bumble bees and what seemed to be an infinite number of sweat bees from our little man-made swimming hole.  I say infinite because there seemed to be no end to them.  I'd take a frog in the pool any day of the week and twice on Sundays over bees.  I spent all but five minutes scooping and killing.  And the sweat bee that stung me?  He died slowly.

Now, spare me any lectures tonight on animal cruelty.  Admittedly, I am no animal lover but I would only harm those that pose a threat to my children or me.  I would have included John in that list but seeing as how he shot me with a high powered water gun during the five minutes I had to relax on my float, he's on his own.

Image found here