A very worrying report on Thursday morning. Bees are already in crisis with great losses in their numbers and now, just in the last year, there has been a 40% loss of colonies in the US. No bees, no pollination. No pollination, no food. If man doesn’t stop using toxic chemicals, there will soon be no bees left anywhere. The badge I display at the side is not a joke. If bees die out so will we.Thursday was our third bowling session this week. Wasn’t
sure about it, but realising that an 87 yr. old friend had bowled that many times this week, I thought I should be able to do it too. I am pretty sure the 90 yr. old, who bowls in our leagues, bowls at least twice a week. Compared to them I am a spring chicken. Later: Having now done this, it wasn’t too bad. Legs a tad tired at the end of the day. Maybe my bowling arm was tired the whole time – it didn’t seem to be working very well!!! Matt did OK again though. We were joking about one friend who’s daughter said you didn’t get much exercise at bowling. We said we should challenge her to come and play three games. This is a very tasty and very simple way to prepare asparagus. Must admit I had forgotten about it myself. Guess what I am going to do tomorrow with my asparagus ration. Yes, I eat it every day.
Asparagus with Anchovies and Garlic
Source: Eating Well
4 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbs minced garlic
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
2 bunches asparagus, tough ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 Tbs water
2 tsp anchovy paste or 1 anchovy fillet, minced
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add asparagus, water and anchovy; cook, stirring often, until the asparagus is tender-crisp, 5 to 6 minutes.
Note: Farm fresh asparagus only takes 2-3 minutes to cook.
Servings: 4
Yield: about 3/4 cup each
Have a great day
![Jo_thumb[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1bN8-rad4s104O-BQg3YYtcrIzH7zHOovpof9TndKL2p-KCIXIAv_kghU09Wdekqs5xvmr9YE5-JEgM-rsK2R2uRmqr3Qg1gdEvN_0MR-hwhOAaq1DZJBpDndXczbDuO3i3WCz9U8ZM/s1600-h/Jo_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B4%25255D.png "Jo_thumb[2]")
Enjoyed reading your post. Not only bees many small insects gets affected by the toxic
ReplyDeleteVery true they are although the bees are such a big problem.
DeleteIt's a very worrying situation. Bees are vital to the human race. More should be done to safeguard them.
ReplyDeleteI do so agree with you PL. Banning these chemicals is necessary.
DeleteWhile my son who lives nearby said his weeping cherry trees were full of bees, I did not see any on my crabapples. It's worrying for sure.
ReplyDeleteYes Denise, bee sightings seem to be sporadic here too. It is a big worry.
DeleteI have buzzy bees in my yard and I love seeing them. Big, fat and fuzzy ones. I am thinking about getting a small bird bath to help them out too when they get thirsty.
ReplyDeleteDo they use bird baths JoJo? I don't remember seeing any when we had a bird bath. But then come to think of it, I don't think we had any blossom either.
DeleteThat is terrible about the bees; it is a good reminder you have on your blog about it; I have heard of the crisis with them but its something we need to keep remembering. Good for you and for those older people to get out and bowl! Always good to move the muscles!
ReplyDeletebetty
It is terrible Betty and such a worry.
DeleteMy muscles are feeling very much moved at the moment LOL. Just off to exercise classes but may not do too well today.
I haven't tried the anchovies directly yet. Only in a dressing. But they're on my list to try. Sad about the bees but I heard that they keepers, split them up to make more families.
ReplyDeleteThey are a bit too pungent on the tongue Ivy, some people can eat them, some cannot and it turns them off anchovy in anything. I hadn't heard that about the bee keepers. Hope it helps.
DeleteI hope it helps too.
DeleteI bought more wild-caught sardines last weekend. I am digging those more than tuna, right now.
Saw the dragon fruit the same day but at 8 bucks a pound, I couldn't get myself to buy it. But .. boy, did it look pretty. I'll keep watch for sales, if any.
I love fresh sardines Ivy. We had some Portuguese neighbours who barbecued them whole. They were delicious.
DeleteI don't know how much they are here, never thought to look. Matt just picked them up and brought them home.
The bee population is worrying. I had heard there is a fungus growing on them. I know we are at fault and it is scary. I had read during the A to Z that if you find a bee almost dead like, it actually has too much pollen. get a little egg cup and put in s spoon of sugar and water and let them drink that, they will find thir energy. Anything bigger and they could drown
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard that Birgit. I know David Suzuki has been doing a lot to bring awareness to Canada. Nor had I ever heard the bee revival technique before, I wonder if it really works.
Delete2 years ago I dug up a section of 'lawned' garden and planted wildflower to attract bees and bugs. I enjoy listening to the buzzing and humming on warm days and 'every little helps'. Actually, lots of Kent farmers have reinstated the custom of having strips of wildflower/grass bordering fields of crops/fruit instead of zapping them all with weedkillers so they get natural pollination instead of having to pay professional bee-keepers to bring bees in to pollinate crops.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea Sue. Right now everywhere is plastered in dandelions which are their first food of the year. People are not allowed to use chemicals on their lawns any more. I love to hear bees on a sunny afternoon. I am delighted to hear about the farmers. I know where we lived in NC they always plant lots of wildflowers along the roads.
DeleteHave you seen Bee Movie? It's a kid's movie but it's voice over is Jerry Seinfeld. It's hilarious and delivers a great message to kids regarding the importance of bees.
ReplyDeleteNo I haven't, not even heard of it Pinky. I will look out for it.
DeleteI agree with you wholeheartedly, GMD about the severity of the bee issue. I recently signed a petition against Monsanto because of the toxic products they manufacture. (The petition was specifically about the bee population).
ReplyDeleteThey even sell genetically 'enhanced' seeds to farmers to increase their yield and grow bigger produce. We don't even know what we put in our bodies anymore. I'm glad you're such a staunch advocate, GMD! Hugs.
I'm glad you do Eva and I hope more and more people will become aware before it's too late.
DeleteTrouble is making a balance between increased production and dangerous chemicals. They tend to go a bit gung ho on these things without waiting to ensure they are totally harmless.
That's very disturbing about the bees, Jo. Chemical interference with nature is causing so many problems.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Helen, it is I like the idea that farmers and others are planting flowers along their fields.
Delete