The kitchen table was cluttered with empty glass bottles from maple syrup - not because he made syrup himself, but because a friend who does might need some. There were empty egg cartons sitting on a kitchen shelf - not because he raised chickens, but because friends who did might need some extra cartons.

When trees went down in a tornado, he worked with his brother-in-law's sawmill to salvage lumber, and turned other trees into firewood. The old house he lived in, purchased from his grandmother, was showing its years, so he worked patiently over time to make needed repairs. Waste not, want not.

We ran into a surprise yesterday morning as we headed out to take a walk after morning chores - the bees had swarmed. In the grass, right in the middle of the walking path, was a pile of bees around the size of a large dinner plate. This was our first time encountering bees on the ground instead of in a tree. Duncan tried to gently scoop some up and move them into the new hive, but they were not terribly cooperative. (He was working barehanded and did get stung once, but only once.)

In the end he left the hive sitting next to them to see if they would accept it. By nightfall they had gone inside, and the hive was humming quietly. The boys moved the hive onto the supports nearby (there are lots of ants in the area, or they would have left it where it was).

We were hoping that the ladies had settled in to stay - but this morning only a small cluster of bees was in the hive. Odds are they've decided to move on, though we'll keep watch on the hive and look around the homestead to see if we spot any other unusual activity.

It's early in the season yet, so hopefully there will be other swarms. The milkweed and catnip are almost ready to bloom, and there's a bumper crop of both this year and they are bee favorites. The elderberries haven't bloomed yet, either, so they'll provide another round of bee chow when it's their time.

We went strawberry picking at a local YouPick patch this week, too, but could taste residue of some sort on the berries. We're now discussing the possibility of growing our own, though we don't really need another project right now. Several YouPick places that used to be around have closed in recent years, so our options are getting fewer. We have other types of fruit growing, but it's always nice to have some strawberries in the mix.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Save useful things. Empty egg cartons, glass jars, spare lumber, and other everyday items may not seem valuable until the day someone needs them.
• Strengthen your local connections. A friend with a sawmill, a neighbor with bees, or someone who shares garden produce can be worth more than anything you buy in a store.
• Create more than you consume. Whether it's food, skills, useful supplies, or simply helping others, look for opportunities to contribute to the abundance around you.
• Share a little affection. A hug, kind word, or helping hand can lift someone's spirits more than you realize. Human connection is a form of wealth, too.
• Think one season ahead. Notice what worked well this year and what you'd like more of next year, whether that's strawberries, pollinator plants, or stronger community ties.

Resilience grows when we invest in relationships, steward resources wisely, and create a little more abundance than we consume.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

This week's featured articles...

My latest article in our simple self care series is all about Hugs and Health. Whether it's a quick hello hug from a friend, a warm snuggle with your squeeze, or even time with your pets, welcome physical contact grounds us and helps our bodies to heal.

Well, it happened again this week - I got cussed at in the comments by someone trying to make soft boiled eggs. Now, I'm not sure what went wrong, because the comment didn't explain the problem, it only included expletives, but I suspect they may have been using older eggs.

Older eggs do not work well for soft boiled eggs or poached eggs, but may be fine in recipes or with other cooking methods. In this article, I take a look at just how old grocery store eggs may be, how to tell, and what happens when eggs get older.

I saw this week that the local Knights of Columbus are having their annual peach sale fundraiser, so I figure it's a good time to share our article on peeling and preserving peaches. There's instructions for canning, dehydrating, freezing, peach jam, and freeze drying. (Peach raspberry jam is a personal favorite.)

Cherry season is incoming, too, so the cherry canning guide may also be helpful.

This no bake cheesecake recipe is so easy to make and perfect for summer gatherings. I love it with fresh berries.