As I sit by my window and watch the sun set on another memorable day, I wonder what tale I shall tell you tonight. Shall I talk about the animals that live in our garden for waifs and strays? Or shall I tell you a tale about the characters that live in Gusty Gully? Or perhaps I should just talk to you, as if you were here in the room with me. Now that’s a good idea!

      I shall light the fire and sit in the old armchair besides it. You can sit in the chair opposite me, but be careful not to sit on the cat.

      If you’re in the mood for music, then we could sing-along with the old guitar, leaning against the piano. Or perhaps you would like to listen to some classical music or read poetry from one of the books on the shelf behind you.

      On an evening like this, I like to read Hiawatha, written by Longfellow in 1855. The names of the characters just roll off your tongue, like Gitche Manito, the peace-bringing leader and Mudjekeewis, father of the Four Winds. Then there’s Nokomis, who falls from the moon and becomes Hiawatha’s Grandmother and the book would be nothing without Minnehaha, Hiawatha’s childhood sweetheart.

By the shore of Gitche Gumee,
By the shining Big-Sea-Water,
At the doorway of his wigwam,
In the pleasant Summer morning,
Hiawatha stood and waited.

      Perhaps it’s because I can identify with this fictitious character. I too, have the need for freedom, to feel the wind on my face and walk barefoot in the rain with my face skyward. I too went on a journey when I was very young and did not return for many moons and many winters. I too stood on the shore and waved at my parting, but no-one waved back, for no-one saw me go!

       So you are still there, sitting in the chair opposite me, the embers are now cold. Take a blanket from the box behind you and place it on your knees and I shall read some more.

"I am weary of your quarrels,
Weary of your wars and bloodshed,
Weary of your prayers for vengeance,
Of your wranglings and dissensions;
All your strength is in your union,
All your danger is in discord;
Therefore be at peace henceforward,
And as brothers live together

My dear Araneus diadematus

Why do you spin your web across my doorway? It is not that I mind of course, but I’m always afraid of spoiling your creative work when my face becomes entangled with your silk, and it scares me a little! I can see your body is swollen with eggs and your dedication as a mother, is second to none. So I watch, with a heavy heart, as you build a silken sac in which to lay your young. The children, you will never live to see.

      Do you know that by late autumn, you will die? Your devotion will cost you your life you know? Your refusal to leave home to hunt for food, will lead to starvation. If I could feed you, I would.

       Please don’t worry about your spiderlings when they are born in May, I will watch out for them! And I will write them a letter too, telling them of your love and selflessness.

       From a devoted friend and admirer

The spider died but her eggs remain. I will keep my promise and watch over her children!

We have many Irish friends and family, who come to stay at our home for waifs and strays, and indeed, my great grandparents were from Ireland. To you all....Happy Saint Patricks Day!

     So who was Patrick? He was the son of a wealthy family who lived in Roman Britain, during the fourth century. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian church.

     At the tender age of sixteen, Patrick was kidnapped by Irish pirates and taken to Ireland. For the next six years, he was forced into slavery and turned to religion in his despair. He only managed to escape when he heard God’s voice telling him what to do. Once free, he made his way back to his family in England. But many years later, after becoming a priest himself, he returned to Ireland. He had a dream that he would one day convert them to Christianity.

     Patrick soon became Saint Patrick, one of Ireland’s most popular Saints. He died on March 17^th 461 at the site where he built his first church.

     Like many people, Patrick followed his heart. It wasn’t an easy path he chose or followed. Life isn’t like that. But he was determined and his faith helped him achieve his goal. I believe if we have faith in oursevles, we can achieve many things. Remember in tales past, that the road less travelled is the road with stones, as yet, unturned!

 ‘She will have to go!’ said one of the arrogant workers, ‘It's the way of the bees.  Someone will have to kill her!’

      ‘Isn’t that a bit drastic?’ said Cari, who had known the queen all of her life.

      The arrogant worker turned and stared at Cari. ‘She is grumpy and ill tempered and if that carries on, there will be a swarm. She has to go!’

       Cari knew she had to warn the queen before it was too late.

       Meanwhile, not very far away, a young princess was about to be born.

       ‘She will be our new queen,’ said the arrogant worker. ‘We will call her Myfanwy, queen of our home for waifs and strays.

       It was warm in the hive so some of the workers fanned the comb where the princess lay and fed her drops of royal jelly so she would grow into a queen. Others went in search for the grumpy old queen, intent on killing her. But Cari had done her job well, she had warned the queen and a swarm of bees took her away to a safe place.

       Shortly afterwards, Queen Myfwany was born. She was taken to the throne in a large chamber. The whole hive gasped at her beauty. But one gasped louder than all the others. His name was Lord Garnock the Drone. Queen Myfwany saw the Drone and instantly fell for his charms.

        The young queen was told that she would have to be married as soon as possible. The hive could not survive without children. She asked to see Lord Garnock, but was told he lived in another hive.

        ‘A meeting will be arranged,’ said a worker and away he went.

        It was Cari who took the young queen to meet the Drone. On the way there, navigating by the sun, Cari told Queen Myfanwy the sad truth.

        ‘You cannot go back to the hive unless you are carrying children,’ she said softly. ‘If you are not, they will certainly kill you.’

         The young queen smiled at Cari. ‘They will not kill me,’ she said laughing, ‘I will marry the Drone and have his children.’

          ‘Oh but you don’t understand,’ Cari said desperately. ‘If you have the Drone’s children, then he will certainly die anyway. That is how it is with all Drones. It is the way of the bees.’

          Queen Myfanwy rested on a flower. ‘I do not understand,’ she said sadly. ‘It seems I am doomed whatever I do.’

           Before Cari could answer, Lord Garnock the Drone landed besides them. The queen’s heart raced with excitement. She hardly knew him but they were bound by a love too great to ignore.

           They were married on the flower and soon the young queen was expecting her first children.

           ‘I have never been so happy,’ said the queen to Cari. ‘I have everything a queen could wish for.’

          Cari just lowered her head to hide her tears.

          ‘We must go back to the hive for the children to be born,’ said the queen. ‘Where is my husband?’

          Cari touched the delicate wings of the young queen. ‘I’m afraid he is dead,’ she said sadly. ‘That is the harsh reality of being a Drone. It is the way of the bees.’

          The queen flew in silence all the way back to the hive. Her children were born shortly afterwards. As the bee nurses tended to the young, Cari entered the chamber.

           ‘There is someone I would like you to meet,’ said Cari to the queen. ‘His name is Lord Melkin.’

           ‘But is it not too soon?’ said the queen.

           ‘It is the way of the bees,’ replied Cari, ‘the only way to survive!’

The Bee Boy's Song

Bees! Bees! Hark to your bees!
“Hide from your neigbours as much as you please,
But all that has happened, to us you must tell,
Or else we will give you no honey to sell!”
A maiden in her glory,
Upon her wedding-day,
Must tell her Bees the story,
Or else they’ll fly away.
Fly away — die away –
Dwindle down and leave you!
But if you don’t deceive your Bees,
Your Bees will not deceive you.
Marriage, birth or buryin’,
News across the seas,
All you’re sad or merry in,
You must tell the Bees.
Tell ‘em coming in an’ out,
Where the Fanners fan,
‘Cause the Bees are just about
As curious as a man!
Don’t you wait where the trees are,
When the lightnings play,
Nor don’t you hate where Bees are,
Or else they’ll pine away.
Pine away — dwine away –
Anything to leave you!
But if you never grieve your Bees,
Your Bees’ll never grieve you.

 Rudyard Kipling

Lavender (or it scientific name lavandula) is probably one of the most versatile herbs you can grow. It is also one of the most fragrant and certainly one of my favourites.

      Nicknamed ‘first aid in a bottle’ lavender does not only have a soothing sort of smell and an enchanting look, but this mint family plant, has been used medicinally, for over 2,500 years.

      The scent of this plant seems to distract mice and mosquitoes and yet it is commonly used in potpourris, strange! It is just as well we’re not all the same!

       Bees love the lavender plant, especially its nectar which produces high quality honey. We shall talk about this another time.

       The oil from the lavender helps to soothe aching muscles and has been found to reduce stress and anxiety and aid sleep. When I had my own herb farm, some years ago, I made and sold lavender bags to many an insomniac!

       In Elizabethan times, lavender was used to perfume bed linen as baths weren’t a common practice then. The mind boggles, does it not? And during the great plague which hit London, bunches of lavender were often seen tied to people’s wrists to fight off infection and bacteria.

       And there is such a thing as the language of flowers. For example, some people believe that lavender can mean devotion, happiness, success and luck. I’m not quite sure I believe all that. But I do know that lavender is a plant that I’m happy to have growing in our garden for waifs and strays. I also use it in cooking on occasions.