<em>Well the inevitable finally happened – I got stung by a bee. </em>

<em>I really can’t blame the bee. It flew into my hair while I was filling the chicken waterer and it got lost. </em><em>The bee panicked and burrowed into my scalp and stung me.</em>

<em>I understand. I panic when I get lost too so I can feel its pain – literally.</em>

<em>I managed to avoid doing the frantic bee dance and walked quickly to the water hose where I “washed that bee right out of my hair.”</em>

<em>As I continued my morning chicken chores, I had two thoughts:</em>
<em> 1. Where are the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epinephrine_autoinjector" target="_blank">epipens</a>? </em>
<em> 2. How long would it be before someone found me if I passed out in the yard?</em>

<em>Fortunately, I did not have the same reaction to the bee sting as Beekeeper Brian so I didn’t need an answer to either question.</em>

<em>Later as Beekeeper Brian was checking my head for stingers, he suggested that I wear a hat or bandana to prevent a repeat of the incident. This was a great idea.</em>

<em>I remembered the bonnets you made for us to wear at<a href="http://www.osv.org/museum/index.html" target="_blank"> Sturbridge Village </a>on the 4th of July a million years ago? I still have one, or at least one just like it and it works perfectly for keeping bees out of my hair. </em>

<em>So now, if the neighbors did not have enough entertainment before today, they now can watch me doing my morning chicken chores wearing a blue gingham bonnet.</em>

<em>Ah – what a life.</em>

Our other daughter immediately responded:

I am not sure, the bonnet might make things worse. For, as the song goes, don't women frequently get a bee in their bonnet? Or is that just me to whom that happens?

Either way, I am quite impressed that you still had your Sturbridge Village ephemera. All I have left is fond memories of a picture taken on a canon, with either Sandra Kay or some other random individual.

With our family, you just never know who it might be... friend, foe, fowl, feline or canine.
Cheers, Steph

Interesting to me that both girls remembered the bonnets and not the reading of the Constitution or the fireworks. Which were the reason we originally made the trip!

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/4-of-july-1980-001.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1623" title="4 of July 1980 001" alt="" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/4-of-july-1980-001.jpg?w=300" height="235" width="300" /></a>

Steph is correct we did always have a house full. Someone who needed a place to stay or escape or an animal or bird that needed rescued.

That's why there are so many characters in my stories. Every visitor came with his own backstory which spawned a new story idea for me.

I’d recommend <a href="http://www.osv.org/activities_events/events.html" target="_blank">a trip to Sturbridge Village</a> if not on the 4th of July then one of the other seasonal events. It made quite an impression on our children as you can tell.

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/4th-july-declaration-001.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1624" title="4th July Declaration 001" alt="" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/4th-july-declaration-001.jpg?w=300" height="237" width="300" /></a>

And, for those of you who might want your own bonnet. <a href="http://www.prairiebonnets.com/index.php" target="_blank">Prairiebonnets.com</a> has some excellent choices including flannel-lined for winter.

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/bonnetchambray.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-1625" title="bonnetchambray" alt="" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/bonnetchambray.jpg?w=150" height="122" width="150" /></a>

<strong>YOUR TURN TO SHARE:</strong>

Ever been stung by a bee?

Been to Sturbridge Village? Did you have as much fun as we did/do?