The Killer Bee Club: RICH HARRIS

Introducing The Poetry Man...

Hey, my name is Rich, and I understand that you will now have the opportunity to view one of my poems on Youtube so please, make yourself nice and comfy and I hope you enjoy it. I've been writing little poems and odes for many years. I also love to write short stories. Basically, because I have a puerile mind... a lot of the things I write can be a very light hearted, and if they make you giggle and smile, then I'm happy with that. 

I live in London (in Soho), and I work full time for London Underground which is quite cool. In my free time I love skating, drinking beer, eating cake and sleeping. Not necessarily in that order. I'd also quite like a boyfriend because life can be a little lonely. But it does mean I have more beer and cake to myself, so not all bad I guess.

My true passion does lie in writing, however silly my poems and stories may be. If I can spend more time writing and producing them, I'm certain the world would be a better place. Please check out my YouTube channel, if you like it please subscribe and tell your buddies as I will be adding a new poem every week. I'd also love to hear your comments and thoughts! 

Now, stop reading this and click PLAY!

To visit (and subscribe to!) Rich's YouTube Channel click HERE

Anonymous Extraodinairies

The Killer Bee Club: NATALIE WARNE

Born in an underserved part of downtown Chicago, Natalie and her five siblings survived on her mother's humble teacher salary, moving from city to city to find work. No stranger to adversity, Natalie was determined to make something great out of her life. At 17 she saw the documentary Invisible Children: The Rough Cut; a film exposing Africa's longest running war. Compelled by this story, she applied to be a volunteer or "roadie" for Invisible Children, using her voice to help end this war. She quickly stood out among the other interns, and was quickly given responsibility to help lead Invisible Children's largest project to date; an event in 100 cities worldwide called "The Rescue." Through her determination, tens of thousands of people came out to the event, sleeping in the streets for up to six days in order to raise the profile of this war.

Her efforts paid off when Oprah Winfrey invited Invisible Children, and Natalie, onto her show to add her voice to the numbers. The event was then highlighted on Larry King Live, CNN, and countless other news outlets. Natalie has natural charisma, astounding leadership qualities, and is now working in Los Angeles as a film editor, to continue to share stories of injustices. This young lady is a Killer Bee if I've ever seen one. Another excellent TED Talk.

The Rose

I've been looking for the origin/author of this story but have been unable to trace the source. It was shared frequently on Facebook this week, but it wasn't until Scott Luedtke shared it that I actually stopped to read. It's the kind of story I love to pollinate ...

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months, we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium.

As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell  you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day.

You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old.

If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."
She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be .When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. 

GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.

We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.

The Killer Bee Club: Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk. Enjoy it, if you haven't already caught this excellent TED Talk.

The Killer Bee Club: Maya Angelou

Illustration by Benjamin Jancewicz

This short clip from a recent interview with Dr. Angelou illustrates why this Killer Bee is a national treasure.

Can you imagine? Can you?

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A Thing Of Beauty

“Beauty and seduction, I believe, are nature’s tools for survival, because we will protect what we fall in love with.”  Louie Scwartzberg

When Cherrie sent me a video titled The Beauty of Pollination a few months back, I filed it away in my "must pollinate" stash. And there it sat. This evening while indulging in my new addiction TED Talks, I stumbled across a couple of them by genius filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg. I was completely  blown away not only by his extraordinary technical skill, but the perspective from which he operates creatively.

Mr. Schwartzberg's notable career spans feature films, television shows, commercials and documentaries. He won two Clio Awards for TV advertising, including best environmental broadcast spot, an Emmy nomination for best cinematography and the Heartland Film Festival's Truly Moving Picture Award for the feature film “America’s Heart & Soul.” Schwartzberg founded Moving Art to use the power of media to inspire and entertain through television programming, DVD products, and full-length motion picture and IMAX films. His new film "Wings of Life" will be released by Disneynature.

"I've spent my life capturing beautiful images. And whether in wilderness or in the downtown of a giant city, I find connections, universal rhythms, patterns and beauty that I recognize as a part of me, a part of all of us that celebrates life. It's my great pleasure to share with you that energy which inspires me; this great visual beauty of our world."

You can clearly see the gratitude of which he speaks, as it shines through his lens in every frame of these gorgeous films. He's a Killer Bee for sure, just check out this clip. As the gentleman narrator of his film "Happiness Revealed" will tell you, "The only  appropriate response is gratefulness..."

The Danger of A Single Story...

Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Share your stories, listen to others. It's imperative.

The Killer Bee Club: Bon Appetit!

Throughout my youth, every Saturday morning at 10:30 (immediately following This Old House) was Julia Child on PBS. While other children were watching Saturday morning cartoons, I was watching in awe as Julia made the perfect souffle, Beef Bourguinonne, and mayonnaise from scratch! She wielded that cleaver and her incredible sense of humor around that kitchen with authority and grace. She captured my imagination and made my taste buds curious for fare beyond that of my Mother's limited repertoire. There were no restaurants in Santa Maria that served food like Julia was preparing either, so if I was ever going try these magnificent and exotic sounding dishes, it would have to be of my own doing. Voila! A life long love affair with cooking and kitchen experimentation was born.

Though I've always been what people now coin a foodie, I didn't grow up having any particular culinary aspirations. Yet I did eventually have my own desert business which I called "The French Confection". The tag line? "Deserts that say oh la la!" And for a number of years I catered small cocktail parties. "Cocktails @ 6" was the name, noshes the game. In more recent years I've channeled my love for cooking and sharing into mostly stay at home affairs for my nearest and dearest. All of this good eating however, is the result of one lady's generosity and inspiration.

Julia Child was a master pollinator, and her honey a rare and delicious treat. I'm so grateful she shared it...Happy 100th Birthday Julia, Bon Appetit!

I'm catering a very special dinner party for 6 on Thursday night. This is my menu. I'm dedicating it to Julia.

This Is My Home

With Spring mere weeks away, your mind may have recently drifted to thoughts of housekeeping and purging. My mother always said "You're either a stower or a thrower." She was definitely a thrower. I am too.

The other day my friend Ron Morris shared this delightful new documentary short film on Facebook. I'm always game for the goodness Ron pollinates, so I clicked play and settled in to be entertained for 6:48. I had no idea what a gift I was about to receive...

About 1 minute into it, the thrower in me started cringing as flashes of  television shows like Hoarders and Clean House started pinging off my frontal lobe...and then suddenly I found myself completely charmed by the generous and loving spirit of one Anthony Pisano. I guarantee you will be too, this guy is a Killer Bee for sure.

Thanks to Ron for pollinating, and thank you Anthony for sharing your home with all of us. The next time I'm in New York I intend to stop in and say hello.

You may want to do the same...

This Is My Home from Mark on Vimeo.

Cherrie Hanson is: BUBBLELICIOUS!

When Killer Bee Cherrie Hanson speaks of the magic behind her amazing bubble photography, it goes something like this...

"The alchemy of air, water, and soap bubbles form an endless variety of reflective, luminous globes.  Mother Nature's daily diversity varies the unique background tones and graphic surface of the delicate bubble membrane. 

Bubbles have a short life span; mere moments to dazzle those who are paying attention. Their circular shapes symbolize wholeness, unity, and infinity. I was compelled to record the existence of these simple, yet profound spheres of light.

Bubbles,Ink is a photographic anthology of soap bubbles in flight over a summer lake.  The images were born in nature, not photoshop, and given life in ink. 

The bubbles were studied and shot for one week, for 5 consecutive years, in the same location.  The names of the photographs pay homage to the spiritual journey the artist was on at the time of conception."

Personally, I think of the peace and tranquility of the lake where they were photographed. Of the bond that was formed on a pier in the middle of Wisconsin. Of the atrophy in my wrists as I tried like hell to produce as many bubbles as possible before she lost the precious end of day light! Of squealing with delight as we reviewed "the dailys" in the viewfinder of her camera each night by the light of the bonfire. Of the honor and privilege to be just a small part of something so incredibly special.

And mostly, I think of how proud I am of my friend and her brilliant artistic endeavor. YOU GO BABY!

 

The amazing thing about these photographs isn't their exceptional beauty, but how people react and relate to them when in their physical presence. Everyone I know who's seen them 'has a bubble' all their own that they identify with...will you find yours at Bubbles, Ink. ? I have no doubt you will.

Visit the bubble goodness NOW!

BUBBLES, INK.

The Killer Bee Club: TOM SHADYAC

The shift is about to hit the fan. 

NEWS FLASH!

We are far grander than we've been told.

Its an interesting idea. A powerful film. A brilliant filmmaker.
Ladies and gentleman meet the newest member of THE KILLER BEE CLUB,  Mr. Tom Shadyac...




For more on this amazing film and its creator, visit:

http://www.iamthedoc.com/

An excerpt from Tom's blog...

Shining Like the Sun!

Everyday, we are assaulted with messages, images, slogans, and sound bites, that tell us of our inadequacies, the sad state of affairs that is you and me:  “With this product, you can lose weight, with this one, you can gain muscle; if your breasts sag, our bra lifts them up; if you have wrinkles, this cream irons them out; if you’re sad, we have a pill that will make you happy; if you’re too happy, we have a pill that will bring you down; if you’re not as much of a man as you used to be, this pill will straighten you out (literally!).  And everyone who’s anyone has itunes, the iphone, and the ipad, am iclear?

And we participate in this maddening chatter unaware, telling our kids that in order to succeed they have to get the best grades, get into the right school, and get the right job.  We tell them that one day they must stop all this horsing around and get serious with their lives; we ask them who they are going to be when they grow up, warning them that life is all down hill after 22, declaring college the best four years of their lives; and finally, if they are lucky, they just might make something of themselves in this dog eat dog world.  It’s enough to stress you out completely – but of course there’s a pill that can fix that, too.

Is this how life really is?  Is our identity simply conditional and fragile?  Is who we are really defined by the things we own, our job status, and the social circles we run in?

The mystics, those saints and sages who saw through to the inner workings of reality, proclaimed something very different.   A little background here:  The word “mystic” comes from the Latin word, “mysterium”, from which we also get the word, mystery.  Thus, a mystic is one who sees into the mystery.  So what exactly did the mystics see?  And what does their vision of reality reveal about who and what we are?

Here’s what Thomas Merton said, after decades of meditation and contemplation:  “As if the sorrows and stupidities of the world could overwhelm me now that I realize what we all are.  I wish everyone could realize this, but there is no way of telling people they are all walking around shining like the sun.”

Shining like the sun.  That’s you.  He didn’t say, shining like the sun after you can afford the new electric Chevy Volt.  He didn’t say, shining like the sun after your bust gets lifted.  What he said was, right now, in this moment, with all of your imperfections, with all of your challenges in the temporal, with all of your worldly failures and successes, you are walking around shining like the sun!

Merton goes one step further with this concluding insight: “I am finally coming to the realization that my greatest ambition is to be what I already am.” Wait a minute.  What about worldly status and success and power?  Merton saw through all of that, and invites us to do the same.  Can you imagine?  What a lesson to embrace, to embody and even, to teach; to declare to our kids they don’t have to be someone, they already are someone.   Now the cynic will undoubtedly rise up and warn that this will poison our youth; they will be so inflated with their own identity, they will surely sit back and do nothing.  Quite the opposite is true.  This knowledge compels those it touches, Jesus, Gandhi, St. Francis, Mother Theresa, Rumi, and Hafiz, to walk with power, to use their talents for the good of all, without the drag of invented pressure to measure up to some arbitrary social standard.

You see, (and it is a matter of sight!), what we are telling ourselves, the command to succeed and be someone, is just a story; it’s a story based on expectations.   It’s temporal and finite.  It is not who you really are.  The Sufi mystic, Meera, wisely said: “You cannot play your role in time, until you know who you are in eternity.” And who you are is a drop in the ocean of divinity.  Inside you is starlight.  Inside you is the same infinite energy that created the universe.  As the modern mystic, Irwin Kula, knew, “Everything is god in drag.”

So the next time you’re told you need to be somebody, rest in the knowledge that you already are.  Hafiz implores us to wake up to this truth when he says: “I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.” Now what iphone or ipad, what present day pill or product can deliver that?

SING!

Yesterday was WORLD AIDS DAY. While I was familiar with the efforts of Annie Lennox's SING campaign, I was not  aware of how ambitious she has been with it personally, or how far reaching its benefits have become. What they have managed to accomplish in just 3 short years, is truly remarkable.

As we close in on the end of the year, I'd like to nominate Annie Lennox Killer Bee of The Year...

BEE MY GUEST: SETH MACHAK

One of the most rewarding things about "working" this blog, is that that I've met some amazing people through the blogosphere. Since BEES and HONEY are used metaphorically around here, I find it most interesting that the universe continues to send me new friends who are teaching me so much about the magical world of REAL bees...

Enter Seth Machak. A honey of a guy, who actually is a magician. He also happens to be a beekeeper, and a bee-charmer for sure. I recently spied his post on Facebook, chronicling  his candle making endeavors, and asked  him if he wouldn't mind sharing it with all of you here. He was kind enough to oblige.

MPM: Speaking of magic,  how did Seth discover the magic of bees?

SM: A very close friend of mine and I went to a VERY small county fair about an hour from where I live... in the midst of deep fried cheese cake, chili bread bowls, cotton candy, candied apples, deep fried Oreo cookies and funnel cakes, we noticed a small booth with an "Observation Hive" -one hive frame encased in Plexiglas [You are able to see the inter workings of the hive, queen and her subjects]. It caught my attention! 

After an hour of bombarding the poor booth attendee with questions upon questions, he finally gave me a pamphlet and told me to sign up for the county bee keeping association. The classes didn't start for a few months, so it gave me time to do some research on bee keeping . My friend and I finally decided to give in, and paid $50 to try it out! We went to bi-weekly classes for a number of months. When "graduation" time came. I KNEW whole-heartedly that keeping bees was going to be my new hobby... Little did I know it would be a lifestyle!

After starting with 2 hives, I couldn't get enough. It was like mother natures crack., and I was hooked. The smell, the sound, the way "my girls" would dance in the air. It's magical. Did you know  that EVERY honey bee you see on a flower is a girl? They are the workers, they are the foragers, they do ALL the work- while the boys (drones) just sit back, eat, maybe have sex with the queen and die... Not a bad life I suppose! 

MPM: Tell me about your apiary. Wait, why don't you explain what an apiary is!

SM: Webster unabridged dictionary says and Apiary is a place where bees are kept; a collection of beehives. My apiary, now, has a collection of 3 hives... as of now I have a total of 45,000 honey bees. As well, established hives can have up to 300,000 members!

One colony lives in a hive. A hive consists of many different parts. First is the bottom board. Then comes the deep supers, or brood boxes. There should be two of them. What those boxes are/do are ALL for the bees themselves. They are empty boxes with no top or bottom, and contain 10 frames. A frame is basically a wooden rectangle with a thin sheet of bees wax in the middle of it. This sheet gives the girls a good foundation to "draw out", AKA build it up with comb. It's actually very interesting. The bees will drink nectar which then somehow gets all processed inside of the them. When ready, it becomes wax scales that form from the undersides of the workers. When these wax suits of armor start coming out, the girls with nibble it off , mix it with some enzymes in their mouths, and then spit it out on the foundation, making a perfectly symmetrical six sided wax cell. All cells, from all hives from all around the world, are ALL THE EXACT SAME SIZE!

When the workers have "drawn out" on all ten frames in the bottom brood box , the queen is  then ready to lay her eggs, and the workers will fill some cells with pollen and nectar. This will be food for the hive during the winter. When almost all the bottom brood box is drawn out, it is time to add another brood box on top of that. After some time the two brood boxes will be all drawn out , and full of brood (food and larva), You add a queen excluder next. 

The queen excluder is pretty self explanatory. It is a wire grate that you put on top of the top brood box, and it allows only the worker bees to get through. The queens fat ass is too big to get through the grate on top of the excluder, so you add a "honey -super, or "short -super." The point of the queen excluder and the short super, is so only the workers can go into the short super and make HONEY... The queen, who can't get through, will be unable to lay eggs there. You've probably guessed the honey in the short supers is the honey you will extract and then sell, give away , or eat yourself! I mean, who would want honey if it had little babees in it, right?

MPM: Any advice for someone who's got the itch start their own apiary?

SM: Anyone who is interested in starting their own hive, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE read http://www.planbeebook.com/ ... One of the greatest bee keeping information sources of ALL TIME! Also, contact your local honey bee association. They will be able to tell you about classes and workshops in your area.

MPM: The handmade candles you recently crafted are too cool for school...

SM: Making my own candles 101... Last season I lost 2 of my hives dues to malnutrition and black bear attacks! So, in all of this tragedy, I had 2 established hives worth of wax. Just a few days ago I ripped out all the wax from the frames, rolled the wax and bee parts into a ball, wrapped them in nylons.

Next, you tie them off, and throw them into a pot of boiling water (not over 140 degrees because the wax will change color and smell different). The bees wax will melt and seep threw the nylon leaving the sediment (bee parts and larva and other gross stuff!) Bee keepers call this "slumgum".

 

Remove the nylon and let the water cool. The "rendered" wax will rise to the top and cool. Take that hardened wax and melt it again in a double boiler (keeping in mind the temperature) and re-melt it. When melted pour the liquefied wax into the molds or container which should already have wicks in the center (wicks can be purchased at any local craft store). 

 When the wax hardens you will have yourself the PERFECT candle.
If you don't have an apiary to get extra wax, you can contact a local beekeeper and buy wax from them or purchase bees wax from a local craft store.

MPM: Any chance I can get you to sell them to me wholesale, for my shop?

SM:  I do NOT sell any of the honey, lip balm, or candles that I produce from the honey bee by-product. I usually give them away as gifts or something. One day I showed my residents ( I am an activities coordinator for an assisted living facility by day ) how to make their own chap stick... They loved it! We spent hours harvesting wax, rendering it, and turning it into our own little lip-skin saver!

MPM: And that, Seth Machak, is what makes you a Killer Bee. Keep on pollinating brother!

BEE OUR GUEST: TONI JOHNSON

It's the holiday season, and most of us are gifting, serving and drinking more wine. If you're anything like me, you drink the wines you like. I like allot of wines! However my knowledge about that fabulous fermentation beneath the cork is limited. Fortunately, I have Guru of The Grape Toni Johnson in my back pocket....

MPM: So many more people are drinking wine than 25 years ago...yet most of us are still struggling with food pairings. Got any ideas for Holiday feasts?

TJ: Food that is prepared for Thanksgiving and Christmas naturally has sweet elements in most preparations. And the foods are generally lighter in weight which is a one of the key elements in matching food and wine. The weight of the wine should generally match the weight of the food.

OK, back to the question at hand. Think about a holiday spread, softer white cheeses for appetizers. Sweet potatoes in some form, ham prepared with pineapple and brown sugar. Even turkey has some natural sweetness- more in the form of being succulent. These are foods that need a wine to enhance the natural flavors of the food, not mask them. A heavy Cabernet or an over oaked Chardonnay would trample all over the flavors of your table . So stick with wines that have the same natural elements. For whites, I would be inclined to have one that is "Off dry", a term that means it is not overly dry or really high in acid (think Pinot Grigio). You can go anywhere in the world to find off dry wines. France has wonderful Chenin Blancs from the Loire Valley. Vouvray is probably one of the most well known wines from the Loire, but ask for one that is not too sweet. Or ask for an Albarino from Spain in the Rias Biaxas region. They have a natural sweetness without being cloying at all. Viognier also has these attributes but if you ask for a Viognier at a wine store, an over eager sales person might try to talk you into one from France that will be from the region called Condrieu which will take you back about $50.00 or more. I would go straight to Germany and buy the wonderful well made Rieslings that cannot be found in any Pick and Save. Many are made in a drier style so ask for one that is Halb Troken or half dry. And pay more than you think a Riesling should be. You will be greatly rewarded.

For reds I would recommend ones with brighter fruit and lower tannins ,and here you can have tons of fun. There are wonderful reds from places you might not consider. Reds from Austria made with the grapes Zweigelt or Blaufrankish are wonderful choices. Since they are made in a more fruit forward style they seem to be made in a sweeter style when in fact they are dry wines. Italy has many many wines that are made in this style, Barbera from Piedmont comes to mind, but make sure you go to a wine store with a salesperson you can trust. Other red wines that will work are Zinfandel, Sangiovese (Chianti) and of course Pinot Noir.

MPM: Okay Sister. WHAT exactly is a Sommelier?

TJ: This is actually a French term that literally means "wine waiter". In Europe being a waiter is a career, not just a job that one gets before getting a "real job". So these wine waiters are trained specifically to be specialists in wine. To help you make the right choices, to listen to what you like and then translate that to wines that will perfectly match your meal. In the US there are many Sommelier organizations that are raising the bar for wine service here. I have an advanced certification from one of those organizations called The Court of Master Sommeliers. If you are in a restaurant that has a Sommelier, you can be assured that your wine choices will be guided by a professional that has your interests in mind, not just a waiter that wants to sell you the most expensive bottle on the list.

MPM: I would say that other than the perennial holiday scented candle, wine has to be the most popular "host gift". Any ideas for pairing the right grape with the right person?

TJ: It is always a great idea to fish around, and see if you can find out what your host likes. They will be very impressed that you brought them something they can appreciate, not just a token bottle you picked up on the fly. Also something with bubbles is always a great choice, but please go to a wine shop to buy them. You will want one that has gone through "secondary bottle fermentation" which is the way Champagne has been made for centuries. ( By the way the monk Dom Perignon did not invent champagne, records show that he was a red wine producer that tried and tried to keep his wines from getting bubbles in them!).

There are many to be found in all price points. From Spain they are called Cava, and are required to be made in this traditional way. Many sparkling wines in the US are also made in this fashion but you really have to ask for guidance.

I often bring a dessert wine to a party since this wine pairing is often overlooked. You always want your wine to be sweeter than your dessert so bringing a late harvest wine, well made Port or anyone of the fortified dessert wines that are made all over the world would be a great host gift.

MPM: I think many people are interested in understanding wines better. Any suggestions for budding wine geeks?

TJ: Well let me tell you, I firmly believe in the organization that I am certified in. They offer ranges of tests from introductory to the advanced that I passed, and then on to the Master level. It is all self study but by doing that you learn so much more than if you go the curriculum route.

My advise for starting a wine education venture is to attend wine tastings that are offered all over the city. Go to smaller ones that are more interactive as opposed to larger tastings with people that are just pouring. Have at home tasting parties and taste by regions or different grapes. You can also have guest speaker at your tastings which is a service I offer through my company, Professional Wine Consultants. If you are a waiter find a mentor that can help guide you to what you need to know in a logical order of learning. I have mentored quite a few people in Milwaukee. I find it very rewarding to pay it forward.!This is a subject that is mind boggling huge. The test that I passed required massive amounts of study and to pass the next level will require exponentially more. OY! But if you are serious about learning, then find others that want to learn also, have study groups, and do tastings as opposed to "tastings". Tasting requires spitting so you can actually talk about the wine. "Tasting" is drinking which of course is fun in it's own right! I say cheers to that!

MPM: Hmm. I'm growing thirsty....

Contact Toni! toni@wineproevents.com
Visit: http://www.wineproevents.com/

BEE OUR GUEST #7: CHRIS HARPER

You never know what you'll find on the beach...

The first thing you notice when you approach Chris Harper's mid-century Miller Beach ranch home is her garden. Not at all tidy, or structured, but rather an organum of lush ferns, tall grasses, and wild flowers left to be wild. Pushing their way up through the mayhem like proud and colorful spires are Chris's latest creations. These "totems" crafted from vintage glass objects and dishes are a delight to the eye, making you want to know more about the woman who lives beyond the garden.... but before you pass through the front door, you see a sign, hand painted on 2 pieces of driftwood that says "Lucky To Live By The Beach". It seems that these days Chris Harper's LIFE is more than ever being reflected in her ART.

Once inside, you're quickly charmed by a home that's "Quintessentially Chris". The quirky-cool decor is peppered with things like 100 year old glass bottles, funky 60's crocheted blankets, painted furniture, and a collection of stones and beach glass that just happened to wash ashore naturally heart-shaped. As a designer I strongly believe that ones home should be a reflection of who they are, their personality...and her home brilliantly states: I AM CHRIS HARPER.


I remember the first time I went out to visit Chris in Miller Beach, just after she'd moved in. We had a a couple glasses of wine, then strolled down the beach in our bare feet with her new puppy Pete in tow, carrying a piece of driftwood clenched between his tiny teeth. She turned to me and said "I love it here, I just love it. So does Pete." 2 years later she's all settled in, and Pete has a little sister named Violet. On this trip we hung out in her studio, and ate hot dogs accompanied by her mother Kitty's delicious kidney bean salad ...

MPM: You're known as "Crafty Chris" in certain circles. Have you always possessed the desire to create?

CH: Yes I've been creating something my entire life, but please let's get it straight...it's Krafty Kris! When I was growing up my Mother was very artistic, and she definitely had her own unique perspective about the way she decorated our home. I was always so proud of our house! I suppose I get the crafty/artistic gene from her.

MPM: You work with so many different forms of media. Does inspiration begin with the object? The material? Or the idea?

CH: Inspiration for me comes in many forms. I can be at the hardware store and get inspiration from a plumbing pipe to create fixturing for a shop, or a pillow design I see may give me an idea for a mixed media piece. The inspiration, well it comes from everything, everywhere. I guess I'm lucky that way!

MPM: I can't help but notice a little symbolism that's reoccurring in your work...

CH: And what would that be? HA! Simplicity, color, nature, happiness. Oh, you mean the hearts and the peace signs...they're sort of my trademarks. Couldn't the world use a little more peace and love? I'm just putting it out there. But there's more than just hearts and peace signs. I'm curious, what symbolism do you see in my work?

MPM: I've long admired your paper collage work, and now I'm all jazzed about your found-object sculptural pieces. What ideas are brewing for the "Next Chris Harper Creations"?

CH: I'm working on a large scale wall piece done in collage, but with textiles instead of paper...it should be pretty cool!

MPM: I know your community is very important to you. Tell me a little bit about living in Miller Beach, Indiana.

CH: Miller Beach is like an artist type colony, in a laid back beach town. Not at all pretentious, just artists co-existing with Gary steel mill workers, crack whores, corporate drop outs and the "modestly wealthy"....we all shop locally, and support the community as much as we can.

MPM: Next time I come out, can I play with you in the studio?

CH: YES, I WOULD LOVE IT! ...you inspire me!

[Gee, thanks Chris...] To contact Chris Harper, you can email her at: charper53@hotmail.com

BEE OUR GUEST #6: PETRA AHNERT

Shortly after I launched the blog back in January, I got an email from my friend Pat Mueller saying I really needed to speak with her friend, The Honey Lady. While this blog is neither about honey, or bees, I still thought it would be fun to have Petra Bee Our Guest. Now 4 months later, it would seem that this was another perfect piece of timing...

When I spoke with Petra on the phone the other night, I found her to be perfectly delightful with a wonderfully wry sense of humor. Talking about the various farmer's markets in the area made me ripe with anticipation for the buttery Summer days just around the corner. The days when I'll wander around the farmer's market waiting for some gorgeous, straight off the truck hunk of produce to shout out "Michael, take me home for supper"! I can add a honey tasting with my new Honey Lady to my short list of must-do Summer adventures!

MPM: Let's start with the tasty part! How is the honey that you produce different from most store bought honey?

PA: What you generally find in the store is bottled and distributed by a packer. The packer buys the lightest honey from as many sources as possible and blends them all together. Generally the lighter honeys are not only the sweetest, but also, to my taste, the most bland. Mixing it all together ensures a certain uniformity. Right before bottling, the honey is heated briefly to 170 deg F to pasteurize it. Pasteurization will extend shelf life by keeping the honey from granulating as quickly. Unfortunately, the beneficial pollen is also destroyed in the process.

We have chosen to keep the different varietal separate and sell them based on their floral source - to embrace the differences. Right now we offer a really light clover thistle, black locust, black raspberry and buckwheat. When you sample these honeys side by side, you can really taste the differences. The clover thistle is very sweet. The black locust has an herbal undertone that makes it wonderful for teas, the black raspberry (my favorite!) is a bolder honey with a hint of fruit and then there is buckwheat, which I put in a category all it own. It tastes more like molasses than honey.

MPM: As the "mouthpiece" for the Wisconsin Honey Cooperative, what's the word you want to get out?

PA: Honey is yummy! Buy local. Buy as direct as possible. Know where your food comes from and how it is handled.

MPM: What's your take on CCD, and what do you believe can be done to reverse it's effects?

PA: Fact: They have found a virus that could be causing the collapse. Fact: they discovered that mites were the means for spreading the virus. So there is something out there that is causing hive to collapse. But I think there is more to it than that. I see the bees like our canaries in the coal mine. The bees are at the front line of our farming practices. We spread chemicals to keep weeds in check (which bees bring back to the hive). We genetically modify our crops to keep them pest free (why do they fly over hybridized buckwheat fields but "feast" on the non-hybridized buckwheat?). We load them up on trucks and haul them cross country to pollinate our almond groves, allowing them to "feast" on a mono-floral food source (imagine if you ate only broccoli for 3 weeks straight!). A lot of commercial beekeepers also take ALL the honey and then feed them high fructose corn syrup (probably one of the most genetically modified crops out there).

We have chosen to over-winter our bees here in Wisconsin. We have also chosen to keep some honey in reserve to get them through the winter. This is not the easiest nor the most cost effective way of doing things, but I believe it is best for the bees.

MPM: So what's the scoop on genetically engineered bees?

PA: Most of the honey bees out there have been hybridized. They figured out that larger bees make more honey. They have also bred them to be more docile. Unfortunately, larger bees also have a longer time in the larval stage which makes them much more susceptible to mites. Although mites have been around a long time, they have gotten worse as the bees have gotten bigger. There is a movement to regress bees back down to a smaller size to make them more mite resistant.

MPM: If I come down to the farmers market this summer, will Petra give Michael an educational honey tasting?

PA: Everyone that stops at our stall this Summer will have the opportunity to taste every variety we have- available side by side. Mention this blog, and I'll give you a deal on your next honey purchase!

MPM: Our readers thank you in advance Petra!

For more information on Petra's LUSCIOUS HONEY products, or the Wisconsin Honey Cooperative, you can use the this link: www.luscioushoney.com

BEE OUR GUEST #5: ARMANDO PEDROSO

Bananarama heard a rumor. Marvin Gaye heard it through the grapevine.

Horton heard a Who. We all "hear" things from time to time, but how often do we dismiss the divine inner voice that tries to direct us? The voice that encourages us to blossom and evolve is more often drowned-out by the other voice in our heads.

The one that's fueled by doubt and fear [ego's best friends].

But when Armando Pedroso heard THE VOICE it was so LOUD, so CLEAR, he had no choice but to LISTEN. Not that he didn't try to resist it at first....

Like so many others, he had been laid off from an 18 year corporate sales position in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Disheartened, disillusioned, and unsure of how he was going to support himself, he heard THE VOICE. It said PAINT.
Paint?

Clearly this voice was crazy. Forget the formalities of training, he'd never even had the inclination to paint! But he heard it again. PAINT.

It takes a rather scary leap of faith to begin a personal transformation, but making a professional one usually requires a cannon. Like believing you may have just heard the voice of GOD.

Time and unemployment were running out. So he decided to listen closer...

He came up with a clever hand-crafted "closing gift" that could be sold to real estate agents to give to their clients. Literally "door knocking" on foot, agency to agency he went. The response was not only warm and ecstatic, but the the sales were brisk. Suddenly, there was money to pay the bills and buy groceries. Perhaps that voice wasn't so crazy after all. And perhaps by making that true leap of faith he had discovered his true calling. And discovered grace.

As they say, the rest is history. When I visited Armando at the studio he shares with fellow painter and friend Darren Jones the other day, the first thing I noticed was the swing. Bolted to the concrete ceiling ,with a wide, weathered-finish wood seat. He said people ask him all the time, "why?" His response? "Because I always wanted one."

It's presence immediately establishes a sense of play, and freedom. The kind of freedom you can only know when you allow yourself to have it. Now that I'm thinking about it, I really wish I'd taken it for a spin...

SO! The next time YOU hear a voice, listen carefully. Then locate the most structurally sound place on your ceiling, and hang YOUR swing!

MPM: Going from a corporate sales career to full time self-employed artist has surely changed your routines and lifestyle. What's a day in the life of Armando Pedroso like?


AP: Well, it's just a lot of Fun. Now I know that I am in control of my days, life, and career which is a wonderful way to wake up and start the day. Since I had 18 years of the corporate "7am to 5pm" time schedule ingrained into my being, I still get up at 6am, get a cup of coffee, leisurely do some spiritual readings, mediation and watch the sunrise. This is a calm, drastic and welcome ritual from the awful panic of what to wear, traffic, dreading long meetings and wondering what kind of drama will be going down in the office! From there it is off to the gym for an hour to move from the spiritual realm into the physical where I get the blood flowing and focus strictly on that hour as my time for my body...I really believe that to have a healthy life, one needs for attend to the mind, body, and most important to me the soul. After the gym, it's off the the art studio where I feed my soul by sitting on the "old school style rope swing" I built, that's hanging from the studio ceiling ,and quietly sit and wonder where the energy of the day wants to lead me... as it seems there is a different creative force that wants to express itself daily. I try never to force a specific style out of me when I paint, I create moment to moment, with no expectations. I think if you don't have any expectations and just paint you will never be disappointed at the end of the day because you paint/express what you had to say for that day.


After the studio, its a quiet 9 minute drive home...lol, dinner with friends, some more reading, art paperwork etc. I tend to avoid the television and news as the negative energy it breeds has a huge influence over how one views the world, and themselves. I choose to seek, and give my time to achieving the positive and simple truths of life.


MPM: Your paintings are wonderfully inspirational, but where do your inspirations come from?


AP: That's probably the most asked question I get from people and is to me the hardest question to answer. Inspiration is a flash in moment. An inner voice that says "look at this object or shape", "Did you notice this, did you see that", "That would be fun to try and play with"....and my favorite voice that says "What if you tried"... Everyone has that small voice inside of themselves that leads and guides them, the problem is everyone is so busy worrying about the next moment, or bill, or what to watch on TV or whatever life throws in their path that they ignore the voice that says "Turn left, not right" so, you turn right and there is a truck blocking the street, the voice that says "I 'd love to be a florist, painter, run a marathon, sky dive, travel, read....etc." but they let it pass without taking just a moment to say and give attention to that "what if you tried" calling. I honestly believe that if everyone took the risk and had the faith in themselves to listen and act on that inner voice that says "this is what Id love to do", God would open such amazing doors of opportunity at such lightning speed that you would never question the voice of Inspiration again. So to me, Inspiration is just Listening to your soul speak.


MPM: Your new "Graffiti" series feels like it has more deliberate intent than I've seen in your work before.


AP: Yes, I have a ton of symbolism in my works with all the different textures and materials. In previous works I've had to explain to the viewer where I was going in the painting. In all my works I love to express how Choices, Faith, Trust, Self, Why, Dream, Belief, Serendipity, Flow, Purpose are all in our control. I want my art to express hope and belief in oneself and ones potential and that everything happens for our best interest even if we don't see or understand it.

In the "Graffiti" work I am engaging/leading the viewer more directly through these "words" as a starting point for them to reflect on what those words, textures and materials mean in their lives. How can the words/painting Inspire them to be who they really are and not fear the journey on how to get there.


MPM: I love what you're doing over at Children's Hospital. Would you tell our readers a little more about it?


AP: Children's Memorial Hospital is an interesting story, I first tried to volunteer there years ago after my father passed away, and they felt it was the wrong time for me to volunteer so I never did it. Then in 2002, I was accepted into the "One of Kind Art Show" in Chicago and they asked me if I would teach art at Children's Hospital as part of their community outreach program. I told them I would love to and then told them about being rejected years before...and well, now I am at Children's on regular basis playing and teaching the kids irregular art....On Halloween for example the kids painted all over my clothes pumpkins, ghosts....whatever they wanted, the joy in their faces doing something they thought they "should not be doing" like painting on clothes on a real person was such a joy for them I think I cried!


MPM: You're a self-taught artist, and seem pretty fearless in your experimentation with materials and mediums. Any words of wisdom for anyone who's been wanting to express their inner artist, but doesn't know where to start?


AP: Everything and anything is and can be a piece of art. Life is art and art is life. Think outside of the everyday use of a material or object...fear not! I use everything from roofing tar, plaster, found metals, spray paint, plumbing material, coppers, aluminum's, screen, printed store clothes bags, wires, bolts....the list goes on and on. Art is fun, art is made without thought or reason...it is just in how you see and feel something. It is not complex or difficult if you just let go and DON'T judge yourself ever. Your art is you, no one else, no one is or ever will be you, see life the way you see it or express itself like you will. Embrace art in all its forms and simplicity....it is all around you all the time in everyday objects and experiences, just listen and act on that "Inspirational" voice inside yourself and listen no one else!

To see Armando's work, and learn more about him, you can visit his website by CLICKING HERE: http://www.armandopedroso.com