Last week I had breakfast with my friend and phenomenal artist, Donna Jill Witty. Afterward—just a short walk away—I got a tour of her painting studio. Located in the lofty regions of a historic building, circa mid-1800‘s, it has at-least-20-foot ceilings and a massive 12-or more-foot window. If I had her view, my nose would stay pressed to the glass all day and I’d never get anything done!
Walking back to our cars I took some photos of this bee extracting nectar from a purple cone flower—echinacea. Head burrowed for maximum pleasure, it didn’t mind as I inched closer with each shot. On my drive home, I wondered about the difference between nectar and honey…
…bees produce honey from nectar they harvest. Nectar is produced directly by flowers. Hence, vegans prefer nectar because no animals are involved in the production.
Are you enjoying life’s nectar down to the last drop?
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.” — Laurie Buchanan
The Book—Discovering the Seven Selves
The Experience—Life Harmony
© 2013 Laurie Buchanan – All Rights Reserved
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Tuesdays with Laurie 
Some days that nectar is really sweet. Other days… Always aiming to enjoy down to the last drop, though! Sweet post. 🙂
Kathy – May your day be steeped in sunshine, regardless of the weather 🙂
This post is a good reminder to cherish every drop of nectar.
Sheryl – I’m glad this post resonated with you 🙂
Yes, always so sweet
Lately, no …..
Everyone wants some money for that honey, even though it was the bees work
Kim – Think of it as an exchange of energy:)
I always used to enjoy life’s nectar but lately I’m having trouble finding it . You have reminded be to go honey hunting . What interesting friends you have .
thanks Laurie
Cherry – “Honey Hunting.” I love it!
What a great photo and perfect illustration! I think it’s really an art to continue to search, like the bee, for the nectar! Life can be so draining, but we have to find the ways to refill ourselves. I’m going to remember the little bee and the beautiful cone flower this week. I like visuals. 🙂
Three Well Beings – You’re absolutely correct in that sometimes we have to see out the nectar. In a previous comment, one of my readers called in HONEY HUNTING. I love it!
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Namaste. . . .Anne
Anne – Well goodness, gracious, sakes alive! Thank you very much 😀
You are most welcome! Namaste. . . Anne
Yes indeed, Laurie. I do believe that I am – in this very moment – enjoying life’s nectar. . .right down to the last drop!
LifeByDesignWithAlison – You go, girl!
Doing my BEST !!! and believe it is enough.
Deb – “Enough” is an incredibly powerful word. Thank you!
I just got done saying that I have been part of a traveling family beehive for the past eight days or so. It was very much like gathering nectar down to the last drop! I have some photographs that I shall share sparingly over the next week in a new blog post to give you a bit of its sweet pleasurable taste 🙂
Terrill – Having been on the receiving end of your photography before, I can hardly wait to see what you’ve got in store 😀
I love when I can get one of those bee close-ups. (And on the topic of bees – so alarming the new studies about colony collapse. Without bees – our pollinators – we have no food. No veggies, no nothing.) So, yes, I’m enjoying my nectar while I have it!
Melissa – yes, Yes, YES – it’s a hot topic among the crowd I hang out with on Facebook. Yikes! Talk about peeing in one’s own pool…how foolish can we possibly get?!
My husband and I are engaged in a new pursuit–landscaping our porperty. This opens up a brand new venue in which to enjoy life’s nectar. And, even though it is hard work, I am enjoying every drop.
Congratulations on the award, Laurie.
Leanne – It sounds like you two are having a blast! And while I know you’re enjoying the journey, all of your hard work will be well worth the effort when you reach the destination.
The beautiful thing about nectar, is that it doesn’t have a “last drop” – plants are always producing more of it.
And while vegan, I do use a little honey in making bread (to feed the yeast).
And I am becoming ever more aware of the levels of beauty that are available if we ca train our brains to recognise them.
Right now, as I look out my window, the dominant feature across the bay is a 9,000ft snow covered mountain about 10 miles away. The snow stops at about 3,000ft, and the sun is shining on the north slopes of both snow and trees. On the narrow flatish region of about 3 miles between the base of the mountain and the ocean is a patchwork of fields and rows of trees, with some chimney smoke drifting lazily seaward.
In the foreground, on our deck, in a tray of seed we have put out, are sparrows and finches, squabbling as they feed. In the tree just beyond is a starling doing a morning territorial display.
It is a glorious sunny day.
Last night I received notice that I am now a full member of the lifeboat foundation and they have my bio in place – http://lifeboat.com/ex/bios.ted.howard
I take over as chairman of our Kaikoura Zone Water Management Committee today (a committee jointly appointed by local and regional councils to develop long term water management strategies), Ailsa leaves for a month in Madagascar tomorrow, and our 17 year old daughter Jewelia leaves home tomorrow – to go to our largest city to look for work and friends etc.
The following day is the start of the 2 day AGM of the NZ Recreational Fishing Council, of which I am vice president, and may well take over the presidency of that organisation.
Ailsa want me to record her playing 5 pieces, 2 for a local school, and 3 for the local choir, before I head off to the Zone committee meeting.
Life is very full.
Lots of nectar.
Lots of variation.
I have shed quite a few tears the last day or two, and will likely shed more, at the thought that this is perhaps the last full day our baby will spend at home, before flying the nest to make her own way in life.
Ted – It’s bittersweet when a “baby” leaves home. I’ve seen Jewelia’s photographs and I know she’s a beautiful, capable, independent, strong, smart-and-sassy human being (much like her parents). You and Ailsa have done a great job!
Congratulations on becoming a full member of the LifeBoat Foundation (I’ll follow that link in a moment). Congratulations, too, on the chairmanship of the Kaikoura Zone Water Management Committee. And if I know you, you’ll move from vice president to president of NZ Recreational Fishing Council before I’ve finished typing my reply.
So the womenfolk have left you home with the dogs… With the drop-dead gorgeous word picture you painted of the view you are gifted with seeing every single day, I don’t feel one bit sorry for you 😀
Ted, congratulations on a dozen different fronts! It is especially sweet to see you enjoying the richness of your life and the joy you bring to Ailsa and Jewelia.
Hi Lori! I must say I am enjoying it 🙂 I try to make everyday be even better than the last!
AnyLuckyPenny – “Make every day even better than the last.” What applaud your wonderful outlook!
Thank you for simplifying what so many of us can turn into a complicated life. A beautiful photo and reminder. 🙂
Joanne – I’m glad for your visit and comment, thank you 🙂
Laurie, I know you saw my photo of a bumble-bee extracting nectar and pollen from a gigantic thistle, an artichoke. I love to watch them busily working away, harvesting resources that will be further processed once they have returned to the hive. When the cool and rainy days come, they will be well provided for by their industriousness, bringing out that converted Sunshine to sustain Life and Energy. Me? Trying to convert cucumbers into nectar….
Sandi – Yes indeed. Last week when I saw your bee photos posted on Facebook I thought, “Great minds think alike.” I don’t have to tell you — a Master Gardener — the importance of bees to every aspect of life as we know it on this planet.
In the meantime, you’re in a PICKLE with all those cucumbers (I just cracked myself up)…
that’s a beautiful photo!
Victoria – Thank you 😀
I love watching and listening to bees when I’m watering my flowers. The deeper they burrow their heads for nectar the more their buzzing sounds speed up. Their excitement is contagious! It’s one of those joyful simple pleasures that make life so precious.
Barbara – I agree wholeheartedly – watching bees is one of those joy-filled simple pleasures that make like so precious!
Laurie, thank your for the delightful, delicious, and thought-provoking post. As always, you tweaked my Brain Colors into thinking about all the “love gifts” Mother Nature gives us!
Thank you. Yes, I am blessed with copious life experiences, which have taught me to appreciate the ones the Sting, as well as, the ones that Scintillate!
Sheila – And isn’t it interesting how they both — sting and scintillate — come into play in our lives?!
I’m trying, some days are fuller than others.
Carol – Yet, every time I visit your blog, you always seem to have “enough” 😀
It took me two weeks to get back up an running on my new computer, the borrowed computer was a joy and I am so gratefully, but I am hoping this one will keep me better posted. It was set up and then IT Girl left for the woods, mountains in her hiking boots and forgot to leave me the password!
All children are coming and going right now….so until the last trip to the airport next Saturday – my days are quite nectar driving. ( and it looks like flourless peach pie and a full dinner set on the table in about 2 hours) Full of the nectar of the gods of life and living – ah yes!
Patricia – It sounds like HEAVEN to me 🙂
Reblogged this on Greatpoetrymhf's Weblog and commented:
delightful that someone really does Speaking from the Heart
GreatPoetryMHF – Thank you for the repost, I appreciate you 🙂
Interesting comment that one re the difference between honey and nectar 🙂
Europasicewolf – It was a brand new learning for me 😀
Great metaphor for life 🙂
Alex – Thank you, I’m glad this post resonated with you.
Enjoying life’s nectar is indeed the key to sustained happiness. Those who partake of this “wonder drug” are the ones with the eternal smiles. Beautiful concept here Laurie!
Sam – You and yours are about to dive into a gigantic pool of nectar in the UK. I’m so excited for your family!
Love your photo, Laurie. My cone flowers are not doing well this year, mostly because I haven’t been taking very good care of my gardens! It has rained and rained and rained so everything is lush and green and out of control! Like my purse and my gardens…so goes my life. Appreciated your simple, sweet message. Hope you’re well.
Dorothy – Thank you for letting me know this post resonated with you 🙂
Bees are so crucial to our survival, Laurie. Our food supply would run out without the work these amazing, impossible creatures do for us. Thank you for sharing the information about nectar. You are right, in that we don’t steal from the bees when we take nectar. I have a feeling they don’t mind sharing, though. 🙂 Thank you for reading my blog and liking it.
TreeWithRoots – As a global community, I wish we were as gracious to the bees as they are to us 🙂
Our species can learn a lot from non-humans.
I’m definitely enjoying the nectar! And I enjoyed seeing your friend’s work. Had to go take a look!
Hope you’re doing well. Sorry to have been away. Been busy working on my memoir. Excuses, excuses! Right? I’ve missed you.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
Kathy – I know you and Sara are having the time of your lives as you settle into the Ecuadorian way of life.
Great post, thank you, Laurie!
Lada – I’m glad it resonated with you 🙂
This is a funny gum Oracle.
The saying is,
What fun for you on Monday.
The quote is:
nothing ventured nothing can win
Have a nice Woche.Herzlichst Andrea
http://andreasch45.WordPress.com/2013/02/26/kaugummiorakel/
Andrea – How fun that they do this with gum. I’ve never seen it on gum in the United States 🙂
I habs are still never seen, was a gift
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Reading this got me to slooowww down. THank you for the reminder. I really enjoyed your post!
Diahannreyes – I’m glad this post resonated with you, thank you for letting me know 🙂