Sonic Youth – Teen Age Riot (Cracks remix) by Cracks

Then and now, I like em both.

Japandroids:

Japandroids :: Wet Hair (Teen Daze Remix) by Beachtapes

Ive a fire built, im listening to local boy Robin Pecknold and im nursing not just a cocktail but also numerous bee stings. Bee Week has come and while not yet gone, Ive decided its been a major success. There really isnt much that can properly explain that special thing that happens during Beeweek, its so cliche of me to even say this but what the hell, its the only way I can describe it: Magical. Really. Its like that, really really cool. I have a stunning beeyard here on Alki and another gorgeous spot in the Mountains @ Salish Lodge, seen below. Salish Lodge was kind enough to commission a fence to protect the bees from any sort of imaginable skullduggery and they furnished locks on all gates that serve as entrance to the Hives, its really a cool setup that Im going to enjoy all Summer. The bees in every Hive this year started off really well, I put 30k in each Hive, fora total of 10 new Hives this year and a dozen overall, they say its a big jump and maybe thats true but Ive got the speed and desire for it so I wont be complaining. Some people have been busting my agates about going so big so fast, misunderstanding my intent with something more Napoleonic, its just another example of whats been readily apparant and increasingly annoying from the beginning: everyone knows everything about beekeeping and there arent many who will just sit back and listen without constant injection of opinion. One of my favorite terms is tofu-toughtalk, reserved always for that one guy who never has the juice to back up his own words; im starting to use the term barstool beekeeper more and more. Not just for the bar rats but really everyone who knows more than you and wont listen to anyone tell them otherwise. Anways, this is a fools errand to cogitate upon so Im dropping it for now.
Now that things are quieter than before and everything is settled down, I have more time to man the Helm here, looking forward to blogging alot more than I have been. Right now though its time to refresh the vodka and enjoy the fire on the couch, in the semi darkness. Im alone, its absolutely quiet here besides the ubiquitous music and for the first time in months I have nothing to do. I just wrapped up a brief press release for Shipwreck Honey and once I hit send I realized I was caught up. What a feeling, I dont know how the hell I made it through the first quarter this year, its been insane for me.
Heres a few shots of the weekend and also a toast to you: S’lainte, friends.

Heavy rains in the Mountains means is Avalanche time up high, methinks.
Gonna lay low all weekend and work on secret projects that I cant talk about yet, but are driving me nuts b/c I want too.
Build the remaining Hives, drink tea to cure the scourge in my chest, listen to folk music and pour a few drinks even.

Nothing pleases me more at my new place than firing up the chainsaw in the front yard, bucking timber then splitting logs. I get some pretty big woodpiles out front and some even bigger stares.
This town forgets all too easily its big-timber past. Well, that and grunge (clicky-click).

Its been busy, damn busy around these parts. I dont know how to hit the brakes, I dont know that i even want too.
Ski Season begins its final countdown with the Ides of March looming; it puts alot of us in the final drive to get as much as we can in before its all over. Fortify your livers if you plan on keeping up, for this is when the magic really happens in the Northwest: Big Storms and even bigger bonfires.
Speaking of storms, look at my block up there; debris everywhere.

Eagles have been lurking all week in the trees of my hood, kinda cool to see them but even cooler watching the reactions they garner from both humans and other birds. People freak out like its something theyve never seen, like a bear-jam in Yellowstone, while in the sky other birds exercise a no-fly zone anywhere an eagle is perched.

Honeybee season is fast approaching, there is ton of work to finish in the beeyard plus a brand new shiny website to launch with an actual SHOPPING CART OMG. I need to sacrifice one weekend in March to the Beeyard/website but I dont know which one yet, y’know: ski season is still open.

Upcoming events of note:

Mayors Rendezvous is at the end of March; its second year now where I lead my caravan of boisterous mountain pirates in thier motorhomes to pillage and plunder Crystal Mountain for a weekend. And by God when I say pillage, I mean it in every sense of the word. Flyers coming soon, save the date: last weekend of March.

Lykke Li is coming to Seattle in May. I dont like the album she is supporting but I know alot of people who do so I thought Id mention it.

Fleet Foxes are playing here soon. Sold out. Tickets online maybe? Wheres the Craigslist killer when you need him.

End of Ski Season means one thing: pond skimming. Watch for relevant updates here. Come enjoy the scene.

This is the best Vodka you will ever have, its a fine Irish grain and in the old days it was everywhere but I was the only one in town drinking it. Try as I might to fill that void and keep the label in town, it was sadly discontinued at all Seattle stores. Last Monday at the SODO outlet I shrieked like a schoolgirl when I saw it hiding in the darkest of corners. I bought a few bottles, in case they sold out before I got my share of the bounty.