Mixed emotions, got my grandfather's equipment back

[contactme_11]

My grandfather always kept bees. When he died several years ago I wasn't keeping bees at the time so I didn't pay any attention to where all his stuff went, for all I knew my uncles burnt it. The other day one of my astranged uncles stopped by and noticed I had several hives in my yard again. He said he had to stop keeping bees due to developing severe allergies and asked if I wanted his equipment. He lives about 30min. away from me and I had not been to his house in many years. When I got there today guess what I saw? Much of the stuff he had were actually my grandfather's. I recognized it by all the funny handles he had saved and used on the boxes through the years. Most of this stuff is old, at least 1960's and some even further back. I ended up leaving with a full pickup truck load of boxes, bottom boards, covers, frames, tools, etc. As I drove home I couldn't thelp but feel mixed emotions...

[ziffabeek]

I think that's really cool.  It's neat that your granddad's equipment will continue on, and really  nice that it brought you back in touch with your uncle.

I'm sure it brought sad emotions, but how cool to look at your beeyard and remember your grandfather in light of something he liked to do and passed on to his family!

Congratulations on the find.  I hope you get lot's of happy, friendly bees to fill them up!

ziffa

[G3farms]

You should be happy to have it back, maybe you can pass it on down the line someday. I have several things that were my grandads on both sides and cherish them to this day.

I would use some of it just for the felling of tradition and put some of it away for future generations.

Just me thinking out loud of course.

G3

[JP]

I still have a few things from my grandfathers. My mom's dad and I were particularly close. He was a real character and liked to hord all kinds of stuff in his shed. He used to make things my grandmother called junk, one such junky thing is this cooky lil knife he made from a hacksaw blade. Its not much to look at but whenever its in my hand I think of my grandfather, who I miss dearly.

You will do your grandfather proud by putting bees in those old boxes of his.


...JP

[sc-bee]

I had an Uncle that kept bees in the early eighties. He always asked me to go in a hive with him. I was in my twenties then and had other interest.

I regret now I didn't take the step.

Enjoy the fond memories of your Grandfather and the legacy he has left behind  :cheer:!

[Natalie]

I think its great that you got your grandfather's equipment.
I love having things that belonged to my parents and grandparents, I think of them every time I use the same things they did.
My favorite things aren't even the fancy heirlooms but tools that I know my dad used and my grandmother's cookie cutters because I know they used them to do the same things I am doing and it kind of ties our lives together a little.
You are very lucky to have that equipment back.

[Davepeg]

I bet your grandfather is smiling down thinking of you using his equipment!  What a wonderful way to remember him.  Everytime you go out and see his hives in use it will make you smile.
Good luck with the equipment.

[contactme_11]

I cleaned out all the woodenwares yesterday and scorched the insides. I figure I'll bleach all the frames as a couple hundred frames is a lot to clean. I'm going to junk all the foundation and put starter strips in the frames. I've also collected enough old propolis to make almost a gallon of varnish that I'll use on new equipment.

[wxton]

I got bit with the bee bug when I was about 8-9-10...something like that.  My uncle had about 10 hives at my grandmothers and I always tried to help when he went to tend to them and messed around with them when he wasn't around.  After I got a little older, I remembered back on those times and decided that when I got to the point in my life when I had enough money and I had a place of my own, I was gonna have some bees.  He and I have had numerous conversations about bees and he still has some of his old equipment he wants me to have (problem is we live on opposite ends of the state).  I am looking forward to when we do get together and I am able to use "his" stuff.  I think that will be so cool.  I am sort of nostalgic like that.  Even thinking about taking some back to my grandmothers and reliving some of those old memories.

All that being said, I think it is way cool that you are getting to use some of your grandfathers stuff.  Good times will be brought back to the forefront of your thoughts, even if they are not all about beekeeping!!!!