You learn something new everyday

From an IM conversation with my nephew, DragonBen (8)

DragonBen: I'm going to write you a song

Me: ok

DragonBen: Queen Bee Buzz, Queen Bee Buzz, Queen Bee Bee Bee

DragonBen: Queen Queen Queen Bee Bee Bee Buzz Buzz Buzz

DragonBen: Queens do not buzz

Me: really?

DragonBen: that's it

DragonBen: yes

Me: thanks - that's a cool song.

DragonBen: good bye Queen Bee

DragonBen: that's it

Although I was unable to verify the information about queen bee not buzzing, I did find some interesting facts about bees.

And this seems to tell me that the queen does buzz - but not very often, since she just sits around letting the other bees wait on her most of the time: the buzzing sound is from the wings, which beat around 250 times per second. It's not just bees - flies buzz, as to dragonflies, ants (the flying ones) and also moths and hummingbirds. They don't just flap up and down, but in a rotational pattern, which is how bumblebees are able to fly despite their comparatively large weight and small wing surface area.

I think I will go buzz off now.

That's It

Clarification posted in comments by DragonBen: What I was trying to say is that the queen that is the king's wife is the queen that does not buzz.

DragonBen

The Votes are In....and the winner is...

Wow - who would have thought that the battle of naming rights for a little stuffed turtle would be so fierce!

In 3rd Place - with 3 of 38 votes
Travis T. Turtle (the other Regina)

In 2nd Place - a 3 way tie each with 7 votes -
Terra-Pin (why - um - me!)
Lil' Mim (Lazy Sister Sue)
Toby (Glenda in Florida)

in 1st Place - with 9 votes
Shelly (DragonBen and the Mercantile Gang)

So - with apologies to my niece Shelly (or perhaps she was one of the 9 votes??) - this little Turtle is now forever more known as Shelly.

So some home made goodness will be sent in the direction of Dragon Ben (and probably the rest of the Mercantile Gang as well.)

Turtle of the Day: Two Turtle-Boys

These are my two turtle boys - the Munchkin and his cousin DragonBen. DragonBen is actually inside a turtle shell on a family vacation to Minnesota, but seeing this photo reminded me that our zoo here in Rochester has a similar shell. I will have to find a time to bring The Munchkin over and see what he thinks of it.

The Munchkin was climbing on a Turtle at Barret's Place, a VERY VERY nice playground near my parents house in Pendleton, SC. He keeps asking to go to the playgrounds around here - but their wide open landscapes with nary a tree in sight and metal structures pale in comparison to this great space.

Even when the temperature was up in the 90's, most of the playground was in the shade and comfortable (of course the Munchkin kept gravitating to the sandbox, the only area in full sun most of the time.) I have extreme playground envy now - and cannot even envision a place in my community where we could build something remotely similar.

I am hoping the Munchkin's backyard "playground" - under the shelter of the black walnut and surrounded by mommy's gardens - will keep him content. And with his turtle sandbox underneath the "fort" we've got everything a playground needs, right? Slide, swings, fort, turtle, pirate wheel and periscope. What else could a little boy want?? (Oh - and Daddy wants to add a flagpole for the pirate flag).