There IS Life After Bee-keeping Series Part 2 of 8

Hi - Hunter Lee Atkins, and doing these blogs aren't really my thing at all. I'm not a computer guy like older brother Garrett, but I do enjoy a brief computer game every once in a while. I am beginning my freshman year sometime this fall, and will soon be 15. I have been keeping my own bee hives for 2 full seasons now - 10 hives. Planning to increase to 20 hives next spring. My favorite part of beekeeping is WINTER when the bees are all clustered (or frozen) inside of their hives!!!!!

 Ultimate Frisbee is my favorite backyard game along with tennis, football, roller blading, and swimming. I also still enjoy Legos, have been playing piano for 7 years, and last fall finally lived up to my name of Hunter. We are getting ready to put up tree stands soon and looking forward to what the Lord might bless us with this year. Daddy is even planning to hunt for the first time this year as well (he never wanted to hunt before, but after our adventures last year, he now wants to get in on it).

 This actually in my front yard during the flooding back in late May - we made sure to make the most of it the 24 hours it lasted.

 Seriously, THIS is my favorite part of beekeeping, although I don't get to operate it as much as I'd like. Dad wants it saved for work and not goofing off.

 If I look like I'm not working, it's because I'm on vacation in Nashville, TN and we are visiting a Civil War era fort there.

 Me inside of the Opryland Resort Hotel (no, we stayed at the La Quinta and just VISITED Opryland Hotel)  :(

There IS Life After Bee-keeping Series Part 1 of 8

We will be using this series to spotlight each of the 8 children the Lord has blessed our family with.

Garrett Evan Atkins : Today is my 17th Birthday, and I am beginning my senior year homeschooling - Being the eldest of 8 children, one of my favorite things to do is have fun with my younger siblings  - this is me with my sweety, Geneva. Why does she have a watermelon? Because we just had a treasure hunt for part of my b-day celebration, and she found the last ticket - under the watermelon!

 Sometimes you just have to make your own fun - here I am playing marbles with Stewart and Victoria (can you guess who is winning)?


Hunter and me with my newest sister,  1 year old, Caledonia

 I enjoy many other hobbies, duties, and passions. These deer hides are from mine and Hunter's first whitetails back in the fall - our first hunt! Mine's bigger, but Bro got the Buck!
 Guns and other weaponry, and at one time knife and tomahawk throwing, provide for much interesting "play" between us older fellows. I really won't say I am too old for Legos, because, well, they still are my favorite toy (hey, they're educational, aren't they)?

 Here I am packing up almonds in the bulk-food store, The Homeplace Pantry, we used to have in our home (it is closed now). This is where we first became interested in beekeeping - we desired a way to provide honey year-round for the store.

 Me looking all handsome in my favorite color green

 I never got to participate in any historical reenactments, but that was a dream of my early teen years - I have most of a Civil War Union outfit (replica), and my little friend - a 36 Caliber colt navy.

My William Wallace Sword replica - it is one of my emblems along with the name: "Saber Truth" on some internet networks. I have always been fascinated by history, especially the time period, nation, and virtues that Wallace stood for.  My own name "Garrett" means "mighty with a spear", but an actual 'garret' is also defined as a high tower in a fortress of defense. The name "Evan" means "young warrior". Maybe I will never live up to the name in any physical description, but a couple of the scripture verses my parents took these names from reads: "Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My Goodness, and my Fortress; my High Tower, and my Deliverer; my Shield, and He in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me."-Psalms 144:1-2
Other activities that I have spent time in since my earlier years (7 years old to be exact), are piano playing, reading (mostly history), out-loud reading to our family in the winter, and Scripture memory - my parents have encouraged and challenged me for a decade to commit 1 verse of the Bible to memory every day, and then to keep at it until I can say full portions in one sitting - the Lord has enabled me to be able to quote James, Philipians, Psalm 119, 1st,2nd, 3rd John, and currently 1 Timothy.