Category: Blog

Photographer Don Brockmeier writes, “Photo is a male Eastern Bluebird returning to the nest box to feed his young. Bluebirds are ground feeders and prefer short grass nearby for insects. Most raise 5 chicks and that takes a lot of work for the parents.”  

Bluebirds are cavity nesters.  See them near old trees on a short-grass prairie or in a box built especially for blue birds and probably fastened to a metal pole to ward off bull snakes. 

More information may be found at the following website address: 

https://bbne.org/frequently-asked-questions/

April bees are occupied both inside and outside the hive. On days 50 Degrees and above the bees are searching for and finding pollen and nectar. I see bees gathering pollen from early blooming dandelions and searching and finding flowering plants for nectar – crabapple blossoms, wild plum and chokecherry blooms among other tiny blooms that only the bees know. 

In the hive, bees are cleaning the cells so that the queen will increase her egg laying. During the peak spring buildup, a healthy queen bee typically lays between 1,500 and 2,000 eggs per day.   

She is increasing the population of bees that will leave the hive in search of flowers. Specific flowers are sources for pollen (bee protein) and nectar (ingredient of honey) 

What am I doing? 

I am checking for the infestation of varroa mites in each hive. We know varroa mites exist and thrive in the confines of a bee hive. An acceptable Varroa mite level is generally below 2 mites per 100 bees (2%). Hives die out – every bee – when the threshold for varroa mites reaches over the level tolerable for the survival of the hive.   

Testing Best Practices: 

We scoop ½ (approximately) cup of bees into a jar with a lid.  Add rubbing alcohol to the jar and shake it vigorously to dislodge the mites sticking to the bees. Strain the bees and the alcohol out of the jar, leaving the tiny specs of dead mites.    

What then? 

So, the next step is treatment. And that is another story…. 

Value and enjoy eating local honey. Thanks for growing flowers that our pollinators like and need.

Thanks to Don Brockmeier for this wonderful photo. March in Nebraska makes me wish I had this eagle’s intense icy focus. From my office window, winter lingers in beige and gray scraps, and I feel just as dull. Even my taste buds seem numb. They’re craving spice. Richness. A spark of heat.

That’s exactly where Buzz Savories Spicy Beer & Honey Mustards come in.

Brown and yellow mustard seeds take the lead—bringing bold spice and just enough heat. Turmeric, allspice, and salt build depth and warmth. Then Lost Way Brewery’s Olde Creamery Stout adds richness and body, balanced with cider vinegar for a clean, bright finish.

Buzz Savories mustards were created to highlight the foods we already love—hamburgers, hot dogs, pork cutlets, beef roasts, and grilled chicken. They elevate sandwiches, too: egg salad, chicken salad, grilled cheese, ham and cheese subs.

And the list doesn’t stop there.

One of my favorites? Salad dressings. A spoonful of Buzz Savories mustard transforms yesterday’s predictable dressing into something fresh, layered, and memorable.

Explore more than 120 recipes and photos at BuzzSavoriesllc.com. Search “salads” for trusted classics and crisp new creations.

If March still feels gray outside your window, maybe it’s time to channel that eagle’s intensity. Let your food stare winter down with bold flavor.

Post contributor: John Rood

Don Brockmeier writes, “The gull (a ring-bill) was searching for minnows imbedded in the new ice at Johnson Lake. I started to follow her with my camera as she walked away. She suddenly turned, took a few steps and broke through some thin ice.” 

He said, “I got a good chuckle out of that because you think that wildlife do not screw up like us humans. This was a lot more interesting to see than a gull picking up a frozen minnow.” 

I responded, “I too laughed out loud as she hopped up, gave a shake and tipped her head as if to say, “To any gull watching, you did not see what you thought you saw. I did not misstep and break through thin ice. Must have been some other ring-bill that looked like me.” 

Don shared his reel with us to bring a smile and a chuckle in mid- February when our landscapes are washed in pale blue, gray, brown, and bronze and serve as a stage for crowds of  ring-bill gulls, millions of snow geese knitting patterns in the sky and the world- renown migration of sandhill cranes. 

Bring your cameras and your friends and family to join us on the plains of Nebraska for the grand spectacle of the skies.

Taste Nebraska in a jar of Buzz Savories Clover Honey, Honey Mustard, or Spicy Beer Mustard. Check out our Buzz Savories Shop for more Buzz Savories products.

Greetings from Buzz Savories! 

Mid-January 2026, and I am focusing on the word, “clarity.” I  think about, dream about, and imagine goals and activities that interest me in the year ahead, and when I feel shivers of happiness as I see myself there and doing what it is I planned or a goal I see myself accomplishing in the year ahead, I’m assured it will come to fruition in the months to come.

My first and favorite word for January is Clarity because the clear my thinking and imagining the future I want to see for myself, the easier it is to fulfill the  promise to myself. 

Buzz Savories is featuring a photograph by Don Brockmeier, nature photographer living and practicing his art of photography around Eustis, Frontier County.  The spectacular photo of the Harvest moon rising directly behind the iconic windmill that Don photographed in Frontier County illustrates “Clarity” better than words.

And this is how Don arrived at the photo we see of the harvest moon shining precisely behind the windmill.

1. He scouted the country side searching for the image he wanted in his final photo.  When he came across the windmill on the canyon ledge, he felt satisfied. 

2.  Wait for a full moon – date Nov. 5, 2025. 

3. Check tables to learn the exact timing of the moon/s ascent and using a compass also discern the angle of the moon’s rising. This information was acquired and analyzed days prior to the full moon was scheduled to rise behind the windmill.

4.  Calculate the distance  needed to acquire the entire scene that he wanted including dark sky, full moon lighting the background of the windmill. 

5. Program his camera to take a sharp, clean photo so he needed to check the distance between the camera and the windmill to calibrate the focus.

6.   The moon does not come up 100% from the earth, it comes up on an angle so Don said, “I had to move the camera in line with the  windmill.  As seconds passed, I needed to move the camera (myself and the camera) again to line up.”

7.   He had only  a few seconds to snap a picture because the moon continues to rise so he continued to move left and right due to the angle of the moon.  As it was rising, it was also  changing the angle.  And he needed to adjust the settings with the moon’s rising  and do it quickly. 

This photo was taken on Nov. 5 at 5:33 pm

I write lists, record in my calendar, and organize and  plan. Yet, often, December suddenly turns a leaf and “oh, no,” I want to thank a colleague or I’m invited to a party and will bring a hostess gift,  or a friend is in need so another reason for a small gift ! 

 We at Buzz Savories offer easy-to-give and always appreciated last days-of the-season gifts. See  Buzz Savories’ Mix-and-Match on our Shop page.  Order online and relax as you feel the special joy of giving  Holidays 2025!  We will pack and send and include your personal greeting.   

Find something unique for everyone on your list with Buzz Savories’ all natural gift boxes. Perfect for those who love bold, natural flavors and eco-friendly goods, our gift boxes feature hand-packed, local honey, mustards, and other artisanal items for a one-of-a-kind culinary experience.

Gift Box Options for Every Taste

• Spicy and Sweet Gift Set: A fan-favorite combo of local honey, Spicy Beer Mustard, and Honey Mustard, complete with a handmade woodgrain beeswax candle, wood coaster, and our “Recibees” booklet filled with ideas for using these gourmet treats.
• Honey Lovers Gift Set: Perfect for the honey lover, this set includes two jars of pure, locally harvested honey, a set of beeswax candles, a honey twizzle stick, and pollinator seeds—a gift that gives back to nature.
• Customize Your Own Gift Box: For a gift as unique as its recipient, our “Customize Your Own” box allows you to select from our full line of handcrafted honey, mustards, and beeswax candles, coasters, candle snuffer, twizzle stick, all packaged sustainably and shipped by Buzz Savories for your convenience.

Buzz Savories is committed to premium, eco-friendly products that showcase the best local flavors. Each gift is an experience designed to bring joy, warmth, and a memorable touch of Nebraska flavors.

Make this holiday season a delight!

October 2025 in Nebraska, and our maple. oak, ash, linden, and cottonwood trees are ditching their load of leaves. Leaves in bronze, ruby, gold and scarlet drift from the heights into fluffy mounds like quilts covering the earth during winter’s blasts of snow and deep freeze. 

In October we welcome family and friends to join us in our season to celebrate football and volleyball and Thanksgiving, the Christmas Holidays – the gifting season. 

We count on our Makers and Bakers and Designers and Creators at the GROW Nebraska’s Buy Nebraska Store in Kearney, Nebraska to make it easy.  

The GROW Nebraska (Buy Nebraska) store in Kearney isn’t just a shop; it’s a treasure chest of locally made goodies. From spicy mustard (yes, that would be Buzz Savories!) to jams, art, books, and chocolates, the shelves are stacked with stories waiting to be wrapped and given. 

See below a short list of the Nebraska made products displayed in the Buy Nebraska store (and via their online marketplace):

• Gourmet foods (local specialty foods) Find Buzz Savories all natural products here!

• Handmade soaps & bath products  

• Apparel / clothing (shirts, Nebraska-themed wear)  

• Jewelry (earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets)  

• Home décor / home goods  

• Gift items & unique gifts  

• Gift baskets, bundles, and customizable gift items  

• BBQ / grilling products (related accessories)  

• Stickers and magnets  

• Fine items (higher end artisan goods)  

• Pets (pet-related items)  

• Husker / Nebraska branded items (neighborhood / state pride goods)  

You’ll find gift sets or design your own. See the Buzz Savories Spicy Beer Mustard, Honey Mustard, and Honey and hand-poured beeswax candles and gift sets in the Buy Nebraska story and Buy Nebraska online. Shop any of our products or select from our 3 gift sets here: https://buynebraska.com/collections/buzz-savories-llc?srsltid=AfmBOoofkwXo0H4utuYJVugIis9Lixu5HCa7mXehS2rlLhwlhC1nnfr5

They’ll do the wrapping, packing, and mailing, whether you need a single gift box or a stack of corporate thank-yous. 

So skip the panic, ditch the annoying aspects of the gifting season, and spread a little Nebraska-made cheer. 

Visit the GROW Nebraska Store in Kearney or shop online at grownebraska.org.  

The store is located on the Younes Campus in Kearney, NE (address: 421 W. Talmadge Street, Suite #1)