Animals
- Just An Ordinary Day
It seems as though we have skipped over Autumn and gone right to Winter!Temperatures never left the 40's yesterday,and nighttime lows are in the 30's.Brrrrrrrr..... We had a peaceful weekend at home with our animals.Chores, cooking and knitting...
- Casualties Of Winter
I don't have to tell any of you...This was the HARDEST winter ever...of my life...ever! Now, we've had winters with more snow.We've had winters just as cold.But we have never had a winter with this much snow and ice and this much cold,that...
- Buzzing Along.....
It has been quite some time since I have talked about our bees.Yes, we still have bees....but, sadly, only one hive at the present time. Over the past two years we have suffered massive losses.Our eight original hives have suffered gravely. Colony collapse...
- Beekeeping Basics
Yesterday was another sunny day with temperatures in the 60's. The rain held off (I think today may be the day, though). I took advantage of the wonderful weather, donned my bee suit, and headed out to feed the bees. Earlier this week I mixed...
- Hive Inspection
Yesterday was a beautiful, warm, sunny day....a perfect day to work the bees. In the late afternoon, I suited up, put fuel in the smoker and set off to inspect my 5 older hives. Opening the lids and removing the top boards I was happy to see my colonies...
Animals
A Wonderful Sight to Bee-hold!
Each and every day we see just a little more of the ground!
Less snow, more water....more mud!
Just about everywhere you look there is a small stream of water flowing...
eventually reaching the lowest part of the farm...
the pond.
Afternoon chore time is delightful...warm and breezy.
Yesterday, while cleaning the dry lot (wet lot)...
I became aware of a buzzing sound.
"Rats...the flies are out already!" I thought.
And then I looked at the ground and saw lots and lots of honey bees buzzing around.
(I have noticed that for some reason honey bees are attracted to horse urine.)
These had to be my honeybees, because no one else in the area has bees.
With anticipation, I quick ran to the bee garage, threw on a bee shirt and gloves, grabbed a feeder and sugar water, and headed to the bee yard.
I cannot tell you how happy I was to see one of my hives with bees busily buzzing around it.
There were hundreds of dead bees on the ground in front of the hive...
the work of the bee maintenance crew...
they clean out all dead bees and push them over the edge.
I lifted the roof and added the feeder and sugar water.
With no available nectar, and their honey stores surely depleted from this brutal winter...
I knew they would be honey.
Sugar water will assure their survival until the blossoms emerge in the coming weeks.
The bees have had a few rough years...
colony collapse disorder and brutal winters have all but eradicated our bee colonies.
Thank goodness we have one strong colony left.
With any luck, this colony will continue to thrive through the summer.
Of course that depends upon the health of the queen.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I still want to add more hives, but with this summer's extra activities (wedding and such),
I have decided to tackle that project next summer.
PS....don't forget to check back tomorrow afternoon for the winner of the apron giveaway!!
PS....don't forget to check back tomorrow afternoon for the winner of the apron giveaway!!
- Just An Ordinary Day
It seems as though we have skipped over Autumn and gone right to Winter!Temperatures never left the 40's yesterday,and nighttime lows are in the 30's.Brrrrrrrr..... We had a peaceful weekend at home with our animals.Chores, cooking and knitting...
- Casualties Of Winter
I don't have to tell any of you...This was the HARDEST winter ever...of my life...ever! Now, we've had winters with more snow.We've had winters just as cold.But we have never had a winter with this much snow and ice and this much cold,that...
- Buzzing Along.....
It has been quite some time since I have talked about our bees.Yes, we still have bees....but, sadly, only one hive at the present time. Over the past two years we have suffered massive losses.Our eight original hives have suffered gravely. Colony collapse...
- Beekeeping Basics
Yesterday was another sunny day with temperatures in the 60's. The rain held off (I think today may be the day, though). I took advantage of the wonderful weather, donned my bee suit, and headed out to feed the bees. Earlier this week I mixed...
- Hive Inspection
Yesterday was a beautiful, warm, sunny day....a perfect day to work the bees. In the late afternoon, I suited up, put fuel in the smoker and set off to inspect my 5 older hives. Opening the lids and removing the top boards I was happy to see my colonies...