Strawberries

I've had a good crop of strawberries this year. 
Usually the birds get to them before me and I've
kept those pesky chickens out.

Big House for the Swarm

Making Honey 2014

Swarm Hive Nuc 4/9/14

Swarm Hive in Brood Box

It's been almost a month since I caught the swarm so it was way past time to check on them and the other hives.  The swarm hive was busting at the seams.  They were ready for more space and lots of bees in the hive. 
Nuc #1 - Added a super.
Hive #4 - Not a lot of bees in this hive.  They looked okay - just changed out 2 supers and 2 brood frames.  They will give them plenty of room for the time being.
Hive #6 - When we checked the bees in April, there wasn't a queen so we moved a frame with queen cells to this hive.  They have a queen but didn't change anything.  They still have plenty of space.

Will check again in about two weeks.  And I cut the grass while I was suited up - didn't matter one way or the other - the bees were busy working and not concerned with me.

1st Swarm 2014

1st Swarm of Season April 9, 2014

 

I thought the Queen was in the Nuc Box late Wednesday  evening and I put some sugar syrup out as an extra incentive to make this their new home.

Bees that I didn't get in the Nuc Box.

Thursday morning - the queen did not go in the Nuc Box yesterday!

They moved over to the bench about lunch time Thursday.

So after thinking on Wednesday evening that I had the Queen in the Nuc Box found out Thursday morning that was not the case.  It was more difficult than I thought getting the queen from between the slats on the picket fence.  She must have been in the middle somewhere.  Anyhow they moved around lunch time to the bench (thank goodness and how lucky was that for me).  Sprayed them with a little sugar syrup and put the Nuc Box under the bench and just brushed them in.  Nice swarm and hope they stay in their new home.

Nuc #2 in their new home Friday morning.

Two of the Triplets

On the goldfish pond - March 2014

Spring - where are you . . . .

This full-disk image from NOAA’s GOES-13 satellite was captured at 11:45 UTC (7:45 a.m. EDT) and shows the Americas on March 20, 2014. This date marks the start of astronomical spring in the northern hemisphere.

The vernal equinox, or beginning of astronomical spring for the northern hemisphere, occurred at 12:57 PM on March 20 - well, I don't know what happened but Spring has not Sprung in my neck of the woods. 
The weather tonight is crazy - rain clearing in the evening hours making way for clears skies and cold temperatures. Lows dipping into the mid to upper 20s. Northwest winds will be gusty as a high pressure system moves into our area. Wind chills Wednesday morning could be in the teens. 
Holy Batman!!!!!!!! My bees don't know what's going on but they know it's best to stay inside.  I'm still feeding all four hives and thank goodness I have made it thru the winter without losing a hive.  I haven't checked them - been gone all the good weather days we've had but hope to get it done soon.  Have bought new frames for supers and brood box.  Some of my equipment is so old - need to replace some and help those girls any way I can.
I want to complain about hot weather - bring it on!

Cold Weather and Snow

It doesn't look like much but it's a solid sheet of ice out there.  The coldest temps we've had in a long time - it's 15 degrees this morning.    

On February 19, it thundered during the early morning hours - so snow in 10 days - so we're right on schedule.

Retired People

Yesterday I was at one of those big warehouse stores, buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet Owen, the Wonder Dog (name changed to protect the innocent), and was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

What did she think I had an elephant?

So because I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse, I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete, (certified), so it works well and I was going to try it again.

(I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me?

I told her no, I had stopped to pee on a fire hydrant and a car hit me.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard.

Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.

(this little story has been around for a long time but it just passed my way recently)