Egg-citing!

My first brown egg this year! 
No details here but I only have one of the triplets and four old hens.  She has not laid in months and months so it was egg-citing to get an egg yesterday.  And the fact that it's so doggone cold right now.  Low 20's this morning and even colder this coming week.  Yoweee!
I bought some regular eggs and let me tell you they are not good.  Just can't eat those things.  So next I bought some organic eggs which are better but pretty pricey.  So I need a couple more hens and I'll be back in business.  Just need to wait a couple of weeks for warmer weather.  I like to get teenagers (pullets) rather than baby chicks.  Baby chicks are cute but two cats and a dog that would just gobble them up - well, that's too exciting for our house.  

Busy Bees

Nuc #2

The bees are busy!  Yesterday was just gorgeous, warm temps, the trees are budding out, bluebirds getting ready to nest in the garden - just a beautiful day.  Unfortunately I was working but that's the way it goes some days. Today will be warm again but a little rain this afternoon - still, all in all, nothing to complain about.
This is Nuc #2 - they are taking the sugar water and "busy as bees".  I may have to replace the brood box.  Might not be able to see but the box is splitting on the corners.  A little duct tape will do for now.  Will definitely need help changing all that. Hope I can do a split on that hive. The other two hives are busy too. 
I have a waiting list for honey already.  Since I didn't take honey last summer, there's none to be had.  A matter of taste but some folks think my honey is the best.  Thank you and I think so too!

New Year Bee Check

Yesterday I checked the bees since the weather was nice and warm (mid 50's and higher).  Three of the hives were flying and lots of bees bringing in pollen but not the case with Hive #6.  Sure enough they had starved - just did not go up to the top brood box where there was honey.  It makes me sad but that's part of beekeeping - you're gonna have some loses.  So I moved that brood box to Hive #4.  Quickly checked the other hives - lots of bees and food.  But just to be safe, I have started feeding all three hives. 

Hive #4 and Nuc #1

Nuc #2

Three hives are enough for me to take care of but if I should get a swarm or two this spring, I won't be upset.  I've got lots of equipment sitting in the barn ready to use. 
We'll see.  I know we'll have several more cold months but the days are getting just a little longer.  Daffodils are coming up - can't wait to complain about being hot again.

Another Rainy Day

So it's raining this morning but thank goodness not so cold. The internet has vast overwhelming amounts of stuff and Roxy (the crazy cat sitting in my lap while I try to type) and I like to waste time as well as anybody else.
So here goes . . . . .

Beehive Cupcakes

Martha Stewart (of course)

Cold Weather

Beehives in Massachusetts

Beehives in West Ukraine

Thank goodness we don't have snow like this in our neck of the woods! Chill factor has been in the low teens for last couple of days.  Cold, I mean really cold for here. It really looks like snow outside this morning and it's still pretty doggone cold.  It thundered last week so you know what that means - yep, we're gonna get some snow - probably first of the week.  I know it's an old wives tale but we'll see!

My bees are snug in their hives, chickens are in their house, Lily, Roxy and the Little Kitty are in the house with me - we're all snug and warm.  Actually, Roxy is sitting in my lap as I type this (annoying as all get out) but you know how cats are ... it's all about them.

2015

Yeow whee - another year has passed!  I can hardly believe it has come and gone.  So much happened last year - no need to tell all about that cause a lot of it was not good - let's just hope this year is much better. 

The best of last year is right here - another little cutie pie!

So I've been busy with life and three grandchildren, Lily, Roxy and the Little Kitty and my chickens.   Working a little part time job and trying to keep my head above water.  It has been a struggle! I almost forgot the bees - four hives going into the winter.  Let's hope they all survive.
So no great promises about blogging - it might happen and might not.
Hope everybody has a good new year - good health, friends to share good and bad times with, some fun and games thrown in here and there - all that would make me pretty happy.

Happy Thanksgiving

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.

 

John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to 'clean up' the bird's vocabulary.

 

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even more rude. John, in desperation, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer.

 

For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

 

Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arm and said;

"I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."

 

John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude.

 

As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke-up, very softly;

 

"May I ask what the turkey did?"