It's a bird, it's a plane, it's . . . .



Happy Halloween



NC State Fair

 

Construction Dude



The Vine Lady

Charleston

I was in Charleston last weekend with Baby Boy.  We had a great time - walked a lot, took a carriage ride around the town, had some wonderful food, and played in the park.

Garden Beds

I've been working in the garden trying to get a little ahead for next year.  I always wait until spring and then my beds aren't ready and I'm behind before I get started. I got two loads of leaf mulch a couple of weeks ago - buy 1, get 1 free - now that was a deal.

I've replaced the rotted boards.  I use treated 4x8's and the big box store will cut them in half so three 4x8's will make one bed.  I've added leaf mulch to some of the beds and will add more.  I also want to plant a cover crop on the beds.

Moved some of the strawberry plants to a new bed.  And generally trying to clean up a little - the mosquitos and hot weather about did me in this summer.  The mosquitos are still around but at least it's not so hot.

And we're supposed to have some rain the next day or so.

Bee Checkup

Thursday afternoon, Mr. Ellis and Jess (my favorite beekeepers) came over and we opened all the hives.  Our fall inspection - we might do one more in 3-4 weeks but everything looked really good.  All the hives had lots of brood and bees.  Couple of minor changes - put a super on #6 from #4 - they had 3 supers and two brood boxes so moved the top super over to #6 and that gives them more food for the winter. Also in #4, we took 4 frames with brood from the Swarm Hive and put in the second brood box.  There were several frames that had nothing on them.  Nuc #3, Nuc #1 and Nuc #4 - no changes were made.  In the Swarm Hive, we took off the top brood box - they were working but only 4 frames had any honey or brood so they were moved to #6.

It was great to have help and made quick work of checking the hives.  The bees are bringing in lots of pollen - goldenrod and aster.  I don't know what else but they are really busy.

Little Chicks

Steven and Sara have little baby chicks at the river.

Hurricane Irene

I was fortunate and had no damage from Hurricane Irene but some of my neighbors at the river were not so lucky.
Lots of big trees down but nobody was injured - nothing that can't be repaired or replaced. 
Lots of firewood for Steven.