Murder and Mayhem

Chicken Update - I think a hawk got one of the triplets.  That's the only thing I can figure out happened - here one day and gone the next.  I did find some feathers near the bee hives so guess he/she stopped there to have a little snack.  The neighbors dogs got in the yard and chased one of the hens till she just had a heart attack (my diagnosis).  The neighbor did take the chicken to the vet but she passed away on the way there.  This was one of the original Americanas.  Lily was inside and those damn dogs bark all the time anyhow and I guess she figured it was a normal day.  Those dogs (dachshunds - I think she has four or five) are annoying as hell on a good day but this just about put me over the top! 
So I have six hens now and only two that are laying (the triplets minus one so now they are twins) on any kind of regular basis.

It has been a tough year so far for so many, many reasons. 

Fall Bee Checkup

Yesterday Mr. Ellis came and we checked the hives.  I have not taken any honey this year and have really not taken very good care of the bees.  It was a pleasant surprise to find all the hives full of bees, food and looking good for going into the winter.

Did move the super from Hive #6 to Nuc #2.  Hive #6 has two brood boxes (deeps, whatever you call them) and they still had room in the top brood box.  Nuc #2 was full so this will give them some room.  Hive #4 and Nuc #1 looked good. Did see some drones - they'll be gone soon - better enjoy their priviliged life while they're still around.

Treated all the hives with Apilife VAR for varroa mites.  It's the least invasive treatment you can use that I know of and since I'm not getting any honey this year, now was the time.  Apilife Var is formulation of Thymol, Eucalytol, Menthol, and Camphor.

I'll recheck the bees in about three weeks and retreat again.

July Bees

Even though it was extremely hot today, I checked all the hives.  No changes made to any of the hives.  They still have some space in each hive.  No ants but some hive beetles.  No wax moths - all the hives are full of bees so that shouldn't be an issue. 
I'll wait till September and then decide if I'll take any honey this year.  I don't want to feed the bees during the winter and if I take all their food supply, that's what I'll end up doing.  All four hives look good and healthy.

These photos of the hives were taken about 8 o'clock tonight.  No photo of Hive #4. 

Nuc #2

Nuc #1

Hive #6

Patriotic Quilts

Red, White and Blue - is there anything that shouts 4th of July more!  Some of my patriotic quilts and wallhangings.

MIA

Well, it happened - a hawk got one of the Triplets.  That's the only solution I have as to what happened to my little hen.  Probably sometime Sunday while I was away and the girls were down in the garden.  I've seen hawks before but not recently.  Lily got a possum the other night but I know that's not what happened.  Anyhow, sad but life is tough.

Memorial Day Battleship USS North Carolina

On Memorial Day, May 26, 2014, at 5:45 PM, people of all generations from across the state will gather together on the deck of the USS North Carolina to pay their respects.


This year the battleship will welcome guest of honor and key note speaker Brigadier General Robert F. Castellvi, Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations, East/Commander, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
The event will conclude with military musical arrangements provided by the 440th NC Army National Guard Band and a 21-gun salute.


Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. 
Regardless of the exact date or location of its origins, one thing is clear – Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead. It was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.
On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

Thank you to all who have served and continue to serve.

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.