The mountains are alive this morning. As I drove to campus, the light was brighter, the sky bluer than it was just last week. There is a light breeze and, while the weather is crisp (43-degrees), the day will heat up to a sultry 72-degrees by dinner time. Jonquils nod and tulips sway as the breeze whisks them into its arms and spins them in a heady dance. The birds challenge the day with a cheerful song, almost as if they are inviting one to join in -- even if one doesn't know the words, they surely know the tune, the song, of spring.
These are the kinds of days I want to be at the farm playing in the dirt. But, I have class today and office hours. After that, I have a run to the bee supplier for honey jars and creamed honey supplies. The creamed honey is something new for me, but, after attending the beekeeping class last month, I am willing to give it a go. I may even try some flavored honey -- the jury is still out on that one.
Yesterday was spent in class, Farmer's Market board meeting, and then home to stir two batches of castile soap before I collapsed in bed. The best news of the day was that I am now a vendor at Grayson Highlands Park. I have hoped for this opportunity and am so thrilled to be doing it! I love the park and vending there is one more Good Thing!
Here's wishing you a sunshiney and happy day!
Showing posts with label bees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bees. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Sunday, May 22, 2011
How A Beekeeper Tills A Garden
We have one very snarky hive. Very very snarky. Everytime we go out the back door, there is a girl there, waiting, who then bumps, buzzes, and chases us back into the house. Cross bees. It comes from being brought up in the country, way more in the country than we are, and not having to deal with anything or anyone other than your own kind.
These new hives, all ten of 'em, haven't been good family members, thus far. In fact, one stung Moosie right on the corner of his eye, leaving him all weepy and with hurt feelings.
After being chased, bumped, and tortured by these new gals one too many times, I ran to the house only to discover one rode into the house on me in order to continue her annoying behavoir. After she stung the Mister while he was trying to get her out of my hair (yes, again!), I happily smashed her with a fly swatter.
So there.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Spring-y Monday at Lazy Bee
When I was six, I wrote a spring poem:
Spring
Spring, spring,
I like to sing.
Birds that hatch
Try their wings.
Poetic, ain't I?
So, you can see that I love love love spring and all the wonder that comes with it. Would you like to take a short stroll and see some hightlights today?
Hives are ready for new occupants. We have 20 nukes coming in mid-May. Our goal is to have 50. Since we lost 22 last year, we are kind of back to nearly 0. However, such as it is to be a farmer.
Off the corner of the back porch is this flowering quince. I had a cunning plan when I took a start from Mother's house 15 years ago -- to keep the children from running off the edge of the porch right there and making a mud hole. It worked. And, my treat is that it is full of bees all day long whilst it blooms. The birds hide in it whilst flitting to and from the feeder that is at the kitchen window. And, sadly, a black snake makes its home there in the summer. While I do not care for snakes (have I told you about shooting one while Don was gone?), I console myself that she does keep the mice away. Mostly.
I am so in love with snowdrops! These are on the left side of my back step, which is one of the many fireplace stones that we took from the house when we cleared out the fallen chimneys. The snowdrops came from the back stoop, which is why it is at mine, of an old house we bought to tear down in order to put up a new spec house. Imagine our surprise when we removed the siding and found a one-room, two-story log house in the center! The best we can date it is about 1850. Needless to say, that was moved to the farm-below-the-mountain and is in very early renovation.
Last, but certainly not least, are my new girls. Are they not the dearest little things you have seen? All 54 of 'em were snuggled under the heat lamp this morning crying, "it'scoldit'scoldit'scoldit'scoldit'scoldit'scold!" They are quite happy this afternoon as the barn is much warmer.
Spring
Spring, spring,
I like to sing.
Birds that hatch
Try their wings.
Poetic, ain't I?
So, you can see that I love love love spring and all the wonder that comes with it. Would you like to take a short stroll and see some hightlights today?
Hives are ready for new occupants. We have 20 nukes coming in mid-May. Our goal is to have 50. Since we lost 22 last year, we are kind of back to nearly 0. However, such as it is to be a farmer.
Off the corner of the back porch is this flowering quince. I had a cunning plan when I took a start from Mother's house 15 years ago -- to keep the children from running off the edge of the porch right there and making a mud hole. It worked. And, my treat is that it is full of bees all day long whilst it blooms. The birds hide in it whilst flitting to and from the feeder that is at the kitchen window. And, sadly, a black snake makes its home there in the summer. While I do not care for snakes (have I told you about shooting one while Don was gone?), I console myself that she does keep the mice away. Mostly.
I am so in love with snowdrops! These are on the left side of my back step, which is one of the many fireplace stones that we took from the house when we cleared out the fallen chimneys. The snowdrops came from the back stoop, which is why it is at mine, of an old house we bought to tear down in order to put up a new spec house. Imagine our surprise when we removed the siding and found a one-room, two-story log house in the center! The best we can date it is about 1850. Needless to say, that was moved to the farm-below-the-mountain and is in very early renovation. Last, but certainly not least, are my new girls. Are they not the dearest little things you have seen? All 54 of 'em were snuggled under the heat lamp this morning crying, "it'scoldit'scoldit'scoldit'scoldit'scoldit'scold!" They are quite happy this afternoon as the barn is much warmer. Thanks for coming by today! Won't you drop in again?
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Bee business
Having lost 19 hives this month from an unexpected freeze, we set out this morning to replace some of the foundation in the 8 hives we will be replacing bees in on Tuesday. It was a wonderful day to go visit Beverly at Miller Bee Supply http://www.millerbeesupply.com/ and to have breakfast out -- a double treat!
When we arrived, Beverly was as thrilled to see us as we were to see her and Presley. Ends up, they have experienced unexpected growth, now having more than 17 employees. This is wonderful for many reasons; they are a family business, started by Presley's daddy who was a cabinet maker and bee keeper; they are a local business and are hiring local folks who have lost textile jobs to overseas markets; the money they make stays here; and they are just nice folks who work hard and have earned their success. That being said, there is a downside. They are just big enough now that the Federal Government (OSHA) is now interested in their business. Yeppers; for all the talk about local businesses and entreprenualship, the Feds have found a way to make life difficult for the little guy. Beverly shared with us that some of the changes they had to make only had a three-day window. Being a small business, she and Presley manage all the affairs of the business as well as work physically, either building, shipping, or waiting on customers, 10-12 hours a day. Why can't the Feds stay out of these small family businesses and focus more on the CEOs who are earning millions instead of a family business?
But, on the positive side, isn't it wonderful, too, that there are more beekeepers? Given that there has been such a decline in bee populations, it is great to see more people getting into beekeeping. Einstein said, "Albert Einstein once said: “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more pollination … no more men!”
Bees are the most fascinating insect. They are masters as teamwork; they understand cause and effect; and they are committed to one goal -- keeping the queen and her brood chambers cared for. Whilst being a queen bee isn't all it is cracked up to be -- they live in the dark all their lives except for ONE mating flight from which they lay all their eggs for up to nine years -- bees, as a whole, are most interesting to watch. They are curious and will note anything that is added or moved in their space. They are good indicators of weather as they go to the hive should the weather be due to change, regardless of what the weatherman says. Honey is a natural antibiotic and will cure a burn. And, honey never goes bad. It will keep for centuries!
And, while I can't get Don to paint the hive purple to match the barns, we have eight nice hives ready for the gals when they come. Oh, yeah, did I mean the best part of beekeeping is that the hive is nearly all female?? Gotta love 'em!
When we arrived, Beverly was as thrilled to see us as we were to see her and Presley. Ends up, they have experienced unexpected growth, now having more than 17 employees. This is wonderful for many reasons; they are a family business, started by Presley's daddy who was a cabinet maker and bee keeper; they are a local business and are hiring local folks who have lost textile jobs to overseas markets; the money they make stays here; and they are just nice folks who work hard and have earned their success. That being said, there is a downside. They are just big enough now that the Federal Government (OSHA) is now interested in their business. Yeppers; for all the talk about local businesses and entreprenualship, the Feds have found a way to make life difficult for the little guy. Beverly shared with us that some of the changes they had to make only had a three-day window. Being a small business, she and Presley manage all the affairs of the business as well as work physically, either building, shipping, or waiting on customers, 10-12 hours a day. Why can't the Feds stay out of these small family businesses and focus more on the CEOs who are earning millions instead of a family business?
But, on the positive side, isn't it wonderful, too, that there are more beekeepers? Given that there has been such a decline in bee populations, it is great to see more people getting into beekeeping. Einstein said, "Albert Einstein once said: “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more pollination … no more men!”
Bees are the most fascinating insect. They are masters as teamwork; they understand cause and effect; and they are committed to one goal -- keeping the queen and her brood chambers cared for. Whilst being a queen bee isn't all it is cracked up to be -- they live in the dark all their lives except for ONE mating flight from which they lay all their eggs for up to nine years -- bees, as a whole, are most interesting to watch. They are curious and will note anything that is added or moved in their space. They are good indicators of weather as they go to the hive should the weather be due to change, regardless of what the weatherman says. Honey is a natural antibiotic and will cure a burn. And, honey never goes bad. It will keep for centuries!
And, while I can't get Don to paint the hive purple to match the barns, we have eight nice hives ready for the gals when they come. Oh, yeah, did I mean the best part of beekeeping is that the hive is nearly all female?? Gotta love 'em!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)