keljonma's Front Porch - Settling in and adjusting

[keljonma]

I really am enjoying the bee experience and am planting more "bee friendly" perennials especially fall flowering ones. Also hope that the bees will like the wild raspberry bushes in the pasture so I get a really good crop this year!!

Ohioann We are doing the same thing. We have a great number of seedlings waiting to go into the ground bee balm and the like, flowering perennials, veggies and fruits. Only one of our already planted blueberry bushes flowered this spring; I think because the one had a late start. I am really having a hard time waiting for Memorial Day for planting!

 

[keljonma]

Today we have mid 60s and sunshine.

Yesterday I checked the hive and while I didn't see the queen, I saw evidence of an active queen - brood and eggs. 6 of the 89 frames of the first super were built up with beeswax and looking good. To be on the safe side, I added another super. I filled the Miller feeder and moved the 1/3 of the pollen patty up to the Miller feeder.

Yesterday and this morning, the bees were bringing orange, gold, yellow and white pollen back to the hive. I got some great pics, but am at a computer without a USB port for the flash drive. So I will have to post them after I can move to another computer or another day.

This morning I dropped off the cookies I made for the United Methodist Women's All-Daughter event. This one is a red carpet - dress to the nines affair, which is being catered. I chose not to attend, since TR is not working today and we already had plans.

Our plans -
This week-end is the DIY sale at the county Habitat for Humanity office. The materials for sale are all donations from DIY projects done by other people in the county. The proceeds all benefit the county HFH projects. The sale started 4pm yesterday and runs through 5 pm today. Since TR had to work modified 2nd shift yesterday, we didn't get a chance to go to the sale when it opened, so I am sure we missed quite a bit.

TR & I went shopping for materials for the chicken house....

We purchased
3 bundles of 30 year, premiere w/stain guard shingles
2 half rolls of roofing felt
A box of roofing nails
A 30"W x 42"L vinyl triple pane double hung window w/screen

2 small wooden w/metal leg children's chairs (like used in a kindergarten) to put by the bee hive for $1 each.

We spent $31.50 total!!

There were boxes of vinyl siding, a beautiful fan window, more doors, plumbing supplies, lumber and trim pieces, tools, flooring, tiles, tongue and groove T1-11 paneling.

Have a great week-end!


edited for typos

 

[TanksHill]

Sounds like some great finds at the sale. Great job!! Your hive sounds as if it's coming along. I honestly don't know what some of the terms mean but it sounds good. I can't wait to see the pictures.

Have a great weekend.

gina

 

[Farmfresh]

Enjoy that sun! It has been raining or cloudy here for the last week. I believe I am ready for some sun.

 

[keljonma]

Thanks, Gina! I found out yesterday that one of our friends has an extractor we can borrow for honey this year if we are able to harvest any.

Yesterday TR and I sponsored 2nd Sunday Luncheon at church. We had it this week, because last Sunday was Moms Day. Luncheon is held after the second worship service, so the meal starts about 12:15. So TR & I went to the first service at 8:30. There were about 75 people who showed up for luncheon. After clean up, we didnt get home until 2 pm.

Brenda was at church yesterday, and seems to be doing well. She helped us with the set up a bit, but is still taking it easy. She gets some stitches removed this week and is hoping to go to work (she owns a Curves) this week.

We have rain again in the upper 50s during the day, and forecast for mid-40s at night. blah!

TR has Trustees Meeting tonight at 7, so Ive got to get home and serve dinner. Tonight we are having red beans and rice; which just needs re-heated.

 

[keljonma]

Weve been getting rain since yesterday.. night time temps in mid 40s; day time temps mid 50s. Although, the forecast is calling for day time temps in the mid to upper 60s later in the week.

Yesterday TR was on day shift; today is his day off; Wednesday he works modified 2 nd shift again. Then Thursday, he is back on day shift. We are *not* happy..


Recent bee pics

On wild mustard in the farm yard

Bringing back pollen and nectar on a sunny day

Hive pic May 13, 2010

Hive pic May 14, 2010

 

[keljonma]

We have sunshine, blue skies, and 75 today!! And this weather is supposed to last through the week-end! Now THAT is something to about!

The headline of the Ashtabula County Star-Beacon newspaper was: Bees terrorize downtown Madison Village. It was a great article about a swarm that was captured by a Lake County beek, who was (not sure if he still is) the mayor of the village. It took an hour to capture the swarm of about 20k bees.



New blooms today - the brambles are in full bloom. Besides the brambles, the dandelions, buttercups, wisteria, blueberries, and wild mustard are all still in bloom.


No new pics today, because TR was working day shift today; but a great day for a bee update.

I opened the hive about 2 pm to check on the Queen and progress of the colony. I haven't seen Her Majesty since putting her in the hive on May 1st.

I used the sugar spray more than the smoker and didn't have any problems to speak of.

One half of the Miller Feeder was empty, one half just about full. The pollen patty was completely gone.

The lower super has sealed pollen, honey and brood on both sides of 6 of the 8 frames.

The little ladies are now drawing beeswax in the upper super. I found the Queen on the center frame of the upper super surrounded by her court.

The absolutely neatest thing I saw today was a worker bee hatching!!

The pollen the foragers are bringing to the hive is white, pale yellow, golden yellow, and orange. I need to find a book on pollen so I can try to identify the different pollens.

TR is working days through Monday, I think. Saturday, our friends Laurie and Tim are getting married. TR and I will help out by running the dishwasher.

Have fun!

 

[dacjohns]

Your hives are works of art. All I've ever seen are the plain white variety.

 

[lorihadams]

That is sooooo cool, Kel! I have bee envy! They're so pretty when they are all over the flowers.....didn't get any bees yet but I did get 6 blueberry bushes and 2 apple trees today.....if my new neighbor gets her hive then I'll contribute the fruit!

 

[TanksHill]

The information is so interesting, and yes the hives are very handsome!!

Thanks you for sharing!!