What a FUN Day!!!

On Friday morning, I was talking to my Sister-in-law and she happened to mention that her Dad was going to take the honey frames off his hives with his friend and beekeeping mentor Bob.  So, I hurried up and called and asked if I could help.  In the frame of a couple of hours, I finished laundry, kind of cleaned the house, and packed up stuff to spend the night.  Oh, and of course packed up my bee suit (well, actually Jack's suit :).

Luckily, I got there before they had started.  As soon as I arrived, I was told to put on my suit and  head out to the bee yard.  My Father-in-law has 9 hives right now and has been beekeeping for over 20 years.  Bob has many many hives and has been beekeeping for over 30 years.  Needless to say, I was hanging with the big dogs!  

What an experience!  Bees flying everywhere, some working and I am sure some pretty angry about being blown out of the supers by a leaf blower.  The hum was so loud.  The bees were so fascinating.  God gave us as humans such a blessing in the honeybee.  There is no other animal or insect on earth that pollinates 40% of the food we eat, gives us wax to use, propolis to keep us healthy and as we are just beginning to learn fight cancers, and of course honey!  Honey, with it's antiseptic, antibacterial, anti fungal, and antiviral capacities.  Truly amazing!  Thank you God :)

I learned so much, that afternoon.  Such as what a deformed bee looks like, how to look for mite excrement, how to pull out brood to look for mite infestation, how much a hive needs to weigh to get it through the winter, how to winterize my hives, how to treat for mites, how/when to feed bees, how to properly take honey supers off, and how to do a proper inspection of a hive.  Also, I learned how to build frames properly and put in foundation.  Best of all, we took 8 supers of honey off--full!  That is about 250-300 pounds of honey!!!!  We have yet to extract the honey.  We hope to do that this week or so.

Even more exciting, my Father-in-law asked me to help with maintaining his hives in the future and he jokingly said he was going to will them to me :)  I have to say, I loved every minute of it.

Another happy event that happened this weekend was my Mother-in-law's birthday.  My Sister-in-law and I made dinner for her and we had a great time with family.  

Beautiful, cool weather, wonderful family get-together, working bees, and a 3rd WVU Mountaineer win.  Life is good and blessed!!!

I pray all who read this are enjoying their blessings and this wonderful time of the year.  I hope to write soon about honey extraction day.  God bless :)

Today's Inspection, Beetle Update, and My Newest Food Obsession

Ahhhhhhh, it truly feels like fall now.  I love the cooler days, cold nights, and NO HUMIDITY.  The leaves are just beginning to change here.  Although, I think this might be a weak year for fall colors due to the drought.  I see many leaves just turning brown and falling off the trees.  But, I still love the fall :)

So, today I decided since it was so nice out...sunny, little breeze and 68 degrees, I was going to take a shot at building a hive super and inspect the bees.  The hive super is actually my father in law's but he was gracious enough to let someone who has never built anything or used a power tool to give it a try.  There are no directions!  This week I spent time looking at YouTube videos to learn how to put together this thing consisting of a bunch of screws, some nails, couple of pieces of metal, and four boards.  With some instruction on the basics of the screwdriver drill thing from the Hubby and assistance from my oldest son, I completed it in one day.  Actually, half a day!  I also painted it today, too!  I have to say I am feeling kind of proud of myself :) 

After finding the hive beetle, I called my father in law and he said he had never dealt with them and he directed to call a friend of his who has been beekeeping for over 30 years.  Bob told me to not worry about it because the first frost will be coming and any beetles now will just freeze.  Beetles in the spring or summer can be a problem.  Just keep feeding them the Honey Bee Healthy, which incidentally he developed, and all should be well.

As for my hive inspections, Hive number 1 is light in weight.  My Hubby was able to pick it up from the front very easily.  It shouldn't be easy, it should be heavy enough that a strong guy can't do it.  Hubby wasn't able to lift Hive 2 up, so they would seem to be full enough for the winter.  I have to see what I have to do about getting hive 1 built up for the winter.  The goldenrod is still in full bloom so I am hoping they will keep working hard for their winter stores.  On a good note, both hives are queen right, drones seem to have been kicked out of the hives, there is stored pollen, brood at all stages, and capped honey.  Hive 2 has a significant amount more then Hive 1 of capped honey.  I saw no signs of beetles or mites.  So other then Hive 1 being light all looks good.  Hope so anyway :)

I am hoping in the very near future to see the whole honey extraction process.  I am so excited.  My father in law said in the next couple of weeks he will be removing the extra capped frames from his hives and then the following weekend extracting and bottling the honey.  I can't wait to see the whole process.

Now, onto my food obsession.  I know it will sound crazy simple but for some reason I can't get enough.  This has actually become my breakfast and lunch for the last week.  Apples with peanut butter and honey.  I know...silly!  All I do is find the best organic apples I can, mix about a tablespoon of local raw honey and a tablespoon peanut butter and feast away.  It is oddly filling and so good!  I add some cheese cubes and I got a meal!

Hope to write soon about the honey extraction process!  Buzz buzz :)

Inspection

On September 1st, I conducted a routine inspection of the beehives.  It had been 3 weeks since I was in there so we took our time.  The Hubby was my muscle for job as the supers are nearly full.  The weather was beautiful.  I couldn't have asked for better-low 80s, a breeze, cloudy, and slight humidity.  The most comfortable bee suit wearing weather I have experienced so far.

Well, our small hive had good and bad news.  First the good.  The top super was filled with honey with all but the end 2 frames capped.  The hive box was filled with eggs and capped brood.  I didn't see the queen but there were eggs so she has been there in the last 2 days.  Now for the bad :(  When putting the new super on I saw a black beetle like bug.  I killed it.  I wish I had taken a picture of it first.  After much research, it appears I have small hive beetles in that hive.  I am currently, researching what to do.  I am not using chemicals so it looks like it is time to set up a trap.

The other hive was just chugging along.  Top super isn't full yet but the girls are working on it.  No evidence of mites in either hive.  

Now is the final push for winter stores.  The goldenrod is in full bloom.  Great for the bees, bad for my allergies.  Also, fall is coming to our area.  I love the change of leaves and beautiful fall colors.  I can't wait for the cooler temperatures to come our way.  And, the return of WVU football must be mentioned!  Let's go Mountaineers!!!!!

                                                Jack

On Sunday Sept. 2nd, Jack turns 10!  Yes 10!  I can't believe it, where has the time gone.  I guess since I am wondering where the time has gone, I am also pondering how we have come to where we are right now.

Jack and I have been through so much together yet we have come out stronger and closer then I think many 10 year old boys and their moms.  Also, when I look at our life now we are living one filled with blessing beyond what we deserve.

When, Jack was 19 months old, his father decided it was time for him to move on from our marriage.  We divorced, not a nice one, although I can't imagine any divorce is nice.  Then, sold our house and moved in a tiny apartment.  While those years were hard emotionally and financially, I wouldn't change a thing.  It was during that time I began to know the Lord and starting living my Christian walk.  It was also the time I became independent, self reliant, and the best single mom I could be.  Jack and I became really close and I think developed a bond that could only exist because of those circumstances.  

Within these 10 years, We have been through divorce, rebuilding our life, my remarriage, new baby brother, several moves, settling into what I have hoped to be our home for a long time, and just the day to day ups and downs of life.  I have also watched my baby grow into a tween that is kind, compassionate, loving, smart, and has a huge heart for God.  Through him I learned about unconditional love and how God loves can love us unconditionally.  I have also learned that I am not perfect and neither is he but we can make anything work as long as we have open and honest communication.  And, I have seen how God uses people in our lives.  For instance, after my Dad passed away, my faith was really shaken and when times were worst it seemed it was always Jack that some little insightful thing to say that would catch my attention and help me through.  

As now these first 10 years are past, I am so excited to see what life and God have in store for Jack.  I look forward to what kind of man he will grow into over the next 10 years.  As we embark on this journey into the tweens and then into the teens, I pray for his strength, courage, and trust in God, for him, as I think this what is needed to survive in today's world.  I pray for my strength and patience as I know that our relationship will be changing over these years as he grows into an independent young man.  I know there will be growing pains and I will have let go as I won't be able to fix everything anymore. Yet, I pray our relationship will continue to be a strong one.

God bless you, Jack.  I love you :)

 My 2 hives.

The Pink Bee

So, the Pink Bee...I am starting this blog to post about my adventures in beekeeping and in my life.  Let's start with the beekeeping.  My in-laws, with whom I am so blessed to have in my life, have been beekeepers for 20+ years.  They have 7 or more hive.  When I married my husband, 5 years ago this fall, he said he would like to keep bees.  I was agreeable but I didn't want anything to do with it as I was scared to be stung.  My son who was 5 at the time was very excited to help.  

Now we are to Summer of June 2012.  My father in law comes by and drops off 2 hives of bees in our backyard.  I must tell you in the 4 and 1/2 years since our wedding neither my son or my husband has read or researched anything to keep these bees.  Husband tells me we can just "ask Dad."  Being the independent and sometimes controlling person that I am this doesn't sit well with me but I say nothing.  But, purchase a couple of beekeeping books.

Well, this summer Husband is fixing the roof at our church a couple of times a week and then he moves on to building a garage on our property.  Our oldest son, Jack is going to Webelos overnight camp and a 10 day vacation with his father.  Needless to say these bees aren't getting any attention from the 2 who said they would take of them and I am learning in my books that you need to check a new hive weekly.  

What do I do???  I finish reading "Beekeeping for Dummies" and tell my Husband I have decided to be take the lead with our bees.  Thus, on July 1st 2012, I take a deep breath, say a prayer for protection against stings, don my son's bee suit, grab my husband's hive tool and smoker, which I bought him for Father's Day, my inspection cheat sheet,and head out to inspect the beehives.  I must also mention that it is nearly a 95 degrees in mid afternoon.  This is the only time I can go out because our 3 year old son is taking a nap.  The first inspection for them and me!  Am I now a beekeeper????  

I don't know if this qualifies my as a beekeeper or not but what I do know is I fell in love with a bug that hot afternoon.  I loved relaxing hum of the hive, the busy but orderly work of the bees, the smell of the wax and honey.  I was mesmerized by what I saw and how if was just like my books.  It was amazing to me.  Then there was the HONEY!  I couldn't resist, I took off my bulky leather gloves and gently dipped my finger into a spot of the capped honey that wasn't covered with bees.  To say it was delicious is an understatement.  Sweet, sticky goodness.  I have also now fallen in love with raw honey.  

That evening I began my research into all things bees and honey.  From hive maintenance, to honey recipes, to honey and propolis health benefits, to knitting hexapuffs, to the plight of the honeybee, and everything in between.  I am not sure if I am a beekeeper or not but I know that I am a bee geek.

So, it is safe to say that this blog will be about all things bee and honey and also the random things that happen to me and my family.

Oh, I must mention that I named this blog because I love the color pink and now I love bees.  Buzz buzz :)