Button up the Bee Hives

The
weather here is kinda weird. No different than any other day this summer but definitely making it hard to figure out what to do next. I went out to check the weight of each hive once again (I had been feeding a few of them over the last few weeks), and although they took bee feed, they don't weigh any heavier than they did before I started. I'm pretty puzzled at this point. Now what do I do? There are three hives out in the yard I'm pretty worried about. I told Jim I thought I'd better combine what I could putting all their honey stores in one. He said, I'd be making things a whole lot worse.
On the way back to the garage I started to wonder if I could pick the hives up during the winter and move them into the garage for feeding. I mentioned it to Jim and he rolled his eyes. Sometimes I think he thinks I'm crazy, OK, I know he thinks I'm crazy but usually he hides it better than that.

Spent the weekend in the "Prowler" with the girls (Lil & Ava). We had the best time. The girls and I went to the Monroe KOA for their Halloween weekend. Jim wanted to go hunting but thankfully he showed up in the afternoon to give me a hand. I didn't realize the girls would be in two different age groups, so he took Lil while I had Ava and then he stuck around to hand out candy while I went out with the girls.

Never the less they had a phenomenal time. The campground did a great job keeping the kids busy with all kinds of activities that they really enjoyed. From the magic show to the parties to trick or treat time they didn't have a chance to slow down at all. So not only did the bees get buttoned up, but so did the camper for the winter. I hate to see it get put away because we had such a good time, but that gives us a whole lot to look forward to next year!

Pumpkin Fest at the Market

What a beautiful day at the market, you couldn't have asked for any better weather. A picture perfect fall day. The kids came down dressed for trick or treating and boy were they cute. Ok, not all of them were cute, some of them were kind of scary! But all and all I think everyone who came down to the market had a really good time. They started to pass out information about how the new Winter market was going to work. It was good to see the posters go out letting everyone know that some of us were going to actually be down there this winter. I hope that we actually get some visitors down there. I will be bringing down my candles and honey products hopefully people will show up and want to give them for holiday gifts or maybe they will just want to fill their tables with jars of whipped honey and eat toast while basking in the glow of some of our beautiful candles. . . Ok, a girl can hope can't she:)
All and all today was spectacular, talked to Mom and she is doing good and since we are so far apart I'm really glad we get to talk almost every day. I'm really lucky because not only do I have a great mom, but she is also my best friend. Jim went out pheasant hunting at his folks with the dogs and he actually got a pheasant. . .and that made him happy and you know what? Seeing him happy makes me happy. What more could a girl possibly ask for?

Closing up the hives

Kinda sad, but to tell you the truth I'm ready to close the hives up. Jim is putting the bottom boards in. (We use a screen bottom board, and there is a solid board you insert in the winter.) Since it's going to be warm or at least in the high 50's next week I'm going to try to feed a couple of the hives to get them a little heavier in their honey stores. I've got honey from the wax capings and from the tank that I can feed them. Hopefully they will take it. Other than that I'm going to try to do some market stuff as well as some web stuff. I made a commitment to go to the market every Saturday in December since they are going to be able to close one end it. Hopefully my candles and honey products as well as gift baskets will be enough to have them stop in. There are a few other vendors that are going to participate. I know it's a gamble but after the season we had I could use it.

Time to get to work.

Brrrrrrr

I'm putting off hopping in the shower this morning because the next step is out the door and it's pretty darn cold out there. Today is Market day and I've got the truck loaded with everything except me.

The bees need some tending to so I suppose when I get home from the market I'll have to look in on them. Bottom boards need to be slipped in to button up the hatches for them and I want to weed wack around the hives once more before real winter.

I actually had to build a fire in the fireplace last night. I think it's because I was running in and out from the garage making candles all day. I've got some new molds and can't wait to show them at the market today, and I for the first time put color in my wax. . . .Yikes, it's something I said I would never do, but I found a friend of mine who works with Native American Indians and she gets natural dyes from them that can be used in Beeswax. So I don't feel so stressed out about not having an all natural product. Besides I have to keep reminding myself, this month Martha Stewart, my idol made beeswax candles using two of my molds and yes Martha used wax dye in her candles. If it's ok for Martha, I'm thinking it's ok for me. I just won't let the bees see. . . . . .

Have a great fall day!

Honey Harvest is finally in.

Thank goodness, the last bit of honey has been put in buckets and stored until I need it. I didn't think this day would ever come. Now we can focus on making sure that the bees are ready for winter.

Saturday I plan on doing another hive check, just to make sure that the bees are storing enough honey and to supplement feed those that don't have enough put away. I've also got to check on a couple of the hives and see about combining them. It's such a hard call to make. I have two hives in two different locations that are not real weak, but they are not doing as well as the other hives that surround them, so do I combine them or do I let them try to make it through the winter? I'm thinking I will probably combine I just hate to lose a queen in the process.

I have a lot on the schedule for today, I need to label and bottle some honey and get things ready for market this afternoon. I feel bad but I had to miss Saturdays market, it wasn't planned and when that happens I feel horrible because I have people waiting for orders but sometimes things are out of your control and you have to just accept it. I've been beating myself up for it way too much and started to rethink just what I have gotten myself into. I like being a beekeeper and in the process started to sell what we harvest at home, somewhere along the way I've let the market part of what I do get out of control. Time to start enjoying the beekeeping part of things again!

Well I'm headed out to the gym and get some time in on the eliptical. Seems that I've been ignoring my health more than I should. . . So I hope your day is good today, and if you find that it's not, step back for a second to see the whole picture and start counting the blessings in your life. I'm sure that will make you smile.