Ancient Orange Cinnamon & Clove Mead

I've been wanting to make mead for a long time, but Jim has always said, no no no no no, no more honey projects. A really nice mead maker gave me a link to check out a recipe. Joes Ancient Orange Cinnamon & Clove Mead. It didn't look complicated and actually it looked much easier than I thought it would. I got the gallon jug and funny top at a wine making store in Dundee Home Winery Supply Company for about 9.00. The rest was history. It's sitting nice and quiet down in my cubby in the basement. Here is a photo.
It's Thursday and this weekend we are headed out to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Missouri, and I can't wait. Getting to see both of them will be soo great. We never take time off and it will be a great break.

Pictures of our "Cut Comb"

Here is the first four of the forty we are cutting for today!

Cut Comb Coming to market this Week!!!!!!

It was horribly hot outside, but I managed to convince Jim to go and get a box of comb honey. We will start getting it ready and will bring it to market on Tuesday. I'll make the phone calls for those of you who wanted me to hold it for you and don't worry, if I've got your name and no phone number I will still hold it. I realize that this is vacation time. . . . .
Debbie:)

Saturday at the Market

Our new packaging for whipped honey! Won't it look good in a gift basket!

Jim checking on a couple of boxes he brought home from cleaning bees out of a barn! It was a much bigger chore than he thought. He brought along a good friend of ours Steve and the poor guy ended up getting stung:(

This is what he started out with. He put new boxes on top and has been trying to lure the queen to start laying up above but up until now she has pretty much refused and continues to lay in this mess:( But all the other bees have been busy getting the frames ready on the box he put on top of this one so maybe she will move soon.

These are the two hives right outside our dining room window. One is nice and the other one is mean. . . . .
Forgive me but this is my littles "Drone" grandson R.J. hopefully some day he will become a beekeeper.

This is Boo (Becky) and her Princess "Bee" Ava. If she never works in the hive that's fine, but she makes a really cute bee!

Princess Bee Ava

Now the real Blog. . . . . .

We had a pretty rainy day today, but it still is really cool to come down to the market. I don't know how to make people realize what a great experience it is when you visit us. We are covered so you won't get wet, we have the most phenomenal coffee from Flying Rhino. So when it rains, head down to our end, (we hang out at the end opposite of the Libby Glass Factory), grab a cup of coffee and stroll through all the stands. Meet the folks that grow your food, ask them the questions you always wondered. And believe me there are no stupid questions. We love to talk about what we do and we love it more when people want information and we can share. Most of us offer great samples so you can try things to see if you like them. Today we had "Slow Food" at the market and they served some great samples of food and handed out the recipes as well. If you still are hungry at lunchtime stop by and see Karen at Nicks World Famous Hot Dogs and grab a bite to eat.
We have a ton of great produce, herbs, plants, bread (Country Grains - most excellent bread with the nicest employees, gotta love that little Lauren), great Cakes Pies and Cookies (Sugar Cubes - Leslie) and please forgive me but Shannon is there with a table of cute decorated cookies and cakes and cup cakes. And I have to tell you I've made the best friends with all the people down here at the market and there isn't one I would not recommend.
P.S. My buddy at Homestead Soaps Lori has a great soap for you if you are having a problem with poison ivy. Check it out.

And as usual I'm going to upload some photo's of what's been going on.