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Bee, Bees, Bees and wait more bees

6/15/2024

Well one hive survived, and one didn't but that was just what I wanted.

The hive that didn't survive was aggressive!

So now that I have talked my mom into starting the bee keeping journey with me, it was time for picking up the bees. It never fails they are always ready when my schedule is wild. But 4 nucs were headed home.

Install went great! We now have five hives, and it's time to let the girls get to work. And who doesn't just love some pretty painted hives?!?

Fast forward to day of the swarm....yep it looks like the OG hive has split. I was worried about this and should have probably done things different. Little lesson. And big frustration while we were in the middle of goat season....thats for a different post. But I have always wanted to catch a swarm....and I did!

So now....the swarm was caught, but what am I going to do with them? Time to think and think fast....

Thankfully I have a pretty cool guy that can build a hive base, and lid in the matter of 24 hours. Now the only problem....I think the OG hive is not raising a new queen.

So....it's time to order a queen. Look in my bee group, find one and great news I can get it shipped.....4 days pass by and I was scammed. Lesson learned, don't buy from FB.

So....we wait just a little bit longer and order a new queen from a bee company. Two day shipping and she is here. She is installed and tomorrow we look to see if they accepted her. If not my mentor said it might not work....

This bee keeping year is a roller coaster. The nucs all looked so good when we got them, but they truly love wonky comb and need to learn order. But 8 frame boxes are way lighter than 10 frame.

But this lady aka my momma has been loving the challenge and learning so much about the bees. Now hopefully the pollinate the garden like they did last year.

Hopefully honey flow is good this year and maybe the rain could hold off for a few days....

Sourdough please slow me down...

3/6/2024

Slowing down has been so rewarding, while its been a year of challenges on a personal level slowing down has been a blessing.

Sometimes I think how did America go wrong...after a vacation to Italy last year all I can think about is how they prioritize enjoying the little things. I truly love to cook, attempt to bake, try new things even if my family really has no interest in eating healthy things.

But this sourdough era....well it has me slowing down, creating new things and well my family eats it up like no other.

So I will continue to do my stretch and folds, create some pretty designs, and well feed the humans.

But following the directions and doing it the way everyone says....no I will not follow all those things because I don't have the patience.

Eggs, Eggs, and more Eggs

2/10/2024

The ladies have really produced eggs this winter. Going into the winter it's always a worry that there will be a period of slow laying, eggs freezing, and just a lack of eggs.

This winter has been a weird one, yet it's been so nice to have the warmer weather. Sometimes I think I am turning into an old lady who doesn't want to experience the MN winters.

The colors from our layers are changing everyday. Its the best part for me as a chicken owners.

Other than bringing the ladies some good kitchen scraps because they are seriously so excited to get whatever we give them. We canned tomatoes but had a few that we didn't need so it was a perfect treat for the girls.

Holidays are over, time to set some goals

12/30/2023

Minnesota winter has been so nice to us lately. I mean how often can I wear a moo moo and crocs with no socks to do chores on Christmas Eve?!?!

While we enjoy the warmer weather, the holidays flew by with no snow and a very brown Christmas.

We are so lucky to have had such a great year, slowing down and really enjoying the time at home. The chickens continue to lay lots and lots of eggs, the bees are hopefully keeping nice and warm, the goats are busy getting jiggy with it, and the ducks have really enjoyed being able to roam free in the yard.

The goal is baby goats in spring this year and not the dead of winter when it's colder than cold and we continue to pay for the high electric bill. Luna Bell has made a full recovery from being blind, Mindy aka Princess is currently off limits from boy friend visits, and the other three goats are just annoyed a boy is visiting.

Garden seeds have been ordered, another hive has been ordered and grandma is going to join in the bee keeping fun next year with 2 hives of her own.

So what are our goals for 2024?

1. Another successful honey harvest and getting the 3rd hive up and running.
2. Adding more goats with a dream of some hair sheep
3. A slight decrease in chickens.
4. Hatching some auto sexing chickens
5. Butcher chickens
6. Moving the raspberries to a raised garden
7. Planting more apple trees

the goals are always growing, and changing the goals as needed

What are your goals for 2024? What new things do you want to plan in 2024?

Canning, dehydrating, and oh so many eggs

11/19/2023

Fall is here, cranberries are cheap, the holidays are right around the corner so handmade gifts are in full swing!

How have I missed all these things in years past, oh yeah we were running from one rink to another, doing all the things we could with hockey. Do I miss it? Yeah a little. But wow do I love the downtime at home doing all the things we missed in years past.

With the time change this year it feels like we are ready for bed by 8 pm, and yet sort of bored at night. That doesn't mean we miss the running we just need to find something so we are not so bored.

So send me all your canning ideas.

Last year we water bathed eggs, this year we have not had a slow down just yet for eggs so it looks like we will just keep going with the fresh ones

What do you do for these dark winter nights?

Honey harvest

9/18/2023

Last year when the bees died I had no idea what I was going to do. Fast forward. I find a great keeper in Rochester willing to give me so much feedback, ideas, thoughts, and buy a nuc for the new year.

Now its time to harvest that liquid gold. This is uncharted territory, but we were going to give it all we could and do what worked best.

We have learned so much, been dreaming of next year and adding some hives, and exploring all there is to explore.

We have learned we need to support the spinner better, we do not like the heated knife, and we could use a rolling uncapping tool.

Did you know 2 inches in the 5 gallon bucket is a gallon. #themoreyouknow

So how many gallons did we harvest?

3 gallons this year off one hive. It is so wild to see how many gallons are harvested off some of the hives I have seen in the bee groups. Like so many gallons.

For us this was perfect.

So many bubbles, and next year we can let it settle just a little before bottling it up. But just look at these fun bottles of honey with a cute label.

Beekeeping fails

9/12/2023

Well today the bees were not happy that I was mowing lawn. Not sure if I messed with the little clover they still had, or what their issue was. While driving the lawn mower I had to text the hubby and let him know I had been stung...on the top of my head!

Now this is the 2nd sting in 6 weeks. I knew last time the sting turned into an infection so now I am nervous. But it was on the top of my head so maybe its not going to be as bad.

Well fast forward to Monday and my face is a little swollen by 9 am....then every hour it gets worse. So the doctors office it is by 4:30. Well he says its a bee sting. Captain obvious. Let it work its course but send him the photos in the event it gets worse

Get worse....oh now I wake up and can't see Tuesday morning. Its clear the natural botox I took went to extremes. This is going to be great, I have family photos Saturday and I am getting made fun of like the goonies. How did this happen....all because I was mowing lawn.

Now the EPI pen prescription was called in and approved by insurance so I guess that's a win.

Just hope the rest of the week is down hill. Bright side....No wrinkles. Nope no photos as lets be real no one wants to see that mess

OH bees

7/30/2023

Well todays inspection was a bit interesting. My left hive hates me, my right hive is calm as ever. When we opened the left hive today it was the sign today was not a good day for them. They were instantly on my gloves trying to sting whatever they could. They are slow at making honey, which is fine if I don't have to deal with them when they are angry I will be ok.

Thankfully my mom was there to help, sweaty as ever, she was a trooper without the bee suit. One little lady got on her and she moved so it stung her.

After we finished up the left hive it was time to book it out of there. I was hot, so I decided to take my view off. That was not the right answer. I was stung on my cheek. So here is to hoping it doesn't swell up. It is a good thing a little bee sting won't stop us from visiting the ladies again.

The right hive is well on their way to some good looking honey.

Oh sweet bees

7/20/2023

So many people comment "I just don't know how you do it"....well I don't either but I have to say the joy these ladies bring to me is amazing.

Its like therapy. I look forward, it send a little adrenaline rush to me, its something that takes time, research, and trial and error. I also have found the garden has been doing so well and I really think its because these wonderful pollinators are doing their job.

This year we have had so many vegetables in the garden thriving, and producing so much food.

Watching the growth from week to week on inspections is like no other. There are days when the inspection doesn't go as planned, and I worry about what I should do next.

So here is to hoping next weeks inspection goes well. My momma is going to join and I seriously love sharing this hobby with her.

Baking bread

6/18/2023

There is something about baking bread. The work and energy that goes into bread is far out weighed by the smell and taste.

My grandpa was a master bread maker. Everyone raved about "Denny's bread". I still to this day can smell the bread and memories come flooding back.

Fresh loaf of bread, some butter, and a slice of cheese was my favorite way to eat it. It was always so airy and perfect.

Its amazing how just one smell can bring back so many memories.

On the flip side my grandma on the other side made the best cinnamon rolls. They were never frosted too much, and had just the perfect amount of sweetness in the dough.

What recipes make you remember memories from your childhood?