Honey Production 101....

Trev checking to see if he has any honey to harvest...it looks promising

how cool is that??!!

Trev checking out Mr Dixon's, his mentor, supers

removing the frames from the super

The extractor

Trev cutting the caps off the honey cells

a frame full of honey

brood on the frame - the funny one on the top is a possible queen, the rest drones

frames loaded into the extractor

Mr Dixon examining some brood that was in the honey super

after the homney is spun out it is filtered into buckets ( Tian would be happy to tell you that it had wax and dead bees)

Tian anxiously awaiting the flow of honey

The extractor full of Trev's honey

Liquid gold

loading the extractor

Ty having a chance to cut the caps off the frames - the knife is both heated and sharp

All and more of what you never knew you didn't know about getting honey from the bees to your sandwich:

First keep in mind this was Trevor's first venture into managemnt. He managed 50,000+ employees in the production of 400lbs of wax and huge amouns of honey. 30 lb of which was harvestable. His company started with 5,000 bees so he has increased his work force by over 10 times in 4 months time. Warren Buffet would even be impressed!

First he spent the winter building a hive by hand and enduring a weekly bee class at the library. Then in the Spring he found a good place in the woods - safe, not too much shade or sun, and near water and flowers. The hive ready to go, he awaited the arrival of the bees via USPS. The call came and his bees came complete with one queen. The queen arrived in her own special chamber and the other bees in a small wooden box.

Then he had to release the bees into the hive and put the queen inside the box and wait to see if they would accept her.

After a couple days he released the queen and he waited to see if they would survive. He actually didn't just wait he had to make sure they had plenty of homemade sugar syrup to tide them over until enough flowers were available and pollen patties as well to make sure they had what they needed. After a few weeks they had constructed a considerable amount of comb and had started honey and brood production. The hive showed al the positive signs of success.

Each week he checked on it with his mentor, Mr Dixon, to make sure all was well with the hive. He had to make sure that the hive was holding up, that the bees had enough room and that the production rate continued to increase.

Early in August , Mr Dixon arrived with a small container of antifreeze and led Trev out to the hive. Trev got some bees and Mr Dixon add them to the antifreeze and shook them up. This allowed them to see if the bees have the dreaded bee mite. It showed that there were 2 mites per 150 bees - not enough for too much concern, however he would need to watch and treat them soon.

Then Mr Dixon arrive for the much anticipated harvest.

They had to smoke the bees down to remove the super - the top section of the hive. They shook as many bees out as they could and carried it back to the house so Mr Dixon could bring it to his home where he has a honey extractor.

A couple days later we all joined Trev to watch the process ( sorry Mr Dixon) - we were quite the circus act - little fingers and tongues everywhere :o)

All told, Trev bottled 30 lb of honey and we all learned an important lesson. When Trevor returned with the nearly empty super ( He will return it to the hive this spring with the wax intact so the bees can save energy and just started adding honey to their own comb) we will NEVER leave it in the driveway again. The next morning we had a literal swarm of bees robbing the what was left of the honey from the super. It was unbelieveable. Trev was working at the horse farm and Tom donned the the bee garb and braved moving it out to the woods....I don't think I would have been that brave.

This weekend Trev will be sprinkling his bees with powdered sugar. It will force the bees to clean themsleves and the hive and rid themselves of mites. He will do this several times and also check to make sure they have enough honey to make it through the winter.

Trev made it through the season with only....3 bee stings !

new kitty...

Good bye Tinky Winky....sold in hours on Craiglist....

TJ - get a laugh becasue this coming off the blog tonight... remeber you taught them everything

Yes, she's starting ballet and I got a bag of clothes off of Craigslist - wea re taking bets on how many classes it will take for her to be kicked out....in the meantime love that tummy

It is the end of an era...Tom sold his old Toyota pick up on Craigslist and he is getting his GREAT old pick up ready to drive. Here is a pic of Trev "driving" it onto the tow :o) Hoping it just needs brakes.... He will use it as his signature company car. We have ordered some magnetic stickers for the doors. Tom inherited this from his uncle this past year, who used it to advertise his company - charters and boat repair on the East coast - and felt it was time to enjoy it. I think he will look great in it!

I know I said no more pets...but his one was stuck on a car at church ...and well.....she looks so much better after a bath, some food and a heating pad and Trace can't get enough of her...

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Bees, honey , TKD oh my...

Tian's latest twisty 'do - she was jumping around so much ...this pic looks awfully somber, believe me she was ANYTHING but somber

Making cards for bro Germaine's birthday...you missed our latest caper. We went over at about 8:30 pm and hung up a sign across the entire 2 stall garage door that said " Look Who's 60" It was fun - pretty sure it was not appreciated though:o)

Trace exhausted after his night of vandalism

Sam fell in the parking lot and Trace is acting as a first responder with the band aids

lunch at the church

Cheyenne stealing the crock pot

Tian, Trace and Sam pretending to be pirates

We had the opportunity to bring Cheyenne to church again. She misses lunch at the shelter so we bring a picnic ( chicken Divan) and shared today with Sis Costello and the kids. It was fun.

Tian's birthday etc etc

Tian's new room - yes TJ it is yours, the chair only has a slipcover on it until I find a chair just for Tian and then you can have back. Your dead friends ( aka your taxidermy projects) have been lovingly relocated to the basement bedroom including Bernard and his skinless friend.
Examining the fingernail polish kit


Yes, she wore the nightgown ALL day- here she is modeling her nails

Trace showing off his manicure

When I asked him to hold up his hands so I could take a picture this is what he did

Trace playing with marshmallow play dough - he wouldn't believe he could eat it, however it looks like bathed in it

Tian having fun bathing in powdered sugar as well

Amelia spent the day with us and I think we only drove her mildly insane

Tian at Grampy and Tessa's - soaking in all her birthday glory

The boys latest sand village

We picked 18 dozen ears of corn....it is in the freezer already. The boys husked it all ( the rest is on the other table)

Tian braving the diving board

Trace - showing Tian how it's done

Trev and Ty making a raft fort?

Gavin - can you believe how big he has gotten?!?

George's new tattoo - I didn't ask if your name was on it...

Tian's birthday was full of excitement - a new pink (of course) room, dress up clothes, a night gown, and .....fingernail polish. Yes, it's true - she has given up thumb sucking. She broke the habit with the lure of polish and has kept tape on her fingers every night for the past two weeks to make sure she didn't "slip." Grandma Paula sent some great polish that washes off and that has provided hours of painting pleasure. She, Grandma, is on my "hit" list :o) We are a little worried with Trace's fascination of having his nails done.... I have decided he may be okay because I remembered a certain 19 year old who is currently in New Caledonia who LOVED to have his nails painted as well when he was Trace's age :o) You aren't still doing that are you?

WE spent Saturday in Omaha. Grampy and Tessa let us hang out the pool all day since it was so hot. Iowa has finally decided to get hot again. It was 95 and HUMID. Maybe it really is summer after all ! My poor tomatoes have been patiently waiting to turn red.

No great Tian and Trace-isms come to mind. Trace was sad to lose his roommate, Tian never looked back. Her biggest thrill of turning 4 - she can have a whole vitamin instead of a half.

Trace handled most of the gifting pretty well with only a few foot stomping moments. He hated picking corn. He spent the entire time announcing how hot and tired he was. It was 75 and I think it took us about 20 minutes... Oh and TJ thanks for introducing your little sis to the Spice Girls. While in the corn field, she broke out into spontaneous song to Dad, "If you want to be my lov-ah, then you have to be my friend..." It was a little .....unsettling

Tians' question of the week. When people wished her a happy birthday, " Do you have something you would like to give me?"
Trace has been making lists of the people he loves...watch out if you tick him off - you are dropped like a hot potato.

TJ's Haka

In response to TJ's struggle to speak French more fluently , the boys created this Haka ( a war dance used my South Pacific tribes to confront their enemies before battle - TJ's current enemy is conjugating verbs :o) Please keep him in your prayers.

Tara

From Ty

Trace enjoying the Haka


Having too much fun trying to help you learn French

TY made a volcano in he sandbox

Trace trying ot paint his own face...

Trev - ready to Haka

Daisey

Bootsy Barker

The princesses.....I think this will make a nice graduation picture...maybe an Eagle Scout collage

Dear TJ-

Mom is making me do this .... I don't know how she can be so cruel... i hate my supid life come home please and help me...............................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!