Spay and Neuter Propaganda

This little picture is hanging up at my work, and I just can't keep from giggling every time I see it. 

Bee Update

I checked on the bees only a few short weeks ago, but the snow and some windy weather has since wiped out my colony.  I discovered this last week, and have been on damage control ever since.  I realized there were three things that I must do to continue being a beekeeper, and to grow and learn from the situation. 

1. Call someone more experienced for advice.  I rang up a local expert, and made a plan for her to come over and do an impromptu colony autopsy.  She was very obliging, and came over the day after I called.  Her determination was that the bees died from the cold.  They were close to their honey stores, but not close enough.  The cold immobilized them and they couldn't get to their food.  So, really, they died from cold and starvation.  Poor buggers.  Some were dead with their heads in the cells.

2. Order up a new colony.  I called up my local supplier and placed an order for a new package of Italians and a queen.  Those bees should be here within a few weeks, so my hive won't be empty for long!

3. Clean out the hive and harvest the honey.  On a nice day, I opened up the hive and scraped out all the errant wax and some of the propolis.  The propolis is like glue, and very hard to clean.  I did the best I could with that.  I borrowed the honey extracting equipment from the Hampden County Beekeepers Association (they lend this equipment to members), and my husband and I took the better half of a day to extract the honey.  We uncapped the combs, put them in the spinner, spun the honey, and strained it into jars.  Here are some pics of the process.

Uncapping the comb with the hot knife

Ready to be spun, handcrank!

Straining the wax and debris from the honey

Final product!

Community Garden Plot Lottery

This was the view from my back porch just a few short days ago.  The March 1st snow storm brought about 10 inches of wet, heavy snow.  It was beautiful!  The type of snow that makes the pine boughs hang.  Almost a week later, the snow is still sticking to some of the trees.  I don't expect that will last long since temperatures are predicted to climb into the 60s by Thursday.  Oh, March!

Being 8 months pregnant, I didn't shovel this stuff.  It was strange to pass up the chore.  I have always been an avid shoveller (and leaf raker), the first one out of the house.  I like the crisp air and getting warm while throwing the snow.  But I didn't want to strain anything, so I stayed inside and made hot chocolate for my hard-working husband.  I was glad when I looked out the window and saw the neighbor helping him with the plowed in part of the driveway.  We have the best neighbors.

I am lucky enough to live in a small city that has a community garden.  Last night, the organizers of the garden held the lottery drawing to distribute empty plots to people who want to grow things.  All of us who are new to the garden filled out an application and paid a $20 fee (technically a mandatory donation).  Then our names were drawn at random from a box and we selected the plot we would like for the 2012 season.  There were 15 available plots and 5 new people, so no one was left out.  I chose a nice spot on the uphill side of the garden, close to the hose and away from the poison ivy.  I have visions of bringing the baby there and gardening in the rich soil.  Tomatoes, peppers, spinach, peas...  My yard is just too shady for these things.