Saturday, April 16, 2011

my lap chicken...

this little auracana chick is the friendliest girl! she loves to be held!

Friday, April 15, 2011

moving the hive & being stung...

on tuesday, husband, sister, brother-in-law and myself packed up the minivan for an hour drive to pick up my new hive! i found it listed on craigslist...the woman selling it had lost interest in beekeeping. in preparation for the move i read up on "moving a hive" and watched lots of youtube videos of other people doing it, so i felt almost confident...we got there about 6:15 pm and the bees were all in the hive, which was exactly what we wanted. i duct taped the exits and strapped the hive together. my 2 strong men CAREFULLY carried the hive and all 10,000 honey bees to my van. then came the hour + drive back home with a car full of bees. my poor sister and her husband were such good sports.

the woman i bought the hive from had it put together wrong...as some of you can tell from the pictures. she has the inner cover, in between 2 shallow honey supers. she was not using a screened ipm bottom board, and she had not managed/ inspected the hive at all from last summer until now. i know that some people are thinking i may have inherited a headache (which may prove to be true). BUT, i did check the bees for signs of infection or illness (i did not see any), i got everything for cheap, all the hive componets are from brushy mountain bee farm (so it's quality equipment), and i plan on using this hive as my learning/ test hive.

yayyyy we did it!
because i really have an obsessive thing, i want everything to match (paint color) AND because i want to set the hive up with all the correct componets and equipment... i want to take all frames out of this hive (including the brood supers) and transfer them to my empty hive that i have all set up and ready to go. i know pretty ambitious...

on wednesday (the next day) i was stung for the 1st time! totally my fault...i was in a great rush to set up an entrance feeder with medicated syrup. i didnt realize it, but i approached the hive from directly infront of the entrance (and i was only wearing leggings on my bottom half AND i didnt have my smoker)...so guard bees came right out and stung me on the leg...i also should of left the hive alone for a week after i moved them, giving them time to adjust to the move. but i was EXCITED and couldnt help it! SO... next week i will try to do better! i will adhear to all safety measures and procedures...wish me luck :)

Sunday, April 10, 2011

busy bees...

this will be our 1st year beekeeping! we are so excited! i have been reading for over a year and took a online beginner's bee course. i am really ready for my hands on experience. i have two bee packages that come in may 7th. but, i also found a woman on craigslist selling her whole hive bees & all! so on tuesday we will be picking up this 3rd hive! this colony is strong and active, so we should have a great honey crop this summer!  

Friday, April 8, 2011

the finished coop....

 yayyy we did it!
 the nesting box...
husband building the run.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

an ode to the duggars...my tater-tot casserole

i ♥ the duggars...and the husband has always wanted me to make their "tater-tot casserole". well, im not really a lover of cream-of-mushroom soup, so i changed up the recipe! mine is more like shepherd's pie meets tater-tots. it's quick, easy, and yummy :)

1 lb ground beef
1 1/2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp dijon mustard
2 cups beef stock (add more if needed to make gravy)
1 chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 cup grated cheese
@ half a package of tater-tots
salt, pepper, garlic powder

brown the beef in a high sided skillet; once browned, add the flour, to make a rue; stir in mustard; gradually stir in stock, add in veggie; season with salt, pepper, garlic powder; simmer for about 10 minutes, until carrots are mostly cooked through; transfer mixture to a baking dish; top with cheese and tots; bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes; turn heat up to 425 degrees and bake for 10 more minutes (to brown tots); let cool 5 minutes; enjoy with the fam...duggar style :)