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first day in the big wide world!!

my lap chicken...

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

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 :)

little farm girl...

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!  

the finished coop....

 yayyy we did it!

 the nesting box...

husband building the run.

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 :)