In my blog I plan to chat about nature, crafts, baking, gardening, beekeeping, family, and whatever else seems appropriate at the time. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Moving and Extracting


I figured out how to download pictures, but something just ain't right about this..













I can't get my words to go under the picture, like I used to.  Bear with me, or is it bare with me, no I'm pretty sure it's bear....anyway, be patient.  More so than I am being OK?  This....hey look....my words are suddenly under the pic.....I am in no mood for it blogger......So anyway, we are moving this weekend.....partially.  This is where I'll be living for a while.  Probably a year or two.  In a basement efficiency.  So, I'm trying to figure out what to take and what to store.

 
 My cousin came over this week to help me clean the living area so we can move into it.




Who likes to clean as much as she does?  Who?  Tell me.













Being the beekeeper that I am, a conscientious one, I was worried about my bees.  So I spent all last week and the week before going through my beehives, instead of packing. The beehives were FULL.  The bees had no more room whatsoever.  I had to extract honey.  11 supers FULL of honey.  Supers are the boxes (below) that hold the frames that the bees fill with honey.  There are 9 frames of honey per super.  So I had 99 frames of honey to extract.  


















Now I have tons of honey for sale.  Too much.  














So, if you live in Kokomo, and would like to buy some honey, let me know. 















If you are going to be visiting Kokomo, and would like to buy some honey, let me know.


If you are going to be driving through Kokomo, I'll stand on the highway and toss it to you as you drive by!!!!  Just let me know!!!!!


Do I sound desperate?  This is a lot of honey blogettes.

Now, here's you beekeeping lessons for today.  If a hive swarms, Fiona, the entire hive does NOT leave.  Just part of it.  What happens is they get too crowded, so the bees start making a new queen by feeding the larvae royal jelly.  I know...amazing...you don't have to tell me.  The new queen emerges and the old queen leaves with half of the hive.  The bees will first go into a tree, or a mailbox, or anywhere really, and they'll stay there anywhere from three hours to three days.  The whole time they are there, waiting, scouts will be flying around trying to find them a permanent home. When they find it, they tell the Queen who leaves and they follow.  It's natures way of making sure the life of a honeybee continues.















And this goldenrod is in a field behind our house.  You can be sure my bees are all over it, making goldenrod honey.  I'm going to let them keep it.  I am done extracting.  I have even left one full super on each hive for the winter months.  I've never had so much honey.  Ever.

Now I have to get moving...for real....I'm moving....so I should say I need to get packing.  I hope I don't forget to take pictures.  I have been forgetful lately.  Go figure.  The other day I was talking to someone and forgot what I was saying right in the middle of the sentence. And forgive me if I don't blog for awhile....I won't have Internet service out there.  Maybe I could attach little notes to my bees legs and have them carry comments to you....like little carrier pigeons....or maybe I'll take my laptop to Groovy Girl yarn...she has wifi and she likes it when you come in and hang out.  Either way, I'll figure it out.
Chat later,
Cindy Bee

now let's see if this works.....

14 comments:

  1. Oh mt goodness, it sounds like you are burning your candle at both ends . . . and that it is kind of out of your control. I'll be putting you in my prayers.
    Learning about the habits of your bees is very interesting. If I lived close I would be there to lend you a hand (not with the bees, but with the moving). I would also buy some honey, yum!
    Now a question about your basement floor . . .is that stained concrete? It is beautiful!

    If it is possible slow down just a bit, we don't want you burning yourself out and getting sick. Take care, Connie :)

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    1. WOW! I'm so excited. Google Chrome lets me use the reply button! I'm likin' it! I reckon' I'm never too old to try something new. I wish you did live close Connie. I'd let you help me!!!

      I'm drinking a latte' this morning and looking at blogs...how's that for slowing down?

      Cindy Bee

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  2. thank goodness....saying you wont be blogging ,,,just unacceptable

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  3. How much are you selling it for? I may want some. I'll pay shipping of course. Email me, when you get a chance. Don't want to interrupt your moving... :o)

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    1. Hookin It...it's $5.00 a bottle or $15.00 a quart, but it would probably cost more than that to mail it. It's heavy.

      Cindy Bee

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  4. Yikes, woman! You are as busy as your bees!

    Honey, looks great. How about having the kids stand at a farmers market selling it? they owe you! haha

    Good luck moving - loves of tape and marker. Suggestion - If you have a polaroid, take picture of open box and attached to outside of box so you know what's in it.

    Sending you good vibes....
    Julie

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    Replies
    1. What kids? You mean those nieces of mine? Ummm probably not. I actually set up a little display at the yarn store and even sold a bottle while I was there. AND our local coffee shop lady was in the yarn store and told me to bring a display to her. So, maybe I'll get lucky and sell it at those places.
      Seriously Julie...who has a polaroid??!?!! AND seriously again...who is that organized??!!?!?! Not I said the crazy beekeeper lady!

      Cindy Bee

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  5. Did Theresa tell you that we want honey?! We love it and will take 3 or 4 bottles for sure. Thanks, Cindy - good luck during your move! Jodie

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    1. Jodie with an IE ---- Didn't Theresa tell you that she took three bottles last Sunday when she was here, and she said they were for you?

      Seriously Sister...give the woman her honey!

      Cindy Bee

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  6. Hello Cindy Bee,(^o^)/"""
    Wow, you are going to move to new house ???
    Which is you showed me several years ago ? I remember you were looking for the house and found one by private pond...???Is that one ?
    Anyway ...the lady super cleaning...is my mom ?(^.^)" If so...she must be SUPER BIG helper !!! (^.^)""" I am not good for house keeping, might need her help also...hahahaha...(^.^;)"""
    And it sounds great HONEY, wish I were much closer to you..., I love HONEY ...(^.^)"""

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    1. Yes Koala, that is your Mama and she is a wonderful cleaning lady. I took about four pictures of her cleaning and in every one of them she is all happy and smiling. She gets that off of my Mom who also loves to clean. My Shug asked what happened to me. I told him I did not get the cleaning 'gene'! I'm going to invite them over every spring for a spring cleaning party!!!
      I wished you lived closer too.
      And no, that is not the house. We ended up building our own house. We bought land about five or six years ago and we are actually building the house now. We are just moving into the basement. See the side of my blog. At the top there is a picture of a cartoon type house. Click on it to see what we are up to.

      Cindy Bee

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  7. Cindy, I am going to miss you. I wish I was younger so you could teach me how to have my own bees. I just think it's so interesting. Good luck moving. I know that's a hard job... it's the sorting things that takes the time. xo, Susie

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  8. Cool carrier bees I await my message:) I wish I could buy some of your honey it is quite a trip though I will wait for your carrier bee and go from there. Hope you get internet soon . I will miss you happy moving I would live in that beautiful basement. Hugs B

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  9. Save me a quart please! So when I drive through Kokomo next month I can pick it up, no throwing it at me though because I am going to need it since I have decided to make what I have last until I get to you!

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Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment on my blog. I enjoy reading them. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Cindy