Round Pond Farmstead

So what do you think? I figured I need a name for my operation. We sell eggs now, we also will sell honey, I am going to start making some floor cloth mats to sell, maybe some place mats also. I have been saving my egg money to buy supplies for painting old fashioned type oil cloth. My logo on the honey jars will be a pic of our place from the road with the lake in the background, farm in the foreground. I can also use it as my label and stationary header. Give me some input!

Smaller hive!

This is a frame from the smaller hive. I am a bit concerned about this hive, but will go to my book and do a little studying up on the health of a smaller hive. The bee's are only using 3 frames to draw the comb, the other hive is using all the frames and is thick with comb already. I did not look for the queen which I will do later this evening when the sun goes down and they are a bit calmer. I will at the least have to make sure I feed this hive over winter. My biggest concern is loosing the bee's to the other hive robbing it of their honey. Will probably have to close the hive with the exception of the feeder as well as putting sugar in the lid. Will keep the details coming as things progress. I will probably treat this hive as a smaller one that has swarmed.

well, I finally got out to check and the queen is still there. The bee's are quite active in their work and might even have some larva going in some cells already. Each colony should have about 20,000 to 30,000 new bee's before winter. Likely one will have more than the other since we had the migration at the onset of the endeavor. Time will tell...

Large bee hive

The pic above is the larger hive opened up



This has been about 10 days. One hive is over full of bee's and the other is only 20%. Obviously the large is made up of 80% of the other. I had to feed them, so I geared up, smoked them and checked in on them! Wow! I will probably put medium super with frames onto the "large" hive. They are even capping comb already, preferably brood, which is young workers to hatch out, that is the larva the queen lays. Also looks like a bit of honey being made also!

Bee's!

Amazing to see all those bees in that screened cage. One screened cage per hive. This was very interesting being a newbie and all! It was a calm experience! Though Susan was a bit crazed about it!
Oh yeah, I got a bit cocky and opened the hive w/o my protective gear, let's say that won't happen again! One sting on the elbow and a bee in my hair, thankfully I did not get stung in the head.

Some where over the Rainbow!

we just happened to look out and saw this rainbow in a place we never saw them in before! And it hadn't even rained! The sun hit the clouds at just the correct angle to get this! The pic does not even begin to capture the essence of color it gave off!

Mothers Day Bouquet!

Melissa Ben and Eli sent me a wonderful arrangement from Roaring Oaks florist in Sharon Ct. I love all the flowers in this arrangement and can even reuse the tub this arrangement came in! They were so sweet to send them! hugs and kisses to all of you! Love mom!

Mother's Day Rose!

Matt and Susan surprised me with a yellow rose bush for Mothers Day! I had a spot in the lower part of the Rock Garden that I was able to dig and place this beauty in! There is now 2 small pinkish reds, a low spreading rose, and now a striking yellow! Will post more photos when it blooms!

Well hello Dolly!

I mentioned that I was making a dolly for 'Bella, which is posted in a previous blog page. So my mother mentioned she never had a home made rag doll, so I made her one for her 74th birthday! Her doll is a bit cutter and softer in color. I adore the hair on her and the pinafore is from leftover curtain material I have in my sun room!

Young Ducks!

These youngsters came on board here about 6 weeks ago! They have grown very quickly! In the tub is a duck pile up! The one outside is a bit smaller and the old Ducky Girl actually dominated her in the water earlier in the day so she finds it safer to stay out of the tub at this point! So fun to watch! They go back to the coop every night with the chickens!

Bee Hive

In a week this hive will be full of a few thousand busy bees! We are so excited to have a new hobby! One that is fun, beneficial, gives back to the nature, and can provide an income in another year or so!
Home grown honey! We will have 2 hives to start with, so tune in next week and hopefully I will have a video posted filling this hive! Gonna bee and experience!