Honey do

Well, the time has come to pull the honey boxes off my hives and since I am not able to go out there and do it just yet ... and since it really needed to be done soon ... my "honey" did it for me.

Scared to death of anything that stings, Steve, donned the bee clothing and picked up the bee equipment. With a posture as a fully suited knight going into battle, he headed out to collect the honey boxes.

I watched in quiet fascination, from the apple trees shade, about 30 feet away. He went into my new hive first because that hive has been concerning me a little lately. I never seem to see much flight of bees in and out of it and no bees are just hanging around it's opening. For some reason, it just doesn't seem to be "catching up" as quickly as I think it should be. So he inspected it. He removed the honey box, but no honey, and proceeded to check the brood boxes. Since he knows little of what he was seeing or doing, the scene ended up like this; He'd pull a frame, describe to me what he saw and pick up a camera and take a picture. Needless to say, this took while and when I looked at the pictures, it still really didn't answer some questions I've had bouncing around in my head. So he closed up the hive, and I figure we will recheck it in a week, and maybe by then I can help too. And maybe with seeing it with my own eyes I will be able to "tell" more. Besides two sets of eyes are better than one.

Then on to the older hive (I only have only two hives so far). This hive I've had for approx a year and a half, almost a year older than my "new" hive. It seems to be doing wonderfully. Lots of flight in and out and bees just hanging out around the opening. Tons of bees everywhere and also a full box of HONEY!!! This will be the second box we've removed this season. This hives inspection was much quicker, no need to describe to me what he saw nor take pictures. Those girls are doing just fine. But I did take pictures of him in the clothes and inspecting the hive. He told me to email it to his friends and family because no one would ever believe he would or could do that.

Back to the house to extract this honey. This is the first time we've ever used an extractor. The first box of honey we removed (earlier in the spring) we just cut honey comb and let it drain into jars. This time we will do it right and use a "borrowed" honey extractor. Thanks Sherry.

In the kitchen Steve arranged the extractor and all the different paraphernalia to extract the honey. My sister Cindy comes by and both her and me are fascinated with the process. We pulled up chairs to watch it like some live play or event. We don't move and our eyes never waver as he puts the frames into the extractor expertly and spins the handle. The we marvel as pure liquid gold flows out of the spout downward into waiting jars. We get 3 gallons of beautiful honey from one shallow honey box. As as we lick our fingers we discover, WOW, it taste sooooo good!!!

Next Steve sets the equipment outside to let the bees "clean" it. And boy, do they. The next morning, I try to take a picture of massive feeding frenzy but the picture just doesn't do it justice. I think you would've had to have been there to appreciate the massive amounts of insects swarming around these honey soaked things. Besides swarms of bees, insects of all types were flying and crawling around and eating like there was no tomorrow. That afternoon, we went out there to check the progress and the feeding frenzy had pretty much ended, and the pots were as clean as if I'd scrubbed them. Next is just washing them out with hot soapy water.

The experience was amazing. Finally seeing the whole process, from beginning to end, that started almost 2 years ago for me. From installing my first set of bees to extracting their honey, the circle is now complete.

It's wonderful to learn and raise these little creatures. I know people must be getting bored when we talk about them constantly, but they are like "pets" to us, and we love them dearly. But on the other hand, it must not be too boring because most people end up wanting bees or wanting to learn more or at the very least, start loving honey. I truly think that "beekeeping" is contagious and there is no known cure. I know I caught it, about 4 years ago, and I continue to get sicker and sicker. And now, I'm happy to say, my hubby is sick with this affliction as well.