• Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - Happy Birthday Mr. C!
• Monday, November 16, 2009 - Simple Woman's Daybook ~10
FOR TODAY ... November 16, 2009
Outside My Window...sun is rising, wind is howling, temperature is 57
From the learning room...finishing Colonial crafts for our online class
I am thankful for...private band teachers
From the kitchen...Chicken Cordon Bleu, Macaroni and Cheese, Green Beans
I am wearing...long skirt w/red fall leaf print, red v-neck sweater, suede slides
I am creating...a soft headband with fabric scraps
I am going...water company, library, and Cavenders later
I am reading...Created to be His Help Meet (2nd time through)
I am hoping...to get Christmas craft supplies purchased/ordered
I am hearing... the wind howling and fans blowing in the rooms upstairs
Around the house... Cleaning and organizing upstairs
One of my favorite things...True Blueberry Tea by Celestial Seasonings
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:Several 4-H events, online Pilgrim Class, Make one freezer meal
Here is picture thought I am sharing...my shiny sink
Blessings,
Mrs. P |
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• Thursday, November 12, 2009 - And supper was cold...
Today, Mr. P came home a little early from work so he could take the 2 oldest kids to the shooting range for a little practice. We are headed to West Texas this weekend to hunt at Gran and Paw's house. After practice they all headed back to the house to eat supper. I knew they were coming so I had their plates already dished and ready to eat. Yes, we have a shooting range on our little farm. They stopped by Grandad and Meme's to brag a little on their shooting and this is what they saw in her back yard.
The kids ran home to tell me that there was swarm of bees and "Daddy's gonna get 'em!" Well, so much for a warm supper. Somehow a swarm of bees is so much more interesting than half burned grilled chicken. They grabbed a small hive, which was conveniently located in my dining room, and ran out the door. In just a few more moments Mr. P walked in to get his gloves, smoker and bee hood. He was concerned that the bees came from our hives after he found wax worms in one of the extra hives. Those are some bad little worms. They had completely devoured a entire frame of wax. I think now I'm motivated to find a permanent storage place for those extra hives and frames that isn't in my house.
The bees were pretty docile and calm. That is normal for a bee swarm. I think they tank up on honey before they leave to find a new home. So they are fat and happy. Sort of like me on Thanksgiving afternoon. When I walked up Meme was expressing her concern that it might be a killer bee swarm. She decided not to watch from her back porch and went inside her house. The kids were stupid or brave (I'm not sure which) and stayed put wanting to watch it all. I was handy on the back porch with Grandad. Out in the open appearing to be brave, but in reality just 3 steps from the back door. Mr. P started to put a little smoke on them just to keep them calm.
First he cut the branch ends to make a shorter branch area around the swarm. Of course if you trim off the ends, then you have to hold the branch really close to the swarm when you go to cut the swarm off the bush. I pointed out that if someone didn't hold that end, then the swarm would drop and then we'd have mad bees. Good thing I went to college so I can pass out good advice like that, don't you think? I didn't offer to hold the branch or cut. I figured I should stay in my secure place (3 steps from the back door) to supervise. No one really thought this project needed a supervisor, but I'm so thoughtful I volunteered.
Lucky for me Grandad cut the branch while Mr. P held the swarm end of the branch. I thought I heard Grandad say something about making sure there was a clear path between him and the back door. Just in case. At least I think that's what he said.
Mr. P held the branch bravely. He's my hero!
After he was holding the swarm he gave them a little more smoke. He certainly didn't want to offend them now. I'm amazed at how quiet and calm they were throughout the whole ordeal.
Here's a close up of the swarm.
Next he put them in the hive and put the lid on. For some reason Meme didn't want to leave the hive in her yard, so he walked the hive to a better location on the farm. It is now in the corner of the fence line near where the pasture area begins.
By the time he got them moved they were already starting to leave the branch and investigate the hive. Mr. P plans to leave them there for observation for a time. If they seem to be doing well and continue to look like they are normal bees then he will move them to the fenced in area where our other two hives are. I don't think they came from our hives because Mr. P regularly checks to make sure there are no extra queens. We do have a bee tree on the farm and that seems a more likely source of this swarm. If in fact they do turn out to not be killer bees, the I guess we will have one hive of all natural, organic, local and wild bees. How's that for going green?
After all that excitement, we sat down to a cold supper. However the discussion was lively and the children all had a good appetite after this little adventure so I don't think they even noticed that it was cold or half burned. (I am a grilling flunky in addition to other flunky labels.) After supper we looked at the photos and were quite pleased with the photos. Miss A did an excellent job with this photo journal, don't you think? I think she has some good pictures for the county fair among all that she took.
Blessings,
Mrs. P |
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• Monday, November 9, 2009 - The Homesteading Carnival!
Welcome to the November 9, 2009 edition of the homesteading carnival thc.
Tara Reynolds presents R & B: Brown Rice and Pepper Risotto posted at Spiraling.
HomesteadMommy presents Homestead Series How To Can Tomato Sauce posted at Homestead Acres.
Abi presents corn dogs posted at lighter side.
Summer presents 5 Homesteading Books I Want To Read Next posted at New Greener Family.
Dina-Marie Oswald presents Pumpkins, Pumpkins, and More Pumpkins....... posted at Dimes 2 Vines.
The Backyard Grower presents Row Covers, Hoop Houses posted at Bobbie Whitehead.
Emma presents Family biking posted at Baby-Log.
Carole DeJarnatt presents A Gift for Your Favorite Birdwatcher posted at Fowl Visions.
Lara DeHaven presents Picking up the Slack posted at Texas Homesteader.
June Tree presents Bed, Bath and Beyond Coupons Never Expire! posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "Thanks!"
Annette Berlin presents Tomato Pesto Sauce posted at Craft Stew, saying, "I’m constantly experimenting with pasta sauces, and Tomato Pesto Sauce is my newest creation."
Make it from Scratch presents The Flu & You!!! posted at Make It From Scratch.
Samantha Marks presents Garden Pots Enhance Garden Décor posted at backyardsandgardens.com.
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
the homesteading carnival thc
using our
carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our
blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags:
the homesteading carnival thc, blog carnival.
Blessings,Mrs. P |
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• Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - Time for a Carnival!
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