My bees

This was our second winter for our little bee hive

 that we inherited when we bought this property.

Remember our awesome honey harvest from last fall?

We were hopeful that our bees would survive another winter.

After all they survived the horrid cold of 2013.

I felt pretty confident when we came home from Michigan and there were dead bees outside of the hive.

That means they were keeping up housecleaning or hive cleaning,

kicking the dead bees out of the hive.

But as the temperatures began to warm and I saw no activity around the hive or heard no sounds in the hive I began 

to worry.

Sadly my fears were confirmed when I took the hive apart.

What was left of the hive had died.

I can tell condensation had occurred inside the hive do to the mold.

The empty cells suggest starvation.

Even though a few boards over were filled with honey.

It made me sad!

Thankfully we had ordered another queen and swarm late last fall.

Our intentions were to start another hive.

But now we would be replacing our old hive.

The new swarm arrived last Friday by UPS.

I always wonder what the drivers think when they deliver a package like this!

And it just so happened I was attending my first meeting of the

local bee keepers association that night.

I had so many question about how to add the bees to an old hive.

Can I use the same frames?

Do they need to be cleaned or will the new bees take care of it?

Where does the queen get released at?

I had watched a dozen or so u-tube videos on the process,

but there is nothing better then some experienced bee keepers

to pass along their knowledge.

On Saturday the pipeliner and put on our bee suits

to begin the introduction of the swarm to our hive.

The pipeliner dumped the bees into the hive while I took pictures.

The queen is in her own little cage that is inserted first in between the frames.

There is a piece of "candy" that separates her from the rest 

of the bees.

The queen slowly releases a pheromone that makes the rest of the bees want to eat the candy to get to her.

When the candy is gone the queen is released down into the hive

to begin her work.

This takes about 3 or 4 days.

Today I am going to open the hive to make sure the queen has 

been released.

I should have done this a couple of days ago,

but we have had some really windy days.

Not a good idea to mess with bees when its windy!

I still have SO much to learn about this whole bee keeping thing!

I am really glad I found the local bee keeping association in my area.

I would recommend anybody wanting to get started in raising bees

to find their local chapter and start attending meetings.

There is nothing better then advice from others!

Remember the bees are starting to become active and are on the

hunt for pollen.

Liz

Linking up to The Homeacre Hop

Apple Dumplings

It seems that since we returned from Michigan

our lives have just been filled with business.

First was getting ready for my parents 50th Anniversary party.

Then came Easter.

It was my turn to host.

We entertained 24 people on beautiful, sunny Sunday!

Glad we have lots of room to roam!

This week was a little bit calmer.

I finally got to thumb through some cookbooks I had picked up

at a thrift store last winter.

I found a fun recipe for some leftover apples that were in the fridge.

They are called apple dumplings.

But I felt like I was making some version of a cinnamon role.

All though the dough is more of a pie crust.

They look like an apple stuffed cinnamon role.

Then you spoon this yummy mixture over the top!

They smelled  divine while baking!

They come out with a nice crusty side, and a warm, caramel center.

We enjoyed them with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream while warm.

I enjoyed another one cold with a hot cup of coffee the next morning!

I can't wait to try some more recipes out of this cookbook!

Liz

The 50th party

Last Sunday my sister and I hosted a party in
honor of my parents
50th wedding anniversary.

The day began with our family attending Sunday

morning church services at the same church

they were married in and still attend every week.

After the service was over we gathered with more family

and friends at a local event center for lunch.

My sister and her husband own a catering business,

so they handled the food.

And what a wonderful meal they prepared!

I was in charge of the cake, refreshments and decorations.

I used my moms green Ball jars as the centerpieces.

They were filled with a mixture of 50 yellow roses and white daisies.

Their black and white wedding picture was the focal point.

I was happy with how they turned out!

I also made an arrangement of roses for the church alter,

then transferred  to the banquet hall for a centerpiece

at the head table.

My aunt suggested making the same creamcheese mints for the

party, that she had made for their wedding reception.

Simple, but tastey!

It was a very special day for my parents.

They were surrounded by lots of family and friends

sharing great memories and well wishes!

I know they enjoyed every minute of this special day!

Thanks mom and dad for being such a wonderful blessing

in our lives!

Liz

Happy 50th

Happy 50th Anniversary

to my wonderful parents!

What a blessing you have been to our lives!

Liz

Home Sweet Home

We are finally home!

Boy oh boy does it feel good too!

I would have to say this was one of the most challenging pipeline

trips we have made to date.

Mainly because we had the little

pipeliner for the whole trip.

I think he will be a future operator!

We started out with lots and lots of snow on the ground,

plus a few days of below zero temps!

A move from one hotel floor to another, 

and then a move to another hotel all together a few miles away.

We went from winter coats, boots and gloves;

to warmer temps with lots of melting snow

The last week of our trip was the week of mud!

Grandma knows you can't keep a little boy and

his cars out of the mud!

Lets just say it was days filled with getting our clothes

changed a few times,

and lots of baths!

But we all survived!

I wonder if little man will even remember the months

spent out of town with grandma and gramps?

When we left home the ground was covered in snow.

Upon returning everything has melted

leaving behind piles of rocks deposited by the snowplow.

The dirt from new water line that we ran late last fall has settled.

Plenty of bare spots where the sod was scraped off for the

new shed in need of grass seeding.

Plenty of spring projects for sure!

But this morning all the reminders of work were covered in

white again.

For now, I think I will just sit back, relax and watch the snow melt

while enjoying my

HOME SWEET HOME!

Liz

Still on the job

I am still on the road with the pipeliner

in Eastern Michigan.

The grandson is also still with us.

It is not always easy keeping him entertained in 

a hotel room.

We spend a lot of time building great castles.

The weekend his mommy came for a visit

we decided it was time for a haircut!

Lets just say it was quite the battle!

Not the best haircut,

but grandma still thinks he is cute!

The big excitement was changing rooms.

We moved from a chilly first floor room,

to a sun filled second floor.

I put little man in his buggy, then on the cart,

Everything got packed around him.

We made 4 or 5 trips up and down the elevator,

but we got it all moved.

He thought it was quite the adventure!

We did make a quick trip home over the past weekend.

It was nice just to sit,

look out the window and enjoy the country views.

The pipeliner says its nice to go home

and realize what you are working so hard for!

When we got back to Michigan we changed hotels.

This time I had the pipeliner to help!

The little man just takes everything in stride.

As long as he has his fire trucks 

he is happy!

I brought back my quilting supplies.

I am still working on my flower garden quilt.

I am hoping to be back home for good by the end of the month.

 It sure is hard to be gone so long this time!

One strange thing I have found in north east Michigan

that makes me really happy,

a never, ending supply of sushi!

Who would have thought?

I guess I will spend the next couple of weeks thumbing
through my gardening catalogs.
There are so many new things I want to plant!

Spring is only a couple of weeks away!
Well at least thats what the calendar says!

Stay warm friends!

Liz

A Cold Pipeline Journey

Our pipeline adventure 

has not been very adventurous!

The temperatures here have just been frigid!

We have even experienced more snow.

Little man likes collecting snowflakes.

There are so many exciting stores within walking distance,

but its just to dang cold out to walk there!

We did manage to have a night out.

The pipeliner, little man and I had dinner with 

a fellow blogger and his lovely wife.

We have been blogging friends for over 9 years

on another site.

That was so much fun!

But the remaining time has been spent

playing with little man in our hotel room.

I am so glad he is such a happy little guy!

He loves listening to his nursery rhymes.

This is my kitchen space.

The cupboards held a frying pan, a sauce pan and 

a pot just a little bit bigger.

Oh and a cookie sheet pan.

I promptly went out and bought a small crock pot!

It has taken a little imagination,

but dinners have been good.

Little mans mommy is flying in to see him for the weekend.

Happy Day

my mommys coming to stay!

We will just stay nice and cozy in our warm

little room until the weather breaks!

In the meantime I have been finding more new recipes

to try.

More fun and interesting blogs to read.

And lots of cuddle and singing time

with little man!

Stay warm!

Liz