Honey Bees

Yesterday our friend, Paul, stopped by the help Noah check out our new hives.  I am really keen on learning about bees so I make sure I'm home every time Paul stops by. He got us all set up a few weeks ago with our first two hives. Paul is the honey bee guru, if you have time you should ask him about bees:)  Paul was a commercial bee keeper for fifteen years and to worked as a bee inspector in Ontario.  Paul got the smoker going and opened up the first hive showing Noah the ropes, while Lyra and I sat back and watched. Noah quickly found the queen. Paul showed Noah what to look for on the frames, how the colleny works,  the hierarchy of the hive, how to tell an old bee from a young bee. All of our bees are fairly young and working away. The hive to the left is feisty. And yes, Noah got stung.

Noah points out the queen 

 Looking in the light to see the brood 

Beekeeping is an slow, calm and steady project. A good change for Noah. Paul said sometimes he talks calmingly to the bees or sings a song in his head. As long as you aren't nervous and do not hurt the bees they will not sting you. They can hear the bee scream when it dies, when a bee stings they leave a tracer  and others will go to the smell and start stinging.

And the long awaited chicks hatched (21 days is a long time when you are three). Lyra was thrilled. And thanks for the dump truck load of sawdust . This is about how long Lyra's clothes stayed on for, nothing like a big pile for a few hours of fun.