We have officially hit a heat wave in the great state. Three days in a row over 90 degrees qualifies us as a "heat wave" and we have had more than three days... it's been a whole week. I am NOT a hot weather fan and find myself sitting about, getting nothing done. With a wedding at the end of the week, getting nothing done is NOT good, but it's all I can do. Today, however, we took a break from the heat.....
Kass and Reagan came up and along with Abbie and I, we spent the day at camp, playing in the lake. I like the water, but can't say I am a real swimmer, so, when you find me in the lake, let alone spending the better part of the day in the lake, then you know it's HOT.... all the doggies took swims too,
Reagan is turning out to be a real water baby, and he smiled all day long being in the water and nice and cool beside the lake....
He floated around in the "lily pad" and had a great time with Mommy, Abbie and Baby....
Course, we all know what a fish Abbie is... and every time, she tries a little more... she really is almost at the point of truly swimming.... and we really have to watch her, because she has no fear and would try to swim across the lake if she thought she could...
All smiles.....
She will go completely under the water and can even swim a bit.... I love the fact that she is happy at the lake. Sadie was just like her and spent many hot days swimming... the next generation is "taking over"....
There was no limit on the water today... and it certainly helped to renew our energy... but I will be so happy when we can get back to "normal" weather!!!!!
The summer days are zooming by.... hard to think that we are half way threw July already. Between wedding plans, puppies, and just enjoying the time of year... I feel like I fall into bed at night and up again.. and fall into bed at night. Little Debbie has settled in very well... and is already attending puppy classes. The only trouble is, when you are the teacher, you can't be the student... so Kathleen has stepped in and is working with my little girl in the classes...
She's good little worker and in true Lab style.. offer that little "cookie" and she'll do about anything. Here she is with Noble, (Mary and Scott's CCI puppy)...
Kathleen must have some pretty good treats in her pocket... she got two for one on this command!!!!!
Our little bees seem to be "buzzing" along. Ed and I try to get in and check them once every two weeks or so. The weather hasn't been the greatest, so I "worry".. though I know that bees have "done their thing for centuries".. certainly long before I wanted them around, and I have a feeling they know what they are doing....
Been staying on top of the yard work and gardens... one, because it looks nice to do that and two, with the wedding just a week away.. we want everything to be in A1 order. I was hoping that we might have the front walk in by now, but it just hasn't worked out on the list of things to do...
Back to the bees. When we last checked they were doing a good job on getting the second box filled up with comb and such.. so I thought it would be time to add a third box. This box (in my opinion) will be a honey box and will give them a place to put extra stores. Though sometime the queen can go up there and lay brood, but we're hoping she will be happy with the bottom two and leave this one for honey.
Our bottom two boxes are large, this one is a medium... everyone says that the large boxes when filled with honey are very heavy and so most people chose to use the medium size for the honey boxes. We decided to follow their advice, and put together this medium. For the first year, it is also advised not to harvest this box, but to leave it for the winter. However, if they do fill it and don't use it, we can take it next spring....
Off to the hive.....
Look out girls, here we come. I am very pleased at how easy going this hive is... we don't bother them much and go in and out as quietly as we can.. and handle them gently.... people are surprised that you can go into the hive like this and not really upset them ....
Too bad this picture isn't clearer.. but this is a frame that has pollen stores in the corner (where it is yellow--- like the black eyed Susans which are in the field right now).. and the rest is brood... the "white" things are little bee lava which will be capped over when they get a bit bigger... and there are some empty combs where we have probably had some hatching's in the past week or so....
This frame shows capped lava, which means the little bees are transforming into their bee bodies and will hatch from here.....
This frame is being "built out" with new comb... hard to see, but if you look closely, it has a "puffy" look to the foundation, so the girls are working on building up wax here....
Move out of the way ladies..... after playing around in the bottom box, we need everyone to move so we can put the second box back on and begin to check around in that one. Killing a bee is bad... not only does it mean you loose one, but then it can put an alarm threw the hive that they are in trouble. So you want to handle everything carefully and make sure that no one gets hurt.....
In the second box we found good honey stores....
the upper part of this frame is filled with honey.. and it's all capped over which means, if we could harvest it, this is what you take. Capped honey is honey that is all "finished" and ready to use....
I'm thinking the second box could be built out more, but we decided to put the third box on... with all of August, September and possible the first part of October.. they will have time (I hope) to work on this box too...
this has certainly been a very fun project, and I am hooked. If we can get them threw the winter .. there is no doubt we will be having another hive next summer..... who knows, one day I may be selling my honey at the local farmers markets... that would be fun!!!!
I don't know what's been up with the summer weather this year... I personally wouldn't think of it as a "great" summer weather wise.. it's either raining or so hot and humid that you can't hardly breath.... I have been a bit "worried" about the bees....
We try and make a check of them every couple of weeks... they are doing their thing and the hive looks good, but the hope of having that first taste of honey this year doesn't look promising..... I just hope they make enough stores to get them threw the winter, if we can "winter them".. then that will be one big hurdle met....
Little Debbie (snack cakes) had her first vet appointment this week. Abbie and Sadie were with me
We see the good folks at DownMaine vet clinic and as with my past five dogs.. they have agreed to sponsor this puppy as well. I only hope they appreciate what this means to me and to NEADS.. without their help, our puppy raising would be much more difficult...
Dr. Spahn took a careful look at our little gal and pronounced her fit and healthy. She was very good on the table and didn't mind being examined at all. She had to have a couple of booster shots, but even that wasn't a problem.....
She weighs in at 16 lbs... so Dr. Spahn can hold her now... but another few months and that won't be happening.....
As we were getting ready to leave, in came another little yellow lab... just the same age as Debbie... they were so cute together and wanted more to play than sit still for a photo..... Abbie was thrilled to see "two puppies just the same".....
From there, the three of us went to dinner, and then onto Tee-tee's house.... for tonite, was a bridal shower for the bride to be... Miss Sadie. The wedding is on July 20th and held at the farm... and tonite the celebration begins......
Presents from family and friends.... sadly - Sadie wasn't totally surprised... but she was very pleased and excited with all the fun....
Abbie is certainly getting into this whole "wedding thing"... and she couldn't wait to help Mom open all their new items. Course she couldn't understand why Mom got so excited about dishes, silverware, baking items.... but it all depends in what you're hoping for I guess....
Everyone is looking forward to the wedding... it's been a few years since we have had one in the family......
And it's so wonderful to keep the generations together and knowing each other. This is Caroline.. my cousins little girl.. who... Abbie had decorated for the party!!!!
So, big going on's in the near future and fun blogs to write.... let's just hope the weather will co-operate...
happy wedding to Sadie and Jesse.....
While we were at Storyland, little Debbie went and spent a couple of nights at Kelli and Rick's. Being too little to make a service dog outing to Storyland and obviously not being able to stay at home, it was the perfect spot for her to head. So, the next day, Abbie couldn't wait to go and pick her up and get to meet her.
Debbie is a very different pup from Rylie... and at first, Abbie was a bit surprise at her energy. I don't think Debbie is really a "huggy" dog... but Abbie was determined to try just the same....
Debbie was much happier when they worked out a compromise.... I asked Abbie what she thought of Debbie and I don't know if she has really made up her mind just yet.....
In the afternoon, we "moved" to camp... it's the fourth of July weekend, all the kids are coming to spend some time at the lake, and the weather is hot and "perfect" for July. We had a big cookout on the fourth... with everyone enjoying the water, and good food....
Debbie got a lesson in swimming....
Abbie kept a close eye on her new little friend. Debbie seemed to really enjoy the water.... and most of the other dogs got in as well.....
But Abbie got the prize for the longest time in the water.... she basically got to camp... into the water and after that only came out to grab something to eat and went right back into the water. She is not afraid and loves to be in the water....
Hunter had a small swim and then was happy to just snooze on the deck.... the life of our dogs...
Reagan was happy to use the jumper and enjoy everyone's coming and going's...
Abbie was so happy to get adults in the water because it means that she can "go in the deep part"... here she's hangin' out with Papa!!!!
"go out into the deeper parts Papa".....
Next year, Reagan will be swimming with the rest.. but this year... the kitchen sink gets to be "his" own private pool.....
Though playing with the running water is kind of fun....
At the end of the day the promise of s'mores is what finally pulled Abbie from the water... I think she made two or three of them, sat quietly and in about 3 minutes she was out like a light........
Friday morning, my plan was to just hang out beside the lake... enjoy the water and the quiet time at camp... but DAVE had a different idea.... HAY!!!! and as you well know, one makes hay while the sunshines...
We tried to talk our guests into going to the hay field with us.. but we didn't have any takers, some how the lake was much more appealing than a hot hay field... (can't understand that one LOL)
Hat and gloves... not what I was thinking for a hot summer day... but it works.....
Pretty scene though, and again...that hay tucked up in the barn for next winter use will be a good feeling....
Oh dear, the field was soft in places from all the thunderstorms that we have gotten in the late afternoons...I thought I had avoided them... but as you can see... I didn't....
Fortunately, getting a tractor and a chain wasn't too much trouble, and Dave pulled us out without any troubles....
And just in case you were wondering "what" the temp was.... the truck proudly announced... "93"......
All in all, the time in the field went quick. Dave hopped off the tractor and gave us a hand loading.... and back at the farm, we had a crew of young folks waiting to help put in into the loft. Hey Snuggies... this is your first "getting the hay in" ......
(think he looks a little worried to learn that both sets of his crazy grandparents are into this "hay season" thing!!!!)
"Daddy.... will I really have to help with haying like you do????"
I'm not so sure that we have ever put hay away so fast before. I guess we should just "call the Marines in" every year for hay season.... 215 bales were tucked away in about 25 minutes!!!!! Then the elevator was pulled back into the loft and between the two loads that we picked up.. we have 400 bales for next winter. So thankful "that" job is all done....
After that, we all decided that ice cream was the best idea for supper......
Big day for Reagan... first experience "haying" and now a taste of ice cream.. that's a great way to end a very busy day....
and an amazing sunset closes out a very fun day....
