Bees & Honey

I am the first to admit that we are late to the party when it comes to the honey extraction process; we should have started in August, but we took out two frames to make room for the feeder frame, in preparation for winterizing the hive, and there was tons of honey on those two frames, so we let it drip/strain into an enormous bowl. Since this is our first year, we were super excited, and with some practice we hope to do a lot better next year with timelines. I am reading the book Beekeeping in Western Canada by D.C. Murrell and D.N. MacDonald.

We were very fortunate to have maintained our hive over last winter, since it was so long and cold - I hope we will be so fortunate again this year, as with a little time, I think I am better understanding the process of beekeeping. I would really be sad to lose my crew now! 

BTW - Mano was stung on the foot today - he says it was a good experience because it's his first sting. He was decked out in head to toe beekeeper gear, except for no socks in his shoes! You have to laugh. Now he knows what it feels like. I have only been stung once in my life, that was ages ago - as a tweener.  

Lastly, how did we get into bees? I have to thank Eli - he brought over the whole set up for Dad for Father's day last year - it was a super cool gift. We like everything about it! 

PS We ended up with 11 jam jars of honey! It smells and tastes heavenly!

THE BEE.

Like trains of cars on tracks of plush
I hear the level bee:
A jar across the flowers goes,
Their velvet masonry

Withstands until the sweet assault
Their chivalry consumes,
While he, victorious, tilts away
To vanquish other blooms.

His feet are shod with gauze,
His helmet is of gold;
His breast, a single onyx
With chrysoprase, inlaid.

His labor is a chant,
His idleness a tune;
Oh, for a bee's experience
Of clovers and of noon!

Emily Dickinson