TonTon is afraid. He is very afraid. There is a Minty looking at his blue ball. And he is hoping he will not be commanded to share. Sharing toys is nice Ton. 
The terror of having to share! Maybe with all three of the lambies! 
Poor Ton, being picked on by those iddy biddy wee lambs. This might be another postcard pic.
Cats in a curve. Mary’s cat always looks slightly bad tempered doesn’t he.
Water play. Hosing out the pigsty has already turned into a game of who can get the wettest!
I discovered something very unsettling yesterday afternoon. An entire hive, my biggest strongest hive, is now almost completely empty of bees.
The very few that are left in the bottom of the hive, are in a heap, sluggish and dying. There is no evidence of moth or disease. The hive smells sweet and is full of honey and brood, with room at the top to grow. I looked at them on Monday and they were heaving with bees coming and going really well. Is this CCD? The bees just gone for no reason. They have not swarmed, because even when they swarm, the nurse bees stay with the brood. It is never left to die like this.
The fields have not been worked around our house yet, so we cannot blame spray. The adjacent hives are just as vigorous as ever. 
I have read some articles on this but never thought this would happen to my bees. What a terrible blow. I need to have a think about this and work out what to do next.
However up we get. We will do some research and work out what to do with a hive full of honey and no bees. I can think about that on the run. Today is Retirement Home day. The Old Codger calls it Dog Medicine Day. Today we take the basket of chickens (who are growing feathers and not really looking their best) and Minty and TonTon to the Old Folks Home for an official visit. Signs have gone up around the home inviting any one who is interested.
I have bought Ton a few new softer toys for retrieving. So he can play with the old folks, without balls bouncing all over the place. The camera battery is charging and the slide show is finished. I am going to set up stations around the hall, so the ladies and gentlemen can move from the Lamb to the Chickens to the Dog Play to the Slideshow of Farm Life taken from the blog photos. They can pause where they want to be the longest. We do not have very many animals to take today but it is a beginning.
Good morning! I hope to have some photos of today – for you tomorrow, which I will post before I jump in the car, that will take me to the bus, that will take me on the two hour journey to the airport, to catch two planes across to California to cook a family dinner. I will show you how my Mum made pavlova!
Have a great day. We will have an unusually busy day. But there will be lots of smiles today!
It is after dawn and I can hear Kupa honking out there! What a peacock!
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
74 responses to “The Lambs find TonTon and Sad Bee News.”
Oh! This is one of my biggest fears! I only keep one hive, just for the sake of the bees, and I take a bit of honey once a year to make more room for them because they are in a top bar hive. Have you contacted the local bee keeps to confer with them?
~ Lynda
PS: TonTon reminds me of my Buddy. He does not like to share either. 😉
i know I should be sad that the bees are in trouble, but the overwhelming feeling reading your post is that of almost unbearable cuteness!
I LOVE the photos of Ton Ton, very protective of his toy – his eyes are just shock full of expression… gotta love that boy!
wonderful photos….
hi celi! i had a bee keeper tell me that a bacterial fungus was killing his bees. but that would seem to take longer than what happened here. if they are gone, is there a chance they will come back?
I am so sorry to hear about the bees. I read the article that you linked to with great interest. Our bees were aggressively attacked by hornets and fled the hives, so I know how ghostly and sad it is to lift the lid of a hive and find… Nothing.
Such a puzzling shame about the hive. But I am so excited about today, and can’t wait to see pictures!
I’m so sorry to hear about the hive, Celi. I’m glad to know the others are still ok. CCD is very scary, few of us really understand how significant bees are to our agriculture…
Good morning my friend, I am sorry to hear about the bees 😦 -I hope you can discover the problem soon!
On a more positive note though, I’m glad your wee lambs are teaching Ton how to share 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I am so sorry to hear about our bees. That was a lively hive. Enjoy your trip, sounds like you have a great time in store.
Hi Celi. Do pass on any information that you find about the bees. Too weird! We will be getting ours next week, and are so hoping all will go well with them, as we are definitely beginning beekeepers.
Oh.. how those seniors must adore seeing your animals.. chicken feathers and all (they do go through a funny stage, don’t they?) I was sad to read your bee dilemma.. I think this must happen everywhere and it’s a sign that our earth is on the change, I think. Or can bees become “inbred”.. is there such a thing, just curious.. love your city-slicker smidge xoxo
I’m sure you are a bright spot at the center with your animals, and they’ll love the pictures as much as we do. Have a great trip!
What a shock to find your hive empty! What is CCD? There is so much activity going on at present, quite a spring rhythm. Lucky Rest Home people to have you bringing such life in for them. It will be quite a rest for you to be off travelling.
I’m trying a comment using my blog address. Don’t know if it will work, but let’s try anyway.
Yea! It worked. If you click on my name, it will take you to my blog. Thanks for letting me know about the problem, and do visit!
I think it is so wonderful, not to mention creative, what you’re doing at the retirement home. I can just imagine the amount of smiles and happiness you’re going to generate tomorrow. 🙂 It makes me smile just thinking about it.
Definitely a postcard pic! So sorry about the bees…that is so strange. I hope the other hives remain well and intact.
Hi C, is a shame about the bees and a huge mystery…Ton and Minty are going to have so much fun…today. Enjoy!