YES! John came home from work yesterday with a new washing machine on the back of his truck. It is small, efficient and most importantly – it works. I hate to buy new but in this instance new is cost effective.
The old dead useless mammoth of a washing machine has been shuffled to the side and the Tall Teenager is going to take it apart and see what we can salvage before scrapping the rest. There must be something I can do with the bowl!
I am going to harvest more honey today and tomorrow. I forgot to show you this bee escape board last time. Yesterday I placed it below the super full of honey. 
As the evenings are a little cooler the bees prefer to huddle together for warmth. I leave the bee escape board on the hive overnight. The bees in the honey super will zoom down through the hole in the evening, then into the maze to get to their cuddly sisters. But they are unable to figure out how to get back up as quickly. So when I take the box off, I only have a few stray bees to brush back down. 
So I am able to take the super (box) full of frames full of honey, right off the hive with a minimum of fuss the next day. Today. 
Plus I have bee presents. Each hive will receive a super half full of honey. Remember that hive of bees that completely disappeared in the spring. That abandoned honey has been waiting in its supers in the freezer to be distributed in the autumn after harvest. Seems kind of fair to give honey when I take some.
Good morning. You can see the bee escape board in place in the image on the right. And in the image on the left you can see that I have one more honey box to take off. I will pop the escape board under it this afternoon (once I have harvested the hive on the right) and harvest that tomorrow. In these supers are nine frames of capped honey. Each frame can weigh in at about 5 pounds. Sometimes more. So each super can produce over 40 pounds of filtered honey. Lifting these boxes is heavy work. Lucky I have been building those muscles carrying buckets to and from the milking parlour.
It is possible that we may have honey to sell this year. Now that really would be grand. I sell eggs all year round, which covers the chook feed. It would be wonderful if the honey started paying for the gardens and a few new hives! I may reach subsistence yet! (laughter!)
So today and tomorrow will be sticky sweet days.
The Tall Teenager starts his new country school today. He is being very stoic. First days are tough, we all know that one don’t we.
Have a lovely day.
celi
On this day last year. 7 links. This is a challenge where I was asked to name seven of my posts. I am unable to do these kinds of posts anymore. Writing my blog journal of the farm, farming, writing the books, minding my old people, managing a home AND doing these excellent awards challenges is way too much work for one person. So the awards, though delightful and I am always grateful to be nominated, have had to be put on the back burner. Which does make me feel bad. But a year ago I did have time and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Kitchen's Garden 
71 responses to “A crazy maze for bees”
It’s late afternoon Celi. I’m ending this part of my day with a cup of tea and writing you. I start my morning FIRST always with you post. All day as I went about doing this and that(we are giving our kitchen a fresh look and painting the cabinets), I thought about the bees and the washing machine , and the sheets blowing freely on the line. It is as if I am at your side on the Farmy. Your post is a love story. Your love of family and friends.Your love and respect for the animals. Your love of the land. Your love of writing. It brings so much joy to so many people. I am your greatest admirer. Virginia
What a wonderful thing to say, i also was attracted to that image of the washing on the line. I think when you love what you do, like you love making extraordinary food and your years in hospitality it shines through anyway, You cannot hide it! c
If you end up selling honey, I’ll take a jar or two!
OK yummy, I shall make a note. I took out a gallon today from one tiny frame and more coming ..it certainly is more than I need.. c
Love the insights on honey season every time you post about it!
I made roasted leeks drizzled with honey for dinner and thought of you. it seemed to me a dish you would have made, or maybe you already have and it has lodged unlogged in my brain.. c
How wonderful, C! I never made leeks with honey, I don’t think, which is a tremendous idea. And you’re right, definitely up my alley:) Leeks are so hearty and beautiful.
Leeks with honey! I have never tried that, but we get plenty of them when leek season rolls around (winter and spring).
I hope The Tall Teenager has found friends. It can be hard if friendship groups have already formed. Is it the beginning of the school year over there?
Yes it is the beginning and a very small school. He seems to be be doing ok though.. c
I hope The Tall Teenageer found friends. It can depend a lot on people’s willingness to extend groups already formed.