Or at the very least a lot of bees from one hive. The night they were installed it got very cold..
and I suppose they did not get huddled together close enough in time. The other hive seems fine though, noisy and active. In fact late yesterday afternoon there seemed to be activity in both hives so we will see what the bees are up to. My greatest fear is losing a queen before she has set up house, so once I get a really nice warm day I am going to have to have a proper look.
If they kept the queen alive they may struggle through. But it was cold again last night. In fact for a few more days it will not be very warm. To be this cold in late April was not planned for.
Daisy on the other hand is a very happy cow out on the grass. There is not a lot of grass yet, but only a couple of bales of hay left. So I have no real choice about letting her out for a few hours in the day. We have had a rocky start to the season and still it is blowing cold and the grass is very slow to appear. But I am confident that we will muddle through. 
The weather does not bother the dogs though. Blue the Mouth (who was being called mouse for a few days due to his mouse-hole bed but he really does have a mouth like a very stern wide mouthed frog) and TonTon are the best of chums and do not mind the chilly winds at all.
The lambs escaped from the big field and wandered into the potato paddock, so being the opportunist farmer that I am I hobbled over and shut the gate on them. They are now officially weaned. Mama had such a time with her udder last year that I had planned to take them from her a bit earlier anyway.
And look what we had for dinner, on the grill. The sun came out and the winds died down and we sat outside to eat fresh asparagus. Bliss.
The asparagus is sparse but lets hope there are more on the way and they did not succumb to the drought last summer. Tasty wee morsels.
I foolishly got the kittens names mixed up yesterday. This is LuLu who really is a LouLou and it is Author who is looking so chubby. That pain in my back was creating a muddle in my mind. LouLou is a very aloof cat whereas Author is quite the cuddler.
Good morning. My stupid back is improving rapidly. I wore a heated patch thingy all day yesterday (thank you for the advice) and have another one on now and they are doing the trick marvellously. I took some pain relief to stop me tensing up and as you can see we stayed on the move. Sitting is too uncomfortable anyway. So I think my recalcitrant back is on the mend. Which is just as well as Our John is back to work today, being Monday, so I must be the brains AND the brawn today. I will just go slow.
The day is dawning clear and calm so far, so we will be getting some sun too which will be marvellous.
You all have a lovely day.
love from your straightening up friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
43 responses to “It looks like we lost a hive to the cold”
Slow and steady Celi. Use that back wisely for a few days.
So sad about the bees, I fear that is going to be an issue for many of the bees here too!
Today on the news they said our trees are going to suffer from this extended Winter with fungus issues, sadly our trees are all ready stressed from last years drought.
the weather is not being kind, but then I guess it never really has been.. we are always fighting some kind of weather problem.. c
I can’t believe that the lambs are weaned already, that went by so quickly! I hope your back feels better!
Can’t wait to hear if enough bees and the queen survived the cold nights. I’d wrap my hives if it’s that cold until they have a chance to settle in good….can you do that? Maybe enough will have survived that they’l be small but good to go into spring and summer. I had one hive who left – they were small and not sure why they left but it’s mother nature doing what she does best so I carry on with 7 hives and am fine with that! Good luck and so sorry about your back. It really can ruin your day! Feel better soon!!
I did cover them that night, but not last night, I have never had to do that before.. it is not going to be that cold again i hope! c
I’ve never covered mine either but I live in Texas….I do wrap insulation around the bottom of my hives with screened bottoms. You know those bottom boards that are supposed to help the mites – if you have them – fall off and out of the hive. I always feel like the wind blowing up through the bottom during the winter would make it really hard to keep it warm inside the hive. I did not choose those bottom boards but my bee mentor gave them to me with the first few hives so without tearing apart the entire hive to replace them I just wrap them in the winter. Good luck with your new bees!
Love the photos! Am wondering if Blue is looking more and more like Big Dog, or am I nuts? Also, is the queen bigger than everyone else? How do you tell her apart. I know you mentioned it isn’t easy.
From behind Blue and BD look like father and son.. very sweet.. c
Oh C. so sorry about your wee bees but then maybe not all is lost…the queen may still be alive in there somewhere. It’s always something, isn’t it? But I am glad to hear that your back is a little better…they just take their dang time, healing up!!
Don’t forget to share your favorite asparagus recipe with us! Have a lovely week in spite of the cold!!
Bees and backs – oh heck!
You have our horrid weather from last week! BUT TODAY, Dear Friend, TODAY IS MARVELOUS!
That means you will be getting MARVELOUS as soon as it makes it’s way through Kansas to Illinois! (They wind is blowing here, which means that it is moving this system, but it is a rather NICE wind, which isn’t cold at all. That with nice wind and lots of sunshine the snow should start to melt and the water in the creeks to rise.)
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
heres to lots of water for you this year!! c
I’m so sorry about the bees, but will be hopeful with you that the Queen has somehow survived. The cold just doesn’t want to let go this year, but the gorgeous asparagus must have been a welcome sight, and taste! I’m glad the back is a bit better. My husband has such a time with his, and is also a very hard worker, finding sitting just impossibly frustrating. I hope this is just a passing issue and you’ll feel your best again when warm weather comes to stay! ox
I’m very sorry to hear the sad news about the bees. I hope the other hive does well. I’m off for about 10-days, clearing out MIL’s house in Denmark, so I’ll catch up when I return. Love to you, c, and all my farmy friends. xx
So glad to hear your back is easing… hope you find the Queen…and the weather warms up…
Glad your back is feeling better . . . hope the hives survive and thrive.
So much news in one post Celi – I’m glad your back is on the mend, but I’m so sorry to hear about the bees! I’m surprised it’s still so cold in spring for you – that is tough..hang in there.. xx
Sorry about the lost hive!
Noooo! Bees! Really hoping the queen survived. (trying very hard to keep Molly from grabbing honey bees out of the air – there’s a hive somewhere near and they visit our lantana and flowers.) Now I must run back to find Blue’s Mouse episode…we’ve noticed that Molly has a wide expandable mouth when she’s excited – looks quite wolfish.