The children and I had a short vacation. While we were gone, Rand worked on hives. He got up every morning at 6:30 to feed our bees, he put together the supers, and he painted. Our wonderful neighbor and her children arrived at 8:00 to milk the goats in the morning, and came back in the evening to do it all over again.
The bees are doing fairly well. We added a second hive body to several, and #14 even graduated to a super (which means HONEY for US). #11 needs a new queen. She is ordered and will arrive next Friday. Next Wednesday, Rand & I get to go in and kill the current queen. Yuck. Two hives have workers laying (didn't know that was possible - but my super duper wonderful Daddy came up last week and helped us go through our hives. He gave us a great education. So, basically, we have two hives that are dead. Yuck yuck. But, better than I expected - from what I understand, stats are 1 in 3 don't make it. We are at 2.5 out of 15 - so better than 1 in 5...)
Goats are doing great. Milk and more milk... My girls are so wonderful. Monks is getting a stinky attitude on the stand, so has placed herself as last to be milked. But, the others are wonderful and so much fun....
We finally got our piggies - pork chops for dinner this fall! Hooray! The three little pigs arrived a week ago today. Rand named them the Pork Butt Brothers. Red, White, and Blu. And yes, their names are appropriate.... Suddenly, we are short on milk. And, the milk in freezer is quickly decreasing (hooray).
Okay.
Well. That is it for around here. Going to post pics of Joyous before and after copper. Monks is already looking too good.... Looking forward to the fair.
I will make Heather show you all the pics, 'cause those paint a thousand words - and I can't paint. Since she says it has to happen now, then she will do it (now) I guess.....
