Spring is in the air!!

Cindi · March 23, 2010, 10:23:54 AM

Ah Dane, again, some more beautiful pictures for me to gaze at. I wonder if that most beautiful white flower is the tulip tree's flower. It looks gorgeous. You have a most beautiful yard, I can see that and tell that thing for surely, lovely. I don't have any bees. I lost my one colony, think the warm weather, building brood and then the rain for a month did everything in, sigh. Oh well, things always work out in the wash now don't they, smiling. To have those wishes of a wonderful and awesome day, for that great health. Cindi

Dane Bramage · March 23, 2010, 12:24:57 PM

Thanks Cindi! I'm now fairly sure that white flower is actually a Magnolia. I should be better at identifying plants!

I'm sorry to hear of your colony loss. It can be frustrating, to be sure (had my fair share of winter losses!). Do you have replacements lined up?
One of my Icelandic Ewes had two baby lambs just this morning. So cute! (will post pics ASAP).

Cheers,
Dane

Edited to add ~> Twin doelings :-D

Cindi · March 24, 2010, 12:37:53 AM

Oh Dane, two little pieces of beauty from the heavens above. Those are lovelies. I love the black around the eyes, beautiful, bet you gonna have some very nice pictures coming along, when you have that spare moment in time. Do have that most awesomely wonderful day, filled full of love and health. Cindi

Dane Bramage · March 24, 2010, 09:13:14 PM

:-D 70°F today! 8-)

Natalie · March 25, 2010, 12:18:02 PM

Oh, are they not the sweetest things!
I love your pictures, thank you for sharing.

Dane Bramage · March 26, 2010, 02:05:04 AM

Thanks & you're welcome Natalie. How about a little video?

:-D

Natalie · March 27, 2010, 03:46:00 PM

Thanks for the video, I hadn't seen the icelandic sheep before, what a beautiful breed they are.

annette · March 28, 2010, 12:09:22 AM

Oh my gosh Dane

That was the sweetest video ever. Just watching them shake those little butts and walk under mama sheep. Very sweet and very funny indeed!!

Dane Bramage · April 04, 2010, 07:54:25 PM

You're welcome & thx Natalie. :)

lol @ annette. They really are super cute aren't they?? Are you duly impressed by the tandem feeding technique? heh heh. I did a little acoustic guitar accompaniment in the background. I might have to put mama sheep on lead vocals ;)

Well, the weather sure has take a turn for the miserable of late here. I had checked my hives and they were already starting to fill burr comb under the lid with honey, so I supered up and put on pollen traps too. That was last week. It's been raining with highs in the low 50's since. Pollen traps are back off (too much vent on the top-entrance Sundance II for this weather). Now I'm sitting here with packages to install and not quite knowing what to do... rainy & 47°F atm. I guess I'll give it a go tomorrow if the rain stops long enough and it gets up to 52° (as forecast). :'( :roll:

Happy Easter!

Kathyp · April 04, 2010, 07:57:56 PM

it's crap. don't think it's going to be much better until tuesday or wedness day. snow on the mt. hail and cold here.

Dane Bramage · April 04, 2010, 08:11:00 PM

Quote from: kathyp on April 04, 2010, 07:57:56 PM
it's crap. don't think it's going to be much better until tuesday or wedness day. snow on the mt. hail and cold here.

I'd like to just leave my packages intact and install them when the weather is better. Of course I don't want them to die in the packages! :-X Any tips on prolonging their life in packages (misting + extra feed?) I'll probably just install them tomorrow regardless. Maybe it's best just to get them in their homes (packages were shaken on Thursday, so they're due for install). As long as the rain is not soaking them, they should be good... probably won't be doing many orientation flights right away! lol!

Kathyp · April 04, 2010, 08:21:45 PM

they should be ok. only takes a second to shake them in. it's the stragglers that suffer, but if you can set your package on the hive front so that it's easy for them to find their way in, and protect them temporarily from the rain, they should all be in by evening.

annette · April 05, 2010, 12:23:59 AM

Michael Bush posted here recently that he hives them in the snow and rain. Says they fly less. Good luck with all those packages Dane.

Dane Bramage · April 06, 2010, 01:34:41 PM

Thanks ladies. :-* I was able to get them in that same day without incident. I couldn't seem to get back on the forum here until this morning though (website was down/inaccessible). Actually, there was a lot less flying then would have occurred on a warm day. Perhaps it is advantageous to install them on days such as that.

Dane Bramage · April 07, 2010, 09:02:14 PM

Despite the fairly miserable weather, seems the bees are getting at least a bit of nectar/pollen from the cherry trees.

annette · April 07, 2010, 09:41:08 PM

Dane

I always appreciate your photos and that you have them in the right format for me to save to my desktop.

Sincerely
Annette

Dane Bramage · April 11, 2010, 11:22:51 PM

You're most welcome Annette. It's a true labor of love for me.

Second set of lambs arrived a few days ago. One baby ewe & a ram lamb this time, both solid black/moorit.

:-D

Kathyp · April 12, 2010, 12:24:57 AM

very cute. what do you do with them?

annette · April 12, 2010, 01:07:21 AM

Just to cute!! You have a very interesting household with the bees, the lambs and the dogs. I am always amazed at how much love people have to give to others.

Thanks again for sharing.
Annette

Dane Bramage · April 12, 2010, 01:52:36 AM

Quote from: kathyp on April 12, 2010, 12:24:57 AM
very cute. what do you do with them?

Haha - actually most all of them will be for sale & sold, after they are weaned. I may keep a ewe. Someone is already inquiring about the sole ram lamb. You want some Kathy? If I had a real farm I'd be able to grow the herd.

Quote from: annette on April 12, 2010, 01:07:21 AM
Just to cute!! You have a very interesting household with the bees, the lambs and the dogs. I am always amazed at how much love people have to give to others.

Thanks again for sharing.
Annette

& chickens & cats too! Interesting is right! ;) It's not bad though... not too hectic and they give love right back.