June 23: Outdoors Chores

Since my husband hasn't been feeling well, I've had to take over several of the outdoors chores, and I am quite proud of myself that I did them all on Wednesday. Cleaned the duck coop? Check. Water and food for both chicken coops? Check. Collected all the eggs? Check. Put out the trash and recycling (which has always been my job, but still)? Check. Cleaned out the cooler and other bins that were gross? Check. 

I even did a beehive inspection all by myself (which was only slightly nerve-wracking without my husband there to assist, but I did it nice and slowly and carefully), and I added on a third deep box to each of the hives! Quick update on the hives: Yellow hive is thriving! I spotted the queen, which was delightful, and both of their deep boxes were full of brood, nectar, pollen, and capped honey, with not an overwhelming number of drones (the males bees that don't do anything except eat up the honey stores). Blue hive is doing okay. I still couldn't spot the queen, though I did see evidence of the queen (eggs/larvae), but unfortunately also had to destroy about a dozen queen cells. Apparently this hive thinks it needs a new queen, either to take over for the current one, or to swarm. Because of the high number of drones, I am doubly concerned. They had not yet filled their second box (still about two empty frames) but I put a third deep on there anyways. I will continue to inspect them and hope to see some progress (and fewer, or no, queen cells!). 

It was a delight to get so much accomplished, especially with my husband down for the count. Of course, I can't wait for my husband to feel better, but I am thankful that I am capable and feeling well, and can be a competent homesteader. 

With delight,

♥Jamie