Bee Tool Box

While my husband I put together a bee wish list. One thing I really wanted was a bee tool box. But they are $80-$100 just for the box. I saw on line what other bee keepers were using to lug around their supplies. So for weeks I hunted around and waited for something to call my name.

Tada! This gem showed up on my hunting. I gave it a coat of stain and my husband put in L braces. I now have my very own bee tool box. It holds my smoker, bee brush, hive took and what nots for playing with my bees. And I do not have to worry about messing up a brand new box. This one has been aged well.

Oh Hail No!

Spring time means bad storms and hail.

These all fell right at dusk. My truck and solar panels took a beating. My ducks and horses took a beating. But everything is fine. No permanent damage. This is what I gathered after it all stopped.

Quacky Tilling

Before the spring storms come we broke new ground on our veggie garden.

We pulled down the fencing that keeps the poultry out of our gardens. 

Our ducks love the new feeding grounds.

They have no fear of the tiller.

I picked out rocks and the ducks picked out bugs.

Doubled the size it used to be. Now I need to amend the soils with a lot of peat, meal, lime and compost. And I need to put in the new fencing. And a new to me old 2nd garden gate.

Hive Full

After being down for 2 weeks with the flu, we are getting back in the swing of things. Back to painting our hives. I am priming them then the fun painting begins. Yellow and greens and colors in between.

Our first foray into the land of bees.

Along with veggie gardens, flower gardens, poultry, horses, bees and guests we have life.

That thing you do in between all the stuff. Sometimes you blink and it zooms by. 

Boxed Up

My husband next the to 2 year old Magnolia tree we planted. He bought this up here from Louisiana for me. I love the giant white flowers. And I missed not having them.

We wore our our old mailbox. So I painted a rooster on the new box and we got busy putting it up.

Installing the new box at dusk because we ran out of time and daylight.

My handiwork.

Grateful for the screwdriver that can light up.

Fluffy Life

With the warm early spring, the fur is coming off the animals.

My husband takes the time to brush the bunnies.

Cotton is helping

Bunny fur is not fun to eat.

Mr. Jingles

Shadow

The Shadow knows....

New Buzz

After a lot of talk and study we decided I should get into raising bees. We have talked about it for 2+ years and put it off for various reasons. I have a full plate this time of the year with spring, planting, poultry and my own pursuits, sewing. But my husband and I went to a free bee class held by the local feed store. I like bugs, playing with bugs, talking to other people about bugs so my husband thinks this can work. I was a bit daunted by the equipment and cost. But starting up any new business cost.

After the class I decided no way. No one around us raises bees, I have no help no teacher. But that never stopped us before.  We talked to several bee people who love raising their bees after the class. They came to the class for the discount and free stuff. Bee people are thrifty.

I have no idea if my husband or I am allergic to bee stings. That should be fun, too.

But either way my 2 queens and their gang will be here in May. So we have to hives and supers coming, I have painting to do and plans to make. I have a long list of people wanting honey that is not even made yet. Turns out a lot of Ozark people miss bees and honey. About 20 years ago everyone had bees here, like chickens. But then people started spraying their crops and the bees died off. No one wanted the hassle of hive keeping after that. 

But if this bee thing works for us then it might become a fun thing to bring some income to the farm. The main reason we are doing it is for the pollination. My flowers and veggies need pollination. The honey is just a bonus. 

Dem Bones

One of the perks of living in the Ozarks, hunters and bones. I was taken out to the woods to learn how it is done. One friend stakes his carcasses so the animals do not drag them all over the place. From here we used and axe to remove the heads.

Coyote, bobcats and skunks

All have been put in a cage on an ant hill to clean them out. They were very meaty and needed nature to do the wet work. Now they are ready to be cleaned with H2O2 and water. A good soaking and bath then dry. Never use bleach, it ruins the bones. The skulls are in a trap to keep animals from walking off with them. Everything in the woods loves bone to chew on. These will be cleaned and donated to a local high school science class.

Just Normal Ffolks

As we heat with firewood, it is nice to take a break and enjoy the heat.

Wood warms you twice once when you chop and split it and once when you burn it.

Cotton's favorite spot in the house. Where her foster litter  mates all were raised last May.

Melon on the wicker lounger.

Our house is full of books and cats. It reminds me of a favorite movie of mine Ffolks staring Sean Connery. We have many outside adventures, libraries, needlepoint and cats in and around our farm. You can't do anything around here without a few cats accompanying you.

Poppy showing off his pajamas. Code for it is cold and let me in.

Just a day of snow.

Coop is all warm and dry.

Our wet and icy horses.

Big Gray Day

Cotton learning to be an outside cat. She is sizing up the ducks.

Melon watching the driveway.

Resting is Melon belly.

He smells bread for the ducks.

Enjoying the sun break in the cold clouds.

Glass Ass

These are the pieces of glass my husbands nephew made for us in his studio in New Orleans. It was in this studio where I slipped and did a split and pulled my hamstrings and broke my butt bone. But in spite of my middle aged acrobatics, the glass making continued.

As per our request he was able to make these ornaments, vase and glass.

We have added these to our personal collection of his works. We have a greenhouse and hutch filled with all his creations. One day when we have passed, he can go through it all. Pass it down to his kids or donated to a person or place who appreciates it. I learned that I have no place in a glass blowing studio. Best to be an observer and collector.

In the Army

This year the kids of friends we have seen - grew up. They graduated high school and signed up with the Army. They get each have very different views of what they are going through, Boot camp is not for wusses. One has to give up smoking something he has done since he was 12. He is learning that smoking and working out is for the movies. Reality of working out with smokers lungs is as close to real pain as he has ever had. The other one is his cousin and he is having a blast. He gets to see the US then the world and far away from his family drama. Both boys are becoming men. The Army is helping do that. Being in the military they get out of this small town and meet people from all walks of life. Will be neat to see how it goes for them.

Neverwas

This year was a tough holiday. We hauled antiques down south for my sister in law and her business. On the trip we had a tire blow out in the dark cold evening in the middle of nowhere kind of night. Luckily I packed for this. We got down to Louisiana with the spare. The next day was getting new tires and insurance adjustment. Luckily none of the antiques were broken and no other vehicles were harmed. I pulled my hamstrings doing an unintentional split and spent the rest of the trip in pain. Long drives in traffic in pain is not fun. We returned home to find one of my dog with an infected leg. Off the the vet that morning, both of us in pain. My dog had a deep puncture and after stitches and biotics was better. It was so good to be back on the farm. A friend came to our farm for a week 2x's a day to feed my ark. She did not want a cent. She also had us over for Christmas Day dinner. She is one of a kind.

At church the congregation was giving us a hard time about the new Indian priest change in  Christmas decoration. No one wanted change. It had been the same for 20 + years. In the cold for the next 3 evenings we worked putting up the new decorations without any help. The next day the priest took them down and had 2 other people rearrange them to what he wanted. I was frustrated with the waste of our time. But he was happy with the way he did it. Paper star lanterns and multi- color lights turned out pretty. And it did look nice. Lesson learned, no more volunteering for church. Somebody else will "get the call" and I am the better for it. Fighting people resistant to change is exhausting physically and mentally.

While the postal service was late this year with deliveries. We did get some Christmas cards this year. Seems many people are sending less cards these days. My husbands niece sent a cute wooden bunny. We did not put up a tree this year. Too much work, volunteering, travel and trouble to bother. Maybe next year will be better. Maybe next year this bunny will be hanging on the green. This year's Christmas was the Neverwas. Lets pray that next year it is a better one.