Friday, December 31, 2010

The Bees Are Flying!

I will admit it… I am a mother hen type. I worry about my bees in the winter.  But today I put my worries aside for awhile and rejoice in the fact we are having a warm enough day the bees can do what bees need to do. Run outside and potty (they are too tidy to do this in their hive), haul out the deceased, and joyfully spread their wings, landing on anything that might be a flower. This especially applied to me as to a bee, in my white bee suit, I look like a great big flower! lol They seemed to truly be fascinated with my light yellow gloves:)

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I brought the bees out a bit of holiday cheer, in the form of the wax left over from the last time Eric and I crush and strained some honey. It had been stored in a big bucket on top of one of my apothecary cabinets. I directed a few of my hitchhikers to it.GEDC0905

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The bees you see here will probably not live to see summer, so I give them back a taste of summer with my thanks and blessings upon them.

It warmed up during the night and by morning thunder, lightening and showers were happening. The rain finally broke this afternoon and the sun came out to shine magnificently! This will rapidly change and we will be plunged back into winter tonight. I think the forecast is for something like a 40 degree fluctuation in temperatures today! I am going back outside to watch the bees a bit, then I will have to shoo them off their present of honey wax in a bucket so they will get back to their homes before the falling temperatures catch them too far away to make it home. Even though the bucket is just a few yards from the hives, inside will be warmer than outside the bucket, and the lure of honey so strong, by the time they are ready to go home, unless I have shooed them out already, my gift will become their grave as they just can’t move when it drops to a certain point. So off I go to see how many others have came to have a treat. I am sure after the first bees filled up they dashed to the hive to do a waggle dance to entice their sisters to the feast!

Big hugs to all who visit Comfrey Cottages

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just went down to say hi to my bees too. 3 hives were busy busy - one didn't have a bee around it... such is the life of the bee I suppose. I was glad to see how active the other 3 hives were.

Now they only have to last about 2.5 more months.

Anke said...

Leslie,
wishing you and yours a very happy and healthy new year. May all your dreams for the new year come true!
Anke

Marcia said...

Kia ora Leslie - beezzz doing their thing, thats great - is it still cold and snowy where you are ?

Lovely sunny New Years Day here in Aotearoa, bees flying in my garden, washing drying on the line, a very funny story on National Radio - now for the vacuuming - ahhh, the life of a woman on holiday never stops . . . .

Lemon Verbena Lady said...

Whoo hoo, Leslie! Happy New Year to you and your brood and hives!

Janiece said...

Oh I dream to have bees one day. Your little ones must be so confused with the one day warm up!

Anonymous said...

I love learning about bees from you. Perhaps one day I will be brave enough to take the plunge and get some hives.

Rita M said...

Good luck with your hives this winter Leslie!
Hugs - Rita :)

Comfrey Cottages said...

Janet, glad do hear your bees are doing well. Yup, bought 2 and a half more months
Aww Anke, wishing you and yours a lovely new year also:)
Marcia, you know I am jealous of your weather:)
Nancy, I hope you and herbal hubby have a fabulous year:)
Janiece, I have a feeling you will keep bees someday... you too Stephany:) Once you start thinking about it... you have bee fever and it is inevitable! lol

Comfrey Cottages said...

oh and Rita, thank you so much for the wishes! xx