Last weekend I harvested for the last time this year. I totaled about 150 pounds for the year (37.5 pounds per hive). I could have had more, but I left all of the half filled frames in the hives. Each hive has two deeps with lots of honey and at least one super full of half full frames. I put the extracted frames back on top of that so they could clean out the last drops. I might pull the empties off in a while.
It is too cold now to bother the bees anymore (45F). Next week will be warm (over 60F) again. I am taking off time next week, so if it is warm I’ll work the bees.
This year I want to cut “blue board” and put that in the covers for insulation. I want to get some felt roofing paper and wrap the hives to help keep them warm this winter. The hives are about 6 inches off the ground on blocks, so I want to sweep dried leaves up and under the hives to help keep the drafts down. I raked the leaves up under them last year and I think it helped.
I have about five pounds of wax. I am trying to figure the best formula for making hand cream and lip balm. It is not so easy as you need much more Almond Oil than you think, and the wax still floats to the top when it cools. The recipes on the internet don’t seem to be right. The secret seems to be make tiny batches and use the microwave to melt the wax.
I mistakenly bought the bears without the flat space in front for the label last time, so I have to redesign the label with a hole in it to fit over the top, or else use a ribbon or thread to hold it on. The kitchen has piles of boxes with lots of bears, and we haven’t even started with the last batch of honey. We are selling 10 bears a week from the driveway. We should run out around Christmas. I put the Christmas presents in a separate box so we won’t accidentally sell them.
I have not been stung in months. Either the bees like me, or I have been very lucky.
