Good Things

Cades Cove from StephBowling on Vimeo.

Ijams Nature Center

Last week we went to the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra's Young People's Concert.  It was our third time and we always enjoy it so much!   We haven't had a car during the day for almost 2 months because Chad has been on day shift, so we were so glad to be out!  So while we were in Knoxville we headed over to Ijams Nature Center.   We had the place to ourselves and it was just beautiful!   We sat on the hill and read some of the Burgess Bird Book.   Then the kids ran and played, found some bugs, frogs, and cool flowers.   It was threatening to storm so we headed inside.  I love the exhibits they have inside.  The kids each picked on exhibit to draw in their nature journals.  It was such a great trip.   I can't wait to make it out there again. 

Bees and Chicks!

With the help of a friend Chad was able to finally get our bees from our old house.   We had gone to get them before, but, it was too hot and the bees were bearding on the front of the hives.   We were surprised that we still had both colonies since we have just left them for a few months.   A lot of beekeepers have had a bad year and lost several colonies, so we're thankful.   I got to put on the gear and get in the hives for the first time just to see how they were doing and if they have enough food stored for the winter.   

Honestly, I had no idea!  I expected to find the brood box full of honey.   But, it was mostly empty with some honey along the outsides and tops of the frames.   After  looking it up, I think that's the way it's supposed to be.  There was quite a bit of honey and pollen in the super.   Hopefully, they will be fine through the winter.    

I've been trying to figure out if this is a queen cell or not.   We were not able to find our queen and there was no brood in the box.  I think that's normal though since it's fall.  

We got some cornish X chicks to raise for meat.   They are growing SO FAST!   They are now 5 weeks old.   We are going to process them between 8-10 weeks.  Can't wait!   We're moving them around the back yard and giving them soy-free, gmo free, organic feed.