tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post2155393714040548435..comments2024-03-26T10:01:18.135-04:00Comments on Living the Frugal Life: It's Getting to be a Real SagaKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-80890604708707563292010-04-28T08:29:56.097-04:002010-04-28T08:29:56.097-04:00Thanks all for the encouragement and sympathy. I&...Thanks all for the encouragement and sympathy. I'm glad my foibles can provide a little harmless entertainment to so many. I must be doing something right...<br /><br />Sonja, it is unusual - no question, but apparently not unheard of. A few oldtimers at our local beekeeping ass'n say they've heard of this happening once or twice. That's sort of a relief, but only slightly.<br /><br />Amy, yes, that makes perfect sense and I've seen pictures of such a setup. I may try that next time.<br /><br />Jennifer, yes. Our queens arrived in their queen cages and were put into the hive that way. But in the usual fashion, they were released from the cage after a few days. That's apparently when the Italians decided to leave. The queens can't stay in the cages and perform their tasks as queens: to lay eggs. They are the reproductive organs of the colony, so to speak.<br /><br />Wendy, our apple tree was in bloom when our bees arrived and from what I could tell, they mostly ignored it. Plenty of carpenter bees and mason bees on that tree, but I only saw a couple of honey bees on it. Odd, but bees have their own choices to make.<br /><br />Tamar, well it's possible the oil put them off, and that would be a fairly depressing prospect if it were true, since it would make it all my fault. I don't suppose there's any way to know. But I can try something else next year if these colonies fail.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-71931750106391660332010-04-25T16:48:41.061-04:002010-04-25T16:48:41.061-04:00Kate -- This must be testing your resolve. I hope...Kate -- This must be testing your resolve. I hope things have improved since you posted this.<br /><br />I ran your scenario by the people who run our beekeeping club, and they thought it was very mysterious. They did say that it was within the realm of possibility that, if there was any kind of smell from the motor oil you used on the cinder blocks, it might put the bees off. <br /><br />I hope your bees have come home!Tamar@StarvingofftheLandhttp://www.starvingofftheland.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-69546117114042510792010-04-22T17:21:15.534-04:002010-04-22T17:21:15.534-04:00Oh, man. Sounds like things are not going well .....Oh, man. Sounds like things are not going well ... which makes me a bit nervous, as our bees aren't scheduled to arrive for another three weeks or so. <br /><br />The real bummer, though is that the peach trees are starting to flower! It would have been nice to have had the bees here to pollinate the trees that have never done very well on their own. Couldn't have it all happen in sinc, right? <br /><br />I hope your queen is okay.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04642417312794814066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-84192223657248854042010-04-22T15:12:39.117-04:002010-04-22T15:12:39.117-04:00That's really a bummer! We have the set up lik...That's really a bummer! We have the set up like Amy mentioned with the cans of oil. There's a picture on my blog if you're interested in seeing it. <br /><br />I hope things get better for you soon!Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05607208465219962573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-29174857158294340762010-04-22T13:22:57.165-04:002010-04-22T13:22:57.165-04:00I know absolutely zilch about bees and I usually r...I know absolutely zilch about bees and I usually refrain from giving anyone my "advice" but something in the back of my brain is telling me that there's a little cage thing that you put your queen in to keep her in the hive and prevent swarming - another beekeeper may know more. <br /><br />It's fascinating to read about the antics of your bees and your new job as 'bee wrangler'. Here's waiting for the next post, and hopefully some good news for you!Jennifer Monterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-8435306489036117942010-04-22T07:43:15.991-04:002010-04-22T07:43:15.991-04:00Oh my goodness gracious! Well, if you've done ...Oh my goodness gracious! Well, if you've done all that I think you're officially initiated into the bee keeping world! That was quite an intro!! It's GOT to be easier from here on out! (although with bees, it's always SOMETHING!)Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05161936988434765481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-15939036654595982102010-04-22T07:07:39.297-04:002010-04-22T07:07:39.297-04:00Well, this is rather putting me off wanting bees, ...Well, this is rather putting me off wanting bees, but I have to say reading about it is better than an action movie. Exciting! I hope it gets easier.TheSimplePoppyhttp://thesimplepoppy.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-26138394049238345172010-04-22T01:37:15.611-04:002010-04-22T01:37:15.611-04:00This is all a bit too exciting for me!
I don't...This is all a bit too exciting for me!<br />I don't know much about bees, but have been talking to people and reading up as they're on my 'to-do' list for next year, and it does seem very bizarre behaviour.<br />Fingers and toes crossed now...<br /><br />HazelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-52528271558335061892010-04-22T00:08:12.543-04:002010-04-22T00:08:12.543-04:00Oh man good luck! We just put our new bees ( first...Oh man good luck! We just put our new bees ( first ever) in their hives today, hope I don't have as much trouble! Best wishes.Aimeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358194304460170717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-46468426928943489232010-04-21T22:21:24.943-04:002010-04-21T22:21:24.943-04:00I know this must be very frustrating for you but t...I know this must be very frustrating for you but to tell you the truth, I find you and the bees quite entertaining. I hope things go better for you though, and I will be tuning in to see how this turns out:)Konniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13799743157541073295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-68169731970466980122010-04-21T20:45:23.771-04:002010-04-21T20:45:23.771-04:00Wow! My husband and I were talking about a week a...Wow! My husband and I were talking about a week ago about starting a hive. You've had quite the time. I hope it all works out alright for you.<br />-StaciStaci@LifeAtCobbleHillFarmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-42912092106040951252010-04-21T20:08:56.857-04:002010-04-21T20:08:56.857-04:00I lost your email address. Here's a link to a...I lost your email address. Here's a link to a discussion to get an idea what I was talking about:<br /><br /><br />http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=231462Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00564840073358020600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-40299129031248772322010-04-21T19:59:56.743-04:002010-04-21T19:59:56.743-04:00Okay, I'm on the edge of my seat reading this ...Okay, I'm on the edge of my seat reading this saga! It's so interesting and yet, I know it's nerve racking for you! You must keep us posted!<br /><br />The ants... when I went to a beekeeping class, I'm pretty sure they suggested elevating your hives on pipes with some kind of socket receptacle attached to the bottom of the hive (one on each corner of the bottom board?). Then they said you should place each of the new pipe legs in a can filled with some kind of oil - vegetable oil or something like that. The ants will climb over the can into the oil and die before they can get to the pipe leg. Does this make sense? If I find a photo, I'll email you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00564840073358020600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-60490340721470334812010-04-21T18:40:40.679-04:002010-04-21T18:40:40.679-04:00Whew. What a story. I know I'm not alone whe...Whew. What a story. I know I'm not alone when I say we're hoping the queen survived and is in the hive!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-29892867162442881052010-04-21T17:25:54.160-04:002010-04-21T17:25:54.160-04:00Kate,
I am so sorry to hear about your bee troub...Kate, <br /><br />I am so sorry to hear about your bee troubles. Had I some of those issues that first year, I'm pretty sure I would have given up completely. <br /><br />What's so puzzling is the behavior of your bees. It sounds downright strange. I'm no expert but I've never heard of anything quite like what you've described, at least not the number of times that it's happened. Were any of the experts in your club able to shed some light on the situation? I'd be interested to hear what other folks say...<br /><br />Good luck, and hang in there.Sonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07991225701647192076noreply@blogger.com