Weird Morning

I am cow sitting for my neighbours while they are in Toronto.  I've done it for a couple of years, never a problem.  First of all they are very pushy males!  

I must admit that I am a little worried that they might knock me down or step on my feet while I am putting the grain in their trough.

This morning as I came back into the barn it sounded like witches on brooms were flying up in the top floor of the barn.. Now I'm sure it was birds but... 

then the door that I had entered through flew open ...I was freaked out

I then drove to the mailbox and sitting on the corner of Taylor Rd and Taylor Crt was a young girl dressed in black. 

Ok ok I can't hold back.. 

I think she was a witch!

Good Night

Tea Leaf Reading

My eldest daughter and I prepared for our first tea leaf reading.  The perfect cup and saucers were chosen, organic tea leaves were purchased from the health food store, and plan white napkins were all set out on the dinning room table. 

The book I bought in New Orleans and Google all ready for our reading.

I must say I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to do a reading however both of us were amazed at how quick we both could spot symbols.  I saw a witch riding a broom and Christine saw an elaborate medieval scene.

BEE INSPECTER

Today was a sad reminder that I have no bees.  The inspecter came for his annual visit.  Claude and Jim Smith talked about how serious the loss of bees has become and how one beekeeper who had lost 300 hives.

Even Claude lost his two hives.  There are no real answers as to why, so we will take a year off and try again next year.  

My garden is so lonely without the busy buzz of our little friend!

Excavation begins

Today they have brought the equipment to clear a spot for the shed!

Road Trip

My new/old shed arrived today by front end loader in one piece.

It travelled down Taylor Rd from my neighbour Dustin's yard to my yard.

It is resting in the driveway until a spot can be cleared.  It is amazing how well they transported this shed.  It was built by Dustin's Uncle Charley and the glass in the windows are thick and old.

I'm not sure what my plans are for this shed.  I will wait until it is put into it's new location and then decide.

Gardening and The Dump

It almost is too hot to work in the gardens today, soon the bugs will be unbearable. 

So it is a must to do it before those blood sucking vampires appear!  I so wanted to sip lemonade on the porch.

Now I have over done it and hurt my knee!

However I did find a cute table for my lamp at the free at the dump!

Road Trip Scarf became a Road Trip Shawl

My model doesn't have much of a shape but she'll have to do until I fine something more suitable.  I did a proddy flower to match

Brown and Blue Eggs

The hens have been laying well considering the very cold winter we have had this year.  I have sold a few dozen eggs, which helps pay for some of the feed bill.

NEW YEARS

I spent New Year's Eve watching Dowton Abbey and babysitting my daughters' two dogs.

 Nice and calm.

 The dogs were sleeping soundly until their bionic ears heard me getting into bed.

That was the end of the crate, all five of us crammed onto my queen bed.

I was looking forward to the book I had downloaded but my ereader was not working. Dumb thing

Then I woke up at 11:55.

Then as I was just getting back to sleep that crazy rooster starts cock a doodle doing.

Welcome 2014!

Pinecone Treadlers Pot Luck

 Our roads have been terrible for the past week.  It has been too cold for the salt to work and as a result driving has been a nightmare.

Trudy donated some of her  fleece, rovings and wool and the money she raised went to our local food bank.  Our Christmas ornament exchange was fun and I took home a beautiful crochet Christmas tree

It was a small group today. We had good conversation, lots of good food and lots of laughs with Karen's games.  

Crocheted Christmas Tree

Snow Snow Snow

The driveway has been plowed three days in a row and it looks like it will need to be done in the morning.  The hives look like four giant muffins with the big mound of snow on top.  The chickens are trying to stay warm in the coop not wanting to venture out in the snow.  I guess that's where that old saying comes from " all cooped up". To bed early tonight so I'll be rested for shovelling in the morning.

FROZEN

I did end up going to our pot-luck and having a nice time.  Any one who isn't in to bees would be bored stiff as the topic is always bees,bees,bees. Hows your bees?  Did you get much honey?  Etc.

I took a pan of date squares that I had bought from Fine Thymes in town.  No need to stress about my cooking or baking.  And if I do make a dish and can't make it to the function I can't sit at home and eat it myself.

The weather was fine going and returning to town.  However when my daughter,granddaughter, and myself came out of the movies  ( we saw Disney's Frozen)  the storm had started.  The movie was really good, in fact it was an awesome day.

BEEKEEPER'S POT LUCK

Waiting at a cute little coffee shop to see if the weather will hold out for our drive north of Bracebridge.  They are calling for snow and wind today.  I will be going with a fellow women beekeeper

KNITTING NIGHT

Our group of local knitter meet at Oliver Coffee shop for a sip and stitch last night.  Such talented women.

Rug Hooker's Christmas Lunch

We  hooked a coasters and gave a mug as a gift.  So cute!  I forgot the name of the restaurant in Gravenhurst.  I think it was the Farmers Plate.  Very nice get together with some very special women .

Xmas Door Swag

Now that we have a bit of snow it seems more like Christmas.

I took a workshop at The Flying Star Antique Shop and we all made swags.  So much fun!

BEE BATH

                 
   With such a hot dry summer I have used my bird baths as a bee baths.  The rocks allow the bees to land on a rock and this prevents them from drowning.


Keep your veil on, your hive tool in hand, and your smoker smoking....there still is alot to do!
                                 



                       
                                                       

THANK GOODNESS FOR DAUGHTERS

My daughter Christine put my new hive together.  This is my third hive and it won't be used until next year.  The two hives that I have are slow because of the bear attack and I don't expect to get much honey this year.

D. E. HIVE

My new D. E. Hive

  I wish Bandit could build and paint  my new hive because I haven't the energy to even start putting it together. In this heat the best I could do was unpack it.

It will be so nice to see my three hives all setup and full of bees.

I didn't intend to get more than two hives, but I am getting ready to set up a third hive.  Once you get the bug it is hard to stop adding hives.  I really love having bees but three hives is the limit!

BORAGE AND BEES

 After a very trying couple of months I  have two hives and two queens.   I ordered some new frames and foundation  to replace what the bear damaged.  With the new equipment in place the two hives appear to be strong and healthy.  When I am working in my garden I stop to marvel at one of my girls going from flower to flower on a borage plant.

BORAGE

The blue-purple star-shaped flower can be candied and used for cake decorations.  I like to float the flowers in a punch.
The root is used to flavour wine and it can be used to treat fevers, chills and influenza.

This is a lovely herb for the garden and bee yard.