Spring bees

  The temps soared to the mid fifties yesterday, so I quickly  cooked up some candy for the bees.  I ran it out to the hive before work, and it was a gorgeous thing to see all the  bees taking their cleansing flights. Keep your fingers crossed that this hive remains as healthy as it currently looks. 
    I actually had to put on the bee hat with the netting  in order to get the candy into the hive.  They were  very curious and were flying all around my head and hands. There is nothing creepier than having a bee get into your hair - you can feel it walking around on your scalp, trying to find a way out, but you cannot freak out or she will get scared and sting.  
   Near 60 degrees today, and tomorrow the prediction is for rain and snow and a forty degree temperature drop overnight.  I love March!

February 29

The bunny with 80s rocker hair!

   So the winter that wasn't showed up on the day that was made up.  Here we are February 29 and we are getting our first real storm of the season.  Now that Spring is a mere three weeks away, I think Winter decided to stop being shy.

    Of course, schools were closed early because they are worried about the sleet which is supposed to follow the snow later today.

    In the mean time, the boys have already been sledding and enjoying the weather. How about you? 

Our First Pinewood Derby

   As our youngest is now a Cub Scout,  we are entering the world of Boy Scouting.  As a woman with only sisters, this is a foreign domain.  Last night was the Pinewood Derby, a rite of passage for boys  (and apparently their fathers).  My husband and son spend several hours over about three weeks crafting a car from a block of wood. It looks like a crocodile. It is painted gorgeously, but not very aerodynamic.

A Tiger Cub and his Crocodile Car

 I think they both had fun working on it, and that is what mattered - to us.
     Last night was an eye opener.  There were men making adjustments to cars, adding weight and such, minutes before the race began.  Now to me, this seems unfair.  You build it, you weigh it, you run it.  Not these dads. They were going to WIN.  My husband and a friend of ours just shrugged - reality check folks - this is about the boys (or should be).
   My son was a good sport.  His car never placed higher than 3rd in any heat it ran in, but he was okay with that.  They all got participation ribbons, so he has something to show for his hard work.  And they all got pizza and cookies and juice.  A good night.  Afterward we went to the library, making it a great night. 

There Will be Sledding Today!

   Finally a snowfall that  covers the grass! We have got about 1 1/2 inches on the ground so far, and we may get as much as - wait for it - 3  inches of snow today!  So silly to be excited by that tiny amount when we  live in Upstate NY, but this is the most we have had all season.  So as soon as the breakfasts are eaten and the teeth are brushed, I am bundling these children up and outside they go.  Their Christmas sleds need to be used at least once before we pack them away for the summer!
   Hoping your day is white and fluffy! Ours is!

Early Spring?

  Today, as I sit near the window, I can see the birds working the feeders quite happily.  And the grey and red squirrels are out - not too odd.  The chipmunks have been out and  about for at least the last three weeks - a bit early for around here.  This morning, my husband said the daffodils in the side bed were starting to sprout. Too early for this part of the world.  Maybe, just maybe, we can get an early garden in this year.  Just trying to find the bright spot in global warming!!

February

  When did February become the busy month?  It used to be the seriously boring month with the Spring  not yet in hand, and winter at its grey, tired worst.  Perhaps the fact that we really have not had winter contributes to this early revving up.
   At school everyone is starting to work great guns on the Spring musical, The Drowsy Chaperone.  It is kind of tricky for me since our costume shop is very small, understaffed, and worst of all, has too few racks.  It makes pulling costumes from stock very difficult  since there is no where to  put them!  The shop is currently in the midst of building The Cherry Orchard, so you can see where the racks are being used.
   I did do my annual order of vegetable seeds.  I tried to keep the list small - but ended up spending about $25 on seeds.  I would love to plow under half the back yard for a large-ish garden - just 1/4 to 1/3 of an acre, but I think that would foment rebellion among the troops.
   Maybe things would be nicer if we had some snow.  real snow, not the flurries we have been getting followed by 45 - 50 degree days so it all melts anyway.
WINTER WHERE ARE YOU???

Teaching about Bees

   I taught my first Introductory Beekeeping class tonight.  It was fun.  There were some really nice folks asking good questions and I'd guess about half of the class will probably start working with bees this year!  Hooray!   This is such a good thing - the bees need our help so desperately, and since we need them so badly, it is in our own best interest to keep bees!

Start 'em young, that's what I say!

   One of my students is an inventor who has modified the age old design of the hive tool. He gave me one and I am eager to try it. They call it EZ Pry.  He has added a couple of bends in the prying end, which gives the tool a pivot point.  It makes so much sense!  It is one of those "why didn't anyone think of this before" inventions - it is so simple and so useful!! They are trying to market it through MannLake, but if you are interested, check out the live link.