You want how many dozen???

Yes, it is that time of year when baking and eating become a comfort.  It is cooler outside and the thought of a hot fresh coffee cake sounds too good.  The only problem is it is time for the girls to SLOW down, and slow down they have.  We are fortunate enough to have folks clamoring for our rainbow dozen.  I just wish on these days of gathering that I could just squeeze those girls for a couple more.  Yet all I can do is look at the 22 little ones running around the yard, and know that once the days get longer the egg count will get larger.  So for now my loyal customers, do not count your eggs until they are hatched.  I will do my best to keep them coming!

OH Honey!

As the day light hours get smaller and smaller I say to myself how am I to get it all done each day.  We moved back chore time 1/2 hour.  Now we go out at 5:00pm instead of 5:30pm.  Soon it will be 4:30, it is a shift.  A shift to start winter things.  Baking and canning and stewing.  The winter garden is in and the new garden fence and trellis (pics to follow) are so inviting.  I want to spend even more time in the garden.  But it is time now to put things to bed.  We started with the bees.  We were able to harvest 3 frames of honey, about 9 pounds and oh my it is to dye for!!  We were not sure that

we would have any, but after a hive inspection, it was decided that 3 frames would be fine.  Some of the area was not totally filled but we picked frames that would be easier for the bees to refill, i.e., we would spin our the honey and put the wet frames back in.  For those non-beekeepers, that means that the bees will get back the same frames so they just have to refill the comb and not rebuild it.

Frames after they have been removed from the hive

Once the frames were removed it was off to Ettamarie's to extract.  Blaine was a champ!  I was a little afraid to let him use the hot knife, but he went after it like a pro.

See that liquid gold on the right, yes that it, FIRST PLACE!!!  He had to compete with adults that have been doing honey much longer than he has, what an accomplishment! 

I can not wait to harvest in late spring early summer.  Blaine has decided to add 2 more hives.  Those of you lucky enough to have tasted the first batch......stay tuned.  I think that Blaine's beekeeping is here for the long run!

Where have you been?



Taylor and Judges Randy, Scott, and Cathy
At the California State Fair with her Golden Bear
winning rabbit

Blaine at Sonoma County Fair Auction with his Reserve
 Champion Meat Pen

I asked myself that same question as I crawled out of my little hole.   The summer just took me over.  The kids and the fairs and the running.  Do not get me wrong the summer with the kids was great.  They did more with their animal than they ever have.  They won more than they ever have.  Wow what a summer.  Well now it is time to get back to work on the FARM.  I will trying my best to keep up weekly with my blogs.  Thanks for sticking around!