I’ve finally gotten around to posting a picture of one of the honeycombs that I took from the hive.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Psalms 19:10

After taken it from the hive I added it to storage bags and placed in the freezer. The next day I removed it and placed it in the refrigerator. I till haven’t gotten around to pressing the honey from the comb, perhaps I’ll have a chance to do that tomorrow.

This past Saturday, I finally went inside the beehive.  Of course, I”d thought about getting my daughter to take pictures, but the time that thought crossed my mind… I was already elbow deep inside the Warre hive. Another time, perhaps…

Unlike the last time I opened up the hive there weren’t any nurse bees greeting me; Instead, I saw honeybees busily milling over one another as they carried out their hive tasks. The scent that greeted me, was earthy sweet… a great sign of a vibrant and healthy hive. I’ve come to love that smell, thankfully I don’t need to open the hive to smell that.

During my inspection, the honeybees paid me no mind. They were busily cleaning, adding honey  and capping the comb. The queen wasn’t in the first box, based on the swarming activity I saw in the second box I believe she was in there. I took out two bars. My brother and nephew were in town so were able to sample some raw honey.

After everything was set right in the honeybees hive, I laid the tools I’d used on one of our picnic tables. I told my nephew to pay attention, because I explained that the honeybees would eventually find those tools and clean off every spec of honey.  We didn’t have long to wait in about thirty minutes about ten honeybees were on the scene busily licking up every spec of honey with their tongues.

My nephews eyes were as wide as saucers as I touched a honeybee and pointed out various parts of it body and explained how something seemingly  as this tiny insignificant is a major contributor to our food supply. The honeybee crawled and explored both our fingers. My nephew smiled and told me that it tickled.

But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;
And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.
⁸ “Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare to you.
⁹ “Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
¹⁰ In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind?
¹¹ “Does not the ear test words,
As the palate tastes its food?
¹² “Wisdom is with aged men,
With long life is understanding.

Job 12:7-12 NASB

Did this happen by accident, I have a hard time believing that is possible. I know there has to be a master designer that has created all the things we see in this world.

I did take pictures of the honeycomb, I just haven’t had a chance to upload them to my computer… yet. When I do, I’ll be sure to share a few pictures here.

I just realized that it’s been a while since I’ve posted about my honeybees.

The hive is growing strong, all the females; workers, cleaning bees, nurse bees, etc.,  have come together to create a healthy & vibrant hive. I’m so proud of them. I still walk in our woods and check them out several times weekly. I love observing them, as they leave and return to the nest. I walk right up to their hive as they buzz about me. Thus far, I haven’t been stung. I’ve always found honeybees to be very docile, at least the ones I’ve encountered, and they pretty much have left me alone. I also enjoy peering inside the observation window too. One thing, I don’t do too much is open up their hive.

I guess I differ from some beekeepers in that sense, and perhaps someone might change my mind about getting in their more often, but it’s highly unlikely. I think they will be much healthier, the less I’m in their disrupting their bee space. This is a newbie beekeeper (although very well researched beekeeper) talking, but I could be wrong. If I am, I’ll admit my error. Because of the observation windows, I tend to stay as hands off as possible and let the honeybees do their own thing.

They say, that your garden will usually increase in produce if there is a hive close by and I must say that we have seen an overabundance of produce has been okra, onion, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage cucumber, squash, etc., You get the picture. The thing is… we always see a lot of produce but this year it’s been over the top with our one acre of garden. We’ve been truly blessed.

Have I harvested any honey?

I haven’t harvested any honey and I’m not sure that I’ll do so this year, I’m not a big honey eater, but I would use it as a facial mask since it’s so good for your skin. It’s the honeybees food, and I want to make sure they have enough food to sustain them through the winter. Judging by the Farmer’s Almanac, it’s going to be a cold winter. We’ll see if their forecast is right, they were right last year.