Darker Honey This Year

I finally finished up with this year's honey.  With E off at college I didn't have the good help that I've had in the past.

 This year the honey ended up being darker than last year's.  From what I've read it just means that it may have a little stronger flavor.  I'm not sure I can really tell the difference.

 I had purchased our own filtering system this year.  The package came with 3 different filter sizes.  I stacked them all up and only about a tablespoon made it through the finest one.  I looked back at what we borrowed last year and it only had the 2 filters.  So I removed the bottom one and started over.

 It filters into a 5 gallon bucket, then it was just a matter of opening the gate and filling the jars.

2 quarts, 11 pints, and 8 1/2 pints for a total of 2 3/8 gallons.  Got to love those bees.

Bridge Repairs

The property we bought last year came with a bridge.  It also came with 4 new timbers to repair the bridge with.  

 It is a very good bridge, just a few rotten spots.

 Luckily for us, V has a big, strong boyfriend willing to come help us.

 V supervised while J and Mike worked.

 J had plans to take the generator to run the drill to make the holes for the bolts but we couldn't get it running.  Therefore, they had to resort to hand drilling.

 For part of the work J had to put on his waders and work on the underside of the bridge.

  With all the rain I think we all felt like we had been in the creek without waders.

Here's to good help and a job well done. (and I didn't have to lift anything heavy so yay for that)

Honey Harvest

Well, J donned his new bee suit, 

 and headed for the bee hive.

 He cracked the lid,

 smoked the bees,

 and started removing the frames of honey.

 There are 10 frames in a super and toward the end the bees were a little more reluctant to leave the frames.

After shaking and brushing the bees off, J moved the frames one by one to another super that we then carried to the house.

We had added a second hive body earlier this year.  This will be the first winter with 2 hive bodies instead of one.   Hopefully next year we will be able to put more supers on and get more honey.  

Bad Horse For Sale Pictures #26

Since it has been awhile since I last posted any bad pictures I thought I might give you a 2 fer.

These at least look like recent pictures because the cockleburs are in season.

Not sure why it was necessary to post two from the same angle.

Then there was this fellow, behind the barbwire,

then no barbwire.  But sadly still cockleburs and not that unusual of an angle.

Amazing Finds

I had my annual required 16 hours of  continuing education this weekend and as a bonus was able to visit with my sister C at her house with sister L going along for the ride.  Our second evening after my class was spent hitting all of the local Goodwills and thrift stores we could make it to before closing.  I scored some awesome finds.  (a few that may not be made known until Christmas however)

 First up is this super cool poster advertising the 1992 Carolina Cup Races.  It measures 20"x26", is professionally framed and I got for a shocking $5.

Next was this fabulous jacket.  The picture doesn't do justice for how it fits and looks in person.

 I even found a picture with the original price of $195.  C said it looked sort of blingy but when I put it on she said "wow, that really looks good on you."  Thank you L for finding it and showing it to me.  Now I just need a special event to wear it to.  J said I could be a country music singer...if only I could sing.  Oh, and my price....$4.50.   

And lastly, who expects to find an opthalmascope/otoscope at Goodwill?  And for $15?  This is a $200-$400 piece of equipment.  Now I can play a real doctor at home as well as at work. 

Good Fences #80

It started raining here on Friday and has rained every day since. 

 Our rain gauge holds 5 inches and has already been emptied once.

The forecast is for another 5 inches this weekend.  At least we didn't get 5 inches in one day like  they did just 1 hour north of here.
Stay dry out there and for more Good Fences click HERE.

Sale Pending

I had a very nice, 64 year old retired lady look at Wrangler last week.  She trail rides and use to do endurance.  She loved Wrangler and if he passes her vet's Vet Check she wants him.  Of course nothing is ever simple here.  He has an abscess from where I let his feet get too long while on vacation then the farrier was overbooked and a shoe lost.  He is sound with bute but just slightly off without it.  No way he would pass a vet check yet.  I've got a call into the farrier to see about resetting his shoes; it's been 5 weeks.   It is so frustrating to have a horse totally sound for 2 years then get a buyer only to have an abscess.  He has been the only one of my 7 here not to have had one until now.  It's a rough place.

 So Wrangler is in the rockless lot, waiting.  And what better way to pass the time than to do a little more painting.

Unfortunately, the 4-H silent auction was so crowded that I think his artwork was overlooked or not understood.  It only brought $9.  Wish I had been up there at the end to have bought it back myself.   Fingers crossed we can get him sound so he can go to a home where he can be ridden and enjoyed.