OUR FIRST WINTER - ONE QUEEN DOWN :-(

Well, I just got the call from my husband. It's been about 6 weeks since we've been out to see our bees & several months since we've been able to crack the hives open for an inspection. It appears that our weaker hive has lost it's queen. Now we are in emergency mode to locate a vendor who can sell us a queen.

I don't have any pictures of the sad hive to share - I'll ask Jon when he gets in if he took any.

Does anyone know of any San Antonio or Austin areas beekeepers that sell organic queens? Hit me up with a comment if you do.

MASTER BEEKEEPER PROGRAM

Texas Beekeeping reference sites:

• Information on Texas A&M Master Beekeeper Program:  http://masterbeekeeper.tamu.edu/program-requirements/ 
• Texas Beekeepers Association: http://texasbeekeepers.org/
• Central Texas Beekeepers Association: http://www.centraltexasbeekeepers.org/
• Alamo Area Beekeepers Association: http://alamobees.org/

BEES DON'T LIKE CAFFEINATED PEOPLE?

Some bee reading has led me to a new piece of information that I hadn't heard before. I've been stung a couple times by our little ladies (yes through my suit), but apparently bees don't like a caffeinated person.  I'm not sure if I buy into this or not - my husband is a coffee junkie & so far he hasn't had any stings. But for the curious - here's some stories.

http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2006/08/sting-saga.html "The Internet forum posters all suggest that you get stung more when wearing black and when you have ingested caffeine."

CRUSH & STRAIN METHOD

Notes on the Crush & Strain method. Only if you don't have plastic foundation frames:

http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2006/08/crushing-honey-and-honey-comb.html
http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2006/08/filtering-honey.html
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=6621.msg39206#msg39206

EVERYONE IS FINE

It's been blazing hot this summer & the girls little pond has gone dry. Fortunately we made a trip out to fill it back up & we have neighbors with live stock to water.
Our poor hive of naughty girls seems to be surviving despite the set back of having to cut out a large chunk of brood.
They have a ways to go still to fill out the rest of their deep box home, but the queen is still laying & the girls are keeping it clean.