Gone, baby, gone

Here's my first lesson for 2009. Swarm control.
My bees swarmed on Easter. I was in the backyard and heard a really loud buzz, just like what I hear when I open the hive. Looking around, it was easy to find my girls up in the top of a tall, tall, pine tree in our woods. I knew they were mine. It was sad. I called the family out and we watched until they flew off.
I left the hive alone until yesterday. It was confirmed: there were way, way fewer bees and no brood. There was one large queen cell so hopefully she'll come on out and take care of business until I can requeen. Dwight Porter of Porter Farm Bees won't have available queens for another three weeks. Then I have to decide if I want to drive all the way there for one queen. I like the Russians, though. Might be worth it.
I also saw varroa mites (eeek!). I'll have to get back in there and try the powdered sugar technique to see if I can help them help themselves.
I talked to Richard of the Meck Bees group and he offered to have a swarm catcher call me the next time they go out. Then I could bring the swarm back to my hive and augment my population until my girls get going again. I would absolutely love to catch a swarm, just to say I did it :)

Trip to Florida

These are pictures from our trip to Gainesville and Tampa. I'll start first with a picture from Charlotte :)

We went to a Bobcats game with the Charlotte Gator Club. The Bobcats played the Knicks for whom David Lee, a former Gator, plays. We got into the arena early, watched the teams warm up, and got to meet David Lee.

This past weekend we went to the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. Alex had a surprise for his boys!

We went to the Orange and Blue Game. Florida won! We sat in the student section and had a great time. Beautiful, slightly overcast day.

Ricky and Grandmamma hanging in the back seat!

This is Ricky's new baby. It was originally Alex's doll when he was born (that baby is older than most of us in the family...) but has been handed down to the next generation. Ricky buckles him up in the car and everything. We tried to see if his name was Muno but I don't think so.

This is called doughnut overload. Sad when you can't even finish your doughnut.

And if you're wondering why there aren't more candids of Robbie, it's because this is what you get when you try to take his picture.

Celebrating the Laptop

I'm sitting here on the porch drinking coffee and enjoying my fabuloso new laptop that Alex gave me for my birthday!! Since I can, I'll post a video of Ricky :)