Getting to know you....

Saturday, April 14, 2012

I'd like to know why all of a sudden a song will spring into your thoughts and you just can't get rid of it. My  ongoing tune list now includes, "Getting to Know You."

Dave thinks it should be "The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music..Buzzing."


And above is the reason. Yesterday I picked up two packages of bees from a local beekeeping supply distributor. What a popular item they were too! When I arrived it was hard to find a place to park the car and lines of people were waiting for their bees. The bees come in a small screened in porch-like box with a can of sugar water included in the box for them to drink along their trip from California. The distributor drove to Denver, Colorado to pick them up and then quickly returned. The girls arrived with their queen who was caged in a smaller container inside the screened box. The queen must be protected until the workers accept her, which usually takes a couple of days. Tomorrow Dave and I will look into the hive and make sure she is out and laying eggs. 


The tricky part is getting the bees into the hives. I went to two classes and watched a "You-Tube" video and thought....no problem, I can do this! But when bees are swarming all around you, the details can easily be forgotten in the buzz of it all. Nevertheless...the girls are at home with their queens. I want to stencil "The Queen Resides Here." on the hives. Maybe I'll do that later after the summer progresses. It was all I could do just to get them into the hive.

I'm a bit worried as all of our spring flowers have faded. Everything bloomed out so early this year. I made up a sugar water solution to feed them until the summer blossoms arrive.


I spent a lot of time watching them yesterday. The bees are greeting their hive mates with a secret code that each in the hive is learning. (Really the queen produces a complex pheromone to make other bees do her bidding. This powerful and seductive perfume to attracts the worker bees and is passed throughout the hive.)

Dave's new attire.


Barb and I are busy working on quilts for a new quilt book. Quilt Market is in May and our deadlines are looming. But first I must go and check on the girls..........

I'll post new cross stitch patterns tomorrow!

Until later....buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Alma

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32 comments

  1. gracieApril 14, 2012 at 9:37 AM

    Dave looks smashing in his new garb!
    Nothing like fresh honey!

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  2. Keeper of the CrowesApril 14, 2012 at 9:53 AM

    I'm sensing a bee themed sampler is our futures!!!
    Linda

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  3. ArchangelDeckerApril 14, 2012 at 10:12 AM

    I would LOVE to see a bee themed BBD. Perhaps with the title, 'The Queen Resides Here". :)

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  4. CariApril 14, 2012 at 10:13 AM

    bzzzzzz right back at ya!! I love honey bees. I'm so looking forward to the adventure, and a great stitching pattern too!!! Have FUN....

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  5. LidaApril 14, 2012 at 10:25 AM

    Wow Alma, what a great happy new family in your garden! Wish you lots of succes and honey! Greetings'
    Lida

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  6. Buckeye QuilterApril 14, 2012 at 11:13 AM

    Now I know you are crazy! EEKS, live bees. I would never go near live bees on purpose. You are very brave!! The best thing about your new adventure is Dave's new hat!

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  7. PhyllisApril 14, 2012 at 11:20 AM

    What fun! My father-in-law used to raise bees and we would help him extract the honey. I love fresh honey! The bee hat looks great!

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  8. AnonymousApril 14, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    Hi Barb, Enjoyed reading your blog. I am retiring from teaching this year and interested in starting my own bee hobby. Do you have any recommendations for blogs, books, etc. that I can use?
    Karen
    kjash@comcast.net

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  9. AnonymousApril 14, 2012 at 11:50 AM

    I am so sorry Alma. I guess I think of you and Barb as being one person:)

    Karen

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  10. MargaretApril 14, 2012 at 11:54 AM

    Wow! All I can say is you and Dave are very very brave. lolol! I almost got an advisor in college whose specialty was bee behavior. I wanted him as an advisor so much, but he didn't want me. Prejudice toward girls I later heard. Anyway, bees scare me, but I do love honey! Good luck with the endeavor! Can't wait to see your new xs patterns and quilt projects!

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  11. YankeeQuilterApril 14, 2012 at 12:35 PM

    What a great project! I'm sure the girls will settle down soon...

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  12. Laurie in IowaApril 14, 2012 at 1:31 PM

    Good luck with your bee keeping adventure. My brother allows a local bee keeper to place hives on his country property. In return the bee keeper keeps my brother supplied with delicious honey. My brother reaps the rewards with little effort on his part. lol :-)

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  13. P.J.April 14, 2012 at 2:08 PM

    Our yard backs up to an apple orchard, when Buzz puts out his hives out in the spring, May in Maine, I love layunder our crab apple trees and listen to all the bees happy at work. Best of luck and may you reap the sweet, golden benefits of the honey.

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  14. Alma AllenApril 14, 2012 at 2:27 PM

    Hi Karen,

    Look and see if you have a local or regional beekeeping association in your area. They are the best ones to help. Usually they will have a yearly beekeeping class. Our local community college also had a class ...It cost about $40 for a 2 session class. Getting started can be a bit expensive, but well worth it.

    Alma

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  15. DebApril 14, 2012 at 2:55 PM

    What a dangerous occupation when not sure what to do, will be waiting to see what the outcome is hope they are productive for you and you get some wonderful honey!
    I just love your patterns and look forward to your new quilt pattern. I am currently working on Love Letters and have Pressed Flowers flagged as my next project.
    I really love your work, your designs and your blog. thanks for entertaining us

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  16. DebApril 14, 2012 at 2:56 PM

    What a dangerous occupation when not sure what to do, will be waiting to see what the outcome is hope they are productive for you and you get some wonderful honey!
    I just love your patterns and look forward to your new quilt pattern. I am currently working on Love Letters and have Pressed Flowers flagged as my next project.
    I really love your work, your designs and your blog. thanks for entertaining us

    ReplyDelete
  17. PennyApril 14, 2012 at 5:47 PM

    Dave looks like a pro, how exciting this new adventure must be. Look forward to seeing new crosstitch patterns, as if I don't have enough already, but one can never have enough Blackbird Designs crosstitch patterns.

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  18. MichelleApril 14, 2012 at 7:53 PM

    I hope your bees are nicer than our new batch! I'm still nursing stings from yesterday.

    Last year, my husband got the queen cage and bees all installed and then couldn't remember if it was facing the right direction or turned against the frame so she'd starve. He had to go back and open the hive to check.

    This year, we both remembered to check before he put the lid on.

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  19. Debbie WApril 14, 2012 at 7:55 PM

    I'll bet they are fun to watch! I hope you get some honey from all your efforts. I enjoyed having a trunk show of all my Blackbird quilts, samplers, pin cushions, and needlepunch the past three days during a five-shop "Shop Hop" in New York State. The quilters loved everything and many of them are new "Blackbird" enthusiasts!

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  20. MeredithApril 14, 2012 at 8:28 PM

    Have fun. I always wanted bees where we live we are not allowed. So will a bee turn up on the next quilt design?

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  21. Cathy LloydApril 14, 2012 at 9:10 PM

    You have been keeping very buzy! LOL! Have fun with that endeavor! Me? I'll just enjoy the honey in the cupboard and stitch on another BBD piece! Will love to follow your story!

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  22. AnonymousApril 15, 2012 at 1:03 AM

    Sounds like a great adventure. Welcome the girls for me. I will have to go check out that video on youtube, although I think I like the video I have playing in my head of you getting the bees in the hive better. Was there dancing involved? Well, looks like you were more than successful. You have great hospitality skills, you always welcome your customers into your life with each wonderful design you come up with.
    I vote for some bee theme samplers or projects too. Maybe a great design to wrap around a jar of honey.

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  23. LindaApril 15, 2012 at 7:03 AM

    I do so hope this means new projects and designs with a bee theme. I like bees so much. Congrats on your hives; we need to protect and foster the bees.

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  24. KatrinaApril 15, 2012 at 10:00 AM

    Wow, too much fun!!! Hope you enjoy your bees :-).

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  25. dorisApril 15, 2012 at 4:42 PM

    Amazing! I've helped move beehives before, but I've never had any of my own. Sounds like a tricky business. Congratulations on your new project with nature.

    By the way, I'd really like to have that pheromone to get people to do my bidding ... lol.

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  26. lovetostitchApril 16, 2012 at 6:27 AM

    THIS is a lot of work!! My former in-laws were beekeepers and I've helped lots of days!! They used to have people come by to actually get stung for their arthritis.... maybe your stitching will be a breeze!! Hope you enjoy your new hobby - theirs turned into a full time job and we don't want you to quit here!!!

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  27. Dixie HowardApril 21, 2012 at 8:07 AM

    I'll follow your bee adventures with interest as I love bees, and hope to keep a hive myself someday. Wonder where the bees came from in California - I may be able to pick them up myself when its time... I love making bee-themed samplers, so hope you and Barb design some! Dixie in Cali

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  28. The Natural IngredientApril 22, 2012 at 8:24 PM

    Welcome to the world of beekeeping!

    I have been a "keeper" for 10 years. I have been the proud parent to 10"s of 1000's of bees....they are fascinating.

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  29. RamonaMay 9, 2012 at 7:51 PM

    Check out Ballard Designs has some new Bee pitchers and glasses - here is the link: http://www.ballarddesigns.com/bee-pitcher/198018?listIndex=4

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  30. UnknownNovember 6, 2014 at 10:58 AM

    Is it possible to get beneath the sulit sky and Quaker garden again? Please??

    ReplyDelete
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