Bee Informed

My darling bees arrived from Pico almost a week ago. I had been expecting them Tuesday last week but then heard they had not got their passport so it would be later in the week. When they arrived it was about 3 in the afternoon and very hot. I anticipated the guy who delivered them, would advise me that my location was correct and that he would help me move them from the nucleus to the new home. This was not to bee(excuse the pun)
I at least got him to suit up and open the box, as it  was wired up and had sponge in the front entrance. When he opened it many dead bees were carried out by the living ones. I felt sad that they had a hot long journey all closed up, with no air. Later that night I thought I had no bees left, and went out to see if there was any action. All I could  see was a pile of dead bees on the floor, being so absorbed by their loss I was forgetting it is night time and there might not be any around. First thing the next morning out to inspect -  there was activity. I thought great I would suit up and get them moved across. I got the smoker going but maybe not sufficiently but it was puffing. I readied my hive and then open the box, ah there were bees, I was delighted. I noticed the frames had plastic ends to them. I battled to lift out the first one but when it came up, all hell let rip, the noise was not pleasant like I had experienced at other peoples hives, so I thought lets move quickly get them in, only the frame did not fit in my hive, I was so pissed off and to top it all the face visor must have fallen against my face and I got stung. Quickly put the frame back in the old box, closed up and went straight away to take some homeopathic remedy apis and put some ice on the sting. I phoned a friend to come help but then it started raining, Friday 13 it just was not meant to bee.

Saturday she very kindly came round, we got the smoker working a lot more efficiently and went to do the job. I mentioned the frame not fitting so she started at the other end, all went well, except for the one I tried, so  I had done nothing incorrectly, only plastic not properly pushed on, with a Little bit of cutting we got it to fit.
 Eggs were present, some food but we did not see the queen. Petra did agree  they were still a bit aggressive. Her advise was to check them in 3 days time, which should have been yesterday but I thought, let them bee for a little bit, I see activity there, so let us pray all is going the way it should do inside there.

So my advise would bee, if you are a newbie, get an experienced person to assist you.
 There were many contributing factors to that day - stressed bees, being pissed that the guy dumped the bees and left and most probably emotionally feeling unsure, due to Nathan being in SA for his brothers funeral, so no right hand man.
I see more bees in the garden so happy to know they like their new home and I think there will be huge transformation in the garden after a few months of their presence.

Bee Update

Well the bee hive is almost complete - we are just awaiting some pieces which the Associação Apicultura, did not have in stock when we were there. Things like the bee suit, gloves and the metal entrance to the hive - Quite important, I think. We saw the person who organized the bees for us and apparently they are coming next week, so this gives us a little extra time. Here is a picture of the hive so far.

Here is a link to an article about the association
http://jornalincentivo.com/artigo_ver.php?id_artigo=581

Building updates in the workshop

Gee I have left you in the dark, no updates as to what is going down here on Faial.
Guess we are groaning like other countries around the world, about the weather and the lack of a good start to the summer.



The workshop is the place to be, it is all happening there. Nath has turned out some lovely stuff. He has made a corner shelf unit, a post box, an outside table and bench set, a gate to retain a gorgeous dog from going walk about and finally I get to have a bee hive not just one, two. So bees I have two new homes - and looking for tenants with friendly nature, good house keeping and prompt payment (liquid gold) please.

Espirito Santo

  I am a bit late on all the news and events that have been taking place. Over the past week we have had the celebration of Espirito Santo, many sopas have been held and fireworks going off. On the weekend of the 27 May we were invited to a sopas in the same venue as the last one I blogged about. Then on the Monday it was a holiday on Faial and from what I gather only Faial, Pico and Sao Jorge celebrate this holiday. There was a parade in Cedros, with the philharmonic playing, cakes, goats and pigs being raffled off and plenty to eat and drink. With all the rain we had been having, many prayers must have been said for this perfect day.

Citrus Gems

These gorgeous limes were planted in Australia for my birthday, thank you Robyn, I look forward to some pictures and how they are coming along. I hope my new Birthday tradition is catching on.  When you next have to buy someone a gift, please consider planting a tree.

These limes are native to Australia and are extremely vivid and flavoursome. Known and enjoyed for centuries by indigenous Australians, native limes are now hugely popular with the domestic gardener through to the professional chef. They are also tolerant of a wide range of conditions. (Some of the blurb on the back of the card)

Incessant rain and trança da casca do milho

Two days non stop rain - the ground is saturated, the rivers are almost overflowing and leaks are appearing that never leaked before, due to the direction and force of the rain (almost horizontal at times).

Never the less we are thankful for the rain for the farmers who needed the rain, but all the animals are looking like they have had enough now. It has been said too much rain in May can have an effect on the quality and quantity of the grape harvest.

Wow, we have read, surfed the net, baked, eaten way too much, had lots of good snuggles with the cats, braided all the husks that were collected with Maria but right now we would appreciate the suns return.

Nath has taken a video of me braiding the corn husks, the lighting is not the best but listen closely and you can hear the rain in the background.

Diatomaceous Earth

Seemed like only yesterday we were plagued by caterpillars eating our sweet potato leaves. The thought of the caterpillars has risen again as it is time to plant sweet potatoes.
 Our garden is chemical FREE and we plan to keep it that way. During our investigation looking for alternative ways to reduce this caterpillar we came across Diatomaceous Earth and what an incredible product it is.
 It was effect with the caterpillars and equally with reducing the ants and fleas which are now appearing with the spring rain.
So who would have thought this product was suitable for man to ingest. Yup it surely is with amazing benefits.
http://www.morethanalive.com/Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-Powder .
Be sure to add it to your pets food and sprinkle on their coat against fleas.

We are now adding it to our diet and boy are my nails growing at a rapid rate.