Friday 11 July 2014

Granddaughters, bees and the dog

Hello All
Gosh it's been hot around here lately. We were told it would probably rain today and it didn't, it's been another scorcher. We have had very little rain and that we have had has soon been dried up by the heat.

 It's been a granddaughter sort of day today. Our youngest granddaughter stayed overnight last night and all today until her dad picked her up this evening, which was a lovely surprise.(teachers are on strike at her school) Before tea her cousin arrived to collect her dog (we provide doggy day care two or three days a week, and to do some sewing. So we all had tea - Fish (caught last weekend) cougons, tomatoes and cucumber and broccoli from the garden and jacket potatoes.
When the little one went home we set about some sewing. EGD is very competent with a sewing machine, but less so with patterns. Tonight she was able to make sense of it so she is all systems go now with her latest project which is a a present for a young relative.
I am SO lucky to have the grandchildren nearby and to see them often.

 Here is another bee story warning!
 We had ANOTHER swarm this week , which we boxed and placed on a an old table under the tree from which we collected the swarm. We have completely run out of equipment and are cobbling hives together from  everything and anything. The box n the table hasn't got a roof even, just a sheet of cardborad covered in a plastic bag and held down by an empty brood box. (As I write D. is in his man-cave finishing a lid for these bees)The front garden no longer resembles a garden, more a bee field, with the grass uncut and the weeds growing rampant and hives everywhere. Fortunately our bees are extremely friendly and even though we have fifteen hives in the front garden we have had no complaints from the neighbours and received no stings ourselves. We often sit in this garden and my three washing lines are here too.
Here is a pic of part of this garden. I would show you more but I am too ashamed at the state of it!!

 While we haven't been stung our eldest granddaughter's dog was yesterday. We noticed him going too close to the hives, so called him back. He gave a little jump and my daughter said " I think he has just been stung" We looked him over and he seemed okay. A couple of hours later I noticed that he had a rash on his tummy and wondered if it might be something he has brushed against in the paddock. However his face started to swell and the blotches on his tummy  started to meet up so it was a dash to the vets, who when he arrived said "Oooh that's a classic allergic reaction" and promptly gave him a shot of steroids. He is looking much better today and I have strung a line of the mesh I use to deter butterflies from my cabbages, across the garden so that he has to stay away from  the hives. Other routes to the hives you can't see in this picture have been blocked off too.
  We noticed that the hive he was close to had actually been moved slightly, so he must have given it a bit of a push!
  Hanging washing is going to be a challenge negotiating the barriers I think.

That was written yesterday. I couldn't quite get the energy to proof read and publish last night.

Back soon
Gillx

14 comments:

  1. My dog Bok was recently stung by a bee. I pulled out the quivering sting from a pad in his foot, he whimpered for a while, then forgot about it.

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    1. I think that is more usual. This dog does have quite a few health problems associated with Juvenile Arthritis. He is always at the vets for one thing or another. Howler he really is the sweetest natured dog.

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  2. Awww bless him, I've never been stung but I'd probably have a reaction as I'm allergic to just about everything lol x

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    1. Poor you! I'm not allergic to anything at all. D. is allergic to wasp stings and goes into anaphalactic shock when stung, so we keep an epipen nearby for him.

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  3. I got stung last night by a masonary bee, its the worst reaction I have had, it went up my trouser leg and stung be behind the knee, very painful and extremly swollen.

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    1. That's quite unusual isn't it? They are very placid bees, but it obviously got panicked. Hope your leg feels better soon.

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  4. Aww poor dog, my hubby is allergic to stings it makes him feel quite unwell. I hope the steroids do the trick and that he will keep his distance in the future.
    It sounds like your EGD is coming along nicely with her sewing, its good you can pass on your knowledge and useful tips to her, being able to sew is a handy skill. x

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    1. The dog is much better now. If a dog can get something wrong with him it's that one! (lovely nature tho')
      My mother taught me to sew and my daughter can sew actually, but rarely does. They were talking about us setting up a little sewing group to make clothes. That could be fun

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  5. Do you expect much of a honey harvest this year? What is your ideal number of hives? I assume you have exceeded that by now :-) Will you sell some swarms/hives on?

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    1. We expect some honey from three of the hives that swarmed earlier. We started the year with six hives which is a manageable number for us. We are hoping to sell some bees yes, but so far have not had any interest. We have a couple of small swarms which we might amalgamate yet as well.

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  6. I'm curious as to what kind of bees you have. I admit I kept one small hive several decades ago and never got stung. Around here we have ground bees whose still will hurt for days. Would much prefer honey bees! Good thing you had steroids on had for that poor pooch.

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  7. Our bees are a dark honey bee. We believe that they are mostly English, though we can't prove that! The English bee is darker, more docile but less productive. Whereas the lighter bees are more productive, but less docile. Our honey production is more than adequate and even if it weren't the pleasure from keeping such docile bees more than makes up for a few pounds of honey. We have many Bumble bees around too, which are also pretty docile.

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  8. Ooh so bee swarms are the fashion this summer :-) You're really doing your bit to help the bees!

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  9. Yes. it's nice to be fashionable for a change!
    Gill

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