Early Bee Hive inspection

Yesterday I had the chance to open my overwintered hive that has had a lot of activity in it. I just can't get over how well this hive has done. They were working on a pollen patty that I put in there a few weeks ago...

 The candy board showed that they had consumed most of the "candy", which was such a positive sign. It seems that I had planned and done everything correctly, right down to proper ventilation to get them through the winter.

The sun was very bright and warm yesterday so the glare on this frame is bad but you can see how many bees there are and this was one of many frames that was loaded with bees...

This final frame reveals, after I smoked them to move, capped brood. While I was doing my inspection I actually saw a baby bee hatching but didn't have the camera handy to snap the shot! I could not find the queen but there is overwhelming evidence that she is there! They had full on honey reserves so all is well. I am hoping to get a split out of this one in a few weeks as long as the weather continues the way it is, looks like honey season may be early this year!

Chicken worming, easy, not so much!

Three weeks ago Tim and I set out

 to worm the chickens. We were worried about gape worms and other things they can pick up, so a spring worming was in order. As you can see we wormed the rooster first and got him out of the pen...

armed with good old Ivermectin, we proceeded to worm them all and then follow up 3 weeks later...

This little girl gave us a fight, smacking us with her wing, biting us and giving Tim a real hard time as we attempted to worm her...

These two ladies did their best to give us the slip, but we got them anyway. So, we are wormed for the coming spring season, with Tim and I surviving the process!

Did anyone tell the bees it's February?

So did anyone tell my bees it is February 23rd? We are having an amazingly warm winter here in Connecticut and the temps reached into the 60's today. I began feeding them a few weeks ago because we have had so many nice days I knew they would be looking for food when they were out. As you can see in the super sized pics I posted, the bees were out today and if you look very close at the bottom picture to the left, that little girl has so much pollen on her she appears to have it on her back making her look like a marked queen! They were bringing in pollen, most every bee was covered. This is going to be a very interesting bee keeping season!

Moving on and the return of "The Sugarbush"

 Many of you who read my blog regularly may have noticed my absence and many of you know why. On January 25th my family lost my sister, Laura. She passed away with dignity and peace on that day and left our hearts broken forever. I am finding myself lost and overwhelmed with so much to do and making sure my niece Cassie, her only daughter is o.k. She has been all I can think about.
Tim decided to tap this year which was the farthest thing from my mind...

 So he brought out the equipment and prepared for the maple harvest. The weather has been unbelievably warm this February and the trees are running at a fast rate of drip...

I really think this is Tim's way of dealing with his pain as well, he loved her as well. So he is keeping himself busy with a new coat of paint and a new smoke stack for the evaporator as well.

He has already harvested close to a gallon of syrup as you can see he spent most of the day boiling down and the backyard smelled amazing...as we try to push on we have to thank the farm for never giving us a break and keeping us busy as we continue to heal through this difficult process...

Fingerless Glove Mania!

This time of year just shouts "Fingerless Gloves", but why should they be drab, they should be fun! I have been making these on and off for a couple of weeks and finally had a snowed in weekend to get them done...

They were fun to make, 100% Alpaca and an original design from yours trully. I played around with the edging by re-casting on the other color and it came out rather nice. Then I added an little embelishment to give it an accent...with some other projects lined up, while most people complain about the weather I look at it as down time to work on some projects!

Getting Back to Basics with Homemade Vanilla

I have begun to realize something about our foods and the things or lack of them in simple things we have in our pantries. Reading labels have been something I have begun to do. If you read the label on any store bought bottle of Vanilla you will find that they contain alcohol (for preserving) but also water. In the imitation vanilla you are getting a synthetic version of it, yuk! This bottle will cost you about $4.69 in the grocery store and it isn't even really pure!

What you will need to make your own is a large glass container. I use a large bail latch jar, some cheap bourbon whiskey, vodka or any other carrier, and some vanilla beans (I purchased mine on ebay!), small bottles (got them on line to from SpecialityBottleCo.com) and the most important thing: about 6 to 8 weeks to soak the beans for the ultimate flavor.

When soaking the beans place in a cool, out of direct light area as possible and shake almost everyday. A jar this size I put about 15 beans in it. I check mine from time to time by opening it up and smelling it, the smell is wonderful, it's pure and you know what went into it.
When ready, strain with double cheese cloth and transfer into bottles. Place a vanilla bean in the bottle. These make great gifts which I gave to my friends and family for the holidays!
Yet another way of getting Back to Basics and keeping some money in your pocket!

Happy 2012 from the Farm!

A look to the right of Coon Hollow Farm

Happy 2012 from Coon Hollow Farm!
Wishing all of you a year filled with prosperity, joy, good health and all the best life can bring.
As I look forward to the New Year and all it has to offer, to learn all I can learn, and to be the best I can be...

Hail and Farewell Auld Lang Syne...



Coon Hollow Farm at a glance...


 As we say goodbye to 2011, we look upon it fondly as a year that was pretty good to us in comparison to the previous years. We'd like to thank all who supported us and helped us throughout the year.
It was a year were we looked at our goals that have been met and look to the future for the ones we hope to achieve.
Most of all I reflect on the people who have walked along with us on our path and taught us so much, those that have moved on and those that have come back into our lives.
Today I had a long conversation with my daughter and we talked about lives rewards for hard work, being a good person and perseverance. I have watched both my kids grow into these great people, and I am so thankful for all I have. I am so blessed with a great life, work in a Nature Center that recharges my soul, have the chance to make a difference in animals lives and am gifted to be able to teach people things that I have learned that makes my life better in hopes that it makes their lives better too.
So as we move into a New Year, I just want to say thank you to all of you who support us, help us and are always there when we need you the most...

Candy Boards for the bees!



Boiling 16 ounces of water

Today I installed the Candy Board  onto our over wintering hive.
First I boiled 16 ounces of water to 242 degrees (f), added 5 lbs of sugar, stirred, then turned off the heat until it dropped to 180 degrees (f).



5 lbs of sugar

  Store brand white cane sugar is just fine...

Boiling sugar and water with electric thermometer

From there you must take a beater and beat a few times until it becomes frothy...

Bee Candy on the Candy Board

 Once it is thick, you pour it very carefully on the Candy Board. I added a little Honey-B-Healthy into the mix. I usually add Pollen Patties but the mice had their way with them in the greenhouse so I can add them in later.
Tim built this Candy Board for me which was invented by David Lane from Long Lane bees. His link is located on the left of my blog.

Inverted upside down on the hive

Once cooled you can take it up to your hive, take the top off and quickly flip it down side onto the top of the hive as not to chill the bees. I then placed the cover over it. General rule of thumb is to get it on by the Winter Solstice but we have had such a mild fall that I got time to do it today. I will check it in a few weeks and see if the bees are working at it and once they consume it replace with some more "Candy". This helps them once they have depleated their honey reserves.

Merry Christmas from the Farm!

This Holiday season I choose to give gifts from the farm, made with things I grew in various gardens with the help of our greenhouse, where we starting our plants from seed to jellies. I made Jalapeno Jelly from my jalapenos I grew in my garden. Pumpkins grown from seed by myself provided a very yummy Pumpkin Jam that was a 3 day process to make (thanks for the recipe Bonnie!). I also made homemade Vanilla soaked in bourbon and vanilla beans for 6 weeks. Also an ornament with a dried Orange and Apple slice sifted in cinnamon and nutmeg adorns the bags.

Our gifts stand like little soldiers ready to go to our friends, neighbors and families who have been so good to us this year...

Merry Christmas from me, Tim and all the Critters here on the farm, may it be a Happy and Healthy one for you and your families...

Winter Solstice Blessings!

 Winter Solstice is here, the end of the darkness, gaining more daylight as we move into winter and within. On this day on the farm, we remember the wildlife by leaving dried treats for the birds...

 the feeders are filled with love so they have an abundance of food when it's hard to find. This has been a tradition since my kids were very little...

the weather is absolutely beautiful today with temperatures in the 50's here in Connecticut. The farm yard got a special treat of bread and goodies...

even the bees are out today stretching their wings and taking care of business. I offered them some sugar water and will put their candy boards in next week so they will have food throughout the winter. Bright Blessings on this Solstice to you and yours, may it be filled with all of Natures bounty...

Our Etsy Shop...

Felted Soaps

We are busy here and there getting ready for the holidays. Also on our Etsy shop on line, are many gifts available and made right here on Coon Hollow Farm, right down to the animals! We have various Alpaca Pillows needle felted, handspun yarns...



Assorted Needle Felted Pillows

 


Handspun Yarns





Goats Milk Lotion and Body Mist


as well as Goats Milk Spray Mist and Hand lotions,

Assorted Needle Felted items

 Needle Felted animals and Necklaces...the link to our Etsy Shop is to the left of our page, just click and it will take you right there!

The end of the Harvest, signs are everywhere...

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Ours was very nice, Tim and I had some time off from our jobs, my dad was visiting and we just had some time to catch up. The farm yard was gifted with the left over pumpkins... 

"Cyrus" seems to be asking "Winchester" what he might think is in the trough?!

 The plants were moved out of the greenhouse and into the house. The patchouli plant was getting wilty and was happy to get inside. The counters are cleaned, everything put away until Spring...        

The bee hive was closed up for the winter and the equipment put into the bin for winter storage. This year I am trying an inverted candy board that Tim had made to seal the base. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will help sustain them throughout the cold weather...

and with the leftover pumpkins that I grew, Pumpkin Jam is on the stove. This recipe is a three day process so I hope it's good! I also made pumpkin pie as well as Jalapeno Jelly from my garden harvest for Yule gifts for some deserving folks! So as we gear up for the next holiday, I am pleased with my harvest and look to the next one as the wheel of our year turns...

Meet "Mo"!

Today Tim and I got up at 5:30 a.m. and traveled to upstate New York to adopt this wonderful tempered ram. His previous owner recently passed and her husband is overwhelmed with the many sheep they have. His dad said his goodbyes which was sad...

 We loaded him up into our Jeep Wrangler which was totally unexpected because the brakes went on our truck yesterday and is now in the shop being repaired. Our journey was quite interesting and from time to time he would come up front and say hi!

He never once laid down and it was a 3 hour drive. He looked out the window, moved around but was very calm like he had done this before, hhhmmm...

When finally arrived, it was now time to get him out. Jeeps are not the easiest thing to unload a ram or get one into for that matter, but a little persuasion and he jumped right out. He is leash trained so it was rather uneventful, but will I ever get that smell out the Jeep??!!

So after stretching his legs, he had a good meal, some water, a worming, a hoof trim and he was ready to go.
His name is "Mocha Expresso Swirl" but we'll call him "Mo".
We decided to give him a day to get grounded before he begins to make a legacy for our farm...

Chickens molting, oh my!

Chickens molting is such a sad thing to witness and I really do believe that they are very uncomfortable when it happens. They go off their food, they hide and I really do believe there is some true discomfort there. 
The owls that we care for at the Nature Center where I work are the same way. I asked a friend who has a raptor center and she agreed with me, all birds experience some level of discomfort during molting. 
Just look at the girl in the top picture, she was one of the worse and she has been hiding and not eating well. All my girls are taking dust baths just trying to get some relief. Just think when the new feathers come in it has to be somewhat painful.
My whole flock of 15 Rhode Island reds are just a balding mess!
We are hoping for some big news this weekend and will announce it on the blog, till then appreciate those eggs, these girls really work hard for them!

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We made it through...

After a long full week with no power, no water, freezing cold temps we are back! On October 29th the State of Connecticut was hit with a historic nor'easter snow storm that knocked out power to close to 80 percent of the people of our state. The destruction was unprecedented, down power lines, trees snapped in half by a heavy snow and the weight of the trees. In the picture above, a huge sycamore leaf with debris as a tiny example...

This was one of the branches that hung from our power lines across from our animal fencing. We had snapped trees that politely missed our newly installed fencing. Not having power after what we went through in August for 5 days after Hurricane Irene was thought to be a nightmare that was long behind us. We were skilled by that storm however, so a carting water we did for the animals, fired up the wood burning stove, spent lots of time at the various family members who allowed us to shower and fed us meals. So it's back to the regular routine but we will never forget how we were challenged and how we persevered always thinking that it could be worse. However, as I type this I think of my friends who are still in the dark and are waiting for their power to be restored and my heart is heavy for them...