Miscellaneous...

I've missed blogging lately, but that's not because I haven't been hard at work. Every day off, I feel huge progress as I clean up the Farm and get ready to do more with it. Considering that this is now mid-July in Tennessee, the weather is almost pleasant lately, and I've been able to be productive most of the time on my days off.

I've been chainsawing and clearing some places to make better passage for the tractor, when I have it over again. When the dozer cleared lanes for the fence last fall, it left alot of piles along the outside edge. That is alot of what I'm clearing out now. It's hard work, but you can definitely see progress after a few hours. Basically, I'll spend a long minute or three deciding the best way to cut the tree to the ground, and then cut the smaller stuff off and stack it on the brush pile. The decent logs are saved for future projects.

Today I checked on Meagan, Taylor and Emily. All good stuff in each hive. Each queen is producing a healthy number of eggs. Nurse bees tend the eggs as they grow into larvae and pupae. The field bees are still finding pollen and nectar to store up before the winter. Meagan will soon get another super added. That hive is definitely full and producing alot more baby bees.

Todays photos:

• Checking a nice frame of honey and brood. Eggs are a sign that the queen is alive and well.
  
• The heartwood of cedar is such a nice color when it is freshly cut.
  
• Meagan is growing up, and will soon be expanded to allow a little breathing room inside.
  
• This is the mother of the birds raised on the back porch. They have already flown away to do their little bird things.
  

PS - does anybody know much about livestock auctions? I'll be attending the Manchester goat sale soon and would appreciate some tips.