First Hive Inspection Of The Year

With the sun shining we decided to get our suits on and inspect the hives. Always a little nervous after the winter as never sure how they've done. 

We were really pleased to see all three hives had survived the winter! And all three in good health.

I was a little worried as the one hive we had merged with another at the end of the summer (early autumn really) and I hadn't managed to get the second brood box off. But they had sorted themselves out. There was a tiny bit of mould in that hive on a few frames of honey, but only because some of the newspaper we had left between the two brood boxes remained and I think this stopped the airflow.

 It was great to see that my girls were just as enthusiastic as they were before, both keen to get into each hive and not showing any fear at all. 

I'm looking forward to a fun bee keeping season again this year!

Seeds in

I always feel behind in March, but stuff soon catches up.

 Got lots of Tomatoes in, the following varieties - 

Primabella

Milliefleur

True Black

Hungarian pink

Indigo rose

Cherokee Purple

Shimmer

Tiger Tom

Black Opal

Little Tanyana 

Plus a few other bits and pieces. Also have a cool hydrophonic growing thing in the kitchen which I'lll share with you all later (for growing salad and herbs). 

What tomatoes have you got growing this year?

Carved Phone Stand

 Sometimes I just make something because I think it's a good idea. Or in this case because my daughter thought it would be a good idea. 

Made these simple phone stands with my scout a few weeks back and decided it would make a great magazine article. So set to making one last week. Didn't take long, although it does have a bit of short grain so there is a need to be careful. 

Full set by step should be in woodcarving magazine soon. 

I have a feeling my daughter might take this one from me! 

A Little Taste of Spring

 The world is going to pot again, I always try to stay abreast of current affairs but really I'd prefer not to at the moment. At least I have nature and and family around me. It was a good weekend. Yesterday meeting up with my sister and her family, with swimming and baking.

And today spent outside, I pruned my apple trees, sorted out lots of little jobs. Both the girls came out to help in the garden without being asked. 

The newest batch of chickens have never looked healthier. These hybrids are always the friendliest chickens on earth. Honestly can't get away from theses at times, keep finding them in my workshop if I leave the door open! 

I'm looking forward to a bit better weather in March, can't wait to get my hands into the dirt again. 

Sash Window Repair

It's been wet and miserable so I've hardly left the workshop.

I have a few other little jobs on. Had to remove this sash window the other day, and I'll be doing the repair in the next few days. 

They shut the window and the bottom broke off, completely rotten. 

 They were lucky not to cut themself. 

It means completely stripping down the sash, removing the paint, taking out the glass, then making a new bottom rail and fitting it. Hardly a fun job, but pays the bills.