Even though Murphy’s Law caught me, it was for the best. When I got to the mechanic’s, my battery was the culprit. But while I was there I told them to just check for anything else that might be bad. My distributor and rotor were burnt, and I was told that if I had gotten put into the country, I would in all probability have been stranded. I guess that instead of Murphy’s Law messing me up, it was God taking care of me.

After getting the truck repaired, it had been raining and looked like more on the way, I decided to go home and try again another day. In the meantime, I did get my colony info sheets finished and will try to finish the numbering of the hives and start making plans to build some screen bottom boards.

Some people will say that the screened bottom boards are a waste of time and materials. I personally think that with the screens to let the debris fall to the ground, using the powdered sugar as a mite treatment, the mites will also fall to the ground and away from the bees. With the solid bottom, the mites just fall to the floor of the hive and jump onto any bee that just happens to be passing. That is not getting rid of them. Just moving them from bee to bee.

Anyway, it is supposed to rain tomorrow and be dry Friday. That is my target day to finish numbering the hives. I have eight more to go, unless, of course, I find more dead outs.

Have you thought about making yourself an observation hive? Think about it and go to the web to see if you can find a schematic for it. Or you can purchase one from most of the bee supply companies. The observation hive is great for school and public demonstrations, and is a drawing card for your honey booth.