I did get to check my last hive. I went with the expectation of splitting and adding a deep super so the bees could pull out more deep comb for the next split.  However, when I got there and looked at the hive, I found out that I had left a deep honey super on and it was full. I am not strong enough to pick up a 10 frame deep of honey and I didn’t have another deep to put the honey in so I just added a deep on top of that.

I will have to get someone to go with me to help pull the deep so I can extract the honey. I really do need to split the hive as there are way too many bees in the hive. This is the hive that I split and then it  swarmed three times in two weeks. Don’t know how that happened, but I got one of them and I had someone else get the other two. All four (one split and three swarms) survived. However, this was back in April of 2008.

I will just have to start doing better and follow my own advice and instructions. You know, it is easier to see someone else’s problems and solutions than it is to see one’s own. I can tell you what to do all day long and still not take my own advice.  For the next 3 days, I am tied up with two different fairs. After that, I will be attempting to do what I need to do to get my own house in order.

I even started this post last week and forgot to finish it. I am in the process if getting materials together to make some screened bottom boards and tops for both 10 frames hives and 5 frame nucs. My aim is to make splits into nuc boxes and let the bees grow into two story nucs then put them into either full deeps or just split them again and double my nucs until I have enough bees to finish the year out. Then next Spring, I will split and start over again.

Do you have a plan? You need one. What are you trying to accomplish this year? Make lots of honey? Make lots of bees? Why? f0r sale, for increases? You need a plan. Remember, if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. (This is a quote from someone that is way smarter than I.

Have a great weekend!