tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90240088991314602192024-03-13T20:19:09.018-07:00Seeds in the CityKeeping track of my garden in the city by the bay!
Urban gardener. Train and bike commuter. Slow knitter. Avid reader. Home wine maker. Beginning Beekeeper.Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-38322830749832525982014-09-24T11:11:00.000-07:002014-09-24T11:11:30.780-07:00Tomato Relish In the Summer of 2012, I had the fortune of visiting Portland, Oregon. One morning we went to the <a href="http://grandcentralbakery.com/">Grand Central Bakery</a> for breakfast. (If you are in the area, go!) On the special they had a toasted bagel with poached egg and "Tomato Relish". I'd never heard of tomato relish before this. I like pickled things. I like tomatoes. I must try this! <br />
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When I placed my order, the gentleman at the counter said they'd just gotten in a crate of heirloom tomatoes that morning, did I want a fresh tomato instead? Living in the SF Bay Area, I'd been eating tomatoes since May from my garden, and started to wonder if all of the lycopene would change my skin color. "Actually, I'm dying to try tomato relish instead." Oh, I'm so very very glad I did. <br />
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<a name='more'></a>After I was back home, I continued to think about the recipe, especially in light of the end of tomato season approaching at my house. I emailed Grand Central, and they sent me their recipe. (Seriously, this bakery has it all - amazing staff, great food... huge praise!!!) I adapted it for canning and an over-abundance of fresh tomatoes, and it's been a huge hit. Besides being great wherever you might use ketchup or salsa, it makes the absolute best pizza sauce. Over the last two years I've been asked for the recipe, and now I'm finally getting it in an easy to share form.<br />
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There was two other events that convinced me to capture the recipe. One was <a href="http://thebeefjar.com/">Meg</a> asking for a copy (Hey Meg!) and the other was that I thought I lost my dog-eared paper with notes scribbled on it. Almost had a heart attack. Falling to sleep fitfully thinking, leeks... it had leeks... isn't comforting. So without further ado....<br />
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Earlier this summer I dehydrated several batches of cherry tomatoes from the garden and packed two pints full of leathery dried tomatoes and olive oil. We've used store bought with the same good results. Last year the tomatoes were dehydrated and not packed in oil. This made them a bit chewy even after canning, mostly because I got tired of trying to chop them. Olive oil is the way to go. <br />
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Last week I ordered a 20 pound box of canning tomatoes from <a href="http://bluehouseorganicfarm.com/">Blue House Organic Farm</a> through <a href="https://www.goodeggs.com/home">Good Eggs</a>. I used about 18 pounds total in this recipe. I had to throw about three tomatoes out for mold, and used about two pounds to roast with garlic in the oven. <br />
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Getting started! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You don't need all that silverware.</td></tr>
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Makes 14-15 pints. <br />
Olive oil<br />
3 yellow onions (white works fine too, we buy yellow in bulk)<br />
8 leeks (or 10. Whatever.)<br />
2 pints sundried tomatoes in olive oil, chopped in a food processor, vitamix, or by hand<br />
1 cup balsamic vinegar<br />
1/2 cup kosher salt<br />
1/2 cup honey (brown sugar works too, but if you have a hive in your yard... honey!) <br />
18 pounds of tomatoes, roughly chopped, skins on. Or skins off. Both work! <br />
Lemon Juice<br />
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This recipe can be scaled way back for 1 pint servings that require no canning and will last in the fridge for up to four weeks. This recipe is also very flexible and very forgiving, so experiment with flavors! <br />
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Saute onions in olive oil until they begin to carmelize. Reduce heat, add diced leeks. Saute together until leeks are tender. (If you are me, start this in the smaller blue pot, realize you are out of room after adding the leeks, and then transfer the onions and leeks after cooking to the big silver pot.) <br />
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While the onions and leeks are cooking (or before if you are magical and prep things) begin to chop the tomatoes. I do not remove the skins, I like the bit of texture they give. The original recipe did call for skinned tomatoes, and that worked too. I did not opt to save the juice as I wanted to reduce the total amount of liquid, but saving a small amount makes deglazing (in the next step) easier. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cutting board with a moat is totally my friend. </td></tr>
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Use the liquid from the fresh tomatoes and mix with the chopped sun dried tomatoes to deglaze the onion and leek saute pan. The vinegar can be added to aid this process if needed. Reduce heat once the volume is lower, now the vinegar, honey, and salt should be mixed together. (I did all of this in the too small blue pan and transferred it to the onions and leeks waiting in the silver pot.) <br />
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Bring the mixture of onions, leeks, sun-dried tomatoes, vinegar, salt, and honey to a simmer. Begin to add tomatoes as they are chopped, and cook this to a desired consistency. (It should start to smell really good soon!) Adjust for seasoning if you want during this time. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSppPvKM_nwoI_mzSvWXelMdTCWCrtBxuT1WsJ6kcPild0_StBmXX6vCBWrpi21Jn66kKX4b_L_V3xuRcVo8D7I-0JdeXvU28rTD239DvZJNhKIZ69DTKDvy3oTvKIlrdbNbOJCOGkcg0/s1600/TR5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSppPvKM_nwoI_mzSvWXelMdTCWCrtBxuT1WsJ6kcPild0_StBmXX6vCBWrpi21Jn66kKX4b_L_V3xuRcVo8D7I-0JdeXvU28rTD239DvZJNhKIZ69DTKDvy3oTvKIlrdbNbOJCOGkcg0/s1600/TR5.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(A bit too steamy, but there it is cooking away!) </td></tr>
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As it reduces, make sure your jars are cleaned and prepped, along with the equipment. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaZZhYdIDOspxKWxo4tv4VsY9m6u7bVI-_k76DyNbV2CWcXXafsN6Ysqu8z8FlZXR-E_UgRT4pqhfLXtdSWMtYzz5cHsiF_1OwE2i9_2D0fW_OaAeHjTdXqXXkX_lC0_LEyDrcK0RdyU/s1600/TR6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaZZhYdIDOspxKWxo4tv4VsY9m6u7bVI-_k76DyNbV2CWcXXafsN6Ysqu8z8FlZXR-E_UgRT4pqhfLXtdSWMtYzz5cHsiF_1OwE2i9_2D0fW_OaAeHjTdXqXXkX_lC0_LEyDrcK0RdyU/s1600/TR6.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My ever faithful cat wanted me to know that it was hot. (Yes, cat, I know. We only can when it's hot out!) </td></tr>
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Each jar gets a teaspoon or more of lemon juice added to it. Add the sauce to the jars, leave 1/4" head space, and process for 15 minutes of boiling water bath. (And if you are me, burn yourself about a dozen times.) <br />
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Done! The delightful sound of lids pinging sent me off to bed. When I get home from work today, I'll remove the rings, test the seals, and label all of these. For now, a job deliciously done. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEc4qfhEEoRIBFHr9lMyeD-MwEcuntPZVlqY3bUZKoF0yWbfNmPNGgNO9mIGITCjtGch586DM8mpIePqjcexxC13fdxDmTzbQOYj13wqWTJ_ITiZpDcKnoLCDAi4cDAqAY_ZnQ9dyP4c/s1600/TR8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEc4qfhEEoRIBFHr9lMyeD-MwEcuntPZVlqY3bUZKoF0yWbfNmPNGgNO9mIGITCjtGch586DM8mpIePqjcexxC13fdxDmTzbQOYj13wqWTJ_ITiZpDcKnoLCDAi4cDAqAY_ZnQ9dyP4c/s1600/TR8.jpg" height="224" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where's my cauliflower pizza??? </td></tr>
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The original recipe, with my notes from 2012 and 2013 included. <br />
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Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-5550753112378047942012-11-20T15:49:00.002-08:002012-11-20T15:49:31.644-08:00Criticism in the City. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW1vVk8b99IWBeF_KxcUV0ytvI5l61-i04jL1TpKEniW8Hj28iTwqR73UNV0Uu0djnz4splf6rbDyxQciIjmMel1liNidNLnQ4hQ380tJXMDsi6ALx6-t4nZn6vaovsk39uXZXaCC1Pc/s1600/IMG_20121117_151505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW1vVk8b99IWBeF_KxcUV0ytvI5l61-i04jL1TpKEniW8Hj28iTwqR73UNV0Uu0djnz4splf6rbDyxQciIjmMel1liNidNLnQ4hQ380tJXMDsi6ALx6-t4nZn6vaovsk39uXZXaCC1Pc/s1600/IMG_20121117_151505.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday afternoon, some friends and I left a wine bottling event and decided to have lunch in the Mission District. We were curious to try out <a href="http://www.pigandpiesf.com/">Pig and Pie</a> (and found it to be exactly what we hoped for: casual, delicious, and good ingredients.) We all agreed it was what we were looking for on that autumn afternoon. As we sat and talked, our sweet tooths got the best of us. I pulled twitter up to see what flavors <a href="http://twitter.com/humphryslocombe">Humphrey Slocombe</a> was offering. I didn't find the flavors; I found they had duck fat pecan pies. My southern gal was sold. We headed around the corner to <a href="http://www.humphryslocombe.com/Home.html">Humphrey Slocombe</a>. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They each ordered pecan pies a la mode, I decided on the Bourbon and Coke Float. (two scoops of secret breakfast, bourbon caramel syrup, and coke) The photo is one I took while we were sitting in Humphrey Slocombe. I've been a fan of Humphrey Slocombe for a few years now: a commitment to quality ingredients and ice cream? Yes, please! It's why I adore <a href="http://thepennyicecreamery.com/">Penny Ice Creamery</a> and <a href="http://biritecreamery.com/">Bi-Rite</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I picked up that aluminum bottle of coke and looked at the ingredients. High Fructose Corn Syrup. Bummer. I wondered why, in the Mission District, someone hadn't just gotten a case of Mexi-Coke. (Made with cane sugar.) Or even a cola from Blue Sky. Or Hansen's. Oh! I thought. This would be good with GUS too. Since I'd tweet'ed with other businesses before with success, I decided to inquire. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(these are screen caps from email and twitter) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometime between Saturday evening and Monday morning, @humphreyslocombe deleted that tweet and blocked me from their account. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apparently someone else noticed the deleted tweet. I'm glad Alexa was amused, but I'll be honest: I found it hurtful to be called names and so unjustly accused. I asked them a question, and rather than answering it or asking me to clarify what I meant, they turned rather vicious and nasty. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wrote to the company on Monday morning when I saw their reply. I explained what I had found, assured them that I wasn't medicated and didn't need to be medicated. I wondered how I would reply if someone attacked something like the quality of the honey I sell. As incredulous as it may make me, my hope is that I'd respond better than this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if anyone from Humphrey Slocombe's is listening: I'm not a hater, and I'm not now. You have the same evidence that I have, we've just reached different conclusions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm also no longer a fan. Business and community that is built on bullying and name calling is not community or business for me. I'll be joining the lines down on 18th Street in the future when my sweet tooth calls. </span></div>
Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-90815474054133009322012-09-24T11:32:00.002-07:002012-09-24T11:32:29.511-07:00Tomato Relish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAbUJOaZMHUTsSb2RIlVnWLQtk4OalMVAGWTVW7q7nA9YjvArHaze4DSx-8m_ubShe7rC-KrBjU6weR8p3vZEDTByoUkY37xR7Y4KYR6e7IFc2V33AQyrCqdooUyManE_Z68_pu23YZ8/s1600/tomatoes+picked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAbUJOaZMHUTsSb2RIlVnWLQtk4OalMVAGWTVW7q7nA9YjvArHaze4DSx-8m_ubShe7rC-KrBjU6weR8p3vZEDTByoUkY37xR7Y4KYR6e7IFc2V33AQyrCqdooUyManE_Z68_pu23YZ8/s320/tomatoes+picked.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Thursday, I pulled my tomato plants from their bed. It was time, the plants were drying and dying and few green bulbs remained. Two to three bowls of ripe tomatoes remained.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I was in Portland in early August, I went to <a href="http://www.grandcentralbakery.com/">Grand Central Bakery</a> for breakfast. I ordered the Egg Sandwich: easy egg with tomato relish on a toasted bagel. Heaven! I asked for the recipe and modified it for fresh tomatoes, honey, and canning. It turned out beautifully. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only disadvantage is as it cooks, hunger occurs. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYfSCo0-IVD3EIUbF-y2dGx2M43Q6B6f7R3Z9M74fZZZortrOTCTwB2g2mnNxXBJhAVvfxQo_K9ba-6d8tXRwEuAYtp4kzLSSsToOVdYaV7arHw_N-DfWViM_WWeRKh2o9AJZkO24nwM/s1600/tomato+relish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYfSCo0-IVD3EIUbF-y2dGx2M43Q6B6f7R3Z9M74fZZZortrOTCTwB2g2mnNxXBJhAVvfxQo_K9ba-6d8tXRwEuAYtp4kzLSSsToOVdYaV7arHw_N-DfWViM_WWeRKh2o9AJZkO24nwM/s320/tomato+relish.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't think these will last long, but it's lovely to have a bit of summer kissed fruit safely canned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(no photos of the process itself: was using the phone for audiobooks during the cooking)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...more tomato adventures later...</span></div>
Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-29250577558782343582012-03-13T09:03:00.001-07:002012-03-13T09:07:10.544-07:00Random shed discovery<div><p>While rummaging through the open air shed, I came across this nest. I don't know who built it or if it was ever used. It's still back there. Random shed art!</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAZBdh84uF-fd8RonDj3C0Xxs87w80DN2hYcJO40kn4g_8ItP4rabu5s4fsejvir8CGJhSBhyphenhyphen1CkEfMiNg6CixFFILk153BzWx0f-ck7uwoXQf-fex7At6XVkBd6tpB4CJYdrr4o4VKw/' /></div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-77758627695339502952012-03-13T09:01:00.001-07:002012-03-13T09:01:59.823-07:00Candles!<div><p>After collecting wax for the last couple of years, the wax was cleaned and candles were made!</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOUZfpzJRc815r8dJ6Kbu9El4GeFKyjWjU4B3V36dWocBF_q95xbJR8TMn6UFXK8fkcFG753CJpVqGk-iiZoBClrd2RrWBKSvxURa4KeqyxEpkzYUKY2oHbur49Ujfd3RRzoGvOVxC_Y/' /></div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-87636774718344608542011-12-11T22:08:00.001-08:002011-12-11T22:08:29.692-08:00Late harvest fortune<div><p>After a frustrating summer for the bees, something struck their fancy when it flowered late. We ended up with a honey harvest!  </p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGSgiItaAkA6DvQRMVcoptnq7uwU8zonSoV-KERZd7-i65Ah1DBg5WSFefFn1WcqXDF9FXGyewl6n3EuORECGyGSPeC6mHYFNg72on9Ut828dR54LIQ_JQAis-gXI567jlfH1zU4L0-Q/' /></div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-14116688009976226132011-04-24T14:44:00.001-07:002011-04-24T14:48:44.353-07:00Early spring honey<div><p>Nothing tastes better!</p>
<br/><img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_InErDCwHhCc/TbSZsQ9lCcI/AAAAAAAABGE/nTyR1WXwS7U/IMG_20110422_181821.png' /><br/><img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_InErDCwHhCc/TbSZtW1VYdI/AAAAAAAABGI/JtUsWVmD7Ww/IMG_20110422_181839.png' /><br/><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_InErDCwHhCc/TbSaq7S-mnI/AAAAAAAABGQ/q6YnGMkHcis/IMG_20110422_181845.png' /></div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-27919660361151366982011-04-22T19:32:00.001-07:002011-04-22T19:32:08.451-07:00Favas<div><p>Some of these favas are ready to pick! The plants have taken over the garden walk way. </p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise6MNkzf9-3_CqV1WJED6EtYVc7CsU3fgnKY25v4eP3vyuW9ACRe_jLxEWzSHzkTSM1AE4bd3uUTkKK9IyOZZNfRL5j_f-u_6s4fljw4fnRw3MMUEQggEu_t7wzRQ6wOWs1ph7wqAOIU/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHrXKmN6-XmiC9sH7E0Fe4nBCN5rsRiMAEF07g72fb4PAH3l6V_CltgJdPPB7719BkZrZ-eQLOYD-cdlwQdIkpsugBIHoIwYdm4jv7vCZ7KvdTqMgXzQu7Y-e0OzbqHHHW3upDe-4h9w/' /></div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-20528787865122695902011-02-11T17:21:00.000-08:002011-02-11T17:21:04.262-08:00Why bike?<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lizzy from </span><a href="http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/home"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Timbuk2</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> used </span><a href="http://twitter.com/timbuk2"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to collect answers to a simple question: Why do you bike commute? </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvHsWWiUltnMDmJaV37zD3GXgFBVAGFkIphJpbLknV4SkIJLAFhgJDVB0SEr4ZNNp8EtFH0K5MnrY-G_Pitsv7E1x1prhGDfBMMdal0kO4eI7K64ou9dA91SHb5TfRSKkgMHpelS9PME/s1600/bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvHsWWiUltnMDmJaV37zD3GXgFBVAGFkIphJpbLknV4SkIJLAFhgJDVB0SEr4ZNNp8EtFH0K5MnrY-G_Pitsv7E1x1prhGDfBMMdal0kO4eI7K64ou9dA91SHb5TfRSKkgMHpelS9PME/s320/bike.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The article can be found on the </span><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/02/why-do-people-bike-commute/71109/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atlantic</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks Lizzy! The community summed up my feelings exactly! </span>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-78724290465069063382011-02-08T20:58:00.001-08:002011-02-08T20:58:24.315-08:00Four days in bee time<div><p>Last year M took out two frames from the brood box to capture a swarm. (The swarm is doing great) He didn't replace the frames, bee space was violated, and the girls built out comb. They were given a new brood box (with frames!) and the old box with burr comb was left out for the bees to rob. Unfortunately, a cluster of bees didn't leave. For two nights (temps were around 30 - 40 F) these bees sat out there on the wax. M realized there was some brood in the comb. We set the brood box back on the hive Wednesday afternoon. Sunday morning we went out to remove the burr comb and found what they had made. </p>
<p>With water, smoke, and patient brushing, the bees were returned to the hive and the comb left in a wine bucket for the bees to rob. </p>
<p>I'm still amazed what these girls can do.</p>
<br/><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_InErDCwHhCc/TVIe4yKjxHI/AAAAAAAABDA/kEgIJF-Aiic/IMG_20110207_073132.png' /><br/><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_InErDCwHhCc/TVIe572-GBI/AAAAAAAABDE/WvJZyG_L0d8/IMG_20110207_073123.png' /><br/><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_InErDCwHhCc/TVIe69F80xI/AAAAAAAABDI/MRDd4sLW1gs/IMG_20110206_122351.png' /><br/><img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_InErDCwHhCc/TVIe7mou7oI/AAAAAAAABDM/1yP458yNatE/IMG_20110206_122400.png' /></div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-78760172518020735792010-12-27T21:56:00.000-08:002010-12-27T21:56:21.555-08:00Fall and Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If there's a way to easily update the blog via smart phone (and I'm sure there is!), it's more likely this blog would have been more lively! It's been a busy fall, and now we are in winter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The garden was plenty busy in the fall, and there were harvests. </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Of basil... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDfgu_0mxXDxSGKSB2IobXANh0voG4ywnFIba9uOnzC1NHXOu7WwXCELbRgUePRO8u2ZwE3dSig1EnkYem4ynObv4kSnV2LQSo970zu7fBi9gGOvN8V6kQYPOvmLxXpFHKHaNNGtEkmg/s1600/IMG_20101024_190039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDfgu_0mxXDxSGKSB2IobXANh0voG4ywnFIba9uOnzC1NHXOu7WwXCELbRgUePRO8u2ZwE3dSig1EnkYem4ynObv4kSnV2LQSo970zu7fBi9gGOvN8V6kQYPOvmLxXpFHKHaNNGtEkmg/s320/IMG_20101024_190039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Our cool and wet summer meant our tomatoes grew, but did not ripen. Finally, they were all picked in October. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSs3vLq9TY8VIBMnjUexTGB_yiYop1HsoJIdTYeuEHqWhWNxbd69fqN0UyQ-PVuR9ygXjeJM9aOZApXaEaDarGXh0hTAvEt7lPTNDbBD-rwWINCe-8GAc31A9Kt-z03gpnzi3g1qEDkPk/s1600/IMG_20101024_093311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSs3vLq9TY8VIBMnjUexTGB_yiYop1HsoJIdTYeuEHqWhWNxbd69fqN0UyQ-PVuR9ygXjeJM9aOZApXaEaDarGXh0hTAvEt7lPTNDbBD-rwWINCe-8GAc31A9Kt-z03gpnzi3g1qEDkPk/s320/IMG_20101024_093311.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> (yes, it was raining when I picked them!) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I decided to try my hand at canning for the first time, and made a <a href="http://margeland.co.uk/blog/2008/09/17/green-tomato-chutney/">Green Tomato Chutney</a>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xD6A1zV_zijC-aQ3wcywuP-1Bb_a6PepJZBLCOIahFrJB5Z9cloiyon8ELOQdxCc2YOicq2YzsxzdfLymdoSzokztEBfvLsgpRpA4ZoSvKUgSZJTMePEwiriyjXaMyySWaLTjIsgdX0/s1600/IMG_20101031_230228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xD6A1zV_zijC-aQ3wcywuP-1Bb_a6PepJZBLCOIahFrJB5Z9cloiyon8ELOQdxCc2YOicq2YzsxzdfLymdoSzokztEBfvLsgpRpA4ZoSvKUgSZJTMePEwiriyjXaMyySWaLTjIsgdX0/s320/IMG_20101031_230228.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I loved canning! It was greatly satisfying to not waste fruits of the garden, and to create something so delicious and easy to share. I'm told it's perfect on a chicken sandwich. ;) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(we also had fried green tomatoes, delicious!) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And now between the rain and cool weather, the winter garden grows.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxCo9ycnW_kHjMX3zq4FeC0uYsuISQp_Ipr8fo1YZVXQmq2-6icqfmdwItd6_3388wOvHm-DHd_HbDbCj1vFmUejMPW7HIdjnPXlNLB5m745tPj5dM5MV43vXRcfDqqiYRvGCLMl336o/s1600/winter+greens.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxCo9ycnW_kHjMX3zq4FeC0uYsuISQp_Ipr8fo1YZVXQmq2-6icqfmdwItd6_3388wOvHm-DHd_HbDbCj1vFmUejMPW7HIdjnPXlNLB5m745tPj5dM5MV43vXRcfDqqiYRvGCLMl336o/s320/winter+greens.JPG" width="286" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Peas, parsnips, turnips, spinach, garlic, carrots, and leeks. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__GkGH3Cxt6gYjsWT6a3rheQIk0f2BdIeM5LXxiL4WsOXvPhMsR5lbNm1SZUYDZ0o4zXvSAhxhCK30v8QzdrPG2GTkrBp6RABPLOyuU6PP8S4SZjfb-vrvHBt7PWgbPZyG_nwUSfFLXk/s1600/IMG_20101224_130404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__GkGH3Cxt6gYjsWT6a3rheQIk0f2BdIeM5LXxiL4WsOXvPhMsR5lbNm1SZUYDZ0o4zXvSAhxhCK30v8QzdrPG2GTkrBp6RABPLOyuU6PP8S4SZjfb-vrvHBt7PWgbPZyG_nwUSfFLXk/s320/IMG_20101224_130404.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fava beans. (and oxalis. Always oxalis!) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On clear sunny days, the bees show up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK_D0Lk5LQJyfJpYVc-KdSDtXuu3jwyaTNoIwbCWMTfBYCJL7vj3JSnNcvbicw9afWmwz3BBcvfBcwfaSEsInzUYDa4CU37X9mARWtkxN-r-P-Ej3TiamLa2CPTU-uyJSnep2hn8f0LY/s1600/bee+and+rosemary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK_D0Lk5LQJyfJpYVc-KdSDtXuu3jwyaTNoIwbCWMTfBYCJL7vj3JSnNcvbicw9afWmwz3BBcvfBcwfaSEsInzUYDa4CU37X9mARWtkxN-r-P-Ej3TiamLa2CPTU-uyJSnep2hn8f0LY/s320/bee+and+rosemary.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And my locavore self, sneering at strawberries in supermarkets, realizes that the strawberries seem to want to be there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLVlnXA2sWiZlo41rp2xlzdZvTxpfyT4iWw7Q2uLXS_71G0FoyjdjQqnpxylOFGCkFszgOkFDXNGh3-DW_LRZB1Xj7zuTSzIJctOoHxyDYqcryUcOGP0gpjqiBkWHfcZCW3QD-KpZnqA/s1600/IMG_20101224_130516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLVlnXA2sWiZlo41rp2xlzdZvTxpfyT4iWw7Q2uLXS_71G0FoyjdjQqnpxylOFGCkFszgOkFDXNGh3-DW_LRZB1Xj7zuTSzIJctOoHxyDYqcryUcOGP0gpjqiBkWHfcZCW3QD-KpZnqA/s320/IMG_20101224_130516.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy New Year to you! May the coming year bring much sweetness and bounty! </span></div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-7935083970522821832010-08-19T21:05:00.000-07:002010-08-19T21:05:13.738-07:00Harvested honey and moved a hive<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the last couple of weeks, we've been busy! We harvested our Urania hive, and moved our Terpsichore hive. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><a name='more'></a>+++ The Harvest!+++ <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The harvest was on Friday, August 6. I was getting ready to go to work, so I was hoping around. It was so strange not to be part of the harvest! I stuck around long enough to stick my fingers in the sun warmed wax, always the best part of beekeeping! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is the first time we've harvested Urania 2 (U2). U1 was a sweet, docile hive. We would "talk" for the bees in psuedo stoner - surfer voices. "Oh hey man. Er, buzz. Yeah. Hey. Buzz." U2 is much more OUT OF MY WAY I AM BUSY HERE. I kept thinking that once they saw how good the food selection was around here, that they would settle down. Well... they haven't. But, they are a strong hive and a productive hive. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0feGTJd-sqOqhCQtgHWbPJ7-bYmlO4_F2nrWRSOTWaqhYUzqIxzQJriHpl0vMBxCu05NVRzHS8jaeQzTQEr4fknVriv7I2ZvS8R1fHPSmyzCxxIICHKLDo1Rp1FpZ3oMi9jI-mQloWs/s1600/2010-08-06+11.16.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0feGTJd-sqOqhCQtgHWbPJ7-bYmlO4_F2nrWRSOTWaqhYUzqIxzQJriHpl0vMBxCu05NVRzHS8jaeQzTQEr4fknVriv7I2ZvS8R1fHPSmyzCxxIICHKLDo1Rp1FpZ3oMi9jI-mQloWs/s320/2010-08-06+11.16.49.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Getting ready. Umbrellas are an under appreciated component of beekeeping equipment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3iImUntdbMASqG7nqd0vaysY8dVMedPBP5DH9xX7LBitEChynrHcI92E3ZmMF5GN3c5UvUS1TrWoc_EzT7ifVLJKQoaIwO6z9Q40z2M4UKV8bzES5blnnDxxztyW5faSeb5_9NLcqI4/s1600/2010-08-06+11.17.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3iImUntdbMASqG7nqd0vaysY8dVMedPBP5DH9xX7LBitEChynrHcI92E3ZmMF5GN3c5UvUS1TrWoc_EzT7ifVLJKQoaIwO6z9Q40z2M4UKV8bzES5blnnDxxztyW5faSeb5_9NLcqI4/s320/2010-08-06+11.17.25.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">U2 before harvest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxfZFVv98EBpU0bpIKoIG9lEkn8jvbOXg4q1Jes68n7en9xCegim7dI_q6_zaMZQNYuyoJsHzDNqQX09ds1XlnBP5_rVAJhkiUkk7qrMc4KMyVXGEDmujvewedTWNHNf2QyM0crWL5mw/s1600/2010-08-06+11.19.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxfZFVv98EBpU0bpIKoIG9lEkn8jvbOXg4q1Jes68n7en9xCegim7dI_q6_zaMZQNYuyoJsHzDNqQX09ds1XlnBP5_rVAJhkiUkk7qrMc4KMyVXGEDmujvewedTWNHNf2QyM0crWL5mw/s320/2010-08-06+11.19.16.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Smoke time! We anticipated the worst - but surprisingly, no stings at all! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALuOuta9cXFoIdHnjaaEex4ZYLvdb2pdvsG9H1tAI_o4ZiD2c_FYXIRbviA7TRGXxPffpTEGkuzlXYcQfpJbB2Zku8ul3sy8io0kQ-2e_sFNmLeSe43Q0WFvIVqRXNh52T7SknP9w7r8/s1600/2010-08-06+11.31.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALuOuta9cXFoIdHnjaaEex4ZYLvdb2pdvsG9H1tAI_o4ZiD2c_FYXIRbviA7TRGXxPffpTEGkuzlXYcQfpJbB2Zku8ul3sy8io0kQ-2e_sFNmLeSe43Q0WFvIVqRXNh52T7SknP9w7r8/s320/2010-08-06+11.31.48.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">M took off the top super first, and set it aside. He then pulled frames from the bottom super, brushed them on to the top super, and then took the frame to the extraction tank. This worked great - the girls were distracted by all the things to do, and he didn't have a ton of followers to the extraction tank. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VdXfKTWKU7r4rW8iYUMww3T9lhd9T3NaNdz5bLDzgdVtbKBNzO72J-dU1u86a2E4PG6INtLfqwPHg5DZDYRM7Mq_va-jxACc6xLkVtdZITsPIwOIoXDlkn0JwEyKA9089vPn7-gDiRc/s1600/2010-08-06+11.32.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VdXfKTWKU7r4rW8iYUMww3T9lhd9T3NaNdz5bLDzgdVtbKBNzO72J-dU1u86a2E4PG6INtLfqwPHg5DZDYRM7Mq_va-jxACc6xLkVtdZITsPIwOIoXDlkn0JwEyKA9089vPn7-gDiRc/s320/2010-08-06+11.32.03.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Frames removed. (the two with no bees on them were brand new frames with no drawn comb) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp3zmr5VoKRbjGkUeYwY-l__b7Mwso-QL0GIUwz-nXcgl5ibCNoZZM_c3x2DZ9GA8QUrTIf09TSiOOpKhXn-iZPgTRTZLJpn5lqhUOx-6PcRAQnCg-GJbT4Tp6v93PlgtUjFy-6k2KIM/s1600/2010-08-06+11.42.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp3zmr5VoKRbjGkUeYwY-l__b7Mwso-QL0GIUwz-nXcgl5ibCNoZZM_c3x2DZ9GA8QUrTIf09TSiOOpKhXn-iZPgTRTZLJpn5lqhUOx-6PcRAQnCg-GJbT4Tp6v93PlgtUjFy-6k2KIM/s320/2010-08-06+11.42.18.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Perfection! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQNJStMZ7s6NKjw1xP1BzI5YrqGDQfZbt_pyttr53B3M-VbzUe1DOkvn5A6LSObrPG3Zp82KyZYoDuFIo5aLM4uUIMqac4yUjaYvbpKsb-hy9NTc4_eTUufuZByqr0A7sSzmcbLfFiZk/s1600/2010-08-06+11.30.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQNJStMZ7s6NKjw1xP1BzI5YrqGDQfZbt_pyttr53B3M-VbzUe1DOkvn5A6LSObrPG3Zp82KyZYoDuFIo5aLM4uUIMqac4yUjaYvbpKsb-hy9NTc4_eTUufuZByqr0A7sSzmcbLfFiZk/s320/2010-08-06+11.30.16.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love the way the sheets of wax pull off the frames. So gorgeous! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_VDHCfjb7ezLn5LsCxcEp85VLxFdb3B3x7HZHU5_OSYpS7Rdpc31Ue3ewzeiWq0Kk143oIEEuYKEqBiyp9CQulSwli16t5Ly1HY8mLJ-lWU5JiZca5NQ3lEAkQ8ytAoVzvBa2uJdVsk/s1600/2010-08-06+11.43.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_VDHCfjb7ezLn5LsCxcEp85VLxFdb3B3x7HZHU5_OSYpS7Rdpc31Ue3ewzeiWq0Kk143oIEEuYKEqBiyp9CQulSwli16t5Ly1HY8mLJ-lWU5JiZca5NQ3lEAkQ8ytAoVzvBa2uJdVsk/s320/2010-08-06+11.43.38.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first pour. This honey is pretty light in color, with the slightest green tint. M commented that this may be worth entering into the county fair next year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcv9z7r3jE-gc3CpBdG5wFSdOxJXi_juz1BX6jDGTqxLZPYtzYMvzrfZP1wxG-Yjyy5c_OLaYMcXCeuqzXI-rSRlnwjO3p0DX6RQ41JXr7A1LRDgrxvE2tUOpWVYKDTJ7kehkkZf6zE4/s1600/2010-08-12+19.16.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcv9z7r3jE-gc3CpBdG5wFSdOxJXi_juz1BX6jDGTqxLZPYtzYMvzrfZP1wxG-Yjyy5c_OLaYMcXCeuqzXI-rSRlnwjO3p0DX6RQ41JXr7A1LRDgrxvE2tUOpWVYKDTJ7kehkkZf6zE4/s320/2010-08-12+19.16.04.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All bottled! We took these stir sticks to allow folks to try the honey, giving us a few extra sales. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm thrilled that <a href="http://www.lukeslocal.com/">Luke's Local</a> bought a jar of our honey for their coffee and tea station. Local honey at a local stop! (Thank you for supporting your local bees and beekeepers!!!) </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">+++ The Hive Move!+++</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Terpsichore, our oldest hive, had to be moved to a new property. Terpsichore is a strong hive with no nonsense bees. I received a sting from them last year, so I'm a bit wary of this hive. Our plan was to split the hive in half for the move: honey supers separated from brood boxes. This was to reduce the total weight and improve the mobility. After sunset last Friday night, we went to shut the bees in for the night. M lifted the honey supers off and walked them a few feet to the right of the brood boxes. I bent over to pick up the extra lid to cover the brood boxes and ONE TWO THREE got stung twice in the thigh and once in the butt. Fearing more coming, I said "I'm gone!" walked quickly down the hill to the truck, and ripped my pants off to get the stingers out. (And if you were driving on Highway 9 that night, hello to you too!) M had finished covering the bees and met me down there. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Earlier in the day I had been watering my garden. I went to turn off the hose bib and got a sharp pain in my upper right arm. A U2 bee, for reasons totally unknown to me, had decided to follow me about fifteen feet from the hive and sting me in the arm. What the????) </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We got up the next morning to go move Terpsi while it was still cool and foggy. I was _not_ looking forward to this. It's one thing to be stung and keep on, it's another to be stung four times in a day and go work with a hive that is going to be really ticked off by what you're about to do. We loaded the hives up in the truck without incident. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGkxI67MOfmmZF-ydU-WKimQ37N4IlS8fNqEY7ym-S2VgPOXDzzRnR41YiKRsvWu2SOVAstmY6Ynl1clAWgIH7PIVe9KFKN7rYFrPTpJFoMP9jcc9oBQ4eWRtCnLdmsiXyxMHcYw96LU/s1600/IMG_20100814_091557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGkxI67MOfmmZF-ydU-WKimQ37N4IlS8fNqEY7ym-S2VgPOXDzzRnR41YiKRsvWu2SOVAstmY6Ynl1clAWgIH7PIVe9KFKN7rYFrPTpJFoMP9jcc9oBQ4eWRtCnLdmsiXyxMHcYw96LU/s320/IMG_20100814_091557.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We drove out to Terpsi's new house (a gorgeous garden on the mountain top) and started the unloading process. Overall, things started smoothly. We got everything ready for the final move this lid and set these supers on! and poor M - he lifted the honey supers about two inches and they slipped out of his grasp. The bees were MAD. They were already sick of us, but this put them over the edge. His work pants were dotted with stingers (none penetrated, I am getting some of those pants!!!) but he did get one sting on the forearm. He finished setting up the hive, and already he saw the girls sticking their butts up signaling "come home". </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Silly me. I wanted a photo of the new location, and walked near the hive from a different angle. A bee flying by got caught in my hair and walked up under my head scarf. I tried and tried to free her, but finally realized, let's just get it over with. Strangely, getting stung on the head isn't that bad. That, or I was already so full of bee venom that it didn't bug me! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The honey is selling well. The stings have all healed. That brings my lifetime sting count to nine. (one when I was five, three last year from hiving the bees, getting the Terpsi sting, and being dumb enough to put my hand on a bee on my pants), and five from this weekend. Crazy! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My yoga teacher, bless his concern. "You did not die did you?" No. I'm still here, and still a beekeeper! </div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-10634163947247361042010-07-27T22:36:00.000-07:002010-07-27T22:36:30.447-07:00Plum Wine, 2010<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Mostly because I hated to see any plums wasted (and wasn't brave enough to try canning yet!) I decided to make a plum wine. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhI84xR-vaz7zZWjJKO15cN0OlELYch7RQlR8xPtnOTI1GqTojxLUyjXNCVt3hFAZ2XVX4xrcn6Fj1_yFqvRSPpi35FfI1ykPqrhm-n0vwkTqbNPrIN6OCLGzMPX37dl_KIA3AvqfQdag/s1600/2010-06-27+20.13.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhI84xR-vaz7zZWjJKO15cN0OlELYch7RQlR8xPtnOTI1GqTojxLUyjXNCVt3hFAZ2XVX4xrcn6Fj1_yFqvRSPpi35FfI1ykPqrhm-n0vwkTqbNPrIN6OCLGzMPX37dl_KIA3AvqfQdag/s320/2010-06-27+20.13.42.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I gathered as many plums as I could from my little tree. My recipe (making about eight gallons) called for three pounds per gallon. I took the average weight of my plums, and I realized I needed about 150 plums. I called my friend C and asked if he had any plums. He did, so I ran over to his home with a bucket. We had a great time gathering plums from his much larger tree, including him climbing on the roof and throwing them down to my bucket, mostly getting them in! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMCW8T5lTfWXPWSG6v6D6sh61KSgiP-6jisc_bPQgjPiIJg0haz9Ebqy5_CVwx7Px4ip-sYhRalY6zAstMjke2vbKWMZ8aQZAJHlMCRPecWkLnDDO7vn1V8bTxwkreGMymAGQVmxzOpU/s1600/2010-06-27+20.55.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMCW8T5lTfWXPWSG6v6D6sh61KSgiP-6jisc_bPQgjPiIJg0haz9Ebqy5_CVwx7Px4ip-sYhRalY6zAstMjke2vbKWMZ8aQZAJHlMCRPecWkLnDDO7vn1V8bTxwkreGMymAGQVmxzOpU/s320/2010-06-27+20.55.26.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">With both lots, I sliced and squeezed them into the buckets. I left on the skins for color and the stones for tannins. It's messy fun work. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I took a quick Specific Gravity reading of the plums from just my house. We do this to find out the potential alcohol content. The wine needs enough alcohol to be a preservative, but too much and it's jet fuel. The Specific Gravity (or SpGr) reads the density of the sugar in the solution, also known as the brix. By knowing how much sugar we start with, we can roughly calculate how much alcohol we will end up with since we know how yeast converts sugar to alcohol. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVZHgSRKuj8PuiGqXYtuY24HrmQe-aYvafkC0P1UiTT4rrFKUKRUGV76T5vrqVbjNVP6w64Vls44N24QM4b9K9jMxd1IANePSnfdHjFqh7a-12ip7XyZvL4Gx9jk6BPxNXlv_Dlv9Py8/s1600/2010-06-29+08.24.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVZHgSRKuj8PuiGqXYtuY24HrmQe-aYvafkC0P1UiTT4rrFKUKRUGV76T5vrqVbjNVP6w64Vls44N24QM4b9K9jMxd1IANePSnfdHjFqh7a-12ip7XyZvL4Gx9jk6BPxNXlv_Dlv9Py8/s320/2010-06-29+08.24.56.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The hydrometers for beer and wine making also have potential alcohol printed on them as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhIUYiSbAFSmj-nHZ43c8Za0vashIQaiWEkWVHbz29Bb4nHsBoe9sKcRze3THTV9KLIsb8mlravSXGM8TFuHa1GeUeBls0nnYZHhyphenhyphenMG1bdcG2sRISqoU__v77LzUYejytxw9aAigvaRU/s1600/2010-06-29+08.25.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhIUYiSbAFSmj-nHZ43c8Za0vashIQaiWEkWVHbz29Bb4nHsBoe9sKcRze3THTV9KLIsb8mlravSXGM8TFuHa1GeUeBls0nnYZHhyphenhyphenMG1bdcG2sRISqoU__v77LzUYejytxw9aAigvaRU/s320/2010-06-29+08.25.10.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The plums at C's house had a closer potential alcohol of about 13%, we ended up with an overall potential alcohol of 12%, which is right where we wanted it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsts3FJTSegypq5AiHBFNGGJWUkGTLyZ6ne8r_NSFiFhGG7fMUzH_koTIv2IAKldDIK3bIpCQPqoUtcjZckry7irgOSer7tsrMbh6fXhdTjdUrfo1EDEzxA3CTGvaTPC97-qZg22qrFA4/s1600/2010-06-29+08.23.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsts3FJTSegypq5AiHBFNGGJWUkGTLyZ6ne8r_NSFiFhGG7fMUzH_koTIv2IAKldDIK3bIpCQPqoUtcjZckry7irgOSer7tsrMbh6fXhdTjdUrfo1EDEzxA3CTGvaTPC97-qZg22qrFA4/s320/2010-06-29+08.23.16.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">All of the plums, most of the bottle of orange juice, and five pounds of sugar were mixed together with boiling water and six campden tablets to sterilize. It was allowed to sit overnight. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrw6HF7YKQsovIen06P6QBmYU76RxxtJsrk77yxpcFv_KHRx9u1wFzWkI4_IGf4Ybu6qKMIpBHoAcStM2H4GpHz-GNYzJWmilPY7bJajPqh4CWKadqgKf2oYazBtlEulLYRSOuHXuhRGQ/s1600/2010-06-29+08.25.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrw6HF7YKQsovIen06P6QBmYU76RxxtJsrk77yxpcFv_KHRx9u1wFzWkI4_IGf4Ybu6qKMIpBHoAcStM2H4GpHz-GNYzJWmilPY7bJajPqh4CWKadqgKf2oYazBtlEulLYRSOuHXuhRGQ/s320/2010-06-29+08.25.25.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Before adding the yeast, I took one more SpGr reading. Mostly, I'm impressed by the color. That is pink!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxWO7eVpcHoTxO6QaevmF3SE10et8WjaoZ35gzTeiJdtlRsSwWopDtXg-6INuQDpb1hnFwtFKX-Br-ETR5MQTjYqCBIOoa4D_O2zsNVQrHU9mFeVAc_QE0KNgJfgIwiF9iff3OS2O9gQ/s1600/2010-06-29+00.13.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxWO7eVpcHoTxO6QaevmF3SE10et8WjaoZ35gzTeiJdtlRsSwWopDtXg-6INuQDpb1hnFwtFKX-Br-ETR5MQTjYqCBIOoa4D_O2zsNVQrHU9mFeVAc_QE0KNgJfgIwiF9iff3OS2O9gQ/s320/2010-06-29+00.13.31.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Yeast decision time. I read on one site "All purpose wine yeast for full bodied reds and whites, and for fruit wines. Excellent complexity. Very nice with plum, rhubarb wine, merlot, chard zinfandel." and my decision was made, Montrachet it was! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The yeast was added to some of the orange juice that was set aside, and once it was bubbling, it was added to the plum juice. Montrachet yeast is a slow yeast, which is good - I haven't had it explode on me! The morning after innoculation, it had some bubbles. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5FDF6yMLItMUy_eaEjLwNh8AZz1YguMDCU6-Sckepy2SU_adN1Pf7kRIhWus5Y2Y-1d0J-eQSA3c5gThQXYW1OwcA-lYzucUMbxqUrr0K8mdD8ktdtczgo57ij-yITW5aXoMgN3qJ4s/s1600/2010-06-29+00.10.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5FDF6yMLItMUy_eaEjLwNh8AZz1YguMDCU6-Sckepy2SU_adN1Pf7kRIhWus5Y2Y-1d0J-eQSA3c5gThQXYW1OwcA-lYzucUMbxqUrr0K8mdD8ktdtczgo57ij-yITW5aXoMgN3qJ4s/s320/2010-06-29+00.10.58.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Later that night, a proper cap had formed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjDLmjhFUb7o8M6X-QDYZ6PfUyr11S7AmrAlbQVfCub93SI1LUXQSVfdNAhMfOYWHk1wKySZOhl5CtUiVU3pElVZqIvKC-oRApWHQR1QRCWrmL4goIjDO4KsgSvKdLDeUoA48cj29i1g/s1600/2010-06-30+18.30.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjDLmjhFUb7o8M6X-QDYZ6PfUyr11S7AmrAlbQVfCub93SI1LUXQSVfdNAhMfOYWHk1wKySZOhl5CtUiVU3pElVZqIvKC-oRApWHQR1QRCWrmL4goIjDO4KsgSvKdLDeUoA48cj29i1g/s320/2010-06-30+18.30.07.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">For the next two weeks, the wine fermented away. A few times a day, the cap was punched down. (this is wine talk for "we stirred it".) After two weeks, it was ready for racking (moving) into the six gallon carboys it will age in. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">...two weeks later...</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The racking was going smoothly, but then we ran into trouble. The bulk of the free liquid was gone, and we weren't to the top of the carboy yet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4kXEDDETWqBIOa5XhYKbAECLqJEnGPvOtWKQOEhcEruSl28t8GtgBgfc-WrMMUAlXsGAbd60Gg8-eGmgAVoqhDcWRZe6ijzpJU3X5FQNgedF3LT35lpcDRYfKjOxkT4O_u9lzekelfA/s1600/2010-07-24+20.55.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4kXEDDETWqBIOa5XhYKbAECLqJEnGPvOtWKQOEhcEruSl28t8GtgBgfc-WrMMUAlXsGAbd60Gg8-eGmgAVoqhDcWRZe6ijzpJU3X5FQNgedF3LT35lpcDRYfKjOxkT4O_u9lzekelfA/s320/2010-07-24+20.55.00.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">What was left in the bucket was the leftover fruit and stones. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGt6K7xxUB1p11YsCcQoGyr9whzL3gf0R4SLONuQWVd2n_yGQKTvj8lZ7uFY2W4fhr7PLfRxh9jrZpdmaiOC43joCrVFM35kaSUP0aGUTFUtGUU9hH1Cv-6mT0cbylzlFsoopuP3jnj9E/s1600/2010-07-24+20.55.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGt6K7xxUB1p11YsCcQoGyr9whzL3gf0R4SLONuQWVd2n_yGQKTvj8lZ7uFY2W4fhr7PLfRxh9jrZpdmaiOC43joCrVFM35kaSUP0aGUTFUtGUU9hH1Cv-6mT0cbylzlFsoopuP3jnj9E/s320/2010-07-24+20.55.11.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Time to strain and then add the juice. The bad thing about this is it leads to heavy amounts of sediment, something each racking is designed to clear up, but at the cost of volume. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8xtey6TyUeF4Hp_LX4r92m87FFxkJzWsX8w4mvm0_dqiaLoweEJ3j_XhqNzyQfTHAsfdbkg17fTgCmfheuGB9N96dzxx4YBdjiyq98s-4yQdv4UbZ7SSEGAXmGezBcpnbgKtt_keBpE/s1600/2010-07-24+20.55.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8xtey6TyUeF4Hp_LX4r92m87FFxkJzWsX8w4mvm0_dqiaLoweEJ3j_XhqNzyQfTHAsfdbkg17fTgCmfheuGB9N96dzxx4YBdjiyq98s-4yQdv4UbZ7SSEGAXmGezBcpnbgKtt_keBpE/s320/2010-07-24+20.55.28.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We were able to collect enough juice to fill the carboy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl5gImM1oQ60503uMfmNZU-HfaYrXN3ytHpV0eqvs3kiyFO67x1CBC0SLRb2V9VWZHnNckZTD7Vw8j3lg3FqKiveiCFzF2AbtlzbDrayursfVq70gvAsJf6YYzRzPc7zneqGx6zFhnko/s1600/2010-07-24+21.27.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl5gImM1oQ60503uMfmNZU-HfaYrXN3ytHpV0eqvs3kiyFO67x1CBC0SLRb2V9VWZHnNckZTD7Vw8j3lg3FqKiveiCFzF2AbtlzbDrayursfVq70gvAsJf6YYzRzPc7zneqGx6zFhnko/s320/2010-07-24+21.27.55.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The 2010 plum wine was added to the other carboys for aging. We use Mardi Gras beads to label each of the wines. So pink compared to the other wines! </div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-7885945279710464312010-07-11T22:30:00.000-07:002010-07-11T22:30:48.937-07:00Camping: Samuel P Taylor<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We took off for a weekend of camping at <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=469">Samuel P. Taylor Park</a>. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Friday was for arrival, setting up camp, getting a camp fire roaring, and then eating and drinking!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5g6IOJ1kNdPEAlj_Ag06i7NAhTeB5w7GmWZ7rSNGSize4BMFZ0WdLYWZhYanJqj_yZzh1LWXpbA7rzkYir1Hw9y7iTOq-YWr3jp8RCyKx1Yx5Cl4o3nOkH-rwoY_hEWQJhU98wE4MJU/s1600/2010-07-09+20.36.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5g6IOJ1kNdPEAlj_Ag06i7NAhTeB5w7GmWZ7rSNGSize4BMFZ0WdLYWZhYanJqj_yZzh1LWXpbA7rzkYir1Hw9y7iTOq-YWr3jp8RCyKx1Yx5Cl4o3nOkH-rwoY_hEWQJhU98wE4MJU/s320/2010-07-09+20.36.04.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Saturday we went to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/pore/historyculture/people_maritime_lighthouse.htm">Point Reyes National Seashore Lighthouse</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Mp3SuEKHMKu5GgMMi8QIpaxZuHDN8y6gY8NCGVPk-c8ayj5yZjCyhB8NVQMVWP2Nsx8UX1vGcHpn5b8pL08XjW8rQQYjEBH8HACVs8_fhUCkAMvQ0xMts0WwlyhVDzUl7VHwDUV2WJg/s1600/2010-07-10+12.54.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Mp3SuEKHMKu5GgMMi8QIpaxZuHDN8y6gY8NCGVPk-c8ayj5yZjCyhB8NVQMVWP2Nsx8UX1vGcHpn5b8pL08XjW8rQQYjEBH8HACVs8_fhUCkAMvQ0xMts0WwlyhVDzUl7VHwDUV2WJg/s320/2010-07-10+12.54.26.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Looking out over the view, I wondered what was beyond the fog. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtawvet-cjYUXj4zol6e2mZ90xeCDSizcwE7XSArTsKfCvxYf_Bse7qKOg30DbQUi52EvRv2h2m0RN-7eVWPjpXh5P2wTO6Z5Yvw2X1dHKAYAPEIc5a1e9JaL_e5-RXbStnXxAusccAQ/s1600/2010-07-10+12.54.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtawvet-cjYUXj4zol6e2mZ90xeCDSizcwE7XSArTsKfCvxYf_Bse7qKOg30DbQUi52EvRv2h2m0RN-7eVWPjpXh5P2wTO6Z5Yvw2X1dHKAYAPEIc5a1e9JaL_e5-RXbStnXxAusccAQ/s320/2010-07-10+12.54.44.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">When in doubt, find a map. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYybizFuj3yGC-z3jOQY6I-gOrneK8KWDTvJrU9GRti2pixvvv2GOPeH7YEdS3qISCMrMNH_cTBqz0-kezqMf9bbcpeoR77j0nptE5w9FYj5Jg1l4sYWf0RHly1H4tTbN0U6QFqKooKFI/s1600/2010-07-10+12.54.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYybizFuj3yGC-z3jOQY6I-gOrneK8KWDTvJrU9GRti2pixvvv2GOPeH7YEdS3qISCMrMNH_cTBqz0-kezqMf9bbcpeoR77j0nptE5w9FYj5Jg1l4sYWf0RHly1H4tTbN0U6QFqKooKFI/s320/2010-07-10+12.54.53.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We asked the Ranger what it looks like on a clear day. "I don't remember!" she said with a smile. We asked if the lovely gift shop photos were photoshopped. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wjMPicFkdp93ez7F8Mssgqkjw_NNeijxyG8kG2OdoC_Ngwx7TCLCiwiIR_mPBBKI5NnX4_KDtxXGR3ou0SfYBPKXl1pOCO_eCAV4Wp7OC_QPv8xpYbNmO7_tN9ZUyo3WZvOBiRppy90/s1600/2010-07-10+13.00.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wjMPicFkdp93ez7F8Mssgqkjw_NNeijxyG8kG2OdoC_Ngwx7TCLCiwiIR_mPBBKI5NnX4_KDtxXGR3ou0SfYBPKXl1pOCO_eCAV4Wp7OC_QPv8xpYbNmO7_tN9ZUyo3WZvOBiRppy90/s320/2010-07-10+13.00.17.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Even with the fog, the wildflowers were spectacular. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The lighthouse itself is down a long flight of stairs. <a href="http://www.lighthousefriends.com/ptreyes6_2006.jpg">Stairs that begin with a warning sign</a> that says "Caution: this is a strenuous climb and equivalent to climbing up thirty stories!" We took them on. We <a href="http://www.toursanfranciscobay.com/images/tour-photos/marin.jpg">walked down</a>. And <a href="http://withoutbaggage.com/msgs/69/69354/i_69412_I2s.jpg">down</a>. And <a href="http://withoutbaggage.com/msgs/69/69354/i_69411_7R9.jpg">down</a>. (my thanks to the folks that took these photos posted on the links: they better describe the walk!) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZH1HIrrM4c7-ct1ffOOmrNoRg71P2NImNoXoqCEN1PLvguFjZpmJ9u4jOXL1vJNsm1I6PaoPLvhhRIa67XzPmp9Go4uuc-A2mqZoSoGvt6bUxNC8zakc9knvr7tJMSetTLFC5_jvZ84/s1600/2010-07-10+13.06.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZH1HIrrM4c7-ct1ffOOmrNoRg71P2NImNoXoqCEN1PLvguFjZpmJ9u4jOXL1vJNsm1I6PaoPLvhhRIa67XzPmp9Go4uuc-A2mqZoSoGvt6bUxNC8zakc9knvr7tJMSetTLFC5_jvZ84/s320/2010-07-10+13.06.36.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We arrive at the lighthouse. I couldn't tell if it was the sheer cliff drops or the walk that had my legs a bit shaky!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7nW1B7u07h1-uUenJ0LScmutYj8EXU4vzHaURbBnM96sddLM4xKCnTcczrc5JHJlcSNyOX4JldcX3k5iT-EtjoO4Nf-Ge_Ou4rfPfV0DuQg2eKGUK39BrDtmoXRbv1qy7oEWwQ2d59Q/s1600/2010-07-10+13.08.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7nW1B7u07h1-uUenJ0LScmutYj8EXU4vzHaURbBnM96sddLM4xKCnTcczrc5JHJlcSNyOX4JldcX3k5iT-EtjoO4Nf-Ge_Ou4rfPfV0DuQg2eKGUK39BrDtmoXRbv1qy7oEWwQ2d59Q/s320/2010-07-10+13.08.46.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The lighthouse is now a museum. There was a nice presentation of both information on the lighthouse and the history of the lives around it. Looking on line, there are <a href="http://www.nps.gov/pore/historyculture/people_maritime_keeperslog.htm">more entries from the keepers logs</a>. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpQrdJNw23k31NVfacbMoJpdPsgyJ6sLUfnYMeRUkxVwcrGooWFK4osAx663_ZnfxpwTr-jogCH9wZGJo4eaN0mCGuSxCwhVxCSwJkYDePEkS6OUSQYP-NvZrUoF5C5qNi8QBvwL-GuM/s1600/2010-07-10+13.12.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpQrdJNw23k31NVfacbMoJpdPsgyJ6sLUfnYMeRUkxVwcrGooWFK4osAx663_ZnfxpwTr-jogCH9wZGJo4eaN0mCGuSxCwhVxCSwJkYDePEkS6OUSQYP-NvZrUoF5C5qNi8QBvwL-GuM/s320/2010-07-10+13.12.06.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Each lighthouse, I found, has a different signal pattern to help mariners identify their location. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwPdN4h4BUAVGUCmjYWrANhzn7-LveDnJp_B4pcWWm3u9d8fizwq9xk9L2jEJPN84AeTeVlATYi6TI9eNH9yA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">There were small breaks in the fog that allowed us to look at the ocean below. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ry9Gu6zXcFQ4R3ndp1Ajn74eR-rQQcM9Zk3Iv0oWuIk3kDm-HPovGS6ESMxKIg1MW0tsSnqBozLgeEFxyA1XF_06mlTgdeGag7058KdUn7kJy7bnnxXI9KZhqaARVAATIxkhWGWSVbI/s1600/2010-07-10+13.12.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ry9Gu6zXcFQ4R3ndp1Ajn74eR-rQQcM9Zk3Iv0oWuIk3kDm-HPovGS6ESMxKIg1MW0tsSnqBozLgeEFxyA1XF_06mlTgdeGag7058KdUn7kJy7bnnxXI9KZhqaARVAATIxkhWGWSVbI/s320/2010-07-10+13.12.41.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Exploring completed (and we were chilled!), it was time to start back up the stairs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGyhjyNq8wUowWZslocLV1D6A-n-EN1ZLpaOYT2FaU0x9hdIXNLK4Ldt74H33Al-sbCrgWqTql0ef_yBJpkG3guD_3AFm-aqzto8gUkhJ14klzvVGk9qOhTZ8DiHp5epFlzk0U32VUac/s1600/2010-07-10+13.11.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGyhjyNq8wUowWZslocLV1D6A-n-EN1ZLpaOYT2FaU0x9hdIXNLK4Ldt74H33Al-sbCrgWqTql0ef_yBJpkG3guD_3AFm-aqzto8gUkhJ14klzvVGk9qOhTZ8DiHp5epFlzk0U32VUac/s320/2010-07-10+13.11.12.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">More stops to <strike>rest</strike> take photos. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgHJhoK5Qybp-viGHWxFTq6id1KilHf9c69sLHWSxkeU2_4Ys20E1kSg_pdqn5BU3S1rQaBYcse0TWXOVxnXe4rt5YyLX5yYF-CALrJqJIAhMdL-mfB6Bw8w1Ja3Ts5a0bdFrcNFpKOo/s1600/2010-07-10+13.14.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgHJhoK5Qybp-viGHWxFTq6id1KilHf9c69sLHWSxkeU2_4Ys20E1kSg_pdqn5BU3S1rQaBYcse0TWXOVxnXe4rt5YyLX5yYF-CALrJqJIAhMdL-mfB6Bw8w1Ja3Ts5a0bdFrcNFpKOo/s320/2010-07-10+13.14.37.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6hLYgm2elbkPHAYlhqG6lSJPmMRV10AeZi_86_rn15y9Ho-x3GRkLVekGbQnq7rz23A8n0Xx0hliUzeZUYFCgJ8_u4CQVr-IoIXMyPu7Se4c7iyHpbly3j9-mr73Zx_CvDLWHtUHwK4/s1600/2010-07-10+13.20.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6hLYgm2elbkPHAYlhqG6lSJPmMRV10AeZi_86_rn15y9Ho-x3GRkLVekGbQnq7rz23A8n0Xx0hliUzeZUYFCgJ8_u4CQVr-IoIXMyPu7Se4c7iyHpbly3j9-mr73Zx_CvDLWHtUHwK4/s320/2010-07-10+13.20.35.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">This alga was gorgeous! <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trentepohlia">Trentepohlia</a> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMtGN0aCOzUz_VOLJcHEpdOkiCbQq4ocukkrJmNFunonhZtKza5AxkK7px2gf-boYq-wqX4NnuLXm8QeO4DdNNhG4K3Ji4Zf5GT6BeHIOcGFNOD7a1ObCMIH8A5acCB1v0GlZ-7QZQ_w/s1600/2010-07-10+13.21.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMtGN0aCOzUz_VOLJcHEpdOkiCbQq4ocukkrJmNFunonhZtKza5AxkK7px2gf-boYq-wqX4NnuLXm8QeO4DdNNhG4K3Ji4Zf5GT6BeHIOcGFNOD7a1ObCMIH8A5acCB1v0GlZ-7QZQ_w/s320/2010-07-10+13.21.24.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Here's where we protest the "302" steps thing. See that long smooth part? It was a steep graded ramp, but didn't count in the step count! Unfair! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hmlp3WEnK9e1lUqTvkogbk5yzlviANwcA5e0Qy5Scrbuh-_Q5YyqOZE7uio_UDuJAVz840lS7FdjCNvZVdMoLS3KeEkKfPI5KPQelhy9QNei1HRcOxgSLgTufT7FXPQRn24my5QmUXk/s1600/2010-07-10+13.22.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hmlp3WEnK9e1lUqTvkogbk5yzlviANwcA5e0Qy5Scrbuh-_Q5YyqOZE7uio_UDuJAVz840lS7FdjCNvZVdMoLS3KeEkKfPI5KPQelhy9QNei1HRcOxgSLgTufT7FXPQRn24my5QmUXk/s320/2010-07-10+13.22.18.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The climb definitely warmed us up! My calves are still tender! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We left the lighthouse and headed to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/beaches.htm">Drakes Beach</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0NOumnFn1mHdMu7jgiZLSZ8USp9xlAa0CWVvYsOwggOLvtEHXf37YNVEUjEB-t7hx5xOBYuCfH9h0RsEipkwv7NZIyEC_wX8Q-BSmYTGNm8B87DhPkl-Qe_c6zQTutGj2RpWUZAIIKw/s1600/2010-07-10+15.02.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0NOumnFn1mHdMu7jgiZLSZ8USp9xlAa0CWVvYsOwggOLvtEHXf37YNVEUjEB-t7hx5xOBYuCfH9h0RsEipkwv7NZIyEC_wX8Q-BSmYTGNm8B87DhPkl-Qe_c6zQTutGj2RpWUZAIIKw/s320/2010-07-10+15.02.02.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The wide open shoreline was perfect for walking. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfGrsnJKskT4ZT9v2Gx5jszDrSBw-1Q8tVMCwhea2QfJVcTVK8qhYDmc6VYWj7pKr5azNmmVVAOeJZNBpxyykUZWNdrFc6r_1RMLfrpK7m9QB4zpeX47l8I9K6exZgY0G2ODspWZqLEk/s1600/2010-07-10+15.01.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfGrsnJKskT4ZT9v2Gx5jszDrSBw-1Q8tVMCwhea2QfJVcTVK8qhYDmc6VYWj7pKr5azNmmVVAOeJZNBpxyykUZWNdrFc6r_1RMLfrpK7m9QB4zpeX47l8I9K6exZgY0G2ODspWZqLEk/s320/2010-07-10+15.01.03.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Tide pools with sea stars.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJQMX_d61Z1PxA0mtD7VQFSjrp7MN3l3VHg8fBS2vtZhyphenhyphenc7nZ20wa0ElfmBi5PLlj_I1X4djN3V2gJ5WqiZ8Yl1zRnvYdykMmsk3oxY9adcuUmw9Srh5_IYZGhTkoEvTXJUOASHlqmUg/s1600/2010-07-10+15.02.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJQMX_d61Z1PxA0mtD7VQFSjrp7MN3l3VHg8fBS2vtZhyphenhyphenc7nZ20wa0ElfmBi5PLlj_I1X4djN3V2gJ5WqiZ8Yl1zRnvYdykMmsk3oxY9adcuUmw9Srh5_IYZGhTkoEvTXJUOASHlqmUg/s320/2010-07-10+15.02.10.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9ujSCermKHbjmhW_6oHrA10IlcVFF0m92Fy4DJ5kyAKsv6IThRkm7Ya6XoAaADR6_GLLRjQRa9AP4ne5ctKeg_KpQncHelijw5CfbsIg6cr_VfTrCECi8rn3AmdVrVt9hc5pWYRre9E/s1600/2010-07-10+15.02.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9ujSCermKHbjmhW_6oHrA10IlcVFF0m92Fy4DJ5kyAKsv6IThRkm7Ya6XoAaADR6_GLLRjQRa9AP4ne5ctKeg_KpQncHelijw5CfbsIg6cr_VfTrCECi8rn3AmdVrVt9hc5pWYRre9E/s320/2010-07-10+15.02.20.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The water was shockingly cold and refreshing! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjDr7IRFYmZrvprmH5RkxgkiPs3rWMUdJibwzhlyus17c2NGYy6nA6ZLxwlYMeXf59aE5ZJjSRx4CfS3os3p6ZMHcIN6Wrt1JB_zaTSfAjCqUESFOWXwLCJ5xDLoH9dRZQB3JSxxhehc/s1600/2010-07-10+15.02.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjDr7IRFYmZrvprmH5RkxgkiPs3rWMUdJibwzhlyus17c2NGYy6nA6ZLxwlYMeXf59aE5ZJjSRx4CfS3os3p6ZMHcIN6Wrt1JB_zaTSfAjCqUESFOWXwLCJ5xDLoH9dRZQB3JSxxhehc/s320/2010-07-10+15.02.59.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The cliffs were striking. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIa5-PVV_a2QQLiCmrbXmOnR6dzqRV51IKzfYuzvdACP_GmCCjMMEdYshr4bYGnUBNzy63TkvhAbrDpFwGvcMeyt-qf8OUAdSFODKCyDebDAbETaRImwuACGcVW6nVZw0AsFNxE-oGyQ/s1600/2010-07-10+15.06.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIa5-PVV_a2QQLiCmrbXmOnR6dzqRV51IKzfYuzvdACP_GmCCjMMEdYshr4bYGnUBNzy63TkvhAbrDpFwGvcMeyt-qf8OUAdSFODKCyDebDAbETaRImwuACGcVW6nVZw0AsFNxE-oGyQ/s320/2010-07-10+15.06.10.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I enjoyed how smooth the transition between ocean and sand and tide pools were. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We left the cool seashore and headed back into town. We stopped in Point Reyes Station to check out <a href="http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/">Cowgirl Creamery</a>. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGrNji1bSsgv_pxH0KYhAk78uLnwr0AUoqbxxH37gwqYU6v3K32369kYr01gQ1QyYpy0NPZiPiHkKua8YpTAXrRwASULhGEl0OfauDmzmFqeLHmxNfON8u3FimWd9ervr0dkdPO5IL5M/s1600/2010-07-10+16.29.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGrNji1bSsgv_pxH0KYhAk78uLnwr0AUoqbxxH37gwqYU6v3K32369kYr01gQ1QyYpy0NPZiPiHkKua8YpTAXrRwASULhGEl0OfauDmzmFqeLHmxNfON8u3FimWd9ervr0dkdPO5IL5M/s320/2010-07-10+16.29.09.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdq2Ml9h-wzxH4vfuLiumfgtTE4bLIXxUHhCLnhZxqmIcrpKp_McRo6QsO5rzjkjn_m7Baso9jEWcIGFTl1i6wzMjFmWQBW0_REaB7b7C0wxTBQTgFjiCA85eSwXiHyFDW1pArY_KhuvA/s1600/2010-07-10+16.29.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdq2Ml9h-wzxH4vfuLiumfgtTE4bLIXxUHhCLnhZxqmIcrpKp_McRo6QsO5rzjkjn_m7Baso9jEWcIGFTl1i6wzMjFmWQBW0_REaB7b7C0wxTBQTgFjiCA85eSwXiHyFDW1pArY_KhuvA/s320/2010-07-10+16.29.17.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cyv_fNX47CeT7EJAnnle_3D_WgwoKvNNd6cQ5IX14rc1s5TrznvToS6RWmSuI-FUn7MsnFNFGt7jlfOVximZSTOAG78sJ36EMHgGeBm6jTk1erQXKO1qBfa2JT8Qmwfo-mub2iYH9Mg/s1600/2010-07-10+16.29.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cyv_fNX47CeT7EJAnnle_3D_WgwoKvNNd6cQ5IX14rc1s5TrznvToS6RWmSuI-FUn7MsnFNFGt7jlfOVximZSTOAG78sJ36EMHgGeBm6jTk1erQXKO1qBfa2JT8Qmwfo-mub2iYH9Mg/s320/2010-07-10+16.29.27.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Oh, yum! We behaved ourselves, only sampling the fresh cheve. Delicious!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">A full day of adventures, we headed back to the campsite for dinner. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXynUeA3f1dJTEpe32ZC9g9i3KniCK_CNWABIijOdifTxaXxf4ZKUpLYucT5tPRtiAJPud-v3Ily60xINYGgf867z7OlDVj-KED5TwfPX6uwXBhIqkYdJxui1ExiF1Zqv2Jm5f_LlYsU0/s1600/2010-07-10+18.50.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXynUeA3f1dJTEpe32ZC9g9i3KniCK_CNWABIijOdifTxaXxf4ZKUpLYucT5tPRtiAJPud-v3Ily60xINYGgf867z7OlDVj-KED5TwfPX6uwXBhIqkYdJxui1ExiF1Zqv2Jm5f_LlYsU0/s320/2010-07-10+18.50.58.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Now that is one of my favorite parts of camping! Was thrilled that dinner included zucchini, cucumbers, and lettuce from our gardens. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQXOBpqaxIrr8zfJXTd8lrNEEjF2Ac8-I1ngc885AF8l4QhgkWz2QdTg8IUa5eZDfgMOMIB7kI60CXP48NeGKrP1Wov8Cv_6kdaEiOLnjl9kx0aYa9dsT_lAAulV0wSbSWk_de7Xchco/s1600/2010-07-10+20.16.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQXOBpqaxIrr8zfJXTd8lrNEEjF2Ac8-I1ngc885AF8l4QhgkWz2QdTg8IUa5eZDfgMOMIB7kI60CXP48NeGKrP1Wov8Cv_6kdaEiOLnjl9kx0aYa9dsT_lAAulV0wSbSWk_de7Xchco/s320/2010-07-10+20.16.03.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Most of my friends have been turned off of s'mores completely. Years ago I had gourmet s'mores at the <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/sonoma">Sonoma Mission Inn</a>, which converted me to an adult s'mores believer! I'm happy to say that I have converted more folks this weekend. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_Q-PtUEPqQik0Q988uy9PlBeYd9evIli_apkUni168eHEyZt9vr47sYhH-rFrG1bWHgg7qdtFxcb-eA3i_WKEL12Oj1t7TF8KSI2sGkWbCzvR-XKTz5lG_e6NOY1ZiOjlUhyVByItmc/s1600/2010-07-10+20.34.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_Q-PtUEPqQik0Q988uy9PlBeYd9evIli_apkUni168eHEyZt9vr47sYhH-rFrG1bWHgg7qdtFxcb-eA3i_WKEL12Oj1t7TF8KSI2sGkWbCzvR-XKTz5lG_e6NOY1ZiOjlUhyVByItmc/s320/2010-07-10+20.34.46.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">To soften the chocolate, we tried getting the cracker and chocolate closer to the heat. We found this got things a bit *too* warm! Ah well, always a work in progress! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Sunday was for cleaning up and breaking down. We enjoyed breakfast before heading down Highway 1 for home. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoTtP2wY80HqJtYAEv9zFNZu6S0J3fy5qLHbDR5rh8vlkMZXe6_EnlFCjQTjPIdxzMAy2eBR2EhbrgdO2wVUe7e6l6U73UUZAKuVS5a7Fq_pDidj_PbDszuVJOHEeMC6YDoVd4JL3CLg/s1600/2010-07-11+13.51.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoTtP2wY80HqJtYAEv9zFNZu6S0J3fy5qLHbDR5rh8vlkMZXe6_EnlFCjQTjPIdxzMAy2eBR2EhbrgdO2wVUe7e6l6U73UUZAKuVS5a7Fq_pDidj_PbDszuVJOHEeMC6YDoVd4JL3CLg/s320/2010-07-11+13.51.51.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">A great weekend!</div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-81173441299540591362010-07-11T21:17:00.000-07:002010-07-11T21:34:04.601-07:00summer explosion in the garden.<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The cool and wet spring has given way to a warm and sunny summer. Our own little corner of the world is experiencing a typical season: foggy cool mornings, clear and sunny afternoons with temperatures about 70 - 80 Fahrenheit. I spent some time watering and weeding, and taking some photos. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraf-Xja8dXR-lfL9Y5uaaHs8kYO8NzPBUu9T9aYxfLGFk3QODL3_8J5jJwacB2P9fx5kSBHvS06gwiH4cFEPyMqSuGeL6DqCLrzZ9rf2vhQAHijDoSO7SNYpkR5v0saf7__ApL0YF3NE/s1600/2010-07-05+14.06.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraf-Xja8dXR-lfL9Y5uaaHs8kYO8NzPBUu9T9aYxfLGFk3QODL3_8J5jJwacB2P9fx5kSBHvS06gwiH4cFEPyMqSuGeL6DqCLrzZ9rf2vhQAHijDoSO7SNYpkR5v0saf7__ApL0YF3NE/s320/2010-07-05+14.06.45.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was feeling frustrated as I keep finding plums that look like this. Could be the raccoons, and we've seen birds also going for the fruit. As I scooped half-eaten plums from the ground and into the compost bucket, I wondered if all the work was worth it. And as I kept working, I found yes - it's very worth it. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEARNzbQ3c5yUFKfI0vqfi5xDVc1XnqN1OGexQv9Bhw7i9fHouDfvwzpdsqgCWvcDtUEh9dVJXFlGEUQJYAgYq0Dbiwx-kcZBnhs3wF7lEe9Ks5mqYTpBfzuDXIg7S9pb7ETiqdwDr6ek/s1600/2010-07-05+14.05.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEARNzbQ3c5yUFKfI0vqfi5xDVc1XnqN1OGexQv9Bhw7i9fHouDfvwzpdsqgCWvcDtUEh9dVJXFlGEUQJYAgYq0Dbiwx-kcZBnhs3wF7lEe9Ks5mqYTpBfzuDXIg7S9pb7ETiqdwDr6ek/s320/2010-07-05+14.05.04.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDf65f1BXuAjZL5SJKHYSp27_Sc5QdCNqKA001qe8__ZQxf-nJLjIihP9lPqZJnOwWYGbUKfyJqjGalmXqNycGajBA3iAEFejh_Jc4f8SSlze2LAxIZCu0nFr_7oP4gcG0gqp0RB456v4/s1600/2010-07-05+14.05.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDf65f1BXuAjZL5SJKHYSp27_Sc5QdCNqKA001qe8__ZQxf-nJLjIihP9lPqZJnOwWYGbUKfyJqjGalmXqNycGajBA3iAEFejh_Jc4f8SSlze2LAxIZCu0nFr_7oP4gcG0gqp0RB456v4/s320/2010-07-05+14.05.25.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOBL8ASmtTN5Bw9BSqpGxoFWG1oeW3VwkVMs7zV5WaXq03V3hIkNNO3ibZQ2U7IlxIhv5xCfeQZN7U2mgspzf3CoxTRrdM6ory-SkJCxXvC4DPFWr4hYVBHtuq4IqIt_45CYgBTWb3X4/s1600/2010-07-05+14.06.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOBL8ASmtTN5Bw9BSqpGxoFWG1oeW3VwkVMs7zV5WaXq03V3hIkNNO3ibZQ2U7IlxIhv5xCfeQZN7U2mgspzf3CoxTRrdM6ory-SkJCxXvC4DPFWr4hYVBHtuq4IqIt_45CYgBTWb3X4/s320/2010-07-05+14.06.18.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixq5bjQSdvPkZMHfVBAx8rBQYP4o2DPDP_XNNb9acBdc5w2fMg97MJJjnrD6DnUDCBn1ubXIJQ8hWQ9cPGxixsQRHOTQA4T_dETGgD2AdELL3oEHW8aMMXPl45QRCvXfFMJJz-NcXk3rc/s1600/2010-07-05+14.19.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixq5bjQSdvPkZMHfVBAx8rBQYP4o2DPDP_XNNb9acBdc5w2fMg97MJJjnrD6DnUDCBn1ubXIJQ8hWQ9cPGxixsQRHOTQA4T_dETGgD2AdELL3oEHW8aMMXPl45QRCvXfFMJJz-NcXk3rc/s320/2010-07-05+14.19.47.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a honeybee in the marjoram and oregeno</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTXTWsgcUTcvJ2NYHCOUumnxFRCakD9kiAu5TR1ei74AQuN7CZe2pFBBJq8BQtrhKqpYM_N1HewzFkN8YCUBpmfU70eHnUBZ8aVaj8tpADNGaSoy6MuUUfFuLkRmHqNHljZ781ecZNvE/s1600/2010-07-05+14.20.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTXTWsgcUTcvJ2NYHCOUumnxFRCakD9kiAu5TR1ei74AQuN7CZe2pFBBJq8BQtrhKqpYM_N1HewzFkN8YCUBpmfU70eHnUBZ8aVaj8tpADNGaSoy6MuUUfFuLkRmHqNHljZ781ecZNvE/s320/2010-07-05+14.20.32.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmGdqBy5_srUUIxw456_g1p4Jt5ePBwq1q_5Q5UwDd3jrMK7Balcdg5zLLXdOXpUMJDQBUXls0lH1-lN4s2MEE3cK1y1MN6epQHi9uLqdzkcar6_eWmuycqsof3GjyBhtXXrDOOgNjD4/s1600/2010-07-05+14.20.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmGdqBy5_srUUIxw456_g1p4Jt5ePBwq1q_5Q5UwDd3jrMK7Balcdg5zLLXdOXpUMJDQBUXls0lH1-lN4s2MEE3cK1y1MN6epQHi9uLqdzkcar6_eWmuycqsof3GjyBhtXXrDOOgNjD4/s320/2010-07-05+14.20.51.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibft2ZRP3knSquhCtfUtQ4LbHcpfORuRYTbE-PdS38IPMJ4wmBeAbp7gm6_x-6xF7GiuuD1a27XzIGR4PZZTWxd2pZHeo9v9bNBmkx9L8-ql0BwigUb3GRj-6wcsB7IqDbQKuTSxI6BGk/s1600/2010-07-05+14.21.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibft2ZRP3knSquhCtfUtQ4LbHcpfORuRYTbE-PdS38IPMJ4wmBeAbp7gm6_x-6xF7GiuuD1a27XzIGR4PZZTWxd2pZHeo9v9bNBmkx9L8-ql0BwigUb3GRj-6wcsB7IqDbQKuTSxI6BGk/s320/2010-07-05+14.21.14.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaMyOuURY3bMIpjGFZGMn8bpeHtxKSRPVZlXKzvzaiHpU9UmbQ0BvGA53t93WWWXved8q8zW9HPfLJeouoQTeDzECpma1qvJHmn4n-LhlE7SWAhceJHplK9tqIWjKV22i-AuuYDkqKUY/s1600/2010-07-05+14.21.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaMyOuURY3bMIpjGFZGMn8bpeHtxKSRPVZlXKzvzaiHpU9UmbQ0BvGA53t93WWWXved8q8zW9HPfLJeouoQTeDzECpma1qvJHmn4n-LhlE7SWAhceJHplK9tqIWjKV22i-AuuYDkqKUY/s320/2010-07-05+14.21.30.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGysCz-MFFyuMwX88luRmAQVt2aJFzs7zPi3b4U3BWntsDapHc9_AH5mWVTcj8kjQh5RxBEwkMsurx2nyuEUGDjwKtQmFicUtZCQyfhTjsv7XA4BTZ8rJxsYpcryJaRojoirygvVlvbZg/s1600/2010-07-05+14.23.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGysCz-MFFyuMwX88luRmAQVt2aJFzs7zPi3b4U3BWntsDapHc9_AH5mWVTcj8kjQh5RxBEwkMsurx2nyuEUGDjwKtQmFicUtZCQyfhTjsv7XA4BTZ8rJxsYpcryJaRojoirygvVlvbZg/s320/2010-07-05+14.23.31.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">soybeans! I can't believe it, this is the first time I've been able to grow one of these from seed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV99O70SL4X1p1XrFLy07aUwtyCYAOa5lRMyKiYw4N2NJNBlCOMO1upQBeYjBplQbw4CgUcJ_XPRAJFPLpNusHKWd30oRWioVTqq61jgoBa3onJ2WMANKjKsb1bCQpA2ao0mTHmGcJVTM/s1600/2010-07-05+14.35.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV99O70SL4X1p1XrFLy07aUwtyCYAOa5lRMyKiYw4N2NJNBlCOMO1upQBeYjBplQbw4CgUcJ_XPRAJFPLpNusHKWd30oRWioVTqq61jgoBa3onJ2WMANKjKsb1bCQpA2ao0mTHmGcJVTM/s320/2010-07-05+14.35.30.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrcUbubljzWKacHBwNeKeB5_Z_Fl-mW86KtWmBDehl8isRWeT_TBcDt27M4mKaBNSwllOciSiUISMpzxRZaJEDkpZBi_upW1DgtL7qJ-sIp1u1YTWq92XMXPmZ7VV5YglzpRyJlORY5w/s1600/2010-07-05+14.52.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrcUbubljzWKacHBwNeKeB5_Z_Fl-mW86KtWmBDehl8isRWeT_TBcDt27M4mKaBNSwllOciSiUISMpzxRZaJEDkpZBi_upW1DgtL7qJ-sIp1u1YTWq92XMXPmZ7VV5YglzpRyJlORY5w/s320/2010-07-05+14.52.08.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Literally, the fruits of a days work. Well worth it! Turns out that was the last of the plums.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A week later, I return from camping and find that our tomatoes are begining to ripen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRkgr3a4kqNerj68t2AgIUVuKl58vA6TTxDoNhDJ6zXCuQyCTrN8ZGy9inX7fKlGW8stkHw21dT7C9oN7Io3wIakHqB5xG5VCxNvpEI1fXR4PNX4VDKHhBueDX58BJewFmgNgwKFjHPI/s1600/2010-07-11+19.25.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRkgr3a4kqNerj68t2AgIUVuKl58vA6TTxDoNhDJ6zXCuQyCTrN8ZGy9inX7fKlGW8stkHw21dT7C9oN7Io3wIakHqB5xG5VCxNvpEI1fXR4PNX4VDKHhBueDX58BJewFmgNgwKFjHPI/s320/2010-07-11+19.25.47.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Delicious!</span></div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-84221252568014068672010-06-26T22:19:00.000-07:002010-06-26T22:19:41.574-07:00Bottling wine<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">In anticipation of the summer fruits, I bottled our Pomegranate 2007 wine into bottles. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">First, the bottles are soaked in a potassium metabisulfate solution. (very dilute!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIq3HC701wpMAdISPPEp1msMTTUhRggqNYxKIHai5Jy0EDW_OVaKrJ9yJ1T7PAeI5FY4-GHJ-_l5_9RABcbEabBdTb6zbDg5QtPwqnny3rLV0Jd2w-4yh_C544nJ8vNKIz9nLMGb0H7w/s1600/2010-06-26+15.10.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIq3HC701wpMAdISPPEp1msMTTUhRggqNYxKIHai5Jy0EDW_OVaKrJ9yJ1T7PAeI5FY4-GHJ-_l5_9RABcbEabBdTb6zbDg5QtPwqnny3rLV0Jd2w-4yh_C544nJ8vNKIz9nLMGb0H7w/s320/2010-06-26+15.10.07.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The corks are also soaked to soften them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhkEGIde4dxDkeKPsIbapHYx7Ywmu_BIDaNtJfPv1AIjhxpr8iHmdXvDjeqbYEc0ppIIepvcudhOILSERp-06FQqvnb4oZwTTfpbKXkx46-wiDm1AiNxdtCEn8gPk4T_ltY1nLwCFaOI/s1600/2010-06-26+15.10.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhkEGIde4dxDkeKPsIbapHYx7Ywmu_BIDaNtJfPv1AIjhxpr8iHmdXvDjeqbYEc0ppIIepvcudhOILSERp-06FQqvnb4oZwTTfpbKXkx46-wiDm1AiNxdtCEn8gPk4T_ltY1nLwCFaOI/s320/2010-06-26+15.10.20.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The carboy (it's a six gallon glass carboy) is moved to the counter to allow sediment to settle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqjx3n600_YO8RiC5b9HrHXLTdT2KV0wlwzLiCj0ykAND3FXHrbJg79Bs36ImerNPHMc4rUvlFFwIQkKE0rmstnyrtpLkHa1TZsElvD0kZvNmuIeSPD6krlTCKo9SxsqCx3QLnCa0hBg/s1600/2010-06-26+15.10.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqjx3n600_YO8RiC5b9HrHXLTdT2KV0wlwzLiCj0ykAND3FXHrbJg79Bs36ImerNPHMc4rUvlFFwIQkKE0rmstnyrtpLkHa1TZsElvD0kZvNmuIeSPD6krlTCKo9SxsqCx3QLnCa0hBg/s320/2010-06-26+15.10.26.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">One at a time, wine is siphoned carboy to bottle. The red thing is the hand corker. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFL_NajtbiFN1knhf2mMiWVNf3uLjpo41LaD7dIwhPYdERcQxH-Q-NwiiDZxzkSiZE_DjIt0jADt1HqIATBl84ysIsJ3eaZ5lKImXQtMhcBAHoIA_jojlZlqUbqHJYwcpa4f7bhtXhEA/s1600/2010-06-26+17.58.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFL_NajtbiFN1knhf2mMiWVNf3uLjpo41LaD7dIwhPYdERcQxH-Q-NwiiDZxzkSiZE_DjIt0jADt1HqIATBl84ysIsJ3eaZ5lKImXQtMhcBAHoIA_jojlZlqUbqHJYwcpa4f7bhtXhEA/s320/2010-06-26+17.58.09.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The job is done quickly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KYnyFkBouLaxfpvOCwJjuquDESIk-MoaHLgMa-PhK4-4w2XAQU7_ixDef9_-jICGvUCQe7FPIPHm5k1hzGnip4mROOWpTB5Dwfm_zraqvycfzuYuKJM4OwcPXq9wnthA9uDqIetJX1c/s1600/2010-06-26+19.02.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KYnyFkBouLaxfpvOCwJjuquDESIk-MoaHLgMa-PhK4-4w2XAQU7_ixDef9_-jICGvUCQe7FPIPHm5k1hzGnip4mROOWpTB5Dwfm_zraqvycfzuYuKJM4OwcPXq9wnthA9uDqIetJX1c/s320/2010-06-26+19.02.04.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Poor light, but one shot for color. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NeeKoAANu6SpBff2qGsChRDiBFWSwSZ4GvL7FyRuLWoGATE7OhJzl-75LIH5D_qa8vgZ4M9l69vPN_iJNUps0OpMCqlGRPTD7RhZwiuhPqHa36Oavj4T_6YTLF0fRUZtEMa28gkipew/s1600/2010-06-26+18.58.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NeeKoAANu6SpBff2qGsChRDiBFWSwSZ4GvL7FyRuLWoGATE7OhJzl-75LIH5D_qa8vgZ4M9l69vPN_iJNUps0OpMCqlGRPTD7RhZwiuhPqHa36Oavj4T_6YTLF0fRUZtEMa28gkipew/s320/2010-06-26+18.58.47.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Planning for a bike ride and perhaps making some plum wine tomorrow. Summer is finally here!</div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-22002242142218217022010-05-09T09:46:00.000-07:002010-05-09T09:46:17.678-07:00Capturing a swarm<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was at work Monday morning when one of our groundskeepers, Scott, knocked on my door. "A swarm has just landed in a tree! You were the first person I thought of!" </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I followed him out of the building and towards a nearby tree. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><a name='more'></a><span id="goog_639631552" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span id="goog_639631553" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDD_5Rquuje4O3zDHphuFLZhlqy52x8mOWdN2LB-Os3_f8bHcZxL8hQJSFEpe27MkVBVOMx5QN19Tj98iqp4g3SPqChWcvS5MtjOz8fPuMwcC2L8Q4vDfIQQ4rGDeVJOnFIYGoRdtoGQ/s1600/2010-05-03+11.30.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDD_5Rquuje4O3zDHphuFLZhlqy52x8mOWdN2LB-Os3_f8bHcZxL8hQJSFEpe27MkVBVOMx5QN19Tj98iqp4g3SPqChWcvS5MtjOz8fPuMwcC2L8Q4vDfIQQ4rGDeVJOnFIYGoRdtoGQ/s320/2010-05-03+11.30.29.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the middle of the photo there's the cluster of bees. This is a young redwood tree. Not knowing how long the swarm would stay, I knew we needed to act quickly. M does not have a cell phone (argh!), but he had mentioned that he'd be going to check on Erato. Perfect! C does, I called him, M was there, and he promised to be at the campus in an hour. I said I'd look for a ladder and a box for the swarm to go in. I'm glad most of my co-workers know I am a train / bike or train / walk commuter and did not ask why I didn't have my jacket. ;) </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The great thing about working on a college campus is the Facilities group. They have the good toys. We arranged to meet up in an hour, and I was impressed by what they brought - a lift machine! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ci479IJBMEhetyEttQPSa8F-3K_k7ayFBJjBCCES4iQLNp6BckwYyDySJz1ONbtOTMbVE25naYH7fGc3DPf-eoTWtCZeEL7YIkJ2XzjvC-Xg4O6O5nuCFOBmb-mzr8lDoyZRoLMWyfg/s1600/2010-05-03+12.48.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ci479IJBMEhetyEttQPSa8F-3K_k7ayFBJjBCCES4iQLNp6BckwYyDySJz1ONbtOTMbVE25naYH7fGc3DPf-eoTWtCZeEL7YIkJ2XzjvC-Xg4O6O5nuCFOBmb-mzr8lDoyZRoLMWyfg/s320/2010-05-03+12.48.35.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">M gave directions to Scooter on the ground. Scooter was a pro at this - he got M to the swarm exactly without damaging the tree. Later M would tell me that he wants that lift. Ha! It would make life easy! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2cAci2-IkVgWRhm-n1Bb0KhtwqS-jKwW6M7n9RBGsxaZkEdp1fqd_3_Y3MAaN5jLrpsUR0MR3EPKNGMQyuNUr8OqQcxRcly8ck6lhUUZyPsjawp14bmVD6j8Yy5FUaB-EuAXPgDJqR8/s1600/2010-05-03+12.49.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2cAci2-IkVgWRhm-n1Bb0KhtwqS-jKwW6M7n9RBGsxaZkEdp1fqd_3_Y3MAaN5jLrpsUR0MR3EPKNGMQyuNUr8OqQcxRcly8ck6lhUUZyPsjawp14bmVD6j8Yy5FUaB-EuAXPgDJqR8/s320/2010-05-03+12.49.30.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was super proud of the other Facilities members that bravely hung out. They were under the swarm at several times. Overall, they were excited and thought it was "cool!" </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI49FEMx5-0yVXhPr9OOGridiq5Mz9ui7BPirwWfgFJUlm0Bf28LN6r-hgSbBvlXJoobTEiFH0s1cgsCQv5mKXkffbvxqOR_Y_WotwW47UaJ1mZVzl5LljIHyWxaqItP8HYx4EegqyIQ/s1600/2010-05-03+12.50.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI49FEMx5-0yVXhPr9OOGridiq5Mz9ui7BPirwWfgFJUlm0Bf28LN6r-hgSbBvlXJoobTEiFH0s1cgsCQv5mKXkffbvxqOR_Y_WotwW47UaJ1mZVzl5LljIHyWxaqItP8HYx4EegqyIQ/s320/2010-05-03+12.50.06.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The smoker is up there with him. The lift is fine! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg-8mfu_bpX6z-KEmQLj66iFYKDqLKl67X8LXGP9JyrsTcUbZSYrclACIrLkVoMNzuMGVjQRFhsIbA88VFMoDDDapv7CzZlqw75Gt2Zf3xe5XeTqn_uAav079NA4oypNCbprYKKPcoHw/s1600/2010-05-03+12.51.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg-8mfu_bpX6z-KEmQLj66iFYKDqLKl67X8LXGP9JyrsTcUbZSYrclACIrLkVoMNzuMGVjQRFhsIbA88VFMoDDDapv7CzZlqw75Gt2Zf3xe5XeTqn_uAav079NA4oypNCbprYKKPcoHw/s320/2010-05-03+12.51.12.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Do you have another box?" Uhoh. He wasn't completely sure the queen was in the first box, so there was a mad scramble to find a second box. Monday is a bad day for this - all of our cardboard recycling has been removed. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We did manage to find a second box, thrown to us from the second floor of the campus center. By now, we had attracted a fair amount of attention. Most of it was oblivious, folks were confused by the path between two buildings being closed by the lift. I keep thinking there's a perception filter with regards to bees: folks choose not to see them. (Happily, not a single sting was reported.) </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJAYUuDbBu4LWc0ST5bdt1IV69BfaHpYCnNExIlsTOlSS3dem-8gd9x3SyIjcGbR3Bkv37aQ5y43PL8FytCSvbNMtskft4pTVptQ5EaUiFaqFjEIh_nq1-ty27_lMRmKwmwwpjEwBdvw/s1600/2010-05-03+12.59.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJAYUuDbBu4LWc0ST5bdt1IV69BfaHpYCnNExIlsTOlSS3dem-8gd9x3SyIjcGbR3Bkv37aQ5y43PL8FytCSvbNMtskft4pTVptQ5EaUiFaqFjEIh_nq1-ty27_lMRmKwmwwpjEwBdvw/s320/2010-05-03+12.59.35.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Done! The boxes each have a frame of honey in them (thank you Urania 2!) to feed the girls. I heard later that they were very contentedly sipping up the honey. I imagine they were tired from their flight and happy to have a taste of home, where ever that home was. It ended up the first box (the red one) did capture the queen, the boxes were left next to each other Monday afternoon and all of the bees found a way to escape the brown box and a way into the red one. Such loyalty! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This was more work than the <a href="http://seedsinthecity.blogspot.com/2010/03/free-bees.html">first swarm we captured</a>. I still think it's a pretty great example of how good a swarm capture can be. I'm thrilled Scott told me about the swarm (we gave him a jar of honey as thanks, a finders fee). I'm grateful I work with folks that are willing to lend a hand to see insects saved. I'm glad no one thought the best thing was a can of insecticide. Knowing how overworked and in demand our facilities guys are, I'm grateful for their support. Really glad I was able to find M and give these bees a hopefully happier story. And to the bees, yay! Welcome, hive #21!!!</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(And Happy Mother's Day to all of those Queens, mother to so many productive and gorgeous golden bees! Happy Mother's Day to all beekeepers, who provide food, shelter, and love. Happy Mother's Day to all beings everywhere that nurture anything!) </div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-80124990819500028272010-04-20T21:34:00.000-07:002010-04-20T21:34:07.131-07:00Virgil said that the bees "partake of an Essence Divine and drink Heaven's well-springs."<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">It's been a very busy April so far. And we are left with muses! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fshRM1KKhzCDMLBkDbn0wQHd7hpzIjJk621oGzvg7P7xhmgoriMEzPVWlTZJT1eg0OOvMGYa5bSPI_iCQzdymZVrBzyZOrgmtfccA0Q09RWibaBGWCOhbMkF-cY1MJbO3qo-8rd7nj4/s1600/2010-04-17+14.46.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fshRM1KKhzCDMLBkDbn0wQHd7hpzIjJk621oGzvg7P7xhmgoriMEzPVWlTZJT1eg0OOvMGYa5bSPI_iCQzdymZVrBzyZOrgmtfccA0Q09RWibaBGWCOhbMkF-cY1MJbO3qo-8rd7nj4/s320/2010-04-17+14.46.24.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urania">Urania</a>. The hive at my own house, from her we harvested over 150 pounds of honey last year. The hive died off around the new year, but then a swarm found the hive and is living there now. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAATwYvBGEGwLn9W8vsUMIs4Zfd-kz_I7j-AnKxwX4LX4JT3FnU_fIy0DEjtbJk7OCiBXiFUo9AsNdq5S0PMtbXaEGRAE_ILe6adsmMYOyEX8BlWZ_KgW-3Rxd-02O4Bqc1ze85CkxuQE/s1600/beek+me.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAATwYvBGEGwLn9W8vsUMIs4Zfd-kz_I7j-AnKxwX4LX4JT3FnU_fIy0DEjtbJk7OCiBXiFUo9AsNdq5S0PMtbXaEGRAE_ILe6adsmMYOyEX8BlWZ_KgW-3Rxd-02O4Bqc1ze85CkxuQE/s320/beek+me.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terpsichore">Terpsichore</a>. Now a year old, going strong and recently given a new hive remodel. She's a strong hive and likely to be our next harvest. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPz_io10MnvRb1KPvM5Z40t2nmPEbAgsx6fTCRfmpiCcoAIr5ZLlUKco2U5h4kvWKRdyn1c3G1fKTyspqj7MoSFh64edW994OGcYv24UcgfHzwKd7kuFCBUpk9_qQ2Pf01FuxB3vSAKc/s1600/2010-04-03+17.18.12%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPz_io10MnvRb1KPvM5Z40t2nmPEbAgsx6fTCRfmpiCcoAIr5ZLlUKco2U5h4kvWKRdyn1c3G1fKTyspqj7MoSFh64edW994OGcYv24UcgfHzwKd7kuFCBUpk9_qQ2Pf01FuxB3vSAKc/s320/2010-04-03+17.18.12%282%29.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalia">Thalia</a>. Four hives in this grassy meadow. I'm charmed by the stories the name Thalia brought out from the property owners. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ga0ntt66zYQNgBtjAzppN_8rSZwIu50bb1GhfrRQ2UiS7670y7ZL8Rw9znuxO6uBtSnoHb2ghL0Z4y4HHhR_daONGDMqRyNUfJ9cke6EzZnALWXiGxDjrHIcjT7XC_AxL_r6ZsG_Xt8/s1600/2010-04-06+18.18.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ga0ntt66zYQNgBtjAzppN_8rSZwIu50bb1GhfrRQ2UiS7670y7ZL8Rw9znuxO6uBtSnoHb2ghL0Z4y4HHhR_daONGDMqRyNUfJ9cke6EzZnALWXiGxDjrHIcjT7XC_AxL_r6ZsG_Xt8/s320/2010-04-06+18.18.49.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyhymnia">Polyhymnia</a>. Six hives on a sunny hillside surrounded by a peaceful retreat. Fruit trees, berries, gardens and more. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HRs20LuRd7A04DlX4H4bOPsdQuxBrwT8tMEnpabDvR1wiD0DnsQa2D22eDX27QhzgWqjKhYZPn0mQ8vFF1L7oRXTPOrsgftDnNYfoGgQMP8-TI54p7HoFpKkEBpqpTcdqHLLxaLLk_o/s1600/2010-04-17+17.46.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HRs20LuRd7A04DlX4H4bOPsdQuxBrwT8tMEnpabDvR1wiD0DnsQa2D22eDX27QhzgWqjKhYZPn0mQ8vFF1L7oRXTPOrsgftDnNYfoGgQMP8-TI54p7HoFpKkEBpqpTcdqHLLxaLLk_o/s320/2010-04-17+17.46.37.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">It's either <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliope">Calliope</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clio">Clio</a>. Four hives in a sun drenched agricultural area. An organic farm is a few miles away, the goal is to add more hives in this area. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3f4iCSzjL76hXKrZ1LdWQ0m9Fzxkp6qkgmz5lYtYNK9Ju6gLtKqdrCXibzB8ojyQ0Jqil452Do_ROtVrx1Ryklc_eYf_Om7Em1cpAZpxm1lQrUXZziY7u2CuG3u0jDO2svy5iyOgCKs/s1600/2010-04-18+19.16.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3f4iCSzjL76hXKrZ1LdWQ0m9Fzxkp6qkgmz5lYtYNK9Ju6gLtKqdrCXibzB8ojyQ0Jqil452Do_ROtVrx1Ryklc_eYf_Om7Em1cpAZpxm1lQrUXZziY7u2CuG3u0jDO2svy5iyOgCKs/s320/2010-04-18+19.16.18.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erato">Erato</a>. Three hives on the rooftop of a downtown home. This one has a "super queen" - the pheromones from one hive pulled most of the neighboring hive's bees into her fold. They were storing honey and pollen in drawn comb within days. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euterpe">Euterpe</a>. Hived last night, this hive makes the 20th hive! </div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-83142237623495781792010-04-20T19:12:00.000-07:002010-04-21T09:01:34.965-07:00A Day in the Life of a Beekeeper.<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">M's gone pro. After weeks of prep work, the bees all arrived and it was time to get them into their homes. I took a day off work to lend a hand (not to mention a back, legs, feet, truck, etc...) and took plenty of photos. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The day started with tea. It continued with a lot more tea. Throughout the day we'd say "Beekeepers and armies run on hot sweet tea!" (Just finished reading Terry Pratchett's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Monstrous-Regiment-Terry-Pratchett/dp/0060013168">Monstrous Regiment</a>...) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hmq1xvXSWaBqlXFN7v36nn68Afw6PSY62KnrL8xxGQuC_309NE8Pk0Wbb293hLUDJo6A7hvcGMklob5OghCj6rshYNjkGV2UTht4KAQr9yTCbbsZN7nZoAgsY8Ozmh9tBoLZYImd-jA/s1600/2010-04-06+11.07.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hmq1xvXSWaBqlXFN7v36nn68Afw6PSY62KnrL8xxGQuC_309NE8Pk0Wbb293hLUDJo6A7hvcGMklob5OghCj6rshYNjkGV2UTht4KAQr9yTCbbsZN7nZoAgsY8Ozmh9tBoLZYImd-jA/s320/2010-04-06+11.07.52.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">While M did some last minute construction and painting, I mixed up some bee food - poured fondant!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7w0u_5rfa7RQr0y2gS58oiVJUPaCoFKAJUT0UMbUPU8ZSv_z__qDp2_xWd4NCmzD3k7wsTWv-U46mmQJjYdtxkom1JLABsvzNesBfdP-A5YJFkswoSsX1n-rvODfkqnzMQbhtddwPqU/s1600/2010-04-06+10.10.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7w0u_5rfa7RQr0y2gS58oiVJUPaCoFKAJUT0UMbUPU8ZSv_z__qDp2_xWd4NCmzD3k7wsTWv-U46mmQJjYdtxkom1JLABsvzNesBfdP-A5YJFkswoSsX1n-rvODfkqnzMQbhtddwPqU/s320/2010-04-06+10.10.24.jpg" /></a></div> (We love the cooking shows, and I realized why all those bakers either buy their fondant or use a mixer - that stuff is tough to mix by hand and not make a giant mess!) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNT604rV6Hc0DkDTU5cLLjdn6ZvWRTWlgv_Kw631oXDibtonuVHdsrwnFq3NNPAJfkePcLFmcmBijcUhUfmDeqnLIMusBrzDK6anjmzqeYgrCOA85dbeB4tEDZ05AteQqbx_GgJhVLTQ/s1600/2010-04-06+10.34.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNT604rV6Hc0DkDTU5cLLjdn6ZvWRTWlgv_Kw631oXDibtonuVHdsrwnFq3NNPAJfkePcLFmcmBijcUhUfmDeqnLIMusBrzDK6anjmzqeYgrCOA85dbeB4tEDZ05AteQqbx_GgJhVLTQ/s320/2010-04-06+10.34.32.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Fondant ready to go! (we're mixed on using this as food. In the hot locations, it dried out very fast. But it didn't require punching holes in a mason jar lid either, so we'll see. Currently it's all we've used to feed the bees in addition to the can of syrup they arrived with.) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QSLwr4n0YcnYAqmWplpZVU9QTjsLFbVKcaH2Gl8xw6DVCKDHyVUTRY9wb0NI64ZKK7HZ6YehJt28_2S-RH4KSjkdCP52PhNHZprqRRw0WnT1D-NF_n_nx8VTxpfjtfFQZqmi3d45D4Y/s1600/2010-04-06+11.31.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QSLwr4n0YcnYAqmWplpZVU9QTjsLFbVKcaH2Gl8xw6DVCKDHyVUTRY9wb0NI64ZKK7HZ6YehJt28_2S-RH4KSjkdCP52PhNHZprqRRw0WnT1D-NF_n_nx8VTxpfjtfFQZqmi3d45D4Y/s320/2010-04-06+11.31.11.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We had packed the bulk of the materials into the truck the night before. Off we went through the Santa Cruz mountains to a gorgeous location. It was a bit of a drive to get there, more than once I asked M if he was sure he wasn't going to leave me stranded, and a few bars of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tqxzWdKKu8">Dueling Banjos</a> was hummed. We were going slow on the road, the photo is just blurry from the bumps! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">(At one point he said the truck felt sluggish. We're going up a hill with 80% some odd grade, and 24 cinder blocks and plenty of wood in the back. That's 1020 pounds of concrete alone on little trucks 4 cylinders!) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56UXGqqYLdbkDMHyXwGc-zfo23lMrje56QWrcOBR9fzQaU0P25wcTE7CE4TCNGECvFHm-D9CKmbszn5nebJEFx_qgTULfZ18BwJhROQOiUP9-hXNObK1_oOmXVuUF2InSOKbet2fNKtI/s1600/2010-04-06+11.38.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56UXGqqYLdbkDMHyXwGc-zfo23lMrje56QWrcOBR9fzQaU0P25wcTE7CE4TCNGECvFHm-D9CKmbszn5nebJEFx_qgTULfZ18BwJhROQOiUP9-hXNObK1_oOmXVuUF2InSOKbet2fNKtI/s320/2010-04-06+11.38.18.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Eventually, we arrive! Before unloading, we took a walk around the property to scout a good site for the six hives. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29GIOyfBgjscmXrUmmiZgavpU-sP5dnIg2HS9VblGbxfq3azcIUH9gLYAjrVX-bVhYcD13_mvFym58DgPDFrNuqdKdHHeYqmcIDf9yXPWjzvsgGX89vaw1ZeSELdZY23q14NO8FyfAHc/s1600/2010-04-06+11.44.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29GIOyfBgjscmXrUmmiZgavpU-sP5dnIg2HS9VblGbxfq3azcIUH9gLYAjrVX-bVhYcD13_mvFym58DgPDFrNuqdKdHHeYqmcIDf9yXPWjzvsgGX89vaw1ZeSELdZY23q14NO8FyfAHc/s320/2010-04-06+11.44.15.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZwk3MYI1hnZavVeCiy9J9aPxtSdOimZh7GHCVyU__u9h6df1d9smif0lugIqT4l5u3x5Ix4BlWVo2dAbYb23lidmFZyJvc529087rTErzg79B4SOH3sRgN1vfIUpY4my_p6AFqME7J0/s1600/2010-04-06+11.44.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZwk3MYI1hnZavVeCiy9J9aPxtSdOimZh7GHCVyU__u9h6df1d9smif0lugIqT4l5u3x5Ix4BlWVo2dAbYb23lidmFZyJvc529087rTErzg79B4SOH3sRgN1vfIUpY4my_p6AFqME7J0/s320/2010-04-06+11.44.21.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The water features are all rain water. The property has large cisterns that collect water runoff and then cycle it through the fountains and water features. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWz4vj-ra0d69j0thZR9gJVfoYq08i1KQJfmRoffDckS3vtwxEViw5HBAA5mIaeClJDoXDcrAlTQhtp2rosWGe-n7GhtuEMCnkItT5jnYLurSRBV7PWWzU8QHuOcAcHp1erRpfUUusGNg/s1600/2010-04-06+11.44.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWz4vj-ra0d69j0thZR9gJVfoYq08i1KQJfmRoffDckS3vtwxEViw5HBAA5mIaeClJDoXDcrAlTQhtp2rosWGe-n7GhtuEMCnkItT5jnYLurSRBV7PWWzU8QHuOcAcHp1erRpfUUusGNg/s320/2010-04-06+11.44.50.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Fruit trees all over. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgG-YzAsQOvY9dqiFw_GQh8Vgu0Zs7MB7z_JqFYYczbQZDCkgpjuDZuZT5G22gtraBgB24poUtC1jXnncbDQXNOc7JQ7vLl_NWOQXkcIvTgubj5NWK9Ly-hnRPTWlm6jqlL7LcjBqH3k0/s1600/2010-04-06+11.51.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgG-YzAsQOvY9dqiFw_GQh8Vgu0Zs7MB7z_JqFYYczbQZDCkgpjuDZuZT5G22gtraBgB24poUtC1jXnncbDQXNOc7JQ7vLl_NWOQXkcIvTgubj5NWK9Ly-hnRPTWlm6jqlL7LcjBqH3k0/s320/2010-04-06+11.51.53.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Did I mention they are off the grid? </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We found a spot that was ideal for the bees (lots of early morning sunlight), ideal for the people (not too close to walking paths), and ideal for a beekeeper (fairly close to a road for loading and unloading.) Time to unload! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttKTtMvjrE66mXuB9XBCP9uF5EbCoja2_t2fdco6lIcxSU9tJ47xQV8M3ftYPCHRmG68YKkM0z6ePDS4W29Jro91fFcPKpxdRHbC21hwIBweAHbjtjHLyKrBhqhOrP40AEcqPyqTxW5E/s1600/2010-04-06+12.20.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttKTtMvjrE66mXuB9XBCP9uF5EbCoja2_t2fdco6lIcxSU9tJ47xQV8M3ftYPCHRmG68YKkM0z6ePDS4W29Jro91fFcPKpxdRHbC21hwIBweAHbjtjHLyKrBhqhOrP40AEcqPyqTxW5E/s320/2010-04-06+12.20.49.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The hive bases and stands were unloaded first. The "runways" are each painted different colors to help each bee identify her home. (and it's pretty!) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I set to work unpacking the cinder blocks that would make the base of the stands. The cinder blocks add height to help the bees fight off raccoons and skunks (not to mention saving a beekeeper from bending!) and help with the ant-proof bases. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5tApHipd9ba0FtJnn62ggwakyb0aetNawhT4CF9UPy5RNsetE1z6yEQZ8UkrMXxoGRLqi_yIzC_y-mCfAWx0hY0SL8zzOHaVEfs6s4qT28rQeFTROtJHmuIWPf5nIGS9P4996Hx-KV4/s1600/2010-04-06+12.26.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5tApHipd9ba0FtJnn62ggwakyb0aetNawhT4CF9UPy5RNsetE1z6yEQZ8UkrMXxoGRLqi_yIzC_y-mCfAWx0hY0SL8zzOHaVEfs6s4qT28rQeFTROtJHmuIWPf5nIGS9P4996Hx-KV4/s320/2010-04-06+12.26.16.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Cinder blocks would be unloaded from the truck three or four at a time on the hand truck, then rolled to the top of the path where the hand truck is in the photo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDSrGvGIeP2mbEJP6pwlydF_stZ3v5hj6AvBGq9nXdocWYVVf8mVQuFfr5EG6iLW-10RtHftxEc7ysnqVqTVLBnR02uMJs7BXROzIMZNEa4ICQIALYVH2KpLzOrzXPey4RLuxC7DA_D4/s1600/2010-04-06+12.26.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDSrGvGIeP2mbEJP6pwlydF_stZ3v5hj6AvBGq9nXdocWYVVf8mVQuFfr5EG6iLW-10RtHftxEc7ysnqVqTVLBnR02uMJs7BXROzIMZNEa4ICQIALYVH2KpLzOrzXPey4RLuxC7DA_D4/s320/2010-04-06+12.26.31.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">From there, I would walk each one down to stack just above the hive locations. I tried wheeling it down, the weight of the hand truck was more of a fight then just walking them. (And one or two jumped free, nearly crushing blackberry bushes!) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aRQG2_BS6exN99P4ZokTkOPnr8LNQFe-tGI4dwVcTmdFRime2Y0on6T4JxOAtAeEE047R0AX_wlo2i3vTRjM3prheqywhzolQZHapcQs4jUrjob191Wn7Ll5NdjlU-o4ks-KkoHlEu0/s1600/2010-04-06+12.21.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aRQG2_BS6exN99P4ZokTkOPnr8LNQFe-tGI4dwVcTmdFRime2Y0on6T4JxOAtAeEE047R0AX_wlo2i3vTRjM3prheqywhzolQZHapcQs4jUrjob191Wn7Ll5NdjlU-o4ks-KkoHlEu0/s320/2010-04-06+12.21.19.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Finally! Almost done! While I was hard at work unloading the truck, M was moving earth. Literally. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIY0iDGlBHjacLhqwFHqSucN4XwdmeNjYoBWDAUHDWCcFSuyxXsuy3uK5JTlINe7a6XDjPIqJUfNxf-WM-z9XwbSR1fs1epjlPWwF7YXvqVoUF5O9Q4eZtEST-1bxh3KskWeY6zHWXmg/s1600/2010-04-06+12.29.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIY0iDGlBHjacLhqwFHqSucN4XwdmeNjYoBWDAUHDWCcFSuyxXsuy3uK5JTlINe7a6XDjPIqJUfNxf-WM-z9XwbSR1fs1epjlPWwF7YXvqVoUF5O9Q4eZtEST-1bxh3KskWeY6zHWXmg/s320/2010-04-06+12.29.20.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">He made two platforms for the hives - three to each side. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_6y9t-tVP2t_ofxfCNuPi8DYsRMNP_oLHPxPZLiIg0flhbT8ojITlXgb11x0ScXcMi9Al6Bfd_KxcATIPelge1eT0u65ilprG3GI7ftNMjoUryA8IiQWeBeYM2zScYL53iEl2TWR8BA/s1600/2010-04-06+12.36.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_6y9t-tVP2t_ofxfCNuPi8DYsRMNP_oLHPxPZLiIg0flhbT8ojITlXgb11x0ScXcMi9Al6Bfd_KxcATIPelge1eT0u65ilprG3GI7ftNMjoUryA8IiQWeBeYM2zScYL53iEl2TWR8BA/s320/2010-04-06+12.36.50.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We got the chicken wire (another raccoon and skunk deterrent) down, and set the cinder blocks as well. And meet Charlie, the resident dog! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoMPIiEcXYNLvKy9B9BcXHMeeV19-Hw_a76-UwFGToTSFsQlaSU3zJrMq541cH318NEX1wWiet40c9HwVkbCYzUhqCEcQretAPWUhGmX_qzjSjRv1nrZfm-ka8qFW4jcoBbYkVBpN7cA/s1600/2010-04-06+12.45.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoMPIiEcXYNLvKy9B9BcXHMeeV19-Hw_a76-UwFGToTSFsQlaSU3zJrMq541cH318NEX1wWiet40c9HwVkbCYzUhqCEcQretAPWUhGmX_qzjSjRv1nrZfm-ka8qFW4jcoBbYkVBpN7cA/s320/2010-04-06+12.45.27.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The hive stands were placed on next. We had four of the bottom boards with us as well, so those were set. Empty truck, time to head back for a second load of goodies and lunch! (and tea!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePVAFKTrz9egr9pAzzyxNYchktT-1ixLVKn1F4qCCSB7U-URDhycFM-i_sDsq7kemUtKjrh-2pEWMDNsJjJ6Yd41Z1dFJYsvilAyLrmS76cQtAfpQIToNFY70NI3bzcvj7yVJGp8ioCk/s1600/2010-04-06+14.36.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePVAFKTrz9egr9pAzzyxNYchktT-1ixLVKn1F4qCCSB7U-URDhycFM-i_sDsq7kemUtKjrh-2pEWMDNsJjJ6Yd41Z1dFJYsvilAyLrmS76cQtAfpQIToNFY70NI3bzcvj7yVJGp8ioCk/s320/2010-04-06+14.36.31.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Back at the house, M finished up some more painting and construction while I loaded the truck. I loved how colorful it was looking. And I think the bed cupholders are hilarious. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RU2vA3P8qE7qp-km_IBdCB0hHm0L0pKj41Q-6h2MozokGX8xebBIVjPcAzWGNNIIkz8tVTgzzLB4ZXiaYjsfz2DaND1Wg9J2vp7sCnQ9k31o2UGrBv_SajX8hbE650C0zeiH4b53H7c/s1600/2010-04-06+15.57.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RU2vA3P8qE7qp-km_IBdCB0hHm0L0pKj41Q-6h2MozokGX8xebBIVjPcAzWGNNIIkz8tVTgzzLB4ZXiaYjsfz2DaND1Wg9J2vp7sCnQ9k31o2UGrBv_SajX8hbE650C0zeiH4b53H7c/s320/2010-04-06+15.57.36.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We quickly unloaded the truck and set the rest of the components of the hives up: brown hive stands and brown bottom boards. Green mite traps. Red brood supers with frames. Blue brood supers with no frames. Blue inner and telescoping covers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NxeBXOW2DTx3XQ2gYj7ptemF6U8-sR1HDDaUn3PcMGkpXQUVZUxYBNk_l7HRwbK75DWeuUuFH9Df9-l2fgjm9SJ6JnLKzAyefEzvsdkLq0YFKGG2pxiW-cuNAq4y9UyLPSZoRrSKHRg/s1600/2010-04-06+15.58.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NxeBXOW2DTx3XQ2gYj7ptemF6U8-sR1HDDaUn3PcMGkpXQUVZUxYBNk_l7HRwbK75DWeuUuFH9Df9-l2fgjm9SJ6JnLKzAyefEzvsdkLq0YFKGG2pxiW-cuNAq4y9UyLPSZoRrSKHRg/s320/2010-04-06+15.58.52.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77ZTrdV_nByS8P-X_zMC2KoAEDa2U_aSAz_Lt6ygq974xcPT8bj73hBbEve4VE-a8MtIg6qNAshrANbbXpsqSQGhTSzJZEFTH3KcTuHMzxcfmBe6T-p0tYgqGZrkQ_jk-MkQWA1uCwOU/s1600/2010-04-06+16.07.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77ZTrdV_nByS8P-X_zMC2KoAEDa2U_aSAz_Lt6ygq974xcPT8bj73hBbEve4VE-a8MtIg6qNAshrANbbXpsqSQGhTSzJZEFTH3KcTuHMzxcfmBe6T-p0tYgqGZrkQ_jk-MkQWA1uCwOU/s320/2010-04-06+16.07.09.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">It's a bit hard to see with the sun reflection, but the pattern of colors for the runways was varied. Since there were three colors and six hives, the colors repeated twice. The goal is that the bees would know they were the blue on the edge, or the green in the middle. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The hives set, we ran back to the house again to pick up the most important piece...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54AjR5J8WmDW7wWzxRqvHyjFZfQqXC0PwDjox2YuqWyFCDd6sJYO288OwMmxwjQ4J3AcLgl3L0_9rZtvNO6q7NN4HxWWG1308G-VSJwT3yXKp6YbMA7Oi1_p5Et6_CEzkPR3zGU91qCA/s1600/2010-04-06+16.51.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54AjR5J8WmDW7wWzxRqvHyjFZfQqXC0PwDjox2YuqWyFCDd6sJYO288OwMmxwjQ4J3AcLgl3L0_9rZtvNO6q7NN4HxWWG1308G-VSJwT3yXKp6YbMA7Oi1_p5Et6_CEzkPR3zGU91qCA/s320/2010-04-06+16.51.06.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">bees!!!! Six packages of Italian honeybees. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Back at the apiary, we suited up. The owners both arrived home around this time. We got Jody to put a jacket on with us, but Noel choose to watch from afar. I put petroleum jelly on the hive stand bars (keeps ants out) while M removed the wood from the packages. Smoker lit in case of stings, and down the hill we went. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The hiving went smoothly, we worked easily together to get the bees into the hives, the queens placed in their packages between frames, and the hives closed with both their cans of syrup and a bit of fondant patty on some wax paper on the inner cover. We moved all of our tools back to the truck, took off our suits, and looked at the view. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS2_z2e8oBDT9N-nNPnHzWNKORLNyVqExbE8cl3brTnACaxXc-Ilm4dh7kEXjIKjSIRpKabhNIXpU28Ir7XPiYlCYUU3ABJekhsMf8H1G9o3A7V4hoIbNBP61pz78IplfPWNYPikS380/s1600/2010-04-06+18.18.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS2_z2e8oBDT9N-nNPnHzWNKORLNyVqExbE8cl3brTnACaxXc-Ilm4dh7kEXjIKjSIRpKabhNIXpU28Ir7XPiYlCYUU3ABJekhsMf8H1G9o3A7V4hoIbNBP61pz78IplfPWNYPikS380/s320/2010-04-06+18.18.49.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I think the bees are going to be very, very happy. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">As we drove away, I had M stop the truck so I could take a few more photos of the property, complete with the "dream come true" beehives. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbG-SCRpSxhu937VanNeS6xQg0NlbQe77JPfb5j2LVCcZ-9Wn03df38yegkJ-EXZpFtDX5qaCMRYJUOsPqfuXnO9ABwJSx4nwbAKr7RUcRsWidQV4lkixw90u5aefymRpqGShOdRqIIuc/s1600/2010-04-06+18.23.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbG-SCRpSxhu937VanNeS6xQg0NlbQe77JPfb5j2LVCcZ-9Wn03df38yegkJ-EXZpFtDX5qaCMRYJUOsPqfuXnO9ABwJSx4nwbAKr7RUcRsWidQV4lkixw90u5aefymRpqGShOdRqIIuc/s320/2010-04-06+18.23.02.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I think they fit in beautifully! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">And keeping with our Muses, this apiary has been named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyhymnia">Polyhymnia</a>. It's the perfect name for this lovely retreat center that wishes for its guests to walk the grounds and snack on the fruit that they find growing as they head to a drumming circle. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">As we drove back, we stopped by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalia">Thalia</a> to see how she is doing. Thalia had been hived a few days before Polyhymnia. Her bees were active and happy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVcENceQk-qFvR5JcSWMI-WSxEKxockoYjVGtlbF-6Vx4e4J7PGV1t3u5x4NvEBAd59mMvurbPYumvepYql3XhYNJKTRlPYxLn7uo8hnVYA7duRlisRtPLfIN82z5sp-CzZCml8XjJew/s1600/2010-04-06+18.38.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVcENceQk-qFvR5JcSWMI-WSxEKxockoYjVGtlbF-6Vx4e4J7PGV1t3u5x4NvEBAd59mMvurbPYumvepYql3XhYNJKTRlPYxLn7uo8hnVYA7duRlisRtPLfIN82z5sp-CzZCml8XjJew/s320/2010-04-06+18.38.08.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D3zv5vlX3wuVIPf8x08W2VqsjHg3u2SyzYGk0NgXF_CcqbI2jKplQXYhr4UJc6etjL1PdO_pYAdGG-3Gsqfsj8OHrEKNEExq6ZEe9-WrbQP-xlcAt5SlLl-bOs9uhF34jsOfqL32JCQ/s1600/2010-04-06+18.44.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D3zv5vlX3wuVIPf8x08W2VqsjHg3u2SyzYGk0NgXF_CcqbI2jKplQXYhr4UJc6etjL1PdO_pYAdGG-3Gsqfsj8OHrEKNEExq6ZEe9-WrbQP-xlcAt5SlLl-bOs9uhF34jsOfqL32JCQ/s320/2010-04-06+18.44.29.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We collected the packages that had been left for straggler bees to escape from, fed them some fondant, and closed them up for the evening. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">And finally.... dinner! Hot tea on the drive home! A shower! and some very well earned rest! </div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-15538947292307858152010-04-20T17:41:00.000-07:002010-04-20T17:41:53.775-07:00garden, garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Last weekend, the winter garden was pulled up and the spring garden was planted. </div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMmC2W356ziV5R3-v3N-lgJR86ItC3Z4Qp_1ctW6cZnMXd5XifUF-RRLce2mE0UoUeBoO9BkH8Q76R6sis2KjmG498QlxtL-dzpFvV8T6v3qDk8zvtdhe3kdTOsaIjZsGYzpGAuvNP_8/s1600/2010-04-17+11.54.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMmC2W356ziV5R3-v3N-lgJR86ItC3Z4Qp_1ctW6cZnMXd5XifUF-RRLce2mE0UoUeBoO9BkH8Q76R6sis2KjmG498QlxtL-dzpFvV8T6v3qDk8zvtdhe3kdTOsaIjZsGYzpGAuvNP_8/s200/2010-04-17+11.54.08.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> By pulling up the fava beans, the leeks were discovered! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMoEATWlZ6bKG1KIb7rGWH__YcWCSuToBzw4ryD1nwourBoYXHfdA1H25K-EOsnTxkjQ_2sRzRbjD6tuva5ltPpd2uljSmsTePgGCsRNoqqjjjyE7BAzooocH5IVkYtP-idvXVGX-Qag/s1600/2010-04-18+16.36.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMoEATWlZ6bKG1KIb7rGWH__YcWCSuToBzw4ryD1nwourBoYXHfdA1H25K-EOsnTxkjQ_2sRzRbjD6tuva5ltPpd2uljSmsTePgGCsRNoqqjjjyE7BAzooocH5IVkYtP-idvXVGX-Qag/s200/2010-04-18+16.36.18.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Some of them were starting to make flowers, so we knew it was time for them to come up as well. Along with the leek harvest, the sugar snap peas and fava beans also came up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2zkkE-BXMMSblnLyOtvJLeZc9m8HrwHDREr5ntpEsXgUDw2nx-8oF4HY3Wco0ho971hjnsdmzQE9nC3qMKomY-hAPoDZkRNGz8AwkNigk11OrHR74Iqh8fbQF7RWp3DUVbbJjpFg2EI/s1600/2010-04-17+11.54.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLHZ9dScyZeL2LR-GBF1bxjTygoEGNXJfZd-E4MzRnYk2eAV6sx_atWuIUaUCvzW1IHldbIOtjmeSBITkcbmb8-b2HKex6Hm57od2dpycY40u9A4QdtFYo5s98qR3uQXof7a7sPcBvUc/s1600/2010-04-17+14.46.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLHZ9dScyZeL2LR-GBF1bxjTygoEGNXJfZd-E4MzRnYk2eAV6sx_atWuIUaUCvzW1IHldbIOtjmeSBITkcbmb8-b2HKex6Hm57od2dpycY40u9A4QdtFYo5s98qR3uQXof7a7sPcBvUc/s200/2010-04-17+14.46.50.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Ah! This is the reason it smells so good to come home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqU5fpU6JoLycSU3E1D8FaqmQFKTHLPS5crtvwVYHdZiGfj9e8o_hXfj_vhu-gwA0Hg8Kx3wBe317XMhqhAuVm4nRdlLM2TKZRfk0tI-GDsjx-zu0Abbh3f_mTkk0VNGrRucKY3OCTW8/s1600/2010-04-17+14.47.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqU5fpU6JoLycSU3E1D8FaqmQFKTHLPS5crtvwVYHdZiGfj9e8o_hXfj_vhu-gwA0Hg8Kx3wBe317XMhqhAuVm4nRdlLM2TKZRfk0tI-GDsjx-zu0Abbh3f_mTkk0VNGrRucKY3OCTW8/s200/2010-04-17+14.47.11.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I was delighted to see our apple tree has flowered! I don't know what it is - but apple flowers just make me giddy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbo03UCUf8_JOLPSnrBRPXOJXmsk16LdZOcu-u-3G6qFxhyphenhypheniDnvC_hAXgNXXxfAGLOhlX8Lqm3gxCWn6MHM_CJQc7QrvnLjlIoTv0fLIjaa43eLKQSwJGsd5fNoK13zpENuHADWdRESw/s1600/2010-04-19+07.41.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbo03UCUf8_JOLPSnrBRPXOJXmsk16LdZOcu-u-3G6qFxhyphenhypheniDnvC_hAXgNXXxfAGLOhlX8Lqm3gxCWn6MHM_CJQc7QrvnLjlIoTv0fLIjaa43eLKQSwJGsd5fNoK13zpENuHADWdRESw/s200/2010-04-19+07.41.24.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Finally, the spring garden was mostly planted. More carrots, leeks, and sugar snap peas. Lemon and straight cucumbers (those are in the diatomaceous earth island) Lettuce and soy beans are in the pots on the deck. All of these came up from seed. We also added some bought bell pepper, Spanish pepper, and Serrano chili pepper seedlings. Tomatoes, zucchini, basil, and garlic are still awaiting planting in the big wooden planter by the beehive. Just ran out of time! </div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-21177615988062621362010-04-11T22:28:00.000-07:002010-04-11T22:28:23.216-07:00where has the time gone?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWmWRweBtIiAZxpfjNM9CjbrBFMq6ISgj_JPjY2_jiN5gKvUmLuNLr8XPtvAtgyDBEIddjWlRQTdFP7DpP3btX3ygIlgL2Qo99UdpVph66_1BNupgnv0-HW9mKtF-yBonP_7-QI2HZS0/s1600/2010-03-27+11.22.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWmWRweBtIiAZxpfjNM9CjbrBFMq6ISgj_JPjY2_jiN5gKvUmLuNLr8XPtvAtgyDBEIddjWlRQTdFP7DpP3btX3ygIlgL2Qo99UdpVph66_1BNupgnv0-HW9mKtF-yBonP_7-QI2HZS0/s200/2010-03-27+11.22.59.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">so much happening, and so little time to update! First - what is this? </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I found this in the garden as I was weeding. I gave it a slight squeeze to see if it was hollow, and it moved! The pointed end wiggled just a bit. I set it down under the rose plants where it wouldn't be disturbed. Would love to know what it is! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEKbjCxZ0d0Wg0QTLoYi3_YyUha9SeSr3WSAJmtes8eVB85NOlGjjcDOu0-jOv81AnxHzTz9zBwIuMzttLGxrL5zUwT1cyTOc-bCg78XRrBm5xf_RmSvPqYz5MJPNNPdw6lYs-vbDAoE/s1600/2010-03-27+11.23.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEKbjCxZ0d0Wg0QTLoYi3_YyUha9SeSr3WSAJmtes8eVB85NOlGjjcDOu0-jOv81AnxHzTz9zBwIuMzttLGxrL5zUwT1cyTOc-bCg78XRrBm5xf_RmSvPqYz5MJPNNPdw6lYs-vbDAoE/s200/2010-03-27+11.23.09.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">About a month ago M arrived to the house and saw a butterfly inside of the fire pit. (The fire pit is pictured here, not the butterfly!) He released it, and we both thought, what an odd place for a butterfly to get into. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_9vimhZKfHh9S0sAsUFZcNwQWEJ_ATeRt_DMfX-y2AihvIrti2w4bjtuIaTkHw8MioJ3FWp50xM9U_ztJzFQp-D7HkN8S6GsipXohLFbv3jAUa0Lb8HmYvl5mLzhqJkFCeAVBsEAxZQ/s1600/2010-03-27+11.23.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_9vimhZKfHh9S0sAsUFZcNwQWEJ_ATeRt_DMfX-y2AihvIrti2w4bjtuIaTkHw8MioJ3FWp50xM9U_ztJzFQp-D7HkN8S6GsipXohLFbv3jAUa0Lb8HmYvl5mLzhqJkFCeAVBsEAxZQ/s200/2010-03-27+11.23.35.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With more inspection, we found that it was a caterpillar that crawled in, the chrysalis was still intact. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLfL5TMMWunVK9neY122LWnL-pvJPDhL2Ziw-6PS7xhHxIp4X2T1e7F1mXUtn5Anud6Vm-z3H8JCJOK4b2AeNf1gFg-cyaMmYiSm5p8nZa_FcuHHDtYulF944nDQshCGb5vv68aA5ZXQ/s1600/2010-03-27+11.24.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLfL5TMMWunVK9neY122LWnL-pvJPDhL2Ziw-6PS7xhHxIp4X2T1e7F1mXUtn5Anud6Vm-z3H8JCJOK4b2AeNf1gFg-cyaMmYiSm5p8nZa_FcuHHDtYulF944nDQshCGb5vv68aA5ZXQ/s320/2010-03-27+11.24.10.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The seedlings have mostly done well. Peas are going wild (they are several inches taller than this photo), tomatoes are sprouting, cucumbers and lemon cucumbers are getting their true leaves, and one soy bean sprouted. Carrots and leeks are both coming up, as is zucchini and lettuce. It looks like the peppers are a no show, so we'll have to get seedling plants. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5sIkiVVPM9CsYBwlckEY2hMiBhWgS8o1AkK5hhrrREYOX_Tr1a9lJxTJeHXCnJPFtQZllsyQGIkf4i8P2Dj93NijBgGzv7Dg2he4etYny1VRDCJV6r7yTfQvga_AcS4eItzY4xlp77M/s1600/2010-03-27+12.57.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5sIkiVVPM9CsYBwlckEY2hMiBhWgS8o1AkK5hhrrREYOX_Tr1a9lJxTJeHXCnJPFtQZllsyQGIkf4i8P2Dj93NijBgGzv7Dg2he4etYny1VRDCJV6r7yTfQvga_AcS4eItzY4xlp77M/s320/2010-03-27+12.57.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The last of the turnips were picked. Also collected the first of the fava beans and a good amoulnt of sugar peas. The peas went for lunch at my twin's house. I'm delighted that my thirteen month old niece likes garden peas. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbtHzC9f5QrIfVxO5XR7LciafzOGffG0J-tj3B0LIxcER9PSiOw7e5o_SBLxqoxXpzRDq2Kq3sdvHlTuvJVXcobg-MZcUhz8BgKIW20dKyjh8WoG5iqUitxrXj6iRooNytqvmu9o1YaM/s1600/2010-03-27+13.08.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbtHzC9f5QrIfVxO5XR7LciafzOGffG0J-tj3B0LIxcER9PSiOw7e5o_SBLxqoxXpzRDq2Kq3sdvHlTuvJVXcobg-MZcUhz8BgKIW20dKyjh8WoG5iqUitxrXj6iRooNytqvmu9o1YaM/s320/2010-03-27+13.08.08.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The fava bean plants are dominating the garden and the house at this point. Those are leeks just peeking out under there too! The recent rain and winds have thrashed the plants (and let's be honest, their size didn't help!) I'm not sure how much longer these guys will be in the garden, we could use the space, and I'd like to not have to carry my bike over them. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ah, looking at all the garden photos makes me anxious to get my hands in the dirt again! I'm grateful for today's rain (nearly an inch!), but I'm missing the soil!</div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-23969689686625004092010-03-23T21:17:00.000-07:002010-03-23T21:17:12.931-07:00Free-bees!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIDEkVK2lHDRWwB4cxNnoHFeAfLYR3mXdP3Qm4T1HKLeKCBNmT-gXcIl0BTHNzowsHKqdaXU-p_Mb6xp-alfbVLOeF-Gi3d4jCb2uuC1awXECSOAWNPxM4jbzBWVncjhaFlW06dUEwuw/s1600-h/17Mar10+1307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIDEkVK2lHDRWwB4cxNnoHFeAfLYR3mXdP3Qm4T1HKLeKCBNmT-gXcIl0BTHNzowsHKqdaXU-p_Mb6xp-alfbVLOeF-Gi3d4jCb2uuC1awXECSOAWNPxM4jbzBWVncjhaFlW06dUEwuw/s320/17Mar10+1307.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So amazing! We hadn't gotten to cleaning up and removing the hive from the rain, and then last Wednesday M was working out in the yard. He heard a sound that he described later as sounding like several leaf blowers starting at once. He got inside the house, and remembered my camera is in the desk. I'm so excited he got photos!!! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e3qRdqgvnvNFMFT9QhYpnr7mjgWoFIVG00OSD3x7cZAL6vcR3IAeB8twloaTaieC35tGV-9Ex7QaCiHYVu7XvHNTf7vfh_S7YpNm4oQ2A67X5klF4oaDp8PmaTKXtzm2BoVueMtjez0/s1600-h/17Mar10+1307+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e3qRdqgvnvNFMFT9QhYpnr7mjgWoFIVG00OSD3x7cZAL6vcR3IAeB8twloaTaieC35tGV-9Ex7QaCiHYVu7XvHNTf7vfh_S7YpNm4oQ2A67X5klF4oaDp8PmaTKXtzm2BoVueMtjez0/s200/17Mar10+1307+%282%29.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He gave the bees a few hours to settle in, and then checked on the hive. They had settled in. We left the bees alone until Sunday afternoon. We wanted to give them new brood boxes, and some new frames as well. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over the days between the swarm arriving and the hive inspection, we saw the bees robbing the extra brood box. Now I'm thinking the cloud of bees I saw the Sunday before were scouts. I'm thrilled they found our hive desireable. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Sunday we decided to formally meet the new bees. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsyXgxMDEFMgRNBdjbz6WXZDEIgD4pZdV5kUrMVGNEWWOSqiAfB769_cUukh9vXGE6-SZ27MoeVKXoPAExxQFDFYYG6chG45SBJ_DggsyixWq-NmTAaIPZBnuAmLV-BsvZBF_litKj3A/s1600-h/2010-03-21+13.42.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsyXgxMDEFMgRNBdjbz6WXZDEIgD4pZdV5kUrMVGNEWWOSqiAfB769_cUukh9vXGE6-SZ27MoeVKXoPAExxQFDFYYG6chG45SBJ_DggsyixWq-NmTAaIPZBnuAmLV-BsvZBF_litKj3A/s320/2010-03-21+13.42.27.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The old hive. The spare brood box was left to the side for robbing. The makeshift table (in pots of oil to keep ants off) tipped over against the fence, definitely time to go!</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjDUuIkRzRh_ZWOjEtwhZL2Nqxehu6cUej0QoueTGZzHPS6o6IVTDwL8Tp3P9ON87I9646Zg8mNb5S3VB1Jmx_x5dnh3GpKnEcollAyTBNtc8jC6B8QUu5jEoSh6Ql8389MojsQPeM-A/s1600-h/2010-03-21+13.42.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjDUuIkRzRh_ZWOjEtwhZL2Nqxehu6cUej0QoueTGZzHPS6o6IVTDwL8Tp3P9ON87I9646Zg8mNb5S3VB1Jmx_x5dnh3GpKnEcollAyTBNtc8jC6B8QUu5jEoSh6Ql8389MojsQPeM-A/s320/2010-03-21+13.42.11.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The new brood boxes. M picked up <a href="http://www.mannlakeltd.com/ProductDetail.asp?idproduct=1560&idCategory=8">frame spacers</a> to go inside, they hold 8 or 9 frames each. I have to say - very handy for putting frames in! No careful thumb and finger measuring. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXpr0QZXrnL24NIgVp8xwFRHfjyRn7SaRe0eA7M25TOiIATRXmPTwi1l0BdggijTv1c1yToIMTMxoOMpfXOa3lk7AF1971ccpo9Fn7y3012x2iAZDlO6d5MnE_DPGR1lUX4RF9c_lDoM/s1600-h/2010-03-21+18.56.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXpr0QZXrnL24NIgVp8xwFRHfjyRn7SaRe0eA7M25TOiIATRXmPTwi1l0BdggijTv1c1yToIMTMxoOMpfXOa3lk7AF1971ccpo9Fn7y3012x2iAZDlO6d5MnE_DPGR1lUX4RF9c_lDoM/s320/2010-03-21+18.56.07.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We moved the old frames and bees into the red brood box, and added the blue brood box with frames. We did not see the queen, but we did see a few bee clusters while we worked, so we thought it a safe guess that the queen was among them. The bees are doing a good job removing the mold that was on the frames. We're going to give them a couple more weeks before the next inspection. At that time our plan is to give them a new mite board and bottom board.</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">The Urania name (the muse of astronomy) seemed too appropriate. A swarm descended from on high, and found a home here. I'm thrilled. :) </div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-3662953790478020292010-03-13T14:35:00.000-08:002010-03-14T22:00:05.496-07:00Spring Garden Prep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzauVIgmmAt-3jRrTx9q6UgClX5jafChh_X-VFSG6wFKRiNYq7LhAj24gmiEXLob0Z3rvsq9jkRk3UsZd2Up690z7IMX4Wcfx1bwC0fKk3er9VftCcp_Z-_N3KE72PqkXnGYutQDIQsI/s1600-h/2010-03-07+11.59.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzauVIgmmAt-3jRrTx9q6UgClX5jafChh_X-VFSG6wFKRiNYq7LhAj24gmiEXLob0Z3rvsq9jkRk3UsZd2Up690z7IMX4Wcfx1bwC0fKk3er9VftCcp_Z-_N3KE72PqkXnGYutQDIQsI/s200/2010-03-07+11.59.05.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At last! The rain has paused, the sun is shining, and it's a day I am off. The planets have aligned, and the garden box has been built. We are ready for spring and summer! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is the "before" photo. We placed the box here as it's a pretty barren part of the garden. Loads of digging, buckets of compost, heaps of worm tea, and it still doesn't want to produce. <a href="http://seedsinthecity.blogspot.com/2009/04/growing-challenge-garden-update.html#more">Last year</a> we grew tomato plants here in soil bags (the soil in there was from those bags!) and it worked out pretty well. But this year - more soil! more tomatoes! more garden!<br />
<a name='more'></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWWgjviLDzypVxILbxurj4QXtoFSA4OvT1lVsyaY-9Jgu8Jb7SjpuuWUAhPyu3hi4MiWQ04i9COIIfQL26xzBueFJgjwJDNLmnchp1LuMqfncxlyAO23sAOubStsF8n9h-0WqfOFFicc/s1600-h/2010-03-13+13.28.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWWgjviLDzypVxILbxurj4QXtoFSA4OvT1lVsyaY-9Jgu8Jb7SjpuuWUAhPyu3hi4MiWQ04i9COIIfQL26xzBueFJgjwJDNLmnchp1LuMqfncxlyAO23sAOubStsF8n9h-0WqfOFFicc/s200/2010-03-13+13.28.25.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last week I found out the city does free weekly compost give aways. M drove the truck down to the site on Thursday, and filled up the bed with heaps of dark, stinky, wonderful dirt. After that workout, he came back here and moved the soil to the box, the future strawberry home, and around the garden. I just need a second to applaud this work. I live in an in-law studio, so I'm a good football field away from where we park. I love the privacy, but I silently curse the distance anytime I'm carrying something heavy. He moved the soil by shoveling it into one of our big green <a href="http://reyniervillage.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/green-bin.jpg">yard waste bins</a>, rolling the bin back, and then up-ending it over the garden box. Those bins have a "do not load over 200 pounds" warning on them - I imagine he got close to it with this dirt! I got home from work around 7:30 Thursday night to find him "shattered". And he still made us dinner. Salt n Pepper said it well - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-WFNbMohTQ">What a man</a>! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I will say that as I arrived home, the smell of the compost hit me halfway down the walk. It's <i>strong. </i> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzuSlzcy-b4xrb6JCRynoLIHcLPHpsVHnAXH-c8t3rjuvRYS1s49ItOZL9U8bC04rR5-KLRIa95_a-cR0_orkgguqz0M36TRwK9gByTzeuQ9TS9hTtyMsVgvPV9ssr8K5l1Kf3bJGsWg/s1600-h/2010-03-13+13.28.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzuSlzcy-b4xrb6JCRynoLIHcLPHpsVHnAXH-c8t3rjuvRYS1s49ItOZL9U8bC04rR5-KLRIa95_a-cR0_orkgguqz0M36TRwK9gByTzeuQ9TS9hTtyMsVgvPV9ssr8K5l1Kf3bJGsWg/s200/2010-03-13+13.28.07.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After yoga and coffee this morning (This garden work brought to you by a small <a href="http://www.peets.com/">Peet's</a> drip coffee!) I started making seedling trays. The garden box doubled as a great work area! I filled seedling containers, listened to NPR, and was amused by the neighbors kids playing next door. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8phMYSGGGkMR5WRps4_w2DIYz4IRqIy__KKY7cvVA21UctpJwCvlXwE9Coc7Dv_tiqN1wllFF27EjkQJVoMkRcRVbqgPtmLnEgjRSyGcmYn8_e-Gb1_OmFS-Jo1BQPqgIiRl8G-0C_g/s1600-h/2010-03-13+13.28.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8phMYSGGGkMR5WRps4_w2DIYz4IRqIy__KKY7cvVA21UctpJwCvlXwE9Coc7Dv_tiqN1wllFF27EjkQJVoMkRcRVbqgPtmLnEgjRSyGcmYn8_e-Gb1_OmFS-Jo1BQPqgIiRl8G-0C_g/s200/2010-03-13+13.28.15.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was a perfect morning, one my dirt hands did not capture on film. Bees buzzed between the rosemary flowers and the frames of honey that we left for them to rob. A hummingbird hovered inches from my head and arm, darting to the rosemary flowers and fave bean flowers. Mia came out to stand on my lap as I pressed seeds into the soil. Birds chirped from the trees, reminding me to refill their seed. Fluffy bumblebees buzzed around the fava bean plants. I couldn't have asked for more. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSO5CiW3mDbRKOdqZLTQoHtDm9QK3ulvQRMA47D6jYO52ZXjo56V05d-05OayDEWABKQq8pRE4q8DWmkzp8mH_DQVJUQI-CGcox_Yvgv1ZktgykFXCrdvG2WMG3VyVRDr0r4CJ7tgDIY/s1600-h/2010-03-13+13.29.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSO5CiW3mDbRKOdqZLTQoHtDm9QK3ulvQRMA47D6jYO52ZXjo56V05d-05OayDEWABKQq8pRE4q8DWmkzp8mH_DQVJUQI-CGcox_Yvgv1ZktgykFXCrdvG2WMG3VyVRDr0r4CJ7tgDIY/s200/2010-03-13+13.29.32.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I managed to overfill our little greenhouse. If half of the seeds germinate, we'll be in great shape. I'm also hoping to get seeds started for <a href="http://abeilleamiel.blogspot.com/">Abeille a Miel</a> as well with this push. Germination for these seeds will be anywhere from five to twenty five days, so we'll know soon enough if the seeds took. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u>Germination times: </u></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">carrot = 14 - 21 days. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">yolo bell peppers = 10 - 25 days.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">soy beans, leeks, roma tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes = 10 - 15 days.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">zucchini, lemon cucumbers, straight cucumbers, sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes = 5 - 10 days</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">all square containers have sugar snap peas, all rounds are tomatoes. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwrcDFeBG0QPdIUM9FnnuaO13YoQlEjxCWbqDFEZ5KCf4fu26pymq_Ov-7gN2YrnyLh6ofQcUgjKg33RR4KTbR82v9rhTvu-7sr-6O53I-GuTeLjEzfqlUJetD-xbSEV4uMqkx3Xib5M/s1600-h/2010-03-13+13.32.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwrcDFeBG0QPdIUM9FnnuaO13YoQlEjxCWbqDFEZ5KCf4fu26pymq_Ov-7gN2YrnyLh6ofQcUgjKg33RR4KTbR82v9rhTvu-7sr-6O53I-GuTeLjEzfqlUJetD-xbSEV4uMqkx3Xib5M/s200/2010-03-13+13.32.01.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Took a bag of sweet pea seeds that we'd saved two years ago and scattered them about the flower garden patch. If they take, awesome! we'll have flowers and nitrogen fixing roots. If they don't ... compost. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaW_lGWT3vAEjibhFXCThyiqc97k0RZGhMtbeOeHWlL-vBgk23SfD7cc8S_bOlqs0MUWqpdc7TrQxmMuT-tfuPZxdY6niqeGryoNGl21oVt49FQd021yo_VccpfiHGLZK2C0S49fLGLc/s1600-h/2010-03-07+12.00.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaW_lGWT3vAEjibhFXCThyiqc97k0RZGhMtbeOeHWlL-vBgk23SfD7cc8S_bOlqs0MUWqpdc7TrQxmMuT-tfuPZxdY6niqeGryoNGl21oVt49FQd021yo_VccpfiHGLZK2C0S49fLGLc/s200/2010-03-07+12.00.11.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The fava beans are growing right along. Thank you bumble bees and hummingbirds! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(these plants are starting to dominate the garden, so I'm hoping they get to harvest quick! now we know for the future - tie them up early!!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm4g76uBI7KgcncPvFIMUfWpP0B84dDmUOwyNo8Y6HYil3S8Mf4-jywNzLY4XcuePLYbY6oN3eH6uLWEHEPVwbaDhqM-55lbIM9Lqx2u5mHGHWefAtZoPy5nvLgF9PlRwf-ovEfOSs_g/s1600-h/2010-03-13+13.31.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm4g76uBI7KgcncPvFIMUfWpP0B84dDmUOwyNo8Y6HYil3S8Mf4-jywNzLY4XcuePLYbY6oN3eH6uLWEHEPVwbaDhqM-55lbIM9Lqx2u5mHGHWefAtZoPy5nvLgF9PlRwf-ovEfOSs_g/s200/2010-03-13+13.31.51.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once all the work was done, I filled the birdseed up, swept the sidewalk and deck, and gave the greenhouse a watering before closing it up. The kids next door were playing a game of some kind, and then suddenly I heard the oldest one ask in a loud clear voice, <i>What on earth is that smell? </i>I laughed and cringed at the same time. Oh man. We're *that* neighbor! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bear with it! I hope to provide you good tomatoes this summer! </div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-56604383658518512332010-02-26T11:51:00.000-08:002010-02-26T11:51:17.342-08:00I hardley knew ye.<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">M took the hive apart Thursday afternoon to take a look, and possibly combine good frames into one brood box to give the bees less space to manage. There was no sign of the queen. He said there was only about a dozen bees still hanging out. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The brood frames have pollen and honey stored in them. They are covered with mold as well. Talking about it, we think something else caused the bees to go and the mold was a secondary opportunistic infection. We don't seen any signs of foul brood or chalk brood - there is no brood. Just honey and bee bread. We know the hive was healthy and thriving in mid-October. I found the inner hive cover to not be glued down in late December. Something must have gone astray after the last harvest. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I started a bit of a hive autopsy, but remaining (and robber?) bees were about, so I left them. I couldn't help but think I was being callous to be pulling the hive apart so soon, reminded me of the delicate process of cleaning up after a bad call on the ambulance. I backed away. Hopefully the bees can salvage honey and benefit other bees. There are other days for examination. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We took a walk to the store for dinner. It was good to walk and process. Losing a hive is a lot harder than I thought it would be. There is an air of sadness about the house tonight. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are questions that will never be answered. That's ultimately what we are left with. An amazing year of a new experience, 175 pounds of honey, a good amount of money from honey sales, a few stings, and a lot of questions. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This afternoon, I poured a glass of wine and M a pint of beer, and we sat on the deck overlooking the garden. We choose to hope the bees went to find a more positive future. We listened to the ravens, and watched a pair of crows groom each other. A hummingbird darted around. A bumble bee buzzed loudly by. Mia hoped from lap to lap. Looking at the strong garden and the bursting plum tree, it's good to feel hopeful. It's good to think about setting up a new hive. And there is a lot of sweetness left. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you, bees. You brought sweetness into my life. You made people that used terms like "bee vomit" turn into honey aficionados. Your labors were the gift of choice. You gave drawn comb to your sisters. Your honey traveled half of the globe, China to Wales, with many stops in between. Through you I met an amazing community, and I learned a lot about myself. I'm sorry you left. You were loved. You changed lives. </div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9024008899131460219.post-7792508083778797752010-02-24T13:26:00.000-08:002010-02-24T13:26:49.827-08:00A farm morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbKRp3iL8q16XhMn2l_P7dGzvwLFY_BKGvpdg8yd3_ZcdIYBFjDvDhBIhUgddwY3-_T91Hc3vi4d0YYkVCit4u0l4aXtU5K6Ilu1PKu9sfvcjPyvp9pPLd8y5HVQ8nrgQag7qeIOtPMU/s1600-h/2010-02-24+07.47.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbKRp3iL8q16XhMn2l_P7dGzvwLFY_BKGvpdg8yd3_ZcdIYBFjDvDhBIhUgddwY3-_T91Hc3vi4d0YYkVCit4u0l4aXtU5K6Ilu1PKu9sfvcjPyvp9pPLd8y5HVQ8nrgQag7qeIOtPMU/s200/2010-02-24+07.47.33.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mondays and Wednesdays at work are my early days to accomodate one of the labs. I was up early this morning, and with time to kill before getting to the train station, I decided to get a few tasks done around the house and yard. This also led to examining the beehive a bit, and thinking more about what changed. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is also a bit of an update on garden work done last weekend. The <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAle9RPAyQNXC03yYlwVsXz0_RljmGa8L4d8qGAL8iNMhcFCWF3-wAKQNq7mw7-5f005MlIeER7n_dVN7YE-FMpdyrBp2MJwSFQBZaXcyR4aC0VPB_DqvlB6agVEHsekmnphFINKaOV7w/s1600-h/18Oct09+%2829%29.JPG">potato bush</a> was cut down! While we tend to be of the "don't kill plants" mentality, the potato bush violated our basic needs for plants. Can we eat it? Does it smell nice? Can we use it? Does it help? While I have seen a bee sipping water from a drop on a leaf, the bees weren't super fond of it. With the mold problem, we're also concerned that the overbearing bush was creating decreased ventilation and excess shade. That corner has always been a bit damp. Right now, any help we can give the hive is desireable. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been thinking a lot about the bees, and what went wrong. The trouble here is that it's not a clean experiment. There are just too many variables, one being that we are new to beekeeping and just don't have the years of experience to know our bums from our elbows. I'm reminded of tales of hubris. After having several months of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmSAi4DPa5g9aOkoMcOHAc1WNq7eKb7hk5nSG81Sfarlqc9azv-IUr9x_tFCsR2yZ4mXQWw8bbi3rLlgOrMqb_iSa5EPWwBBYuPIgLZ27l3WgKXJwsU8-uT2PWosZmjRIlow2ygJXGEQ/s1600-h/06Sept09+%2814%29.JPG">Urania the Wonder Hive</a>, I thought nothing could go wrong. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alarm bells did go off back in December when I went to check the mite board, and found the inner cover and honey super lifted off easily. No hive tool required easy. This was unlike the bees - they seemed to love propolis and all of it's stickyness passionately. I knew opening the hive was risky then with our cool and damp weather, so I think the feeling that I may be doing more harm than good overwhelmed me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_pJuc4PNgAPuBcZ8HAacnugXhgImJLp0IZGbSzNoWBswfPqhRCFysev598g_aw4qnrRyv2ZbsqfdlUEfQh-aMUCPAjGhyphenhyphen9GpOJp7Tj7FQQu1bKtS5F6KqoB68c3FS1zoeQra8FbSEHE/s1600-h/2010-02-24+07.47.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_pJuc4PNgAPuBcZ8HAacnugXhgImJLp0IZGbSzNoWBswfPqhRCFysev598g_aw4qnrRyv2ZbsqfdlUEfQh-aMUCPAjGhyphenhyphen9GpOJp7Tj7FQQu1bKtS5F6KqoB68c3FS1zoeQra8FbSEHE/s200/2010-02-24+07.47.49.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">January was a wet month, and February has followed suit. I'm grateful for the rain, but I don't think it helped the bees cleanse, clean up, or air out the hive. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With the potato bush gone, I was able to see the front of the hive. It's covered with bee poop. One of the things we think may have harmed the health of the colony was the <a href="http://seedsinthecity.blogspot.com/2009/10/fall-garden-fall-bees.html#more">powdered sugar mite treatments</a>. I feel awful about this. Powdered sugar has indigestible starch, and our bees really didn't have a mite problem. What can I say? I was following the advice from the Guild. We will not be doing this treatment again. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So was it the weather? Did the hive swarm? Was there some illness? Was this "CCD"? Was it the powdered sugar? We don't know. It appears the queen is still with the colony. The bees are acting defensive once we open the brood boxes up, and there are no drones. There are no signs of egg laying workers. There is also very little hive activity from what we could see. Getting this photo a few months ago would have brought out the guard bees. Now all is quiet around the entrance. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As we see it, we have a few options. Weather cooperating, open up the two brood boxes, and remove as many moldy frames as possible. Condense Urania down to one brood box with as many clean (and drawn) frames as possible. Replace the moldy hive stand, mite board drawer, etc etc. A more radical option is to replace the entire hive, including new frames. We are considering ordering a new package of bees and basically starting over. As heart breaking as this is, at least the timing is good. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who would have thought a thousand insects would occupy a place in the heart? </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyr6g8Y0h69k1sL35110igY8uSIaHqLuIRTOpSMCgc6zt_VsQ5vtmnfqk16gVSg8gerWJ99vBvaNY3fmReD3LbM00WAlm1TLiu_fKEb64ZCvlIXu1MdW3fDNalkIwEvdsfaCTtixHGZQ/s1600-h/2010-02-20170355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyr6g8Y0h69k1sL35110igY8uSIaHqLuIRTOpSMCgc6zt_VsQ5vtmnfqk16gVSg8gerWJ99vBvaNY3fmReD3LbM00WAlm1TLiu_fKEb64ZCvlIXu1MdW3fDNalkIwEvdsfaCTtixHGZQ/s200/2010-02-20170355.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enough, I'm depressing myself. On to better news. We got a lot of weeding done, transplanted some of the flower garden, and started to move strawberries around to fix the drip irrigation system. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(to compare - before <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/incendiary/sharing/garden/13Feb103.jpg">1</a> and <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/incendiary/sharing/garden/13Feb10.jpg">2</a>. A huge thing was getting the lavendar transplanted and off the sidewalk! Poor thing had been bullied by the lemon geranium.) I love the ever-evolving look of the garden. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We filled two green bins with oxalis, the potato bush, and other leaves and debris. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAUfNklvh-lHN2k2FpQ4nEswYmkmqLHdGOmuF0_0d4cYwu8fiDLOCq7YeEBbqfSfCj79dYOGUk2M8eJilzUVYjZlV3elpOj5_2UxyIYjB7tykKRY6PEPH43XNR_mavwdvqoWnhIOqBfc/s1600-h/2010-02-24+07.48.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAUfNklvh-lHN2k2FpQ4nEswYmkmqLHdGOmuF0_0d4cYwu8fiDLOCq7YeEBbqfSfCj79dYOGUk2M8eJilzUVYjZlV3elpOj5_2UxyIYjB7tykKRY6PEPH43XNR_mavwdvqoWnhIOqBfc/s200/2010-02-24+07.48.41.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This morning I took out the recycling for curbside pick up and took the kitchen compost back for the worms. I noticed the water fountain, filled from the rain, had some swimmers in it. I went over and dumped out the water, trying to avoid my shoes. I've considered getting mosquito fish, but the fountain is usually left empty to avoid the racoons using it for a wash. I was considering alternatives when a pair of hummingbirds darted out from the overhanging butterfly bush and chirpped loudly. It was a good reminder that there's a whole eco system in the yard. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(that industrial bucket? It holds the birdseed, and yes, the raccoons have already gnawed through one lid.) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oooh! Thanks to <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5441518/find-actual-uses-for-your-very-hot-sauces">Lifehacker</a> and <a href="http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&context=nwrcrepellants">University of Nebraska at Lincoln</a>, my bird feeder has been squirrel free! I mix a tiny bit of hot sauce with the bird seed. Birds can not detect <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin">capsaicin</a>, but squirrels can. Thankfully the grey squirrels in my neighborhood don't have a longing for hot sunflower seeds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLY_JG7db3CeZfdZWP5AIq5EckKcEu7V5vVMv6u6EFZetGcKRBI05FT5BwTYNLdkMlePp3v7EnNM56JFfNpa5rdtAS39nExQj53iuiVG19HKkK0VFNVCa5pyoIJbH1VR8Th1vY5aqUAU/s1600-h/2010-02-24+07.49.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLY_JG7db3CeZfdZWP5AIq5EckKcEu7V5vVMv6u6EFZetGcKRBI05FT5BwTYNLdkMlePp3v7EnNM56JFfNpa5rdtAS39nExQj53iuiVG19HKkK0VFNVCa5pyoIJbH1VR8Th1vY5aqUAU/s200/2010-02-24+07.49.04.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After feeding the birds, I took a look at the fruits and veg. The sugar snap peas are blooming away, and we have a few peas growing. The fava beans also have a few tiny pods on them. (many thinks to the bumble bees!) We've slowly been eating and sharing our turnips. The carrots are growing well, but are still small. The arugula took over the lettuce patch and bolted. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I remembered <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHt6qDkwRF3B9yjcvFdeElLFKz5ggq9h1lF_ujbr0PE_g5j7KmWu9thoDunfiSvJyVUdsH86gXgAGUYyl50zFK9et_57L52j5oWkYSHpj9Z5UfmqK2xgxkQ0Dlx__1ZyQtKrpzRrbj3iE/s1600-h/excel+October+2009+%281%29.JPG">this handy graph</a> of planting and germination times, and it's amusing me today. The runner beans died in the frost, the turnips never appeared. The cabbage is growing slowly, and I'm wondering if that "Dec 1" meant <i>next</i> Dec 1. The spinach also did not germinate. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9uDPsaLNamrA3l3j8YF6pY6v0mNKGAi2nJyc4UAeM5CL4Tk_KWVIMKrkHe8pv_EBlzkCUF_RNW8FYc44kPZwqOudytvDOe1zVijOv_1MXyy51GcXZUZKDq0p_rRORlNjzxNaZC9gF-w/s1600-h/2010-02-24+07.50.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9uDPsaLNamrA3l3j8YF6pY6v0mNKGAi2nJyc4UAeM5CL4Tk_KWVIMKrkHe8pv_EBlzkCUF_RNW8FYc44kPZwqOudytvDOe1zVijOv_1MXyy51GcXZUZKDq0p_rRORlNjzxNaZC9gF-w/s200/2010-02-24+07.50.04.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally - watch this space! ;) This is the planned location for a garden box. The goal is to put tomatoes and basil in it for the spring. We'll also be removing the lemon grass and transplanting it to another part of the garden. I'm excited to have a proper place for the tomatoes that can use the existing drip system and prevent the tomato plants from bullying the rest of the garden. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My lunch time is about up. Good to remember the fullness and life in the garden. </div>Seeds in the City.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17328214099148207427noreply@blogger.com2