I think I mentioned last time that my queen had swarmed and that I had to requeen. I drilled holes in the frames to add ventilation and hopefully that will keep them happy. They just got too hot and crowded and I should have ventilated them more to begin with but I was worried about robbing. Lessons learned. The frames are getting to be very heavy and hard to hold. I made up a bunch of new ones and added them to the top box. I put a few from the top with bees and larvae etc. into the top box to encourage them to go up there. The boys really wanted to dress up too and I had extra suits. The suits were way too big on them and they looked like little oompa loompas. They thought they looked like kung-fu panda. They were not very helpful, and ended up fighting about something, but did take a few pictures of me. I named my new queen Madeline and she's a Minnesota Hygenic like the rest. Hopefully the all liked her. I plugged up the hole with marshmellow like I did with Stella and I see they have already eaten it and released her. She's marked bright pink. I had to add a little fence around the hive because a skunk was eating them at night. They love eating the guard bees and watching more come out to defend the hive. It's like a vending machine, but it really makes the bees irritated. It's been so hot that it was hard to get the wax foundation into the frames because it was melting. We have been able to eat outside a lot though in the nice weather and our south facing deck.

I got some ethyl acetate through a chemical site and charged my kill jar. I feel really badly killing bugs, but like most scientists I can rationalize my way through the justification of it. Live ones don't sit well under the microscope for ID. I give specimens to the university collection too. The kids are probably confused because I don't let them kill any insects or spiders in the house or outside (except argentine ants and black widows) Here is a western tiger swallowtail that was already dead in the yard. It was starting to get eaten by ants and I grabbed it for my collection. It was great because I don't like to collect butterflies. Mostly because it's a pain to get the wings spread just right, but also because I have a fondness for them.



Our whole yard has blooms, especially all of the lilies and herbs that I love. The ferns and maples are all leafed out and beautful though. I love this bleeding heart and maidenhair fern on the front porch. Caleb picked out the primrose and impatiens.

We've been enjoying all of the veggies and juice. I did a juice fast for a little while, but we've been able to make OJ for the mornings a few times too for fun. Can't wait for apple cider time!

We've had some time off to sit and be creative too. We saw a show on PBS that had cars made from cardboard so we made some. Nolan has been making spider webs all over too. Not very easy to walk through, but cute.

Spiderwick is all grown up and I've named the Cayunga duck Chloe. She's got beautiful black, green and blue feathers and is pretty sweet. They are loving there pond (which needs a solar filter and fountain) and their new home made from old trailer skirting, and recycled plastic and door hinges. We've got a new chicken named "cootie". Our neighbors had their whole flock eaten by racoons one night except for her and since chickens are social, it seemed cruel to leave her all alone so they gave her to us. Her name was supposed to be "cutie" but the five year old that named her said "cootie" instead so it stuck. She's at the bottom of the pecking order and gets a few feathers plucked, and the ducks are afraid of her, so she's pretty friendly with us. A lot of fruit is beginning to form and some is ready to eat. I've been able to pick a few strawberries, loganberries and gooseberries and soon there will be blueberries, apples and pears. Hopefully we'll get some grapes and kiwis this year too. The plums, peaches and cherries did not do well this year due to deer browsing. I can't wait for a fence!

We had a great time on the plaza. We ate food, watched music and performances, made wax hands and people watched. Green Diamond also had their annual celebration and we had fun going down the big slide and winnng lots of prizes. Pete sat in the chair we won and I modeled our new cooler.

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