package of italians arrive April 15

[TimLa]

For those of you who might have ordered a package or three from Beez Neez in Snohomish, Washington:

Just got off the phone with Jim, they'll be here on the 15th.  I have two more weekends to finish the fence and the hives...

I sure hope the weather that week is better than last year (snow).

[rickomatic]

LOL....I just got off the phone with Jim a couple minutes ago too! I feel like a new father waiting for the baby to be delivered  :-D

Does it ever get any better? Or does this disease just get worse?

[iddee]

It gets better,    er, worse,.... er, better. Dang, the addiction gets stronger.

[TimLa]

I'm pretty new to this, but it's very addictive.  I'm hoping to grow the hives up to as many as I can take care of, and am done buying frames and boxes - I have a small sawmill and woodshop, and plan to start making my own hives this summer.  If things go well, I may even try to get a split this year.  That would be beyond cool!  If not, I'll get another package next spring, then splitsville, baby!

I've got enough parts now for 7 mediums, and top/bottoms for two hives.  I'm going to install the package in a medium, then add until I get 4 mediums, meanwhile set up the other hive as a swarm lure and see if I catch anything.  If not, and the first hive supports it, I'll do a split.

I think the hive that the bear destroyed last year might have found a place to hide out for the winter - in ten years, I've never - ever - seen a honeybee up here until I started beekeeping.  We had a few days of warmish (50-55 degre) days a few weeks ago, and I saw two honeybees on the deck.  I hope the original hive survived, but it could also be that someone else nearby started up a hive last year.

Can you tell how addictive it is?  I find it fascinating.

Hang on to your wallet....  :evil:

[rickomatic]

I hear ya Tim, about hanging onto the wallet. I've got a couple other hobbies that dig into it pretty well too.
This is my first year beekeeping. I took the class at Beez Neez and have studied lots on the internet and read a book or two. There is just something really fascinating about the whole thing.
I've spent the past couple weeks building hives and other associated stuff. I've built 6 deeps, and 4 mediums, two hive stands, 2 screened bottom boards, two telescoping covers, inside hive jar feeders, and one slatted bottom rack just to see if I could. I have enough lumber left to build about a dozen more mediums or deeps.I scored on a craigslist add a few weeks ago for 2'x4' 3/4" pine panels @ $5 a pop. Each one has enough wood to make 1 deep, or 1-1/2 mediums. The guy had a couple hundred of them but I only got a dozen to see how well they worked out. I also scored an old honey extractor sans the innards for $25 on craigslist, and have plans to fabricate the insides when I get the time.
Tonight I got a $4.50 piece of metal strap at Lowes and made up a frame perch for sitting frames on while doing hive checks. They sell online for nearly $20. Maybe that's part of why I'm so hooked. I love to make stuff that has a real practical use.
Now the countdown begins. "T" minus 12 days and counting until the packages arrive. Never in a million years did I think I'd go to sleep at night thinking about bees...............ha.    8-)

[slaphead]

I spoke to Jim as well.  He still has some packages left......

 :-D

SH