I found out this week that work has been delayed on Degsy because they cannot get hold of a chassis. Saturday did not go according to plan. I did the trailer run as usual but whilst tripping out the muck I decided to go the Bees since it was so hot. At he bees I found that they pulling in loads of honey a stuffing the hive. For some reason they are not drawing wax so only have the brood chamber to fill. Other wise they are in good order. I resolved to go back on Sunday and take off the filled brood box and extract the honey.
When I got home after that vexing hour I had a spot of lunch. Double fried eggs and brown sauce butty. Greggs do round white buns that are very nearly barm cakes, a staple of any Manchester diet. They fit two eggs just nice and all goes down very nicely with a brew. H want to get some trousers for walking. We went to Measham but the shop their did not have what she wanted. I decided we would nip over to Tamworth to Black's. They had just what she wanted and it was in the sale, ker-ching! When we came back it was too late to got the lottie so I got the car ready for the next day. I had an hour or so to kill so I went out on the bike and ended up doing a ten mile circuit. When will I learn to cycle slowly?
Miss L was out to a party and was staying over so H and I had the place to ourselves. Something we are going to have to get used to from now on. H disappeared. I heard some crackling outside. I went for a nosey and found H had got the chiminea going and had made herself comfy with a glass of fizz and the Harris blanket. I managed to find a glass of something red, chucked a load of small logs on the fire and make myself comfy in the deck chair. We just sat and chatted, "being" as H would say.
Sunday was much more overcast and colder [relatively] so the bee visit of Saturday turned out to be the correct decision. Despite best intentions and the Collared Doves cooing from dawn I did not get to the lottie early. I had ten trays of brasicass and leeks to plant out. The top end of Bed2 was reserved for these plantlets. As usual the bed had to be weeded. I am please to say that some of the weeds had been struggling in the dry condition, other it made no difference to. A wheelbarrow and a half later the weeding was done. I got he plank and set about planting the Savoy Cabbage, Seven Hills Brussels Sprouts, Calbrese and Purple Sprouting Broccoli. It was tedious work. The plants need quite a bit of room but they look lost when planted out. I know I have planted them too close together but it is the best my conscience will allow.
Next I harvested some Caulis and some Greyhound spring cabbage. I dug up the remaining Caulis and cleared the area. I then planted twenty odd Greyhound cabbage. They are quick growers so I am hoping I can get another crop in before the solstice and we loose the light. The bit of rain we have had helped the plants but things are very dry. The onions have not done that well or the Garlic for that matter. Things might have been better if a had watered more. That said the Grapes are doing well as are the cabbage plants. So there is always something that suit the conditions. The gherkins and one of the courgette have got a foot hold so I will have to keep an eye on them. Before I left I gave all the new planting a good soaking and wished them well in their new homes.
I was at the lottie from about ten until three. I was wrecked. It was hot despite the lack of sun. The custard creams had run out as had my water. I wanted to knock off but I still had to retrieve the brood box. I trundled off to the apiary. It was quicker trundle than with Degsy. I got dressed for bee fettling and bagged the box off the hive. The previous day I taken the brood box out of its position in the stack of boxes and placed on top of the same stack but with a crown broad, fitted with Porter bee escape, between the top super and the brood box. I gave the brood box a good rattle and left the bees to it. As I expected when I came to the brood box, on the Sunday, it was empty of bees all but a couple that had not got the message to return to the hive proper. As I checked the frames I wafted the stray bees off the comb and they duly flew back to the hive. H made a nice tea of Irish soul food, Bacon, Cabbage and Spuds with Redcurrant jelly on the side. All but the Bacon was home grown and tasted just great.
After tea we watched of the Tour de France highlights I extracted the honey from the brood box. It is a messy business but I did quite well in getting only a few thing sticky. I extracted about 14 pounds from the one box. This years honey is light, fragrant and a mellow "honey" colour. As I cleaned up I had a brain wave. I tipped a couple of pounds of honey and all the capping, which are also soaked in honey, into a demi-john, filled the DJ with warm water and shook it up. Whilst it was cooling down I mixed up some yeast and let it stand. After a bit of telly and a brew the DJ was just warm and the yeast ready. I tipped in the yeast, gave it another good shake up and put in an air lock. By the time I was off to bed the airlock was bubbling. So that is mead made. I hope it will be ready for Christmas.
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