Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

I'm picking up a couple of Muscovy hens (or ducks if you prefer) tomorrow. They are adults and my one drake should be thrilled to get some girls of his own. Now if I could just find a couple Saxony girls for those boys it would be great.

Spent an hour today taking apart my snow blower. Had to split it in two (it does this) in order to get at the auger shaft. The worm gear is stripped and needs to be replaced so the blades will turn. Had to order the part and it should be here next week. Then I have the fun of trying to put it all back together again

At least the weather is still warm enough to work on it.

That's an awesome skill to have. I'm terrible with machinery and electronics. I hate to admit it but the first (and last) time I tried to change the oil in my snowblower I ended up breaking some seal and it was mixing gas with oil and didn't work. I had to take it to the mechanic, who insisted it was just "a freaky coincidence" that that happened the same day I changed the oil... then I got a rock stuck in the auger last year (I snow blow the chicken run, they're constantly digging up rocks for me) and I didn't realize it... Couldn't figure out why the stupid thing didn't work that well and kept clogging... it broke some plastic piece... had to take it back to the mechanic again... BF managed to fix it the second time that happened, too. And the time I managed to suck the garden fence into the auger...

 

[ashandvine]

you keep those germs to yourself please. i'd like to be well for this weekend's augusta swap.

Awww... commere Hoppy!

 

[Widget]

That's an awesome skill to have. I'm terrible with machinery and electronics. I hate to admit it but the first (and last) time I tried to change the oil in my snowblower I ended up breaking some seal and it was mixing gas with oil and didn't work. I had to take it to the mechanic, who insisted it was just "a freaky coincidence" that that happened the same day I changed the oil... then I got a rock stuck in the auger last year (I snow blow the chicken run, they're constantly digging up rocks for me) and I didn't realize it... Couldn't figure out why the stupid thing didn't work that well and kept clogging... it broke some plastic piece... had to take it back to the mechanic again... BF managed to fix it the second time that happened, too. And the time I managed to suck the garden fence into the auger...

Spent a great deal of time hanging out with my father growing up. Can't sew at all but I can usually take things apart and get them back together. That and spending $50 on a part and installing it myself is much better than spending $200 to have the mechanic do it for me. And the fact that I am doing this now and not in Nov/Dec is amazing. I'm usually not that proactive.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I spent most of my childhood at the gym (I was a gymnast). Before school: Gym. School. After school: Gym. Weekends: Gym. Late nights: homework. I have no skills, woman or man, except a few that I've picked up since I quit gymnastics and went out on my own.

While I don't regret any parts of my childhood, I'm embarrassed that I can't even sew a button on.

 

[buckabucka]

That's an awesome skill to have. I'm terrible with machinery and electronics. I hate to admit it but the first (and last) time I tried to change the oil in my snowblower I ended up breaking some seal and it was mixing gas with oil and didn't work. I had to take it to the mechanic, who insisted it was just "a freaky coincidence" that that happened the same day I changed the oil... then I got a rock stuck in the auger last year (I snow blow the chicken run, they're constantly digging up rocks for me) and I didn't realize it... Couldn't figure out why the stupid thing didn't work that well and kept clogging... it broke some plastic piece... had to take it back to the mechanic again... BF managed to fix it the second time that happened, too. And the time I managed to suck the garden fence into the auger...

Spent a great deal of time hanging out with my father growing up. Can't sew at all but I can usually take things apart and get them back together. That and spending $50 on a part and installing it myself is much better than spending $200 to have the mechanic do it for me. And the fact that I am doing this now and not in Nov/Dec is amazing. I'm usually not that proactive.

Not to mention you can lift 50 pounds over your head! (That was you, right?). I am still very impressed.

 

[buckabucka]

I spent most of my childhood at the gym (I was a gymnast). Before school: Gym. School. After school: Gym. Weekends: Gym. Late nights: homework. I have no skills, woman or man, except a few that I've picked up since I quit gymnastics and went out on my own.

While I don't regret any parts of my childhood, I'm embarrassed that I can't even sew a button on.

 

Well, we all know that you know how to can! Not to mention baking all sorts of yummy-looking stuff. Plus you can do things on the computer that I have no clue about, and you are a chicken expert! So you pick up skills quickly!

 

[Widget]

Not to mention you can lift 50 pounds over your head! (That was you, right?). I am still very impressed.

That's me.

Although after wrestling with the snow blower today and going through that physical my back is not at all impressed right now. And I had to remove the top box from the bee hive today so I could put the mite treatment patty in the lower part of the hive. The bees have been busy and the box that weighs maybe 5 pounds empty must have weighed close to 50 pounds with all the honey it had in it.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

That's me.

Although after wrestling with the snow blower today and going through that physical my back is not at all impressed right now. And I had to remove the top box from the bee hive today so I could put the mite treatment patty in the lower part of the hive. The bees have been busy and the box that weighs maybe 5 pounds empty must have weighed close to 50 pounds with all the honey it had in it.

Do you have any books/websites etc for someone that wants to start out on bees but doesn't know a thing about them?

 

[hoppy]

ackkk- back off germ girl!

Awww... commere Hoppy!

 

[Widget]

Do you have any books/websites etc for someone that wants to start out on bees but doesn't know a thing about them?

http://mainebeekeepers.org/

This is a good place to start. Plenty of information. If you are really interested I would suggest taking one of the beginner/intro courses next year. Bees aren't that difficult to have since they mostly take care of themselves especially in winter. But they are prone to mites and a few other things that we need to help them with. It is the initial $ output that gets you. And buying used equipment isn't a good idea since there is a good chance it is contaminated.