scoot biking

VIDEO0015 a video by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

Zachary really wanted to scoot to daycare, so he could practice. Then he informed me "I can go riding and keep up with Oliver (who also has a scoot bike)"

Bee watching

DSC_0075, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

The Texas sage is in bloom, and our new girls are all covered in pollen, and drinking up the nectar. We really couldn't have hoped for better timing. And with all the blossoms and buzzing, Zachary was transfixed.

Burr comb nectar

DSC_0049, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

Sarah and Z tasting nectar from some burr comb.  The link shows a great example of comb similar to what we saw yesterday. This was drawn off of the queen cage that was hanging in the hive (to give the bees a few days to acclimate to the queen and release her).  When we went to check she had been released, and you can see eggs in the burr comb. We didn't spot the queen, but hopefully this weekend we'll manage to catch a glimpse (she is larger and also has a red dot of paint on her back, so here's hoping).  It is important that she gets established quickly. The worker bees have about a six week lifetime, so there need to be new workers being reared to take over responsibilities. Since the workers shift jobs based on age, it is important to have continuity of generations, otherwise the hive gets out of whack.

closing up the hive

Hiving the Bees

Removing the queen cage

Z helping out

IMG_0865, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

Big smile while he passes me the pollen pattie, to help the bees get settled in their new home.

Get 'im young....

IMAG0157
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

Well, at least someone here is ready for the bees coming on thursday....

Spring 2012 recital

Wrangling the rope swing

IMAG0159
Originally uploaded by Niais

A few nights ago we had a run around in the backyard after work/school. Aunt Debbie complained about needing more pictures... so we have a few of one young man in his dad's plastic cowboy hat. Yeah, we're a classy establishment.

Hard working...

IMG_7140
Originally uploaded by Niais

Ok, we were not making him tamp. He's a little sick. But the trench is almost full of rubble!!

crashed out

crashed out, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

from a long ride around the block. Best bit... when he really got going his chest hit the horn. scoot, swing forward, beep, scoot, swing forward, beep .....

Pesach Beach Time

DSC_0166, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

picking our crop

yummy home grown artichokes

Helping to make dumpling

Honk Tx 2012

After a successful morning in which we got the little chicks to the new coop. Z and I joined our nieghbors at Honk Tx a festival of street/marching bands. It was awesome weather and a great time to be outside playing and dancing......

Green Tongue

DSC_0160, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

Who gave him that Rock!

DSC_0255, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

DSC_0256, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

DSC_0257, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

1) No body was hurt
2) Best photo sequence

Mardi beads

Probably the best way to keep Z still, weigh him down with twenty pounds of beads.