Bee's and Beeswax....

Here are a few pictures of some of the bee productions going on here......

Mark was showing me the propolis in the beeswax.  He has to melt everything down and then he will put it through a strainer several times.

Here is a picture of the his processing.

A beeswax patty...now I can make some plantain salve.  

Then we were off to check  on a few hives that Mark keeps at a friends farm.  Unfortunately we lost one.  This hive was a good producer last year and this is not the one that Mark wanted to lose.  Beekeepers know that they will lose some over the winter. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. 

A peak inside ....

A look at the food supply.....

checking each hive as it is a warmer day today....above 50 degrees but I must say the wind was cold.  Mark does not open the hives if it is below a certain temperature.

I just liked this one.  

If you look close you can see some of the bees.  I think they are the guard bees so we have to watch out!  If you have never studied bees I suggest you do....it is amazing how God created these bees and all that they do.  The efficiency of a hive.....wow girls we could get some lessons. 

This is the hive that did not survive.  There are only a small amount of bees in the bottom so Mark is not sure yet as to why.  He is thinking that they might have been having some trouble in October and perhaps they swarmed.  It would be late in the season.  He will know more as soon as he does some research.  He loves his bees and will want to find out more.  

Here is a picture of some capped honey and drawn out comb.  The wonderful thing is that nothing goes to waste.  The drawn out comb will go to good use in the spring.  

My poor youngest son.......he is really afraid of the bees.  Unfortunately when we moved back he was stung by a nest of ground bees 7-9 times and he is not taking any chance.  He is far away! Pray for him if you think of him. 

Our work here is done for the day...........