Minding Our Own Bees Wax

So after collecting the honey and straining it we were left with lots of bits of sticky comb which is of course just wax laying in wait! We just had to separate it. I'm not sure we did it exactly right,  Dennis and I had conflicting Internet searches, but the outcome was still fun.

I first put the gloopy bits into a piece of cheesecloth,  tied it off and dipped it into a bowl of warm water. This was done to try and wash away some of the excess honey. I poured that off and repeated the process till the water was pretty clear. When untied I then had the crumbly, much less sticky remains.

That's where Dennis's research kicked in and we put the crumbles into a double boiler. The heat melted the wax to liquid which we then strained into a bowl through another piece of cheesecloth.  What was left was a bowl of butter yellow wax with a bit of residue.

I'm not sure yet what we plan to do with it.  We might reheat and strain it again.  Maybe some little tealights? Maybe lip balm?  I need to research it more. I will say this, while fun for us, it would be quite a bit of work if you needed the wax for your primary source of light! My hat is off to the pioneers.  Shew!

I doubt we'll become professional candle makers.  I do want to try it again though.  Dennis wants to get one of the heated knives to use when uncapping the comb for honey extraction. I think that would make for a smoother process. Raking the comb with the de capping tool makes it sort of messy, honey and wax wise.

First Honey Day

Big day yesterday.  It was a process but we took the very first honey from the bees. Took awhile and we all, even the girls, pitched in. We won't be selling this batch. Maybe when we get a little more. Some for us and a few for family and a couple of friends we trade with.

Follow the link for a video of Dennis braving the bees!
https://youtu.be/ldw5GQswFSM

Happy Sunday Morning from Covertchickenfarm.blogspot.com

Vinegar Shy

My husband's newest project.  A source of disagreement between us.  I can see the value of it. I'm a little vinegar shy after the great sour kraute incident of 2014. Eww.
#fermentation
#applecidervinegar
#covertchickenfarm

Foggy Friday

August 5th 2016

If the old wives are right we're in for a doozie on whatever winter's day this one correlates to. You can still hear the roosters crow cutting through this gauzed over morning but it's still muffled.  Nice really, like we're on an island of our own.  Maybe even floating above the clouds somewhere.
#floatingonfriday
#fallisdrawingnigh
#foggymorning
#covertchickenfarm

How Time Flies

It's been a wild ride and we're still rolling along!

Happy Back To School Day!

Rain!

We got 3 more inches of rain last night!  On top of the 14 in July!  It also rained the first day of August and another folklore story says that if it rains on the first day of the month it will rain 16 more days in the month. It rained after midnight so I guess that means 15 more to go. Supposedly if it rains on Monday it also will rain 2 more days that week. Oh it was also foggy again this morning so...more snow this winter.

Those old wives tales are shaping us up to have a rough go so far! Poor Dennis had planted and replanted a late round of corn but needless to say it's bent in half. He said he's decided to give up because someone seems to be telling him he has enough corn.

There are still tomatoes,  beans and peppers. Also potatoes but we'd probably need a boat to get to them! It'll work out. We may be buying potatoes this fall and winter though.  Fall...winter! Too soon! 

I'm not opposed to the cooler weather,  just feels rushed though.  Only 5 months to Christmas!  Okay. Gotta.  Breathe.

Alright I leave you now with that thought and a picture of the handy work of the spider from the other morning.  Stay dry!

Snow Day For Every Foggy Day

Evidently there's an old wives tale that every foggy day in August is equal to one snow day this winter.  I'm thinking this morning might equal flurries.  There was just a slight blur to the hillsides,  granted I woke up a little later than normal.

The other day I woke of my own accord, promptly at 5:51 a.m. which was funny because the sun was just rising. Today is Monday though so of course I'm dragging.  New week.  New month. School starts back Wednesday,  I turn 40 Thursday.

I'd say as new beginnings go were at least heading into it with good intentions.  I cleaned and and de cluttered most of yesterday.  We're trying to find some semblance of order to help make the days run smoothly.

Dennis is trying to get the garden finished up. He did corn again yesterday.  Less than expected because raccoons got into it Saturday night.  Well, they got into the older corn. Still some not ready yet.  There's already around 50 quarts in the freezer though!  I think we're going to be okay!