This photo is from Emily's ipod...I couldn't up load without making it into a collage.
These two sisters are a riot and they are so happy when they get to chat with each other.
So for the honey harvest this year....
Not a huge harvest this year. We calculate we have about 20 gallons of golden, sweet honey. I think we had over 40 last year. But, that meant a little less work on the spinning day and that was great with us! A few photos to document the day and a funny story to boot!
We use a hot knife to cut the wax cappings off the comb.
Into the spinner they go. Nine frames at a time.
It takes about 20-25 minutes to spin a batch.
And we use to do this all by a hand crank!! Now we can flip a switch!
It's always fun to open up that latch and watch the first flow of the golden honey begin!
When you breath in that amazing smell of the beeswax and sweet honey
...it is heavenly!
Lots of hand washing in between licks! We promise!!
Not a drop of the bee's hard work is wasted. Mark built this little sun oven to
heat the wax cappings. The honey drains to a container below and the wax with be filtered and used for great things, like Jiggy Sticks!
This is the pan that catches the honey the wax...the goop stays above. The wax lifts off the honey easily. We reclaimed over a gallon of honey from the capping wax! I think it is the tastiest of all.
Within 24 short hours we have beautiful, raw honey ready to fill our shelves and tummy's!
Just about forgot the funny story!
Mark had propped open the door from the garage to the house so we could get in and out without the sticky handle mess....AND because this process smells so great that he wanted the whole house to breath it in. Well, I had left a window open up in the studio and those busy little girls find that honey scent almost instantly! I went upstairs to clean up a mess and my studio was swarming with hungry little bees!! It took me oven an hour to get them all scooted out! One by one they were making their way down into the garage. We were wondering where they coming from! Good news is that no one was harmed or stung in the process!
For our harvest dinner we enjoyed almond encrusted trout, veggies au gratin,
mashed sweet potatoes and homemade corn bread with fresh honey!
mashed sweet potatoes and homemade corn bread with fresh honey!
Wishing you were with us.
4 comments:
Yum! That honey looks gooood.
Molly (as she saw the picture of the delicious food and the beautiful backyard in the background): "NANA!!!"
You are recognized by more than your face.
Papa, you are also very loved. When I scrolled down and she saw the picture of you underneath-she fell off her chair while yelling "papa! papa!" haha
can't wait to see you soon! :)
That there sounds like a great day! Was there any fun in the acquisition of the trout for dinner, or was it just a trip to the grocery store?
Scott...the trout came from Paradise. Even though it is catch and release, they sell their fish to restaurants and others :) He brought home 8 beautiful fillets and they are tasty!! (He did enjoy a great morning fishing out there with a friend.)
Mmmmm :) I really miss your food, mama. And also, you and Dad are lookin skiiiny! Two months and three days to go...
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