I'm a beekeeper now

Got my bees today!  And it was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

 

 We got to the apiary about 9:30.  There were quite a few people there.

I waited in a line a bit to check in, but it wasn't bad.  Picked up a couple things I needed, got my ticket, and got in line.

These are the nuc boxes.

And these are the full strength colonies.  

Mine ended up being the one second from the left in the front row.

I had thought it would be really heavy, so asked my buddy George to come help.  We even had a bee suit all ready for him.  Turns out, I didn't need George or the bee suit.  

The lady helping people get their beees loaded them in the back of my truck by herself 

with nary a grunt, so I knew I'd be able to unload them myself when I got home.  I put a 

ratchet strap around them (without a veil or gloves even!) to make sure the top didn't blow off.  

THAT would have been a nightmare.  

And off we went. 

Got them home, I set them in place, and there ya' go.

See the girls coming and going through their front door?! Squeeeee!

I did go out there later to give them some water.  There is tons of it down in the creeks, but I thought it'd be nice to welcome them to the neighborhood with a gift of water right by their front door, 'til they get settled in and can find it on their own.  

They gave me a gift right back: when I lifted the lid to check the feeder and see if I 

needed to refill it, they stung me on the ass.  Yeah.  Right in the freakin' middle.  Just over
onto my right butt cheek.   

Nice to meet you, too, girls.

I dub thee Lilith.

Toddi's coming over later and we're going to do some beewatchin'.

With bourbon.