It's the Bee's Knee's and beauty of Spring Storms

Before I begin, Just a reminder to get your comment in on The Backyard Mushroom spore Giveaway in my previous post. Deadline is May 4th, so be sure to get your name in the ring for a chance to experience your own growing of Easy edible Mushrooms!

Our bee hive has been very active. With this hive, I am able to sit within a foot and at times just inches of their entry spot. It became so fascinating to watch their activity with the most amusing being the traffic jam of having just the finger width hole for entry & exit.

If you had read my last post from setting up their hive, you will remember I placed grass in the 1/2 inch spot where my entry reducer was just a tad too short on one end. {can be seen in the picture of our hive in that post}. The "House keeper" bee's have been very busy removing it all. Rather endearing to watch a small insect pulling a long blade of grass from the hole, so determined to get it done as others were constantly walking and bumping into it. Then you have the workers... What a thrill it was to notice the many different colors of pollen on their legs. Hues of bright to mellow yellow. Dark brown oranges to almost a neon orange in color. You begin to wonder where are they traveling to? What plant have they found that gives them such a color?

Not too mention, look at all the different sizes of their pollen collection. The larger amounts almost look like Saddle bags:

You can see the brighter color pollen collected on one of the bee's in this picture below. Not sure why, but the ones with the brighter color yellow's and Oranges were harder to catch for a photo. This is a poor example for sharing of brighter colors. Truly, there were many with more Neon color Nectar.

The winds picked up yesterday so Frog & I walked to the back field for some camera fun. The blades of field grass were bending so beautifully. Waves across the green. The clouds were beginning to get that stormy look as well.So full with variations of white and grey. The sun brightening their back drop. One of the most beautiful things in a Spring storm is when it has a long build up like this one. Air is so warm yet the strong winds have a slight coldness as they whip through. The clouds appeared almost as though they were racing above us. A perfect time to grab a blanket and wonder out to the field for some cloud watching and allow Frog to practice picture taking. She has taken a big interest in it of late. Being 5 1/2 she has not fully comprehended all the skills but has surprised with some of her random snapshots:

Now if this recent over pour of Rain will stay away for the weekend, I may actually get the chicken coop painted with it's final coating of color. I might even get The Captain to do the post holes for my Garden fencing. Yay!

Experimenting with a potential oh so cool project this week. I had read of it's doing in a book published for Ladies in 1890. Of course deciphering  a certain material was nothing but a quick trip to my friends at Abruzzo's, my Favorite Home Brew shop. It's not what ya think, so stay tuned for a little tutorial and what to do with all those first time mini chicken eggs.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

Backyard Mushroom growing GIVEAWAY!

Been thinking about growing mushrooms but have not made the leap to include them in your adventures? Well then I have the PERFECT thing to help get your toes wet.

Not too long ago a reader had emailed, inviting me out to their place. She has been growing mushrooms in her backyard for a few years now. Generously she has offered to share some start up for growing our own Wine Cap & Shitake mushrooms once her 'Shrooms start to show face in the next few weeks. The more I learned of her set up the more I knew she would make a great spotlight video. If I am inspired just from our writing and her pictures, then surely you too will be hopping on the mushroom growing adventure.

 Backyard Mushroom growing will be our first Video of 2011.

So in the spirit of what is to come I contacted a Mushroom spore & supply company whom has been recommended by MANY of those I have spoken to who grow backyard mushrooms.

Field and Forest is giving away 1 two pound bag of Wine Cap spore in sawdust

{Plants 25 sq. ft of chips or sawdust 3 inches deep. Includes instructions.}

to ONE lucky reader, RIGHT HERE on my blog! Ya wont find it anywhere else people.

Your prize will be mailed to you directly from the company. You MUST provide an actual residence address if you are the lucky winner*please see small print rules below*

Wildman Steve with Wine cap Mushrooms he harvested from the wild

"Wine Caps are some of the easiest mushrooms to grow and they are really beautiful. The mushroom features a robust white stalk with a port wine colored cap. These are crisp, slightly nut flavored mushrooms that are great for cooking and grilling.Keep the beds watered to keep the chips moist but not saturated. Regular garden-style watering is usually enough. In a few weeks you should detect the strong white mycelium growing out through the wood chips. Fruiting occurs late summer through fall, then again the following year around Memorial Day. Add fresh chips to the bed after the spring fruiting to keep it fresh and create new beds periodically by transferring shovels full of inoculated chips from the established old bed to new locations. If you have a gardener’s eye you’ll soon see potential Wine Cap beds everywhere you look!"

My sincere gratitude to Field and Forest for participating in this giveaway. Such friendly people and their prices?{you know I'm all about saving the green} You will be happy to note that they are very agreeable in their pricing with superior stock and an AMAZING wealth of information. They do not just sell the supply on their site. They explain, teach and share a wealth of information in a very understandable format. Not to mention, when I called the company for the first time, the OWNER answered the phone. Now how often does that happen with companies out there? Be sure to check out their site {highlighted words or just enter http://www.fieldforest.net%7dand/ grow mushrooms in your backyard!

Oh yes, of course. How can you win your very own Wine cap mushrooms?

Just leave a comment, a simple just throwing your name in the ring comment will do.

You have until midnight EASTERN time May 4th 2011 to get your comment in. Tell your fellow bloggers as well. This is a great opportunity to begin or simply experiment with Mushroom growing. Easy, fun & interesting. Not too mention...EDIBLE!

The small print "rules":

Winner will be picked by number randomizer. 1 comment per person. Play nice. To enter you MUST have a public profile PLUS a way for immediate contact {via email on your profile}. You will have 2 days to respond to my email of your winning & if no return contact is made in that time I reserve the right to randomize another winner. MUST have a street residence  mailing address for prize to be recieved. NO P.O box, etc.

I reserve the right to make any changes I feel are neccasary with this contest.  

So what are you waiting for?! Leave your comment entry now!

Sweet "Mushroom" dreams,

~Tammie

Finding Robin egg's & the weeping Cherry tree's

Here at the Stone Cottage, Spring has been sharing many delights. The weeping Cherry trees are in bloom and the Weeping Willow has begun showing it's green leaves.

 

Frog & I began doing some Spring clean up. Edging the driveway was our first duty. As usual, Frog began to play around under the weeping Cherry trees and soon she found a beautiful surprise!

I assume a Nest robber has been at work since upon our inspection, there were no nests above where the ice cold egg was found. Soon we began searching the other weeping cherries and found another cold Robins egg just 2 trees over. The closest nest to where the eggs lay was a good 25 to 30 ft away. Although it does appear as though there may have been a nest in the one tree between where the eggs were found. All these rains may very well have destroyed the nest, Winds or the action of falling, causing the eggs to go in opposite directions.

We decided they would have a new home in the Birds nest I found a few years back which contained some of our  Beloved Chia's Hair. The one I found that Spring after her death.

I began thinking of that old Girl today. Between the beautiful weather, dandelions showing their golden faces, then the robin eggs. Flashes of past Springs from the old house come flooding back. I was hit with the most intense heart ache as soon as she came into my thoughts. I miss her terribly. Probably far more then I should after all these years.

I thought of the May day Dandelion crowns we make every year and she always ate her crown after indulging me for a few moments. Who will wear the crowns we make and be our May Day Queen? Who will I have to keep me company as I make my way through the early Spring chores? Spring always reminds me of her. From the walks in parks with my Goat on a leash to the delight as she scratched off her winter coat with some amazing acrobats.

I miss that silly old goat. Maybe it's the rarity of her personality that I fear will never be found again or that I will compare others to her, never letting them be on her "pedestal". I only hope she comes back to me when I have it in me {and the ability} to take goats on again.

For now I have the beautiful memories. A beautiful Spring to enjoy. And of course plenty of projects up ahead.

Sweetest Dreams,

~Tammie

Magic of our first hive

What a gorgeous day for a mini road trip, while picking up our grouping of bee's. High 60's F. Sunny clear skies. Could not have asked for a better day to travel the hour drive to Mantua.

The drive home had my car filled with the buzz of our bee's and the intense joyful scent of bee's wax from my new hive set up.

I quickly got to work setting the hive up and making the sugar syrup before the kids got off the bus. I never noticed before how light can be seen through their little bodies. As I peered in watching their movements, I could see their little bodies light up a brownish orange as the sun sat behind them in the Eastern sky. Amazing! 

As soon as I had everyone tucked in, well most of them anyway, Lil Man crept in for a closer look. There were some stragglers in the screened box that would just not let go, after I "knocked" the lot into the hive.

There were a few things missing from the set up I bought. I was unaware they were not with the hive until I began setting it up.

No entry reducer which I quickly found a proper width piece of wood & whipped the reducer up with the jigsaw. And then ...there was the Feeder setup. Rain was on the horizon so I had to brainstorm quick. No waiting around or buying one in time {which could take days if not a week or more.} So I grabbed 2 of the chick waterer's, filled the reservoir with gravel and screwed on the sugar syrup filled jars. I also placed the can, of their water feed, inside since it still had a good half of the liquid left.

They quickly converged on the queen in her cage, completely covering her from any recognition of even being there. Beautiful and amazing.

So now we wait. 1 week before we take a peek inside to ensure the queen has been released from her marshmallow corked chamber. The problem with waiting is...I am not known for patience. Add in  inexperienced bee keeper.

I have gone out every hour since their homing, to assure myself they have not run away. My imagination got the better of me and I would picture them slowly clinging to a branch, more and more joining, leaving the queen behind. Leaving me with an empty hive. I was afraid I had read the Book wrong and should not have left that finger width space open on the reducer. Maybe it said to keep it closed for the first week? Reread and of course it says nothing about bee's swooping out as soon as the new beekeeper walks away. Of course there is nothing in there saying it wouldn't either... So like a new mother checking on her sleeping baby, I would pacify my worry with the hourly visits. Only to find they are accounted for {not that I counted but the stragglers were still inches from the entry & plenty of buzzing & guarding going on}.

I am sure as I lay down to sleep my over active mind will bring dreams of an empty hive or chasing a swarm of bee's  like a runaway flying chicken, too high to reach in the tree's. I will try to sway the dreams with a few chapters of garden chatter. Maybe stories of country life. THAT should help my mind focus on something less stressful. But just in case, I might take a quick look through my Beekeeping book.

Just to reassure myself  this sort of thing is not likely to occur ....

Sweetest dreams,
~Tammie

The Table that took 6 months to build...

No, that is not an exaggeration. It truly took 6 months from start to finish. Not because the table actually required that much work. No, it's more like I refused to brave the cold & work on it during the winter. Yes, I dislike being cold that much.

I first mentioned this Project last September, showing a beautiful upcycled barn wood table. It had a rather alluring bottom shelf for the Farm House table. LOVED IT! So begun the construction which did not end looking like the one in the picture. None the less, it is unique and huge! 8 ft long and 3 ft wide.

I did not like square edges on the end, so I cut a slight crescent into the frame corners and round the top corners. Then applied a light layer of white paint just to the base.

 I'm not Bob Villa but I am very happy with how it came out. I made it so the top sits at 34 inches high, perfect to prevent slumping over the top in normal dining chairs. Once my new dining chairs are finished with their new cushions, our old table chairs will be transformed into wood bottom {removing the cushions} for using with this table outside, under the future Arbor.

I also managed to finish tilling under the winter rye cover crop in the garden. To feel the cold soil freshly turned under my feet, was exhilarating. BUT it came with a consequence. Within 1/2 an hour I soon broke out in a massive case of itchy red skin & hives all over my body.It felt as though my skin was really crawling. I could feel a swelling in my throat & saw my limbs begin to get puffy.I grabbed the benedryl, which was followed with the antihistamine induced nap. I woke up as though I had partied the night away.Headache, sensitive stomach. Ack! Lesson learned. Do not till winter rye while barefoot.

The chickens are loving this recent turn of Mother Nature. Their coop is still awaiting it's final home INSIDE the chicken pen, but they stay with a 10 ft range of the coop despite not having barriers. Dust bathing, playing "who's got the worm now football" and of course flying in circles testing out their wings.

Moving the coop is a matter of awaiting for the person whom is doing the job to get the time to come over. Supposedly that will tomorrow. I truly hope so. I would like to finish the painting & decor soon.

I got the call today.Our Bee's will be ready for pick up on Thursday, which I will not be able to drive the hour there & then back until Friday Morning. Being my first time doing this alone, I decided to take you along for the ride. I did not realize there is not much at all in the books I have about bringing them home & what to do that day/night. They concentrate on once you have them settled in..

Hopefully I can get enough good footage of all that will be happening as to make a video for sharing. Gas has been keeping me close to home and of course plenty of none returned emails/phone calls to destinations. lol.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie 

A request for herbal wisdom~ Folk lore, recipes, charms...

First I must share my excitement is getting to over flow. Sometime around the 15th of this month I will be traveling out to pick up our grouping of Bee's and a new hive. For the first hive we will go with the traditional stack box style. Then when it's time to split them, we will use a top bar hive.

Now as for my herbal request, it has to do with something I have been slowly making for some time now. I have been compiling a Wise woman Herbal book for my children. The only herbs in it are ones we can grow ourselves or harvest from the surrounding area. I was once told "It is best to know 40 uses for one herb then to know 1 use for forty herbs". After much dilemma I have had when locally buying herbs I decided not to include herbs we could not provide ourselves.

swinging upon the outstretched limb of our Magic Tree next to the old garden, June 2009.

I have my list compiled of herbs for the book. Roots, leaves, trees, etc. for making it easier to write in alphabetical order, but the book itself is no where near complete.

I found a few folklore "charms" in a book titled :Mugworts In May by Linda Ours Rago

I am looking for simple backyard {Ohio grow able} ingredient herbals. Especially little sayings to go with each herb such as the one found in the above "In Dock Out Nettle. Don't let the Blood settle".

The book has helped in my understanding of what the masses thought of as "Witch Charms",which were actually knowledge passed down from mother to daughter in Rhyme. In a time when women were uneducated, unable to write, they passed the knowledge of herbs in rhymes. Making it easier to remember & repeated with their application, again reinforcing the memory.

May Day Basket 2006

I would also like to include the source of the knowledge shared from you and if in the future I decide to make this compiling of Herbals more public, ask of your permission to share & be able to mention the source. It would be through self publishing since I would like to share a copy with friends & family, meaning I would be downloading my finished compilation through an online self publishing site. Keeps pricing low for publishing a book with color pictures and durable cover.

 I will share here when all is done should anyone else like a copy.

Feel free to share either by comment or Via email. If you go to my profile, you will find my email below profile picture.

I must Thank you ahead should you choose to share your herbal wisdom/ rhymes. One or ten, or even a suggestion of where to find what I seek. All are appreciated.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

Cement compost bin a week of hard labor

 With the few sunny days over the last week, we have accomplished clearing out the South side strip of our woods.Lots of overgrowth, debris and brush. The bad part of it...I gave my son Poison Ivy...

So as I'm chopping vines, pulling dead tree logs & raking the mini forest floor~ I unknowingly threw Poison ivy vine into the brush pile they were picking up. Poor guy has it all over his neck & face, arms & leg. He's mending well but we did end up seeing the doc for some medicine.

I have some kind of immunity to poison ivy & oak.{I call it one of my "secret super powers" when the kids wanted to know why I've never had it}. I hear all the time, rather smugly "there will be a day you get it after all these years of immunity. It does not last forever". When it happens then so be it, in the mean time...I'll keep playing Jane of the Jungle.

In the beginning of the week we traveled out to Massillon for a truck load of freebie {intact} cement blocks. The guy had used them for a raised garden bed & we are now using it for the future planned Compost pile. The cement block is mortared together, a felt sheet applied to all of it's surfaces & then a cement like plaster is applied. Giving it an almost stucco smooth appearance.

Photo from book:

 I found the how to in the book " Easy Concrete:43 DIY projects for Home & Garden by Malena Skote" . I was very happy to find it on the new release shelf of our library. Lots of inspiration & really cool projects in there.

AND speaking of projects, I am ALMOST complete with my farmhouse table. I had a little issue with the flat top slats...as in I bought them a few at a time and all 3 trips produced 3 different lengths. Yeah. Not a surprise but at least it is something I can fix with the saw. It's almost done minus the above & some little touches. I have a few other projects like removing the paint from Bike of Sunshine now that it is all disassembled and more clean up before we begin the Grape Arbor on the south side of the Garden by the Bonfire area.

The Captain lost all his Hops with our move last summer and is excited his new order came in. I had to share with you how their simple packaging held such charm compared to many such things we have ordered.

Simple burlap but far more charming then newspaper and a plastic bag. {and a welcome surprise of an extra Rhizome in one of the bundles}.

I truly can not wait for it all of this to be done.Not because of the work. No, it's final product I desire. I keep picturing it in my head. Trying to hold on to the image.  Many a sore back, freezing body & numb finger moment, melted away knowing all this work will be worth it. Summer evenings spent by the Bonfire. Meals under the Grape arbor and on my 8 ft long Farm house table. Views of cleaned and tended mini forests and wildlife habitats.And a garden that is not only fruitful of edibles but bountiful of pleasure.

 Instant smile and plenty of work to get the body heat pumping.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie