The Bees Knees

What can I tell you about bees?  Well I know more than I used to, but I also know that it’ll never be enough; they are complicated creatures with whims of their own, all we can hope for is to keep up.  I also know that bees don’t come easy, oh no indeed.  If you want bees you are going to have to work, you’re going to have to plan, you are going to have to call people many months in advance, chase around buying all sorts of weird equipment and you are going to have that nervous feeling, the whole time, that at the end of this process you are going to have a hell of a lot of bees.

And you’d be right.

There they are, two nucs (pronounced nukes) of bees living at the bottom of home field.  They are facing east so the very first light over the horizon hits them, this is good as too much shade makes the grumpy.  The hedge behind will shelter them a little from the winds and there is plenty of elderflower in blossom all around them to give them a good start in life.

The little yellow things are sugar water feeders, they are currently on a 2:1 ration to get them started and have been going through it at a remarkable rate.  Stephen has been replenishing them at regular intervals but I think really he just wants any excuse to spend time with his bees.

The man is smitten.

After quite a bit of bee related running around on Thursday and Friday I didn’t quite know what to expect of it all.  I was putting the boys to bed while Stephen quietly and calmly installed the two nucs.  By himself.  With no help. Just a youtube video and a glance at a fact sheet and off he went.

Now yes he has read the books and soaked up more bee info that the average human brain can cope with but I wondered (and worried) what it would really be like to be surrounded by all those, not to put too finer point on it, bees.  I’ll admit to some apprehension on my part as I donned my own bee kit and headed down the field as the sun began to dip beneath the horizon.

I stood a little way off, not wanting to get in the way, but a bee found be and stung me anyway.  Thanks bee, it’s nice to meet you too.  Luckily I have plenty of Apis on the go right now which sorted the sting out no problem but I wondered how Stephen had got on.  He wandered up the field, all beekeeper suited and wellington booted; as he pulled off the big hat and veil I saw it on his face.  Love.  Adoration.  Awe.  ”They’re magical” he said and I knew I need worry no more.  This is his thing, these little flying creatures and their complicated lives, I’ll just be on the sidelines happily processing whatever goodies come our way.

When I started on all this I thought the point was to get honey and wax, I thought that was the only possible reason we would want to do something this mad.  But when I saw his face, lit up a little by the falling sun, his smile a mile wide, I knew it wasn’t even close to it.  Really, all of this, is just about joy; joy and wonder at how amazing this world and all the life within it, truly is.   If there is a better reason than that, I don’t know it.

Hello and Goodbye

Monday of this week was a bank holiday here in Canadaland and my how the sun shone!  It was a blistering day and we took full advantage of Nana and Grandad’s last day to get out and about.

We headed into town to explore the fun fair, it was Neirin’s first fun fair outing but he took to it like a pro.  Mummy and Daddy managed to suck up the horror of the prices and enjoy instead their offspring’s abundant excitement.

Once the coupons dried up we headed into the shade for a relax and a sweet treat.

Except for Daddy, he wasn’t allowed one…

After all that excitement we needed to cool off so we decamped to one of my favourite spots in Ottawa, the Arboretum.

Dinner at our favourite riverside pub rounded out the day perfectly, it is certainly one we won’t forget in a hurry.  All too soon it was time to say goodbye to Nana and Grandad, two weeks seem to have flown by but we’ll be seeing them again next spring when we visit the UK.  Hopefully we’ve made enough good memories to last us until then.

We’ll see you soon Nana and Grandad, thanks for visiting!

 

Montreal

Last week my sister, mother-in-law and I took a trip to one of Canada’s most famous cities, Montreal.  I was excited to get out of province and see somewhere new; with a farm to run, a house to tend and a family to feed getting out and about can be tricky.  But with the help of Stephen and his Dad who took care of the boys, we were able to have a whole to day dedicated to outward bound fun.

I really enjoyed the city, the mix of old and new, modern and classic; it was a place that combined commerce and art, creating its own blend of chic.  Of course I felt right at home!  The architecture was a real pleasure, a mix of classic European (a lot of Montreal reminds me of Paris and bits of London) and North American, with buildings that remind me of films set in New York.

The weather did not smile on us but luckily there were plenty of cafes and restaurants to skip into if the rain got heavy or our tummies peckish.  We were also occasionally forced into shops for some serious browsing and even the occasional purchase.  Sigh, such is the burden the three of us carried together.

I truly adore where and how we live, but this day in the city was such a refreshing change.  Time to take photos, browse, chat, eat and drink; no wellingtons, or pig feedings, no mud or regular daytime chores.  It was just one day but for this Mama it was something of a mental holiday, a chance to remember that there is a world outside of our everyday chores and routines.  But of course even after a fabulous day of being chic and shopping till we dropped, there really is no place like home.

Kisses and Hugs Montreal, thanks for a great day out.  We’ll be seeing you again.

Surprise

On Saturday last I was sitting on the sofa enjoying a  phone conversation with my Dad and a sit down after a 5 hour cleaning spree.  I was alone in the house as Stephen had taken the boys off for a hardware store shop and I’d opted to stay at home and finish cleaning the house in preparation for my in-laws arriving in a few days.

When the garage door banged I assumed it was one of the kids but when I called out and no one answered, I didn’t think much of it.  That is until my sister walked into the room.   That might not sound like a big deal if you are used to your family being nearby but I hadn’t seen my sister in the flesh for 3 years, not since she surprised me last time after Neirin’s birth!

According to my Dad (who was in on it and had timed his phone call so he could listen in on my surprise) the phone dropped and all he could hear was “Oh my god!” for about 15 minutes.  I did eventually remember that my Dad was on the phone but not before squeezing the life out of my sister and crying all over her a goodly amount.

There are some states of bliss that cannot be captured in words and having my sister here with me for a week was one of them.  Just knowing that she’d spent a year planning it, that she took a week off work and presumably sold a couple of cats into indentured slavery to pay for the tickets, warmed my old cockles.  It was lovely to share our life with her, in big and small ways.  Pointing out things during a car journey, knowing that she’ll remember and have a visual image when I’m describing our comings and goings during one of our mammoth phone calls.  Having her support during each day, making it all go a little lighter and smoother.

But we also had our big adventures, some special days that will live long in my memory.  A wonderfully relaxing day at the spa (courtesy of my parent’s in law who looked after the boys for the day) and a fantastic outing to Montreal were two major high points.  But even a trip to a book store or supermarket felt special with my sister along.  There is always something to find funny, or interesting, or both when she is around.

Despite the fact that she is younger, cooler, thinner, funnier, more artistic, sane and generally stylish than I am, I really enjoy having my sister around.  I think it is a testament to her winning personality that all of the above traits don’t put me off her completely, but somehow she manages to be one of my most favouritest people in the world.  And as the photos above testify I wasn’t the only one to enjoy her company.  The boys adored her patient attentiveness and couldn’t seem to show her enough, play with her enough, talk to her enough.  I know how they feel.

This last week seems to have gone by in fast forward and filmed in technicolour.  Each moment a bright highlight, too many to even list (though starting off Helen’s very own vintage pyrex collection was a proud and happy time for me), despite feeling that it went be far too quickly we seemed to manage to cram an enormous amount into a too short time.

After crying uncontrollably saying goodbye at the airport (for 45 minutes) I knew a piece of my heart was leaving.  There is no one in my life quite like my sister, nor will there ever be.  She is unique and occupies her own space within me, despite being teeny she really manages to elbow herself quite a lot of room in there.  But I know that the chilly, empty space left by her departing is somewhat filled by the little piece of herself that remains with me.  A piece I will hold tight for comfort until the next time we are together.  Too far away, but always anticipated.

We all miss you bean, we’ll see you soon xxx

Emerald Isle

On my morning walk about today I noticed two defining factors, everything is dripping wet and turning green.  Wherever I look there seems to be a carpet of emerald, bowed down by diamond jewels of moisture.  Today the air was heavy with humidity, the crisp breezes of April have died away (though the showers seem to be hanging around) while May is beginning to ripen into a lush carpet of soft grass and warm air.

As I squelched through the muddy pig and chicken fields on my morning chores and splashed through endless puddles while walking the dogs, I thanked my lucky stars for the neoprene wellington boots my sister bought me for christmas the year we bought this land.  They make my passage through our dripping wet landscape a pleasure rather than a bother.  For anyone contemplating a life on a farm I would say the first thing you need to buy is a good pair of wellingtons.

Of course I wasn’t the only one enjoying the waterlogged world outside,

Endless puddles, a full pond and overflowing stream are the stuff of dreams to a certain white floof.  She comes in dripping wet, soaked up to her chest and all the happier for it.  But then she isn’t the one cleaning the floors…

Even our house has sprouted some greenery!  We’ve added a green roof to the overhang on the first floor, it is made up of hardy sedums that will hopefully thrive in that sunny spot.  A few dandelions have even colonised one section, we’ll see how long they last!  As dandelions are one of my favourite flowers I really don’t mind seeing them out of a bedroom window, it’s like having a little mid air garden.

Sitting here writing this I am struck by the sounds of birds outside, each day adding more notes to this natural spring song.  It is punctuated by the strangled sound of our cockerel, the occasion child shout or pig snort; it is the sound track of my life and one that brings the world of green and mud to life with even more brilliance.

Peepers

Two weeks ago we took delivery of a very special box.  Why so special?  Well it made peeping noises for a start!  Carefully we drove home, the box held firmly on Huwyl’s lap, rushing our precious cargo to safety.

30 Barred Plymouth Rock baby chicks were swiftly installed in their cosy digs, a small animal cage with a heat lamp for extra warmth.  Baby chicks need to be kept very cosy for the first weeks of their lives as they are meant to be snuggled under their mama!  These day olds cuddled together under the warmth of a red lamp and quickly settled in.

We shared this special occasion with friends who swung by to spend time with us and our growing menagerie of animals!  Is there anything sweeter than the happy face of a child holding a baby chick?

The children were all fascinated by the tiny balls of fluff and I was proud of how gentle they were.  Despite their excitement they understood that the littles couldn’t be away from the heat lamp for long and that we didn’t want to stress them.  These little balls of fluff will soon be full grown chickens, laying their eggs in the wood shavings and hay.  Looking at them now, so little, it seems impossible that they will be full grown birds in just a few months.

I think I’ll enjoy the fluffy stage while I can.

Living With Pigs

Do you love pigs?  Of course you do, who doesn’t?  I’ve loved them from afar for many years but now I have to the good luck of getting up close and personal with them on a daily basis.  There is little in the world more engaging to watch than happy pigs.  They run, they frolick, they root and scratch and eat with their elbows on the table.  Yes they do remind me of my children but with slightly higher personal hygiene standards. Now that our farm is beginning to expand I have a few chores to do each morning and we have a few more housekeeping elements to take care of on the weekend.  Each morning the pigs get a good feed up and some fresh water, the same again each evening.  This weekend we (Stephen) cleaned out their pig cottage and popped in two lovely fresh bales of hay for eating/snuggling/plopping on.  The pigs were most pleased and duly frolicked about, enjoying the bouncy freshness. This afternoon I helped shift the stinky hay into the newly built composter next to the pig field.  I was ably assisted by a very keen, strong and super helpful six year old boy who dug, shifted, wheel barrowed and generally farm boyed around.  After a while, though, he required a rest and a snack so I finished up myself. The cold breeze was soon unnoticed as I moved barrow after barrow to the composter.  The spring sunshine warmed my face and the pigs antics warmed my heart.  Watching them chase each other around, happily munch on food or pasture or scratch themselves on their favourite cottage corner is the best entertainment anyone could wish for.  The time went quickly and too soon I was called inside for some Mumming duties; scraped knees to be tended, food to be made. By the end of this year the field they occupy will be ploughed and available for planting next year; their rooting noses will dislodge grass, hillocks and anything else they come across.  They are creatures full of curiosity and playfulness, fully enjoying the freedom of a life on grass under a boundless sky.  I feel so lucky to have the chance to observe them, to share this time with them, to care for them. I know the time will come when we have to let them go, that is the nature of a farm and I know it will be hard.  But in the meantime I’ll enjoy them and do my best to make sure they have a lovely life, a life any pig might envy.  Considering the amount of time they spend napping it is a life a human might envy too, including me!

Building Rome in a Day

We love us some history around these here homeschooling parts and right now we’ve hit paydirt, Ancient Greece and Rome baby!  After many, many, many months on Ancient Egypt (which was great but went of forever) we’ve finally come to the bit I was super excited about.  Luckily Huwyl loves history too so I have someone to share my obsession enjoyment with.

Last week we began reading about gladiators and who doesn’t love that?   What 6 year old boy wouldn’t want to learn about semi naked and heavily armed chaps chasing each other around a dirt floor until one of them is killed?  That’s some good bloodthirsty action right there.  Yes there may be lives lost and some excessively oiled chests being aired but all in all it is good PG fun.   After reading all about it what could be more awesome educational that building your own arena?

 

A dinner plate covered in sand, some wooden blocks and our (extensive) selection of playmobil were the perfect props for Huwyl to create his very own gladiator ring.  It might not have been a perfect recreation of the battle of Carthage but it was a happy hour in which quiet fell upon the house and gladiators fought to the death.

That’s how it is done Russell Crowe.  That is how it is done.  

Good Things

It can be easy to forget, in the midst of exhaustion and struggling with health and work and…well, you know how that tune goes; but this week seems to have been about reminding me how many good things I’m surrounded by,

Simple, quiet moments with the boys enjoying a gentle game; nourishing food that is easy to prepare and eat; new additions to our farm (floofy pics coming soon!); beautiful spring flowers delivered by our neighbour.  And on top of that friends who share their time and thoughts with me, friends who listen; family who help out, talk, and laugh with me; plans for fun times just around the corner…

I’ve been wrestling with some things, health stuff, energy stuff…It’s felt uncomfortable and made me scratchy.  I’m twisting this way and that but new beginnings are coming, a new approach to certain aspects of my life.  I don’t like feeling I have no choice, even if it is my own body doing the talking, I know I’m daft like that.  So I’ve been feeling the gloom, under a cloud as it were.

This week has been a little message I think.  A message that says Look, look at what you have.

Looks good.

Piggles!

Saturday was the big day, the day we’d been waiting for, preparing for.  Our desire to keep pigs goes back many years and on Saturday we were picking up four long blacks, a heritage breed that is currently endangered.  We chose this breed for lots of reasons; hardiness, tastiness, heritage…iness.  Stephen spent many hours building a beautiful home (also referred to as ‘the cottage’ and more spacious than many places I have lived, it certainly has a better view), rigging up an electric fence for their security and building a custom piggy trough from reclaimed materials on our land.

We proudly released the first two little oinkers into their new home, happily watching them explore and snuffle about.  All was blissful.  For about 1 minute.  Then the dog (Winnie the dozy blonde) ran straight into the fence, knocked out the power just at the  moment that the little piggles we checking out the fence.  Freedom was theirs and off they went straight down the field.  And off I went in pursuit.

Two fields later they went through a tangly hedge I couldn’t squeeze through and I lost them.  Literally.  They were gone and I couldn’t find them.  It was horrifying.

For the next hour we all searched as much of our 35+ acres as we could for the two cat sized pigs, but to no avail.  I was devestated.  In tears I trailed along the road outside our land, just to make sure they hadn’t wandered out onto the road.  I was hot, exhausted and in despair.  How could we have lost them in the first 5 minutes?  After a decade of planning and excitement all was in ruins.

Then hope, Stephen shouted that he had them, I raced back to the field as fast as my middle aged, asthmatic body would allow (seriously I have the cardio functions of a peanut) to find that the pigs were back in their enclosure.  I breathed a sigh of relief as Stephen turned the electric fence back on and they were once more safe and contained.

I think I was about halfway through my breath of relief when they ran back out of the enclosure heading once more for freedom.  You see, dear reader, it turns out teeny piggles are not deterred by electric fences, or any other kind of fences for that matter.  Of course we didn’t know this until later.  For now we were too busy chasing the little sods down the field again.  I managed to get one of them (squealing in a ear piercing fashion) into the pig cottage but the other was gone.

To cut a long story short about an hour later I was again chasing a teeny piggle across three fields having found her in the woods on the other side of our land.  Stephen nabbed her, in the cottage she went and we collapsed in a heap ready to give in the whole bloody affair.  Welcome to farming.

Suffice to say the other two went straight into the house, no roaming for them.  The farmer friend we bought them from recommended we get them settled for a few days in the house, get them used to where their food is and then let them out.  Apparently the really wee ones will go under the fence but theoretically they’ll return pretty quickly.  As they get bigger the fence will be more of a deterrent and will hopefully contain them and keep our veggie garden from being piggy molested.

I tell you what, it’s a bloody good job they’re cute.