Wednesday Early Evening Bee Time!

[mylandmyrules]

The bees were finally here! Nell had let them rest in a cool dark place for the day, but now it was time to transfer them into the hives she'd prepared for them.

The sugar water was set to go and she had a smoker standing by just in case.

Comments

[mylandmyrules]

"She is," Nell agreed. "She's beautiful."

She carefully hooked the queen cage on the bracket, then sprayed the bees again and knocked them back to the bottom. "Here's the fun part," she said, "Though I must admit I'm a tiny bit nervous."

She picked up the package and poured about half the bees right over the queen cage. Then she poured the rest into the open area where the frames would go. She had to shake the package a bit to make sure all the bees were in. Carefully she replaced four of the five frames into the hive and put the inner cover on. "Phew," she said, looking at Steven with a smile.

She quickly set up the hive feeder, with crumpled newspapers for insulation, and put the outer cover on, then carefully put the entrance feeder on. "See how this just leaves them about a finger's width?" she showed Steven. "That's so the bees just have a tiny spot to defend."

She stepped back and took a deep breath. "And the first hive is done. Just one more to go!"

[hasaknightjob]

Steven watched as best he could while staying out of the way. "Do bees normally feel defensive?"

[mylandmyrules]

"Well, they need to protect against any intruders like ants and such," she said. "Especially when they're getting settled."

[hasaknightjob]

"I see," Steven said. "Suppose that makes sense, them wanting the honey as well. At least not much chance of bears coming by to steal any?"

It was Fandom so Steven wasn't ruling out some chance, but at least less chance than an undefended hive in the middle of the woods.

[mylandmyrules]

"Hopefully not up here on the roof," Nell said with a smile. "So... One more hive to go. Do you want to take a more active part this time? Or just hold the queen again? Anything you'd like is fine."

[hasaknightjob]

"I'll stick with holding the queen if that's all right," Steven said. "I worry I'd pour the bees out in the wrong spot."

[mylandmyrules]

"Have to admit, I was a little worried about that myself," Nell said, "but it all went very smoothly."

She started on the second package, handing him the queen bee, before continuing on. "I think this one looks even a little bigger than the first," she said as she gave it to him.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven squinted at it, mentally comparing it to the previous one. "I can see that, yeah. So are you excited about all the new products you'll be able to sell once the honey comes in?"

[mylandmyrules]

"Not so much new as being able to source my own honey," Nell said. "Local is always good and if I've made it myself it's even better. Or target if my bees made it."

She took the queen from him and went through the final steps to finish up the second hive. "Phew. Now I leave them alone for a week while they get settled," she said. "But at least they're all in and ready to go!"

[hasaknightjob]

"Makes sense they'd need time to get settled," Steven said. "Unpack, figure out where they want to put everything."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "Hang up a picture or two."

She let out a sigh of relief. "We did it. Do you want to sit for a minute before you go to Caritas? I think I just want to put my feet up for a minute and enjoy the view better I go downstairs."

[hasaknightjob]

Steven checked his pocket watch to see what time it was. "It's later than I thought! Tell you the sun going down so late does your head in. I should probably go while Summer still has enough of her jellies."

It was Summer. If she ever ran out of jellies the multiverse was probably collapsing.

"Thank you though," Steven said. "It was nice meeting your bees. Look forward to seeing what they come up with."

[mylandmyrules]

"Your are most welcome," Nell said. "It was nice to share it with you. Please give my best to the Detective. And since baseball night went so well, I think we'll do it again and he would be welcome to join us. I think I'll see if Lana wants to come as well."

[hasaknightjob]

"Will do," Steven said. "Enjoy your evening! You as well."

The last part, of course, was addressed to the bees.