Bee Prep

I have received my bee starter kit and am now looking for bees!  I have two choices: I can wait for a box of bees in the spring or I can find a NUC which is a starter hive.  The box of bees would be about 5000 bees and queen that has not yet built up any wax or honey on frames.  A NUC is actually bees with partially completed frames.  NUCs are a faster way to get your hive up and running.

The challenge is finding a local NUC.  I have a lead on one but the guy had to travel unexpectedly so I am waiting for him to return and check his apiary.  Stay tuned.

Doghouse

Ahi has a newly painted dog house. It's pretty fancy for a grumpy weener.

Half an Empty Nest

We have been working so hard to get G & G moved and the house remodeled that not a lot of thought has gone into Drew And Oakley moving out.  Well...to be honest, a lot of thought has gone into missing Oakley.

So on Friday nite, Drew took a load of stuff over to the house after work and stayed over there that nite.  Then on Saturday morning he showed up right in time for sourdough waffles and to get another load. And that was that....he is moved out!

It is certainly quiet without the two of them and I have to cook less food and spend less money on dog food!  I don't think it will take much adjusting to get used to it.  Plus they are only about 10 mins away so I can see them (really its Oakley) if I need to!

Pleasanton Preserve

Hops and I went for a hike this morning before work.  We drove up to P-town and did a hike right close to the office.  We were on the trail at 6:45 am and watched the sun come up and the turkeys gobble by.

I am still hoping for a summer backpack trip so I am still training with a pack.  This morning I upped it to 28 pounds (from about 23) and could feel the difference in the uphill and downhill.

What a good way to start the day!

Hops

This Labrador is the sweetest girlie.  G put this together for me so I could post a pup and now pic on our dog lovers slack channel at work.  She just has the most soulful eyes.

Unfortunately she is going through some medical diagnostics right now as we try to determine why she is drinking an excessive amount of water.  The blood work looks good but the urinalysis  determined the urine is really diluted - of course it is, she is drinking a ton!  So the vet is discussing her case with a specialist.  Luckily she seems to feel ok.   And lucky for her, I am committed to throwing money at any issue to keep her healthy!  (Don't tell Jim!)

Time Out

A friend who uses the cabin left this treasure for us after her last visit!

Lake weekend!

Took the weekend off from working on moving and remodeling and went to the lakes!

Saturday we spent the day on Don Pedro.  It was hot hot hot but a wonderful day trying out Drew's new wake surfer.

Murray didn't enjoy the heat - here he is with cooling babushka.

Staci, one of our hiking buddies and our jeweler, came up to check out the fun we have in the mountains.  She enjoyed the pups and doing yoga on the SUP.

Sunday was spent floating around our lake.  Another hot day spent floating in the lake!

Sunday Hiking Group

Last week we hiked up behind the country club in an area that I used to play in when I was little and did not know had become a park.  We did a 5.7 mile hike and enjoyed every minute of it!

And then Oak came home and had a big juicy nap on her back!

Beekeeping

I have been talking about wanting a bee hive for years.   Grace had a wonderful idea and gave Jim and I a beekeeping class for birthdays/mothers day/fathers day!

We went up to SF and took a 3 hour class that told us all about bees and then we suited up to go look at them up close.

What a thrill!  I was totally engaged the whole time.  It was so fascinating.  We stopped for dinner on the way home and watch bee videos the whole time!

Bee keeping equipment was ordered and is on its way.  Unfortunately we won't be able to get any bees until the spring but by then we will be all ready!   So stand by for honey.

Cherry

Our camping 

Looking toward Cherry Creek

Jim got some shots of Cherry with the drone during our last trip.  It is cool to see it from the air!

Magic Fishing Hole

This is a shot up Cherry Creek.  These are world famous kayaking rapids that people come from all over the world to kayak.

Move Day

The first load to the new home!

The last three weeks have been a whirlwind of activity!  Jim's folks had decided at the beginning of the year that they are ready to move into a retirement community where they would have meals and cleaning provided and assistance if they should need it - basically an easier lifestyle.  Three weeks ago, we learned an apartment was coming available!

Unloading into the kitchen at the new place!

It is a nice corner unit with a "L" shaped balcony.  So they took it and we started packing and cleaning!  They had to move from a 4 bedroom home where they lived for 45 years to a 2 bedroom apartment.

Caravan of truck moving

Mr Screwtop doubles as a moving man!

Luckily we had lots of manpower and trucks to help!  The men from TNDC helped move while Tina and I helped unpack.

This was Roy's grandmothers

When they started to clean out the house, there were things that Anna wanted to make sure stayed in the family, so we packed it up and brought it home.

This is Anna's Danish dishes bought it Denmark in 1959

Aunt Nancy weaved this for Roy's parents - for sure a keeper!

Aunt Nancy made this for Anna and Roy - we have to keep it!

Roy had a lot of stuff he didn't want to get rid of so Jim built this giant shed to house all that stuff.

An inside peek at the shed

Testing out new beds

Before they moved in, they needed a new bed and a new recliner for Anna.  Anna and I went out on a Saturday and bought both.  It was great fun to try out the beds and the recliners that move to put you into a standing position.  The bed has arrived at the new place but we are still waiting for the recliner.

Shopping for a new recliner

The new bed!

Pizza break

It was a long day of moving but everyone was happy at what got done and at how cozy the new place is.

New Club

The Country Club at the cabin recently went through a renovation and we went for an open house this week.  It is really nicely done and I can't wait until it is fully open and we can have a nice dinner and hang out in the bar to watch games.