A through examination of the hive

After my ride this morning, I put on my Homer Simpson suit and paid a visit to the hive. Overall the hive looks good. I did take the Ross Rounds out the the frame and really look for activity and signe of honey. No such luck - no activity to really mention, but there were alot more bees in the Ross Rounds today versus previous weeks. The upper brood chamber is really looking good with strong activity on six of the eight frames. The middle frame have the most activity. The lower brood chamber looks very good, tons of activity on all frames. Today I saw plenty of larve on several frames- did not see the queen though.

I did notice a few things that I didn't like. There were a ton of drowned ants int he top feeder that I had filled with water and numerous (17) bees that had drowned. Due to the number of dead bees and dead ants; I have completely removed the feeder and will only water the bees via the external water container, near by bird bath, and the dogs swimming pool. The other item that I don't like, but I don't think it is abnormal is the amount of propolis that they are building. Propolis is a normal for bees; it just takes time to scrape it away and makes everything sticky.

The bees need to be dusted for mites this week; need to purchase powered sugar to dust them or I would have done it today. Weather nice mid 80's low humidity- bees like the weather.

I hope everyone has a great 4th of July. Below is an article that a former manager of mine used to send every July and Bobcat Doug also sent it to me this week. A simple reminder that tomorrow is more than a BBQ and a three day holiday.

The 4th of July:

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the
Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured
before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving
in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the
Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were
farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but
they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the
penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his Ships
swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties
to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move
his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and
his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and
poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British
General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters.

He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was
destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed
his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their
13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid
to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning
home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. Some of us take
these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they
paid.