Bees.....

So we got our bees.

It was epic.

I had done all the research, read tons of books, watched youtube videos galore and even went to a class and yet none of that prepared us.

We received our Nuc from Living Scape yesterday late afternoon, here in Portland it, like everyday, was cloudy, raining and cold. We asked the guy if we could install in the rain and he said yes, let them fly around a bit and then they should be okay to put into your new hive.

I don't blame the guy at all.  I actually don't know what went wrong or why....I have been looking around the interwebs all day for someone who has had a similar experience and haven't found one yet...maybe they are too embarrassed?!!?

Everyone on the web talks about how easy it was installing their Nuc, don't even need gloves or a suit... definitely don't need the smoker!

So imagine our surprise when we opened our box to this:

There literally was nothing to grab on to so we could transfer them!  I "suggested" (ok bossed) Brent to just "Man" up and lift them up.  He had been complaining that he was being stung but he was decked out in this:

I mean how can a bee sting you when you are wearing a whole body suit of thick canvas, gloves up to your armpits and he is even wearing a t-shirt and jeans underneath!  He said he needed a break...even though he hadn't lifted one frame!

Now here is something they don't tell you...

Even though you might be done with the bees that does not mean they are done with you.....it takes a while to get them completely off of you and they are pretty sneaky things, hiding in cracks and folds and such.

So I got frustrated.  Borrowed a veil and gloves from a friend and said, "lets do this!".  This lasted for four frames....with Brent getting stung repetitively in his shoe..the little bastarts had figured out how to go under the gathering of his pant leg, then go under his jeans, into his socks and then finally into his shoe.

Here is something else they don't tell you...

When one figures out how to do this they all figure out how to do this...so Brent is already getting stung and tons more bees are now heading to his leg!  I could see the finish line though with only one frame left and tell him we are almost done....

And then I realized that bees had gotten into my veil...

and yes I read the articles, books, watched the videos

All of which tell you to not freak out...

Well sorry but instinct prevailed and I freaked the shit out!

I ripped that thing off started running, threw the camera down and bolted.

If you know anything about bees you know to move slowly, calmly.....I forgot all that in about one second...

So as I am having my panic attack I get stung in the ear.  Brent is now worried about me and getting stung as he walks towards me..

We calm down enough to again brush all the bees off and head back inside.

We take a 5 minute break, add WOOL socks to Brent's outfit..complete with his jeans now being tucked into those socks and we head back out.

It is 9pm now...

It is dark.

The bees are now calm...

Brent is able to lift the last frame with little to no problem, shove the top on and again brush the bees off and we are done.

DONE.

Did we inspect each frame for brood? honey? hell-to-the-no......we shoved that crap in there and left!

We went inside and started contemplating what we had done. We did research!  We went to classes!  We asked friends...

and yet none of it

NONE OF IT

had prepared us for this.

We thought about just setting the whole thing on fire

(PETA settle down...we aren't going to...today at least...)

But instead we counted B's stings (over 15) thanked the heavens that neither of us are allergic...we didn't even puff up and started laughing..

and drinking.

If you have not been to Pizza Fino do yourself a favor and go.

By the time we left (and I had 2 of their amazing pear inspired drinks) the memory of this experience was one of laughter and "well it can't get any worse" attitudes.

We don't blame the bees...we should of waited until nice weather, we now realize how wicked smart they are, and honestly from this point onwards we are going to always use the smoker.

We have a lot to learn.  Books and such can only prepare you so much and so we are going to learn by experience and probably more classes.

So people of the world: If you got a Nuc and you got stung you are not alone!!  Do not feel bad.  The people of the internet of full of shit.

Lacy