Farmer Ed

This is the 1st time we have had Molly in shaves... we led her around a little with a halter rope until she felt comfortable with it

The kids got me this handy contraption to hold up the horses legs/feet when giving them a trim.  If you are real macho you can cradle the horses leg on your leg and give them their trim but afterwards you walk around all bent over crippled.  Did 5 horses in less than an hour and my back feels fine.

Gave Ellen's colt Annie her 1st trim.

Giving Willie his trim... Annie wants me to do her again

Got off work early so the boys and I went and cut firewood... pics taken on the homeward leg

Making sure nobody behind us when we turn

We stack the firewood in back of the house which means climbing a little hill in the yard

Striking a pose

Here's what is waiting for us!

Pecan pie

Cherry pie

Keep in mind, we don't claim to have carpentry skills.  We got the plans here http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?=f155490ac5b87c8d2d3026fe84a6ab1c

Here are the layout instructions http://topbarbees.wordpress.com/about/design/  The big plus to this project was learning how to use free google sketchup CAD program. 

The boys and I have enjoyed learning some carpentry skills.

We 1st made a template for the faces of the hive.

So far so good it looks like the drawing

Notice on the lower right of the hive we cut in a window to peek in on the bees.

If you look real close you can see blood strains where we got lacerated trying to bend the roofing aluminum.  There has to be a better way of bending it or use a different material.

We put a door on the hive body window

Now for the top bars

The bees are suppose to build their comb on the sharp edge... you can encourage them by painting some wax on the edge also.